Chapter 879: Returning Home (Thanks to the book friend "Chun Ting" for the reward)
Bai Erlang was still a little confused until he got on the carriage and left the city gate.
He lifted the curtain and looked back, and saw that the gate of Yizhou City was still shrouded in fog, and even the three big words on the gate were not very clear.
Manbao and Baishan also squeezed in at the window on the other side to watch, feeling very disappointed.
Bai Jilang asked: "Will we come back?"
Bai Shan said affirmatively: "Yes."
Bai Erlang sighed, "I was in such a hurry to go back that I didn't even have time to say goodbye to Qi Jue and the others. I don't know if they will blame me when I get back."
Bai Shan also sighed, "I didn't have time to say goodbye to my teachers and classmates at school."
Manbao was equally sad, "I wonder if Doctor Ji will be worried about me."
Then the two of them looked at Bai Jilang together, sighed heavily again, their faces full of guilt.
Bai Erlang looked at them anxiously and asked nervously, "Why are you looking at me like that? Have you done something bad again?"
Bai Shan said, "You were supposed to take the provincial school exam this year. If you go back with us now, I'm afraid you won't be able to take it this year."
Manbao: "Yes, the teacher originally gave you a book of questions. Alas, I didn't have time to copy them all down for you."
Upon hearing this, Bai Erlang was extremely relieved, but he did not dare show it on his face, for fear that they would go and complain to the teacher, and he would have to do the test again in the end.
He comforted them with a stern face, "It's okay, I think Dazhi Academy is pretty good. Aren't Qi Jue and the others studying there too?"
Thinking about it this way, it seems that being forced to flee back home temporarily is not such a bad thing.
Bai Erlang was secretly happy. Seeing that the sun was gradually coming out outside, he simply climbed onto the shaft of the cart and sat with Zhou Liulang to bask in the sun.
Manbao and Baishan also drew up the curtains, stuck their little faces out of the window, and looked at the scenery outside facing the morning sun.
Behind the two carriages were five horses, all of whom were yamen runners from Luojiang County.
County Magistrate Tang sent a letter to Luojiang County in the afternoon of the day before yesterday. The next afternoon, the messenger returned with five yamen runners from Luojiang County. The runners brought a letter and an official document.
The official document was addressed to County Magistrate Yang. County Magistrate Yang stated in a very businesslike manner that Luojiang County was in urgent need of knowledgeable talents because it was going to build bridges and roads, so he had to urgently recall Zhuang Xun and Bai Cheng from Luojiang County.
The other letter was to the prefectural school, stating that their county government was in urgent need of a student to help, and specifically requested the prefectural school to allow the student Bai Shan to return to the county town temporarily to take over for a period of time.
County Magistrate Tang was very efficient. He took the initiative and got the matter done at the provincial school in just one hour.
If Mr. Zhai hadn't been so nagging and kept holding on to Bai Shan and not wanting to let go, it would have been much faster.
In the end, it was Bai Shan who took the initiative to say that he was willing to go back, and the matter was finally settled. His situation was even simpler: he could just stamp the document and hand it over to Mr. Zhuang. Whether he went back or not was up to Mr. Zhuang.
Mr. Zhuang naturally went back. They packed their things that day, got the documents, and left early the next morning. He left so quickly that he only had time to leave a letter for Lan Cheng and others and was unable to say goodbye to them in person.
County Magistrate Yang specially sent five yamen runners to protect them, so that County Magistrate Tang didn't have to send anyone specially.
The group rode fast and entered the village before sunset. After the yamen runners sent them to Qili Village, they said goodbye and returned to the county government office.
The Bai family's servants had been waiting at the village entrance long ago. When the carriage arrived, they rushed to meet it and drove it directly back home. Madam Liu whispered to Bai Shan Manbao, who had just jumped out of the car, "Master, Miss Man, County Magistrate Yang is waiting for you at the hall master's house next door."
Bai Erlang heard this and couldn't help but be surprised, "Why is Lord Yang in my house? No, why is he here? Isn't he in the county town?"
Nanny Liu then noticed Bai Erlang and quickly bowed and replied, "Lord Yang visited the village this afternoon and had such a great time chatting with the villagers that he lost track of time. Now that it's getting dark, he's decided to stay overnight."
Bai Erlang turned his head to look at the setting sun in the west, which had not yet completely set. He said, "I should have asked those five yamen runners to wait a little longer. With them accompanying us, we wouldn't be afraid of walking at night. Besides, it only takes a short time to get from our village to the county town by horseback."
Everyone: ...
Mr. Zhuang felt a headache after hearing this, so he simply waved his hand and said, "Erlang, come here and help me go back to rest."
Bai Erlang's voice dropped an octave, and he said "Oh" and stepped forward to support Mr. Zhuang. Turning his head and seeing that the two men didn't move, he glared at them like a chicken, "Senior sister, senior brother, hurry up and follow me."
Manbao couldn't help but mutter, "Now you know how to call me Senior Sister, huh."
Having said that, she still found a big bag of her husband's from the car, picked it up and followed.
Bai Shan carried a large backpack.
The servants of the Bai family were no longer surprised. While it was still daylight, they quickly divided the things of the four families. Mr. Zhuang's things had to be sent in immediately to the young masters. Their own young master's things were put in one pile, the cousin's things were put in one pile, and Miss Man's things were put in one pile.
Zhou Liulang was on the side helping them identify the things and preventing them from distributing them incorrectly.
After everything was distributed, Zhou Liulang picked up a large box of Manbao first. It looked very valuable.
He said to Aunt Liu, "Then I'll go home and ask someone to come get the things."
Nanny Liu said with a smile, "Go, go. Please tell Mr. and Mrs. Zhou that Magistrate Yang is in high spirits and may want to keep the young master and Miss Man to talk. After they have finished their meal, we will send Miss Man back."
Zhou Liulang knew that they must be talking about confidential matters, so he nodded in agreement.
Zhou Liulang went home with the box.
It was the busy farming season, and apart from the people who went home to cook, the only sounds in the village were the cries of children who could only run. So Zhou Liulang didn't meet anyone on his way home.
There weren't many people at home. Only the fifth sister-in-law, who was cooking, was home with Sanya and a few other children. Seeing Zhou Liulang come back, Mrs. Lu was obviously startled and asked, "Liu Lang? Why are you back?"
Zhou Liulang said, "Not only am I back, but Manbao and the others are back too. Over at the Bai family, are my parents all working in the fields?"
Mrs. Lu quickly asked, "Why are you back at this time? Is there something wrong?"
Zhou Liulang paused and said, "No, Fifth Sister-in-law, I'll take the box to Manbao's room first. Sanya, go to the fields and call back Grandpa and Grandma. I'll have your eldest brother and the others go to the Bai family to move some things. Manbao and the others brought back quite a few things this time."
There were a lot of things tied up in the belly and on the top of the carriage, and the five yamen runners on horseback also helped to tie up a lot of things.
This time they would probably stay at home for a long time, so they brought back all the important things, especially Mr. Zhuang’s two pots of orchids and peonies, which took up the space of two people.
At this time, the three of them were circling around Mr. Zhuang.
The Bai family had a small courtyard specially for Mr. Zhuang. The things were delivered directly to the courtyard. Knowing that Mr. Zhuang was old and could not stand the bumpy ride, as soon as they arrived, Manbao went to make tea, Bai Shan went to get hot water for Mr. Zhuang to wash, and Bai Erlang let go of Mr. Zhuang and jumped to the kitchen to get some soup.
When County Magistrate Yang came over, he saw three people surrounding Mr. Zhuang and waiting on him. He couldn't help but pause, then smiled at Mr. Bai beside him and said, "Your son is really filial."
Mr. Bai said with mixed feelings, "It's all thanks to Mr. Zhuang's good teaching."
See you tomorrow
(End of this chapter)
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