Chapter 97: Trust, Respect, and Honor Her

Chapter 97: Trust, Respect, and Honor Her

If Old Lady Feng wants to fool herself, fine, but how can she brainwash others?

She’s dressed up her ignorance and selfishness so elegantly—it’s quite something.

If studying is considered suffering, then is Old Lady Feng pushing her grandson to study under Fan Xiucai to torment him and end the family line?

"I only ask you, do you want to endure this so-called suffering?" Lu Mingchao’s gaze was intense as she looked at Feng Jinyu. "Isn’t working in the fields or doing chores harder than learning to read?"

The warm winter sunlight, soft as an orchid, filtered through the window, casting dappled shadows.

The light danced around the room, mixing with dust particles, like scattered stars.

Feng Jinyu stared unblinkingly at Lu Mingchao, feeling as if the light was coming from her.

She reached out suddenly, as if to catch the shimmering light.

Mingchao always spoke simply but with depth.

Lu Mingchao patted Feng Jinyu’s hand gently, her eyes bright. "We’re discussing serious matters here, don’t fool around."

"This suffering, even if I wanted to endure it, I wouldn’t get the chance," Feng Jinyu said dejectedly, pulling her hand back, head down, tugging at her clothes like a drenched quail, looking small and helpless.

In most homes, women don’t get to learn.

It’s like a woman’s only job is to cook, clean, marry, and have kids.

Lu Mingchao raised an eyebrow. "Talk it over with your family. If you decide to go for it, come back to me."

"Winter days are long and free. If you want, I can spend an hour each day teaching you to read and write. It’s never too late to start. The best time is now, if you’re serious."

"They say the best time to plant a tree was ten years ago, but the next best time is now."

Feng Jinyu looked up, her eyes bright like sunlight on tea, misty and glowing.

"I want to learn," she said firmly.

"Even if you don’t know where this will take you, you still want to try?"

"Yes, reading and writing will always be useful."

Lu Mingchao propped her chin on her hand, staring hard. "But you need to talk to your elders first. You know me—I won’t put up with being treated unfairly. If someone causes trouble, I’m not exactly known for respecting my elders."

"It would just hurt our friendship."

Feng Jinyu shouted, "Brother, I want to learn to read with Lu Mingchao!"

Then she turned to Lu Mingchao, her voice softer. "Mingchao, my brother runs the house now."

"My mother listens to him, and my father stays out of it."

Feng Jinmao frowned, stood up, and walked over, his big hand on Feng Jinyu’s back. "You’re really pushing it, aren’t you?"

"Sister Lu saved your life, and now you’re taking advantage of her?"

Feng Jinyu looked up, meeting Feng Jinmao’s gaze without flinching. "Brother, I want to learn."

"Anyway, my reputation is ruined and my appearance is destroyed. Things can't get any worse on the outside."

"I've already faced death twice. I want to learn to read and write, to understand the ways of the world, to live with more awareness, rather than being almost driven to death and still unable to stand up for myself."

"Once I learn to read and write, I can go to the county or town to find work and support myself."

Feng Jinmao's round, large eyes showed a flicker of hesitation.

Having traveled far and wide as a caravan guard, he had seen all kinds of people, even women who were the heads of their households.

Having seen so much, his world had expanded, and his heart had opened up. He held no prejudice against women.

If men could read and write, naturally women could too.

The rules of propriety were both a shield and a shackle for women.

Feng Jinmao put his hands behind his back. "It's a good thing that you want to learn to read and write."

"But Lu Mingchao doesn't owe you anything. A small kindness can turn into a big grudge. Over time, if you become dependent on her help and take it for granted, and if she can't meet your expectations or doesn't do as you wish, you'll resent her."

"I won't!" Feng Jinyu said without hesitation.

Lu Mingchao had saved her life. Could any favor be greater than saving a life?

Her brother really underestimated her.

Feng Jinmao glanced at Feng Jinyu. "Are you going to speak, or should I?"

Feng Jinyu: ...

Feng Jinmao continued, "Don't take it the wrong way. Over the years, I've seen plenty of cases where kindness was repaid with betrayal."

"You can follow Lu Mingchao to learn to read and write, but you must follow the rules of a private school: pay respects to the teacher, offer gifts, and honor the teacher. None of these can be omitted."

"So, the key point isn't whether I agree or not, but whether you've really thought it through."

Feng Jinyu murmured softly, "I have to pay my respects to the teacher."

But she still wanted to be friends with Lu Mingchao.

"Otherwise?" Feng Jinmao asked. "Let Lu Mingchao raise an ungrateful person?"

Feng Jinyu's eyes darted around, and she reached out to tug at Lu Mingchao's sleeve. "Can I still gossip with you behind others' backs in the future?"

Hearing this, Lu Mingchao smiled awkwardly. "There's a relationship called teacher and student."

In front of Feng Jinmao, this question was really hard to answer.

Feng Jinyu lowered her head and, after careful consideration, said, "I am willing to pay my respects to the teacher."

"Trust her, respect her, honor her, and never betray her in this life."

"If I break this promise, may I suffer the pain of self-destruction for eternity."

It was mid-morning, and the room was bathed in sunlight.

The cold wind seeped through the cracks of the open window, making Feng Jinyu's thin, increasingly delicate face come alive.

Lu Mingchao's heart stirred slightly. This scene, in her eyes and heart, was like a painting destined to be preserved in time, perhaps yellowing over the years, but the captured moment would remain unchanged.

Everyone's heart softens in moments when they are treated with great care.

She is no exception.

Lu Mingchao calmed the turmoil in her heart and asked uncertainly, "Is this really necessary for a disciple ceremony?"

The customs of Daqian always take her by surprise.

"You haven't even prepared the disciple ceremony, what are you rushing for?" Feng Jinmao pulled Feng Jinyu aside, said with a hint of disdain, "When you were young and had me take the fall and make false reports for you, you seemed quite clever. Now, you're as foolish as that big yellow dog you used to raise."

"Scold me if you must, but why bring Jin Can Can into it?" Feng Jinyu instinctively retorted, "Jin Can Can is very smart."

Lu Mingchao once again doubted Feng Jinyu's ability to focus on the key point.

Fortunately, she doesn't need to teach Feng Jinyu how to summarize the central idea of an article, otherwise, it could go from the East Sea to Kunlun Mountain.

"Mingchao, wait for me, I'll be right back."

Feng Jinyu mustered all her strength, pulling the towering Feng Jinmao to leave in a hurry.

Lu Mingchao chuckled, "The eldest brother of the Feng family is a sensible person."

Xie Yan nodded, "Honest and hardworking, content and knows his limits."

"Feng Jinyu's character is also quite good," Lu Mingchao smiled like a flower.

How bad can someone who repays kindness really be?

"The second young master of the Sun family has died."