Farm Tough Girl
Chapter 258 - 258 259 Cant Hide_1

Chapter 258: Chapter 259: Can’t Hide_1 Chapter 258: Chapter 259: Can’t Hide_1 Madam Liu laughed, “I know you’re protective of them, but I’m not insisting that they must study hard. It’s fine for them to play for a day on this rare holiday. Why push them to keep studying nonstop?”

“They’re ambitious and love to learn. They’ve been recognizing characters all afternoon,” Muniang suddenly remembered something and said, “Speaking of which, I still have to talk to you about Tianniu. I think Tianniu is quite gifted and even quicker on the uptake than those boys, but it wouldn’t be good to have Hongde and Honghai teach her. They’re also just beginning and don’t understand much. We can’t let them lead Tianniu astray.”

Upon hearing this, Madam Liu’s brow furrowed repeatedly, “Then what should we do? If we hire a tutor specifically for Tianniu, and the people at the old residence find out, I’m afraid we’ll have no peace.”

Muniang then said, “My suggestion is to have Tianniu come here to study with me in the future. I’ve been in business for so long and have learned quite a few characters. Moreover, Yu Ze understands as well, so with a little help from him, it’s certainly possible to teach her.”

When Muniang said this, she was actually being modest. She didn’t plan on involving Yu Ze at all. She intended to teach Tianniu personally. Such a promising talent should be nurtured carefully. Even if she doesn’t pursue an official career, she could help manage business affairs. This cleverness needed to be cultivated, for who knew, perhaps another business prodigy could arise.

Madam Liu, hearing that Muniang and Yu Ze were willing to teach, naturally felt delighted but was still slightly embarrassed, “Won’t this trouble you too much?”

“You’re busy every day with work for the Embroidery House, and I haven’t even mentioned feeling embarrassed by that. I see great potential in Tianniu. She can’t just be wasted like this.”

Madam Liu’s face lit up with joy, “Really?”

Nothing made her happier than hearing her child had prospects for the future.

“Really,” Muniang said with a playful smile.

Madam Liu smiled radiantly, rolling up her sleeves to help, “All you do is say nice things to make me happy. Well then, my skills may not be the best, but I can still lend a hand without being a bother.”

But Muniang suddenly brought up another matter, “By the way, what’s going on with Mrs. Liang’s family? Didn’t Shitou dislike school? He even got caught skipping class before. How is it that he’s back in school now?”

Madam Liu’s mood soured at the mention of Shitou, frowning, “The Wang family paid seven taels of silver for those school fees, and they’re non-refundable. Do you think they’d easily let him drop out? Besides, Wang Shitou just doesn’t like studying, but he’s even lazier when it comes to farm work. If he had to choose, he’d rather loaf around at the academy, so even after that incident, Mrs. Liang still shamelessly sent Shitou back to school.”

Upon hearing this, Muniang felt a sinking feeling. These words meant that Shitou would have to stay at Qing Mountain Academy for at least another year. Could that troublemaker stir up more problems?

Seeing Muniang lost in thought, Madam Liu nudged her with an elbow, “What’s wrong? Has Shitou caused trouble again?”

Muniang forced a smile, “How would I know? But I can’t help thinking that troublemaker might disrupt others’ learning at the academy.”

Madam Liu sighed, “There’s nothing we can do about it now. I did consider switching the kids to a different academy, but then I’d be worried that Mrs. Liang might spread the word about it. If the old residence hears that I have enough money to change academies for the children but none to honor them, then—sigh!”

Muniang was speechless. Although Madam Liu had broken away from the Qiao family, she still had to consider the bloodsuckers at the old residence. All these reluctant decisions truly made for a suffocating situation.

So Muniang could only offer comfort, “Let it be. Both Honghai and Hongde are sensible kids who understand right from wrong. As long as they don’t provoke Shitou, he probably won’t be able to influence them much. Don’t worry too much.”

Only then did Madam Liu nod, having no other recourse but to make do.

Yet life is unpredictable. They thought avoiding provocation would keep them clear of trouble, but in the end, they couldn’t evade it.

Muniang was at home, tending to the poultry, when suddenly she heard a series of urgent knocks at the courtyard gate. She looked up abruptly and said to Qingya, “Go see what’s going on, will you? Who’s knocking with such urgency?”

When Qingya hurried to the courtyard, she saw that the servant had already opened the gate, and who should be standing there but Xiangcai.

Xiangcai looked frantic, and as soon as she saw Qingya, she quickly said, “Qingya, Qingya, is Muniang here?”

Hearing the urgency in Xiangcai’s voice, Muniang came out as well and asked, “What’s happened? Why are you in such a rush?”

Xiangcai hastened to say, “It’s your uncle’s two boys—they’ve had an accident! I just knocked on their door but no one answered, so I came straight to you.”

Muniang’s heart sank, “What happened?”

“I was just coming back from the town; I’d gone there to buy some household items. But as I passed by Qing Mountain Academy, I saw the two boys being dragged away and beaten. At first I didn’t want to interfere, but they looked familiar, and upon closer inspection, I realized it was Honghai and Hongde, battered and bruised. I nearly didn’t recognize them.”

“Who was beating them?!” Muniang’s tone became harsher.

“I don’t know, the man is in his forties or fifties, very well-dressed. At a glance, he’s obviously from a wealthy household. They accused Honghai and Hongde of stealing from them, calling them thieves.”

Muniang became frantic, “Why would they steal anything? Wouldn’t the Master intervene? How can he let others beat them up like this?”

“That’s what I said too. My husband stepped forward and suggested that the boys weren’t that bad and it must be a misunderstanding. But then a manservant of the wealthy gentleman punched him. We don’t dare to mess with that kind of family, so we immediately ran back. Who knew your uncle’s place would be empty? I just found you since you were closest. What should we do now?”

Muniang immediately turned to Qingya at her side and said, “Hurry to the embroidery room and inform my aunt-in-law to go straight to Qing Mountain Academy in town, we’ll rush over there first.”

“Should I prepare the carriage first?”

Muniang was extremely anxious; it would take half an hour by carriage to get there. The children were in danger now, and any delay might result in serious harm.

Yu Ze said in a deep voice, “No need, we’ll ride on horseback.”

Turning her head, Muniang saw that he had already brought out the horse. Yu Ze acted quickly, mounting the horse in a single motion and, with a long arm, pulled Muniang into his embrace, then spurred the horse and they sped off in a cloud of dust.

The rest of them watched, dumbfounded, as if in a blink of an eye, the two figures had already disappeared.

Riding a horse was indeed much faster, especially since this horse was one of Yu Ze’s finest Sweaty Precious Horses, famed for their speed. In the time it took to burn a stick of incense, they had already arrived in town.

When they reached Qing Mountain Academy, they saw it was surrounded by people, three layers deep. Muniang dismounted and pushed through the crowd, immediately drawing in a sharp breath.

(Another chapter will be posted at nine o’clock in the morning.)