Chapter 132: If You Get Bullied, You Better Not Cry
Mainly, it was because Wen Daotou was truly loyal—genuinely loyal. Tie Niu was a bit older than him and usually played more with Wen Ying, but he had never looked down on Daotou for being younger. Even when Daotou couldn’t speak yet, Tie Niu had never joined others in teasing him or calling him a little mute.
That kind of kindness, Daotou remembered. Ever since the Wen family’s circumstances improved, whatever he had—snacks or toys—he’d always think of Tie Niu. They couldn’t afford to send Tie Niu to school, so as long as Daotou was home, he’d teach him how to read.
Now Tie Niu could not only write his own name but also write Wen Ying’s and his father’s names.
So when Tie Niu’s mother praised Daotou, it was sincere.
Old Madam Luo beamed with joy and followed up, “That’s right, school hasn’t even started long, and the teacher’s already praised him several times, said Daotou is a bright child. Of course he is! He suffered when he was little—this is heaven feeling sorry for him, making up for it now. Oh, and I heard Daotou’s been teaching Tie Niu to read? Then you better make sure Tie Niu takes it seriously. There’s a big difference between being literate and not.”
That last sentence, Old Madam Luo said with deliberate emphasis.
Tie Niu’s mother nodded repeatedly. “Absolutely! Auntie, I won’t be polite then. I’ll have Tie Niu come over often to play with Daotou.”
“Tch, wasn’t he always running to my house anyway?” Old Madam Luo joked, grinning.
Hearing that Tie Niu could actually learn to read from Daotou, the other women with children at home started to panic. Their own kids couldn’t fall behind! In no time, everyone was talking over each other, laying on flattery so thick it could have peeled paint off a wall.
Before they realized it, the few who had spoken ill earlier were completely shut out of the group, left awkward and silent, wandering off to avoid further embarrassment.
Old Madam Luo, of course, wasn’t stupid. Listening to all those subtle hints, she could tell they wanted Daotou to teach their children as well. She only replied vaguely with a few noncommittal sounds.
So many children—how could Daotou handle teaching them all? What if he got exhausted?
Only Tie Niu’s mother wore an unbroken smile from beginning to end.
As midday approached, Doctor Jin and Manager Qiu arrived with Jin Xiuyi. Liuzi and Carpenter Zhang also came bearing gifts. The Wen family’s relatives and friends, including Little Old Madam Luo, came with the entire extended family.
Doctor Jin and Manager Qiu were well-acquainted with the Wens and made themselves at home without ceremony. Jin Xiuyi had been forced by Doctor Jin to study diligently lately, so finally getting to let loose in Gutong Village, he jumped off the carriage and ran off with Daotou and the other kids, disappearing in a flash.
As for Carpenter Zhang, he didn’t sit still for a moment. He wandered the new house with his tools in hand, inspecting the doors, windows, tables, and chairs for anything that needed fixing.
Liuzi, now completely transformed, bore no resemblance to the boy who once sold goods at the dock. Now, he looked every bit the refined young man.
He stood beside Wen Jun, chatting about something, his face flushed with embarrassment.
Wen Yao strolled over with Wen Di, caught sight of Liuzi’s appearance today, and raised an eyebrow. “Brother Liuzi, not manning the stall anymore, huh?”
Today, Liuzi wore a long scholar’s robe, and standing next to Wen Jun, he really did give off that scholarly air.
Flustered by her teasing, Liuzi’s face went bright red. “Sister Wen Yao, no, I’m not. My third uncle’s leg healed, and your family’s stall is no longer ours to manage, so I went back to guarding our original stall. My father’s been busy making curved-shaft plows. We’ve saved up quite a bit, and since Uncle Wen said I was suitable for studying, he told me to give it a real try. So I enrolled in a village school. I asked for leave today to come attend your housewarming.”
Wen Yao’s eyes widened in surprise. She hadn’t expected Carpenter Zhang to actually send Liuzi to school. Even if it was just a village school, there were real teachers. And Zhang’s younger children were still small—she’d assumed he’d choose to invest in his younger son instead.
But this was Liuzi’s opportunity. At fifteen or sixteen, it was just the right age to study. In her previous life, that had been prime time for schooling. If there was a chance to read, why not take it? Still, these days, the only real path after schooling was the imperial exam. Was Liuzi aiming for that?
“Then congratulations, Brother Liuzi! Just don’t forget us little stall-mates when you become a top scholar, haha!” Wen Yao teased with a carefree laugh, not the least bit reserved.
Liuzi flushed an even deeper red and stammered, “I-I haven’t thought that far ahead. If I can pass the pupil exam or maybe even qualify as a xiucai, I’ll already be thanking the heavens. But I’m a bit older, so I just plan to study for a couple of years. If I pass, I’ll keep going. If not, being literate is still useful—I can always find work as a clerk.”
Wen Yao chuckled. “Then you better work hard! Earning a xiucai title isn’t bad either. Look at my dad—he’s a xiucai.”
Liuzi glanced over at Wen Xiuyi, who was greeting guests, eyes filled with admiration. As if to encourage himself, he gave a firm nod. “Mm! I want to be someone as capable as Uncle Wen!”
Wen Yao and Wen Jun exchanged glances and smiled. Wanting to become like Professor Wen? That was… not an easy task.
The three chatted and laughed while Wen Di stood off to the side, growing anxious. She couldn’t just leave—Liuzi was an unrelated man. Even with Wen Jun there, she couldn’t leave Wen Yao alone with him. All she could do was anxiously tug Wen Yao’s sleeve.
Only then did Wen Yao remember—oops, someone else was here.
“Brother Liuzi, this is my sister, Wen Di. Di, this is Brother Liuzi.” She quickly made introductions.
Wen Di wanted to strangle her little sister, but she still braced herself and greeted him. “Brother Liuzi.” This name… it was so weird.
Liuzi seemed to pick up on her pause and awkwardly scratched his head. “Zhang Wang. Since I’m going to school now, the teacher said ‘Liuzi’ wouldn’t do. Gave me a proper name—Zhang Wang. Wang as in hope.”
“That’s a good name,” Wen Yao said.
Just then, someone called out from the gate.
“Wen Yao! Someone’s here to see you—came by carriage.”
Wen Yao’s eyes lit up. “Ah! It must be Sister Qiu!” She grabbed Wen Di and dashed off.
Wen Jun chuckled and said to Liuzi, “Don’t mind her. That’s just how she is. She doesn’t treat you like an outsider. Come, I’ll show you around.”
Zhang Wang quickly waved his hands. “Not at all. Thank you, Brother Wen!”
Wen Yao and Wen Di rushed to the entrance and saw Qiu Rongrong being helped down from the carriage by Qiao Yan. Beside her stood a little kid—it was none other than Xie Anyi.
“Sister Qiu!” Wen Yao ran up with a grin.
Qiu Rongrong stood firm and smiled at her flushed cheeks from running. “You’re a young lady now—at least try to keep up appearances.”
“Tch, who cares? Sister Qiu, what brings you here? I thought you—”
Qiu Rongrong blinked with a sly smile. “Thought I couldn’t get out, didn’t you?”
Wen Yao raised an eyebrow.
Qiu Rongrong pointed behind her. “I told Master Xie you were moving today, and that he’d be there, so he let me come. Not only that—he even told me to bring a gift.”
Wen Yao glanced at Xie Anyi and immediately understood. So Xie Yushan still hadn’t given up.
She reached over and pinched Xie Anyi’s cheek. “Go on, Daotou and Xiuyi are over there. But listen up—if you get bullied, you better not cry.”
Xie Anyi had just brightened at the mention of Daotou and Xiuyi, but his face scrunched at her last sentence. He ducked away from her hand and pouted. “I won’t cry!”
That made Wen Yao laugh heartily.
Ever since Xie Yushan found out that Daotou and Jin Xiuyi had both been admitted to Qingfeng Academy, he had rushed to get Xie Anyi enrolled too—word was, he’d donated quite a bit of silver to Headmaster Wu.
Granted, the money was Sister Qiu’s, but still, Xie Anyi got in and even ended up in the same class as Daotou and Jin Xiuyi.
Because he was unwilling to admit defeat, he got knocked down a few pegs by Daotou. One time he even ran home crying, which infuriated Xie Yushan—but there was nothing he could do about Daotou.
After that, feeling guilty, Daotou had taken to bringing Xie Anyi with him every evening after class to study with Manager Qiu for half an hour.
