Chapter 4: People Strive for a Breath of Air

Zhang Yue felt a surge of joy in his heart and quickly stood up, bowing as he said: "When I was studying in the academy, the teacher happened to discuss this passage from the Analects. I remember it mentioned that Confucius had a disciple named Zai Yu, who, instead of studying diligently during the day, would secretly sleep. This naturally provoked Confucius's anger. Confucius once said, 'Time flows like this, never ceasing day or night,' and he naturally detested such lazy behavior."

With his ears perked up, Zhang Yueyue listened to the loud commotion next door, growing increasingly curious. After much contemplation, he decided to step outside. As he lifted the curtain slightly, he suddenly heard a loud crash. Upon focusing his gaze, he saw a teacup shatter into pieces on the floor. At that moment, he immediately withdrew the foot he had already stepped out with, but instead of lowering the curtain, he hid behind it, quietly watching and listening.

Master, she clearly has ill intentions. Have you forgotten what happened earlier

He suddenly remembered something, and at that moment, he abruptly turned around, placing his hands heavily on Zhang Yue's shoulders, and said word by word: "Yue'er, our Zhang family's school is not solely for the children of the Zhang family; there are also many students from other families who come to study here. Among them, some are dedicated to their studies, while others are playful and mischievous. Since you wish to study diligently and practice martial arts, you should not concern yourself with matters that do not require your attention. When faced with situations, think more about me and your mother."

Zhang Yue, however, smiled and sat down, then tilted his head and said: "Since both elder brother and second brother have mentioned it, I recall a joke I heard from someone else earlier. It goes that a certain teacher loved to take a nap. A student asked him how to interpret the phrase 'Zai Yu napping at noon' from the book. The teacher replied: 'This phrase may not be understood by others, but as a learned person, I will tell you: Zai means to kill; Yu means I; Zhou means noon; and Qin means to sleep. Put together, it means: 'I will take a nap even if it kills me!'"

However ... ...

It is truly impressive that you can still remember the Analects. Take good care of your health, and when the time comes, strive to achieve a degree, thereby bringing honor to your parents!

Eldest brother is capable of holding an official position, second brother excels in martial arts, yet I, in my thirties, have achieved nothing. Ultimately, it is because of my ignorance and superficiality in my youth. I consider my life a failure, but heaven has shown mercy, allowing Yue'er to gain insight! I heard everything he said in front of the old lady; she even gave him the string of prayer beads she never parted with, a privilege that even Chao and Qi have never enjoyed.

Alright, alright, there are still half a month left, right? If there are any matters, you can discuss them with Yue'er one by one slowly in the future, why rush? I know you are counting on Yue'er to stand up for herself, but that also needs to be done gradually

Zhang Yue did not expect that Zhang Zhuo would suddenly say such a thing halfway through his speech, so he could only awkwardly reveal himself. He had long known that in this day and age, large families have strict family teachings, and thus he was prepared to be reprimanded. However, to his surprise, Zhang Zhuo walked slowly in front of him, squatted down, and looked at him at eye level.

The third household usually had dinner at home, but on this particular evening, when it was time to serve the meal, Zhang Zhuo went out at the invitation of a friend. However, the elderly matriarch, Madam Gu, sent over four small dishes via Lingxi, saying she was thinking of Zhang Yue and had specially instructed the kitchen to prepare them. Although it was merely buckwheat noodles, stir-fried shredded asparagus, shredded chicken with tofu, and a bowl of sour plum soup, it was the first time the elderly lady remembered the grandson of the third household. As a result, the several maids and daughters-in-law in the third household walked with a bit more spirit.

If you indulge him, your good son will be spoiled by you

Heavenly Lord, you have finally opened your eyes

After the mother and son had finished their meal, Sun took Zhang Yue to visit the main house again. Upon reaching the entrance, they saw several daughters-in-law carrying out a small table, most of the dishes on it barely touched. Once these people had left, a maid lifted the curtain to invite them in. Observing this situation, Zhang Yue understood clearly, as if it were depicted in a picture book, that the family of the second room must have dined here together with Gu. The distinctions between kinship and estrangement were self-evident.

No need to hesitate... Yue'er, come out, don't eavesdrop from the side!

Standing beside Gu, Dongfang was gently massaging her shoulders. Upon seeing Sun and Gu Yue enter, he smiled and said: "Old lady, I told you that Yue is filial. You sent four plates of light dishes, and here he comes to please you! Yue, just now Chao and Qi shared a couple of jokes from school with the old lady. Since you are here, why not share one to add some fun and make the old lady laugh."

Yue'er, the words you spoke in front of the old lady today were very good. You should continue to please her in the future, do you understand

However, Yue'er is your only son. He has just recovered and needs to go to school. What is the point of practicing martial arts? He still wants to live!

Seeing Zhang Yue nodding repeatedly, Sun felt quite gratified, and her initial displeasure about her son going to school dissipated. However, upon hearing Zhang Zhuo's incessant chatter, she couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed

Forget it, I cannot argue with you. In any case, a loving mother often spoils her child. He is currently enduring hardships, which will ultimately lead to his success in the future. As a mother, it is always wise to invest more thought and care into your son.

I am not as heartless as you... hetushu.com.com

Upon noticing a strange and romantic atmosphere between his parents, Zhang Yue paused for a moment before quietly slipping away. Once in the courtyard, he couldn't help but reflect—regardless of the year, it seemed that parents always placed their unfulfilled wishes upon their children, regardless of whether the children could bear such burdens. Of course, even if it was for his own sake, he would certainly shoulder any heavy load.

As soon as the words were spoken, there was a loud thud, and Zhang Qi fell to the ground laughing. Although Zhang Chao was feeling better, he was still vigorously rubbing his stomach. Gu, who was drinking tea, almost spat out a mouthful of water, and then pointed at Zhang Yue, laughing, "Brother Yue, do you know what 'Zai Yu napping' really means?"

The past is already behind us; it was merely an accident. Moreover, the old lady has already spoken; do you expect me to contradict her?

Recalling that Zhang Yue had been a patient since childhood, attending school only intermittently, Gu couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion, and his gaze towards his grandson was filled with even more satisfaction.

Upon receiving such a response that resembled that of a small adult, Zhang Zhuo immediately displayed a satisfied expression. He stood up and paced back and forth for a few steps, and then suddenly burst into hearty laughter. As his laughter subsided, he murmured to himself a phrase.

Having listened to his father's admonition, Zhang Yue naturally understood and nodded earnestly: "Father, rest assured, I will study diligently and practice martial arts in the future, and I will be filial to my parents and grandmother."

Upon hearing this, Dongfang felt somewhat embarrassed and quickly forced a smile, saying: "Look at my memory, I actually forgot that Brother Yue's health is not good."

"The perspective of women! Your elder sister-in-law is a third-rank noble lady, and your second sister-in-law is a sixth-rank concubine. Do you not wish for your son to achieve success and earn a respectable and glorious title for you? Do you want your son to live his life like me, merely depending on the goodwill of others?"

I have only one son, and the old lady is merely finding him novel and wants to look at him a bit more for now. Who knows if she will forget about him later! If I do not take good care of him and pamper him, others will not remember him either

Upon hearing the words of the Dongfang family, Gu pointed to a small stool beside him and gestured for Zhang Yue to sit down. He then turned to the Dongfang family and said with a hint of reproach: "Yue is frail and often ill, spending little time outside throughout the year. The total number of days he has attended school is quite limited, and he has only learned a few characters from his parents. How could he possibly know any jokes?"

At this moment, the sky outside had turned dark, but the room was brightly lit by flickering candles, making it quite cheerful. Zhang Yue quickly noticed that the atmosphere in the room was livelier than during the day; in addition to a few familiar maidservants, there were also two young men who looked somewhat familiar. They were of similar age to him but appeared particularly robust, and they were none other than the Zhang brothers, Zhang Chao and Zhang Qi.