Gu Jinshu: ...
Gu Jinshu was no longer satisfied.
She glanced at her simple-minded son and sighed inwardly, thinking, "He's still as stubborn as a blockhead."
She waved her hand weakly, telling him to go back to his book.
Zhu Jiayu, on the other hand, was the one with the most relaxed life among the three of them.
From the moment Zhiyi and Ruyi were born, Wei Qinglou was determined to teach his two children both literary and martial arts. He didn't expect them to be able to ride horses to fight the barbarians or write military dispatches on foot, but at least he wanted them to be proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and skilled in riding and archery.
Zhu Jiayu didn't want to dampen his enthusiasm, and she never interfered with how he disciplined the children. Occasionally, when she saw him being too strict and felt sorry for the children, she would walk away, out of sight, out of mind.
Although Zhiyi didn't like studying, she was very sensible from a young age. When she heard that Mrs. Zhang in the alley had died in childbirth, she rushed into her house, hugged her tightly, and cried, saying that she was glad her mother was still alive.
Ruyi is indeed intelligent and willing to put in the effort in her studies, but sometimes she is too ambitious and likes to play pranks on people. However, once she is taught a lesson, she will know to restrain herself in the future.
Zhu Jiayu couldn't bear to see the children working so hard, so occasionally, when Wei Qinglou was less strict with them, she would take the two children out to pick wildflowers and wild fruits in the mountains, to watch farmers tilling the fields, and to watch fishermen fishing by the river. They not only watched, but also tried their hand at hoeing the ground and planting vegetables, and scraping fish scales and removing gallbladders with small knives. Through this, they learned about spring planting and autumn harvest, summer cultivation and winter storage, and that all things in nature have their own strengths.
The couple, one combining education with learning and the other with fun, raised their two children to be exceptionally bright and intelligent, earning praise from everyone who has seen them.
Did Wei Qinglou know that their mother had taken them out to relax and have fun? Of course he knew, but he turned a blind eye.
The two little ones, however, thought that they and their mother had kept their father a complete secret, and were quite pleased with themselves for it.
Because at times like these, they receive more attention from their mother than their father.
Today, Mom took my brother and me to the mountain to play. When we came back, I heard Dad ask Mom when she would take him to the mountain to play too.
Father is so stingy! He even argues with us over this! But it's alright, when Father isn't home, my brother and I are the ones who keep Mother company. And when my brother and I aren't home, Father is the one who keeps Mother company. So I've decided to be more magnanimous and not hold it against Father.
After all, my father promised me last time that I could be betrothed to the young man from the Cui family. I heard that the young man from the Cui family can solve the nine-linked ring puzzle in a very short time, but I don't know if it's true or not.
—From "Ruyi Xiaozha"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com