"The teacher said that Manbao ntioned a phrase, sothing like ’reading thousands of books isn’t as good as traveling thousands of miles’, but I feel that, no matter what one intends to do, ensuring one’s safety should co first. The grasslands are too dangerous; what if we encounter the Hu people?"
Old Master Bai couldn’t help but say, "The grasslands are full of Hu people, but we are not at war with them now, so you can rest assured."
Mr. Zhuang smiled, collected his mail, and looked at the three disciples who had sneaked out. "Manbao, you have all been busy lately, and I seem to have forgotten to check your howork."
Upon hearing this, Old Zhou imdiately deed this a matter of importance, and he pulled Old Master Bai to take their leave. "Mr. Zhuang, you can test them; we’ll be leaving now."
Mr. Zhuang smiled and nodded, glanced at the three disciples before turning around to head to the study.
The three exchanged glances and silently followed him, all feeling that the teacher might be in a bit of a bad mood.
Indeed, the questions Mr. Zhuang posed that evening were especially challenging, and the passages he tested for recitation were precisely those they weren’t very good at.
Not just Bai Erlang, even Manbao and Bai Shan received a reprimand; needless to say, Bai Erlang was nearly unable to lift his head after the scolding and then had to accept a load of howork before leaving.
The three walked out dejectedly, and Manbao said with grievance, "I don’t even know who upset the teacher. I was planning to take my parents out for a stroll in the capital tomorrow."
Bai Shan also sighed, "Stop thinking about it, if we don’t want the teacher to be angry, we’ll go nowhere tomorrow."
Bai Erlang was also disheartened and asked, "Is it because we didn’t listen to the teacher and insisted on kneeling that caused this?"
Manbao and Bai Shan glared at him, saying, "Can’t you co up with a more plausible reason? The teacher seed quite happy when we knelt."
Bai Shan thought for a mont and said, "It must have to do with Senior Brother Zhuang; did the letter from Senior Brother Zhuang say sothing bad?"
Manbao also started pondering, "Senior Brother Zhuang sent so many clothes and shoes to the teacher, it can’t be that. I think maybe the teacher wanted his grandson to co to the capital to study and Senior Brother Zhuang was unwilling?"
Bai Erlang whispered, "Senior Brother Zhuang is nothing like the teacher; his temper is quite stubborn."
Bai Shan replied fairly, "Everyone has their own will; we shouldn’t speak ill of others behind their backs."
Bai Erlang then shut his mouth.
Manbao sighed and said, "Never mind, let’s focus on tomorrow’s howork. While it’s not completely dark yet, let’s go do so howork?"
Bai Shan thought for a mont then nodded, "Let’s go do it in my study. The rear window faces the garden; it’ll be cooler when the wind blows at night."
Manbao and Bai Erlang agreed, each dragging their heads as they turned to go collecting their schoolbooks and notebooks, silently going to Bai Shan’s study to et for howork.
Zhou Lijun returned, seemingly excited about sothing, and upon seeing his little aunt looking dispirited, he stopped and, with a cheerful smile, asked, "Little Aunt, what’s wrong?"
Manbao replied, "The teacher assigned a lot of howork; I won’t be able to accompany my parents for a walk tomorrow."
Zhou Lijun laughed heartily, "Grandfather and grandmother weren’t planning to go for a walk tomorrow anyway; they’re going to visit the Qiu family, and Sixth Uncle ca back from the restaurant, so they’ll be going together."
Manbao said, "I must return to the palace early the day after tomorrow after the break."
Zhou Lijun didn’t mind, "What’s there to fear? Grandfather and grandmother will be staying in the capital for quite a while, waiting until Sixth Uncle gets married. If not this ti, little aunt can do it when you’re off next ti."
Manbao nodded.
Zhou Lijun, seeing his little aunt convinced, ran back to his room, and holding so unknown items, ran off.
Manbao wandered back to her room to pack her things, and didn’t encounter anyone along the way; seemingly everyone was still playing by the dining hall.
Manbao paused, tip-toed to peek at the bustling dining hall, sighed again, and silently went looking for Bai Shan and the others to do howork.
In the study, the three each occupied a table and began doing howork. Manbao bit her pen and daydread, raising her head to see Bai Shan focusing on his work; in just that mont, several lines already filled the notebook.
From afar, except for the first two lines being a bit ssy, the following letters slowly beca orderly, indicating he had cald his mind.
Manbao then looked down at her own howork, sighed silently, and began to write.
To think that she’s now an official, a fifth-rank official, and still has to do howork?
Bai Erlang, sowhat agitated, held his pen but couldn’t write a word for a long ti; he really wanted to go out and play, especially since he just reunited with his father today.
But raising his head, he found Bai Shan and Zhou Man diligently writing, so he suppressed his restlessness and began to focus on the questions with frustration.
Not long after, the room was filled only with the sound of their writing.
When they were tired of writing, Bai Shan and Manbao took the texts they needed to morize and began reading aloud softly, and after two thorough reads, they tried reciting with closed eyes.
Seeing them progress quickly, Bai Erlang couldn’t help but speed up his pace, writing while exclaiming, "Wait for , won’t you?"
Bai Shan glanced at his howork and remarked, "Don’t write too ssily; be careful the teacher doesn’t make you rewrite it."
Bai Erlang had to slow down again, feeling so hard-done-by.
The three worked on their howork until 9p.m-11p.m, at which point Daji ca to remind them, "If you don’t sleep now, Old Madam will inquire soon."
Upon hearing this, the three slowly packed up their things and dispersed, agreeing to gather in the garden early the next morning to morize with the pleasant morning temperature.
Old Master Bai stood by the window, watching his son walk back to his room hugging a book, amazed, "Erlang is surprisingly diligent?"
Bai Dalang, also studying, let out a yawn. "Father, it’s late, may I escort you to rest?"
Old Master Bai then said to Bai Dalang, "Dalang, you need to put in more effort to aim for passing the entrance exam as a ’Jinshi’ in two years."
Bai Dalang nodded, "I will try my best."
Finally managing to send his father to the neighboring room, Bai Dalang breathed a sigh of relief and picked up his textbook again.
Two years is impossible; he’s planning to take the exam next year. Anyway, he’s in the capital, so the cost of trying isn’t high, and who knows, he might just pass unexpectedly?
The next morning, Manbao crawled out of bed, washed up, and headed to the garden to start reading.
When the sun erged and began to warm, Bai Dalang also wandered over to their spot with a book, curiously asking, "Why are you all so diligent today? Aren’t you usually complaining about being exhausted and busy in the palace, wanting to rest at ho?"
Bai Shan said, "Tasks assigned by the teacher."
Bai Dalang looked at them sympathetically; self-study and needing to complete study tasks feel quite different. The forr allows an easy-going approach, setting any goals; the latter, well, looking at his brother’s head buried in a book reveals it all.
Manbao, with her throat getting a bit hoarse from reading, paused to drink so water. Seeing Bai Dalang lingering, she glanced around, approached and whispered, "Senior Brother Bai, do you want to et Second Miss Cheng?"
Bai Dalang: ...
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