"Haha, my dear nephew, you've just arrived in Renjia Town, so you probably aren't very familiar with the area yet. Why don't you and Tingting go out for a walk and get to know the place?"
Ren Fa sat at the head of the table, slowly sipping his tea, but his eyes kept glancing at the two of them. Seeing this, he immediately spoke up.
"I'll listen to Uncle Shi."
Xiao Ning nodded upon hearing this, and looking at the shy and beautiful Ren Tingting, asked, "I wonder where Miss Ren usually likes to go?"
"Anywhere is fine."
Ren Tingting raised her head, a faint smile playing on her lips: "As long as it's not too messy a place."
"Then let's just wander around the town!" Xiao Ning said.
"Mm," Ren Tingting replied.
The two stood up and walked out of the mansion.
"Miss Ren, I heard from Uncle Shi that you attended a girls' high school in the provincial capital. I wonder what kind of courses were taught at your school?"
Walking down the street, Xiao Ning asked curiously.
In this era, being able to attend middle school was considered a remarkable achievement. Not to mention women, even men rarely did. Often, a whole town would only produce a handful of middle school students.
"Our courses are divided into major and elective courses. The major courses include five subjects: history, literature, arithmetic, geography, and gymnastics. The elective courses include many subjects such as handicrafts, painting, musical instruments, makeup, and tea ceremony."
Ren Tingting played with the braids on her head and said with her head down.
"So what courses did you choose?" Xiao Ning asked.
Ren Tingting turned her head to look at him and said, "I studied makeup!"
"Makeup? Why do you want to learn makeup?" Xiao Ning asked, like a child asking a question, determined to get to the bottom of it.
Ren Tingting frowned, slightly displeased. If she were from the future, she would probably have cursed him as a clueless straight man.
Her good family upbringing made her pause for a moment, then she replied, "Because I think Chinese girls are too plain and don't know how to dress themselves up at all."
"So, I want to learn how to do makeup first, and then teach more girls how to do makeup so that they can all become beautiful, and in this way, they can find their ideal husbands more easily."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Ning nodded. The idea was indeed unique and quite novel.
To have such fashionable ideas in the early years of the Republic of China truly shows that she was a young woman who had received a modern education.
The girl stood with her hands behind her back, looking up at Xiao Ning and asked, "Don't just talk about me, Mr. Xiao, what about you? Tell me about your experiences too. I really long for life abroad!"
Before they knew it, the two arrived at a stream outside the town. In April, when the grass was growing and the birds were singing, spring was everywhere.
"Miss Ren, please have a seat!"
Reaching the riverbank, Xiao Ning found a large rock, reached out and wiped away the moss, making it look brand new.
"Thanks!"
Having walked such a long way, Ren Tingting was quite tired. Seeing Xiao Ning's thoughtfulness, she was delighted. After giving a slight bow, she sat down without any hesitation.
"You're welcome!"
Xiao Ning waved his hand and found another rock to sit down next to.
"Things abroad aren't any better than things in China!"
With a sigh, gazing into the distance, Xiao Ning slowly said, "The nation is in decline, and Western learning is spreading eastward, attracting countless progressive young people to study abroad, hoping to learn strategies to save the country, revitalize China, and restore our nation's great cause!"
"Unfortunately, those Westerners aren't fools. Why do they bully us? Isn't it because we're weak and easily bullied? If we were strong, how could they possibly succeed?"
"Therefore, how could they possibly teach us Chinese people advanced science and technology and ideas for saving the nation?"
"Moreover, the national conditions and situations are different. Even if we learn their methods of revitalization, they may not be applicable to our land of China!"
"If our great nation of China wants to rise again, ultimately we still have to rely on ourselves!"
Xiao Ning seemed to be speaking from the heart, and before he knew it, he had talked to Ren Tingting for a long time. Although he did not reveal anything substantial, the melancholy aura of concern for the country and its people that he exuded made Ren Tingting's heart flutter.
He wore a long blue robe, his long hair was casually tied into a bun and held in place by a white jade hairpin. He had a handsome face, a jade-like temperament, and an elegant demeanor, in addition to his extraordinary temperament.
At that moment, a chord in Ren Tingting's heart was struck.
She gazed at Xiao Ning intently, her eyes as hazy as autumn water, a blush rising on her face, making her incredibly beautiful.
"Therefore, I intend to teach the people the way of Chinese martial arts, to revitalize and strengthen the nation through martial arts! Miss Ren, what do you think?"
After Xiao Ning finished speaking, he turned around and saw Ren Tingting's appearance. His heart skipped a beat, but he secretly groaned in despair.
Is this puberty?
When did I become so charming?
Although I'd like to have a friendly match with you, I don't want to hang myself on one tree.
We should try a few more!
Now, without realizing it, this girl has probably taken a liking to me. What kind of situation is this?
Little did he know how effective his skill of feigning melancholy, which he always used to woo girls, was at attracting young women in the early years of the Republic of China!
"ah……"
Seeing Xiao Ning suddenly look over, Ren Tingting exclaimed in surprise, her face flushed red, and she covered her face with her hands, feeling extremely angry.