Chapter 403: If the child is not taught, it is the father's fault

Continue collecting the grain; prepare all this grain for me, ready to be secretly sent away at any time.

Su Xin didn't ask anything and replied, "Yes!"

Whatever the master wants to do, she doesn't need to ask; as long as she carries out the master's orders seriously, that's enough.

Zi Su walked over and brought the packed items, saying, "I've prepared what was needed, but the frontier isn't as convenient as the capital, so Master, you'd better bring a bit more."

"I will look after the manor well; if anything happens, I will protect Miss Yue Yue and get her out."

The Princess Consort had already made many arrangements a few days ago.

Over the past two days, the Wang Fu appeared no different from usual, but there were changes every day; outsiders just didn't know.

"The Yong Bo Marquis Manor hasn't sent the signed documents yet, but the Han Fu and Kang Fu have already sent theirs."

This time, taking the children to Xijiang, their fate uncertain, she needs the consent of all the manors to take these children away; the Kang Fu had no hesitation, and the Han Fu sent the consent letter immediately.

Only the Yong Bo Marquis Manor has not yet responded.

She understands her parents' attitude toward their children, and she never thought of forcing anything; regardless of whether the Yong Bo Marquis Manor agrees, Zhang Cunwen remains her student, and she has never given up on him.

A single consent letter from the Yong Bo Marquis Manor caused an uproar there.

"I disagree." The Yong Bo Marquis slammed the table, stared at Zhang Cunwen, and shouted angrily, "I told you to change academies before, but you didn't."

"Is this an academy? This is demanding your lives."

"Going to Xijiang? That's just going to die; do you still want to go along?"

The Yong Bo Marquis's wife also wore a stern face, saying, "Cunwen, this time listen to your father; we'll switch academies. With your grades, getting into Qing feng Institute is definitely possible."

"Now is different from before; before there was no way."

In the past, attending Chun Hua Xue Yuan was impossible.

The child cannot leave Ning Jing, but other academies have declared they won't accept him.

But now it's different; his rank has entered the top twenty-plus on the C list, something even the eldest never achieved when he was on the C list.

Now all the academies in Ning Jing are open for choice; why bother with a tiny Chun Hua Xue Yuan?

"Since you disagree, then I won't go to school; give me five hundred taels of silver, and I'll go open a shop." Zhang Cunwen looked at his father and mother; this time he wasn't angry and didn't turn and run.

He wanted to test his parents' limits and see how much of his future aspirations could be fulfilled in this household.

After a few arguments, he had already become disappointed with the family.

In his parents' eyes, there was only the outstanding elder brother.

"Nonsense! Do you know what you're saying? Opening a shop? You might be able to afford losing this person, but our Yong Bo Marquis Manor cannot afford to lose face!" The Yong Bo Marquis slammed the table; his face, which had just darkened, now grew even redder.

"Son, what are you thinking? You are the Young Master of the Yong Bo Marquis Manor; how could you go open a shop?"

"Scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants—merchants are the lowest; have you gone stupid studying at Chun Hua Xue Yuan?"

The Yong Bo Marquis's wife widened her eyes, pointed at Zhang Cunwen, and her chest heaved with anger.

All these years, though she favored the eldest son more, she had never shortchanged his food and drink or reduced his regular allowance; how could she have such a thought?

"Tomorrow we'll go to Qing feng Academy for the entrance exam." The Yong Bo Marquis issued the order directly.

Zhang Cunwen smiled; his gray student uniform made him look even thinner. "How? Do you no longer need my consent now?"

"Am I really your child?"

"Or am I just an object you gave birth to, to be played with when you remember me and thrown away when you don't?"

"When I'm bad, you scold me every day."

"When I'm good, you just let me be a decorative piece in noble mansions?"

He had endured this for a long time; the Dean's attitude toward Ning Lao Da—he used to mock it!

"A stepmother—how could she compare to a birth mother?"

Back then, he and Ning Lao Da had plotted together how to drive that stepmother out of the Regent Prince's Manor.

But what about now?

The Dean listens to Ning Lao Da's opinions and needs in everything before making decisions; even if a decision contradicts her original view, she is willing to let Ning Lao Da go out and explore, to walk around and see, to gain experience and lessons.

The two ladies of the Kang Clan, whether the Grand Madam or not, even if they don't understand, will still show respect.

The Second Madame gives them even more support, also teaching them military strategy and lecturing on battlefield matters.

The Han Clan, just Han Xiao Si alone, yet they still willingly let the children go out and explore, willing to fulfill Han Xiao Si's wish.

But…

They're all family, so why are my own relatives like this?

He gave a light laugh, "Is it because I'm not outstanding enough? From childhood to adulthood, Mother's gaze has always been on the elder brother."

"Father's eyes see only himself and his beloved concubine; nobody else is visible."

"Zhang Cunwen! Is this your propriety?" The Yong Bo Marquis stepped forward, swung his hand, and struck Zhang Cunwen's face directly; Zhang Cunwen stumbled back a few steps, not dodging the slap.

The previous beating, this beating.

This wiped out all his feelings toward the Yong Bo Marquis Manor.

"Propriety? My dear father, have you ever taught me? Now you come asking about propriety—have you forgotten that 'if the child is not educated, it is the father's fault'?" Zhang Cunwen's eyes were filled with scarlet, shocking to behold.

He had always been carefree and smiling; although mischievous, he didn't care about what anyone said.

But today he was as if he had made up his mind.

"Rebellion!"

The Yong Bo Marquis swung his hand again, and the Yong Bo Marquis's wife stepped forward, saying, "What are you doing? Cunwen, apologize to your father."

But…

This time, Zhang Cunwen didn't want to endure it anymore.

He grabbed the Yong Bo Marquis's swinging hand with one grip, "Apologize? What wrong have I done?"

"Is the fault that I was born into the Yong Bo Marquis Manor? Or is it… that I stole your second son's place?" He laughed lightly; his swollen face made him look all the more tragic.

But he didn't care at all. Before, he was wanton and irreverent, wanting to attract his parents' attention, then he started acting out; only when his parents hit him did he realize that his parents still knew he existed as their child.

He wasn't born from a crack in a stone.

But...

Now he knows that some parents simply do not love their children, and that's it.

There's no reason; it's just pure lack of love.

His mother had an older brother, and his father favored the second son born to the concubine, because the concubine was his childhood sweetheart.

"Unfilial son, I'll beat you to death, you unfilial son!" Yong Bo Hou panted heavily, his eyes wide open, but he couldn't free his hand from that thin wrist.

He's only eight years old!

How could he have such strength?