Chapter 69: Holiday!

How much time can doing these things waste them? Jiang Yunchu walked over holding a plate; on her plate were only two pieces of sweet and sour pork ribs, the rest were vegetables.

That's also wasting time.

Qing Feng Da Ru admired Jiang Yunchu, but he was just that stubborn, unable to tolerate even a speck in his eyes.

Is it wasting time? Jiang Yunchu laughed and shook her head. "When they eat, during agricultural studies, they learn what rice, beans, wheat, millet are—these six grains are what people eat."

When they wash dishes, they learn to be careful and cautious, knowing that a broken mirror cannot be made whole again.

When they feed chickens and raise animals, they can learn the animals' habits, what can be raised and what cannot; when they later become local officials, these are what they need to know.

Life is not just about rote studying; it's about integrating knowledge. Even if book knowledge is myriad, how can it compare to the richness of nature?

Jiang Yunchu has always held fast to her own ideas; others may not understand, but she can explain.

But she will not change her original intention.

Her children are naturally under her care; she also does not need others' understanding.

Qing Feng Da Ru fell silent, as if even the sweet and sour pork ribs in his mouth weren't as fragrant.

Frowning, he seemed a little adorably clueless.

Jiang Yunchu quickly finished her meal, then went to the small dormitory; nowadays the boys are young, a small dorm has space for four, but now only three beds are occupied.

Hurry up and sleep. Jiang Yunchu patted Ning Hanmo; this kid couldn't pretend, his eyelashes fluttered, his breathing a bit hurried.

Ning Hanmo looked, seeing there was no point in pretending, he simply opened his eyes.

Mother, thank you.

He had wanted to say it for a long time, but he never knew how to speak; these days, what he has learned and the world he has encountered are all so new.

Yet he felt grounded, even somewhat looking forward to his future.

Silly child, I am your mother; thinking for your future and planning it are what a mother should do.

Thanking me, you little brat, aren't you due for a beating, huh?

That rising tone was so familiar and affectionate; thinking back to each time he mischiefed, his mother would say something and then add that tone—back then he hated that tone.

But now…

People can change, and so can hearts.

Ning Hanmo didn't answer; he just sat up, hugged Jiang Yunchu's neck briefly, then let go.

A boy's expression of deep feeling is just a hug, and that's enough.

Jiang Yunchu smiled. "Hurry up and sleep; we still have class this afternoon."

I will." Ning Hanmo whispered, slowly closing his eyes; soon his breathing grew long, the corners of his mouth occasionally twitching slightly, as if he were having a wonderful dream.

Jiang Yunchu walked over there and went to another room—the girls' dormitory, which only had two people: Zi Wei and Nai Xin.

Yue Yue is still too small; she now sleeps beside her, and she plans to send the little girl to the dorm when she turns six.

Horses, cattle, sheep; chickens, dogs, pigs.

These six animals are what people raise.

A soft sound of reading, in this season so hot it makes people irritable, is so refreshing to the heart and lungs.

Zi Wei, why aren't you asleep yet?

She spoke softly; Kang Ziwei turned her head, showing a smile: "Dean, I'm not as smart as them, nor do I have their good memory, so I just read a few more times."

She is the oldest, already twelve; compared to her brothers, her time is even more pressing.

I plan to give you and Nai Xin two extra lessons each week starting next month." Jiang Yunchu thought, then still said with a smile.

Now the courses are already full; Ningguang and the two of them have discussed for a long time which course to drop to make room for two needlework classes.

She thought for a long time, then simply decided: "Add the classes."

Can those two girls handle it?" Now the daily classes are already so many; adding two more, how can their bodies take it?

But she thought, Zi Wei probably would rather have the extra classes.

That way she can learn more, instead of losing something because of needlework class.

What class?" Sure enough, Zi Wei's eyes lit up with an expectant look.

Needlework!" Jiang Yunchu laughed, saying, seeing her face fall.

But I prefer to call it an appreciation class; we may not be able to do it, but we must not lack the eye to discover beauty.

Jiang Yunchu's answer made Zi Wei feel as if the night sky had been lit up; her earlier emotion underwent a huge change.

Okay, I'll take it.

Kang Ziwei nodded and agreed readily.

Don't study at noon; rest well, otherwise I'll reduce some other courses—your body comes first, understood?

Yes, student understood.

Zi Wei quickly closed her book, then crawled back to her own bed, smiled at Jiang Yunchu, and closed her eyes.

She has always known that Zi Wei has her own ideas, hoping this girl can make her dreams come true.

One month's time—neither long nor short.

Holiday's here; these two days, I hope you have fun and don't miss me~" Jiang Yunchu looked at their expectant faces, clapped her hands, and said, "School's out, open the gate."

Kang Lian and the Grand Madam had long been waiting outside, looking at the tightly closed gate, feeling uneasy.

Sir, do you think Little Five and Little Six will come out all bruised? Oh dear, on the carriage I should have put two more blankets, and then jostle their wounds open.

Sir, do you think Zi Wei and Nai Xin will have lost weight? At home they barely eat, and here it's even harder to speak up.

Sir…

Before the Grand Madam finished speaking, Kang Lian looked at his own wife, both laughing and crying.

Madam, this is an academy, not a place that eats people.

The children are all fine; just put your mind at ease.

He is the children's father; how could he not love his own children? When he was worried, he dared not come to Yun chu's place. The last time they met, they could be said to have parted unhappily.

"Enough, Yun chu teaches much better than you." That's how the old master answered back then.

What could he do? If asked again, he wouldn't say anything.

However, the old master dotes on his grandchildren; the two children might get a beating, but being covered in wounds is also impossible.

"Mother, Father."

Kang Wen and Kang Wu ran out, their arms and legs all fine; Kang Wen and Kang Wu each held one of them, the two of them holding them and sizing them up—let alone no injuries, they even looked noticeably fatter.

"Good, good, good." Grand Madam took a handkerchief and couldn't help wiping her tears.

"Daughters greet father, mother asks for peace." Kang Ziwei brought Kang Nai Xin, her face veiled, standing before the two, she slightly bowed in salute.

"Hurry up and rise, we're family, what salutations are needed?" Grand Madam hurriedly helped the two daughters up; their skin was somewhat dark, but their eyes were brighter and more resolute.

Seeing the four children's eyes, she knew Yun chu must have expended a lot of effort.