Lu Xiao Shu hummed, “Then that’s good!” Even though there wasn’t much meat on the wings, they’re still the most delicious part of the chicken. They were all fools not to love it. Meanwhile, only Mr Wu would try to snatch the chicken wings from her.
Once they were filled, they took a rest and chatted until it was time to leave. Lu Qi and Lin Fang returned to the academy while Lu Xiao Shu cheerfully went home.
She could not help but to recall what happened just then: I can’t believe how good my brother is at hiding secrets! Seeing how he’s familiar with martial arts, it must mean that this probably had been going on for quite a while now. I can’t believe that I only found out about this now! She let out a sigh: His luck is terrible too. If I found out about it earlier, I would’ve convinced him to give up studying back then. If that was the case, wouldn’t he be free from studying way earlier than now?
After dinner, the family gathered in the yard to cool off and spent time together. After a round of whispers and murmurs from Lu Qi and Lu Xiao Shu, Lu Qi finally mustered up the courage to walked towards Miao Cui Lan and Lu Zhong, telling them his honest thoughts, “Father, mother, I don’t want to attend the academy anymore.”
“Oh—” Miao Cui Lan nodded in acknowledgement before suddenly jerking back in shock. She shot him a look and demanded, “What did you just say? Come again?”
“I don’t want to study anymore! I’m not good at it anyway!” Lu Qi added.
“You little rascal!” Miao Cui Lan was in full rage as she was about to get up to fetch her cane and give him a good whipping.
“Cui Lan, calm down! Let’s talk it out properly first!” Lu Zhong pulled her back down. It made Miao Chu He and Tong Yu Er turn their heads as well.
“Why don’t you want to study anymore? I thought that you’ve been doing well in the academy.” Miao Chu He said.
“Have I?” Lu Qi lamented, “Uncle, do you think I could achieve Juren? I think I can’t even pass to become a scholar!”
Miao Cui Lan glanced at Miao Chu He questioningly. Miao Chu He had a moment of hesitation as he did not want to lie to his sister, yet he also did not want to hurt his sister’s feelings. So, he smiled, “You could work a little harder—”
“We already have one Juren in our family. Do you think we would be so lucky to have another scholar or Juren? Mother, please spare me from this path!” Lu Qi hastily interrupted.
“How dare you! How could you sprout such nonsense?” Miao Cui Lan was furious, “Tell me, who gave you this idea? Why did you suddenly want to drop out now when you are doing just fine?”
Lu Qi noticed how his mother was about to hit him, and he hid behind Miao Chu He in fright before saying with determination, “Mother, it’s my idea all along! I really am not suitable to be a scholar. Why waste my time and your money on this?”
Lu Qi’s words were like adding fuel to the fire, making Miao Cui Lan even angrier and jumpy. She kept cursing while wanting to give him a good beating. Even Lu Zhong had a hard time keeping her from getting up and fetching her cane.
Miao Chu He and Tong Yu Er thought that his justification was infuriating yet funny, so they stopped Lu Qi from saying anything more that would piss his mother off. In the meantime, Miao Chu He joked, “Where did you learn to say such a thing? It doesn’t sound like you at all. It sounds like something Xiao Shu would say instead!”
Lu Xiao Shu secretly groaned. Uncle, you meany!
As though on cue, Miao Cui Lan’s gaze fell on Lu Xiao Shu like a single lamp in a dark room. She glared, “Xiao Shu!”
“Mother! Mother! It’s not me!” Lu Xiao Shu denied as she rushed into Miao Cui Lan’s arms, “Mother, how would I have such capability? Only Lu Qi knows best if he doesn’t want to study, only he can decide for himself. I—”
“Nonsense! What logic is that?” Miao Cui Lan scoffed, “What can he decide? The decision is mine! What does he understand now? All he knows is to play! Once he gets older, he’ll understand the hardship and sacrifice that we, as parents, provide. You listen here, Lu Qi. You better forget it. Now, why are you still here and not studying in the house? Do you want a beating?”
“Mother! I’m serious! Why must you force me to study? I spent so much effort studying, but it’s no use! I don’t want to study until I’m old when I can’t even become a scholar! What would the meaning of my life be?” Once he finished talking, Lu Qi turned around and stomped into the house.
Miao Cui Lan was left stunned, and she only came back to her senses after a moment, shaking in anger, “That rascal!”
“Cui Lan, Ah Qi is still young. Don’t take the words of a kid to heart.” Tong Yu Er comforted her soothingly which helped to calm her down slightly.
The husband and wife were living under the same roof as them, as such, there were some things that were inappropriate to be said at the moment.
Lu Zhong sighed, “Cui Lan, what Ah Qi said actually makes sense. Since he doesn’t have the heart, I think—”
“Enough! Why can’t I have my son bring me pride and reputation?” Miao Cui Lan glared at him.
Lu Zhong sighed again, “Cui Lan, people are already envious of our children for being obedient and good. They’ve already made us so proud! To be honest, to live peacefully as family is also a type of happiness.”
She was too fed up to respond to him, so she got up and headed back in.
Unexpectedly, Lu Qi was really determined that he woke up early on the next day to herd the cows and donkeys up to the hills to graze on grass. When Miao Cui Lan found out, she flipped out in rage, giving Lu Qi a lecture once he got home. Everyone tried to calm the atmosphere down, but it was to no avail, the entire situation ended up in an orchestra of quarrels.
They quarrelled for a few days, but Miao Cui Lan eventually gave in after Lu Zhong persuaded her, and even Mr Wu chipped in his opinion. That night, she summoned Lu Qi and asked him in complete seriousness, “Have you thought this through? You really don’t want to study anymore? You should know that there are countless people who want to go to school but do not have the opportunity to do so.”
Lu Qi was secretly cheering in his mind, but he did not dare to show his emotions as he replied with respect, “Mother, kids can grow up to be successful too even if they don’t go to school. They can still grow up to be filial too!”
Unconsciously, Miao Cui Lan felt a pang of remorse and sighed with a nod, “That’s true. Besides, I don’t have the energy to argue with you further. Since you don’t want to go to the academy, then you can stop going! Go kowtow to Mr Wu tomorrow and give him a proper farewell since he has been your teacher after all.”
Lu Qi hurriedly promised his mother while the heavy feeling in his heart finally disappeared.
Unexpectedly, Miao Cui Lan’s attention switched to Lu Xiao Shu and Xiao Xue as she barked, “You girls will follow your brother to the academy tomorrow. I will go too, and both of you will become Mr Wu’s new students.”
“Huh?”
“What?”
It was not just Xiao Xue and Lu Xiao Shu. Even Lu Zhong, Miao Chu He and the others were all stunned.
“What do you mean ‘huh’?” Miao Cui Lan glared at them, “What now? Are my daughters going to be rebellious now like my dear son and don’t want to go to school?” As she was saying, she glanced at Lu Qi. He lowered his head and slowly backed out, not daring to look at her.
“But mother,” Lu Xiao Shu forced a smile, “But we’re girls. The imperial court doesn’t allow females to sit for the exams. We can’t come home as a female Zhuang Yuan. What good would it do if we attend the academy?” She was silently groaning that she had a mother who made plans and looked far into the future on how to punish them.
In the meantime, Xiao Xue too did not understand what was happening as she glanced at her mother.
Miao Cui Lan answered, “I didn’t say that you must come home as a female Zhuang Yuan. It would be good enough if my girls could recognize words, and I think it’s a great idea if you become an intelligent lady. I’ve made my decision, so you girls better get some sleep now and wake up earlier tomorrow with more energy! Especially you, Xiao Shu! Don’t pull any tricks. Xiao Xue, you watch over your sister. You both better go to the academy to learn wholeheartedly.”
“Okay, mother!” Xiao Xue nodded obediently. From her perspective, anyone who could read were really great and talented people like Mr Wu and her uncle. To start going to school tomorrow, she was quite glad about it and even a little proud of herself.
What else could Lu Xiao Shu say? She could merely respond with okay, albeit glumly. She thought to herself that karma had just hit her. Why did she urge her brother to quit school? Now that her brother broke free from school, the shackles turned on her and wrapped around her neck. Her mother’s foresight was indeed very remarkable!
On the next day, four of them arrived at Mr Wu’s place. He did not have anything much to say when they told him what happened, but he nodded and simply replied, “Ah Qi is a brilliant kid, but his passion isn’t for studying so forcing him to study isn’t a good idea. I think this will actually be a good thing!”
Lu Xiao Shu saw hope in his words, and she glanced over at Mr Wu with eager eyes, as though saying: Me too! I don’t have passion in this field, and it’s not going to end well if you force me down this path!
Seeing her large googly eyes fixed on him, Mr Wu could obviously guess what she wanted to say. He thought that it was funny, yet he continued with a straight face, “Xiao Xue’s behaviour is gentle and calm, so it would be great to cultivate them by learning poems and songs. As for Xiao Shu, it’s time for her to follow some rules and constraints so that she could save everyone more trouble.”
She felt that it was very unfair for him to say that as she thought grumpily: He’s not making sense! This is an obvious bias!
Miao Cui Lan sighed and nodded gratefully at Mr Wu, “You’re absolutely right! In this case, I’ll leave Xiao Xue and Xiao Shu in your hands. Even though they’re girls, it’s always good to learn reading and some general knowledge.”
“No worries! I’ll have a separate class with the two of them without the other students.” Mr Wu nodded before turning to Lu Qi with a stern look, “Ah Qi, although you don’t have to come here anymore, do you remember everything I’ve taught you before?”
Lu Qi did not dare to neglect, so he hurriedly bowed, “Yes, sir! I’ve memorized everything! I will never forget that I must live an honest life.”
“It’s good that you remember! I have nothing else to teach you anymore. Just remember that whenever you’re doing something and don’t let me down.”
“Yes, sir!” Lu Qi kneeled and kowtowed three times before Mr Wu signalled for him to rise. Then, the mother and son both said their farewells to Mr Wu before leaving.
