Staying at the County City?
Bai Ming paused for a mont, his eyes lacking any joy.
He had been relying on his brother since he was little, rarely being apart.
If he were to stay in Yihai Prefecture to cultivate, he would not only struggle to et the Sparrow Immortal and Lady Willow God along the five hundred miles of mountain paths.
He also wouldn’t be able to live with his brother, listen to his brother’s explanations of cultivation doubts, or help him with the trivial issues of the fish stall.
"Why, are you unwilling?"
Seemingly noticing Bai Ming’s sowhat despondent expression, Bai Qi smiled and said:
"My family’s Ah Di is good material for cultivation, staying in Black River County as a bookkeeper would be a waste of talent."
Bai Ming stiffened his face and said firmly:
"Uncle Changshun is too honest and straightforward, the account expenditures aren’t calculated clearly, easily letting the workers below conspire to deceive him.
You have several shops, Brother Sanshui keeps an eye on them, those shopkeepers naturally don’t dare to blatantly skim from Bai Family’s wallet, but after a long ti, they start to have crooked ideas and line their own pockets.
Not to ntion the business at the dock, the inn, ferry crossings, selling water, selling food... The inco is nurous and varied, without a trustworthy person, how could it be managed?"
Bai Qi pinched Bai Ming’s cheek and said deliberately:
"Is this seeking credit? Without you as the second-in-command, Bai’s Fish Stall would fail?"
Ever since Ah Di started to grow taller, he no longer used this way of teasing children to show affection.
Bai Ming’s brows slightly carried irritation, and he hastily said:
"Co on! Brother! Uncle Changshun doesn’t recognize many words, Brother Sanshui has his own shop, Brother Xia, Brother Xie, neither are patient enough to deal with a calculator!"
Bai Qi walked along the corridor in the rain, smiling lightly and said:
"Ah Di, your thinking is ticulous and far-reaching, which is a good thing.
But all humans have selfishness, this can’t be changed. Not to ntion a small fish stall, even the Emperor’s family empire is the sa.
The Bai Family only has you and , unlike the clans at Chai Market where there are many people available, nor like Master Li’s kiln, which has many apprentices.
As long as the workers below don’t commit cris under our brand, ruining our reputation.
For other matters, we can turn a blind eye.
When it’s ti to nurture Xiaotou and Ah Xie, then we’ll expose a few parasites to set an example."
Bai Ming sniffled and said sullenly:
"They hold Bai Family’s bowl, eat Bai Family’s food, yet steal Bai Family’s money..."
Bai Qi corrected him:
"You should think like this, they work for Bai Family, the hard-earned money ends up in Bai Family’s pocket.
Clear water holds no fish, Ah Di, you need to understand this principle.
In the future, if you act too upright and proper at the Daoist School, you’ll often face ostracism.
Because nine out of ten students there co from high families in Yihai Prefecture, they aren’t necessarily kind.
Of course, I’ll speak to He Jingfeng to look after you.
If anyone bullies you, write down their nas and tell your brother."
Bai Ming hung his head:
"Brother... I just want it to be like before, you go out, I make the al, waiting at the door for you to co back."
Separation between family or friends is always filled with sorrow.
If not, why would they say the pain of life is no more than separation from those you love and death?
Bai Qi completely understood why the well-behaved Ah Di was so resistant.
These days, horse-drawn carriages move too slowly, a hundred miles is considered a distant journey.
He smiled gently:
"I take the boat round trip, it’s only half a day, it won’t take long.
Moreover, when the shipping business grows, eventually I’ll move from Black River County to Yihai Prefecture.
Who knows, by then you might have earned the Child Talisman, and our Bai Family might have to rely on you, Eighth Master, to uphold our reputation."
Listening to Bai Qi’s teasing, Bai Ming drew out his tone in protest:
"Brother...!"
Bai Qi walked to the front hall, no longer joking, he said seriously:
"Ah Di, when I entered Tongwen Hall, acknowledged my teacher, and learned martial arts, I was destined to inherit Master Ning’s legacy.
The high families of the Thirteenth Branch, and the Pai Bang working for the Governnt Office, also wouldn’t be pleased seeing the disciple of Ninghai Zen beco a Daoist Official, troubles are unavoidable.
You see, on my first trip to the city, I was given a show of power by the martial guild, if I stay in Yihai Prefecture long-term, similar troubles are inevitable.
Furthermore, your brother has too many worries, not suitable for this path."
Bai Ming silently nodded and said:
"I will cultivate well, strive to succeed in the Dao Trial. Brother, rember to send word to the Sparrow Immortal in the mountains, just tell him I’m going to study, and will visit when I have ti.
Otherwise, the Sparrow Immortal will complain again."
Bai Qi fully agreed, while encouraging:
"In our generation, whether we can bring honor to our ancestors and make them proud, the heavy burden rests on you."
Bai Ming suddenly felt a shiver, an inexplicable sense of mission.
He stood straight, as if finding his direction:
"Brother, rest assured, I will not disappoint you!"
Bai Qi rubbed his chin, secretly pondering, if Bai Ming were really to enter the Daoist School as a student, that group of highborn sons from Yihai Prefecture would probably suffer greatly.
With good aptitude, diligent enough, and able to win the favor of Daoist Officials... enough to make the pampered aristocrats of the Thirteenth Branch feel overwheld.
The two brothers briefly conferred, agreed on what to say, and then went out to board the sedan chair.
"Who would have thought, I, a fisherman from Black River County, would have a day to sit in a sedan chair."
Bai Qi thought to himself.
In fact, sitting in a sedan chair is not comfortable, the pace quickens, inevitably jostling and shaking, far less stable and comfortable than horse carriages.
But since the Daoist Officials like it, all the masters of the Thirteenth Branch imitate it, most of the travel is by sedan chair.
Nine Palaces Platform is quite close to the Daoist Official’s Office, roughly less than half a stick of incense, and we’ve already arrived.
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