Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
They left the alley and didnât get far up East Main Street before they saw the goateed man turn into the street market.
The goateed man weaved through the bustling crowd. The two children followed him around two streets and through a few alleys. After walking for about an hour, they followed him to an alley called Scholars Alley. Seeing him enter the third house on Scholars Alley, the two of them memorized the place and navigated their way home.
When the two of them returned home, they found Ji Xiang and told him about the third house in Scholar Alley.
Little Loach proudly handed the two strings of money to Ji Xiang. âUncle Xiang,
Iâll return the money to you. We didnât use a single cent.â
Ji Xiang took the copper coins and looked at the two of them with a smile. âGood kids, you two are good! You even found your way back from such a long distance.â
As he spoke, he took out another string of money and handed it to them. âHey! Take it. Buy whatever snacks you want.â
Maodou slurped his saliva and smiled in embarrassment. âUncle Xiang, I want to eat fried quail. I smelled it on the way just now. It smells delicious.â
Ji Xiang smiled and patted him. âAlright, buy whatever you want to eat. Come back quickly after eating, understand?â
âGot it.â The four of them giggled and ran out with the money.
Ji Xiang drove to Scholar Alley and asked around. He found out that it was the Feng familyâs residence and returned home to tell Li Yu the news.
Li Yu said to Ji Xiang, âI knew it was Madam Yang. If that goateed man comes again, catch him and scare him.â
âMadam, in my opinion, he will definitely come back when Master returns from the government office. Master is about to return. Iâll get Little Loach and the others to go out and watch. Also, Old Master hasnât returned with Maizi.â
âYes! I heard from the old man that heâll be back later. Yangâer is about to leave school. Iâll pick him up and walk around.â
Ji Xiang smiled and said, âYou should bring Granny Yang with you!â
Li Yu smiled and nodded. She sighed and said, âSigh! You guys are really treating me like those delicate noblewomen.â
Granny Yang also smiled and said, âYouâre precious now! You have to be more careful.â
Ji Xiang smiled in agreement. âNanny is right.â
Li Yu brought Granny Yang to the Lin Clan School. After waiting at the door for a while, a child came out.
A four or five-year-old boy who looked like a little girl walked up to Li Yu and bowed. âAunt, my name is Lin Sen. Iâm Zhou Chenxiâs classmate. Are you Zhou Chenxiâs mother?â
Li Yu smiled at him. âThatâs right! Little kid, why isnât Zhou Chenxi out?â
âHe fought with Lin Haoran. The two of them were beaten up by Sir and were even punished to wipe the desk.â Lin Sen looked at Li Yu guiltily and lowered his head. âAunt, itâs all my fault for causing him to be punished.â
Li Yu smiled. âItâs his fault for fighting. Itâs none of your business. You donât have to blame yourself.â
Lin Sen glanced at the carriage waiting in front of him. âAunt, can you not hit him? He was punished by Sir because he helped me. Aunt, Iâm leaving.â
Li Yu saw him get into the carriage behind an old woman and brought Granny Yang into the clan school. She looked at two classrooms and saw Yangyang and a strong fat boy. The two of them were clumsily wiping the desk with a cloth.
On the podium stood a middle-aged man who should be the teacher. There was also a gray-haired old man standing in the courtyard. He was probably here to pick up the child. The old man looked at Li Yu awkwardly and nodded in greeting.
After Li Yu bent her knees slightly and bowed, she stood at the side and waited for half an hour. Then she saw the two children walk up to the teacher and bow.
âSir, we wiped the table clean.â
The teacher looked at the two of them and said, âYouâre classmates, so you should be united and love each other. On account that this is your first offense, Iâll give you a chance this time. Apologize to each other. If you do it again, I wonât let you off easily.â
They both replied in unison, âYes, sir.â
After the two of them cupped their hands and apologized to each other, the teacher said, âGo out! Your families are waiting outside.â
âYes, sir.â The two children turned their backs, glared at each other, and went out the door with their heads up.
The two of them saw Li Yu and the old man standing in the courtyard. The child ran to the old man and called out, âGrandpa.â He lowered his head and said nothing.
Yangyang walked up to Li Yu weakly and called out aggrievedly, âMother.â
Yangyang nodded and pointed at the child aggrievedly. âLin Haoran bullied Lin Sen and said that he was a young lady. He even took off his pants and looked at him. Lin Sen was so frightened that he cried, but he still pressed down on him and refused to let go.
I went up and gently flipped him off Lin Sen. In the end, his forehead touched the leg of the table and he hit a big bump.â
Li Yu heard his voice getting lower and lower. She turned around and saw that there was indeed a big bump on the childâs forehead. She saw that the old man was also talking to the child.
Li Yu walked over and said awkwardly to the old man, âSir, I have medicine and medicinal wine at home. Where do you live? Iâll get someone to send some to you.â
The old man smiled kindly and waved his hand. âItâs not your childâs fault. I know Lin Sen.â
As he spoke, he pointed at his grandson and said, âHe was the one who bullied the weak. He deserved to be taught a lesson. Besides, itâs good for children to fight sometimes. As long as thereâs no big mistake, we as adults donât have to fuss about it.â
âYour child is not in the wrong. You donât have to punish your child when you go back.â
Seeing that the old man was so reasonable, Li Yu said in embarrassment, âSir is right. Children are all like this. How can the adults take it to heart?â
Li Yu turned around and waved at Yangyang with a smile. âDid you hear what the old man said? Donât feel aggrieved. Come and shake hands with your classmate!â
Yangyang turned to look at Lin Haoran and walked up to him readily. He looked at him and said, âLin Haoran, if you donât bully your classmates in the future, Iâll be good friends with you.â
Lin Haoran sniffed and glanced at Yangyang. He hesitated for a moment before saying, âThen you promised me that you would teach me martial arts.â
âThen you have to promise me that you wonât bully others,â Yangyang said with his head held high.
Lin Haoran raised his hand and said, âI promise.â
Yangyang reached out to him. âAlright, letâs shake hands and make peace!â âYes!â They looked at each other and smiled. âIâll see you tomorrow.â
Li Yu smiled and bade farewell to the old man. She held Yangyangâs hand and walked back.
When she returned home, Li Yu saw that he was still silent. She stopped and looked at him. âYouâve already shaken hands and made peace. Are you still feeling aggrieved?â
Yangyang looked up at Li Yu and asked curiously, âMother, why didnât you scold me? My classmates said that when they fight and go home, they will be scolded and punished to kneel. They said that I will also be punished.â
Li Yu smiled and said, âLin Haoranâs Grandpa already said that he bullied the weak. You didnât do anything wrong. Why should I scold you?â
âHowever, son, you have to pay attention to strategy next time. Today, that old man is reasonable. If you encounter an unreasonable person, it will be troublesome.â
âBesides, that child is taller and stronger than you. If he knew some martial arts, wouldnât you be at a disadvantage today?â
âRemember to look at the situation clearly before doing anything in the future. You also have to remember to use cleverness and not brute force. Sigh! You should follow your grandmaster and identify the acupuncture points. Youâll know how to use cleverness in the future..â
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