Since her children started attending school in the capital, Jiang Jiuniang had rarely interfered with their studies. After all, the educational resources here were the best, and the children were working very hard, so she didn't need to say anything more. But now, she had no choice but to step in.
She decided to take the kids out for a walk and give them some advice.
He specifically instructed them to wear fine clothes and go out together to parade through the city.
The children were a little confused, but they did as instructed.
Jiang Jiuniang took them around the city and then to a poor village in the countryside to see how different people lived. They didn't return home until sunset.
"After watching all day, what are your thoughts?"
Finally, it was time to summarize. All three of them were a little nervous. They really couldn't see any meaning in what their aunt had done today.
The group of people lowered their heads, looking troubled; this was an unprecedented situation.
Jiang Jiuniang knew that they received an education for the elite at the Imperial Academy, where they had to pass the imperial examinations to obtain official titles; otherwise, studying would be meaningless.
Seeing their reaction, Jiang Jiuniang didn't expect them to say anything nice, so she changed the subject and asked, "Do you remember why I sent you to school in the first place?"
Jiezi immediately replied, "My aunt said that only by studying can one have a future."
Little Tiger said, "It's so that everyone can live a good life!"
Lei Zi thought for a moment and then said carefully, "My aunt just wants us to learn to read and write so that we can have more ways to make a living than others in the future."
Jiang Jiuniang nodded: "You are all right. I have said many things, but I have never asked you to pass the imperial examinations, have I?"
The group fell silent. Xiao Huzi was alright, but Lei Zi and Jie Zi were visibly downcast. Jiang Jiu Niang continued, "The most important thing about studying is to cultivate one's character, to be polite and respectful, and to speak with refinement, rather than being like a street thug who only knows how to spew filth. As for taking the imperial examinations, that's just a foundation. If you have the ability, you can try; if you don't, there's no need to force it."
"Some people spend their whole lives trying to pass the imperial examinations, but never pay attention to other things around them. Such a life is meaningless. Passing the imperial examinations is just a small stage in the long journey of life. You are only going to take the exams to become a Xiucai (a lower-level scholar). After that, you will have to take the exams to become a Juren (a higher-level scholar) and a Jinshi (a higher-level scholar). How will you conduct yourselves then? Relax, it's not a big deal."
As Jiang Jiuniang spoke, she patted their shoulders, saying that there was not much she could do to help them now.
"Auntie, I want to pass the imperial examination and win an imperial title for Lianhua and my mother."
Lei Zi clenched his fists, his expression very serious.
He was originally quite confident in himself, but after going to the Imperial College, he heard from those around him that it was very difficult, and his teachers repeatedly told him to be careful in reading the questions. As time went on, he gradually lost confidence.
"Lei Zi, although I know you mean well, I still have to make things clear to you. You are taking the imperial examination for your own sake, to fulfill your own ambitions. Don't say it's for your mother and Lianhua, and don't impose such thoughts on your mother and Lianhua."
Jiang Jiuniang was very worried about his thoughts. In the future, whenever they argued over something trivial, he would start by saying, "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have..."
Lei Zi was a little confused. Before this, he didn't think there was anything wrong with his thinking, but after hearing what his aunt said, it seemed to make a lot of sense.
Passing the imperial examinations has always been his own wish, so how can it be said to be for the sake of lotus flowers and his mother?
The people around him were just incidental, so how could he possibly pin all the blame on them?
"I understand, Auntie. I won't say that again."
He lowered his head, looking somewhat guilty, which made people feel sorry for him.
Jiang Jiuniang still said, "Although I know you don't have that thought, it's wrong to say it like that. Everything you do is for yourself, and you benefit the most from it. Never do things under the pretext of 'for someone else.' Not only will your own thoughts change, but the people around you will also be implicated and live in self-blame."
"I'm not just saying this for Lei Zi, it applies to both of you, understand?"
These are all children she watched grow up, and Jiang Jiuniang doesn't want them to go astray, otherwise the Lu family's prosperity won't last more than a few years.
"We understand."
The three children nodded repeatedly, feeling that they gained something new every time they chatted with their aunt.
Their parents are unaware of this, or even if they are, they don't know how to bring it up with them, which leads them to believe that these things are correct, and even to go down a dead end.
Jiang Jiuniang continued, “You are still young. Even if you don’t pass this time, you can try again next time. In recent years, the court has lacked capable people, and the emperor will increase the number of imperial examinations. You will have plenty of opportunities to try. Why bother about one or two failures? If you can’t even accept such failures, it means that you have a weak ability to cope and will find it difficult to achieve great things in the future.”
After saying this, the carriage slowly stopped in front of the Lu family's house. Lu Baichuan had been waiting for a long time. As soon as the carriage stopped, he took the initiative to help his wife get out of the carriage.
The three boys followed behind looking embarrassed. Although they couldn't say they had suddenly seen the light, they were definitely in a better mood than before.
The three of them followed Jiang Jiuniang and Lu Baichuan with great enthusiasm, escorting them back to the main courtyard before returning to their own homes.
Lu Baichuan felt sorry for her, having to go out all day while pregnant, and said, "They're all grown up now, they have their own ideas, and they'll understand many things gradually. Why bother with all this?"
Jiang Jiuniang did not answer his question directly, but instead asked, "When you left home to become a镖师 (bodyguard/escort), was it for yourself or for me?"
Lu Baichuan looked at her, his expression indescribable. Back then, she wasn't the person she is now, and the two had just gotten married. How could it be for her sake?
"For myself, I want to go out and see the world, and find an opportunity to make a name for myself."
"Yes, that's a normal thought for you. But what Lei Zi said today is that he took the imperial examination for Lianhua and his sister-in-law. But that's not what Lianhua and his sister-in-law asked him to do. He thinks that way and says it's for them. Maybe it doesn't mean anything to you, but it's a very serious matter to me. This is the beginning of shirking responsibility. When a person starts to shirk responsibility, that person is not far from failure."
Jiang Jiuniang knew that Lu Baichuan might not understand her thoughts, and that Lei Zi's thinking was also a sign of caring for his family, but the potential risks were hard to predict.
However, she underestimated Lu Baichuan's comprehension ability. As soon as she said that, Lu Baichuan understood her good intentions. Details determine success or failure, and he still had to learn a lot from his wife when it came to raising children.
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