Chapter 76 - Improvement 2

With that, Su Xiaolu turned around and left. She even closed the door carefully.

Madam Qian looked down at her son, her tears falling onto his clothes.

Madam Qian took a deep breath, but no matter how hard she tried to convince herself, she couldn’t make herself not feel bad.

Her health was so poor that she could feel it herself. If she did not recuperate well, she would not live for more than a few years. She would not see her children grow up.

She thought about what would happen to these three children if she died. Chen Daniu and Chen Erniu were not liked. They would probably get married at the age of 14 or 15. Because they did not have a mother, anyone could arrange their marriage.

Her son was still young. Even if he was a son, her in-laws did not like him very much. In this family, he would probably be bullied by his cousins. Her husband was not well-liked, to begin with. When she was alive, he still had her to care for him and mend his clothes. If she was gone, how could he live this lonely life?

Madam Qian felt depressed. A thought that she did not dare to think about in the past gradually appeared in her heart. If their family also separated out…

3

…

Su Xiaolu came out of the house and went home with Su Sanlang.

No one knew what to do about Chen Hu’s family. Although they were pedantic in ancient times, Su Xiaolu still felt that he should fight back.

There was no chance if he didn’t fight back. Fighting was better than enduring in silence.

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Therefore, the most important thing to survive in this world was not to be too kind.

Su Xiaolu quickly forgot about Chen Hu’s family.

When she got home, she was either eating or reading medical books. She kept herself busy.

Su Sanlang was chopping wood, and Mrs. Zhao had to plow the ground. Since Su Chong and Su Hua were both studying, they could not bear to let them work in the fields. After all, it was a rare chance for Zhou Heng to be around, so the couple gritted their teeth and decided not to let the children work.

They would stay at home and tidy up the house. They would be treated for their illness and study well.

Soon, Su Sanlang and Madam Zhao could feel Su Chong and Su Hua’s improvement.

On October 28th, Zhou Heng began to teach Su Chong and Su Hua how to memorize the Thousand Character Classic. Su Sanlang and Madam Zhao came back from work and happened to hear it. When they heard Su Chong and Su Hua memorizing it with Zhou Heng, their eyes turned red.

“Sanlang, I’m so happy.”

Madam Zhao reached out to hold Su Sanlang’s hand. She couldn’t help but cry again. She still couldn’t change her habit of crying.

Su Sanlang held Madam Zhao’s hand tightly and gulped. “Darling, I’m happy too. Chong and Hua are finally starting to grow up again.”

Su Sanlang sighed with relief.

The two of them stood outside the door and listened quietly. They could not bear to push the door open and interrupt Zhou Heng’s teaching.

Zhou Heng’s voice was as gentle as water. He said, “Winter comes and goes, autumn harvest and winter storage mean that as the seasons change, we have to harvest crops in autumn and store food in winter. It’s like this every year. Ah Chong and Ah Hua, you have to remember it well, understand?”

“This Thousand Character Classic is also the first reading my teacher taught me. It’s very important.”

Zhou Heng looked at Su Chong and Su Hua and said earnestly. Seeing Su Chong and Su Hua studying seriously reminded him of how he looked when he first started studying. They were just like him back then, eager to know about the world.

“Okay, we’ll study this part today. Memorize it for me.”

Zhou Heng’s expression softened.

Hence, Su Chong and Su Hua began to recite.

“Heaven and Earth are black and yellow, the universe is desolate.

The sun and moon filled the sky.

Winter and summer come and go, autumn harvest and winter storage.”

The four siblings recited the words in unison.

Zhou Heng smiled and was very satisfied with this. He asked again, “Let me ask you now. What do these words mean?”

Zhou Heng had already explained it just now, but at this moment, Su Chong still scratched his head as if he was recalling it.

Su Xiaoling was about to speak when Su Hua spoke first.

Su Hua said in a clear voice, “Heng, it means that the sky is blue-black and the ground is yellow.

The universe was formed in a state of chaos.

The sun straightens and tilts, the moon becomes full and crescent.

The stars filled the endless space.

The seasons come and go.

Harvest crops in autumn and store food in winter.”

Su Hua remembered it very clearly. Su Xiaoling silently swallowed the words that were about to come out of her mouth. Big Brother couldn’t remember it, but Second Brother remembered it all. Su Xiaoling felt impressed just thinking about it.

Her second brother had a high fever when he was only four years old. Since then, his mind had stopped developing. Now that he was getting better from the treatment, he wouldn’t be mature immediately. Therefore, her second brother now had the mind of a four-year-old. It was really impressive that he could remember the meaning of these words.

Zhou Heng was also a little surprised. He looked at Su Hua and smiled slightly. He clapped and said, “Ah Hua is right. Very good.”

Su Chong was still a little depressed. “Why did Hua learn it faster than me?”

Zhou Heng looked at the depressed Su Chong and smiled. “You forgot that Ah Hua is a little smarter than you. Ah Chong, I’ll teach you how to recite it again tonight.”

Su Chong smiled and nodded. “Okay, thank you, Heng.”

The sadness in his heart dissipated. He was not as smart as Hua, so he could not memorize it. However, when he thought about how smart his brother was, Su Chong was very happy.

Since his brother was smart, that means he was smart too.

Su Hua was very happy. He smiled at Su Xiaoling and Su Xiaolu. “Sanmei, Xiaolu, I’ll teach you later.”

Su Xiaolu clapped her hands happily. “Okay, okay. Thank you, Second Brother.”

With that, Su Xiaolu ran over and gave Su Hua a big hug.

Su Xiaoling also nodded with a smile. “Alright, thank you, Second Brother.”

She had actually memorized it too, but she didn’t want to say it out loud and make Su Hua feel disappointed. After all these years, she had been playing the role of the older sister despite being the younger one. She was used to it, and she knew how to love and protect her two special brothers.

Zhou Heng glanced at Su Xiaoling and quickly looked away.

Su Sanlang and Madam Zhao were still reluctant to enter.

When Old Wu returned, he was extremely puzzled. “What are you doing? Why are you still standing at the door?”

Looking at Su Sanlang and Madam Zhao, who were struggling to calm down, Old Wu coughed lightly and said, “You’ll get used to it.”

After all, if they gradually got better, their minds would continue to grow. They would definitely begin to understand many things. Look at how inexperienced this couple was.

Seeing how inexperienced they were, he let them be.

Old Wu went in and asked Su Xiaolu, Su Chong, and Su Hua to help pack the herbs.

Madam Zhao and Su Sanlang also hurriedly calmed down and went home to prepare dinner.

For the rest of the day, they could hear Zhou Heng teaching Su Chong and Su Hua to memorize the Thousand Character Classic. Every time they heard them, Su Sanlang and Madam Zhao would still feel something. However, it was not like the first time they heard it. They would listen quietly before returning home.

In November, the weather became colder. Madam Zhao had made thick cotton clothes for the entire family. This winter was very different for Su Sanlang’s family.