Chapter 1373: Chapter 1351 Decision Made

According to tradition, the Zhou Family should host a meal for the guests, where both families and the matchmaker dine together, marking the engagement ceremony.

But Old Madam Liu arrived too early, and Old Zhou, upon encountering Mr. Zhuang, agreed too hastily; now the conversation is over, but the meal is yet to be prepared.

Everyone can’t just sit around waiting, can they?

Fortunately, the two families lived close by, so Old Madam Liu suggested bringing over some fresh ingredients from their house to share with the Zhou Family.

She also mentioned that while the engagement is not a grand ceremony, it is still a significant event for the two children, and as the village elders have always been fond of Manbao, it would be appropriate to invite them to witness this occasion.

Her words reminded Old Zhou of the matter of adding Manbao to the family genealogy.

He agreed, thus he sent Zhou Sanlang to invite the village chief and the elders to have a meal.

Old Madam Liu also went back to invite Old Madam Bai and brought along the fresh ingredients she had mentioned.

Mr. Zhuang decided to revisit familiar places and have a look at the school.

As Mr. Zhuang’s disciples, Bai Shan and Bai Erlang naturally followed him.

Manbao wanted to follow too but was held back by Old Zhou.

Bai Shan was reluctantly pulled out the door by Bai Erlang.

After sending off Old Madam Liu, Old Zhou turned around and went back inside, where he and his wife opened the box together to admire the jade ruyi.

Manbao squatted beside them to take a look as well.

Father and daughter expressed the same sentiment, “It’s so beautiful.”

Ms. Qian closed the box, “Mother will keep it for you, and when you marry, it will be sent to the Bai Family with your dowry.”

Manbao had no objections; she still had to go to the capital, and although she had Keke, it wouldn’t get lost, but her parents definitely wouldn’t dare let her carry such a valuable item around.

Seeing Ms. Qian hide the item at the bottom of the chest, Old Zhou then pulled Manbao and said, “Today, you’re not allowed to go to the Bai Family.”

Manbao said, “I still want to go ask Mr. Zhuang about my studies.”

“Oh, don’t be so shameless. Today you’re engaged, what’s the point of running to their house on the first day?” Old Zhou said, “You’re a young lady, be a bit more reserved, alright?”

Just as his words fell, Sanya yelled from outside, “Aunty, Young Master Bai Shan is here, says he wants to talk to you, and Mr. Zhuang is waiting for you both at the school.”

Old Zhou immediately changed his mind and said, “Alright, you can go.”

He quietly advised, “Be a bit reserved, alright, always let Bai Shan come to find you.”

Manbao nodded, turned around, and ran outside to find Bai Shan.

Old Zhou felt something was not quite right and only after a moment realized, “Since it’s about asking for study advice, why didn’t she bring any book?”

Ms. Qian glanced at him and then realized, could it be too late?

Bai Shan was waiting for Manbao outside, and when he saw her run out, he grinned at her. The two couldn’t help but smile broadly, and after a moment of laughter, they restrained themselves somewhat. Bai Shan stood about a zhang away from her, smiled, and said, “Mr. Zhuang is at the school.”

“Then let’s go.”

The two turned and ran towards the school. It was still a good day for visiting relatives, so there weren’t many people on the village road. Bai Shan ran closer to Manbao, grabbed her hand, and ran ahead…

The two dashed to the school, Bai Shan stopped, slightly out of breath, holding her hand, releasing it reluctantly.

Is the school really so close to Manbao’s house?

The two walked into the school.

The current small courtyard of the school is occupied by the new teacher, who is home for the New Year, so the door is locked and they obviously cannot enter.

But the main gate of the school was open, and Mr. Zhuang was sitting there. Seeing Bai Shan and Manbao enter, he laughed and asked, “Weren’t you going back to get your book? How come you brought along Manbao?”

Bai Shan’s ears turned slightly red, but his face remained earnest, “Sir, the school is too cold, let’s return home. I’ve had a fire started in the study so we can talk while warming up.”

Bai Erlang also thought the school was too cold, with drafty windows. Currently standing didn’t feel uncomfortable, but sitting and talking would be unpleasant.

Mr. Zhuang smiled at Bai Shan and Manbao, nodded and agreed.

The four of them then turned towards Bai Shan’s study, sitting around the fire, where a servant brought two plates of snacks and tea.

Bai Shan sat beside Manbao, obediently taking out the accumulated questions from recent times to ask Mr. Zhuang.

Once his questions were answered, Manbao promptly removed many questions before presenting her remaining ones.

Bai Erlang was the last, but Mr. Zhuang did not answer each of his questions as he did for Bai Shan and Manbao. Instead, after posing a question, he indicated Bai Shan and Manbao, having them answer, while he made final supplements.

Bai Erlang was quite used to it; whoever answered, he took notes of key sentences.

He looked at the two indulging in snacks and felt a bit indignant: Why did he have to jot down notes to remember, while Bai Shan and Zhou Man could memorize everything by heart without writing anything down?

Most annoyingly, they didn’t even write down the answers.

Bai Erlang thought to himself as he noted, hoping they might not remember the answers completely later.

Mr. Zhuang looked at the three children seated below him, with infinite nostalgia, “You all have grown up.”

Bai Shan and Manbao felt embarrassed, while Bai Erlang said, “Sir, we are still young.”

Mr. Zhuang then reached out and patted his head, smiling slightly, “Alright, you’re considered adults now after getting engaged. Erlang, even though you’re the junior brother, you are actually older than them in age, so you ought to be more mature.”

“We will set out after the seventh; you should start preparing your luggage. This time going to the capital, we probably won’t return until after the New Year.”

So, make sure to bring along whatever you feel you might need, lest you have to bother someone later to send it over, which would be too troublesome.

With many people going together and considering they are close companions, the three didn’t really feel homesick, even knowing this time leaving home would be the longest since growing up.

Bai Erlang suddenly thought of something and mischievously said, “Then my elder brother will also stay in the capital for a year? He’s doomed, at his age he still hasn’t got engaged; how long will it take him to get engaged?”

Mr. Zhuang:…

Bai Shan and Manbao: “… What’s there to be so happy about?”

Mr. Zhuang also patted his head and laughed scoldingly, “You rascal, be careful your father doesn’t whack you later.”

Old Master Bai is not home at the moment, so today, those who came to eat at the Zhou Family were only Old Madam Bai and Mrs. Bai.

Old Madam Bai rarely goes to the village to dine at people’s houses, but this time Old Madam Liu invited her personally, and it was because of Bai Shan’s engagement, so she went.

Although she soon returned, the village elders and the village chiefs stayed from lunch all the way to dinner.

Old Zhou held their hands and talked for a long time, making sure to emphasize the future matter concerning Manbao’s children having the surname Xia, thus for Manbao’s inclusion in the family genealogy could there be some flexibility, not considering Xia and instead including Zhou?

The Zhou Clan being a small clan without many rules, and since Old Zhou sincerely promised, ensuring that Manbao would have descendants named Xia, then Zhou Yin wouldn’t count as breaking his word, and the Zhou Family wouldn’t be considered to fail to honor it. Thus, the elders agreed with a wink.

Manbao didn’t change her surname and was still recorded under Zhou Yin’s name as Zhou Man.