When they got back, they found that none of the three children had gone to sleep. They were waiting on the large kang (a heated brick bed) by the window in Zhang Zhaoci's room, with melon seeds, peanuts, and some dried fruit on the kang table.
Zhang Zhaoci said, "Oh my, what are you all doing? Are you going to have a fireside chat?"
Xu Bai asked, "Mother, what were you and Granny Lu whispering to each other at Grandmother's place?"
Zhang Zhaoci said, "Children shouldn't pry into what adults are saying. By the way, how have you been doing at your uncle's place these past few days?"
Xu Bai said, "It's great. My brothers take good care of me, and my master is also very good to me. Mother, I don't think I have any talent for martial arts. The master who teaches me kung fu is obviously not as strict with me as my brothers. I feel like he's just fooling me."
Zhang Zhaoci said, "Isn't this a good thing? You can take the opportunity to slack off."
Xu Bai shook his head and said, "I'm the kind of person who either doesn't do something, or if I do it, I have to do it to the best of my ability. I need to find a way to let my mentors know that I'm not someone who does things casually."
Zhang Zhaoci smiled and said, "Okay, nothing is impossible if you're willing to try. I'm rooting for you."
Xu Bai said in a low voice, "There are no material rewards, only verbal praise each time."
Xu Di said, "Tell me what kind of material reward you want. As long as you dare to say it, I dare to give it to you."
Xu Bai glanced at Xu Di cautiously, thought for a moment, and said, "Let's forget it. I think this is fine."
Xu Di said, "Look at you, so cowardly. Just say what you want. If you say it, and we can do it, would we not give it to you? From now on, if you have something to say, just say it. Say what you want out loud."
Xu Bai lost his parents when he was very young and grew up with many relatives, which instilled in him the habit of not asking for things casually. He has lived in this family for several years, but he still can't get rid of some of his personality flaws.
Xu Di only recently discovered his younger brother's problem and felt that he should correct it. One should be open, generous and upright, and it's not good to be so hesitant when it comes to matters.
Upon hearing Xu Di's words, Xu Bai slowly lowered his head. Zhang Zhaoci saw this and said with a smile, "Our little Bai is not a coward at all. He complains that his master doesn't teach him well. In the future, our little Bai will be able to learn a lot of kung fu."
Xu Zhi was sitting close to Xu Bai. Seeing Xu Bai's expression, she smiled and pulled him to her side, saying, "My little brother will be a great hero in the future."
Xu Di laughed and said, "Yes, we'll also get Xu Xiaobai a big white horse. When he rides down the street, all the young women and wives will stare at him and throw sachets and handkerchiefs at him."
Granny Lu said with a smile, "Wouldn't our Seventh Young Master's outing be even more sensational than the top scholar's parade through the streets?"
Xu Bai blushed, pouted, and said, "It's all in your imagination, it's not real."
Xu Di said, "You still have many years ahead of you. If you work hard, can't you achieve your goal?"
Zhang Zhaoci said, "That's right, you still have many years ahead of you that are worth fighting for. Don't you believe in yourself?"
Xu Bai said, "Now that you've said that, I feel like the burden on my shoulders has become much heavier. I'm still just a child, and I have to think carefully about my future. Are all children's childhoods this heavy these days?"
Zhang Zhaoci said, "Your brother is only seventeen or eighteen years old, and he already has to get married and prepare to have children. Doesn't he also have to think carefully about how to support his family?"
Xu Bai said, "That's true. What kind of era is this? We should be carefree at this age, but we have to shoulder such heavy burdens."
Xu Di said, "What can you do? Everyone else does it this way. If you don't, won't you fall behind? Work hard, and when you come of age, you'll be a capable and competent man."
Xu Bai sighed and said, "I originally thought I was born into a good family and could win at life without lifting a finger, but in the end, I still have to work hard, even if it means hanging my head from the rafters and pricking my thigh with an awl."
Xu Di said, "That's natural. No one's success comes easily. You think you can just lie down and win? Forget it. Just study hard and practice martial arts. Don't miss anything you need to learn. Let me tell you, God favors the honest. Don't think those who like to cheat have it easy. They'll eventually fall down."
After being coaxed and persuaded by his mother, brother, and sister, Xu Bai finally felt a little more at ease. He followed Granny Lu back to his room, and as he lay down to sleep, he whispered to Granny Lu, "Granny, my mother, brother, and sister are really good at doing ideological work. You see, each of them said a few words, and I feel that besides studying hard and practicing martial arts, there's nothing else worth doing."
Looking at the child she had watched grow up, Granny Lu gently stroked his soft hair and said, "It's all for your own good. If you work hard now, you'll have the skills to stand on your own two feet in the future. As the saying goes, 'If you don't work hard when you're young, you'll regret it when you're old.' Many people only understand this truth when they are old and frail."
Xu Bai said, "Grandma, I will definitely study hard from now on."
The next day, the ground was covered with thick snow. The Zhang family elders, along with their children, came in several carriages to pay their respects to the old lady.
The old lady got up early in the morning to discuss with Granny Shen what clothes to wear and what kind of gifts to prepare for the meeting. The younger generation of the Zhang family, especially the younger ones, came to kowtow to the old lady, and as an elder, the old lady had to prepare gifts for the children.
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
