Chapter 29: Wu Zhong, the Fish Farm Manager
Time always becomes short when you are busy.

When Chen Jie finished copying the introduction of several medicinal herbs twenty times, it was almost evening and the sun was setting.

Smoke was rising from the chimney of the Bai family. Wu Zhong also came back from the fish farm with a lot of things in his hands.

There was the town’s most famous liquor, Lianhuabai, as well as a roast chicken, a bag of pork elbow, and two bags of fried peanuts.

These things, in this era, are considered to be the best snacks to go with wine. Ordinary people may not even be able to eat them during the Chinese New Year.

For Wu Zhong, who controls the fish market, these things are just ordinary side dishes.

"father."

Doctor Bai was checking the homework handed in by Chen Jie. He checked it very carefully and was very satisfied. Chen Jie's handwriting was neat. Although it was not very beautiful, you could tell that he was serious about it. Every stroke was meticulous and there was no trickery.

Wu Zhong came over and said hello to Doctor Bai. Doctor Bai looked up at Wu Zhong and said, "You're back."

"Ah."

Wu Zhong still respected Doctor Bai very much. He was just an apprentice under Doctor Bai back then. If Doctor Bai had not valued him, betrothed his daughter to him, and used his connections to lobby for him in the fishing gang, how could he have gotten such a respectable position?

It can be said that Wu Zhong’s current success is all due to the support of his father-in-law.

Moreover, Doctor Bai was not only kind to him, but also respectful. The most important representative of them was Wu Hong.

Logically speaking, Wu Zhong was marrying into the family, and the child should have the same surname as Doctor Bai, but Doctor Bai was unwilling to do so and simply named the child Wu Hong.

This was truly a huge favor to Wu Zhong. It not only saved his reputation but also helped him gain wealth and honor. How could he not be grateful?

Looking at Chen Jie, Chen Jie's father was also a son-in-law, but his grandfather forced him to change his surname to Chen, and even recorded him in the family tree and treated him as a member of the Chen family.

Normally, Chen Jie should actually have the same surname as his father, Xie, and be called Erbashu, and these old Chen family members should be called uncles.

However, my grandfather's dominance changed everything. He became a member of the Chen family, and my father only served as an accessory. No wonder my father gave up on himself. In addition to the fact that my father was a hopeless case, it may also be that his dignity was suppressed, so he behaved like a broken jar.

Comparing Chen Jie's father and Wu Hong's father, both of them had the experience of marrying into the family, but their achievements were completely different. One has to sigh that they have the same people but different destinies!

"Yeah, very good."

Doctor Bai finished checking the homework, then looked up, handed the homework back to Chen Jie, and then said to Wu Zhongdao.

"Jiu Si, let me introduce you. This is Wu Zhong, Hong Er's father."

"Zhong'er, this is Chen Jiusi, my new disciple."

After hearing this, Wu Zhong was the first to grin and said, "Hahahaha... Jiusi, I know you. Thank you so much for saving my father yesterday, otherwise our family would have had trouble living. I won't say more. I just happened to buy a jar of Lianhuabai today. We should drink it well, haha..."

Wu Zhong is a rough man, about 1.8 meters tall, with a broad back and a dark face. He looks very honest. He is over 40 years old and has a bulging belly, but he still has the toughness of a warrior.

Upon hearing this, Chen Jie immediately said, "Uncle Wu, you are too polite. As soon as I entered the house, the whole family thanked me. It was just a small favor. I think other people would do the same. It is not a favor. If you say that again, it will really embarrass me."

After hearing this, Wu Zhong glanced at Doctor Bai with a hint of surprise in his eyes. It is not easy for someone so young not to be proud of his achievements.

You know, many young people nowadays will get cocky when they are praised. Chen Jiusi is extremely mature.

It feels very comfortable to touch.

Wu Zhong had a good first impression of Chen Jie. The two chatted for a while longer. Chen Jie spoke in a confident and confident manner. Wu Zhong could not help but nod his head, becoming more satisfied that he was not a frivolous person.

My old man still has a good eye for selecting people.

"It's time for dinner!" Everyone was chatting, and Bai shouted that it was time for dinner. Then Wu Hong, who was not far away, threw down his pen and rushed into the house.

"Mom, let me help you serve the food."

"Hey... Wu Hong, have you finished copying the meridian map?"

Doctor Bai frowned, and Wu Hong's voice came from the kitchen: "Oh, it's almost done. Copy it after you finish eating."

Doctor Bai's face straightened when he heard this, "Zhong'er!"

Wu Zhong heard this and said, "Oh, I understand, Dad!"

As he said that, Wu Zhong walked into the house and quickly pulled Wu Hong out.

"Hurry up and copy it. You can't eat until you finish copying. Your grandpa said so."

Wu Zhong pressed Wu Hong down on the bench. Wu Hong looked at Bai who was looking out of the kitchen with a bitter face. Bai said, "Your grandfather has spoken. No one can save you. Hurry and copy."

After saying that, Bai looked at Chen Jie and said, "Come on, Jiu Si, it's time to eat."

Wu Zhong also came over and said, "Come on, Jiu Si, have a drink with me."

"I, I won't."

Chen Jie declined, but Doctor Bai said, "You should eat if I tell you to. How can an apprentice not be fed?"

Apprenticeships in this era had to follow rules. The apprenticeship lasted three years, followed by two years of service. During the apprenticeship period, food and accommodation were provided, but no wages were given. After apprenticeship, if one made money with the skill, one had to give some money to the master as a show of filial piety, so that the master's teaching was not in vain.

As he spoke, Doctor Bai said, "Jiu Si, give me a hand."

Chen Jie immediately helped Doctor Bai to the table. Doctor Bai looked at Bai and said, "Put some of these steamed buns in a while. Jiusi still has a couple at home. The man is learning a skill here, but he doesn't make any money. How can the wife live at home?"

"Yes, Dad, it's ready."

Bai nodded, and Chen Jie immediately said: "Master, this..."

Doctor Bai waved his hand and said, "If you become my apprentice, I have to take care of you. Ask Wu Zhong if he got paid for his apprenticeship when he was learning from me."

Wu Zhong also laughed and said, "Haha... what the old man said is true, Jiu Si, your uncle not only ate and took away the money, but also cheated the girl away, so you should learn from the old man, you won't lose anything."

"Hey, why do you say everything out loud?"

Bai, who was serving dishes, glared at Wu Zhong who was not doing his job properly. Wu Zhong smiled and said, "There is no outsider."

Chen Jie felt warm as he watched the family playing and laughing, and his eyes couldn't help but look towards Doctor Bai.

Doctor Bai saw Chen Jie's embarrassment and said with a smile: "Why are you looking at me like that? I don't have any daughter or granddaughter to marry you!"

After hearing this, everyone couldn't help laughing.

"Okay, okay, sit down and eat."

Bai invited everyone to eat. Wu Zhong sat next to Doctor Bai, with Chen Jie sitting next to him. On the other side sat Bai, and with his hands hanging down sat Wu Hong, who had just finished copying the meridian map.

dinner's ready.

(End of this chapter)