Chapter 778 Dengshan
Bai Shan snorted and turned away, and Man Bao also snorted and turned the other way.
Bai Erlang didn't worry at all, as they would be fine in a while anyway.
Daji, who was driving outside the car, was even less worried. He half closed his eyes from beginning to end and let the horse run slowly forward, not in a hurry at all.
When they arrived at the county town, Daji found a place to park the car, and the three of them put their hands behind their backs and walked down the street in high spirits.
It was already evening, and the shops on both sides of the street had already hung up lanterns. The wealthy gentry and merchants had also made lantern mountains, occupying a good location in the county town. When night fell, these lantern mountains would be lit up, and the entire county town would be bright.
When Manbao and his friends walked over there, they only saw various lanterns, which did not seem very shocking. However, the people walking along the street were shocked. They had watched the Lantern Festival in the county many times and felt that this year's Lantern Festival seemed particularly lively.
"I counted them and there are nine mountains of lights. It would be so beautiful if they were lit up at night."
"There are far more lanterns this year than in previous years. I heard the county government built one, Mr. Zhang's family built one, and Mr. Liu's family was the most impressive, building two mountains of lanterns, saying they wanted them to be in pairs."
Manbao and his friends sat in the teahouse listening to gossip with great interest, and soon the topic turned to people they were familiar with.
"If we talk about wealthy families in Luojiang County, the Bai family in Baimaguan Town is one of them, but why have we never seen them build a lantern mountain?"
"Is it right?"
"Not necessarily. Look, every year Mr. Bai contributes to the county's bridge and ditch repairs. Last year during the winter solstice, he even donated some cotton-padded clothes and quilts to the county's poor." Someone said, "I work as a clerk in the county government office. I've secretly calculated that, in this county, besides the county magistrate, the one who does the most charity every year is Mr. Zhang, followed by Mr. Bai."
"Then Mr. Bai has money too, why doesn't he build a lantern mountain?"
"Mr. Bai doesn't even come to the county town to celebrate the Lantern Festival, so why spend so much money on building a mountain of lanterns?"
Bai Shan and Man Bao stared at Bai Erlang, and Bai Erlang lowered his voice and said, "My father makes a mountain of lanterns in Mianzhou City every year, but he didn't do it this year."
Manbao asked curiously, "Why?"
"Because my eldest brother will be going to the capital to take the exam after the new year, he will not be in Mianzhou anymore. Who will we build the lantern mountain to show our support for?" Bai Erlang whispered, "My father said that after my eldest brother is admitted to the Imperial College, he will have people build the lantern mountain in the capital. That will cost more."
Bai Erlang had never worried about money, but after his father had been nagging him about it so often, he started to take it to heart. He told the two of them, "My father said that the lanterns can only be viewed once a year. After that, the lanterns are useless and the money is wasted, so we have to spend it wisely. My eldest brother was studying at the provincial school, so he had people build a mountain of lanterns in Mianzhou City to prevent people from looking down on him. When my brother went to the capital, he built a mountain of lanterns for him. When outsiders saw it, they would know that my family was not incompetent and would not dare to bully him."
"When I pass the entrance exam to Yizhou Prefecture School, my father will also build a lamp mountain for me in Yizhou City..."
Manbao asked, "Do you want your father to light a lamp for you?"
"I don't want to." Bai Erlang whispered, "The lantern mountain made by my family is just average. I have to guard it later. I might as well go and see other people's lantern mountains."
Manbao and Baishan breathed a sigh of relief, gave him a thumbs-up and praised him, "Your idea is correct."
Bai Erlang chuckled, scratched his head sheepishly, and whispered, "The main reason is that I don't think I can get into Yizhou Prefecture School."
Bai Shan thought about it carefully and said, "I can still pass the exam, but I may have to study for two more years."
Bai Erlang's eyes lit up and he asked, "Really?"
Bai Shan nodded, but with a worried look on his face. "But in two years, I should also get a place to go to the capital to take the exam. Then, will you go to the provincial school or study with the teacher?"
Bai Erlang was stunned and angry. "How did you know you could go to the capital?"
Man Baole said: "This is called confidence."
"Then why does Master have to go to the capital with you? I am also your disciple, and I am still a junior disciple. Can't Master stay with me in Yizhou City?"
"Because we outnumber you by two to one, the minority must obey the majority. Sir, you must go to the capital with us."
Bai Erlang was stunned for a moment and then looked at Manbao, "Can you please not go to the capital? It's so far away, you may not be able to go home for a whole year."
Bai Shan said, "How could she not go?"
"Why would she go?"
Bai Shan said blankly: "She was going to go anyway..."
As for why I will go...
Bai Shan scratched his head. Isn't this inevitable? Why does he need a reason?
Bai Shan turned to look at Man Bao.
Manbao fell into deep thought, and after a while he asked, "There must be many flowers, trees, insects, fish, birds and animals in the capital that I have never seen, right?"
Bai Shan nodded, and Bai Erlang shook his head.
Koko said: "Go, host."
Manbao waved his little fist and said, "I'll go!"
Bai Shan smiled widely and proudly raised his eyebrows and smiled at Bai Erlang, which made Bai Erlang very angry.
Manbao said to Bai Erlang, "You're so silly! We've been in Yizhou for three years now, and we've seen all the places we should visit. Why don't you go to the capital for a walk? With a teacher by your side, studying won't be a problem."
Bai Shan said: "If there is anything you don't understand, I can teach you. After all, I have studied in the prefectural school and I know how the teachers teach."
Manbao was not willing to be outdone and immediately said, "Sister, I can teach you too. I've read a lot of extracurricular books. What do you want to learn?"
Although they all meant well, Bai Erlang felt angry, so he turned his head and ignored them.
Manbao and Baishan looked at each other and laughed like two little squirrels. Then one of them grabbed his side and dragged him up, saying, "Okay, don't be angry. Let's go play. It's still a while before dark. Why don't we go see the lanterns at the county government office first, and then reserve a good seat at the restaurant."
"The lights aren't even on yet. What's the point of going there now?" Bai Erlang didn't want to move. He said, "Let's just go to the restaurant and reserve a table. Otherwise, we'll be late and there won't be any."
But the county town is not as good as Yizhou City after all. Not many people would go to the restaurant to reserve a table when they go out to play. Even when it is almost dark, there are still many empty seats.
There are even good seats and private rooms.
Manbao and the other two were very happy. After looking at several private rooms, they booked one with the best view and paid them directly for tea and snacks.
The young man took the money and went downstairs very happily.
Bai Shan opened the window and looked out for a long time, then smiled and said, "This location is great. I can see almost half of the street and see several mountains of lights."
The next update will be around 6:00 PM
(End of this chapter)
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