Chapter 1024 - 1026: Grasp Both Wealth and Knowledge_1
Before one knew it, the time had come for Little Dengdeng’s first birthday celebration and the ritual of "Zhuazhou," where a child picks an item that signifies their future path. Lin Ping’er took the initiative to handle all the arrangements, bustling about the house with extraordinary enthusiasm. According to her, making preparations for her grandson was not tiring at all. Bai Ruozhu, however, felt that it was an understatement to say Lin Ping’er wasn’t tired; she seemed as if she were infused with chicken blood.
Since they were hosting the celebration themselves, there weren’t many guests to expect, just waiting for Bai Lu and Bai Yixiao to arrive would suffice. However, when the time came, two horse carriages arrived at the gate. Bai Lu and Bai Yixiao alighted from one carriage, followed by Bai Fu and the Liu Family, who also descended from their carriage.
Initially, they had been quite adamant about not coming, but now here they were, obviously feeling guilty over the comment made by the Liu Family about not being "part of the Bai Family."
From the other carriage, a middle-aged man stepped down, and then he assisted the Bo Family’s lady to alight. Without asking, one could be certain that the man was none other than the Marquis from the Bo Residence, Bo Qun.
Bai Ruozhu surreptitiously took Bo Qun’s measure. She had heard that he had joined the military in his teens and fought his way up from being a common soldier, surviving numerous life-and-death battles to gain military merits, which eventually led to his ennoblement as a marquis, settling unrest for his family.
Such a character commanded her respect, and Bai Ruozhu admitted to herself that if she were in Bo Qun’s shoes, she surely couldn’t have accomplished what he had.
Bo Qun was not particularly tall, but because he had spent years in the military, even with age, his back remained exceptionally straight. His face bore the signs of years of exposure to the sun and wind, appearing very weathered. The lady he escorted, who was actually eight years his junior and well-preserved, stood beside him and looked more like his daughter than his wife.
However, Bo Qun’s attitude toward the lady was one of deeply affectionate regard.
Bai Yihong hurried over with Lin Ping’er to greet and pay respects, considering the family relations, Bai Yihong should have addressed Bo Qun as his uncle. But since the families weren’t particularly close, the familiarity of such a title was absent, so he still called him Marquis Bo.
Bo Qun did not carry the stern air of a battlefield warrior; in his conversation, there was a hint of the scholarly.
"Don’t be too formal," Bo Qun said with a smile, "we are all relatives here. Today, I specifically came to congratulate you and to join in the festivities."
Hastily, Bai Yihong gestured them inside and said, "Then, Marquis, and Lady, please come inside to sit and talk."
As Bo Qun walked into the yard, he laughed and said, "Yihong, based on our family relations, you ought to call me ’uncle.’ Although I’m only ten years older than you, that’s still enough for me to bear the title of uncle, isn’t it?"
Was he trying to draw closer to the Bai Family?
Bai Yihong’s face flushed slightly, and he responded with a smile, "Then I will address you as uncle and auntie from now on."
Bo Qun laughed, his wife being around the same age as Bai Yihong, but this caused no awkwardness. With many members in the family, calling each other by generational titles was not unusual, and there were even those much older than her who addressed her as grandmother.
At that moment, Bai Yihong also went to greet Bai Lu, Bai Fu, and the others. Bai Yihong didn’t know about the slight interruption that had occurred; Bai Ruozhu thought it best not to tell her father before things were clear. As such, Bai Yihong was only aware that his parents had earlier mentioned they weren’t well and wouldn’t be coming. Now that they had arrived, he was particularly overjoyed, thinking that they had seen reason.
Bai Ruozhu supposed that if the old master and mistress had come, it wasn’t out of guilt or for appearances’ sake but likely because Bo Qun himself intended to visit, and they didn’t want to put on airs in front of him.
After some conversation among the group, everyone seemed a bit constrained on account of Bo Qun’s presence as a marquis. But Bo Qun was aware of the issue and lightened the mood considerably with a few jokes.
Lin Ping’er, noticing it was almost time, informed Bai Ruozhu, who then returned to her room to fetch Little Dengdeng. Nanny Zhang had already dressed the child in a bright red outfit, following the customs of Danliang Country that dictated a child should wear red on their first birthday. The clothes were also embroidered with patterns symbolizing good health, wealth, and auspiciousness.
Little Dengdeng, dressed in new clothes, was extremely excited, especially since children of his age are highly sensitive to red and love the color the most. Little Dengdeng turned his head to look at himself from the left and then from the right, his tiny mouth wide with laughter.
Bai Ruozhu put a tiger head hat on him, and, in an instant, the little boy became even more adorably silly, making one eager to surge forward and plant a kiss on him.
Even the normally somewhat stern Nanny Zhang broke into a smile, saying, "The young master looks so handsome, even an old servant like me can’t help but want to hold him tight and never let go."
Bai Ruozhu, unable to contain her laughter after hearing such praise, knew very well the feeling of pride when one’s child is complimented.
Seeing it was almost time, Bai Ruozhu wanted to carry Dengdeng out for the grabbing ritual, but Dengdeng resolutely refused to be carried by her or by Nanny Zhang, apparently fearing they’d wrinkle his new outfit.
Bai Ruozhu laughed so hard her stomach hurt, whispering, "You little stinker, already so vain at this age?"
In the end, she had no choice but to take Little Dengdeng by the hand and head to the site of the grabbing ritual together.
When everyone saw Little Dengdeng arrive, they felt a bright spark appear before them—the soft and cuddly child was simply too cute!
Jiang Yichun showed a face full of pride. Even his usually cold expression warmed into a smile—and quite a goofy one at that.
He felt quite smug inside, thinking that his son was indeed the most handsome and adorable of all. Didn’t they see whose seed had been sown!
Bo Qun, seeing Dengdeng walk over by himself with particularly steady steps, also commented with a smile, "The child is sturdy; he’s got the makings of a great martial artist."
Lin Ping’er glanced at the hourglass and reminded Bai Ruozhu, "The auspicious time is almost upon us, you’d better take Dengdeng over for the grabbing ritual quickly."
Not daring to delay, Bai Ruozhu led Dengdeng towards the grabbing ritual site. There lay a bright red carpet, atop which sat an array of items, including books, brushes, abacuses, jade pendants, and small wooden swords, amongst others. The objects a child grabbed on their first birthday were meant to symbolize their future prospects.
For example, if a child grabbed a small wooden sword, they would say he was destined to become a great general; if he grabbed a brush, they would praise him as a scholar champion. Of course, generals and champions weren’t found just anywhere, so these were merely auspicious sayings.
Dengdeng, led by Bai Ruozhu onto the carpet for the grabbing ritual, watched as Lin Ping’er recited the blessing words according to the customs of Danliang Country. Liu Family’s matriarch’s expression darkened—it was customary for the eldest female elder in the family to recite the words, and Lin Ping’er’s failure to invite her to do so was a great slight to her dignity.
In fact, Lin Ping’er had considered asking Mrs. Liu, but knowing her temperament, she feared creating unnecessary complications and decided to proceed with the original plan. After all, the family patriarch and matriarch had been at odds from the start.
Once the blessing words were concluded, Bai Ruozhu let go of Dengdeng and said with a smile, "Son, go grab something you like."
Dengdeng saw so many people watching him; his big eyes appeared slightly bewildered as if he didn’t understand why the adults were all gathered around him today. Jiang Yichun said from nearby, "Go on and grab, son; whatever you get will be yours."
Dengdeng stepped forward without a hint of hesitation, reaching out with both hands; with his left hand, he grasped a book, and with his right, he secured a small silver ingot.
The crowd erupted into laughter, and Bo Qun spoke up, "The child is very clever, knowing to grab two at once."