Chapter 80: The Youngster Can’t Play This Game

Chapter 80: The Youngster Can't Play This Game

Tang Shuyi chose to ignore the look of distress on Xiao Yuming's face. She now understood that he did possess some ambition, but like many young people, he struggled with consistency in pursuing his goals.

Young people have their dreams, and thinking of them can be exhilarating. But realizing dreams requires self-discipline and the resilience to face and overcome challenges. With these two qualities, one can generally achieve their dreams.

Yet, in reality, few possess these qualities, and consequently, few achieve fame and success.

Tang Shuyi's current objective was to have Xiao Yuming create a plan to reach his goals and then supervise him in executing each step. She wasn't sure if this was the right way to guide a child, but it was how she used to manage her employees.

Soon, Cuiyun brought over a large bowl of noodles, saying, "Preparing other dishes would take time, so I asked the kitchen to make chicken noodle soup since it's quicker."

"Alright, bring it here," Xiao Yuming was not picky; he could eat anything when hungry. He tucked into the bowl, larger than his face, with great gusto. His eating manner might not have been graceful, but it was certainly compelling, making even Tang Shuyi feel hungry.

"Let's have hotpot for dinner," Tang Shuyi suggested, her mouth watering at the thought of the steaming dish.

Upon hearing the mention of a hotpot meal, Xiao Yuming's eyes lit up. "Great, great, hotpot it is!"

Tang Shuyi glanced at his knees and thought about Xiao Yuxin's injuries, her eyes narrowing into a smile, "Alright then, we'll have hotpot."

She then instructed Cui Zhu, "Go tell our eldest young master that we'll have hotpot for dinner."

"Alright," Cui Zhu acknowledged and left. Xiao Yuming quickly finished the noodles in his bowl, accepted the napkin handed to him by the maid to wipe his mouth, and then rinsed with some water she offered.

Seeing that he was done, Tang Shuyi suggested, "Call over Master Niu. While you work on the schedule, I'd like to listen in and learn a thing or two."

Xiao Yuming grimaced, but knowing Tang Shuyi's casual words were not to be defied, he reluctantly agreed. Tang Shuyi ordered someone to invite Master Niu from the front courtyard, and he arrived shortly after.

Tang Shuyi repeated her request for him to create a schedule with Xiao Yuming. Master Niu responded, "Madam means a schedule similar to that used for training soldiers in the army?"

Having previously served in the military, and even holding the rank of Major, he was quite familiar with such matters.

"Something like that," Tang Shuyi confirmed. "How is training conducted in the army?"

Master Niu Hongliang replied, "We begin assembling at the third quarter of the Mao hour, start with some stretching and warm-up exercises, then proceed to combat or wrestling training..."

Listening, Tang Shuyi found the training to be overly simplistic. Although she had never served in the military, she had watched many military-themed movies and TV shows in her previous life. However, she had no intention of meddling. After all, what she had seen of soldier training was merely superficial, and the ancient military had its own systems. Not being a professional herself, it was best to keep her opinions to herself.

"You could structure the schedule progressively, keeping in mind that Yuming is different from the seasoned soldiers in the army. Also, it should specify what outcomes should be achieved by when," Tang Shuyi proposed. She was eager for Xiao Yuming to succeed but knew better than to rush his growth.

"This humble one understands," Master Niu Hongliang bowed to Tang Shuyi and went to discuss the training schedule with Xiao Yuming. Xiao Yuming's face was a picture of misery, but Tang Shuyi pretended not to notice, instead offering him an encouraging look that said, 'I believe in you, you're the best.'

Xiao Yuming: "......"

What could he do but bite the bullet and work with Master Niu Hongliang on the training schedule?

Master Niu Hongliang was experienced, and it didn't take long for the two to draft the schedule. Tang Shuyi scrutinized the two sheets of paper carefully before admitting, "I don't really understand all this, but if it seems right to you, it's fine by me."

Then she turned to Xiao Yuming and pointing to the first goal on the schedule, she asked, "What reward would you like upon achieving this?"

Xiao Yuming, who had been somewhat listless, perked up at the mention of a reward and immediately responded, "I want a warhorse from beyond the frontier."

Tang Shuyi wasn't very knowledgeable about horses and looked towards Master Niu Hongliang, who explained, "Horses are categorized as ordinary mounts, the kind we commonly see, and warhorses, which are used in battle. Warhorses vary depending on their region of origin, and those from beyond the frontier are among the finest."

Wow! Be it the scion of a marquis or an average Joe, the casually stated reward was equivalent to a luxury car.

Tang Shuyi didn't immediately refuse; she fell silent for a moment, then pointed to the fourth target in the schedule, saying, "Reach this target, and you'll be rewarded with a horse from beyond the Great Wall."

Xiao Yuming glanced down at the target, his lips pressed tight, silent. Seeing this, Tang Shuyi said, "You see, if you strive, there’s a possibility of success. Without effort, failure is certain. My son wouldn’t be afraid to even try, would he?"

There was incredulity in her tone, and Xiao Yuming, however astute and scheming, was after all a hot-blooded youth of fourteen or fifteen, unable to withstand such provocation. He snorted and said, "That’s easy."

"Good." Tang Shuyi clapped her hands in delight and added, "I’ll start inquiring tomorrow about how to acquire a horse from beyond the Great Wall. No matter the difficulty, I'll get one for you."

Her words made it seem as if Xiao Yuming was bound to achieve that target.

Xiao Yuming knew he had been tricked, but it was too late to back out now. He couldn’t possibly admit he felt the target was unattainable. That would be too embarrassing.

At that moment, Tang Shuyi added, "You've injured your knee; rest for a couple of days. Start once you’ve recovered."

She wore the tender expression of a doting mother.

Niu Hongliang was truly astounded. The lady of the marquis was quite adept at this. Glancing at Xiao Yuming, who was set up high and couldn't back down, he said to Tang Shuyi, "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

Tang Shuyi smiled and agreed, and Niu Hongliang gave Xiao Yuming another look before departing, thinking to himself that experience indeed comes with age, and the young can’t outsmart the old.

Not long after, Xiao Yuzhu returned from her studies, and Tang Shuyi told her they’d be having hot pot for dinner. The little girl was delighted. For a family of their stature, having hot pot was a trivial matter, but the warm atmosphere of the family gathering around the hot pot was truly heartening.

A quarter of an hour before dinner, Xiao Yuchen arrived. Tang Shuyi had the hot pot served; the family of four was about to start their meal around the steaming pot when suddenly, Tang Shuyi exclaimed, "Ah, I forgot! It’s not advisable for those with injuries to have hot pot; it’s detrimental to the healing process."

Xiao Yuming: "……"

Xiao Yuchen: "………"

Then why invite them to join? Was it just to make them watch?

At this moment, their mother said tenderly, "Both of you are injured, so let’s skip the hot pot tonight. I’ll have the kitchen prepare something light for you."

Saying so, she gestured for Cuicui to come over, "Go to the kitchen and ask them to prepare some bland food, the blander the better."

Cuicui responded with a smile and left. A quarter of an hour later, Xiao Yuchen and Xiao Yuming ate their bland meal without a hint of flavor, watching Tang Shuyi and Xiao Yuzhu enjoying their hot pot with gusto…