Village Belle Chapter 132
Translated by Digitalian (ko-fi)
Chapter 132: Five Years Later; Lin Sanzhu Was Going To Marry Her Off
Wei Wen was somewhat surprised and looked at Su Tao kindly. "How many years have you been studying?"
More than twenty years.
Su Tao naturally couldn't say that, and obediently replied, "One year."
"One year? You certainly have some talent."
Wei Wen was a little surprised, but unfortunately she was a girl, so he didn't take it to heart. He continued, "Since you're about the same standard, I won't teach you separately."
"I'll first tell you the rules of studying. You can't sleep, talk, or eat while studying, and you must complete the assigned homework on the same day."
"If either of you fails to do so, you’ll both be punished, understand?"
Su Tao and Xie Yuntang nodded obediently to indicate that they understood.
Wei Wen didn't say much more. He took out a book, and said seriously, "I'll read a sentence, and you'll repeat it after me, 'The Great Learning teaches us to manifest our bright virtue, to love the people, and to attain the highest good.'"
The two voices said in unison, "The Great Learning teaches us to manifest our bright virtue, to love the people, and to attain the highest good."
……
With the change of seasons, five years had passed. It was spring again, the season when peach blossoms bloomed all over the mountains.
It was still Xingtao Village.
In the Xie family’s house.
A middle-aged man's deep teaching voice sounded. "A gentleman knows both the causes for the rise and fall of education, and only then can he be a teacher. Therefore, the teaching of a gentleman is to guide without leading, to encourage without suppressing, and to open up without forcing." Not far from him, at the long table opposite, sat two people, a boy and a girl.
The girl's hair was styled in a single bun, adorned with butterfly hairpins on either side. Her pink dress made her already fair face appear even fairer.
When her eyes were lowered, her eyelashes were long and curled. Her nose was delicate and her lips were rosy. What a truly beautiful girl.
The boy beside her was a head and a half taller than her, his hair half-tied at the back of his head, adorned with a translucent white jade hairpin.
He had distinct features, delicate yet refined, like a magnolia in bloom.
The girl's voice was sweet and clear, while the boy's voice was magnetic; their voices mingled together. "A gentleman knows both the causes for the rise and fall of education, and only then can he be a teacher. Therefore, the teaching of a gentleman is to guide without leading, to encourage without suppressing, and to open up without forcing."
After teaching for a while, the teacher closed his book and said amiably, "That's all for this morning." After saying that, he got up and went downstairs.
The girl, who had been sitting properly just now, suddenly slumped onto the table, gesturing to the person next to her, "Milksop, massage my shoulders. They ache so much."
The boy was Xie Yuntang. He stood up, his tall figure like a slender bamboo.
He skillfully placed his hands on her shoulders, bending slightly, his gaze falling on her dark eye circles. He frowned slightly. "Sister Taozi, did you read a storybook again last night?"
"Listen, I’ve read to the point where that general came back to life and defended the South City... Press more to the side, yes, yes, right here."
At the mention of storybooks, Su Tao's attractive eyes lit up, and she said enthusiastically, "He and his wife had a baby boy."
"Sister Taozi, you promised me you wouldn't stay up late reading." Xie Yuntang straightened his face, but his tone wasn't harsh. Instead, it sounded somewhat resigned.
Then he added, "I won't buy you any next time."
"No, you have to buy it for me. If you don't, I'll stick to your side every day. I haven't even finished reading it yet."
Su Tao had become interested after accidentally reading a storybook last year. Otherwise, she would go crazy from studying all day.
Xie Yuntang pursed his lips. "You aren’t allowed to read tonight."
"Okay, okay, I won't. It smells so good. Your mother must have made something delicious again. Put the book away, I'm going downstairs first." Su Tao got up and ran downstairs.
Xie Yuntang only looked away after he could no longer see her back. He carefully put away her book and brush and then strode downstairs.
At this moment, a commotion came from the Su family’s house across the street. "Aren't you cooking yet? Are you waiting for me to cook? You're all lazybones. I must have had the worst luck in eight lifetimes."
It was definitely Mrs. Su-Qian's voice, just as loud as it had been in those years.
Su Tao was standing at the door watching the commotion when she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around and looked over. Even though she saw Milksop every day, she couldn't help but be stunned by his handsome appearance.
No wonder the girls in the village tried every means to come and play with him.
"Come and take a look. That wretched old woman is cursing again. I wonder where she gets so much energy all day long. Doesn't she worry about dying from her saliva drying?"
Seeing her roll her eyes, Xie Yuntang couldn't help but smile and reached out to straighten the hair clip that was crooked in her hair.
She stared straight at him, and the tips of his ears gradually turned red.
He said shyly, "Mother made chestnut stewed chicken."
He didn't know when it started, but whenever Sister Taozi looked at him without saying a word, he would feel shy.
Hearing this, Su Tao rushed to the kitchen, Xie Yuntang following behind her.
During the meal, Xie Yuntang would occasionally put food on Su Tao's plate, and Su Tao would sometimes guiltily put some greens on his plate.
Fifteen minutes later, she put down her chopsticks, patted her stomach, and said obediently, "Uncle Xie, Auntie Xie, Mr Wei, I have to go home to help out this afternoon, so I won't be studying."
Now that the peach blossoms were blooming again, she naturally wanted to earn money.
Two years ago, she stopped working as a helper at the Xie family’s house. Lin Sanzhu absolutely refused to let her, and she ended up fuming for several days.
However, she still studied with Xie Yuntang during the day.
Xie Qing knew the Su family was busy these days and nodded. "Okay."
Xie Yuntang also put down his chopsticks, wanting to go with them, but the provincial examination was next year, and he needed to seize the time to study.
He said sullenly, "I'll escort you home."
"No need, it's not far. Just study by yourself." Su Tao quickly cleared the dishes and went into the kitchen.
Xie Yuntang followed her in, rolled up his sleeves to wash the dishes, and Su Tao lazily went to start the fire, adding firewood to the stove as she said, "I won't be coming for dinner tonight. Put my pastries away so the mice don't eat them."
Hearing that she wouldn't be coming for dinner, Xie Yuntang paused for a moment, then said gently, "My mother is making braised pork ribs tonight. Don't you want some?"
"Really? Then come pick me up after you finish studying." Su Tao immediately changed her mind.
Xie Yuntang nodded happily. "Okay."
……
Su Tao's house.
The chickens suddenly became restless. Lin Sanzhu, who was in the kitchen, knew without looking that her wretched daughter had returned. "Su Tao! I’ve told you not to mess with those chickens all day long. We’re going to kill them to eat for the Lunar New Year!"
The next moment, Su Tao was clinging to the doorway, blinking her eyes. "Why would they be so easily scared to death?"
"Sister."
Six-year-old Su Dou hugged her from behind. His chubby little face was extremely cute.
Su Tao pinched his cheek unceremoniously. "As I told you, you should eat less, or you'll grow up to be plump and have a hard time finding a wife."
"Stop talking nonsense." Lin Sanzhu glared at her, then, remembering something, added, "What do you think about that boy from the Li family? I think he's good, honest and kind."
Su Tao, who was about to turn fourteen, hated it when Lin Sanzhu kept nagging her to find a husband. She bared her teeth and said, "If you think he's good, then you should marry him." With that, she picked up Su Dou and ran off.
She needed to find an opportunity to have a serious talk with Xie Yuntang.
If she didn't go home soon, she was afraid Lin Sanzhu would really marry her off to have children.
