Chapter 2520 - 2494: Paying Respect to Uncle and Aunt

Manbao opened her eyes and immediately sensed a gaze. She slightly turned her head and saw Bai Shan, who was resting on his hand and looking at her, full of smiles.

Manbao’s face turned slightly red. Hugging the quilt, she asked, "What time is it?"

Bai Shan turned to check the time, then retracted his head and said, "It’s between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m."

Is it so late?

Manbao immediately wanted to sit up, but thinking better of it, she lay back down and said, "Let’s get up quickly, Grandma Liu and Auntie Zheng are waiting for us."

However, Bai Shan didn’t get up. Instead, he drew closer and said, "Why are you still calling her Grandma Liu and Auntie Zheng? You have to address them differently today."

Manbao’s face grew even redder. She pushed his chest with her hand and pretended to be annoyed, saying, "Get up quickly."

Bai Shan quickly kissed her on the mouth, then got up with a smile.

Manbao let out a breath, pulled the curtain tightly closed, and then got up.

The two of them got dressed. May and Jiu Lan each brought in a basin of hot water and said to them, "Young Master, Madam, the elders of the family have already come over."

Bai Shan frowned slightly, while wiping his face with a towel, he asked, "What are they here for?"

May laughed, "The day after the wedding, the wife has to pay respects to uncles, aunts, and elders."

Bai Shan’s expression turned indifferent, "Our family is not close with them, we’ll see them later. Did Grandma invite them over?"

"Not exactly," May hesitated for a moment and said, "They say they live nearby and came early today to meet the new bride."

Manbao had already washed her face and said indifferently, "Let them see. They’d have to meet me sooner or later. May, go find Xi Bing and ask her to gather the prepared shoes, towels, and other items, separate them according to the visitors, and later you and Jiu Lan follow to give the greeting gifts."

Bai Shan couldn’t help but look at her, "You prepared so many greeting gifts?"

Manbao chuckled, "It’s prepared by my sister-in-law, she’s been preparing for two whole months."

Since learning that the Bai Family compensated and bought this courtyard for Old Madam Liu in Longzhou, Junior Ms. Qian began preparing.

Nothing expensive; the family had a lot of various fabrics, and the quality was quite good, so she made plenty of shoes. She didn’t ask the relatives of the Bai Family for their foot sizes, she simply made them based on several nephews, nieces, brothers, and sisters-in-law in the family.

When handing out pairs, May and Jiu Lan could roughly guess according to their height as they were all unexpected guests anyway.

Manbao finished her washing and sat at the dressing table. Bai Shan was eager to try, "Let me help you with your hair."

Manbao checked the time and said, "You can do my hair, but the rest should be handled by Jiu Lan."

Bai Shan was curious, "Then can I draw your eyebrows?"

Manbao swatted his hand away, "Another time, Grandma is already waiting at the front."

Bai Shan was infinitely regrettable and further unwelcome toward the kin who had come over uninvited.

Had it not been for them, with Grandma’s temperament, wouldn’t they have been free as long as they want?

May and Jiu Lan smiled and came forward to assist, finishing Manbao’s hairstyle and adorning her with selected jewelry. Bai Shan had already styled his hair himself. Seeing this, he picked a forehead ornament adorned with a ruby from the vanity box, smiled, and said, "This looks nice, wear it."

Manbao took a look and didn’t refuse. She seldom had a chance to wear such adornments as it was inconvenient.

Seeing her not object, May took it and helped her put it on.

Manbao tilted her head slightly to look at herself in the bronze mirror. May and Jiu Lan stared at the suddenly brightened-up Madam speechless for a moment.

Manbao pursed her lips and smiled, her familiar playful charm returned, and May and Jiu Lan breathed a sigh of relief, the cold elegance seemed just a mirage.

Remembering something, Manbao turned back and fished out a bracelet from under the bedstand, placing it on her wrist. Bai Shan’s gaze was caught by the bracelet. He asked, "Where’s that from?"

Manbao glanced at him and replied, "A gift from someone."

Bai Shan just looked at her; there’s only one person whom Manbao would refer to as someone else.

Bai Shan reached out to hold her hand, "Let’s go."

The two were about to head to the main hall when a maid hurried over, followed by Xi Bing carrying a tray.

Seeing the elegantly dressed Zhou Man, they paused for a moment, quickly returned to their senses, and stepped forward to bow, "Young Master, Madam, Old Madam wants you to have something first, fill your stomach before going over."

Xi Bing presented the tray forward, it was a plate of small buns and pickles, along with two bowls of sheep milk.

Bai Shan simply led Manbao back inside to sit down. After Xi Bing had set everything down, he asked, "So, have many people come?"

The maid laughed, "The Elders Three and Five from the main family came along with their wives. Oh, and there’s the old matriarch from the third branch bringing two young ladies and a young master."

That’s quite a number.

Bai Shan then pulled Manbao to eat first.

Manbao started with the sheep milk, the maid seeing them eat so heartily was even happier. She had watched Bai Shan and Zhou Man grow up and was familiar with Zhou Man, thus didn’t shy away from chatting, "Because they came unexpectedly, Old Madam was worried the Madam might not be prepared, so the servants were asked to gather some pouches, towels, and stationery as gifts."

She said, "Old Madam plans to give the two young ladies a pouch and a towel, while the young master receives a pouch and a stationery set."

Manbao promptly replied, "I have prepared some already, including shoes."

Shoes are essential for meeting relatives, hearing this, the maid immediately breathed a sigh of relief and laughed, "That’s excellent, I’ll report back to Old Madam."

Seeing the two finished the small buns on the plate quickly, she felt a pang, "Too little, isn’t it? Shall I let the kitchen bring another tray?"

Young Master and Miss Man usually have great appetites, each could devour a large tray, how would this small serving suffice?

Manbao promptly said, "No need, no need, we’ll be having breakfast with Grandma and Mother later, this is just to tide us over."

The maid agreed, nodding, then assisted them to the main hall.

The guests in the main hall were happily chatting with Old Madam Liu, not seeming to notice Bai Shan’s couple’s delay. Until a reporting voice sounded from outside, they unconsciously sat more upright. Although they’ve visited Zhou Residence and met Old Madam Liu several times, they’ve had fewer encounters with this Lord Zhou.

All because she’s been busy with the clinic and the vaccination affairs.

Third Master Bai, Bai Min, slightly straightened up, his eyes sharply watching the doorway.

Bai Shan and Zhou Man walked in hand in hand.

Seeing Zhou Man adorned in full regalia, less of the usual playfulness and more of an elegant coolness, Old Madam Liu’s eyes flickered, her smile growing wider, unknowingly.

Upon entering, Manbao’s face lit up with a smile upon seeing Old Madam Liu and Ms. Zheng, instantly dispelling the grave elegance and coolness she had worn.

Old Madam Liu: ...

Ms. Zheng heaved a sigh of relief, her eyes bright and smiling, indeed, Manbao remains Manbao.