Chapter 27: How Should Education Be Approached?

Chapter 27: How Should Education Be Approached?

After leaving Shi'an Garden, Xiao Yuzhen instructed Changming to gather information about the Qi family. He had never before paid attention to the nobles in the capital, but as he might frequently interact with them in the future, it was better to understand them.

Changming set off to fulfill his task, while Changfeng accompanied Xiao Yuzhen to the study in the front courtyard, remarking, "Young Master, I feel that you handle matters with great method and order now."

Xiao Yuzhen sighed, "I was immature before. If I had been capable of handling things on my own, my mother wouldn't have had to work so hard, and Biqin wouldn't have had to suffer at the farm. I must work harder; in half a year, I'll bring Biqin into the mansion, and Mother will be reassured."

Changfeng: "………"

He realized that his previous words were unnecessary.

Meanwhile, Tang Shuyi was discussing with Xiao Yuzhu about moving her room. Xiao Yuzhu had been sleeping with her every night lately, and seemed to want to continue doing so indefinitely. It wasn't that Tang Shuyi disliked sharing a bed with Xiao Yuzhu, but she had grown accustomed to living alone for many years.

Therefore, she considered arranging several rooms in her courtyard for Xiao Yuzhu to live in, also considering it a part of her education. Tang Shuyi always believed that immersion was the best way to learn.

As Xiao Yuzhu would listen and watch while she handled affairs, Tang Shuyi could explain anything she didn't understand, and gradually, Xiao Yuzhu would come to understand many things.

Upon hearing that she would be moving to Shi'an Garden, Xiao Yuzhu was so elated she almost jumped for joy, hugging Tang Shuyi's arm and cooing, "Mother~ you're the best."

Tang Shuyi patted her back and joked, "I also think I'm the best."

Xiao Yuzhu paused for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"How about moving to the east wing?" Tang Shuyi suggested to Xiao Yuzhu, "The east wing has five rooms; three can be your living quarters, and the other two can be for your maids and servants."

Xiao Yuzhu's eyes twinkled with excitement. "Mother, will you help me arrange my room?"

"Of course, once everything inside is moved out, we'll open the storeroom. You can take whatever you like from there," Tang Shuyi mused. She believed in raising her daughter in comfort and would spare no expense for Xiao Yuzhu.

Xiao Yuzhu was even more delighted, rubbing her hands together in eagerness to organize her own room.

Having agreed on this, Tang Shuyi instructed her servants to tidy up the east chamber, then turned her thoughts to how to straighten out Xiao Yuming.

Xiao Yuming was the classic school bully and poor student at the academy, and he often roamed around the capital's entertainment venues in his free time, excluding, of course, the brothels and gambling houses. If he dared to set foot in those places, Tang Shuyi would have been ready with a hefty stick.

How should one educate such a rebellious child?

Tang Shuyi decided it was time for a profound conversation with him and instructed Cuiyun to go to the front yard and tell the gatekeeper to send Xiao Yuming directly to Shi An Yuan upon his return.

As dusk fell, Xiao Yuming returned, sweaty from the mild autumn day. Fortunately, his clothes remained relatively clean.

Upon entering the main hall, he snatched some pastries from Xiao Yuzhu’s side and stuffed them into his mouth, saying, "Mother, I'm starving. Tell them to serve dinner quickly."

Xiao Yuzhu rolled her eyes, “Brother, were you reincarnated from a starving ghost?”

Xiao Yuming was indifferent to her comment. Swallowing the dry pastry, he poured himself a cup of tea and gulped it down before replying, "You sit at home all day, reading and embroidering, of course, you eat less. I'm always doing strenuous activities, naturally, I get hungry faster.”

As he spoke, he flexed his right arm, clenched his fist, and slapped his bicep twice with his left hand, saying, “Come, feel this.”

Xiao Yuzhu was curious about what was so interesting about an arm but still went over and pinched it. She then gasped in surprise, it was as hard as a rock.

Xiao Yuming was pleased by her reaction, and his confidence soared. He laughed heartily and boasted, “That's nothing. Someone like you, I could lift with just one hand.”

As he said this, he reached for Xiao Yuzhu's collar. Xiao Yuzhu, frightened, let out a yelp and darted towards Tang Shuyi.

"Enough," Tang Shuyi said, somewhat helplessly. A high-energy rebellious teenager was truly a headache.

She added, “Your sister is a girl; you can’t be rough with her in the future.”

“Got it,” Xiao Yuming responded as he stuffed another piece of pastry into his mouth, leaving Tang Shuyi unsure if he really took her words to heart.

At that moment, Xiao Yuxin also arrived. Tang Shuyi instructed the servants to serve dinner, and the family of four sat down to eat. After dinner, Xiao Yuming was about to leave, seemingly for some important matter, but Tang Shuyi stopped him, "Come to the study with me."

Xiao Yuming recognized the look on Tang Shuyi's face, the same one she had before sending his brother to the ancestral hall, where his brother ended up kneeling for the entire night, his knees only just recovered. His heart tightened slightly, and then scratching his ear, he made his way to the study.

Xiaoyu Chen and Xiaoyu Zhu were both puzzled and wanted to ask what was going on when they saw Tang Shuyi wave them off, "This doesn't concern you two, go and rest."

After saying that, she took Xiaoyu Ming into the study and closed the door behind them. Xiaoyu Chen glanced at the tightly shut door of the study and whispered to Xiaoyu Zhu, "What happened? What trouble has he gotten himself into?"

Xiaoyu Zhu shrugged, "How would I know?"

Xiaoyu Chen, now very conscious of his role as the eldest brother, was worried about Xiaoyu Ming being punished and also concerned that Tang Shuyi might have been angered by Xiaoyu Ming, so he didn't leave and sat in the hall. Since Xiaoyu Zhu lived there, naturally, she didn't leave either.

"Have you been staying with Mother all this time?" Xiaoyu Chen asked Xiaoyu Zhu.

He felt somewhat envious. He had learned a lot from Tang Shuyi these days and thought that if he could spend more time with her, he could learn even more. However, being a man, and of his age, he naturally couldn't stay in the same courtyard as his mother.

Xiaoyu Zhu boasted with a proud face, "Mother told me to move to Shian Courtyard; the east wing will be mine from now on."

Xiaoyu Chen grew even more envious, but it was just envy after all. He whispered to Xiaoyu Zhu, "Living in Mother's courtyard, you should learn more from her and also be filial."

Xiaoyu Zhu looked somewhat painfully at her elder brother's handsome face, feeling that he was becoming more and more stodgy and verbose. He was even more of a nag than their mother.

Seeing that she didn’t respond, Xiaoyu Chen thought she hadn’t taken it in and said again, "Did you hear me?"

Xiaoyu Zhu hummed in affirmation, "I know."

Seeing her serious attitude, Xiaoyu Chen didn't say anything further.