"When people are born...their nature is good..."
From the study came the stuttering sound of someone reading a book, the Three Character Classic, a children's primer. The material was very simple, but the listeners didn't feel that way at all.
After Pei Mu finished reading, she raised her head, her little face flushed, and her eyes sparkling as she looked at Jiang Miao and Pei Che, full of anticipation.
"You read very well. You even recognize the characters! What do you think?" Jiang Miao praised politely and asked Pei Che for his opinion.
"Mu'er is amazing, but do you know what these words mean?" Pei Che also praised him, but the latter sentence made Pei Mu a little confused.
Pei Che called him over, pointed to the words "人之初" in the book, and began to explain the meaning of these words to him. Jiang Miao listened from the side. He knew the first few familiar sentences, and he memorized the latter ones since Xiao Shitou went to school. Every time Xiao Shitou recited and practiced calligraphy, he accompanied him. Sometimes, Jiang Miao felt as if he had gone to school again.
When he thought about it, he felt a little happy. It was a good deal to pay the tuition fee for two people to learn. Actually, it wasn't just two people who were learning, because Pei Mu learned most of his characters when he was studying with Xiao Shitou.
Unlike Xiao Shitou who simply repeated the Master's words, Pei Che not only explained the meaning of each sentence, but also told them the relevant anecdotes. Both of them were fascinated by what they heard until Butler Wu came and knocked on the door, saying that it was time for Pei Che to take his medicine.
Looking at the steaming black medicinal soup, Pei Che's eyes flashed with helplessness. He actually thought he was already well, but no one agreed with him. In Jiang Miao's opinion, someone who coughed from time to time could not say that he was cured.
Pei Che took the medicine bowl and drank it all, leaving a mouth full of discomfort. He put down the bowl and held a candied fruit in front of him. He thought for a moment, then lowered his head and took the candied fruit into his mouth.
When his fingers touched the soft lips, Jiang Miao was stunned for a moment before withdrawing his hand. Pei Che was about to speak with a smile in his eyes, but Pei Mu suddenly pulled Jiang Miao's sleeve and said, "I want to eat too."
Jiang Miao lowered his head, took out a candied fruit from the jar and stuffed it directly into Pei Mu's mouth. He couldn't help but laugh when he saw that one of his cheeks was bulging from being stuffed.
Pei Che looked at the two of them and chewed the candied fruit into pieces and swallowed it in a depressed mood.
After eating the candied fruit, Jiang Miao and Pei Mu sat together again, ready to listen to Pei Che continue to explain the story in the Three Character Classic. But Pei Che put the book down and said, "You can't chew too much. We have said enough today. Mu'er, copy down the sentences your brother said today twice."
Pei Mu was a little disappointed, but he still obediently spread out the paper, ground the ink, and started writing.
"A Miao, come out with me." Pei Che said.
Jiang Miao followed him suspiciously, out of the study, and came to a corridor. Pei Che looked a little serious, and Jiang Miao couldn't help but become serious.
Being stared at by Jiang Miao's dark eyes, Pei Che couldn't help but feel a little nervous. He opened his mouth, but swallowed the words he wanted to say back into his stomach.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Miao asked carefully.
"A Miao, I think Mu'er should go to a private school, what do you think?" Pei Che cleared his throat and said solemnly.
Jiang Miao's tense nerves suddenly relaxed.
"Is that what you want to say?" He looked at Pei Che with a helpless look.
Pei Che looked a little uncomfortable. He hummed, so as not to say something he shouldn't say in the heat of the moment.
"What's there to ask? You are his biological brother. If you want to give it to him, just give it to him." Pei Mu already knows a lot of words now. Although the child still speaks a little slowly, he is very smart and will definitely keep up with the studies.
"Mu'er is very attached to you, I'm afraid she doesn't want to go to school." Pei Che said. Although he is the biological brother, Mu'er obviously likes Jiang Miao more. If he were asked to choose who to follow now, he would probably choose Jiang Miao directly.
Jiang Miao smiled and said, "Who told me to accompany him all day long? But don't worry, as long as you talk to him nicely, he will definitely listen."
"I hope so." Pei Che felt that this process would not be easy.
"Then where do you plan to let Mu'er study? Does the Imperial College accept children?" Jiang Miao asked.
"Stay with Xiao Shitou." Pei Mu said. Mu'er would probably be more willing to study with a friend.
"That's fine. Master Yu from Xiao Shitou's class is gentle and knowledgeable. All the kids like him very much." Jiang Miao said. Every time he talked to Master Yu, he felt like he was bathed in spring breeze.
"What about you?" Pei Che asked suddenly.
"Ah?" Jiang Miao didn't react for a moment.
"I mean, do you also prefer this kind of gentle and amiable person?" Pei Che asked nervously.
"Huh? I guess so. After all, who would like someone who is vicious to them?" Jiang Miao thought his question was very interesting. After a moment, he suddenly understood what Pei Che meant. "Wait, you're asking me what type of person I like, right?"
Jiang Miao thought for a long time, and his brain suddenly froze, because he found that the image of his future partner that he had drawn in his mind when he was bored before had disappeared. It was as if he had never thought about this question before.
After a while, Jiang Miao shook his head: "I can't really say. I'm afraid I can only tell if I see it. But-"
At this point, Jiang Miao smiled, stretched out his hand and patted Pei Che: "I don't need to think about this problem at the moment, right? I'm already bound to you, and I can't unbind you for the time being. It's more practical to think about other issues."
After spending so much time with Jiang Miao, Pei Che had gotten used to the way he spoke to him. After just a little thought, he understood what Jiang Miao meant. Although he failed to find out what type of person Jiang Miao liked, Pei Che was no longer so nervous. As Jiang Miao said, it was impossible for the two of them to separate at the moment.
"Brother!" As soon as Xiao Shitou went out, he saw Jiang Miao standing outside and immediately rushed over excitedly.
"Why did you come to pick me up today?" Since moving into Jiang's house, the private school and his residence have been very close. Xiao Shitou walks with his classmates every day and no longer needs to be picked up. But he was still very happy that Jiang Miao came to pick him up.
Jiang Miao hugged him and said, "I came to see your teacher for something."
Little Stone sighed: "Brother, you really don't know how to coax people."
Jiang Miao was amused by his old-fashioned complaints and asked, "Then tell me, what should I say?"
"You should say, I came to pick you up because I missed you, and I also have something to do with your teacher. I will be happier if you say that." Little Stone said seriously.
Jiang Miao was stunned. After a long while, he reached out and patted Xiao Shitou on the head, muttering, "Stinky boy, where did you learn that?"
He walked in with Little Stone. At that time, Master Yu was tidying up the things on the table. When he saw Jiang Miao, he asked in confusion, "Manager Jiang, is there something wrong?"
Jiang Miao said, "Master Yu, I came here today to ask if you are still accepting students. I have a younger brother, the one who came here with Xiao Shitou last time. He also wants to study in a private school. I wonder if it is possible?"
Master Yu showed a slightly bitter smile on his face, and he said, "Manager Jiang, in fact, if you didn't come to see me today, I would have come to see you in a few days."
"Master Yu, what's wrong?" Jiang Miao smelled something unusual.
Master Yu said, "I am not talented. I studied hard for several years and passed the examination two years ago, which gave me the opportunity to enter the government. This year is the year of the big exam. I felt that I was not knowledgeable enough and thought about waiting for another three years. But a few days ago, after reading my essay, the teacher encouraged me to give it a try. Even if I fail, I can still gain some experience."
After hearing this, Jiang Miao understood that Master Yu had to prepare for the exam himself and probably had no time to teach students.
"When I think about it, I feel that what you said makes sense. Although I have been busy teaching in the past two years, I have never forgotten my books in my spare time. But now the exam is approaching, and if I continue to do two things at once, I am afraid that I will waste all my years of learning. Therefore, this private school will be closed in a few days." Master Yu felt a little apologetic, but he was also very firm in his belief.
Who would dare to do something that would hinder someone's future? Even though he was reluctant, Jiang Miao could only wish him the best.
"Then I wish you success in the imperial examination, Master Yu." Jiang Miao cupped his hands towards him. "Little Stone has always liked you. I'm sure everyone will be reluctant to let you go after you leave this private school."
Master Yu smiled and said, "All good things must come to an end. Maybe one day, I can meet them somewhere else. By the way, Manager Jiang, you can go to other private schools these days. Although this one is closed, Jiang Lei's studies cannot be interrupted."
Jiang Miao said: "Thank you, Master Yu, I will go and see it. I won't bother you anymore."
Jiang Miao held the hand of Little Stone, whose eyes had lost their spirit due to shock, and sighed in her heart. Little Stone must be very sad that the teacher she knew and loved no longer taught them.
The two returned to Jiang's house dejectedly. Pei Che was very surprised. It was rare to see them so unhappy. After understanding the whole story, Pei Che advised: "Don't worry, you can always find a suitable husband."
"I hope so." Jiang Miao remembered how he had helped Xiao Shitou find an academy. He thought he could solve the problem once and for all, but he didn't expect that he would have to look for one all over again just half a year later.
Pei Che wanted to say that if it really didn't work, he could let them go to Pei's family school. But then he thought again, all the students in Pei's family school were members of the Pei family, and some of them were prejudiced against Mu'er, so they couldn't go there.
Where are you going
Suddenly, Pei Che had an idea and said, "Why don't we let them go to the Imperial Academy with me to study?"
Jiang Miao was a little confused: "But when I asked you just now, you didn't seem to say yes."
"But I didn't say no. There is a school for children in the back mountain of the Imperial College. The owner is an old scholar from the Imperial College. His knowledge is respectable. The reason I hesitated before was because I was afraid that they would have no playmates if they were studying in different places. Now that they are going to the same place, there is naturally nothing to worry about." The more Pei Che thought about it, the more he felt that this was a great idea. As long as Mu'er and Xiao Shitou went together, Jiang Miao would feel uneasy if he didn't want to go.
By then, he would have a small courtyard to live in at the back of the Imperial College. Wouldn't his daily life be leisurely and pleasant
(End of this chapter)