Liu Chuyu's eyes were red, and she angrily ran to her father, picked up the archery target on the ground, and hugged it to her chest.

He said defiantly, "I just won't study! Even if you don't let me shoot arrows, I will never study in my life! Just give up on that idea!"

"Slap!" Magistrate Liu couldn't hold back and slapped Liu Chuyu across the face.

Liu Chuyu remained silent, while the county magistrate's wife stepped forward, weeping, and embraced Liu Chuyu protectively.

"You, Liu Quande, how dare you hit my son?"

From childhood to adulthood, Magistrate Liu had never hit his son. He always felt that the child was old enough that hitting him would only make him hold a grudge and wouldn't solve the fundamental problem.

But... but today, he was so angry that he couldn't hold back.

Magistrate Liu took a few deep breaths and turned his back.

He Tiantian finally had a chance to interject, "Madam, Chu Yu just returned today. The child is covered in injuries, so please apply some medicine. Madam, the medicine is upstairs, please take Chu Yu up first."

The magistrate's wife wiped away her tears with her handkerchief, glanced apologetically at He Tiantian, and then took her son upstairs.

In the large courtyard, only Magistrate Liu, He Tiantian, and Zhang the clerk remained.

He Tiantian went to the kitchen, poured two bowls of water, gave one to Zhang Shiye and the other to Magistrate Liu.

"My lord, please sit for a moment and let me say a few words?"

Magistrate Liu calmed down at this moment. He sat on the stool and said apologetically, "I'm sorry you had to see this. It's all because I failed to raise my son properly."

He Tiantian continued, "My lord, I don't understand why you are so insistent on Chu Yu studying?"

Faced with He Tiantian's question, Magistrate Liu sighed.

When he was studying, his family was dirt poor. He went from being a student to a scholar, and then to a licentiate. All the expenses during those years were covered by the villagers, one copper coin at a time.

He has three older sisters, and the dowries they received when they got married were all used by his parents to pay for his education.

Life was so hard back then, and the schools we went to were terrible.

In the cold winters and hot summers, people were often poorly clothed and frequently went hungry.

Later, after he became an official, his family's life gradually improved.

Magistrate Liu knew the importance of education, believing that only through education could one change their life. Therefore, he hoped his son would achieve great things through his studies.

However, over the years, Liu Chuyu has not achieved his expectations in terms of studying.

Therefore, Magistrate Liu felt very regretful and unwilling.

He Tiantian thought to herself, "This Magistrate Liu is a typical modern-day parent who hopes his son will become a dragon and his daughter a phoenix."

Parents like this are usually quite tired, and so are their children.

"And now? As you saw today, Chu Yu has absolutely no desire to study anymore. What should you do, sir?" He Tiantian continued to ask.

This question stumped Magistrate Liu.

He hesitated for a moment, then sighed heavily, "I don't know either..."

He Tiantian recounted Liu Chuyu's recent improvement in behavior, and then analyzed, "Actually, parents should be good at discovering their children's strengths. If Chuyu likes archery, you should encourage him to learn. What's wrong with learning archery? Which of the great generals in the capital isn't highly skilled in martial arts and archery?"

“But…” Magistrate Liu hesitated, “Our ancestors have never produced a general in generations, how can this kid become a great general?”

The Great General... that's something so lofty and unimaginable.

That's much better than Magistrate Liu, a mere seventh-rank official. How can a local county magistrate like him be compared to a great general in the capital?

He Tiantian looked at Magistrate Liu and asked in return, "In Magistrate Liu's family, were you the only scholar among his generations?"

"This..." This question stumped Magistrate Liu.

That's true. His ancestors were poor farmers for generations. And yet, he was the only one who became a scholar.

If Chu Yu really becomes a great general, he'll be much more successful than his father.

Magistrate Liu was immediately deflated. It turned out that he had been getting stuck on a rut all along.

"Please wait here, sir. I have something to show you." After saying this, He Tiantian went upstairs.

Upstairs, in Liu Chuyu's room, the county magistrate's wife personally applied medicine to her son's wound.

The child had several bloody wounds on his legs, which looked painful to her, but he didn't utter a sound.

When Liu Chuyu saw He Tiantian come in, she hesitated, as if she wanted to ask something, but ultimately she didn't.

"Chu Yu, where's the military treatise your aunt gave you?"

Liu Chuyu pointed to the three military books beside his bed, which he read every night.

He Tiantian rolled over in bed, picked up three books, and went downstairs.

Liu Chuyu's room window overlooked the courtyard, and the county magistrate's wife curiously opened the window.

This makes the sounds of people talking in the courtyard much clearer.

“Sir, look, this is the book that Chu Yu reads every night. I think the child doesn’t hate reading; he just doesn’t like being forced to study.” He Tiantian placed the military book in front of Magistrate Liu.

Magistrate Liu curiously flipped through the book and saw notes made with some kind of pen, which were some of his thoughts on reading.

Magistrate Liu carefully flipped through the book for a long time before reluctantly closing it.

He didn't understand military strategy, but he saw how meticulously Liu Chuyu had annotated the book. He knew he could never have done that himself.

He Tiantian continued, "My lord, you might consider that studying doesn't only lead to a career in government. In today's dynasty, those with ability can join the army; isn't that also a way to secure a future?"

This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!