Chapter 746 Finally saw it
Bai Jiashi, the eldest daughter of the Bai family, is fourteen years old this year. She is in charge of taking care of all the girls who came today. She asked someone to put the snacks made in the kitchen on the table. When she turned around, she saw a little girl standing outside the pavilion looking at them with curiosity on her face, and a little girl from her family was standing behind her.
Bai Jiashi knew it was a new guest at first sight, so she gave Manbao a proper smile and greeted him, "This sister is..."
The little girl immediately whispered back, "This is Miss Zhou who came with the old lady from the fourth room of the old house."
Bai Jiashi was confused for a moment. The old lady of the fourth room of the old house must be her great-aunt, but isn’t that great-aunt’s surname Liu?
The next aunt seems to be surnamed Zheng, so why is the person who came surnamed Zhou?
But she reacted quickly, took Manbao's hand and said with a smile: "I am the oldest in the family, Shuangzi Jiashi, what is your sister's name?"
Manbao smiled and said, "I am the eighth child in the family, and my given name is Man. Sister, just call me Zhou Man."
"Sister Man," Bai Jiashi found a name for herself and took her hand, saying, "Come on, I'll introduce everyone to you."
Bai Jiashi's family had just moved to Yizhou City and were not very familiar with the ladies in Yizhou City, so this time they asked the cousins from the Qiao family for help.
However, none of them knew Manbao, so everyone in the pavilion, except the Bai sisters, was very cold to Manbao.
Manbao didn't care, so he sat down on a stone bench with Bai Jiashi and started eating the snacks on the stone table.
Bai Jiashi chatted with Manbao for a few words, and then was busy greeting other guests. She was so busy that Manbao felt sorry for her when he saw her tired.
After she finally had a chance to rest, Manbao poured her a cup of tea.
Bai Jiashi gave Manbao a grateful look, took the tea and took a sip, then spoke to Manbao in a low voice, "I forgot to ask my sister, are you living with your great aunt in Luojiang County?"
Manbao said, "My home is in Luojiang County, but I am currently studying with my teacher in Yizhou City."
Bai Jiashi was surprised, "Are you reading?"
Manbao nodded and asked curiously, "Sister, don't you study?"
Bai Jiashi said a little embarrassedly, "I do read, but only to learn a few words. I read books like 'The Rules for Women' and 'The Heroic Women'. I've finished them now. I'm learning needlework lately, so I don't read often."
Manbao said regretfully, "I have a lot of books there. If you want to read, I'll lend them to you later."
The Bai family naturally had no shortage of books. Not only was her father an official, but even her two younger brothers were studying. However, Bai Jiashi was still very grateful for her kindness and said with a smile, "I'll come find you when I find a book I want to read. By the way, where do you live?"
Manbao immediately smiled until his eyes narrowed, and pointed to the wall in the distance and said, "I live there."
Bai Jiashi turned her head and opened her mouth slightly. After a while, she said, "So we live so close?"
"Yes, sister, if you need me for something in the future, just go over there and tap the wall, and I'll be able to hear you."
Bai Jiashi almost had a drop of sweat on her forehead. She smiled and said, "I'd better hand you the visiting card."
Although Manbao disliked the trouble, he also knew that it was a courtesy, so he nodded and said, "If you invite me, I will definitely come. You can also come to my house when you are free."
Bai Jiashi nodded, "Okay."
As they were talking, a maid came over and invited them, "...the banquet is about to begin. Madam, please come to the front and have your meal."
Bai Jiashi took Manbao's hand and stood up, smiling and inviting everyone to the banquet.
The tables in the front and back yards were separate. After Bai Shan and his friends were taken to the front, they never came back. They ate and drank with Master Bai, Bai Zhi and his friends in the front yard.
The banquet in the backyard was set up in an open pavilion. Manbao had been here before, but the pavilion looked very gloomy at that time, unlike now, when it was filled with tables and chairs and screens. With people coming and going, it looked lively.
A group of little girls filed in, making the already bustling open pavilion even more lively.
Manbao glanced around and was about to go to Madam Liu. Madam Zuo, who was sitting at the head of the table, smiled and said, "Let the girls sit by themselves. The young ones can sit by themselves. It would be more comfortable for us old ones to talk by ourselves."
Old Madam Liu also nodded to Manbao from a distance.
Manbao followed Bai Jiashi's force and sat down at the last table.
Everyone sat down in the open pavilion according to their own seats. Old Madam Zuo and her group naturally sat at the first table. There were five tables in total in the open pavilion. The two tables in the middle were for the young wives, and the last two tables were for a group of young girls.
There was a little girl of only seven or eight years old sitting next to Manbao, who made her unable to help but look at him again and again.
After all, she rarely saw a girl younger than herself sitting beside her in such a mature and steady manner.
Bai Jiashi also sat at the last table to accompany the other guests. The servants served the dishes one after another, and the open hall became much quieter. Everyone looked at the elders at the first table and talked.
Madam Ji also sat at the head table. Although she was young, she had a high status. Among all the family members who came today, her status was the highest, so she sat on the left side of Madam Zuo, and Madam Liu sat below her.
Because of the topic of Bai Shan and Ji Hao, the two of them got along quite well.
A young lady sitting opposite listened for a while and couldn't help but look up at Old Madam Liu and asked with a smile, "Is this old lady the grandmother of Young Master Bai Shan?"
Madam Liu glanced at her, and knowing her identity, she nodded with a smile and said, "Indeed, I have met Madam Tang."
Madam Tang bowed slightly. "I'm not worthy of the title, but I remembered my husband often mentioning the young master of the Bai family, so I asked. By the way, my husband said that the young master is often accompanied by a young lady. Is that young lady here today?"
Madam Liu was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Madam, you are talking about Manbao, right? She is Shanbao's senior sister. Madam Liu, go and bring Manbao up."
Nanny Liu responded and walked to the last table to invite Manbao.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Madam Liu and the other old ladies and wives present explained, "Don't underestimate her young age, she is very smart. She was the first to enter Mr. Zhuang's school, so she is Shanbao's senior sister."
When Manbao came up to pay his respects, Old Madam Zuo smiled politely and said, "He looks like a smart child."
Madam Ji also nodded. "Her medical skills are particularly impressive. She saved my son's life."
Man Bao said, "Second Madam, you are too kind. I was just helping Doctor Fan and Doctor Ji."
Mrs. Tang looked at Manbao carefully. Seeing her clear eyes and round, white and tender face, she couldn't help but feel happy. She immediately reached out and took her soft little hand, smiling and said, "She really looks very smart. Not only smart, but also pretty. Seeing her soft face, I want to have a daughter again."
"If Madam Tang has another daughter, then we will have both a son and a daughter."
"I heard that there is a folk custom of bringing good luck. Madam Tang likes her so much, why not adopt her as a daughter? Maybe you can have a daughter with her."
The next update will be around 6:00 PM
(End of this chapter)
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