Starting a new chapter in life

Chapter 164 Grandma teases Jingyan

Jing Yan said she would go back and on the third day, she really did go to the commercial district in downtown Haishi City. She went to all the general stores and musical instrument stores, and found pipa, erhu, and guzheng. These were the only musical instruments she could find on the market. Oh, and flute and xiao too.

But Jingyan felt that if she was going to learn, she should learn something high-end, so she asked the shopkeeper to help her choose the most difficult guzheng. The main reason was that in her previous life, she saw those noble ladies and gentlemen in ancient times sitting in front of the guzheng and playing it on TV, and they looked so elegant. If you want to show off, you have to go all out from the start.

After selecting the musical instruments and asking the shopkeeper to deliver them, I also bought Go and Chinese chess sets, as well as semi-sized Xuan paper, twelve colors of paint, inkstones, and wolf hair brushes. These are for Teacher Shen's own use. For now, it's enough for the children to learn basic drawing techniques with pencils, and they don't need tools that are too difficult yet.

And so, with everything prepared, the children's extracurricular classes officially began. Shen Runze seemed to be a very kind and stable person. Jing Yan originally thought he would be a gentle and refined gentleman, but after becoming a teacher, she fully understood the saying that people have many facets.

In daily interactions, Teacher Shen is indeed mild-mannered, but once she starts teaching, she becomes a strict teacher. She is neither arrogant nor impatient, and she doesn't scold people. She can make people lose all will to resist just by teaching and her sharp tongue. Jing Yan has never seen her child so well-behaved. It is true that one thing can subdue another. She is completely defeated.

With Teacher Shen joining the teaching profession, He Ci'en not only studied books but also learned Go from Teacher Shen. Sure enough, people with many ideas are very suitable for learning Go. Those thoughts and ideas are usually useless, but they can be put to good use on the Go board, so it is not a waste. Teacher Shen was very satisfied with He Ci'en and felt that he wanted to teach her all his Go knowledge.

He Chaoli isn't particularly cunning, and his physical strength is just so-so. He's destined to be a scholar, so joining the military for training is out of the question. If he joined, he'd probably lower the overall combat effectiveness standard. So, as Jingyan requested, he learned to play the guzheng.

An An's words were effeminate, but Jing Yan loved watching He Chaoli sit in front of the guzheng and play, even if the notes were out of tune, she still found it fascinating. This made He Zhijun want to learn, but he gave up when faced with the first step—reading the sheet music. That damn thing was too difficult.

Jingyan never made things difficult for herself. She never thought about learning a lot of things. She thought it was good enough if she didn't know how to judge others. She was just an ordinary person and never wanted to become a talented woman.

An'an and Zhizhi are still quite young, and they only learn painting. However, Zhizhi is clearly more talented than An'an in this area, and she is also physically stronger.

Jingyan sometimes felt quite troubled. She believed she didn't show obvious favoritism towards any of the children. Although Zhizhi was the youngest, she had never told An'an to give way to his younger sister.

But now, she's already considering whether to ask Zhizhi to give way to her brother. Zhizhi is always ahead of An'an in everything she learns, and as a little man, Jingyan is really afraid of being discouraged.

Jingyan told He Zhijun about her concerns and asked him to find time to talk to An'an. She said that they shouldn't ignore An'an's feelings just because he is young. If he becomes too sensitive, it will be too late to say anything.

He Zhijun treated it as a big deal, even choosing a moonlit night to bring An'an to the yard for a chat. However, it was clear that the adult world was too complicated, while the child's world was simple.

When He Zhijun carefully worded that Zhizhi was learning faster than An'an and worried that it might make An'an feel disappointed, why did An'an look at him with a kind of pitying gaze, as if he were looking at a fool?

"Dad, you're not as straightforward as Mom. Zhizhi is my sister, and I'm happy that she's so good. Even though we study together, I've been studying diligently and haven't been slacking off. As for what level I can reach, neither Mom nor Teacher Shen has set any requirements. Why should I compare myself to Zhizhi?"

He Jin'an looked down on her father for being petty and continued, "Or do you feel a sense of inferiority because you think Mom earns more money than you? Do you think I'm as stingy as you?"

She patted his arm like a little adult and comforted him, "Dad, don't feel inferior just because Mom can take good care of herself inside and outside. A man should have a big heart, so that he can become a high-ranking official or a prime minister in the future."

He Zhijun… “What you’re trying to say is—that a prime minister’s belly can hold a boat? But where did you get the idea that I’m insecure? Don’t I have a good relationship with your mother? Besides, haven’t you considered that the reason I’m talking to you this time is because of your mother’s worries?”

An'an pouted: "Mom would never think that way. She's always said that every child is an independent individual and shouldn't be compared to others. There are always people more capable than you, and there's always something beyond your reach."

We are just ordinary kids from ordinary families. If we're going to compare ourselves, we should compare ourselves to ourselves. Are we better today than we were yesterday? That way, we won't be discouraged by others and we can maintain a positive and optimistic attitude.

"Dad, I have a very good memory. I remember clearly what Mom said. What, you didn't take her words to heart, did you? Be careful, or I'll tell Mom you don't care about her, hmph!"

He Zhijun...

It seems like my child's hands are always itchy as he gets older. He's rubbing his fingers now, and I'm wondering if I should loosen his skin a bit. Other kids get a little spanking every three days and a full beating every five.

It seems like none of my kids have ever been beaten. A childhood without being beaten is incomplete. Why not make up for it while we're still in the childhood stage?

However, he suppressed this thought when he saw Jingyan come out looking for someone. Although he hadn't experienced it firsthand, he was certain that if he hit the child, Jingyan would never forgive him.

Eight years have passed since they got married, and the couple has always been able to discuss things together. They've never even argued, let alone fought. It wouldn't be worth it if he hit the child and then got beaten up by Jingyan.

Jingyan was indeed looking for her child. Seeing that the two had finished their conversation, she waved to An'an and said, "There's some fruit inside. Go and eat some, then wash up and go to bed. You have to get up early for school tomorrow, or I'll spank you if you can't get up."

An'an ran happily into the house. Jingyan walked to He Zhijun's side and asked softly, "How is An'an? Is she feeling alright?"

He Zhijun's tone carried a hint of resentment: "He has a better mentality than me. He didn't compare himself to any other child at all. He said that you said to compare yourself to yourself. He remembers what you said better than I do, and he even used that to shut me up. I really wanted to spank him just now."

Hearing the hint of gritted teeth in his voice, Jing Yan laughed: "Kids think simple. He's at the age where his memory is at its best, so it's not surprising that he can remember. Why are you getting angry with the child? Okay, if you're really upset, well, I'll make it up to you tonight, okay?"

He Zhijun's eyes lit up immediately: "You said it, don't regret it!"

The couple went back inside, and the family watched TV for a while before packing up and returning to their respective rooms. He Zhijun truly meant what he said; Jingyan offered compensation. She had almost ruined her back that night, and unusually, she woke up late the next day.

When she got up, He Zhijun had already gone to work, and the children had all gone to school. Jingyan dressed, supporting her back as she walked out of the room, meeting her grandmother's knowing, smiling eyes:

“Young man, you should be more moderate. Why don’t you stay home and rest today? There are people at the store anyway, so it won’t hurt you if you don’t go for a day. Don’t make things difficult for your body.”

Jing Yan…a woman who always prided herself on having a thick skin blushed for once: “I’m fine, I won’t be late for the shop.” After saying that, she turned and ran away without even eating breakfast.

Grandma shook her head as she watched her run off: "Why are you running? Everyone's been young once, how could you not understand? Sigh, I was originally thinking of giving her something nice, so the young couple could study it together sometime. But seeing how shy she is, I guess I'll give it to Zhijun instead. Men, after all, have thicker skin, hehe..."

Standing behind her grandmother, Sister Wang wondered whether she should leave or not. If the old lady hadn't chuckled at the end of her sentence, she might not have understood what it meant. But since it did, she understood. This was a difficult topic to discuss, and she couldn't possibly respond to it. She looked at the sky outside and thought to herself, "Spring has clearly passed long ago, so why is the season here different from normal?"

Grandma turned around and saw Sister Wang's conflicted look. She smiled and said, "As you get older, there are many things you were embarrassed to say when you were young, but you don't mind saying them now. When you are my age, you will naturally understand. There is no need to be embarrassed. It is only natural for men and women to have sexual relations."

He Ci'en has never left since she started school on Changxing Island. In 1985, He Jin'an officially entered primary school, and He Chaoli went to middle school. With the addition of middle school children and He Ci'en taking the college entrance examination next year, the learning atmosphere in the family suddenly became much more intense.

Shen Runze asked Jing Yan if they should stop He Ci'en's Go and Guzheng lessons so she could focus on preparing for the college entrance exam. However, Jing Yan felt that a balance between study and relaxation was best. She privately asked He Zhijun and He Ci'en if they should reduce the number of extracurricular classes, but He Ci'en refused.

“Auntie, I have free time while studying. Playing Go helps me relax, and the melodious sound of the guzheng can also improve my mindset. Besides, I don’t practice every day. I play when I’m in the mood, and I’m not forced to when I’m not. I think it’s fine, so don’t worry about me.”

"As long as you know it yourself, that's fine. You have excellent grades at school, so I'm confident in that. But our Ci'en is so outstanding and good-looking, look at her, like a little poplar tree, so straight and tall. Have any girls at school confessed their feelings to you?"

Jingyan teased him, but she was also testing him. Although things are still relatively conservative between men and women, puppy love is not uncommon. It wasn't that she thought puppy love would affect Ci'en's grades.

What she fears is that if her crush encounters some problems when taking the college entrance exam, and things don't go as planned, it might affect her future views on marriage, especially for a young person just beginning to experience romantic feelings. She needs to be mentally prepared for this.

He Ci'en looked completely bewildered: "Auntie, what are you saying? Students should focus on their studies. You sent me to school so that I could study hard. I don't want to think about any of that nonsense."

"Are there any pretty girls in your class or grade, the kind that catch your eye?" Jing Yan was genuinely curious to find out more.

He Ci'en thought carefully: "There is a girl in our class who is very pretty. She likes to wear a ponytail and looks very energetic. During breaks at school, boys from other classes often come to our classroom door to peek at her. However, she is focused on her studies and doesn't pay attention to these people. Her grades are also very good, and she has always been in the top five of the grade."

"You're both smart and hardworking, and you managed to get first place in the grade. That girl is amazing, in the top five! Sigh, I wasn't so good when I was in school. I was so envious of people who did well in their studies. Hearing you say that makes me want to go and see for myself." Jingyan exclaimed sincerely.

Unexpectedly, He Zhijun overheard this. He walked behind Jing Yan, grabbed the back of her neck, lowered his head and whispered in her ear, "Did you have a crush on a boy when you were in school?"

Jing Yan glanced at his slightly upturned lips, that forced smile. If she dared to say yes, she'd probably be in for a world of trouble tonight. She quickly shook her head without the slightest hesitation: "Those who are good at studying are all ugly. I haven't found anyone I like. You're the best looking person I know. I like you the most."

This fawning manner pleased He Zhijun, who withdrew his hand and patted Jing Yan's head: "You smooth talker. When I asked the battalion commander to ask you what you thought of me, you obviously didn't even notice me. You even said I was pretty. You can't even lie properly."

Jingyan... How could I still remember something from so many years ago?

He chuckled awkwardly twice and immediately changed the subject: "There's a girl in Ci'en class who's not only pretty but also has good grades. I'm really curious about her. If the school holds a parent-teacher conference at the end of this year, let's go together. I want to see her in person."

He Ci'en... "Auntie, I really have no feelings for her."

Jingyan nodded seriously: "I know, I was just curious to take a look. You're still young, so there's no need to rush into things like relationships. Focus on your studies first. But you'll be taking the college entrance exam next year, so you should think about your college application and what you want to do in the future. It would be a shame if you ended up studying a major that you didn't want."

He Ci'en nodded seriously: "Auntie, I understand. I will think about it carefully."

“You can also ask your teachers for advice privately. They know more about this than we do. Choosing a school and a major are the most important choices in life. You have good grades, so you can’t waste them.” Jingyan takes her studies very seriously.

In her past life, her own child was always at the bottom of the class. She thought Xiaoyue wouldn't get into a top high school and was prepared for her to go to a vocational school last year. But the child had incredible luck and got into a top high school by just two points above the admission score. It was a close call. In the end, she only got into a junior college. But no matter what, she got a college degree.