232, Return to Normal School (Request Full Order)

The next day.

Bai Gui took Tian Xiao'e and Er Shuanzi and left Tianjia Shizi and went straight to the provincial capital.

He didn't plan to go back to Bailuyuan, Zishui County first. He would inevitably have a lot of social activities, which would easily delay things. He would go to the provincial capital first to sort things out before returning to Bailuyuan. Furthermore, it was also agreed to meet with Manager Zhang.

"My friend Bai left in a hurry because I didn't entertain him well."

Tian Xiucai looked ashamed and said.

He felt that it was because he did not go to the street to sell wine or buy meat that Bai Gui had to leave after staying for one night.

"Friend Tian, ​​don't blame yourself. I have other important matters in the provincial capital."

"It's not a lack of hospitality."

Bai Gui replied.

He had a very clear idea of ​​Tian Xiucai's character. It is very comfortable to be a fair-weather friend with this kind of person, because he likes to slap people in the face and pretend to be fat. If you are a family member, you will be very unlucky and a huge drag.

People with this kind of personality are not uncommon.

Tian Xiucai and Xiu Cai's wife saw Bai Gui and his party out of Tian's family. During the farewell, many villagers heard that a big shot had come to the village, so they followed along the street to say goodbye.

"I have never been so shameless in my life..."

Tian Xiao'e once opened the carriage curtain halfway along the road and said to Bai Gui.

Thank you once.

After finishing speaking, she retreated into the carriage.

It was probably frozen again.

It's freezing cold outside, and it's much colder than a snowy day.

The wind is biting.

It's freezing cold if you expose even a little bit of your bare skin.

…

When we arrived at the provincial capital, it was probably around three in the afternoon.

Yongning Gate.

The south gate of Chang'an.

The First Normal School of Qin Province is located at the west entrance of Shuyuanmen Street on the east side of the south gate of the provincial capital.

"I'm overthinking it..."

Bai Gui was full of ambition and looked around at every sight and thing along Academy Street. His eyes quickly glanced at the rows of white wooden Jinshi archways, and he was a little disappointed in his heart that he could not be found.

This is normal. The Normal School in the provincial capital is not like Bailu Village, where scholars are rare. There are many Jinshi here in the past. The predecessor of Guanzhong Academy has been a famous academy throughout the country since its establishment by Feng Congwu in the Ming Dynasty.

No memorial arch will be specially erected for the scholar's reputation.

He walked to the photo studio on the corner.

As before, there were three-dimensional photos placed at the door. Through the glass door, you could see an old-fashioned camera placed on a wooden frame, covered with black cloth. From time to time, students in twos and threes wearing robes walked in and out.

"Ms. Bai, let's take a photo too."

"When I was a kid, I heard my dad talk about this kind of Western stuff, but I never touched it because he was afraid it would suck away the soul..."

After Tian Xiao'e entered the city, she opened the curtains of the carriage and looked around. When she saw the photo studio, she asked timidly.

The price of taking a photo in a photo studio is not cheap, and a photo can cost as much as an ocean.

Tian Xiucai would never bring her to a place like this to spend money.

She knew that requesting rashly would make others unhappy, but...she really wanted to take pictures.

Even if there is only one!

"It's a small matter, let's go in now."

When Bai Gui saw this familiar scene, he also thought of the scene where he took photos with Zhou Yuan, Miss Zhou, Lu Zhaopeng, and Bai Xiaowen. After not seeing each other for many years, looking back again, he couldn't help but sigh.

Without Tian Xiao'e's request, he would have taken the opportunity to take a few photos.

One is to mail it to the friend who wrote the letter, and the other is to go home and take pictures no matter what.

Come in.

Business at the photo studio is not very tepid.

But not too lively.

After all, photography is relatively expensive, and most people cannot afford the price.

So after a while, it was their turn.

"Sir, Madam, please sit down..."

"Madam, please smile. Well, keep that smile."

"Come on! One, two, three, eggplant!"

The photographer, who was fashionably dressed in a suit, hunched over and huddled in the black cloth covering the camera, shouted something. After Bai Gui and Tian Xiao'e finished shouting about eggplant, they immediately pressed the shutter.

"Sir, would you like to ask if it is expedited or normal? In the expedited format, you can pick it up in one day, but in the normal case, it will take a week to pick up your photos."

The camera came over and said.

"Hurry up."

Bai Gui took a look at the photo studio's flyer.

There are expedited options.

Two silver dollars more expensive than normal.

He was not short of these few silver dollars, so he nodded and chose this option.

It was the first time he came here to take pictures. The photographer didn't give two options because they were all dressed as students at the time. They had just arrived from the countryside and had no spare money. But at this moment, his clothes and temperament, It's not like a money-hungry owner.

"Sir, please leave your address and we will deliver the photos in person."

The photographer smiled and said.

Bai Gui left an address. The address was the courtyard he rented near the normal school in the provincial capital when he was practicing martial arts.

Later, after he studied in Japan, a letter from home mentioned that his father Bai Youde had bought this house as the residence of the Bai family in the provincial capital.

At this time, most of the rich people in the countryside would buy a house in the provincial capital for easy commuting.

Real estate price changes will not be too low.

Out of the photo studio.

Bai Gui followed his memory and found Bai Zhai on Academy Gate Street.

Er Shuanzi proposed to resign at this time. He had already sent Bai Gui to his residence in the provincial capital. It was time to resign.

Bai Gui agreed, took out a few silver coins from his pocket, and stuffed them into Er Shuanzi's hands.

Labor can never be wasted.

"Thank you Mr. Bai."

Er Shuanzi's face was filled with joy. The reason why he was willing to listen to Manager Zhang and take over this job was because these scholars were not stingy like ordinary landlords and wealthy people. Most of the time, they would not use their services in vain and would give tips.

After he bowed and thanked him, he drove the carriage and left without stopping.

After Er Shuanzi left for a while, Bai Gui walked to the door of Bai's house and knocked on the door.

This house is much smaller than the one he lived in in Luohua Hutong in Yanjing. It is actually a small house with a small door. The house only has three or four tile-roofed houses and a small courtyard, which is not very spacious.

I knocked on the door for a while, but no one answered.

A middle-aged woman came from next door. When she saw Bai Gui, she was surprised and said: "Sir, this house is usually empty, but I am watching it. Do you want it?"

"It's Aunt Cui."

Bai Gui's sharp eyes recognized him as an elder from Bailu Village at a glance.

"It's your son, bah, Mr. Bai?"

"Are you back from studying abroad?"

Aunt Cui was stunned for a moment. Bai Guihe's appearance had not changed much from four years ago, but his clothes and temperament had changed a lot. When she saw a person dressed like this, she didn't dare to take another look. , so as not to be rude and disrespectful, so I didn’t recognize him for a while.

"Yes, I came back from studying abroad. I went back to the provincial capital first and wanted to move into a house, but this..."

Bai Gui smiled. He had known this result for a long time. He had a small family. When he bought this house, he would not set up another person to take care of it. He usually asked the neighbors to help take care of it. There was nothing valuable in it, such as this kind of house. , land deeds and house deeds are the most valuable.

But I didn't expect that the person who came over to take a look was not the original resident here, but Aunt Cui from Bailu Village.

"Xiangong Bai, our village has been selling gourd chicken, and we have made a little fortune. I watched the gourd chicken shop at the Academy Gate, so I bought a house nearby your house. I usually look at your house... "

Aunt Cui replied.

"Wait a moment, I'll get the keys."

She hurriedly walked to a nearby room, came back a moment later, and handed Bai Gui a bunch of keys.

"Thank you Aunt Cui."

Bai Gui accepted the key and thanked him.

However, his relationship with Aunt Cui was only acquaintance, not very familiar. After talking for a few words, he felt that Aunt Cui was uncomfortable, so he stopped talking.

Aunt Cui secretly breathed a sigh of relief, said goodbye and left.

Even if she talks to this kind of husband-in-law, no matter how friendly and acquainted she is, the psychological pressure will still be great.

When speaking, he was afraid of causing displeasure.

Open the copper lock and enter the house.

Tian Xiao'e entered the master bedroom, quickly swept away the dust with a feather duster, then took out cotton quilts, sheets and covers from the boxes and cabinets, and spread them on the bed.

She is a smart, capable woman.

For a house like this that has not been occupied for a long time, the cotton is generally afraid of moisture returning and falling dust, so it is stored in boxes.

"I'll go out first..."

"I once studied at the Normal School in the provincial capital, and I had to go visit some teachers and classmates..."

Bai Gui tried his best to move his eyes away from Tian Xiao'e's plump part and said smoothly.

"Well, then... you... go back early and come back early."

Tian Xiao'e was holding a feather duster and hunched over to clean up the dust. After hearing this, she looked back and nodded. She had nothing to say. It was not her turn to agree or disagree. Bai Gui asked her as a sign of respect for her.

"Don't worry, I will leave early and come back early..."

Bai Gui could see Tian Xiao'e's thoughts. She didn't say anything, but when she turned her head, her body trembled.

Sensitive, unable to control fate.

But he didn't say much about it.

Just when I walked out of the bedroom door, I deliberately bent down and the front of my gown swayed slightly.

Well, the bedroom door is shorter.

Lean less.

Bai Gui went to the backyard of the Normal School and the stables as usual.

No one stopped.

Although the school's stable horseman was suspicious of Bai Gui's identity, he didn't dare to ask more questions. People came and went in the normal school, and occasionally important people visited. There were quite a lot of people of all kinds. It's no good talking too much. Besides, someone with this kind of magnanimity People who enter normal school do not look like people who will do bad things.

After passing through the Chaoshou corridor, we arrived at the wing of the lecture hall.

The old man in the side room was lying on a bamboo rocking chair, squinting his eyes and sipping tea. This tea was different from ordinary tea. It was three-cup tea.

Three-bubble tea is also called three-bubble tea and eight-treasure tea. This tea is based on tea leaves, usually Maojian, Fu tea, or Pu'er tea, and is mixed with rock sugar, wolfberry, red dates, walnut kernels, longan meat, sesame seeds, raisins, apple slices, etc. It tastes sweet and delicious, can nourish the body, and prolong life. Therefore, elderly people in the northwest region like to drink this kind of tea.

Bai Gui walked in and sat aside.

He poured himself a cup of tea and took a sip of the hot tea.

Lao Zhaifu didn't pay much attention to this practice. Making tea three times was not a rare thing and it wasn't very expensive. It was common for some faculty members or students to come to him and mix a cup of tea.

“Good tea!”

Bai Gui praised.

Lao Zhaifu suddenly put down the tea cup and hummed Qin Opera, "The mistress was filled with anger when she saw it. She said that Huang Chao was ugly, so she dismissed the number one scholar and rushed to the examination hall. He was so embarrassed when he left the Meridian Gate that he had nowhere to go, so he returned to his original place. How could the county see his relatives and friends from the country? That Huang Chao went out of the Meridian Gate to rebel against the poem and stayed in his hometown. He did not kill Xizong and did not return to his hometown. He killed eight million people before he started. The blood flowed like a river and the corpses piled up in the mountains. Emperor Xizong of the Tang Dynasty could not stand in Chang'an. He was in Xiqi Mi Yang was safe, Cheng Jingsi showed his loyalty, Shatuo Kingdom went to move the King of Jin, but the King of Jin did not send men and horses..."

The song was Qin Opera "White Tiger Hall".

This opera is a famous piece in Qinqiang, and its fame is almost the same as "The Case of the Chopping of the Beauty".

Many people can sing it.

Older people often improvise a piece.

Bai Gui didn't want to disturb the old man's interest, so he quietly tasted tea.

After singing, the old man's throat was dry, so he took a sip of tea. At this time, he glanced at Bai Gui from the corner of his eye and thought for a while, "It's you, kid, you are back from studying abroad?"

"It's the kid, I..."

Bai Gui followed the words and felt strange.

But he is an elder, so calling him a kid, what's the matter, no matter what, he has to be respectful. And he feels comfortable hearing this word kid.

"Look, when I return to the Normal School, the first person I look at is you."

Bai Gui smiled.

He had not been studying in the Normal School for long. Although he entered the Shiwuzhai, he mostly attended the Japanese crash course. He knew some teachers, but he did not interact much with them. Only Lao Zhaifu and Fujino Hachiheiji had a good relationship with him.

"You have a conscience."

Lao Zhaifu smiled, put down the teacup, stood up from the rattan chair, and said: "The Great Qin Empire you wrote is really good. When I listened to storytelling, many storytellers would talk about the Great Qin Empire. I said I knew the author Bai Meihe, hey, they still didn't believe it..."

Bai Gui nodded.

The Great Qin Empire is also a best-seller in China, but whether he went to Yanjing or Shanghai, most people talked about his book Guns and Cannons, which has a higher status. But in Qin Province, as the homeland of Qin, the Qin people look at the Great Qin Empire differently. Many places are well-known and more popular than other places, overshadowing the book Guns and Cannons.

"Come on, come here, I'll take you to meet Mr. Fujino."

"You wrote back to him a few years ago, and he was very grateful to you."

The old man stood up tremblingly.

Four years, four years is just a moment for a young man, but for the old man, four years, he has become a little old.

"Be careful, I'll support you."

Bai Gui walked in and supported the old man.

Walked out of the lecture hall.

On the way.

Many students looked at this scene in surprise. The old man's status in the normal school is not very high, nor is it too low. Usually, students are still polite, but they are not as respectful as they treat teachers in their hearts.

Some students who are familiar with the old man can't help asking, "Who is this gentleman?"

Bai Gui's dress is very much like the teacher who taught them.

"My humble name is Bai Meihe, and I just returned from studying in Japan."

Bai Gui smiled and pretended to be cool.

If you don't return to your hometown when you are rich and powerful, it's like walking in the night in brocade clothes.

It was a refreshing feeling to show off in his alma mater. He hurried to the Normal School in the provincial capital, thinking about this matter. Of course, this matter was secondary. The main purpose was to visit the teachers.

"Bai Meihe?"

"Mr. Bai..., aren't you teaching female students at Beiman Girls' School in Yanjing now?"

"Why did you return to Qin Province?"

A student asked in surprise.

The Normal School subscribed to newspapers from all over the country, and all major newspapers were included.

Hearing this, Bai Gui's face darkened.