Chapter 134 Educational Issues
On the shores of the East China Sea, a gentle sea breeze blows.
In order to resolve the increasingly serious "secret crisis" and "furniture damage crisis" at home, Shen Jin decided to postpone his trip and open a three-day "Prince's Special Training Class" in a quiet bamboo forest behind the inn.
Student: Shen An, four and a half years old, special skills include smashing water jars and revealing secrets. Instructor: Shen Jin, former regent, special skills include a cold face and doting on his wife. Auditor: Jiang Mianmian, special skills include gossiping and internal monologues.
Early morning, in the bamboo forest.
Little Tuantuan was in a horse stance, her little face contorted in a pained expression, holding a piece of soft tofu in her hand.
Yes, tofu.
"Dad, my hand is sore."
Tuantuan looked at Chen Jin pitifully, "This tofu is so soft, it breaks with the slightest pressure. Can we get something else? Like... a gold brick?"
"no."
Shen Jin, dressed in martial arts attire, stood expressionless to the side, ruler in hand. "Gold bricks are too hard; you can't develop skillful strength with them. Your current strength is like a runaway bull. If you don't learn to control it, you might strangle your wife when you hug her in the future."
Jiang Mianmian sat on the bamboo chair next to her, peeling an orange while nodding:
[That's right! Son, this is for your future happiness!]
Imagine if you were holding hands with a girl and suddenly crushed her hand—how embarrassing would that be? You'd be destined to be single forever!
When Tuantuan heard her mother's words, her little hand trembled in fright.
"Clatter".
The tofu in my hand crumbled and fell to the ground.
"Waaaaah... I don't want to be single forever! I want to train!"
Tuantuan picked up another piece of tofu, her eyes now filled with a look of grim determination.
Having solved the problem of power control, the next step is even more difficult—mind-reading control.
Shen Jin sat down cross-legged and gestured for Tuan Tuan to sit opposite him.
"Close your eyes."
Shen Jin said in a deep voice, "Focus your energy in your dantian and guard your mind. Imagine there is a door in your mind."
"The door?" Tuantuan asked, her eyes closed and her eyelashes fluttering.
“Yes. Outside the door is a noisy environment, inside the door is yourself.” Shen Jin guided, “Now, shut out all the sounds you hear. No matter what you hear, you are not allowed to move, speak, or even… drool.”
"Drooling?" Tuantuan asked, puzzled.
Just then, Jiang Mianmian, the "distractor" next to us, came online.
This was arranged by Shen Jin. To master this divine skill, one must first overcome the hurdle of one's "own mother."
Jiang Mianmian cleared her throat but didn't speak. Instead, she launched a psychological attack called "reciting the menu":
Oh dear, what should we have for lunch?
I heard the beggar's chicken around here is pretty good? Wrapped in lotus leaves, covered in mud, roasted until it's oozing oil... Tear open a chicken leg, the skin is crispy, the meat is tender, and the juices are overflowing... Slurp...
And that 'Dongpo Pork Knuckle' is so tender yet not greasy, it melts in your mouth, and you can easily eat three bowls of rice with it!
[And another 'crab meat lion's head meatball'...]
Tuantuan closed her eyes, and her originally calm little face began to contort.
His Adam's apple bobbed up and down, and a trace of clear liquid even appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Hold on!
You have to be patient!
But... beggar's chicken... pork knuckle... lion's head meatballs...
The voice seemed to have a magical power, drilling straight into his brain and making his stomach rumble with cravings.
"Gurgle—"
Tuan Tuan's stomach made a loud noise.
He suddenly opened his eyes, pointing at Jiang Mianmian with a face full of grief and indignation:
"Mom! You're cheating! You're thinking about pork knuckle!"
"Smack!"
Shen Jin gently tapped Tuan Tuan's forehead with the bamboo stick in his hand.
"We lost."
Shen Jin said calmly, "Your mind is unsettled and your willpower is insufficient. You lose your composure at the mention of delicious food. If your enemies use a honey trap or a food trap to entice you in the future, wouldn't you have to sell out the entire empire you've built up?"
Tuantuan covered her forehead, feeling extremely wronged:
"But...that's what Mother wanted! I want to eat it too..."
"You can eat it if you want."
Shen Jin pointed to a pile of tofu next to him, "If you finish making these ten pieces of tofu without breaking a single one, I'll take you out for beggar's chicken for lunch. If even one piece breaks, I'll deduct a chicken leg."
"ah?!"
Looking at the pile of limp tofu, Tuantuan felt like the sky had fallen.
This is some kind of grueling training!
For the next two days, screams and tempting food filled the bamboo forest.
Jiang Mianmian racked her brains to cooperate with the training.
One moment she was thinking of scary stories to frighten her son, the next she was thinking of jokes to amuse him, and she even thought of some "inappropriate" images (which Shen Jin stopped her in time).
Under such intense bombardment, Xiao Tuan Tuan's anti-interference capabilities skyrocketed.
The third day at dusk.
Tuantuan held a perfectly intact piece of tofu in her hands, her eyes closed, as steady as a mountain.
Beside her, Jiang Mianmian was mentally screaming:
Fried chicken! Cola! Pizza! Hot pot! Spicy hot pot! A Manchu Han Imperial Feast!
Son, look, that roast duck is flying! It flew into your mouth!
This time, however, Tuantuan only frowned slightly, her lips were tightly pursed, and she didn't utter a sound or tremble.
He imagined the door his father had mentioned.
He shut out all noise and focused solely on the piece of tofu in his hand.
The time it takes for an incense stick to burn has passed.
Shen Jin opened his eyes, looked at the beads of sweat on his son's forehead, and a hint of relief flashed in his eyes.
"alright."
He said, "Open your eyes."
Tuantuan cautiously opened her eyes, looked at the tender, intact piece of tofu in her hand, and cheered in disbelief:
"It's not broken! It really isn't broken! And I didn't say anything!"
"Dad! I did it!"
He threw away the tofu and threw himself into Chen Jin's arms, asking, "Am I amazing?"
Shen Jin caught him and took a handkerchief to wipe his sweat.
"sharp."
"More powerful than your mother."
Jiang Mianmian: […Hey! Is it fun to praise one person while putting down another?]
Shen Jin smiled and turned to look at Jiang Mianmian:
"Now that you've passed the test, shouldn't you be able to claim your reward?"
Jiang Mianmian jumped up from the chair and clapped her hands:
"No problem! Let's go! Let's get some beggar's chicken! All you can eat!"
A family of three walked out of the bamboo forest.
The setting sun cast long shadows of them.
Tuantuan rode on Shen Jin's neck, holding a gold brick in her hand, looking very proud.
"Father, am I a master now?"
"I guess so."
"Can I beat that Xiao Yi?"
Chen Jin paused in his steps.
Xiao Yi.
That man who fled back to Northern Yan and never gave up his wicked intentions.
"You're not ready yet."
Shen Jin held his son's calf, "But as long as you practice hard, one day you will be stronger than him. Stronger than your father."
"good!"
Tuantuan waved the gold brick, "When I grow up, I'll go to Northern Yan, capture him, and make him my mother's... foot-washing maid!"
Jiang Mianmian: [Pfft... Son, don't say things like that. That image is too beautiful for me to bear.]
Although the training lasted only three days, some seeds have already been planted in the children's hearts.
On control, on responsibility, on protection.
This is perhaps more precious than any peerless martial arts skill.
"Oh, right, Dad."
Tuantuan suddenly lowered her head, leaned close to Chen Jin's ear, and whispered, "Just now, Mother was thinking to herself... that she wanted to play a 'role-playing' game with you tonight... what kind of game is that?"
Chen Jin stumbled.
Jiang Mianmian's face instantly turned bright red.
[You little brat! You're eavesdropping again! Didn't we agree to close the door?!]
Is this door drafty?
Chen Jin steadied himself, glanced at Jiang Mianmian whose face was flushed, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.
"That game..."
He told his son, "This is not suitable for children. Even when you grow up... you still can't play this game."
"That's Daddy and Mommy's...exclusive game."
Tuantuan nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
Although I don't understand, judging from the way my mother looks like she wants to disappear into the ground, it must be really funny!
Although the education problem has been temporarily solved, this "leaky" little cotton-padded jacket seems to need a long-term... patching.
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