"So, your teacher wasn't wrong to reprimand you."
“Mother,” Huang Xiaosi said indignantly, “I just didn’t say it out loud, I already knew this.”
“See,” Jiang Nuan sighed, “Although the teacher is a bit strict, he is not being unreasonable.”
Although it's not good to hit people all the time, their original intention was genuinely for the good of the child.
Jiang Nuan was convinced of this.
However, a more flexible approach might be better.
"Mother, believe me, your son really knows."
“I believe you, and the Master believes you too, but you cannot deny that your answer was indeed not thorough enough.”
“Mother,” Huang Yi said, “it’s just a short explanation; there’s no need to be so strict.”
“That idea is wrong,” Jiang Nuan shook her head. “No matter what, you should always be strict with yourselves and not relax just because of the environment. If you get used to being lax in class, how can you guarantee that you will be serious during the scientific examination?”
To be honest, Jiang Nuan had never really thought about letting her two sons take the imperial examinations before, but since the teacher attached so much importance to it, these two must have something special about them, so it wouldn't hurt to give it a try.
Consider it an opportunity to broaden your horizons.
Anyway, there's no real loss!
Upon hearing this, the two seemed to be deep in thought.
Their subconscious trust in Jiang Nuan made them seriously consider the reliability of her words.
Upon closer reflection, perhaps I really did misunderstand.
“Only those who love you deeply will be so strict,” Jiang Nuan sighed. “The teacher has high expectations for you, which is why he is so demanding. Even if you don’t agree with his methods, don’t treat him like a monster.”
"Mother, I still don't want to be beaten," Huang Xiaosi said aggrievedly. "Ever since I started school, my injuries have never healed."
Old wounds haven't healed and new ones have been added; how pitiful!
“If you don’t want to get beaten, it’s simple: don’t show off your intelligence,” Jiang Nuan tapped her son’s forehead. “Just do what the teacher asks of you, and don’t go against him.”
“It’s no use. I was well-behaved for a while before, but I still got beaten up.”
“That was a test for you,” Jiang Nuan said with a smile. “If you could have endured it, you might not have had to be beaten up anymore.”
"Alright then, son, give it a try."
“Hmm,” after comforting Xiao Si, Jiang Nuan turned to Huang Yi, “Little Fatty, I know you’ve suffered a lot in the past, but that’s all in the past. We have to look forward. There are bad people and good people in the world. Don’t always think the worst of people.”
"Mother, I understand."
Huang Yi buried his head in his chest, not daring to look up.
He always felt that Jiang Nuan knew something.
However, even though I had concealed it very well, how did my mother find out?
"Knowing isn't enough, you have to do it too," Jiang Nuan rubbed his head. "At such a young age, you should spend your time sunbathing and enjoying nature. Don't always get stuck on trivial matters."
Generally speaking, children who have experienced hardship tend to mature earlier.
She used to be like this, lacking any sense of security and subconsciously wary of everyone.
She was like a hedgehog, hiding herself in the innermost part and facing everyone with her hardest edges.
Although Huang Yi concealed it well, his wariness of people remained the same as before.
Jiang Nuan's warm smile stunned Huang Yi, who subconsciously nodded in agreement, "Don't worry, Mother, I understand."
After talking with his two sons and putting down the things he had brought, the group left.
After that, the two of them really did make changes.
Although he still felt somewhat uncomfortable with his teacher, he no longer harbored hostility towards him and even showed him more respect.
The Master saw this and his impression of Jiang Nuan improved even more.
He has been running his school for over a decade and has encountered all kinds of students. Generally speaking, the more intelligent a child is, the more stubborn they tend to be, because they are born with pride.
However, the Master did not think much of such people. Their character flaws were too great, and even if they were fortunate enough to pass the imperial examinations, they would be unrealistic and not go far.
He wanted to guide his child onto the right path, but it was difficult.
Scholars, even those who have just entered school, will suddenly rise in status, and their families will fawn over them.
Little did they know that this approach would only lead the child further astray.
Far-sighted parents simply insisted on providing their children with an education; as for other matters, few people intervened, leaving everything to the teacher.
Little did people know that even Confucius was powerless to help in some matters.
After leaving the school, the Huang family did not return directly, but instead purchased some odds and ends.
In the county town of Jin, Jin Shao and his entourage had just arrived home.
The journey should have only taken a day, but the injured Jin Shao couldn't bear the hardship, so he kept resting after walking a bit, and it took him until today to finally get home.
"Mother, help! Your son is going to die!"
He was gone for four or five days and didn't return, neglecting the restaurant's business. Fearing a scolding, Jin Shao decided to strike first.
“My son,” a woman dressed in fine clothes slowly approached, “has something happened?”
“Mother,” Jin Shao pulled up his sleeve, “I’m injured, my whole body aches.”
Mrs. Jin grabbed her son's shoulder and looked him over, immediately erupting in fury, "What happened? Who hit him?"
After saying that, she looked at her son with disappointment and said, "You, your mother told you a long time ago not to go to those shady places, and now look what happened, you've been beaten up like this. Bilian, go and fetch a doctor, Doctor Lin from Baohetang, and have him come and treat the young master's injuries."
"Mother," Jin Shao said, pouting, "Where's Father? Where is he? Does he know I haven't been back for days?"
"Your father," Madam Jin sneered, "I wonder which little fairy's belly he's on. I haven't seen him for days."
Upon hearing this, Jin Shao secretly breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good, that's good."
If Dad finds out I haven't been to the restaurant for several days, he might get so angry he'll hit me.
“Rui’er,” Madam Jin ordered someone to add a cushion to the chair before letting her son sit down, “what’s going on? Who in Ping’an County has the audacity to hit my son?”
Is she tired of living, or does she think the Jin family is dead?
“It wasn’t Ping’an County,” Jin Shao said dejectedly. “My son was injured in the prefectural city.”
Upon hearing this, Madam Jin fell silent.
The Jin family could rule as kings in Ping'an County, but they were insignificant in the prefectural city.
"What are you doing in the prefectural city for no reason?" Madam Jin asked, displeased. "Ping'an County is so big, isn't it enough for you to have your fun?"
"Mother," Jin Shao said, clinging to Madam Jin's arm affectionately, "I just want to travel around and broaden my horizons."
"Whether he's gained any experience or not, I don't know, but with these injuries, he won't be fully recovered for at least half a month," Madam Jin snorted coldly, then continued, "It's better now, he can stay home and recover quietly, so he won't go out and cause trouble."
At this point, Mrs. Jin was filled with lingering fear.
This time they showed mercy, and my son survived. But who knows if he'll be so lucky next time?
Then, he immediately instructed, "Son, you can do whatever you want in Ping'an County. It's different outside. As the saying goes, even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake. We can't beat those snake heads."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com