Chapter 108 Prenatal Education Issues
As her belly grew bigger each day, Jiang Mianmian's "pregnancy syndrome" shifted from irritability and mood swings to a new area—
prenatal education.
The imperial physician said that the five-month-old fetus could already hear sounds, and suggested that it listen to music, chess, calligraphy, painting, or read the classics to cultivate its character, so that the child born in the future would be gentle, refined, knowledgeable, and reasonable.
In response, Jiang Mianmian stated:
【fart! 】
Can being gentle and refined put food on the table? Can being knowledgeable and reasonable help you fight zombies?
In this perilous world, although we are at peace now, we must remain vigilant. My children must have a head start! They must master core survival skills!
So every afternoon, a "hardcore prenatal education" lesson that made the servants' hearts pound would be staged in the main courtyard of the Regent's Palace.
The sun is shining brightly today.
Jiang Mianmian lay on the rocking chair, not holding any "Three Character Classic" or "Thousand Character Classic," but rather a half-eaten sugarcane. While chewing, she mysteriously spoke to her stomach:
"Baby, Mommy will tell you a new story today."
"A long, long time ago, in a place called 'Blue Star,' a terrible virus broke out, called the T virus..."
Chen Jin, who was carving a small wooden sword for his unborn child, suddenly slipped his carving knife and almost cut his finger.
T-virus?
What new term is this?
He put down his wooden sword and listened intently. Although he couldn't understand it, he figured that since it was a story for a child, it must be something like the myths and legends in the Classic of Mountains and Seas.
However, Jiang Mianmian's subsequent style of painting completely shattered his illusions.
"That virus is terrifying! People who get infected will turn into zombies! Their skin will rot, their eyeballs will pop out, they'll bite anyone they see, and they'll even eat brains!"
Jiang Mianmian described it vividly, "It was like that...that rotten watermelon, the inside was all red and white..."
Shen Jin: [...]
His stomach churned.
Is this prenatal education? This must be a ghost story!
"But don't be afraid!"
Jiang Mianmian's tone shifted abruptly, becoming more impassioned, "Mom is a max-level expert! When you encounter zombies like this, remember Mom's three survival rules!"
"First! Don't be a saint! Don't help strangers on the street unless they have supplies!"
"Second! Stockpile! When you see a supermarket... uh, I mean a grain warehouse, you must empty it! Don't leave anyone a single grain of rice!"
"Third! And most importantly!"
She made a gun gesture towards her stomach, "Headshot! It has to be a headshot! Whether you're slashing with a knife or shooting with a gun, just blast it in the forehead! Don't hold back!"
"Bang! Bang! Bang! A whole bunch of them are dead!"
Shen Jin couldn't listen to it anymore.
He stood up abruptly, strode over to Jiang Mianmian, and snatched the sugarcane from her hand that she was using to gesture.
"princess."
Shen Jin's face darkened. "Are you... teaching a child to kill and commit arson?"
"What murder and arson? That's called a survival skill!"
Jiang Mianmian said confidently, "What if the world ends one day, or that blind imperial advisor comes and releases poisonous smoke again? Our baby has to learn how to protect himself!"
This is based on my hard-earned experience! It's priceless!
[Isn't it more useful than learning those classical Chinese phrases? Are we supposed to recite poetry to zombies when we're in danger?]
Shen Jin took a deep breath, trying to suppress the throbbing veins on his forehead.
"This is a time of great progress, a time of peace and prosperity."
He patiently explained, "There are no zombies like you mentioned. What children need to learn is how to govern a country and maintain peace, and the principles of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness."
As he spoke, he pulled a hardcover copy of the Analects from his pocket and handed it to Jiang Mianmian:
“Read this.”
Jiang Mianmian glanced at the densely packed words and instantly felt a headache coming on.
Confucius said, "What did Confucius say when he stood by the river?"
[This is so boring! My baby will fall asleep listening to it! He'll become a little bookworm!]
"I won't read!"
Jiang Mianmian turned her head to the side, "You can read if you want! Anyway, I don't want my child to become an old-fashioned person!"
He was calm and helpless.
He sat back down in his chair, opened the Analects of Confucius, and decided to personally guide his child to correct his values.
"To learn and then practice what you have learned is a pleasure, isn't it?"
His deep, magnetic voice was resonant, and his reading was melodious and pleasant to listen to.
However.
After reading just two sentences, Jiang Mianmian's stomach suddenly twitched violently.
"Ouch!"
Jiang Mianmian gasped and clutched her stomach.
"What's wrong?" Shen Jin immediately put down his book and rushed over anxiously. "Does your stomach hurt?"
"no……"
Jiang Mianmian's expression was strange. "It's your son... he seems to be protesting."
"protest?"
"Yeah! Just now, as soon as you read that 'Confucius said' passage, he kicked me! And it was really hard!"
Jiang Mianmian gloated, "Looks like the baby doesn't like listening to this old-fashioned stuff either! He's like me! He likes excitement!"
He was cautious and did not believe in superstitions.
"Impossible. How could my child not love reading?"
He bent down, facing his stomach, and said in an extremely gentle voice:
"Good boy, those are the words of a sage. Listen to me, let Daddy read another passage... 'Is it not delightful to have friends coming from afar?'..."
"Thump!"
Before she could finish speaking, another small bump appeared on Jiang Mianmian's belly, which landed squarely on Shen Jin's face, which was pressed against her belly.
That kick was swift, accurate, and ruthless.
Shen Jin was stunned.
Jiang Mianmian was ecstatic.
Hahaha! Well done!
[My good son! Mom didn't spoil you for nothing! That kick was brilliant! A direct slap in the face!]
"See? See!"
Jiang Mianmian laughed until tears streamed down her face. "I told you he didn't like it! But you insisted on forcing him! Now look what happened, he's the one being rejected!"
Shen Jin touched his cheek where he had been kicked.
Although it was a bit embarrassing, a strange and unprecedented joy welled up inside me.
It moved.
Those were his children, interacting with him.
Although this interaction... was a bit violent.
"It seems..."
Shen Jin looked at the still slightly rising and falling belly, his eyes softening considerably. "This child... is strong and healthy, a good prospect for martial arts."
"Since you don't like overly scholarly things..."
He casually tossed aside the Analects and picked up the unfinished wooden sword again.
"Then let's listen to the art of war."
"The Art of War by Sun Tzu, the Thirty-Six Stratagems".
"How to deploy troops, how to lure the enemy deep into your territory, how to... get a headshot."
Jiang Mianmian: ? ? ?
[Hey! Why did the art style suddenly change?]
[Weren't we just talking about benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness? Why are we starting to teach military strategy now?]
However... military strategy seems much more interesting than the Four Books and Five Classics?
"This is great! I love listening to this!"
Jiang Mianmian immediately perked up, "Tell me about that! Tell me about the Empty City Stratagem! And the one about using someone else to do the dirty work!"
then.
The style of prenatal education at the Regent's Palace has changed from "horror stories" to "military lectures".
As Shen Jin carved the wooden sword, he recounted the most brutal battlefield battles in the calmest tone.
"When dealing with enemies, one must not be soft-hearted. One must nip them in the bud."
"All warfare is based on deception. Sometimes, feigning weakness is a way to launch a better counterattack."
"Like your mother..."
Shen Jin glanced at Jiang Mianmian, "She seems lazy on ordinary days, but when it really matters... she's more accurate than anyone else at throwing stones."
Jiang Mianmian: […Do you even know how to have a conversation? Just praise me, why bring up stones?]
The baby in the womb seemed very interested in the topic, moving occasionally as if to support its father.
The sun is setting.
Shen Jin got tired of talking, and Jiang Mianmian also got sleepy.
She leaned on Shen Jin's shoulder, touching her belly, feeling a warm glow in her heart.
Actually... this is fine too.
Although it's not a fairy tale or a zombie apocalypse, this is probably... the best kind of legacy.
[Shen Jin, although you're a bit old-fashioned, you seem to be a pretty good father...?]
Shen Jin put his arm around her, looking at the small wooden sword that was already taking shape in his hand.
Whether this child is destined for academics or martial arts, whether she is as clever and mischievous as her or as calm and reserved as him, it doesn't matter.
As long as the baby is born safely, that's enough.
"Go to sleep."
He kissed her forehead. "Tomorrow... I'll tell you how to smash someone with a 'gold brick'."
Jiang Mianmian's lips curled slightly in her sleep.
Hmm... this is useful. A must-learn.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com