259 A Piece of Log

After Lu Jiao made her statement, the First Born asked, interested, “Mommy, then what should we study now?”

The Second Born laughed, “Mommy, I don’t want to study. I want to train in martial arts.”

Lu Jiao stared at him with a serious gaze, “If you don’t study or read, you would only ever get to be a soldier, you will never get to be a general. Generals need to know more than physical fighting, they need to be tactical and know how to efficiently make formations. Everything I mentioned is an item you can only learn through studying. If you don’t study, you’ll only end up being a general’s little horse steerer.”

The Second Born was stunned. If he didn’t study, he would end up only being able to keep horses for other people?

He didn’t want that.

“Mommy, I want to be a general! I don’t just want to be a small soldier.”

“Then you must study.”

Lu Jiao scanned the four little ones and meaningfully educated, “Out of the four of you, some of you, like the First Born, enjoy studying. Some of you, like the Second Born, dislike it. It doesn’t matter what your preference is, I want you to take learning seriously. Everyone needs to at least become a scholar before going their own way.

The scholar title may not be that high up, but it’s able to exempt you from hard labor and you wouldn’t be mandated to pay homage to officials. Third Born, you say you want to be a doctor. Doctors in our society aren’t that respected, which is even more of a reason why you should first become a scholar. Fourth Born, you say you want to earn money as a businessman. Businessmen are even less honorable in our world. You should be more motivated than anyone else here to take the imperial examination and place first.

A first-degree scholar is respected everywhere. Of course, it’ll all depend on whether or not you want this. I’m not going to force any of you but I am going to ask that all of you at least become a scholar.”

Lu Jiao glanced at the four little ones again and asked, “Tell me, do you have the confidence?”

The four little ones exchanged glances and then nodded at the same time, “Mommy, we understand. We are going to study hard and become scholars like daddy.”

Lu Jiao nodded in satisfaction, “Good boys. I’m going to start construction in the front courtyard in a bit.”

The four little ones were successfully distracted and asked, “Mommy, what kind of things are you going to teach us?”

“I have a lot I want to teach you. Literature, math, agronomy, art, crafts, music, role-playing games, woodwork, and reading.”

All those subjects mentioned intrigued the four little ones. They started to ask all sorts of colorful questions, “Mommy, what is math?”

“Math is being able to do additions or multiplications.”

Lu Jiao had already decided to teach the four little ones Arabic numerals. In today’s world, people did math by taking short sticks of wood or bamboo, known as counting rods, and displaying them in patterns. It was overly complicated.

“Momy, what is agronomy?”

“Agronomy is about growing crops. I’m going to teach you how to observe crops and grow rice.”

The four little ones grew excited, “What is art, mommy?”

“Art is drawing or creating new designs.”

“What are role-playing games?”

“I am going to write different stories and we will each pretend to be a different character and act out the story.”

The children’s eyes lit up, “Mommy, that sounds fun! I want to be a part of that!”

Since it was late, Lu Jiao rushed, “Enough now, let’s eat. Afterward, I’m going to work with the craftsmen to recreate the front courtyard.”

“Okay.”

The four little ones ate happily and forgot all about their father.

After breakfast, Xie Yunjin took Lin Dong and headed to his rented space to teach the students four books and five classics.

When the two of them passed by the Su family, someone from the inside suddenly pulled open the front gate. A woman holding a bucket of water came out. As if she just noticed the two men, she stopped and alluringly smirked at Xie Yunjin.

“Ah, isn’t this my new neighbor, young master Xie? Master Xie, are you going to school?”

She then winked.

Xie Yunjin coldly glanced at the woman and bypassed her immediately.

Lin Don copied Xie Yunjin and kept his face straight.

The woman froze in place. She didn’t expect this to be the result of her glamoring up all morning. She felt so embarrassed she started to curse, “You are a piece of log! What good use is your good looks?! You’re like an idiot, not at all like a scholar. You’re just a bookworm!”

She then splashed the bucket of water onto the street violently and returned home.

Beside Xie Yunjin, Lin Dong angrily glared at the Su family’s gate, “Master, she cursed at you!”

Xie Yunjin’s face turned cold and he said to Lin Dong, “Don’t bother with those people. Just pretend you never saw them.”

It was better for them if he didn’t get involved.

As Xie Yunjin thought it over, he took Lin Dong to his rented space. Once they arrived, a horse carriage passed by. The person inside peeked through the little one and her eyes gleamed with affection. Quickly, however, her gaze turned brisk and she commented nonchalantly, “Ah, which family is that young master from? How handsome.”

Another woman turned to look and noticed Xie Yunjin right away.

A simple cotton long robe and dark hair pinned by a wooden hairpin – his handsome visage appeared sculpted and his natural coolness appeared to have distanced himself from everyone else.

Such a person stood before the green bricks and wooden door like a painting.

The woman inside the horse carriage was stunned by his beauty and mumbled, “Who is that? How come I’ve never seen him?”

The woman beside him grinned and said slowly, “Easy peasy. Nothing can stop you, Qingyin.”

Xu Qingyin, the daughter of Qinghe District’s grand commander. Though she was born the daughter of a concubine, she grew up spoiled.

At the grand commander’s palace, she was the only child. Everyone in the family doted on her, even grand commander Xu himself. This had resulted in her becoming spoiled and capricious.

Xu Qingyin heard Shen Xiu’s words and smiled, “That’s right.”

She then remembered something and said, “We’re here today for Zhao Hehua. Zhao Hehua must know who that man is?”

Shen Xiu’s eyes darkened and nodded, “He must know.”

The horse carriage went on its way to Zhao Hehua’s home. Sadly, Zhao Hehua wasn’t at home and was visiting the Xie family.

At the Xie family home, Lu Jiao chatted with Zhao Hehua.

“Do you need something?”

Zhao Hehua’s eyes darted left and right. Given that Xie Yunjin wasn’t around, she was disappointed and she shook her head, “Nothing. I’m here to check out your home.”

She then looked around and noticed that a bunch of men were shoveling up grass and flowers. Zhao Hehua walked over in shock, “What are you all doing? Why are you pulling out such perfect grass and flowers?”

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