Chapter 49: Apology
"Your fifth uncle was a good student and would have made a good official. He was appointed Imperial Censor at a young age. Sadly, he was wounded by a stray arrow and died while accompanying the late emperor on his eastern expedition. As for your master and Qi'er's generation, it's even easier to tell. Ask your master what his academic achievements were."
Mr. Bai lowered his head in shame.
"But Bai Qi is a brilliant scholar, having passed the imperial examination at such a young age. If it weren't for bad luck, we would have been living with him by now," said Mrs. Bai. "Don't underestimate Shanbao's young age, but he's already showing something special. He's only a few years old, but he's already memorized the entire Analects. Ask your son if he can recite the first chapter of the Analects."
Bai Erlang immediately lowered his head and said nothing.
Old Lady Bai continued, "Even if we ignore these gains and losses, and just talk about friendship," she clutched Mr. Bai's hand, tears streaming down her face, "She's not only your aunt, she's also your aunt. She and I are cousins, and we grew up together, sharing the same grandparents. We're the only brothers and sisters still alive. You should consider this as taking care of your mother's family, and treat them with the utmost care."
These words were not spoken to Mr. Bai, but to Mrs. Bai.
Mrs. Bai quickly knelt down to apologize, saying, "Don't worry, mother. My master and I will serve you well in the future."
Then he turned around and scolded Bai Erlang, "Erlang, don't bully your cousin anymore. If I find out that you bully him again, I, I..."
Mrs. Bai gritted her teeth and said, "I will beat you."
Bai Erlang pouted, but didn't dare cry under his father's glare. He felt his butt was hurting.
After the family of four talked it out, they wiped their tears and went back to their rooms.
The steward who had gone to the Zhou family to offer an apology just in time returned. He reported to Mr. Bai, "... they sent a bottle of medicinal wine for treating injuries from falls, two pieces of meat, two pieces of fish, and two packages of snacks. The Zhou family's father-in-law was very easy to talk to. He said the child was fine, just a few bruises, and would be fine after some rest."
Mr. Bai scolded his son again, and then said: "She is a girl, it's good that there are no scars on her body."
The steward lowered his head and said, "That shouldn't be the case. I took a look at the young lady from the Zhou family. The injuries on her body are gone, but her forehead is only bruised and swollen, not a wound."
Mr. Bai waved his hand and asked him to leave.
At Zhou's house, the children, led by Manbao, were squatting in the yard, watching the two fish, two pieces of meat and two bags of snacks. Everyone couldn't help swallowing.
Datou and the others were extremely envious, "My aunt is different. Even when she fights, people give her meat and fish to eat."
Daya emphasized, "And snacks!"
Manbao touched his forehead and said, "Otherwise, let's find another chance to fight Bai Er next time?"
Old Zhou, who was listening nearby, almost wanted to slap his daughter on the head, but thinking that she was injured and might even become dumber if hit on the head, he changed his tone to a verbal scolding, "Stop talking nonsense, you think fighting is fun? You're younger than them, so you'll only get beaten. You started this fight, and you're expecting gifts. How can such a good thing happen?"
Old Zhou said, "When the Bai family asks us to apologize, we won't be able to produce two pieces of meat and two fish."
Manbao felt sorry for a moment, then looked at the snacks and swallowed her saliva. She turned around and threw herself into her sister-in-law's arms and acted coquettishly, "Sister-in-law, let's have some snacks."
Although she doesn't like sweets very much, she likes snacks.
She smelled it just now and it smelled so good.
Little Qian didn't hesitate and asked her mother-in-law what she thought. After getting Qian's nod, she opened a packet, gave two pieces to Manbao first, and then gave one piece to each of the other children. Then she wrapped up the rest and planned to feed it to Manbao slowly.
Manbao rolled her eyes, stuffed the two pieces of dessert to her father and mother respectively, and then looked at her sister-in-law eagerly.
Xiao Qian had no choice but to take out two more pieces and give them to her.
Manbao smiled and followed the same method, stuffing the snacks into the hands of his two sisters-in-law, and then continued to look at Xiao Qian.
Seeing that both sisters-in-law had already had some, Xiao Qianshi could not help but get angry. She opened the oil paper and stuffed the remaining two pieces at Manbao, saying, "That's enough, there are no more!"
Manbao put a piece to Xiao Qianshi's mouth and said sweetly, "Sister-in-law, have some too. It smells delicious to me."
Xiao Qian's anger immediately subsided. She couldn't help laughing, "You're so clever."
He Shi didn't eat the snacks, but smiled and said, "Manbao treats his sister-in-law differently. Our snacks didn't even come close to our mouths."
Feng also said in a humorous way: "After all, he grew up drinking the milk of his sister-in-law."
Little Qian was a little proud, but she was very humble. "This child treats everyone in the family the same. Her mouth is full of sweet words. All the other children in the family put together can't compare to her."
The three sisters-in-law stood there and boasted to each other. Qian sat aside and ordered, "Cut the meat and fry it. We don't have a well at home, so it's not good to leave it raw. It will keep longer if it's cooked."
He added, "Although dinner is ready, take some out and stir-fry it with the vegetables. Manbao is injured and needs to be healed."
Xiao Qian's three daughters-in-law didn't dare to stand there and gossip anymore. They quickly agreed and went about their business.
Instead of eating the snacks, they simply handed them to their husbands and gave them to them to eat.
Of course, Zhou Dalang and the others were not stupid, and they certainly didn't dare to eat it. Instead, they took it back into the house and kept it so that they could share it again when the family got together in the evening.
Qian also called her daughter to her side, gave her some snacks, and touched the wound on her forehead with a smile, saying, "Eat quickly. Only when you eat well can your injury heal faster."
Manbao pushed the snack back and said, "Mom, you eat it."
Qian shook her head, "Mother is taking medicine and can't eat snacks. Please eat quickly."
Manbao didn't doubt it because her mother had to follow a diet plan and there were many things she couldn't eat.
Manbao happily took a bite of the snack, then happily went to play with Zhou Wulang and the others.
Old Zhou, who was sitting nearby, broke off a large portion of the snack in his hand and stuffed it into the mouth of his wife.
Qian smiled and did not refuse this time.
Manbao was particularly interested in Zhou Wulang and his friends' trip to the county town today, and asked about it excitedly.
Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang felt that they had seen a great deal of the world today. Surrounded by their brothers and nephews, they felt very excited and told them what had happened today in vivid detail.
Ever since adults were kidnapped in their area, each village has agreed on rules for entering the city.
Let’s not talk about people from the same village. The village is so small. If someone wants to go to the county town the next day, just shout, and those who want to go will agree on a time to meet at the village entrance the next day. If there is no one, then they can go on their own. There are also rules for the time of departure.
Zhou Wulang said, "The best time to arrive at the county town is noon. Everyone's walking speed is about the same, so we can calculate from the county town back. If people from each village want to travel together, they will know what time to wait at the village entrance."
It's a beautiful spring day, perfect for an outing. Let's go play together.
(End of this chapter)
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