Chapter 1085: Chapter 164 Confession
The three of them were still sowhat frightened while sitting in the carriage.
Bai Shan poked his head out to glance at the two family servants who were riding horses behind them, then retracted his head and sighed to Manbao, “I finally understand why Daji had the servants follow us as soon as he found out we were being watched. Are the people in the capital all this scary?”
Manbao shook his head solemnly, “No, it’s the big families that are all this scary.”
Bai Erlang said, “My family is also a big household, but we have never killed anyone.”
Bai Shan nodded, “My family hasn’t either.”
Manbao: “Do you even feel right calling your own family a big household?”
Always the bully of Qili Village since childhood, Bai Erlang, whose family was not only the first in the village but also notable throughout the entire county, had always been confident in himself. Even though he had seen more of the world, t the Prince, and encountered noble families, the self-confidence nurtured from a young age was hardly dented, so he could still proudly nod to Manbao, “What’s there to be embarrassed about? My family has lots of land, plenty of money, and many servants and tenants!”
Just as self-assured, Bai Shan nodded and pointed at Bai Erlang, “My family has more land than his, more money than his, and more servants and tenants than his, plus I am the only son in my family, so in the future, it will all be mine.”
Indeed, in this world, Bai Shan was the one who could crush Bai Erlang in every aspect.
Bai Erlang stared at Bai Shan with wide eyes.
Unable to hold back her laughter, Manbao laughed heartily. After she finished laughing, she looked at them seriously, “There’s still a difference though. Those families have many officials in them, and that’s why they can be called big households. When you two beco officials in the future, and your descendants also beco officials, forming such large and influential families, rember to value life and not treat it as worthless like they do.”
Manbao continued, “Humans and grass are not the sa. When grass is cut, it grows back with the spring breeze the next year, but once a human life is gone, it’s gone.”
Bai Erlang listened and nodded.
Bai Shan then said to Manbao, “You teach them in the future.”
Manbao asked, “Who?”
Face reddening, Bai Shan said, “My descendants.”
“I’ll teach, why is your face red?” Before Manbao finished speaking, she saw his ears and cheeks flush bright red; she slowly realized what he ant, staring at Bai Shan in shock.
Bai Erlang lifted his head to see the dumbfounded look they gave each other, eyes full of only the other person, feeling sowhat dissatisfied, he cleared his throat loudly.
Manbao lowered her head with a blush, thought it was wrong, and then lifted her head fiercely to glare at Bai Erlang, “Do you have a sore throat? Do you need a prescription to reduce the fire and clear your throat?”
Bai Shan’s redness faded slightly, his gaze shifted over, and he glanced at Bai Erlang without saying anything.
Bai Erlang: …
Upon returning ho, the three went to their respective rooms to freshen up, then headed to the study to do their howork and wait for the evening al.
When Bai Erlang arrived at the study, Bai Shan spoke in front of the teacher to him, “I told the teacher that you might write a poem for the Double Ninth Festival, so I’m going to give you so extra help with poetry in the next few days.”
Bai Erlang had a bad feeling and shook his head repeatedly, “No need, if I don’t compose then that’s that. I don’t want to attract attention.”
Mr. Zhuang, who was reading a book nearby, tapped him on the head with the book and said, “Lacking ambition, when you take the official examination, you will need poetry too. Will you compose then?”
“I don’t want him to teach ,” Bai Erlang said, “Teacher, didn’t you say that a great teacher produces outstanding students? You are so much more capable than him, please teach .”
“With your level of skill, Bai Shan is fully capable of teaching you,” said Mr. Zhuang, afraid that if he personally taught him poetry, he might not be able to hold back his frustration.
Bai Erlang turned to look at Bai Shan, who gave him a big smile.
Bai Erlang opened his mouth wide and pointed at Bai Shan, “You’re mixing personal grudges into this!”
Mr. Zhuang then lifted his head to look at him and asked, “What personal grudge have you two ford?”
Bai Shan just quietly watched him.
Wanting to complain, Bai Erlang opened his mouth but his words got stuck in his throat, and after a long while, he shook his head.
Mr. Zhuang looked at them suspiciously, and Manbao ca in from outside, “Teacher, do I have any howork today?”
Mr. Zhuang diverted his gaze and said to her, “Yes, co here. Your teacher has organized a text for you; read it for the next couple of days, and once you’ve thoroughly understood it, I will give you a few questions.”
Seeing the teacher’s back to them, Bai Shan wrapped his arm around Bai Erlang’s neck and pulled him out, “Let’s go read poetry in the garden.”
Bai Erlang: …He regretted it now, he wished he hadn’t cleared his throat back then.
Mr. Zhuang looked back at the backs of his two disciples and asked Manbao, “The brothers got into a fight?”
With a slightly blush creeping on her face, Manbao shook her head, but then rembered sothing, “Teacher, do nobles often kill their servants on a whim?”
After pondering, Mr. Zhuang shook his head and said, “Although I don’t know where this question is coming from, whatever the matter, one should not generalize, and you can’t simply tar everyone with the sa brush.”
He continued, “Both County Magistrate Tang and County Magistrate Yang co from noble families. Do they look like people who would execute their servants at the drop of a hat?”
Manbao shook her head.
“That’s settled, then,” Mr. Zhuang seated himself at his desk and said, “However, nobles, being long in positions of power, can easily regard human life as trivial without a compassionate heart, which is why I often tell you to be cautious with your speech and conduct after you reach the capital. Because to so of those in power, not only are their servants but even commoners like us are re ants.”
Dejected, Manbao said, “I understand.”
Mr. Zhuang nodded at her and indicated that she should read the article he had selected for her. After considering, he picked a volu of law from the bookshelf for her, “You haven’t finished reading this book of laws, have you?”
Manbao’s scalp tingled, “So many…”
“No rush, read it slowly,” he smiled and said, “Bai Shan reads the law for three quarters of an hour every night before going to sleep, and now he has started morization. You want to study dicine and don’t need to morize it like him, but you must read through it all at least once.”
But she still had to attend classes in the system at night…
Manbao held the thick book of laws with tears in her eyes.
Mr. Zhuang smiled and said, “You are young and at the best age for studying. Reading for two to three quarters of an hour every night before sleep, after a few years, you will have finished it. If one day you co to fully understand this book of laws, you will not ask questions like today’s anymore.”
Mr. Zhuang’s smile faded slightly, he sighed and said, “They can treat human life as worthless because, I think, it’s rooted in the laws of the Great Jin, no, from the laws of dynasties past.”
Manbao, only half-understanding, still held the book in her arms tightly.
The always silent Keke suddenly said, “Your teacher really is a pity.”
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