Chapter 80 - 80 69 Visiting

Words : 1480 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

80: Chapter 69: Visiting 80: Chapter 69: Visiting Dog-Egg cried all the way home to his grandmother, while Datou, not at all afraid of him, also ran back to his grandmother, “Grandma, someone outside is speaking ill of Little Aunt!” Ms.Qian’s eyebrows knit slightly, “What was said, and who said it?” “Dog-Egg’s grandmother said Little Aunt wasn’t born to Grandpa and Grandma!” The smile on Ms.Qian’s face fell, and she set aside the shoe pad she was halfway through making, pushing herself up from the chair to look outside. Just then, Zhou Dayuan’s daughter-in-law, Ms.Zhang, had also dragged her grandson, Dog-Egg, over in a rage. Fights among the children in the village were common, but it was another thing to beat a child until their nose bled. And it wasn’t just Ms.Zhang who would be angry, any ordinary family would be. Ms.Zhang had always been on bad terms with Ms.Qian and certainly wasn’t going to let this matter slide, Seeing her grandson beaten up like this, she didn’t even ask why before dragging the boy over to demand an explanation. But she had yet to speak up and accuse when Ms.Qian preemptively said, “You’ve come at just the right time. I heard from my older grandson that your little grandson said you claimed that Manbao is not my child?” Ms.Zhang suddenly snapped to attention. “Then let’s go to the village head’s house and please have the village elders clarify whether or not Manbao is indeed born to me.” Ms.Zhang turned pale and looked down at her grandson, uncertain whether he had overheard her whispering with the old man. Although Ms.Zhang was feeling somewhat guilty at this point, her anger was even greater, “Auntie Qian, who knows where the child heard such nonsense? But I never said such a thing, and no matter what, your Datou shouldn’t have hit our Dog-Egg. He’s a whole year older than Dog-Egg!” Ms.Qian retorted, “The words came from your grandson. He says you said them.” Ms.Zhang was left at a loss for words. Ms.Qian then looked down at Datou and ordered, “Go up the mountain and call your grandfather and your father back. We’re going to the village head’s house.” Ms.Zhang now became somewhat flustered, “Auntie Qian, it’s just two kids fighting. Your family might have the face to make a fuss at the village head’s, but mine certainly does not.” “If it were just about two kids fighting, Datou having hit Dog-Egg, I would certainly teach him a lesson myself. But this also concerns my daughter Manbao. I want you to declare in front of the whole village whether Manbao is my child or not, whether you’ve been spreading rumors, or if I’ve been unfaithful to Zhou Jin behind his back?” Ms.Zhang was livid, almost blurting out something she would regret. Who didn’t know whose child Zhou Man was in the entire village? But meeting Ms.Qian’s gaze, Ms.Zhang didn’t dare say anything rash. Ms.Qian changed her usual cordial demeanor and forcefully dragged Ms.Zhang to the village head’s house. Because of this dispute, many heads of households in the village were called back from the fields, and many children ran to join the commotion. Although Ms.Qian wanted the children to witness the event, she ultimately didn’t wish for things to get too ugly, as that would work against Manbao’s interest. So she sent the children away, allowing only the elders and heads of households to stay. Manbao was utterly unaware of all this; at the moment, she was quietly chatting with Bai Shanbao. Bai Shanbao said, “I’ve been thinking, I need to become very powerful, very powerful, and for that I need to study. I want to study to become powerful.” Manbao asked him, “How powerful do you need to be to be considered powerful?” Bai Shanbao had thought long and hard about this the previous night, so he answered, “More powerful than the head of our Bai Family, more powerful than everyone in the Bai Family, so that no one can bully me, or bully my grandmother and mother anymore.” He wasn’t studying for the sake of his ancestors’ glory or to fulfill his late father’s wishes. Regarding the former, he didn’t feel that there was any glory worth perpetuating, and regarding the latter, he had little memory of his father, who only existed in the stories told by his grandmother and mother. He told Manbao in a hushed voice, “When I was studying at the clan school, because I didn’t have a father, they always bullied me. Even the tutor, because I have no father, deemed me wrong in every dispute, and people would curse me for lacking in manners.” He snorted in discontent, “I’m not lacking in manners at all! Since I was young, my grandmother has taught me many principles, all of which I have remembered.” Manbao was indignant, “They’re really mean!” Bai Shanbao nodded, “But they are not the worst. The worst are those uncles, aunties, and the clan head. Because I have no father, they want to take our family’s property. My mother said that property is to be saved for my education and marriage.” Bai Shanbao still remembered how he had hidden behind a screen, watching his grandmother beg those people, his eyes filled with hatred and defiance. He gritted his teeth and said, “My mother told me, the clan head is the Prefect of Jingzhou, and Fifth Granduncle is an imperial censor in the capital, so both their families have enough confidence to talk about taking over our property. Hmph, I want to become even more powerful than them, to hold an office even greater than theirs.” Manbao applauded him, “You’ll definitely succeed. The imperial examination is nothing difficult.” Bai Shanbao looked at her, “How would you know that?” Manbao replied confidently, “I guessed. We are smart people, after all.” She had also asked Keke, “Are the imperial exams difficult?” The system replied, “Not easy!” Manbao’s eyes widened in surprise, “Didn’t you say that Shanbao and I are very smart?” The system clarified, “There are many smart people in this world, and even more who are diligent and smart. This year, only twenty were accepted as Jinshi, and ninety-eight for the Ming Classic. Bai Shanbao is very smart, but he’s young, and it’s not certain whether he will be diligent or not. Studying does not depend solely on talent.” Manbao earnestly advised Bai Shanbao, “You must study diligently, otherwise, even if the exams are not difficult, you won’t pass them.” She felt somewhat sheepish for having hastily drawn conclusions earlier. Changing her statement now would not only undermine her “authority” but could also demotivate her friend. Seizing the moment, the system educated her, “That’s why you should draw conclusions only after investigation in the future. There is a saying by the ancients, ‘Without investigation, there is no right to speak.'” Manbao inquired, “Which ancient person said that?” “To me, he is an ancient, but to the host, he is a descendant.” Manbao nodded, “Ah, so it is a saying from my descendants.” The system couldn’t help but fall silent. Now with no other choice, Manbao could only urge Bai Shanbao to read more, to apply himself more; otherwise, if he failed the imperial examinations in the future, how could she explain to him? Therefore, Manbao also studied extra diligently alongside him. Of course, because she was younger and her pace was slower, her routine involved reading and then asking him to explain. But Manbao wouldn’t let her questions interrupt him. She believed the tutor was right: revisiting the old could bring new insights. As she asked him for explanations, he was also reviewing, naturally gaining new knowledge every time. After school in the afternoon, Manbao, carrying her Small book box, followed Bai Shanbao out of the classroom. They were still discussing the interpretation of a passage from the Analects that she had asked him about, so they didn’t notice that Datou hadn’t come to pick her up. Talking as they walked, the two naturally ended up at the Bai Family residence. After paying their respects to Ms.Liu, they went to the study to read. They took out the bamboo scrolls hidden behind the books, curiously examined them, then returned them to their place before looking around for more books. Manbao felt that they would have to read many, many books if they wanted to pass the imperial examinations. So, even if some texts seemed incomprehensible, they had to read them. Of course, to avoid overwhelming themselves, they would start with books that interested them.

Chapter 80 - 80 69 Visiting

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