Chapter 139 Her Name

If you're going to learn a skill, you should do so with sincerity.

Song Chunxue cooked a dish of meat for Zhang Daoshi. He ate it with great relish, showing no preference for either meat or vegetables, though his appetite wasn't as big as hers.

"Eat until you're 80% full, and your stomach will be healthy in old age," Master Zhang said as he watched Sanwa scoop out her third bowl. "You should eat less for dinner in the future."

The Jiang family mother and son were stunned for a moment, and the two children turned to look at Song Chunxue.

“I’ve got it,” Song Chunxue nodded. “Thank you, senior brother.”

"..." The third brother and the fourth brother exchanged a glance, then lowered their heads and ate their food in silence.

After the meal, Sanwa took out a piece of paper from the table with three words written on it.

"Mother, should we start writing it down tonight?"

The fourth brother was stunned for a moment.

Although he felt that it would be too difficult for his mother, at her age, to learn to read.

It's difficult for someone as young as Sanwa to start school, let alone a mother who has already given birth to five children.

What's the point of all this fuss?

But seeing how excited she was, the fourth brother didn't want to dampen her enthusiasm.

"Just recognize three at first. If you can't remember them, Mother, you can ask me when I come back from herding the sheep tomorrow at noon." The fourth son said, getting up and picking up the bowl and chopsticks. "I'll wash the bowl."

Song Chunxue couldn't help but smile. "Okay."

Master Zhang also took out a small booklet, saying, "I'll write something down too. Once your mother can read, she can practice according to it every day, meditating and cultivating. Foundation building is the first step."

“But Foundation Establishment is very difficult; many people never even cross the threshold of Foundation Establishment in their entire lives.” As he spoke, he put the brush in his mouth, moistened it with saliva, and began to write.

Sanwa got up and ran to his room to fetch a small inkstone.

"Taoist Master, please use this." Sanwa enthusiastically pushed it in front of him.

Song Chunxue was quite surprised that Sanwa not only didn't laugh at her, but also supported her in this way.

She felt that the term "foundation building" was just wishful thinking to her.

"Okay, thank you." The Taoist priest smiled and looked at Song Chunxue. "You are a very sensible and thoughtful child."

“Yes, I owe him a lot before. I always favored the eldest son, but in the end, he is the most filial.” Song Chunxue raised her hand and touched the third child’s head. “I was foolish before and didn’t know how to be a good mother.”

Sanwa's face was flushed and hot, his eyes shining as he stared at Song Chunxue without flinching.

His heart was churning like tea being brewed.

It had been so long since his mother had patted his head, and he was afraid that she would be disappointed in him again.

Actually, he's not that great; he just wants to be obedient and sensible because he's not loved.

If Mother finds out in the future that he didn't have much, will she be even more disappointed in him than before?

He suppressed his chaotic thoughts and pointed to the words on the note.

"Mother, do you recognize these three characters?"

Song Chunxue leaned closer for a look. "I think I've seen this before."

Sanwa smiled, "These three characters are your name."

"Does my name look like this?"

Song Chunxue doesn't have many opportunities to use her own name, so she doesn't really recognize it.

Moreover, in the past, when I saw the household registration book, they were all small and crowded together, and she wouldn't recognize who wrote it.

Upon closer inspection, it does seem to be true.

"Mom, why don't you write it down yourself, copy it three times, and then read it aloud so you can remember it better?"

Looking at the mother and son diligently learning to read, Master Zhang felt a pang of envy.

He was used to being alone and had never thought about what it would be like to have children.

Then he shook his head again, deciding against it.

With his restless and unpredictable nature, even if he had children, they would suffer, probably never seeing him more than a few times in their lives.

It's better to stop causing harm to people.

The three of them lowered their heads and wrote their own things. Song Chunxue held the pen with difficulty and found it even more difficult than the first time she held a baby.

Finally, she held the pen like she would chopsticks, and it became much more stable.

Although her strokes on the paper trembled terribly, she didn't want to give anyone the chance to look down on her.

Even if she faces ridicule and insults, she will persevere.

She could tell that the fourth brother didn't believe she had the patience.

As for the eldest brother, if he knew she wanted to study and learn to read, he would definitely laugh at her along with Chen Feng.

Half an hour later, the oil lamp flickered a few times, and Song Chunxue's back was covered in sweat.

Although it's poorly written, at least it's correct.

"Alright, it's time to sleep." She got up and urged them to go to sleep. "You all need to get up early tomorrow."

“I have to teach you how to meditate.” Master Zhang looked at the third child. “You should learn too. In the summer, I always feel sleepy when I read in the afternoon, and even a nap doesn’t help.”

"But if you can meditate for an hour, regulate your breathing, and absorb the energy of heaven and earth, I guarantee you will be full of energy."

The third child's eyes lit up. "Really?"

“I would never lie to anyone. You’ll know once you try it.” Master Zhang sat cross-legged on the chair. “Do as I say.”

The fourth brother came in from outside, sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and, with a try-it-and-see attitude, closed his eyes and listened to the Taoist priest's teachings for half an hour.

Half an hour later, the third child opened his eyes and found that everything he saw was even brighter.

"The Taoist priest didn't lie to me; he's truly lucid!"

Song Chunxue also felt it; she felt much lighter and her eyes felt more comfortable.

However, she wasn't surprised; this is what happens when you close your eyes to rest.

His gaze fell on the kang (a heated brick bed). "Is the fourth brother asleep?"

The fourth brother was fast asleep, his head tilted to one side, and he had even started snoring.

Master Zhang laughed heartily, "This child is carefree, which is also a sign of his extraordinary talent, and that's a good thing."

It's late at night, and if I don't go to sleep now, I won't be able to get up tomorrow morning.

The third child carried the fourth child out to sleep.

Master Zhang stood up. "I'm going to dig in the ditch tonight. Want to come?"

Just then, the hooting of an owl came from outside, and Song Chunxue shook her head repeatedly.

"Then Senior Brother won't come tomorrow. Go to the manor and scare them a little, so they won't gossip."

Watching him step across the threshold, Song Chunxue was deeply moved, not expecting that he wasn't just saying it casually.

"You're so kind, senior brother. You must be very busy, so don't worry about these things. The innocent will clear themselves. Even if you go, we'll still talk about it after you leave."

"That's different. People's words can be a fearsome thing, but success depends on people. Besides, I have a silver tongue, and I guarantee they won't have the face to talk about others, and they'll be afraid of me from now on."

Song Chunxue understood that he was trying to hit someone where it hurt.

"Then come for lunch."

"We'll talk about it tomorrow." With that, he walked towards the west room. "Get some rest."

Standing at the door of the north room, Song Chunxue watched as the west room was gently closed.

She couldn't help but smile; she never expected to meet such an interesting Taoist priest.

If she could start over, God would be kind to her.

It seems that many good people have appeared in this world.

The next morning, the first thing Song Chunxue did after waking up was to write down the characters she had learned the day before.

She took a stick and wrote on the ground again and again.

From now on, she will be someone who can write her name.

Master Zhang left sometime ago and didn't come at noon.

When Song Chunxue didn't see him again until dark, she knew he had left.

Perhaps it was for the sake of her reputation.

She couldn't help but open the booklet he had left behind, silently vowing that she must not let his painstaking efforts go to waste.

The eldest son has already moved most of the things from the thatched kiln to the new house.

He would light a fire in the house every day to help it dry faster.

The water cellar has been coated with mud three times.

Before they knew it, it was time for them to prepare meals, set up the stove, and move in.

"Mother, we're starting the kitchen tomorrow, can you help with cooking?"