Chapter 3, Reluctance

Wei Heng's small face instantly scrunched up exaggeratedly, "Mother, this is too much."

Wei Heng glanced at He, implying that you and I both understand the situation clearly

"You worthless person, do you dislike studying that much?" He asked.

The old lady was so touched by Wei Heng's actions that her heart melted like mud, and she embraced Wei Heng, saying: "Oh, my little darling grandson"

Sometimes one must indulge the husband's fondness for romantic gestures, as it is not something that can be forgotten easily. However, when it comes to studying, it truly requires talent; it is not merely about rote memorization, but also about being able to apply knowledge flexibly and to draw inferences from one example to another

The elderly lady, seeing that He had yielded, thought that she could not allow Wei Hang to play for too long, as it would lead to a lack of focus, which would not be good.

Wei Heng also knew that not studying was unrealistic, "Mother, I just don't want your expectations to be too high, leading to greater disappointment." When the He family learned that Wei Heng had not been admitted to the girls' school, they were so furious that they almost wanted to jump into the river; that scene was still vivid in Wei Heng's memory, and she felt a sense of fear in her heart

He was taken aback, not expecting Wei Heng to say such a thing. She retorted, "Studying is for yourself, how can it be compared to your second sister?"

He observed the awkwardness of the Ge family and felt somewhat displeased. The daughter-in-law from a poor family had this flaw—being stingy. Even after attending a girls' school, she could not change her fundamental nature. However, since she was his daughter-in-law, He was protective and quickly changed the subject. "Zhu Zhu, stop clinging to your grandmother. Look at you, with snot and tears all over your face, how unattractive. Why don't you learn more from your second sister? Her demeanor would even impress the empress in the palace. Tomorrow when you go to school, make sure to follow your teacher and your second sister closely."

From ancient times to the present, the phrase "not willing to accept" has caused harm to countless individuals

"What? School starts tomorrow?" The old lady couldn't help but widen her eyes upon hearing this

However, He still felt sorry for Wei Heng, and tapped her forehead, saying: "You only know how to be clever; how great it would be if you could apply that to your studies? At such a young age, you already know to use the old lady to pressure me. I tell you, you may skip school, but you cannot escape your daily assignments: ten large characters, three small characters, memorize three poems, and recite a passage from the Analects."

Look at He Shi, she really does not know how to speak. Does the old lady not wish for Wei Heng to get better? However, after so many years of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship, the old lady understands He Shi's character and knows that she does not mean it that way. Yet, as an observer, she feels that Wei Heng's illness is still due to He Shi pressing her too hard.

Enough, enough, just let Zhu Zhu go this time. Feel her, how much flesh does she have on her body? The old lady affectionately touched Wei Heng.

Hearing this from the He family, Mu felt utterly infuriated, yet could not help but put on a grateful expression on his face

In fact, He Shi deep down knew this point, but she was simply unwilling to accept it. "But you are not bad either; in the school, doesn't the teacher often praise you? Aren't you just a tiny bit worse than her?" He Shi pinched her thumb and index finger together to indicate a distance the size of a grain of rice.

He said with annoyance and a hint of anger: "I was using your second sister as an example. We are all sisters in the same family. In the future, when you go out, how can you let people say that there is such a big difference? Is that kind of reputation pleasant to hear?"

Thus, the old lady patted Wei Heng's hand and said: "You should go back with your mother; as for the matter of schooling, your grandmother will take care of it for you."

Wei and the librarian nodded, tiptoed to embrace the old lady's neck, and could not help but press her face against the old lady's face, truly missing the scent of her grandmother.

Wei Heng calmed down, adopting a mature demeanor, and sighed deeply, "Mother, even if I had three heads combined, I still cannot compare to my second sister."

"How can we go tomorrow when this body has not yet recovered? Second daughter-in-law, have you forgotten how Zhu Zhu fell ill? Are you trying to drive her to death, to drive me, the old lady, to death?" The old lady held onto Wei Heng tightly, as if He Shi were a stepmother.

He nodded.

Wei Heng timely called out to He with a pitiful tone, "Mother"

Sister-in-law, you can rest assured and let Zhu Zhu take care of her health. Sister Xuan will copy the notes from the lessons given by the teacher for her every day, so it will not delay her studies

In Mu's heart, she only felt that He was trying to force growth too quickly, believing that Zhu Zhu was simply not cut out for studying, yet insisting on pushing her to attend a girls' school, which was rather overbearing. Of course, conversely, Mu could not help but feel a sense of superiority.

How can you still expect Zhu Zhu to hang her head from the beam and prick her thigh with a needle, reciting her lessons in the middle of the night? Is there such a mother as you? Is a girls' school really that remarkable? Our Zhu Zhu does not attend a girls' school; does that mean she won't be able to get married?

Wei Heng sighed again, lowering her head and saying, "Why don't you ask the Master directly? How could the Master bear to discourage you?"

He also wanted to scratch the wall again, "Why don't you listen to advice, child?"

In fact, the old lady protected Wei Heng in this manner because Wei Heng kept burrowing into her arms, and she understood that the child was afraid of studying. Once a lively and adorable child, she had been forced into a wooden figure by the He family. Although the old lady also liked Wei Xuan—her granddaughter who had earned her a good reputation—she secretly favored Wei Heng more, the lively girl who knew how to be affectionate and playful.

Wei Heng questioned her own abilities; even if she tried her best, she could not catch up to Wei Xuan. Although she had lived two lives and had experiences to draw upon, she knew that in a short time, Wei Xuan would surpass her, and in the end, it would be Wei Heng who would be embarrassed. Moreover, this would always raise suspicions of cheating. Wei Heng was also a proud person, unwilling to achieve victory through unfair means, so she simply did not want to attend school. After all, the lessons taught by the teachers were ones she had already learned in her previous life, and it would be easy for her to pick them up again. Furthermore, this would always raise suspicions of cheating. Wei Heng was also a proud person, unwilling to achieve victory through unfair means, so she simply did not want to attend school. After all, the lessons taught by the teachers were ones she had already learned in her previous life, and it would be easy for her to pick them up again

He Shi saw the expectation in Wei Heng's eyes and felt resentment towards her cunningness and immaturity, realizing that at such a young age, she already knew how to leverage situations to her advantage. However, at this moment, He Shi had no choice but to timidly speak up: "Mother, it is only October now." This implied that if Wei Heng were to wait until the new year to attend school, the time wasted would be too long.

Please, Madam, there is no need for the Mu family and He family to serve meals. I have sent them back. She indeed wanted to keep Zhu Zhu here, but seeing He family's expression, it was clear that she intended to scold Zhu Zhu. If Zhu Zhu were to stay at this moment, He family's anger would only accumulate, and I was afraid it would frighten Zhu Zhu.

After settling down, He's anger churned in his mind for a while before being suppressed again. Dealing with a child as big as Wei Heng is quite a challenge; if you force her, she already has her own thoughts, but if you try to reason with her, she is willful and does not understand. It is truly taxing on the mind

He clearly saw the inferiority and self-blame in Wei Heng's eyes, and he was not without surprise in his heart. Coupled with Wei Heng's current illness, he also knew that he had pushed too hard. Yet, he simply could not bring himself to accept it.

As Wei Heng followed He out of the courtyard of Ruiyun Hall, the smile on He’s face could no longer be maintained, and in an instant, dark clouds gathered. Grabbing Wei Heng's hand, regardless of whether her short legs could keep up, she pulled her back to Lanyi Courtyard

However, now that Wei Heng has experienced a lifetime and has also been a daughter-in-law, she understands the hardships faced by women, and thus cannot help but feel sympathy for the Ge family

The elderly lady spoke earnestly: "Sharpening the knife does not delay the work of chopping wood. If Zhu Zhu's health is not good, can she really learn well? You know, one cannot eat hot tofu in a hurry. The New Year is approaching, and during the cold winter months, it is even more difficult for girls to study. Listen to me, let Zhu Zhu wait until spring to go to school."

He did not give Wei Hang any room for negotiation at all, "Go away, go away, go away! Just seeing you, the little ungrateful one, makes me upset. I encourage you to study, do you think I am trying to harm you? Those who advise you not to study are the ones with ulterior motives." The person He referred to as having ulterior motives was naturally Mu.

Wei Heng, however, did not take it to heart. He stepped forward and embraced He's waist, rubbing and twisting in her arms, calling out sweetly, "Mother, my dear mother."

However, the little girl acted like an adult, exceptionally innocent and adorable, causing the nearby madams to burst into laughter. Anyone with eyes in this room could see that Wei Heng did not want to study.

He had no way to deal with Wei Heng, who was acting so spoiled, and finally, a smile appeared on his face after she kissed him. "Alright, you little rascal, a girl should have the demeanor of a girl. Just look at you, what do you resemble? Are you transformed from a monkey?"

How could He dare to confront the old lady, yet Wei Heng's studies truly could not be neglected, so he could only force a smile and say: "Old Ancestor, Zhu Zhu is certainly not worried about marriage; am I not hoping for her to have a better future?"

Wei Heng noticed the old lady's expression soften, and all her strength seemed to be drained away, causing her to collapse weakly into the old lady's embrace, letting out a long sigh of "Ah—"

Wei Heng lifted her head from the old lady's embrace, looking brightly at He Shi with an expression full of anticipation. The Confucian classics, which had been crammed into Wei Heng's mind like a duck being force-fed, would still need to be taken out for a stroll from time to time throughout her life. For instance, when meeting younger generations, she would start with three questions: "How old are you?" "What books have you read?" "Let me quiz you."

In any case, Wei Heng truly dislikes the feeling of being forced to learn things. "It's not that I don't want to learn, but with such heavy coursework, I can only manage to get by. When my mother asks me to write, I dare not refuse; when she tells me to memorize, I also dare not decline. However, my second sister can remember a passage in one go, while I have to go over it ten or even a hundred times before I can recite it fluently."

Wei Heng pouted and said: "Mother, no one would say that. Second Sister studies like a monster; among all the women in the capital and beyond, how many can compare to her? At just nine years old, the poems she has composed are widely circulated, and everyone says she possesses the talent of 'Yongxu.' To imitate her is merely to mimic without substance."

Wei Heng's emotional knot had just been slightly loosened by the old lady, but now it was struck again by a series of "Second Sister" remarks, and her displeasure was clearly written all over her face

He was taken aback by anger; this old man simply indulges the child, not teaching her at all, and is fundamentally spoiling her. However, he could not express this directly to the old lady, so he could only calmly say: "Old ancestor, I am also anxious about this. Zhu Zhu is already nine years old, and she will have to take the entrance exam for the girls' school at twelve. I am just worried about it."