Compared to the easily startled Madam Chi, Shen Tangning, sitting calmly at the lower end, appeared remarkably composed.
She took a sip of tea, slowly set down the cup, and raised her clear, bright eyes: "Does Mother intend for my husband to live a life of mediocrity, just waiting to die?"
Her tone was gentle, but her words were sharp and incisive.
Fortunately, Madam Chi was easygoing and didn't take it to heart. She knew her daughter-in-law was telling the truth, so she sat back down awkwardly, blushing and speaking softly: "But Tang Ning, you must have heard before you married into this family that Ayan is not cut out for studying!"
How could she, as a mother, not know what kind of person her son was?
Over the years, she had hit him and scolded him. At her angrier, she even held a knife to Chi Yan's neck to force him to study. But as it turns out, some things cannot be forced!
Spending time with Chi Yan, she was somewhat influenced by him and thought to herself, "Let it be! Anyway, my family can afford to support him!"
Now that her son has married such a wonderful girl, something she never dared to dream of before, it's a huge relief. She can now relax without any guilt.
However, it was indeed unfair for the girl to marry her son.
But... isn't there any other way?
Madam Chi felt guilty and bit her lip: "Tang Ning, although Ayan is a good-for-nothing and a bit of a rascal, he's not a bad person and has a kind heart! I promise you, once you marry into this family, you'll be in charge of both the front and back courtyards. If he dares to take a concubine, I'll break his legs!"
These words were truly heartfelt.
Shen Tangning smiled and spoke frankly: "Mother, it's not that I despise my husband for being useless, but have you and Father ever thought about it? Right now you still have the means to protect him, but what about the future? He will eventually have to learn to uphold the family's honor, won't he?"
Madam Chi was stunned for a moment, opened her mouth but could not say a word.
That's the logic.
Shen Tangning shook her head: "Besides, how can you be so sure that my husband can't do it?"
Madam Chi's eyes widened, thinking, "Is there even a need to look?"
Looking at all the wealthy families in Yanjing, you can't find another one who failed the exam three times!
Her son is absolutely unparalleled in his ignorance and lack of knowledge!
Shen Tangning said calmly, "I remember that my husband passed the imperial examination at the age of twelve and was praised by Chen, the chief scholar of the Imperial Academy, for his intelligence."
He passed the imperial examination at the age of twelve, which is a rare achievement in the entire Daqing region.
Madam Chi was taken aback, somewhat surprised that she still remembered this matter, since even she herself had almost forgotten it.
A look of disbelief flashed across Madam Chi's eyes, and she stammered, "That was so many years ago."
Her son was once her pride.
But after that, Chi Yan seemed to have become a different person. He began to hate studying, even skipping classes to fight, trying every means to avoid going to class, and the tutors hired by his family were driven away one after another because of him.
Step by step, he transformed from a child prodigy into a notorious playboy.
At first, she was disappointed and reflected on whether there was something wrong with her parenting style. But as time went on, she had to accept the fact.
Extreme intelligence can be detrimental; perhaps his current state is a good thing.
Shen Tangning's eyes flickered slightly, and she said softly, "This proves that my husband has talent. Perhaps the method was wrong before, or there was another reason. Why don't you try again?"
"Mother has also heard of late bloomers. I believe my husband is a gem in the rough. What do you think, Mother?"
Madam Chi looked completely dazed. After hearing what she said, she felt that her son was a genius that was only seen once in a thousand years, but he just hadn't reached the point of enlightenment yet!
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