Chapter 15: Teaching Children (Part 1)

  Yu Shi laughed and said: "More boring, can it be more boring than the old master's eight-part essay? Haven't you seen his frowning face when he writes eight-part essays, it's really laughable." As soon as she finished speaking, Lan Niang also covered her mouth and smiled secretly. Ning Fenbi watched from the side, feeling that she couldn't help but cry or laugh, thinking to herself: "A wife and concubine being in harmony with each other has reached this point, it's truly unheard of, I've gained some experience."

  Just then, a little maid named Huā Duǒ walked in, looking puzzled and said: "I just went to deliver some pastries to the master, but I saw Rù Dì sister going into the master's room. She said that the old lady had summoned her, but I don't know what it's about."

  Yu Shi and Lan Niang also became suspicious, Ning Fenbi was secretly thinking in her heart, thinking it strange that the old lady would not ask Father to let Mother take care of the needlework room. Moreover, Father is a concubine's son, usually the old lady does not seem particularly close or fond of him, how can he compare with two biological sons? Why did she suddenly think of calling him over to talk? What for?

  Let's just say that Yu Shi Lan and Ning Xianbi were secretly guessing, but Ning Shibei was also uncertain on his way to Ning Xiangyuan.

  Mrs. Jiang as the head of the household is quite competent. Although she doesn't dote on this illegitimate child like her two biological sons, that's just human nature.

  Compared with those wealthy families where the birth mother often harms the children born out of wedlock, Ning Shibei was truly grateful to this birth mother.

  From the day he was born, his stepmother treated him just like her two sons, whether she truly liked it or not. She never skimped on his food and clothing, let alone abused or beat him. Compared to those illegitimate children who grew up under their stepmother's shadow, he was really very fortunate.

  At this moment, he felt a little nervous and thought about whether he had done anything wrong these days. All the way to Ningxiangyuan, he saw several young maids looking at him with smiles. He coughed and happened to see Yingge walking out, so he went up to her quietly and asked: "Sister Yingge, how is the old lady's mood?"

  "Third Master, don't worry," said Yan Ge with a smile. "The old lady is in a good mood and doesn't seem to be here to scold you."

  Ning Shibo smiled wryly, but his heart couldn't help but add a hint of bitterness: His birth mother had passed away early, and he was raised by his stepmother. From childhood to adulthood, he saw that his stepmother's discipline towards his two older brothers was very strict, but towards him, it was very lenient. In the past, he thought this was because his stepmother doted on him, but as he grew older, he realized that it was because they were not biological mother and son, and the old lady didn't want to bother with him, or was afraid of being criticized for treating her stepson harshly. Anyway, there was always a layer of separation between them.

  Sometimes, he also hoped that his stepmother would discipline him like his two older brothers, so from a young age, he was very casual and didn't have the demeanor of a wealthy young master. However, after throwing a few tantrums, he finally came to terms with reality, so afterwards, he just lived life in a muddled way. Although it seems now that being foolish can bring good fortune, and living carefree is quite nice, yet the regret in his heart couldn't be fooled by himself, and even more impossible to slowly disappear with time.

  As he thought about it, he entered the house and saw Old Lady Jiang sitting on a divan. When she saw him come in, she pointed to the chair on the floor and said, "Sit down."

  "Yes, I don't know why Mother called you over, there must be something she wants to instruct."

  Ning Shiboke sat down respectfully, thinking to himself, but saw Old Lady Jiang looking at him, sizing him up carefully, before sighing and saying: "You're twenty-eight this year, aren't you?"

  Ning Shibuo didn't know how he suddenly started talking about his age, and hastily bowed his head to say: "Yes, son has just passed this year, exactly twenty-eight years old by Chinese reckoning, why did mother suddenly think of this?"

  Old Lady Jiang slowly stirred her tea, muttering to herself: "Twenty-eight... even Lao San is twenty-eight now. Time really flies, I'm getting old."

  Ning Shibuo heard the voice "Old Three", and felt a sour nose, almost shedding tears. He quickly stood up and smiled: "Where is the old ancestor old? The 60th birthday has not passed yet, and the other day, the old lady of the Jinxiang Hou Mansion celebrated her 70th birthday, and her son looked at her with good health. Our mansion has always been close to them, and the son remembers that when she was as old as the old lady, her body was not as healthy as the old lady's. It seems that when the old lady is 70 years old, she will be many times more energetic than her, where can it be said that she is old?"

  Old Lady Jiang came back to her senses, smiled slightly and said: "Stop being garrulous, you've always been informal with those servants, although they're willing to get close to you because of this, but after all, you are the master, and the distinction between superior and inferior shouldn't be too confused, or it will become a laughing stock."

  Ning Shiboke hastily responded, and listened to Old Lady Jiang say: "Sit down, don't be formal. I called you over just to ask what plans you have for your own future? Are you prepared to spend the rest of your life in a daze?"

  As soon as Ning Shibei's buttocks touched the chair, he heard Old Lady Jiang say this, and for a moment, he was so shocked that he forgot his manners. He simply looked at Old Lady Jiang with his head raised, stuttering: "Mo...mother..." Because his heart was too stirred up, his voice even choked up.

  Old Lady Jiang gazed carefully at her son's face, Ning Shibo's appearance was exceptionally outstanding, very similar to that of the flower girl he had bought from the water town in Jiangnan many years ago.

  Because of this, Old Lady Jiang had always been displeased in her heart. However, up to now, that pair of children, Xuan Ge'er was indeed a pretty one, but also followed Lan Niang's gentle and kind nature, Ning Fenbi's filial piety was commendable, and her character was good too. She only took after the Yu family in appearance, although she was also delicate and lovely, but because several sisters were all beauties, it made her seem unremarkable.

  Twenty-eight years have passed, time has changed, even that extremely beautiful woman is now nothing but a pile of white bones. The children have grown up, and I myself have grown old, what's the point of still being concerned about these things?

  Seeing Ning Shibei's emotional appearance, Jiang Lao Taikun sighed in her heart and said softly: "Now that your elder brother has succeeded to the title, I don't have to worry about it. Your second brother may not be good at reading books, but he is also skilled in managing the family's land and business, and will naturally have his own blessings in the future. Only you, neither literary nor martial, alas! This is also because I was remiss in teaching you in the past, and eventually raised your lazy and idle personality. However, now that your children are growing up slowly, can't you, as a father, still be so muddle-headed? Don't you want to become a man who can make his wife and children feel at ease, earn his own living, and stand tall?"

  Every word from Old Lady Jiang was like a heavy hammer striking Ning Shibo's heart, stirring him up while also making his face flush with shame. He hung his head and didn't know what to say, only murmuring: "Mother..."

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