Chapter 20 FCADW? IRTBTMOTMM
FlamingoBees
Translating Chinese Historical Dramas for your enjoyment... and mine! :)
Favoring Concubines and Destroying Wives? I Refuse to be the Mistress of this Marquis' Mansion
Chapter 20:
Make a Fuss
"Yunwan, are these the characters you taught Chang Gong and Qing Ge'er to practice?"
In the Yu Shou Tang, everyone could sense that the Old Madam's tone wasn't pleasant.
"Yes."
Lun Yunwan remained calm, showing no fear or anxiety.
Old Madam Lu wondered, "I've observed that ordinary people learn to write stroke by stroke, why do you have them draw horizontal lines every day? Is this a unique method not commonly shared outside the Literati?"
"You guessed right, Old Madam. Though not created by the Literati, it is indeed a writing method not easily shared with outsiders"
Old Madam Lu, with a mix of belief and doubt, seemed to seek advice from Yunwan, "What's the significance of this writing method?"
Yunwan briefly explained the characteristics of the "Zhu Zhi Tie" and the ultimate effect it could achieve.
"It starts with feeling the force of the stroke when drawing horizontal lines. Then, the training focuses on the wrist's stability and flexibility, which is the most challenging part."
Even more challenging?
Is she planning to make things difficult for Qing Ge'er again?
Old Madam Lu asked with a serious expression, "What makes it difficult?"
Yunwan explained, "You attach sandbags to the wrist, gradually increasing their weight. Start with light objects, then progress to wooden swords with decorative patterns, gradually increasing the weight until you can wield a heavy sword like a roaming dragon. In the process, there might be injuries and bleeding, but it's all part of the normal course."
"But if one can persist in daily practice, within ten years, they can achieve the power to penetrate paper and leave a deep impression on wood."
"As you can see, Old Madam, Chang Gong's writing has already shown initial results."
Old Madam Lu took in a sharp breath.
According to Yunwan's explanation, Qing Ge'er's rigorous training was just the beginning, and more hardships awaited him. The prospect of a child already falling ill and facing potential injuries and bleeding in the future alarmed Old Madam Lu.
Ge Bao'er was also shocked. This method of practice was unheard of, and the idea of enduring it for ten years was overwhelming.
This approach didn't seem like teaching a child; it appeared to be an excuse for mistreatment.
Old Madam Lu, glancing at the characters written by Lu Chang Gong and Qing Ge'er, couldn't help but ask, "Can Qing Ge'er write such beautiful characters now?"
"No."
Lin Yunwan's response was too straightforward.
Old Madam Lu felt a sense of evasion and frustration. Frowning, she said, "Yunwan, whether it's entrusting the entire Lu family to you or the two children, I have always been reassured. If you truly don't want to teach Qing Ge'er, the mansion won't force you. We can hire another teacher. He is the mansion's child, and as his stepmother, how can you indirectly harm his health and ruin his future?"
After many years in the Lu family, this was the first time Yunwan had faced such humiliation from the Old Madam in front of the servants.
The Old Madam was genuinely angry this time.
Worried about the situation escalating, Yan Mama hurriedly stepped forward and whispered, "Old Madam, last night, when I went to deliver the books, Madam was still correcting assignments for the two young masters. She may not have done much, but she has been working hard."
Old Madam Lu's expression didn't soften.
However, Yunwan calmly stated, "Old Madam, please take a look at their assignments first."
Glancing outside, she noticed the two clever maids waiting, and even... Lu Chang Gong!
Surprised, she looked at him.
Without dwelling on it, Yunwan called out, "Tao Ye, come in."
"Here I am."
Tao Ye entered with a bundle of scrolls, walking up to Old Madam Lu.
Two stacks of different thicknesses of paper were laid out on the table.
Old Madam Lu, puzzled, asked, "What is this?"
Tao Ye bowed her head and replied, "In response to Old Madam, these are the daily practice assignments of the Eldest Master and the Second Master."
Old Madam Lu was left speechless and wide-eyed.
The stack on the left was as thick as a city wall, while the one on the right was almost as thin as a cicada's wing.
Old Madam Lu pressed down on the thick stack first.
"This..."
Tao Ye said, "Precisely, that stack was written by Young Master Chang Gong."
Old Madam Lu widened her eyes.
Lu Chang Gong wrote so many sheets of paper in one day?
Disregarding Ge Bao'er, not even Yan Mama believed it, and both of them wore expressions of astonishment and disbelief.
Old Madam Lu, with a tense face, personally flipped through those scrolls.
Whether to say it or not, some people do have talent. Just a single horizontal line was drawn with a sense of beauty, and as she flipped through the scrolls, there was visible progress.
She stammered for a while, unable to say a word.
Lin Yunwan calmly added, "Old Madam, take a look at the homework written by Young Master Qing Ge'er."
Old Madam Lu naturally had to go through it...
In just a few sheets, the visible difference was striking—it wasn't at all the same person drawing those horizontal lines. How could the writing of the young servant, who was older, be similar to that of a child?
Qing Ge'er did indeed let the little servant do his homework!
"The teacher leads the way, but cultivation is up to the individual. Chang Gong's good writing is the result he deserves. If Qing Ge'er could write as well as Chang Gong... with such talent, he should be his teacher."
Lin Yunwan's bright eyes remained calm.
Old Madam Lu, however, sensed a hint of mockery.
Her arrogance diminished, and she remained silent for a while before saying, "Then, you still shouldn't have made Qing Ge'er fall ill. After all, he's just a child."
Lin Yunwan found it amusing. "He fell ill after writing so little homework? That's truly unheard of!"
Just then a servant woman from the second gate happened to come over with a message: "Old Madam, the physician has finished examining Young Master Qing Ge'er's pulse."
The servant woman stammered, "Young Master Qing Ge'er, he... he..."
Old Madam Lu's heart tightened, and Ge Bao'er felt the tension in her throat.
The servant woman hesitated, "Young Master Qing Ge'er isn't sick. The physician said so, not me!"
After hearing this, Old Madam Lu, Ge Bao'er, and others were left speechless.
"Why did his little servant say he's ill then?" Old Madam Lu frowned, finding it hard to comprehend how a mere servant could dare deceive her.
The servant stuttered, "O-old M-madam, it was Young Master Qing who said so... I... I just... just..."
Old Madam Lu's face turned ashen.
Feigning illness and laying the blame on the stepmother, her son and grandson had never behaved like this before! Even the illegitimate sons were not so unruly.
The Old Madam couldn't help but wonder how Gao Bao'er had taught Young Master Qing before. How had he turned into this?
Unable to contain herself, Gao Bao'er stepped forward, "Students vary in nature. Young students tend to be playful; it's not a big deal. I've heard that teaching different students requires different methods. As long as the teacher is willing to make an effort, there are no students that can't be taught well."
In essence, she was hinting that it was all because Lin Yunwan wasn't willing to put in the effort.
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