Reborn Lady

Chapter 182

Da Lang and Sister Mei took good care of Xiao Heng, coaxing the little guy to laugh before leaving.

At that time, Er Lang and Si Lang also came. Er Lang walked ahead with a sullen face and went directly into the East Lecture Hall. Si Lang followed his companion eunuch Li Rang slowly to the West Lecture Hall.

Xiao Heng stared at Si Lang intently and found that his eyes were red, as if he had cried.

He leaned over and asked, “Si Lang, why are you crying?”

He called Da Lang, Er Lang, and San Lang big brothers, but because Si Lang was about the same age as him, he was still used to calling him by name.

Si Lang didn’t want to talk and sat with his head drooped.

In the East Lecture Hall, Er Lang glanced at Si Lang and said angrily, “Walking like a snail and crying, so annoying. I really don’t want to go to the studying hall with him anymore.”

Da Lang said, “Si Lang is still young; you take care of him.”

Er Lang replied, “I’m willing to bring him here, but he cries. Tomorrow I will come here by myself.”

San Lang suddenly interjected, “Didn’t Second Uncle drop you off? Third Uncle brought Wu Lang here.”

Er Lang responded, “My father is very busy today, so he didn’t have time.”

Sister Mei hissed.

Mr. Gao and Mr. Mei soon arrived. Mr. Gao went to teach in the East Lecture Hall first, and Mr. Mei went to the West Lecture Hall.

Old Mr. Mei had a kind face and gentle eyes. Xiao Heng was not afraid at all. Si Lang, on the other hand, was timid around strangers, and when he saw Mr. Mei, he became even more apprehensive.

Mr. Mei had actually prepared two wood carvings of rabbits and began by telling the two little guys a story. In essence, the tale revolved around two rabbits venturing into the forest to pick mushrooms. Along the way, they encountered two challenges. In the first, they had to answer a poem, and in the second, they had to solve an arithmetic problem. Each rabbit successfully answered one, and in the end, they reached the mushroom forest, picking a basket full of mushrooms.

“You will also go out in the future. Only by reading more books and learning skills can you go further, much like these two little rabbits, and achieve your goals smoothly. Do you understand?” Xiao Heng and Si Lang both nodded.

Mr. Mei gave each of them a rabbit and said, “Let the little rabbits study with you. Even the rabbits can recite poems and count. You can’t lose to the rabbits.” Xiao Heng stared at the rabbit in his hand, determined to prove that he could outdo the rabbit.

Si Lang touched the rabbit in his hand, unconsciously forgetting the unhappiness on the road.

To soothe the emotions of the two children, Mr. Mei began discussing the simplest “Three Character Classic”, writing a sentence, and then explaining it. Xiao Heng and Si Lang’s task was to recite the first four sentences and understand them.

After the class, there was a break. During this time, the teachers were absent, and the children played in their respective classrooms, obediently following the routine.

During lunch and rest, the children had a one-hour break. At this time, only the maids in the study hall took care of the little masters.

While Xiao Heng was eating, Er Lang noticed Si Lang placing the rabbit on the table and snatched it away, causing Si Lang to burst into tears. Da Lang asked Er Lang to return the rabbit, but Er Lang refused and intentionally threw the rabbit onto the roof.

Da Lang, seeing Si Lang cry even harder, sought help from Li Rang, who managed to retrieve the rabbit using a stick. However, Er Lang snatched it away again, making Si Lang cry even more intensely.

Upon witnessing this, Xiao Heng took his own rabbit and handed it to Si Lang, saying, “Don’t cry, I’ll give you mine.” Si Lang whimpered, and indeed, he stopped crying.

Seeing that Er Lang was attempting more tricks, Dalang warned, “If you continue to mess around, I will tell Mr. Gao.” Knowing Mr. Gao’s strictness, Er Lang finally gave up.

With Si Lang’s cries subsided, Xiao Heng enjoyed his meal even more. After the afternoon lectures, the children left the studying hall.

The little masters left the studying hall together. As soon as Xiao Heng emerged, he spotted his mother standing outside. Overjoyed, he left his brothers and ran toward her, exclaiming with teardrops in his eyes, “Mother!”

Studying wasn’t fun; Xiao Heng missed his mother dearly.

Yin Hui picked up Xiao Heng, patted him on the back, and cooed softly, “I’m here. Did you cry today?”

Xiao Heng shook his head repeatedly. “I didn’t cry. Dad said he will give me a reward.”

Yin Hui smiled. “Then you’re really a good boy. I’ll give you a reward too, okay?”

Wiping away his tears, Xiao Heng asked expectantly, “What reward?”

Yin Hui replied, “I asked the kitchen to make braised pork for you. You can eat as much as you want tonight.” 

Braised pork was usually considered too oily, and Yin Hui seldom let him eat too much.

Satisfied, Xiao Heng pointed in the direction of Chengxin Hall and exclaimed, “Then let’s go back quickly!”

Yin Hui put her son down, and as Xiao Heng hurried home to enjoy his braised pork, he kept running. Therefore, she did not accompany the children.

Si Lang anxiously stared at Xiao Heng and his third aunt’s backs, tightly clutching the rabbit in his hand.

Wei Luo came back earlier that day. Upon reaching the backyard, he found Xiao Heng eating meat with an oil-stained face.

“Dad, I didn’t cry!” Xiao Heng, enjoying his reward, spotted his father and immediately thought of the other reward, gazing expectantly at his father’s hands.

Wei Luo, giving a rare smile, sat down at the dining table and told Xiao Heng, “Eat first, and when you’re full, I’ll take you to ride a horse.”

Xiao Heng cheered and continued devouring the meat.

Wei Luo looked at Yin Hui.

Having already learned about the studying hall incident from Cao Bao, Yin Hui informed Wei Luo about Er Lang snatching Si Lang’s rabbit and Xiao Heng giving away his own. Wei Luo was delighted that his son displayed care for his brother at such a young age.

After Xiao Heng finished the braised pork, Wei Luo casually asked, “Didn’t you like the rabbit that Mr. Mei gave you?”

Xiao Heng blinked and said, “I liked it.”

Wei Luo inquired, “Then why did you give it to Si Lang?”

Xiao Heng thought for a moment and replied, “He was too noisy; I couldn’t even eat well.”

Yin Hui burst out laughing upon learning the truth.

Wei Luo looked at the oil stains on his son’s lips but had nothing to say. Yin Hui led Xiao Heng to wash his face, and after he came out, Wei Luo took him to ride a horse.

Yin Hui stood at the door and said, “Come back early; we’ll have dinner.”

As Wei Luo turned his head, he saw Yin Hui standing in the soft sunset halo, with a beautiful and gentle face.

“Okay.”