After grading the questions assigned yesterday, Zhou Yu’s face darkened. “You still have the nerve to laugh? Look how many questions you got wrong!”

Third Yang shrank back. “I didn’t sleep until late last night, Jiefu. I tried my best!”

Zhou Yu said, “If you put all your effort into studying, I don’t believe you would have made so many mistakes.”

Third Yang felt a little guilty. He hadn’t been diligent enough; last night, while doing the questions, he was also thinking about arranging manpower in the county.

Yang Xi, holding Zi Lu, glanced at the test paper. “You even got such simple questions wrong. You deserve a beating.”

Third Yang was speechless.

Zhou Yu was stern and didn’t mince words; when it was time to be punished, he really did. Third Yang’s left hand was swollen.

Bai Lang hadn’t left yet. When his father sent someone to pick him up, he saw Third Yang’s swollen left hand and swallowed hard. The teacher was really good to him!

Third Yang winced in pain, seriously suspecting his Jiefu was taking the opportunity to teach him a lesson. Seeing Bai Lang smirking, he said, “Jiefu, I’ve noticed Bai Lang’s been rather idle lately.”

Zhou Yu looked at Bai Lang, who quickly replied. “Master, I’m not idle, really! I’ve been studying.”

Zhong Xu confirmed, “He’s been studying with us these past few days.”

Zhou Yu turned away, and Bai Lang broke out in a cold sweat, secretly glaring at Third Yang. He and Third Yang definitely didn’t get along.

Two days later, General Bai’s guards arrived. Bai Lang fled with them as if his life depended on it. Bai Lang felt the school was terrifying; no one slacked off, and he felt embarrassed if he didn’t study.

Bai Lang was overjoyed to be home. Before even entering, he called out, “Father, I’m back!”

General Bai missed his son terribly and personally came out to greet him. He wanted to say his son had lost weight, but seeing his son’s noticeably plumper face, he couldn’t bring himself to say the word.

Bai Lang asked, “Father, have you seen the test paper I brought back?”

He had specially copied the test paper!

General Bai was pleased with his son’s progress and satisfied with his exam results. “Look, my son has made something of himself.”

Bai Lang replied, “I’m your son; if I can learn this, Father can too. Father, I’ll teach you tonight.”

General Bai was speechless. What a filial son!

The deputy cleared his throat and took out a bundle. “Young master, Zhou Xiansheng gave this to me before we left, asking me to give it to you when we returned.”

Bai Lang had a bad feeling. General Bai had already opened the bundle; inside were papers, covered with written questions. General Bai’s eyes glazed over as he looked at them one by one. Seeing his son about to run away, he shouted, “Stop!”

Bai Lang felt like crying. He really shouldn’t have gotten so smug. He regretted it—truly regretted it!

Zhou Yu paid no attention to Bai Lang’s misery. Once Master Bai arrived in Ruizhou, he brought his men with him to Shanghe Village.

Zhou Yu greeted Boss Bai as he entered, her tone expectant, “Master Bai, you came here personally. Does this mean you have news of my qīdì?”

Boss Bai shook his head. “No news. I was transporting goods through Xiang County. You’ve settled in Shanghe Village, so I stayed a couple more days to come and see you.”

Zhou Yu was disappointed, but he composed himself. “I’ll call Xixuan over right away. He was talking about you the other day.”

Boss Bai laughed heartily, “I even brought him a gift.”

Third Yang arrived quickly and, upon seeing Boss Bai, exclaimed, “I thought my Jiefu was lying to me! Boss Bai, it really is you!”

Boss Bai noticed Third Yang’s disheveled appearance. He asked hesitantly, “What happened to you?”

Third Yang had messed up his own hair from running his hands through it. He hurriedly straightened it and said, “I was working on some questions.”

Boss Bai looked at Zhou Yu. “I remember Xiansheng said he’d open a school. Is it open yet?”

Seeing that Third Yang’s hair was getting messier the more he tried to fix it, Zhou Yu gestured for him to come over. While tidying Third Yang’s hair, he said, “It’s already open.”

Boss Bai sighed at how quickly time had passed and took out the prepared gift. “This is the crossbow that Brother Yang has been talking about. Do you like it?”

Third Yang liked it and rushed over to grab the crossbow, hissing as his Jiefu still grabbed his hair.

Zhou Yu said, “So clumsy.”

Third Yang pouted, then carefully picked up the crossbow. “Thank you, Brother Bai.”

Boss Bai then took out some tea. “This is the reward we received for escorting the tea. Here’s some for the XIanshang.”

Zhou Yu was reluctant to buy tea, looking at the packet of leaves. “It’s too expensive.”

The second-in-command of the Bai family smiled. “I’m glad you like it, sir.”

Zhou Yu liked it; he could already smell the fragrance of the tea. “Was your trip smooth, sir?”

The second-in-command of the Bai family asked, “Smoothly. We made quite a bit of money this time.”

Third Yang asked, “Does the elder brother know anything about the north?”

The second-in-command of the Bai family replied, “Not much. The escort agency is having a tough time right now; there are a lot of bandits on the transport routes. Recently, the agency has rarely taken on jobs to the north.”

He paused, then continued, “We can only try our best to find out about the commission you entrusted to us, sir.”

Zhou Yu stood up to greet him. “I’m already very grateful, sir.”

The second-in-command of the Bai family was embarrassed to stand up and stepped aside to greet him. “Escorts are human too. We are very selective about the jobs we take now. I thank you for your understanding, sir.”

He had become acquainted with Zhou Xiansheng and had also made some inquiries in private, learning about Zhong Xianling and General Bai.

This was another reason he had made a special trip to visit.

In the backyard, Yang Xi, already aware that the escort agency hadn’t found out anything about her younger brother, held her youngest son, lost in thought.

Seeing that his mother was feeling down, Ziheng said, “Mother, Waipo and Jiujiu will be safe.”

Yang Xi stroked her son’s hair; it had grown quite long. “Mom’s alright now.”

Ziheng stopped writing calligraphy and sat next to his mother, holding his younger brother’s chubby hand. “Mom, look, my little brother is drooling.”

Yang Xi looked down; her youngest son was making “ah ah” noises, drool flowing freely. “It’s all your dad’s fault for pinching your little brother’s face.”

Ziheng guiltily hooked his fingertips; he had pinched his brother’s face quite often when his parents weren’t looking. His little brother was chubby and especially cute. If his brother weren’t so small, he would love to hold him and sleep with him.

Yang Xi picked up her youngest son. The little guy was really heavy; he weighed fifteen pounds now, his arms and legs like lotus roots. She was a little worried. “Your little brother can’t keep getting so fat.”

Ziheng said, “It’s good that my little brother is chubby.”

Yang Xi felt sorry for the red marks on her little son’s arms. “His arms are all so swollen from being so fat.”

She had been taking very careful care of him, but the child was too chubby; his arms would turn red after less than a night of care. Her little son was in pain, his eyes filled with tears, and it broke her heart as his mother.

Ziheng pulled his younger brother’s arm and blew on it. “Blowing on it will make you feel better.”

Zilu made “ah ah” sounds, thinking his brother was playing with him.

Half an hour later, Third Yang came to the east courtyard carrying a crossbow. “Jiejie, look what I brought you!”

Yang Xi was pleasantly surprised to see the iron crossbow. “Where did you get this?”

“Brother Bai gave it to me.”

Yang Xi was speechless.

She was even jealous of Third Yang’s social skills!

Seeing that his Jie wanted to take the crossbow apart, Third Yang quickly stopped her. “Jiejie, can you put it back together after taking it apart?”

Yang Xi, “What do you think?”

Third Yang was unsure. “Crossbows are not easy to handle; if this breaks, it’s gone.”

Yang Xi hesitated for a moment. “Then let’s wait and take it apart later.”

Third Yang pushed the crossbow, looking pained. “Or, Jiejie, you can take it apart.”

Yang Xi didn’t want to take it apart anymore; she had reason to suspect that this kid was trying to trick her!

(End of this chapter)

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