Xu Zhi curtsied to Wu Muyue and called him "Uncle". Wu Muyue nodded and said, "I'm relieved to see that you're doing well here."
Xu Zhi invited Wu Muyue into the room to sit down. After Bai Ying served tea, she said, "Uncle, please stay here for a few more days. Although Miaozhou is not a great place, there are still a few places worth visiting."
Wu Muyue said with a smile, "I brought Abo and Ayuan here this time because I plan to stay for a while. I heard that Boyuan has been on the embankment for quite some time now. It's the flood season now, and the situation on the Miao River is complicated. If things go wrong, the embankment will collapse. I want Abo and Ayuan to see how the water is managed."
Xu Zhi hadn't expected Wu Muyue to mean this. Thinking of the conditions on the dam, she said with heartache, "Uncle, just now I went to the dam with my neighbor's sister-in-law to deliver food. The conditions on the dam are really harsh. Ayuan and Abo are still young, and they will have to suffer a lot there."
Wu Muyue waved his hand and said, "I want the two children to experience hardship. No one lives without suffering. The most important thing is to learn from the hardships they've endured and how to make life sweeter in the future. This time, your uncle brought the two children here so they could learn that life isn't all like what the family does. There are all kinds of lives in the world; some people live extravagantly, while others live in poverty. They should all experience it."
Xu Zhi didn't say anything more. She just thought that if the two children really wanted to follow Zheng Boyuan, then she should help find two skilled guards to protect them at all times.
Bai Ying went to the kitchen early to prepare dinner. As evening approached, the entire courtyard was filled with the enticing aroma of food. Xu Zhi had a table set up in the courtyard. Just as the table was set, He Jie'er, holding Miao Jie'er's hand and carrying a bamboo basket covered with a white cotton cloth in her other hand, came from the front gate.
Before she even got close, Miao called out to Xu Zhi, "Auntie, my mother made some chive-filled pancakes. My sister and I are bringing you a few to try."
After Xu Zhi thanked the two people, He Jie'er saw Xu Bai, whose face was covered in water droplets, running over from the backyard. She blushed slightly, turned to the side and gave a bow. Miao Jie'er, on the other hand, stared at Xu Bai curiously. When she saw Chen Yuyuan coming from the backyard, she clapped her hands with a smile and said to Xu Zhi, "Auntie, this brother is really handsome."
Xu Zhi held Miao Jie'er's hand and said with a smile, "These two are Auntie's younger brother and Auntie's cousin. Miao Jie'er can't call them brothers."
Miao Jie asked in confusion, "Can't I call him brother? What should I call him then?"
Xu Zhi thought for a moment and said, "Uncle?"
Miao Jie shook her head and said, "Where can I find an uncle that young? Auntie, I still want to call him brother."
Xu Bai looked at Miao'er, who was so young and as round as a snowball, but had a rare cheerful and lively personality. He liked her very much and said with a smile, "Sister, if people want to call me brother, they can call me brother. It's just a title, isn't it? I was even thinking that calling me brother would make me feel younger."
Xu Zhi chuckled and patted Xu Bai's shoulder, saying, "What are you saying? How old are you? You're already thinking about looking younger? Never mind, you kids can do whatever you want."
Chen Yuyuan saw Bai Ying take out several vegetable pancakes from the basket and put them on a bamboo plate on the table. Although the outer layer of the pancakes was flour, they looked faintly green, and the smell made Chen Yuyuan's mouth water even more, so he couldn't help but swallow.
Bai Ying said with a smile, "Young Master, this vegetable pancake is the specialty of Madam Feng next door. I heard that back then, in order to support Master Feng's studies, Madam Feng even went to a restaurant to make this vegetable pancake. The taste is truly unparalleled."
Chen Yuyuan was a little embarrassed, smiled shyly, and said, "Sister Bai Ying, it does smell very fragrant."
Hearing Bai Ying and Chen Yuyuan's words, Miao'er nodded proudly and said, "My mother's cooking is naturally excellent. You two are lucky to have caught my mother cooking. You should try it later. If you like it, I'll ask my mother to make it for you again, okay?"
Xu Bai smiled and nodded, saying, "Sure, why not? Oh, right, we also brought some delicious food. Wait a moment, I'll go find it for you."
Xu Bai pulled Chen Yuyuan and ran towards their own courtyard in the backyard. Over there, He'er, her face flushed, pulled Miao'er to say goodbye to Xu Zhi. Xu Zhi smiled and said, "Don't go yet, I'll have Bai Ying take you back later."
He'er wouldn't let her go, but Miao'er wouldn't leave. She insisted that her brother had told her to wait for him, and she had to keep her promise. This made her uncle, who was sitting to the side, laugh and stroke his beard.
Xu Bai and Chen Yuyuan returned quickly. Xu Bai was carrying a food box, which Bai Ying took. Xu Bai said, "These are some snacks we bought on the way. They taste pretty good. It's hot, so we can't keep them for long. We should eat them as soon as we get back."
Miao'er nodded with a smile. Bai Ying, carrying the food box, took Miao'er's hand and went to the Feng family next door.
The kitchen had already prepared the meal, and Xu Zhi ate with them in the courtyard. The vegetable pancakes that Ping Shi made were really delicious. Even her uncle ate a big piece, not to mention Xu Bai and Chen Yuyuan, who were both big and strong young men. They each ate one and still weren't satisfied. Xu Zhi didn't dare to give them too many, as these vegetable pancakes weren't made with leavened dough, and eating too many at night could easily cause indigestion.
After dinner, Xu Bai wanted to go out and take a look around the streets, but Xu Zhi said, "It's the flood season recently. It's fine during the day, but who has the mind to do business at night? Everyone is preparing their valuables, ready to leave as soon as they hear the news."
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
