Chapter 170: Could It Be Such a Coincidence?

Chapter 170: Could It Be Such a Coincidence?

Xiao Yuming began his days of recuperation, but Tang Shuyi didn't let him idle. She gathered numerous military texts from Xiao Huai's study and arranged them from basic to advanced before him.

"Becoming a great general isn't just about being skilled with sword and spear; when it counts, it's your brain you must rely on. Otherwise, why would most of the books in your father's study be military texts?" Tang Shuyi said.

Xiao Yuming wasn’t averse to the idea; in fact, he understood a lot of things very well.

"Study these books carefully, and note down anything you don't understand. I will have someone send your questions to General Xiang's residence for him to clarify," Tang Shuyi instructed further.

Since he had agreed to mentor, it was essential to make good use of this opportunity. It was not just about learning the use of weapons; the key was military strategy. Though General Xiang appeared robust and rough around the edges, Tang Shuyi was convinced he was no brute; otherwise, he wouldn't have become the commander in charge of the northern frontier.

Xiao Yuming suddenly felt an immense pressure, his face showing a hint of distress. Seeing this, Tang Shuyi said beside him, "Mother may say that you can surpass Xiang Wu with hard work, but to be honest, her expectations for you aren't just to outdo her, but to rival and even surpass your father and General Xiang."

Xiao Yuming pursed his lips, remaining silent. The aspiration to become a man like his father was a beautiful one, but the thought of achieving it felt incredibly daunting and perplexing.

As a competent professional manager, Tang Shuyi naturally knew how to break down goals. She said, "Becoming a great general like your father may seem daunting, but if we take it step by step, it won't be so difficult."

With that, she took out a piece of paper, wrote 'Great General' at the top, drew four lines underneath, and wrote 'Military Wisdom,' 'Tactical Expertise,' 'Resolute Mind,' and 'Understanding People' below them. Then she said, "One must possess these four qualities to be a qualified general. How do we acquire them? Let's break it down..."

Tang Shuyi meticulously deconstructed each point, eventually forming smaller, more manageable goals. She then handed the densely written sheet to Xiao Yuming, saying, "I have never been a great general, so these are just my thoughts. After spending more time with General Xiang, you might want to revise this."

A gleam appeared in Xiao Yuming's eyes as he looked at Tang Shuyi and said, "Mother, if you were a man, you'd surely be stronger than father."

Tang Shuyi snorted, "Even as a woman, I am no less than him."

Xiao Yuming scratched his head and chuckled. He actually agreed with his mother's statement.

"Draft a charter for yourself and follow it," Tang Shuyi advised further.

Xiao Yuming nodded earnestly in agreement. His path ahead now seemed much clearer, and he felt invigorated.

Having arranged his affairs, Tang Shuyi busied herself with the matters of the guildhall. With the renovations complete, the next steps were staff training and a trial operation before the official opening. Although she could delegate the specifics, she insisted on personally overseeing the overall planning.

She summoned Qi Er to discuss these matters, only to find Yan Wu had also come along.

"Auntie, I've got nothing much to do at home. Can I run errands for you?" Yan Wu asked Tang Shuyi with a beaming smile.

Tang Shuyi, left with little choice as he was already there, reluctantly agreed. She listed the upcoming tasks and entrusted them to Qi Er and Yan Wu, instructing them to draft a plan before implementation.

The two left with their "homework" to Xiao Yuming's courtyard, only to find him furiously reading with a pen in his mouth. Seeing their own assignments, they sighed in unison. Qi Er said, "We've quit school only to be faced with this never-ending bout with characters."

Yan Wu slumped in a chair next to Xiao Yuming, sighing, "My mother says that both of you are progressing well. If I don't keep up, I'll surely be left far behind."

Xiao Yuming glanced at them and remarked, "Studying now is different from our time at the academy. Back then, we studied aimlessly. Now, we study with a charter and a purpose. It's not the same."

Qi Er and Yan Wu nodded in agreement and spontaneously found spots in Xiao Yuming's room to work on their "homework."

That afternoon, Yan Wu returned home, where the Lady of Nanling asked about his day. He recounted everything in detail and even presented his "homework" for her inspection.

The Lady of Nanling looked at the work in her hands with great care, her smile growing wider as she read. When finished, she said, "I knew Lady Hou was good at teaching children. Look at how well you've written. I shall thank Lady Hou tomorrow."

Saying so, she instructed her maid to send an invitation to Yongning Marquis' residence for a visit the next day. Then, she said to Yan Wu, "Learn well from Lady Hou. If you do, I'll let you manage all of our family's assets."

It wasn't that she feared Yan Wu squandering their own assets and thus sent him to learn under Tang Shuyi. It was because she had seen how much Qi Er had improved recently under Tang Shuyi's guidance, something she felt she couldn't achieve with a stubborn child herself.

Just look, her son had improved so much just after half a day there.

The next day, she brought a pile of gifts and went to the Yongning Marquis' residence. Meeting Tang Shuyi, she expressed her gratitude profusely. Tang Shuyi responded with a smile, "One sheep is to be herded, and so are two. I might as well herd an extra sheep."

The Lady of Nanling clapped her hands in amusement, "If my sheep misbehaves, you're free to scold or even punish it."

Tang Shuyi agreed with a smile, though she had no intention of actual scolding or punishment. She had her ways to make unruly children listen.

After chatting for a while, the Lady of Nanling leaned in close to Tang Shuyi and whispered, "There's something you definitely haven't heard about."

Tang Shuyi leaned in as well, sensing some gossip was coming. She asked, "What is it?"

"You know of the Tong family, right?" the Lady of Nanling inquired.

Tang Shuyi pondered for a moment before replying, "The family of the Grand Scholar of Guanwen Hall, Lord Tong?"

The Lady of Nanling nodded and continued, "Lord Tong had a legitimate brother, Second Master Tong, who was assigned an official post elsewhere over a decade ago. On the way to his post, his family was ambushed by bandits, and none survived. You must have heard about this."

Tang Shuyi hummed in acknowledgment. She wasn't sure if her previous incarnation had known, but it didn't matter. She asked, "What happened next?"

"Because of that incident, Old Master Tong fell ill and nearly passed away," said the Lady of Nanling. "Who would have thought that just recently, they found the son of Second Master Tong?"

Tang Shuyi nodded, "And then?"

"Do you know where this son of Second Master Tong has been living all these years?" The Lady of Nanling didn't wait for a response but gave the answer herself, "He's been living in Chongguang Temple as a young monk. It's quite a story—Old Madam Tong has been going to Chongguang Temple to offer incense for many years. How come she never discovered her own grandson living right there in the temple?"

Hearing the words "young monk," Tang Shuyi's mind immediately conjured the image of one person — Chang Jing.

Could it really be such a coincidence?

PS: Chang Jing: In the original novel, the female protagonist Wu Jingyun wanted to set up Xiao Yuchen and her stepsister Wu Jingshu in Chongguang Temple, but Xiao Yuchen wasn't fooled. Instead, Wu Jingyun ended up involving Chang Jing, the monk, and Wu Jingshu.