A Conversation
Master Zhuang reprimanded them, then said, "Alright, go for your meal." After eating, review your lessons, and take a nap to aid digestion.
The two children nodded and returned to their seats to eat.
Master Zhuang's meal was prepared separately, similar to the children's meals, with the rice and dishes served separately.
Master Zhuang also returned to his seat. Upon raising his head, he saw two people standing outside the window. He was slightly surprised and quickly got up to greet them.
Wei Zhi smiled faintly and proceeded to the door, bowing in greeting, "I am Wei Zhi from Julu, presumptuously paying a visit. Please forgive me, master."
As Wei Zhi was dressed as a scholar, Master Zhuang naturally welcomed him and smiled, inviting him inside, "My humble abode is humble and cold." "It's good if Mr. Wei doesn't mind."
He asked Wei Zhi to sit down and then looked at Manbao and Shangbao, saying, "Please go to the kitchen and bring another set of bowls and chopsticks."
Baishanbao had already recognized Wei Zhi. After bowing, she ran to the kitchen to get the bowls and chopsticks.
Xiao Qianshi never left any leftovers. If there were any leftovers, they were either distributed to the students who hadn't eaten enough or used to make a thin porridge in the afternoon for the children to drink.
After all, it was a hot summer, and the children would be thirsty after waking up from their nap.
She only ate the crispy rice, so not only the Ba family but also the parents of other students were very satisfied with her. Therefore, there was naturally no leftover rice in the pot now.
Upon hearing that Master Zhuang had guests, Xiao Qianshi thought for a moment and then sent the two children away, saying, "I'll make two more dishes and bake some cakes." I'll bring them to you later. "Please go back and eat first."
She found no extra vegetables in the kitchen, so she had to go to the vegetable garden to pick some. Xiao Qianshi soaked the dough first, then wiped her hands before going to pick the vegetables.
She was always quick and organized.
While she washed and cooked the vegetables on one side, she began making the cakes on the other. By the time the cakes were done, the vegetables were cooked as well.
Although she wasn't fully focused on cooking a single dish, the taste was still good.
Xiao Qianshi then took the cakes and vegetables to Master Zhuang and his guests.
Manbao and Shangbao were squatting in the courtyard, eating and boiling water.
Xiao Qianshi glanced at them, then quickly went back after serving the food, approaching the two children, "What are you doing?"
Shangbao finished the last bit of rice at the bottom of his bowl and made sure there was not a single grain left before looking up and saying, "Boiling water, to make tea."
Baishan Bao ate more slowly, but faster than he does at home. Nodding upon hearing Shangbao, he couldn't speak with food in his mouth.
Xiao Qianshi looked at the fire and asked, "Do you want me to help you?"
Shangbao shook his head and said, "No need, we can do it." "Sister-in-law, you should go back and rest."
Wei Zhi, with his keen ears, overheard this and couldn't help but turn his head to look outside and ask, "Is the kitchen maid the sister-in-law of Ms. Zhou?"
Master Zhuang nodded, looking at Wei Zhi with confusion, and asked, "Why?"
Wei Zhi smiled and shook his head, "It's nothing." I'm just curious about how Master Zhuang ended up taking on a female disciple.
Master Zhuang said, "A disciple is not distinguished by gender." He takes on disciples based on fate.
Wei Zhi nodded, "But I believe this young lady must have outstanding qualities, right?" I often heard people praising her intelligence when I was at the Bai family yesterday.
Master Zhuang smiled and said, "This child is indeed very intelligent, filial, and considerate."
Not only does she possess talent, but she also demonstrates good character.
Manbao brewed the tea and served it, even offering a bowl to the guard standing behind Wei Zhi.
The guard held the hot tea but didn't seem very eager to drink it. It was a sweltering day, and he preferred cold water, especially water that had been cooled.
But Manbao couldn't read his mind. Believing that all guests should be treated equally, he assertively handed him a bowl of tea.
Baishan Bao then served tea to Master Zhuang and Wei Zhi before the two children returned to their seats with a bamboo cup filled with plain boiled water, drinking it with relish.
The study was not very spacious, and the four people were seated opposite each other, which allowed Wei Zhi to easily turn his head and engage in conversation with them.
He was not at all polite and beckoned the two children to come to his side, glancing at the bamboo cups in their hands and asking with a smile, "Why aren't you drinking tea?"
Tea is refreshing, and Wei Zhi certainly knew this. Upon seeing the two children's frowns and pained expressions, he realized they had tried it before and couldn't help but burst into laughter. He asked, "Then what do you like to drink?"
"I like drinking sour plum soup," Baishan Bao said.
"Me too," Shangbao added.
So, Wei Zhi had the two children sit down and engage in conversation with them while Master Zhuang leisurely drank his tea and did not intervene.
From talking about beverages to food, and then from food to planting.
Since the second half of last year, Manbao has started learning how to work in the fields. Of course, she couldn't do much farm work, only helping out or tossing a few things.
For example, when planting vegetables, Xiao Qianshi liked to bring a few short stools for Manbao. She would then let each of them plant a seedling in a pit, while she took charge of planting behind them.
But Manbao was very quick to learn. Although she hadn't done it herself, she knew how her sisters-in-law planted. With the guidance of her elder brothers and sisters, she was able to comprehend these planting techniques. Whether the eldest or the second sister, everyone would complain about certain precautions while working. This was actually a way of imparting knowledge so that as they grew up, they would understand these planting techniques.
Whether her older siblings had learned it or not, Manbao remembered it all. Although she had memorized many things without actually learning them, she could recite them to Wei Zhi.
Baishan Bao was the same. Since planting ginger, he has become quite interested in cultivating other crops. In addition to discussing with Manbao, he also communicated with the gardeners at home.
He thought sweet potatoes were quite delicious and was planning to ask Manbao for some seeds next year. He intended to plant them in the backyard near the wall. This way, the vines could climb directly onto the wall without needing a support frame.
So, the two children spoke to Wei Zhi about farming in a similar manner, even discussing the current crop situation in the village after the calamity. After all, when the prefectural magistrate arrived, they had accompanied him the whole time and had heard the village head and the elderly villagers cry out to the prefectural magistrate all the way.
Baishan Bao hadn't, but Manbao had often heard her father and brothers talk about the work in the fields at home. If you were to discuss the most common topic in the Zhou family, it would be the work in the fields.