The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 611 - 609 Complaining about Hardships

Chapter 611: Chapter 609 Complaining about Hardships

"Don’t get me started. Ever since you suggested that last time, my old man hasn’t been forcing me to study but now he’s forcing me out the door to visit relatives. He keeps saying that he’s getting old and that all these social obligations will be passed on to me in the future! Since the first day of the New Year, I’ve had no rest. I’ve visited all the relatives in town, and now only those in Jing County and my maternal family remain. He’s insisting I go."

Wu Zhongbao spoke as if he was helpless, but in fact, he was quite happy. Visiting relatives was at least better than being forced to study.

Song Chongjin listened to him, gave Wu Zhongbao a very sympathetic glance, and said nothing.

Wang Yongzhu saw this and, without showing her thoughts, continued to make small talk, "That works out well. We’re also going to Jing County. We can travel together; it’s good to have company on the road."

When Wu Zhongbao heard this, he was even more delighted, "That’s perfect. I was just complaining about how boring the journey would be with no one to talk to."

The young servant following behind Wu Zhongbao to attend to him felt very wronged: Young master, are we not human?

Wu Zhongbao had long reserved with the Escort Agency. The carriage and everything were fully prepared. As soon as he arrived and his things were loaded up, he could get on and be on his way.

With the addition of the Wang Family, it just meant one or two more people in each carriage.

Wu Zhongbao had reserved the best carriage from the Escort Agency and enthusiastically invited Old Granny Zhang, Song Chongjin, and Wang Yongzhu to join him in his carriage.

Old Granny Zhang, however, didn’t dare to impose. Although Benefactor Wu’s son was very amiable, she always felt somewhat uneasy and promptly declined.

Wu Zhongbao didn’t insist. After arranging a separate carriage for Old Granny Zhang and Wang Yongzhu, he pulled Song Chongjin into his own.

Old Granny Zhang looked suspiciously as Song Chongjin and Wu Zhongbao got into the same carriage and lowered the curtain. She whispered, "Why is Benefactor Wu’s son so enthusiastic? And why is he insisting Chongjin ride in the same carriage? Could it be he has taken a fancy to how good-looking Chongjin is?"

Wang Yongzhu nearly choked on her own saliva, staring at Old Granny Zhang wide-eyed, Good heavens, your imagination is truly wild!

Even if Wu Zhongbao had any such thoughts, his martial prowess was nothing compared to Song Chongjin’s—it was like comparing him to a three-year-old child. What could he possibly do?

No, no, that’s not right, I’m almost getting carried away too!

She hurriedly explained on behalf of Song Chongjin and Wu Zhongbao for a long time, but Old Granny Zhang was still half-convinced, keeping an eye on Wu Zhongbao’s carriage for the entire trip, completely forgetting about the bumps and jolts of the journey.

She was on high alert the whole way, until they stopped to camp for the night and rest. When Old Granny Zhang saw Song Chongjin get down from the carriage, she quickly called him over and kept him close to her.

After the escorts and servants had prepared dinner, Wu Zhongbao was still eager to invite everyone to join him to eat, but he was flatly rejected by Old Granny Zhang.

When it appeared that Song Chongjin was about to be called over, Old Granny Zhang grabbed his sleeve tightly, complaining of a headache, and demanded that Song Chongjin help her back to the carriage to rest.

Although Song Chongjin didn’t understand what Old Granny Zhang was plotting, he dutifully helped her back to the carriage.

Wu Zhongbao might be straightforward, but he wasn’t stupid. He looked at Wang Yongzhu with suspicion, "Madam Wang, does your aunt have something against me? It feels like she’s being on guard around me."

Wang Yongzhu laughed awkwardly, "No, not at all. Brother Wu, you’re mistaken! My mother is just shy around new people. It’s her first time traveling, and she’s not quite used to it..."

Seeing that Wu Zhongbao seemed unconvinced, she quickly changed the subject, "Brother Wu’s maternal family actually lives in Jing County? With so many academies there, why didn’t you study in Jing County instead of our town?"

The academies in Jing County were too numerous to count, not to mention the renowned name of Changqing Academy, which even students from thousands of miles away would travel to for the sake of studying.

Wu Zhongbao’s maternal family was from Jing County, yet he chose to forgo the obvious choice and go study in Shiqiao Town instead?

Upon hearing this question, Wu Zhongbao immediately began to air his grievances.

Don’t mention it; his maternal grandfather was a Teacher at the Changqing Academy, and his mother was a well-educated lady, indeed. When she married Benefactor Wu, it was truly a step down for her.

After getting married, she had no other requests, just one, that the children she bore, be they boys or girls, must study and understand principles.

Benefactor Wu already revered the lady from the Family of Literari, so where would he not comply?

Therefore, after the birth of Wu Zhongbao, Lady Wu began teaching him the Thousand Character Classic and the Three Character Classic as soon as he started to speak.

While other children first cried out for their father and mother, Wu Zhongbao’s first words were "The universe, vast and profound".

At the age of three or four, when he was too young to hold a pen, he learned by rote recitation and could already recognize over a thousand characters by heart.

By the age of five, Lady Wu, through her own family’s introduction, found a private school run by a Scholar who had returned from Jing County, and sent Wu Zhongbao there for his enlightenment.

Originally, the plan was to wait until he was a little older and then send him to her family’s home for further influence, and to find a better Teacher so that, should he become a Scholar, he might attend Changqing Academy.

However, it was not expected that Lady Wu would only give birth to Wu Zhongbao, the sole heir to the Wu Family. How could the old Madam bear to send him away to her family’s home?

She made a fuss, preferring death over separation, and insisted on keeping Wu Zhongbao at home until he was about ten years old; he was actually supposed to go to Jing County.

At that time, Wang Yongan, because of his outstanding natural talent for learning, was recommended to the old Scholar by the village Teacher who feared that his potential might be wasted.

Previously, Wu Zhongbao had been the disciple in whom the old Scholar placed the most hope. However, upon Wang Yongan’s arrival, he consistently attained top scores, effectively suppressing Wu Zhongbao.

Of course, Wu Zhongbao was not convinced; he had always been praised for his talent from an early age. Although Wang Yongan was older, Wu Zhongbao believed he was not far behind.

After several comparisons, it was indeed true that he fell short. At that age, full of youthful fervor, he had even hurled vicious words at Wang Yongan.

In the face of such threats, Wang Yongan just smiled and took no notice, acting as if nothing had happened.

Initially, Wu Zhongbao thought Wang Yongan was afraid of him, but from then on, Wu Zhongbao often encountered misfortune, making frequent mistakes and misplacing things.

In no time, he went from being the old Scholar’s beloved disciple to becoming someone whose mere mention would give the old Scholar a headache.

At first, Wu Zhongbao thought it was just bad luck, but after the same issues happened over and over, he sensed something was amiss. Upon close observation and consideration, he realized it was all Wang Yongan’s doing.

That made him even angrier, and he got into a conflict with Wang Yongan.

Wang Yongan had a greater gift for learning than Wu Zhongbao, which ended up being insurmountable.

Since Wang Yongan was older too, Wu Zhongbao could not beat him even if he wanted to teach him a lesson.

After much thought, Wu Zhongbao decided to take a different path and started learning martial arts. Using the excuse of strengthening his body, he persuaded his parents to find him an Armed Escort to train under. After practicing hard for half a year, he beat Wang Yongan until his nose was bruised and his face swollen, which gave him a great sense of achievement.

From then on, his interest shifted from literature to martial arts, and no nine horses could pull him back.

Especially after Wang Yongan became a Scholar and gained early fame, while most of Wu Zhongbao’s attention was on martial arts, he was criticized by the old Scholar as a non-achiever indulging in martial foolishness. Naturally, his academic performances worsened even more.

After being reprimanded by the old Scholar time and again, Wu Zhongbao simply gave up in despair.