Chapter 102 Learning to Read
Hefeng Academy, where the sound of students reading aloud fills the air.
Chen Yongliang delivered a new jar of honey pomelo jam to the backyard, sat on the stone steps, and listened to the sound of reading in the distance, his eyes revealing envy.
He wanted to set up a stall to make money, but remembering what happened that day, he didn't dare to go, afraid that he would really run into that young master Tang and smash the honey grapefruit jam again.
Five hundred coins per jar.
Smash another jar, and that'll be an ounce of silver!
Where is he going to earn this money to make up for it and cover up this lie?
"Young man, something on your mind today?" Tao Jing jumped out and stood in front of Chen Yongliang, staring at his face curiously. "Why is your face bruised? Did you get into a fight?"
As she spoke, she poked at it with her finger.
Chen Yongliang immediately backed away, looking flustered and even blushing.
Tao Jing looked at her fingers and smiled. "You blush so easily." She withdrew her hand and tilted her head. "Should I sit here and wait for you?"
"No, nothing." Chen Yongliang didn't know what he was waiting for, he just didn't know where to go, he was afraid of running into his sister-in-law, afraid that she would find out what happened that day and question him.
He knew his sister-in-law wouldn't blame him, but he still felt guilty.
He shouldn't have ignored his sister-in-law's advice and greedily set up a stall. Not only did he not make any money, he also lost a jar of honey grapefruit jam.
Tao Jing shrugged, squatted down, her skirt cascading to the ground like a blooming flower, and said, "But I'm waiting for you."
"wait for me?"
Tao Jing obediently replied, "That's right, we agreed that if you came to deliver that sauce, I would teach you to read."
A glimmer of light flashed before Chen Yongliang's eyes, but it vanished in an instant. He said dejectedly, "But I didn't bring any candied hawthorns."
"I don't want candied hawthorns today, I'll pay you back later," Tao Jing said, pointing to the water vat beside her. "Go fetch a basin of water."
Chen Yongliang didn't understand what she was going to do, but he still obeyed and did as she said.
Tao Jing frowned as she looked at the basin of water he had brought, not understanding why he was carrying such a large basin.
Oh well, it's his bad mood anyway, as long as he's happy.
Tao Jing ran to Tao Ran's study, took a calligraphy brush, and returned to the courtyard.
She didn't mind the dirty floor, sat down with Chen Yongliang, dipped her brush in water, and asked, "Can you write your own name?"
Chen Yongliang shook his head.
"How come you don't even know your own name?" Tao Jing muttered, then asked, "What's your name?"
"Chen Yongliang, Yong as in eternal, Liang as in goodness."
Tao Jing took a calligraphy brush and wrote Chen Yongliang's name on the ground, then wrote her own name on it, pointing and saying, "This is your name, and this is my name."
Chen Yongliang looked at his own name, then at Tao Jing's name, and frowned, saying, "I can't read. How do you pronounce those two characters?"
"Idiot!" Tao Jing tapped him with her calligraphy brush. "My name is naturally Tao Jing, Tao as in 'intoxicated' and Jing as in 'quiet'."
She looked at Chen Yongliang and noticed a hint of confusion in his eyes. Then she realized he was illiterate and wouldn't know which character it was even if she explained it to him. So she gave up explaining and said, "Just remember that these three characters are 'Chen,' 'Yong,' and 'Liang,' and the other two characters are 'Tao' and 'Jing.'"
With that, she handed the pen to Chen Yongliang with satisfaction, "Here you go! Give it a try!"
Because Chen Yongliang kept forgetting and writing things down, Tao Jing called him an "idiot" countless times, but in her heart she actually thought Chen Yongliang was quite capable, at least much more capable than when she first learned to read!
The academy had dismissed early, and Tao Ran and Wan Ziyan stood under the long corridor, quietly watching the two people at the kitchen door.
Wan Ziyan stroked his chin, tilted his head, and asked, "Is this a private instruction?"
"Does it count as two kids playing around?" Tao Ran glanced at him and walked down the corridor.
Upon seeing the approaching person, Tao Jing immediately snatched the brush from Chen Yongliang's hand, stood up, patted her bottom, and obediently called out, "Brother."
Tao Ran stretched out his hand and said coldly, "Take it out!"
"Brother~" Tao Jing stretched out a small hand, tugged at Tao Ran's clothes, and shook it incessantly.
“Calling me ‘father’ won’t do you any good today,” Tao Ran said, extending his hand a few more inches forward.
Tao Jing pouted and handed over the calligraphy brush she had hidden.
Tao Ran looked down at the broken piece of paper in his hand, his face slightly gloomy. "Do you know how much silver this piece is worth?"
Tao Jing immediately admitted her mistake: "Brother, I was wrong, I will never dare to do it again!"
Chen Yongliang finally understood that Headmaster Tao was scolding Miss Tao because of this pen. He was about to speak when Tao Ran stopped him immediately.
"I'm disciplining my younger sister, Brother Chen, don't help her," Tao Ran said with a sigh. "Do I need a few sheets of paper? Do you want me to ruin this fine pen?"
Tao Jing lowered her head and whispered, "Last time you said I was wasteful..."
If there weren't outsiders present, Tao Ran would have liked to have a good talk about this younger sister, who has become increasingly mischievous lately.
Of all the pens in his study, he had to take his favorite, which was also the most expensive.
"Alright, Brother Tao, I'll give you another one on your birthday." Wan Ziyan recognized the calligraphy brush as the one he had given Tao Ran for his birthday, no wonder Tao Ran was angry.
He patted Tao Ran on the shoulder, "Come on, I'll treat you to wontons."
Since everyone who gave the gift said so, what could Tao Ran say but nod in agreement?
As the two were about to leave, Wan Ziyan turned back and asked, "Did your sister-in-law ask you to pass on a message today?"
Chen Yongliang shook his head. "No, but she came by herself, saying she had something to do. She got off the mule cart before even entering the town!"
Upon hearing this, a light flashed in Wan Ziyan's eyes, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. "If you have nothing else to do, come with us to eat wontons."
Chen Yongliang thought for a moment and nodded.
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