Chapter 1389: Chapter 1367: Eavesdropping and Being Impolite
Bai Dalang wanted to call the three, but when he started to speak, he saw Second Miss Cheng standing nearby with a flushed face, so he held back his voice and only nodded, saying, "Okay, you all go back first."
The three of them turned around, exited the alley, led their horses forward for a bit, and when they confirmed that the people in the alley couldn’t see them, they immediately abandoned the horses and ran back.
The two guards widened their eyes in disbelief and helped them hold the horses.
The three cautiously ran back near the mouth of the alley, not daring to peek out, sticking close to the wall to listen to the sounds inside.
Second Miss Cheng was very embarrassed, too. She didn’t know what was wrong, just that she wanted to personally hand the items to him, but she regretted it when she got to Erhu Street.
Coincidentally, just as she wanted the carriage to turn back, she ran into Bai Dalang, who had just returned with meat pies.
Now she was caught by his younger brothers, and she didn’t know how they would think of her in the future.
Her eyes grew red as she stuffed the items into his hand and whispered, "I’ll head back now."
Bai Dalang felt her regret but didn’t know how to console her, so he just said, "My brothers are very understanding, they won’t think too much about it."
After pausing, he asked, "Why don’t you come to my house for a bit? My Aunt Grandmother will arrive later, you might meet her."
Second Miss Cheng shook her head repeatedly. She had used the excuse of going out to see new spring clothes today. If her family found out she went without an elder and didn’t present a visiting card, they would definitely be angry with her.
The Bai Family would also look down on her.
Second Miss Cheng bowed to Bai Dalang and left.
The maid hurriedly supported her hand. Bai Shan and the others, who were leaning against the wall, heard the movement and immediately turned and ran, fleeing back to the horses so fast that they even grabbed the wrong horse in their fluster.
However, it was too late to change back now, so they just stood facing the alley begrudgingly to indicate they hadn’t been eavesdropping, merely waiting here to enjoy the scenery and wait for their brother.
As Second Miss Cheng came out and turned, she saw the three standing not far away with two guards, blushing again, and hurriedly rushed to the maid’s hand and walked towards the street corner, where a carriage waiting at the curb came to pick her up.
Bai Dalang chased out, also seeing the three, observed Manbao standing beside Lv’er, while Bai Erlang holding Bai Shan’s Daoli, and Bai Shan clutching Manbao’s Chiji. What was there not to understand?
He shot the three a glare and went after Second Miss Cheng, seeing her off in the carriage, only seeking out Bai Shan and the others to settle accounts after they had gone.
The three stood stiffly at a distance, asking the guards nearby, "Has Second Miss Cheng left?"
Guard: "She’s gone, Young Master Da is here."
The three relaxed, turned around to face Bai Dalang, and before he spoke, they started complaining, "Big brother, how can you sneak into the alley with a girl, especially Second Miss Cheng."
Bai Shan nodded, "Exactly, even if you don’t go home, you should have invited Second Miss to sit in a restaurant or teahouse, that shows respect."
Manbao shook his head, "Senior Brother, you shouldn’t have done that. By the way, judging by this, have you already settled the engagement?"
Bai Dalang hadn’t had a chance to speak before they took over, and he could only swallow the question he’d planned to ask, replying, "Yes, our two families have already settled it, we even exchanged engagement gifts yesterday."
They were quick about it, the three of them collectively gave him a thumbs-up.
Manbao suddenly became interested, "So Second Miss Cheng came to deliver something to Senior Brother? No wonder, since you’re leaving for the capital tomorrow, who knows when you’ll meet again. What did she give you?"
Bai Dalang stuffed the box he held into his sleeve, refusing to let them see.
Bai Shan asked, "What did Young Master Da give Second Miss Cheng?"
The three looked at his empty hands and then turned to see the paper bag held by the servant behind him, noticing it looked very familiar.
Bai Erlang said, "Big brother, couldn’t you spare even a meat pie to give her?"
Bai Dalang couldn’t help but hit him, "Who do you see giving girls meat pies as gifts?"
Bai Erlang held his head, "Why not? Bai Shan just gave Manbao a meat pie."
Bai Shan: "...I gave plenty of things, certainly not just meat pies."
Manbao looked experienced and suggested, "Senior Brother, you should give something memorable and suitable for Second Miss Cheng; remember, you’ll be gone for a year."
Bai Dalang became conflicted and asked, "What do you suggest I give?"
"Flowers," Manbao confidently said, "No girl dislikes flowers, and since spring is nearly here, how about giving a pot of peonies?"
Bai Shan widened his eyes at Manbao, "Are you trying to sell flowers to Young Master Da?"
Bai Erlang asked, "Is it one of those flowers only you have access to?"
Manbao replied, "Of course not, I’m telling him to buy them himself, a pretty and hardy pot she can take care of."
Bai Dalang said, "I think you can’t speak for other girls, I already have something planned for her."
Bai Shan was curious, "What’s that?"
Bai Dalang didn’t answer, instead scanning them up and down before asking, "Aren’t you going to exchange the horses back?"
Only then did the three realize they still held the wrong horses, so they quickly exchanged them.
Bai Dalang sighed, turning to instruct the two guards not to speak of today’s events and chided the three, "Don’t see what you shouldn’t see, don’t hear what you shouldn’t hear, understand? If you see us, pretend you didn’t, and just leave. What do you do but jump in and seek us out to talk? Let’s leave it there; having left, why come back to eavesdrop by the wall?"
The three expressed apologies for the second part and promised never to do it again, but they resisted the first part. Bai Shan said, "Young Master Da, if you knew it was improper, why did you do it?"
The servant following behind hurriedly explained, "Young Master Da wanted to invite Second Miss Cheng to a teahouse, but Second Miss Cheng was embarrassed and said she had only a few words to say to Young Master Da, hence they stopped and said a few words in the alley."
Bai Shan expressed doubt, "But the pie-seller at the street corner said Young Master Da had gone a long time ago; how could he have just said a few words?"
Bai Dalang was shocked, "How did you know?"
Bai Erlang said, "We also went to buy meat pies, asked for directions, and after buying them, leisurely ate as we walked here, see, we’ve even finished the pies."
The three expressed doubt about the servant’s claim of "a few words."
Bai Dalang coughed lightly, proactively explaining, "It was supposed to be a few words; just as they spoke, they said more."
Bai Shan and Manbao both expressed understanding, they often found themselves doing the same.
Bai Dalang said, "Second Miss Cheng is quite shy, don’t tell the family."
The three nodded, promising to keep their lips sealed.
Only then did Bai Erlang remember to ask, "Big Brother, isn’t there food at home? Why did you go out to buy meat pies?"
Bai Dalang coughed, his gaze shifting as he said nothing.