Tong Mingyu was not surprised at all to see her daughter coming late. As for her daughter, she guaranteed that she could complete the task successfully without having to ask her to practice calligraphy or read books a second time.
However, once the Four Books for Women were mentioned, especially "Instructions for Women", she was extremely reluctant and would never learn it until there was no more time to delay or hide.
When asked why this happened, Ping An's answer was shocking: "Mother, women should learn the Four Books for Women, but do men also learn these books?"
"Men should learn the Four Books and Five Classics so that they can pass the imperial examinations and bring honor to their families."
"Are women allowed to take the imperial examinations?"
"You don't have to think too much, just memorize the book honestly."
"Mother, why didn't you give birth to me as a boy? How about I be a boy from now on?"
Not very good. How much does she dislike memorizing to have such thoughts? It wasn't just her mother who noticed Xiao Yao's dislike for memorizing the Four Books for Women; even someone as careless as General Xiao could clearly sense it. So, with General Xiao's support, Xiao Yao didn't have to memorize the books every day. Tong Mingyu's test, which was once every other day, was changed to once a week.
Today was the day of the checkup. My daughter had a bitter face, pouted her lips, and took small steps that could not be any smaller. She finally arrived at her parents' residence before dark reluctantly.
"Mom, I picked the most fragrant osmanthus flowers and asked the kitchen to make osmanthus tea-scented rice dumplings and osmanthus glutinous rice lotus roots to share with everyone. My fifth brother and Aqi like them too." He looked very well-behaved and sensible.
"What else?" Ping'an, what day is today? Have you forgotten?
"I've memorized the 'Instructions for Women' very well. Please listen."
Xiao Yao immediately became a good student. "The heart is like the face, so it must be carefully decorated. Once the face is not groomed, it will be covered with dust and dirt..."
He recited it with cadence and eloquence, and after finishing it, he didn't forget to ask in a pretentious manner, "Are you satisfied?"
"Just memorizing it doesn't count; you have to know what it means."
"Mr. Zhao once said something to the effect that the heart is like the head and face, and needs to be carefully groomed. If the face is not groomed for a day, it will be stained by dust and dirt..."
Mr. Zhao is the enlightenment teacher that Tong Minglan found for Xiao Yao. He is well-read, gentle and elegant, and is about the same age as Tong Mingyu. His husband died of illness and he has no children. After choosing Xiao Yao as his student, he has moved into the Xiao family.
Although she wanted to take this opportunity to teach her daughter a lesson, Tong Mingyu had to admit that, aside from her procrastination, her daughter's performance today was impeccable. This child always managed to put on an act of trying to obey just when you were about to teach her a lesson, and then do something unexpected when you couldn't keep an eye on her.
Parents can easily manage and control other people's children, but no one knows what her own daughter will do next? Tong Mingyu can't beat her, and she can't scold her. The only thing she can do is sigh.
"Mom, don't be angry. Even if you don't like it, I will definitely memorize the Four Books for Women. My daughter has already started reading 'Thousands of Poems', and I have memorized 'Three Character Classic' and 'Hundred Family Names'." Xiao Yao was afraid that her mother would be really angry, so she counted her achievements in detail, hoping to comfort her mother's wounded heart.
"Mother will not interfere with how Mr. Zhao teaches you, but you must memorize one chapter of the Four Books for Women each week and cannot change it."
"I will definitely listen to my mother, so don't worry."
Today's hurdle was finally over. Xiao Yao remembered that her father had promised to give her a set of the latest pens and ink, so she asked, "When will Daddy be back?"
"Your father..." Your father has been very depressed lately. Yu Xianrong, the daughter of Lord Yu, the Minister of Rites, has insisted on marrying Xiao Jingyan. She's become an eighteen-year-old leftover woman, and she'll be nineteen in four months. Lord Yu is anxious and worried. Xiao Jingyan avoids him, and General Xiao gives his son complete freedom. In his own words, someone who demands others make decisions for him doesn't deserve to stay in the Xiao family.
Poor Xiao Jingkang, the eldest son and representative of the Xiao family, was constantly being invited by Lord Yu for tea or drinks. He was incredibly annoyed. He once privately complained to his wife, "If my fourth brother doesn't get married, I, your husband, might be driven crazy by Lord Yu one day."
What's going on here? Those who want to marry their daughters, unable to find the right person, torture others, while those who have no intention of getting married always manage to inadvertently attract someone they love. Over the past three years, not only have there been men who have come to the door to express their interest in marriage, but there have also been women who have taken the initiative to propose marriage.
As the head of the inner house, Tong Mingyu's ability to accept things has been challenged again and again. She began to worry about her daughter. What kind of situation will she be in when she grows up?
Could it be that Fourth Uncle is having another romantic encounter? Xiao Yao, though small, is as gossipy as the other women. The difference is that she listens more than she speaks, treating anything that doesn't concern her as entertainment. The person most closely connected to Fourth Uncle is none other than the eldest daughter of the Yu family. Could this be related to her again?
"Don't ask about these things." Tong Mingyu said angrily.
Xiao Yao sat down obediently. Her mother's expression had betrayed her. It seemed that the matter must be related to that eldest daughter. She was really worried about her parents. With such an eldest daughter in the family, the parents would probably have gray hair early.
"Let me ask you, when do you plan to start learning needlework?" The reason why Tong Mingyu was so strict with her daughter was that she was stimulated by Miss Yu. A woman's words and deeds not only represent herself, but also affect the family's reputation. She must be treated with caution!
Xiao Yao tilted her head and thought for a moment, then stretched out three white and tender fingers and shook them in a gesture, with an extremely flattering smile, "You are my mother, please be kind to me."
"Three days later? Okay, it's settled!" Tong Mingyu deliberately misinterpreted her daughter's meaning and nodded happily.
"Daughter, you mean three years later. You see, I'm small now and my hands are not steady. Can I wait until I'm eight to learn? Or two years later?" Seeing her mother's unfriendly look, Xiao Yao automatically put down one of her fingers.
Tong Mingyu has three sons and one daughter. The sons went to the front yard when they were five years old. Apart from food and clothing, she didn't have to worry about them at all. Only the youngest daughter, who seemed well-behaved, was actually the one that gave her the most worries.
"You can practice calligraphy for half an hour, but when you try to learn needlework, your hands become unsteady, right?"
If the answer is yes, will there be a risk of being punished? Judging from past struggle experience, this is very likely!
"Mom, this is okay, right?" Xiao Yao wagged her only remaining finger pitifully, lamenting in her heart, "My childhood! Is it gone forever like this?"
Tong Mingyu really wants her daughter to start learning needlework this year, but seeing her sad face, she feels reluctant. It doesn't matter if it's a year later. A girl can only live a carefree life for a dozen years. Once she gets married and has children in the future, she will never have such days again.
Whenever Tong Mingyu thought about her daughter leaving her and this family one day, she felt complicated and indescribable, as if her heart was about to be hollowed out.
"Okay, it's decided. Go back and practice your calligraphy." Tong Mingyu was no longer in the mood to continue the discussion. If she knew who her future son-in-law would be, she would definitely let her husband and son give him a good beating right now.
My mother was in high spirits and happily fighting with me just now, but how come she suddenly became listless? Is it menopause?
With doubts, Xiao Yao walked out of her parents' room.
Tong Mingyu was sad for a moment, but she still had to do what she had to do. If it were General Xiao or Xiao Jingkang who were mentioned about their granddaughter's (daughter's) marriage, their reaction would be much greater than Tong Mingyu's. They would definitely get angry at whoever brought it up, and would want to select and eliminate all the qualified candidates in the world in advance.
After having this idea, General Xiao became more and more displeased with the few nominal disciples.
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