Chapter 198: To Make Friends, You Need to Click to Get Along Well

Chapter 198: To Make Friends, You Need to Click to Get Along Well

Daxisipo looked like she was about to leave.

Old Mao quickly interjected, "Doctor, the consultation fee hasn't been paid yet..."

Daxisipo didn’t look back. "Someone else has already paid."

"Would you like to stay for a meal?"

"Is there no food at my house?" Daxisipo snapped.

Old Mao: "..."

He didn’t know how to respond.

Daxisipo, with her medical bag on her back, glanced sideways at Xingxing. "Not leaving yet?"

Xingxing replied with an "Oh," and followed Daxisipo obediently, waving at Ah Wu. "Bye, Ah Wu sister. Bye, Moliu sister."

Moliu was touched, her eyes welling up with tears.

Xingxing also waved at Grandfather Liu, who was in bed. "Bye, Grandfather Liu, please take care of your health."

Grandfather Liu: "..."

What a thoughtful child, Grandfather Liu thought, though... he realized he needed to step it up a bit!

As Xingxing was about to leave with Daxisipo, Grandfather Liu suddenly said, "Wait."

Xingxing turned around, asking confusedly, "Grandfather Liu, what's wrong? ...Is something still uncomfortable?"

Grandfather Liu coughed. "...In two days, Ah Wu will be hosting a party at home and inviting some young girls over to play. Xingxing, would you like to come too?"

After saying this, Grandfather Liu was still a bit worried that the temperamental famous doctor might object.

Fortunately, Daxisipo just snorted and didn’t say anything unpleasant.

Xingxing responded with an "Oh," and happily agreed. "Yes, yes. Ah Wu sister, I'll come to play with you."

Ah Wu was still a bit confused.

Wait, when did I agree to host a party?

Why didn’t I know about this?

But seeing Xingxing’s happy smile, Ah Wu decided not to voice her confusion and just agreed. "Yes, yes."

After Daxisipo left with Xingxing, Ah Wu turned to Grandfather Liu. "Grandfather, when did I say I was hosting a party?"

Ah Wu’s beautiful willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Actually, she didn’t really like those kinds of parties.

When she was in the capital, she occasionally attended parties with her aunt, but the looks those young ladies in the capital gave her always made her feel uncomfortable all over.

Ah Wu thought, she felt more at home here.

Here, there was Siyang and Xingxing. Although she had encountered some people with bad intentions, overall, she could go out and play happily without worrying about judgmental stares.

She liked it here!

Grandfather Liu looked at his granddaughter, who frowned one moment and smiled the next, his eyes filled with affection.

He said slowly, "I’m getting old. While you're here in the countryside, it would be good if, besides Xingxing, you could get to know a few other girls to play with."

Ah Wu thought for a moment, her eyes falling on the wrinkles on Grandfather Liu's face.

Grandfather was very old...

But he was still thinking of her well-being.

Ah Wu stepped forward, took Grandfather Liu's hand, and nodded earnestly, "Okay! Grandfather, is there anything I need to do?"

Grandfather Liu gave a gentle smile, "...You don't need to do anything. As the host, just spend time with whoever you click with. There's no need to compromise... If there's no one you like, then just forget it. To make friends, you need to connect to have fun."

Ah Wu listened carefully, nodding.

Grandfather Liu felt incredibly relieved.

...

Although Lord Zhang had obtained some wound-healing medicine from Grandfather Liu by playing the pity card, and it seemed that Grandfather Liu had decided not to pursue the matter,

the county magistrate did not let him off.

The county magistrate imprisoned Zhang Hongjun on the charge of injuring people by riding a horse recklessly in the busy city.

Lady Zhang cried her heart out.

Her son had just been beaten and was still covered in blood; how could he endure the suffering of prison?

Lord Zhang was also dumbfounded.

The prison was damp and gloomy. Even though he had held back when beating his son, the injuries only looked frightening and hadn't hurt his internal organs... But if he stayed in prison for a few days, who knew what would happen to the wounds!

Lord Zhang hurriedly took some paintings, gold, and silver to the county magistrate to pull some strings.

But the county magistrate waved him off and refused everything.

Lord Zhang was frightened.

The county magistrate lowered his voice, "...In any case, we have to keep him locked up for a few days to show the higher-ups. Before retiring to the countryside, Grandfather Liu was a Grand Scholar valued by the Emperor. Now, in Mapo County, because he fell ill after being startled by a carriage, if I don't punish the culprit, word might get out, and others might impeach me for failing to maintain order!"

The county magistrate shook his head.

Lord Zhang broke out in a cold sweat.

The county magistrate patted Lord Zhang's arm and reassured him, "Luckily, the renowned physician I invited also said that Grandfather Liu's health is still quite good and with proper care, there's nothing serious... Young Master Zhang has really bit off more than he could chew this time. Let him stay in prison for a few days to reflect. Once the situation cools down, I'll release him. After this, Young Master Zhang should stop recklessly riding through the streets. If this happens again, I can’t guarantee his safety!"

What could Lord Zhang say? He could only nod repeatedly and thank the county magistrate again and again.

On that day, the badly injured Zhang Hongjun was transported to the prison.

Although Lord Zhang had held back when beating his son, the injuries only looked frightening and wouldn't be fatal.

The prison was dark, damp, and had a foul smell. Even with treatment, Zhang Hongjun's wounds were excruciatingly painful.

Just a couple of days later, some of Zhang Hongjun's wounds began to fester, and he screamed in agony, clearly suffering greatly.

...

Meanwhile, in Mapo County, a single invitation sent shockwaves through the county.

The invitation was for some of the students in Mapo County to attend a gathering at the Liu family villa, where they would compose poems and enjoy the spring scenery.

As soon as the invitation was issued, everyone who knew about the Liu family villa was buzzing with excitement!

The Liu family villa was where Grand Scholar Liu had retired to live in seclusion!

If they were lucky, their poems and couplets could earn them personal guidance from Grand Scholar Liu!

If they caught Grand Scholar Liu's eye and received his tutelage, their studies would take off!

On the black market, invitations to the Liu family villa for poetry and spring appreciation were being sold for dozens of taels of silver!

However, Mao Lin, who was handling the invitations, explained that since Grandfather Liu was recuperating at the villa, only those who passed a vetting process would be allowed to attend.

Having an invitation didn’t guarantee entry.

This news cooled many people’s enthusiasm.

As for the county school, there was no need to mention it. Mao Lin, a student at the county school, distributed ten invitations.

What others didn't expect was that Mao Lin also sent invitations to two privately-run schools.

One of them was the school where the sons of the Yu family studied.

Mao Lin was still quite young, only sixteen or seventeen, at an age where youthful success was at its peak.

When he delivered the invitations, he smiled and bowed. "I heard that Xingxing's elder brothers also study here?"

The private school teacher pointed to the few young men at the back.