Zhu Xiuxiu looked around and asked, "Where’s Mother? I have so good news to share, especially for Mother. I want to make her happy!"
Lately, Elder Mrs. Ji had been blaming herself for Xiaosuisui being bullied by the Li family. Although she never spoke of it, everyone knew.
"She’s playing chess with your Eldest Brother!"
Mother and Eldest Brother are playing chess, so they mustn’t be disturbed. No wonder the little girl, when she’s scared of taking dicine, runs to Eldest Brother’s room. It turns out there’s an amulet there!
"Then I’ll tell you first, but you have to keep it to yourselves. I have to tell Mother myself."
Zhu Xiuxiu teased, her eyes crinkling with laughter.
"Hurry up and tell us! Otherwise, I’m going to the kitchen. It’s ti to stew the Bird’s Nest."
"Alright, alright, I’ll tell you..."
Zhu Xiuxiu recounted what happened in town, and Wang Dongxue’s mouth fell open in surprise.
"No way! You an the pig you rescued... was the one Li Laosan was going to slaughter and sell?"
Zhu Xiuxiu nodded vigorously.
"Yes, yes! Isn’t it a coincidence? I heard that Li Laosan might not be able to slaughter pigs for the rest of his life!"
Wang Dongxue couldn’t help but glance towards her husband’s room.
Delighted, she said, "I’ll go stew Bird’s Nest for Xiaosuisui."
Ji Youbo remained expressionless.
Li Laosan was probably just unlucky. The pig he was going to slaughter today must have been exceptionally strong, and that’s why he got injured.
However, only Zhu Xiuxiu and Wang Dongxue knew what the little girl had casually ntioned a few days ago.
Speaking of Xiaosuisui, she had run into Ji Youyuan’s room. Glancing at her Eldest Maternal Uncle and Grandmother, who were engrossed in a chess ga, she didn’t dare make a sound. She tiptoed over and hid under a bookshelf to snack on preserved fruit.
WHIMPER, WHIMPER. This new flavor of preserved fruit is so sweet and delicious!
As she was eating, sothing felt off. A shadow suddenly fell over her. She looked up and grinned, "Gra... Grandmother..."
Elder Mrs. Ji asked sternly, "What are you doing here?"
The little girl hurriedly dusted off her hands and scrambled up from the floor. Her small body bumped into the bookshelf. THUD! A book fell and hit her on the head.
The little girl casually picked up the book and handed it to her Grandmother, "Boo... book..."
Elder Mrs. Ji: "..."
Her Eldest Maternal Uncle wheeled over in his wheelchair and took the book from her. It was blank, without a single character.
It was a supre manual that had taken him five years to comprehend.
"Eldest Maternal Uncle, can you teach Suisui to read books?"
Out in the Courtyard, Third Aunt-in-law is craning her neck, peeking into the room. She’s going to drag off for that bitter dicine again!
Ji Youyuan saw Xiaosuisui’s cunning gaze and knew what she was thinking. Still, he didn’t want to discourage her eagerness to learn.
"This book has no words. Eldest Maternal Uncle will get you a book with words."
What should a four-and-a-half-year-old child learn? The Hundred Family Surnas? The Three-Character Classic? Or the Thousand Character Classic? Or perhaps I should find a copy of the Disciple’s Rules for her to start with?
As her Eldest Maternal Uncle was pondering this, he heard Xiaosuisui say, "There are words! Eldest Maternal Uncle, please teach to read this book!"
WHIMPER. Is Eldest Maternal Uncle just making an excuse, like Third Aunt-in-law, to make take that bitter dicine?
"Hm?"
Ji Youyuan’s half-closed eyes snapped open. He stared in disbelief, "You can see words on this blank page?"
Elder Mrs. Ji was also astonished. Others might not know what this book was, but she, having raised seven accomplished sons, knew its significance very well!
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