Chapter 013: Big Sister-in-Law is Reborn (Part Twelve)

Chapter 013: Big Sister-in-Law is Reborn (Part Twelve)

Gu Feng and Gu Rao, the two brothers, went into the mountains to hunt and gather firewood, keeping busy all day.

In the evening, when they returned home, they discovered—their home was gone! The land had been sold.

Their entire family would have to move to the southern outskirts of the county town.

Gu Feng and Gu Rao: …What’s going on?

Especially Gu Feng, the eldest son of the family, the future pillar of the household.

For his parents to make such a major decision, even if they didn’t consult him, they should have at least informed him.

“Doggy, why are you standing there like a fool? Why aren’t you packing your things? Tch, dull-witted and slow, not as good as your wife!”

Madam Zhao now found Li Xiongniang increasingly pleasing to her eyes.

As a mother-in-law, Madam Zhao naturally wanted to be critical of her daughter-in-law.

Over the past three years, she had indeed acted like a “tyrannical mother-in-law.”

However, Li Xiongniang was very capable and especially doted on Guibao.

Today, Li Xiongniang had gone out of her way to satisfy Madam Zhao in every aspect.

First, she found a master for Guibao, then gained the favor of a noble who provided the family with a lucrative shop.

As a sister-in-law, Li Xiongniang also took the initiative to offer to fund her younger brother-in-law’s education…

All these things made Madam Zhao exceedingly happy.

Madam Zhao wasn’t particularly kind-hearted, but she wasn’t a bad person either.

She was especially protective of her own family, and once she recognized someone as family, she would take care of them wholeheartedly.

After today, Madam Zhao completely accepted Li Xiongniang as one of her own.

Seeing her dazed eldest son, Madam Zhao suddenly thought: This boy is a bit unworthy of Xiu’niang!

This won’t do!

Madam Zhao, being inherently selfish at heart, wouldn’t selflessly let her daughter-in-law go, knowing her son wasn’t good enough for her.

After all, Li Xiongniang was a child bride, and she had not yet consummated her marriage with Gu Feng.

If Madam Zhao were kind and generous enough, realizing the couple wasn’t a good match, she would have adopted Li Xiongniang as a daughter and found a more suitable wife for her son.

Madam Zhao did treat Li Xiongniang as one of her own, but in her heart, her biological son was more important.

Therefore, she would do everything in her power to motivate her son to improve.

Tsk, such a good daughter-in-law, she couldn’t afford to lose her!

…

The Gu family moved to a village near Qingfeng Temple, and soon their lives returned to normal.

Li Xiongniang’s food shop opened, and with her excellent cooking skills and cleanliness, business was booming.

Madam Zhao and Gu Dahai both went to help their daughter-in-law.

Madam Zhao worked in the back kitchen, while Gu Dahai used his hunting skills to procure fresh ingredients for the shop.

In just half a month, they earned two taels of silver.

Two taels! That was what they used to make in an entire year.

With money in hand, the Gu family gained confidence.

Li Xiongniang kept her promise and sent her younger brother-in-law, Gu Rao, to a private school.

Gu Qingcheng spent her days studying, playing the qin, and learning medicine under Qing Miao Zhenren at Qingfeng Temple, returning home to sleep at night.

The little girl’s life was quite fulfilling.

Although she hadn’t “woken up” to the world as Li Xiongniang had hoped, she hadn’t become any duller.

At the very least, Qing Miao Zhenren didn’t find her apprentice too foolish.

On the contrary, Qing Miao Zhenren seemed to have discovered a “new continent” and became very interested in Gu Qingcheng.

It took over ten days to teach a copy of the “Three Character Classic.” Gu Qingcheng would memorize three lines and forget two, unable to recite it fluently.

Yet, Qing Miao Zhenren wasn’t frustrated and continued to patiently teach her.

At times, both Madam Zhao and Li Xiongniang felt embarrassed.

But Qing Miao Zhenren would smile gently and say, “No rush, take your time! Qingcheng is still young!”

She was inherently a compassionate person.

And due to her past experiences, her state of mind had reached a level of transcendence.

Unmoved by worldly gains or personal losses, not even her own life and death could stir her.

Gu Qingcheng was just slow to react, but the little one was truly beautiful.

Especially her eyes, pure and clear.

Certainly! Here is the revised translation:

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In addition to her appearance, Qing Miao Zhenren also noticed that Gu Qingcheng possessed an exceptional temperament and demeanor.

Her posture and bearing, whether standing, sitting, or lying down, were all exemplary, seemingly more noble and dignified than the most well-bred young ladies from the finest families in the capital.

System: ...Just kidding, this Executor is a woman from the Wu County Gu family.

A true aristocratic clan, she even became an Empress and Empress Dowager.

Her etiquette and demeanor have been engraved into the depths of her soul.

Gu Qingcheng merely traded intelligence for beauty, not a complete soul format.

Many "habits" naturally revealed themselves.

This innate nobility, combined with her stunning beauty, even if she were a bit slow, would still be incredibly attractive!

"Huh? Could it be that the Executor foresaw this as well? Is that why she so recklessly traded intelligence for beauty?"

The system speculated quietly in its core.

Gu Qingcheng's temperament and appearance compensated for her "slow reactions."

Thus, instead of feeling disgusted by her "foolishness," Qing Miao Zhenren was spurred on by a competitive spirit—

What skill is there in guiding a naturally intelligent genius to success?

That's expected.

If I can mold an unenlightened stubborn stone into a peerless jade, that would truly be the mark of a "master teacher"!

The more setbacks Qing Miao faced, the more spirited she became, teaching Gu Qingcheng with increasing dedication.

Poetry, songs, calligraphy, and painting... Qing Miao tried them all, seeking the field where Gu Qingcheng truly excelled.

Perhaps because Qing Miao was indeed a "master teacher," or perhaps because Gu Qingcheng was truly inspired, she finally "got it." Qing Miao discovered that her young apprentice was exceptionally good at calligraphy.

Her Yan-style calligraphy was clear and beautiful, elegant and dignified.

Though she was just a child with limited wrist strength, she wrote with a powerful momentum.

Given time, she would certainly develop her own unique style.

Gu Qingcheng had a major advantage: her slow mental responses meant her mind couldn't hold much.

This prevented distractions and external interference, allowing her to settle down and practice diligently.

"With this calligraphy skill alone, she'll be able to make a living in the future!"

Qing Miao Zhenren knew what the Gu family worried about and optimistically told Gu Dahai and Zhao Shi so.

In truth, Qing Miao Zhenren wanted to say that with her as a teacher, Gu Qingcheng would never be bullied.

However, such words were not for boasting.

Neither Gu Dahai nor Zhao Shi could read or understand calligraphy.

But they knew that Qing Miao Zhenren was a noble person with real skills.

Whatever she said must be true.

Most importantly, in less than a month since their daughter was sent to Qingfeng Temple, she had undergone a transformative change.

Gu Dahai and his wife witnessed their daughter playing the qin and writing calligraphy with proper form. The posture and temperament, indescribable, made them feel that their daughter was no longer a little village girl from a poor farming family but resembled a noble young lady.

"Our precious baby's future is secure!"

Gu Dahai secretly wiped away tears and said to Zhao Shi with relief.

Zhao Shi nodded vigorously in agreement.

Of their three children, the youngest was the most beloved and the biggest concern.

Now that the youngest had found a good master and could potentially become a calligraphy master in the future, she would have nothing to worry about in life.

Their second son had also started at a private school, and the teacher said he was smart and should be able to make a future through academics.

That left only the eldest son, Gu Feng—

"Gou'er's Father, Gou'er is sixteen or seventeen now, but he still doesn't have a proper occupation."

"Today, when I went to see our precious baby at Qingfeng Temple, I saw the young master from the capital. His family's guards were practicing martial arts."

"Should we ask the young master to let Gou'er learn some martial arts?"

Zhao Shi didn't want her eldest son to remain a farmer or hunter. With such a capable daughter-in-law, if her eldest son didn't work hard, he would truly not be a match.

She was extremely worried, but she actually thought of a solution...

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