“……” How can you tell that I’ve lost weight……

These days, Henry Clark could clearly feel that he had gained several pounds……

“This time, now that you’re back, don’t go up the mountain again.” Sophia Carter said in a low voice, “Things haven’t been peaceful at home lately, and I don’t have much energy to look after you. The mountains and wilds are chaotic, and I heard there’s a notorious bandit in the area recently, a ruthless killer who even the authorities can’t handle. If you run into him, it’ll be trouble.”

“Notorious bandit?” Henry Clark immediately thought of his uncle-master Charles Cooper. The moves that guy taught them were nothing if not sinister, despicable, and underhanded. If you’re talking about the most powerful bandit in the area, it might just be this uncle-master……

“That’s right. I heard that a few days ago, a small household in the east of the city was wiped out—everyone from the eighty-year-old mother to the three-year-old child, not a single one left. Absolutely brutal.” Sophia Carter pulled Henry Clark inside to sit down. The little maid brought hot water to wet a towel and began wiping Henry Clark’s cheeks.

“It’s fine. We practice martial arts, and we don’t have anything worth stealing. Even if that bandit wanted to rob someone, he wouldn’t pick us first. The dojo is dirt poor and has nothing.” Henry Clark said casually.

Even if there was something, with uncle-master Charles Cooper around, ordinary bandits probably wouldn’t dare come. You have to know, in these times, anyone who dares to travel all over the country alone and comes out unscathed must be highly skilled and strong. After all, there are plenty of wild beasts and bandits in the deep mountains, and if you can travel alone without trouble, that says a lot.

After chatting with his mother for a while, she directly asked about Yvonne Harris, looking very enthusiastic. But from her tone, it seemed she was planning to have Yvonne Harris become a concubine. Henry Clark brushed her off casually and finally managed to send her away.

After sunset, Henry Clark took Yvonne Harris out for a stroll around the house before heading to the main hall. The Lantern Festival dinner was a time for everyone to gather together.

Following the somewhat narrow courtyard, he entered the main hall with the others.

The main hall, painted bright red in the center, was as big as a basketball court, with two rows of single tables and chairs set up.

From oldest to youngest, everyone took their seats.

The old master James Clark and second uncle John Clark sat in the center. The first seat on the left was Henry Clark’s, and he swaggered over and sat down.

Next was the second child, Lily Clark, the girl who went to the outer city to be a shopkeeper. She greeted Henry Clark with a smile as she sat down.

The third child had slightly dark skin, a strong build, and wore the distinctive gray-black uniform of the military, looking very heroic.

The fourth, George Clark, sat down and stared straight ahead, eyes half-closed as if resting. He hadn’t even become the county magistrate yet, but he already had the bearing down pat.

On the right were the sons and daughters of the second uncle’s family, including Grace Clark, whom Henry Clark had met earlier. Some of these people were married, some not.

Yvonne Harris and other guests sat in a few rows of seats on the outer edge. The numbers looked sparse.

The rest of the maids and servants, along with the young masters and misses from each branch, added up to thirty or forty people.

Outside, you could vaguely see guards patrolling and changing shifts.

Henry Clark sat in his chair, picked up his tea and took a sip, listening to James Clark’s flowery speech about the year’s summary, asking about each family’s situation, and reports on various matters. It was so boring he was about to fall asleep.

He didn’t know how much time had passed when he suddenly heard a chorus of responses.

“Lantern Festival couplet writing, begin.”

He looked up and saw servants holding lanterns lining up, starting from the youngest, the fourth child.

The fourth, George Clark, smiled as he took the brush, dipped it in ink, and quickly wrote a short poem on the lantern.

He recited it softly, immediately winning a round of applause.

Next was the third child, the soldier, who also wrote a pretty good poem about the Lantern Festival. Clearly, he had prepared in advance.

Then it was the second, Lily Clark.

“Brilliant lights and a full moon, trees ablaze with silver flowers.”

She didn’t write a couplet, just said two lines.

When it was Henry Clark’s turn, he didn’t know any poetry and wasn’t interested. He already felt pretty awesome just being able to recognize all the characters here.

Now, looking at the couplet writing, holding the brush, he hesitated for a long time and glanced around. He found everyone’s eyes on him. Yvonne Harris was also standing on tiptoe behind him, looking at him expectantly.

He had a bunch of Lantern Festival poems in his head, but the key problem wasn’t that. The original Emily Clark had beautiful handwriting, but since he arrived, he hadn’t practiced at all, and now even holding the brush felt awkward. He could only barely hold the brush the way he remembered.

After thinking for a bit, he simply drew a circle on the lantern.

Hiss……

Immediately, there was a chorus of boos around him.

James Clark shook his head speechlessly. The fourth, George Clark, sneered and turned away, as if he couldn’t even be bothered to look at Henry Clark.

Then a bunch of children ran in, all the young masters and misses from each branch, lining up to ask for money.

The fourth smiled and took some silver pieces from his money pouch, handing them out to the children one by one.

The servants began to announce:

“Fourth Master George Clark, one tael and five coins of silver for each!”

“No wonder he’s Fourth Master, the future county magistrate—so generous!”