Chapter 1385: Chapter 1363: Sorrow
The third head nodded and said, "I’ve eaten, but I can still eat more. Your family’s bean buns are really sweet."
Seeing Bai Erlang’s hair wasn’t even combed properly, he shook his head, picked up his own bamboo tube, unscrewed it, and handed it to him, "Look, my mother had my father grind this soy milk early in the morning. It’s already cooked with some sugar added. Warm your stomach first."
Bai Erlang took a sip and found it quite nice, so he couldn’t help but drink another sip...
The third head watched as Bai Erlang quickly drank all his soy milk, then lowered his head to look at the bean bun he specifically left for himself.
Bai Erlang laughed awkwardly, reached out for a bean bun, and said, "Your mom’s cooking is delicious."
The third head sighed and could only forgive him, "Of course. Last night after dinner, my little aunt hugged my mom and almost cried, saying it would be a long time before she could eat my mom’s cooking again. So my mom even packed the remaining jar of fermented tofu in the kitchen onto Auntie’s cart, and my grandpa opened his mouth several times but couldn’t bring himself to ask for it back..."
Bai Erlang had also tasted it before. It was something Junior Ms. Qian came up with last year when she opened a shop in the county, based on a recipe left by Manbao.
The Zhou family gave some to their family as well. At first, when he saw that thing, he didn’t even want to smell it. But somehow, over time, he found it quite tasty, especially when stir-fried with beans and eaten with porridge...
Bai Erlang couldn’t help but swallow, and after touching his belly, suddenly felt that the sweet bean buns his family specially prepared for him didn’t seem as appetizing.
The third head felt the same way, so he ate the last bite of the bun in his hand and stopped reaching for more. At this moment, he finally felt a bit sad, "I won’t be able to eat my mom’s buns anymore in the future. Her buns are also delicious, especially the meat buns. They’re full of broth; you have to sip the juice first before eating, lightly biting into it; otherwise, it would spill and burn your chin..."
Bai Erlang found the bean bun even less tasty and said to the third head, "Maybe you should switch to another vehicle."
The third head heard this, raised his eyebrows, and smiled at Bai Erlang, "Let me ride your pony..."
Bai Erlang flatly refused, "No way, Lv’er is mine."
The third head sneered, "Why did you give it such a name? Shouldn’t a horse be called something like Lightning or Gale?"
"What do you know? Lv’er is a famous horse, an ancient famous horse, understand?"
The third head, with limited reading, shook his head and said, "I don’t understand."
The two bantered in the carriage as the horse cart gradually got onto the highway.
The highway was easier to travel on, at least not as bumpy, and Bai Erlang poked his head out the window to look ahead, unable to see Bai Shan and Zhou Man, and asked, "Where have those two run off to?"
The third head also poked his head out to look, imagined a bit, and said, "With horses that fast, they should already be at Mianzhou City, right?"
Bai Erlang: ...
He retracted himself and looked at the third head, "Are you serious? We’re not in a hurry. How could they fast horse to Mianzhou City before lunchtime?"
He added, "Besides, we still have to pick up the teacher in the county first."
Mr. Zhuang was also ready early in the morning, and Manbao and Bai Shan entered the city first, heading directly to the Zhuang Family.
Mr. Zhuang had just finished breakfast and was washing his hands. Seeing them, he smiled and asked, "You’re faster than I expected."
Manbao said, "We came on horseback. They’re still behind us."
Mr. Zhuang chuckled and nodded, directing his two disciples to move his luggage out.
Zhuang Ji’an hurriedly led his two younger brothers to help, and today Zhuang Dalang was also taking a leave to stay home and didn’t go to the shop to work.
He and his son carried the heaviest box to the alley entrance, and Manbao and the others also moved the remaining luggage out.
Mr. Zhuang knew they were off to the capital after returning home, so he didn’t bring too many things back. Some books were for his three grandsons, and the rest were his two sets of clothes and the gold and silver to take home.
But Zhuang Dalang had a few sets of clothes and shoes made for his father and packed some cured meat into the box, so they still managed to gather quite a bit of stuff.
Shortly after they took everything out, the convoy entered the city, slowed down after passing this alley mouth, and stopped.
The horse carriage prepared for Mr. Zhuang stopped in front of them. The servants first moved Mr. Zhuang’s luggage onto the luggage cart behind and secured it before inviting Mr. Zhuang onto the carriage.
Bai Erlang and others jumped off the cart, ran over to greet the teacher, and then stood respectfully aside, waiting for the teacher to get on the cart.
Zhuang Dalang entrusted Bai Shan and Manbao to take good care of his father, then stepped aside and watched his father get on the cart.
After Mr. Zhuang got on the cart, he lifted the curtain and said to him, "I’ve already spoken with Mr. Li from the County School. After the fifteenth, you can directly take Ji An to enroll."
Zhuang Dalang agreed.
Mr. Zhuang then looked over at Zhuang Ji’an, who was standing in the back, and reminded him, "Ji An, study hard, alright?"
Zhuang Ji’an obediently agreed.
Only then did Mr. Zhuang lower the curtain to leave.
Bai Shan and Manbao turned around to bow and bid farewell to Zhuang Dalang and the few others. They led their horses, waited for the convoy to pass, and warmly invited Bai Erlang, "Come ride with us. The weather seems quite nice today."
Just as he finished speaking, Bai Erlang was hesitating when a cold wind blew past. Rushing down without a cloak, Bai Erlang shivered as the chilly wind trickled down his neck.
He immediately refused, "No, I want to ride in the cart. You guys go ahead."
With that, he dragged the third head and ran towards his carriage.
The third head turned around and shouted to Manbao, "Little aunt, I’m willing to ride a horse."
Sanya and the fourth head knew it wasn’t possible, so they just sat on the horse for a round without actually learning to ride. After greeting their little aunt, they also ran back to the carriage.
Manbao and Bai Shan waited until the carts had all passed before mounting their horses to give chase. In no time, they overtook the convoy and were the first to exit the city.
Outside the city, it was also a spacious highway. The two gradually let the horses run, leaving the convoy far behind.
Old Madam Liu was informed and pushed the carriage window open to look forward, just in time to see their cloaks fluttering in the wind, with two guards trailing behind gradually disappearing from sight.
She smiled and shook her head, saying, "Let them be. They’ve been in a bad mood these two days. Today is a good opportunity to let them vent their frustrations."
Nanny Liu smiled in agreement and didn’t have anyone stop them.
After leaving the convoy behind, Bai Shan and Manbao let their horses run at full speed, competing with each other as the wind blew against their faces, making them slightly sore.
But neither stopped. If it wasn’t for Bai Shan ahead kicking up dust, Manbao might have wanted to scream a couple of times.
They chased each other continuously until the guards reminded them they should stop and wait for the convoy. Only then did they stop.
By now, they had plenty of experience traveling long distances, and Daji had often taught them when traveling before.
They searched ahead and found a flat grassy spot with traces of previous caravan stops.
Bai Shan pointed and said, "Let’s take a break here."
The guards agreed.