Ein Bericht über Vergnügen - Kapitel 100
Little Winter Melon practically regarded him as the kindest person in the world.
Shu Yang was impatient to be carried, so he jumped down after a few steps and ran on his own. Just as he dragged Xiao Donggua to the door, Yi Chun came out from inside. He called out "Mother" and rushed over to report respectfully: "I squatted in a horse stance for an hour today. I didn't dare to slack off. Brother Donggua can testify to that, and Uncle Nangua knows it too."
Little Pumpkin sighed, "How many times have I told you, why is he the older brother, but I'm his uncle? You're making me sound old. Kid, you're not doing this on purpose, are you? I'm not going to vouch for you. I didn't see anything."
Little Winter Melon quickly said, "I can testify! I can testify! The young master squatted in a horse stance on the carriage for more than an hour without slacking off!"
Yichun smiled, patted her son's head, and said gently, "It's best if you're like this. Focus on practicing martial arts and grow up to be a decent adult. Don't be like your father, obsessed with money. You'll end up lending money at exorbitant interest rates and become a laughingstock."
Shu Yang nodded, then suddenly sighed in a mature tone, "But Dad told me yesterday that he wanted to find me after dinner to teach me how to make a lot of money."
Yichun frowned and said, "Ignore him and just practice your martial arts."
Shu Yang continued to sigh: "But Father said that my sister and I should not always listen to Mother and practice martial arts all day long. Otherwise, we will only become reckless and foolish people with no interest in life. If we go down the mountain, people will laugh at us."
Yichun was furious: "Nonsense! Don't listen to him!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the door to the inner room creaked open, and Shu Jun's lazy voice came from behind: "Good lad, you can't go wrong by listening to me. Don't pay attention to your mother. All she does is brandish knives and guns all day. She's very rude and was laughed at a lot when she was in the village. Don't become like her. That would be too much of a failure."
Shu Yang hurriedly called out "Father!" and rushed over to pay his respects, but Shu Jun smiled and picked him up and lifted him high in the air. He didn't like being carried around like that at all, as it wasn't manly behavior, so he twisted around uncomfortably.
"Your neck is covered in sweat and you smell terrible. Your mother must have made you do horse stance again. In this freezing weather, she still makes you run around up and down the mountain. What a bad mother she is. Let's ignore her."
Shu Jun patted his head, put him down, and passed by Yi Chun. The two of them snorted, glared at each other, and brushed past each other without saying a word.
The cleverest little pumpkin quickly ran to the kitchen to avoid the commotion caused by its master's conflict.
Since having a child, they haven't had a single day of peace. One of them insists on raising the child to be a great swordsman, while the other says that great swordsmen are all uncouth and that it's better to be a wealthy, carefree wanderer in the martial arts world. They've been arguing like this for so long that even now that the child is seven years old, they still haven't reached a resolution. Recently, it's even escalated to the point where they glare at each other whenever they meet.
It's best to dodge.
Seeing that Little Winter Melon was still foolishly trying to persuade him, he cursed him under his breath and grabbed his sleeve to leave. He had only taken two steps when he heard the door creak open again, and a small figure leaned against the door, calling softly, "Little Pumpkin, Little Winter Melon, where is what I asked for?"
Little Pumpkin felt a chill run down his spine when he heard the voice of this little tyrant. He quickly turned around and said with a smile, "The things are here. I'll pack them up and send them to the young lady right away."
Shuhe was born weak. After consulting a doctor, it was said that she had a congenital heart problem. She could withstand a little bit of martial arts training, but if she were to run around outside all day like Shuyang, practicing swordsmanship in the wind and rain, she definitely wouldn't be able to handle it. So, Shu Jun and his wife inevitably spoiled her a bit. Who knew that they would spoil this naturally delicate young lady so much that she would become even more demanding. She wanted to eat strange and unusual things even in the coldest weather. Xiao Donggua and Xiao Nangua would run errands for her every time they went down the mountain.
She and Little Pumpkin didn't get along, and she often tried to find ways to torment him. However, Little Pumpkin was as slippery as an eel. Several times, when the little girl smelled him and got hungry, he would first find an excuse to stay away and let Little Winter Melon satisfy her, which made the young lady very angry.
Outside, it started snowing again, like cotton being torn apart. Shuhe, wearing only a light pink jacket, leaned against the doorframe. She looked seven or eight parts like Shujun, with neatly trimmed eyebrows and black hair. Because of her long-term frail health, she had a charming and beautiful demeanor at such a young age. Even Shujun often sighed, stroking her hair and saying, "Growing up like this, your father will have to worry a lot in the future. Don't let any bad boys outside deceive you."
The little pumpkin, seeing her prejudice, became afraid and forcibly pulled the little winter melon away, calling out from afar, "It's cold, young lady, go inside and rest. I'll bring you the things later!"
Shuhe snorted through her nose and ignored him.
Upon seeing his daughter, Shu Jun forgot about his son and gently picked her up, saying softly, "My dear daughter, tell Daddy what you want to eat next time. Don't always argue with Little Pumpkin, or Little Winter Melon will suffer in the end."
Shuhe stretched out her soft arms and hugged his neck, whispering, "He's not trying at all, he's so annoying. Dad, you only spoil him, why don't you spoil your daughter?"
Shu Jun laughed and said, "Isn't your father spoiling you enough? If he spoils you like this, your mother will be so jealous she'll drink a whole sea of vinegar."
Shuhe smiled, revealing two dimples at the corners of her lips, and whispered, "You're lying to me. The one in my belly clearly cares most about Mom. By the way, I've finished the book you asked me to read yesterday. Are there any new ones?"
Shu Jun was slightly surprised; he knew his daughter was naturally smarter than his son. Shu Yang appeared obedient and honest on the outside, but he was just like his mother—incredibly stubborn inside.
When a person is stubborn, especially the kind of stubbornness that comes out of nowhere, it is difficult for them to be flexible and skillful. Shu Yang is a typical example of this.
Ask him to read, write, and learn principles of conduct, but he will only stick to one rigid viewpoint and ignore any differing opinions. Such a child is not suited to be a carefree and wealthy wanderer, and he understands that too.
Her daughter, Shuhe, was different. Her personality was neither like Yichun's nor much like her own. She was indeed clever. At a young age, after being taught to read and write, she would read one book after another, reading very quickly.
Shu Jun had previously worried that she would just skim through a book, so he deliberately picked out a book and asked her about its contents. She actually knew it by heart, which was a rare and remarkable intelligence.
Strangely, after reading the book, she would even come up with her own set of theories, as if she looked down on the principles in the book, believing that everyone else was foolish and only she was intelligent and clear-headed. This kind of madness is worrying.
In addition, she has always been physically weak, yet she possesses an unusual stubbornness. When she has conflicts with her parents and family, she will not argue a word. She will first look at you gently and tenderly, but if you still don't soften your heart, she will torture herself. For example, she will secretly go out in the freezing cold wearing only a single layer of clothing, until her face turns purple from the cold, and then ask others to feel sorry for her.
She was so harsh on herself, yet she didn't care at all. Shu Jun, a person who was so clever and resourceful, didn't know how to teach her and often had a headache.
"I gave you three books yesterday, did you finish reading them all at once?" Shu Jun asked, brushing the stray hairs from her forehead.
Shu He nodded and smiled, "It's very simple. It's all the same old, well-worn principles. Father, you might as well teach me how to make money. That would be much more interesting."
Shu Jun looked at her and said gently, "Xiao He, all people in the world are the same. First, you must learn the principles of being a good person, and then learn what you are good at and like. You see, those principles are everywhere, but knowing them in your heart and being able to do them are two different things. You can put things like making money aside for now. Anyway, your father has never expected you and your brother to support the family. Your father and mother both hope that you will become upright and honest people. That will make us happy."
Shuhe touched her little shoulders and still smiled: "Dad wants me to stand tall and upright, aren't you afraid I'll be crushed?"
Shu Jun smiled, not knowing how to respond, so he simply carried her into the house to look through the snacks and toys.
In "Teaching Children"
The next day, as soon as Shu Yang got up, Yi Chun dragged him away to practice boxing in a large snow pit that had been dug out. Shu He was weak, so he just stood on the edge of the pit and casually practiced his horse stance.
"You should position your hands like this, and don't just throw punches randomly. Every movement has its purpose. When you first learn it, you might feel uncomfortable doing it, but that's because you haven't practiced it yet. Once you've truly mastered it, you'll naturally understand how to connect these movements."
Compared to the master at Jianlan Manor before, Yichun was extremely kind.
She hadn't practiced martial arts for almost a year before and after giving birth, and had gained a lot of weight. But surprisingly, she slowly lost weight after having children, and found that she was even more adept at her old skills when she picked them up again. If it weren't for the fact that she had two children who needed care, she would have wanted to go down the mountain long ago to realize her dream of becoming a great swordsman.
Shuhe was the most relaxed. After squatting in a horse stance for a while, she found a clean spot, spread out a handkerchief, and sat down to eat snacks.
Shu Yang was the busiest, practicing his boxing while silently reciting the money-making secrets Shu Jun had taught him yesterday, his forehead covered in sweat.
Hearing him muttering to himself with such a serious expression, Yichun couldn't help but laugh: "Your dad's with you this afternoon, can't you memorize it then?"
Shu Yang shook his head repeatedly: "No, I need to listen to Dad read the book this afternoon while I practice my boxing."
Yichun was greatly surprised: "Why are you doing this?"