CH 219

The next day, before dawn, Han Qingsong got up. He pinched the small rattan and swiped the edge of the kang lightly, causing Dawang to wake up.

Erwang also got up quickly.

As soon as the eldest brother left, Sanwang’s lower body lost its balance and fell off the wall. With how deeply he was sleeping, he didn’t notice his awkward position and continued sleeping.

Han Qingsong hesitated for a moment and was about to call him up.

Lin Lan woke up and quickly made a gesture, “Children can get more sleep.”

According to her idea, Erwang should sleep more. Even if he was 9 years old, he was all but a child.

Dawang on the other hand, should be properly educated. After all, she could no longer control him.

She wanted to plead for Erwang’s sake, but she was worried that it would be unfair for Dawang, so she endured it and didn’t say anything. Instead, she gave Erwang an encouraging glance.

Erwang was still troubled. When he thought about how cold the weather was and how warm the bed was, he didn’t want to get up at all.

Now, feeling his father’s tension and his mother’s encouragement, he had to get up albeit with reluctance.

Maisui, Sanwang, Xiaowang and Wangwang were all sleeping soundly.

The oldest two brothers were trained by their father in the morning. They first learned stretching from him. Then, they ran around as warm up before coming back to do some push-ups.

Erwang, “Father, it’s hard to even walk after the rain, so there’s no way to run.”

“You can run if you step on the road firmly,” Han Qingsong didn’t cut corners at all.

The two brothers, “…”

Erwang, “Father, my mother would be angry if my shoes were soiled and broken by the mud.”

Han Qingsong thought about it, “Find your own position for push-ups. The eldest can do 40 and the second child can do 30.”

It was hard to beat Dawang, but the push-ups were quite a chore for Erwang.

If their movements were not in the right place, Han Qingsong’s rattan would be adequately hit against their legs. He required them to tuck their bellies, heads, backs, buttocks and legs in a straight line.

Since they couldn’t run, they did an intensive set of push-ups and deep squat jumps. The two boys were sweating profusely and numb all over in half an hour.

When they finished their training, Maisui and Sanwang came out yawning and asked in surprise, “What are you guys doing here?”

Dawang snorted and entered the room angrily. Erwang looked like he was helpless, “Elder sister, why are you a woman?”

Maisui, “Could it be that you want to be a woman?”

Erwang was quite happy at the thought— at least he didn’t have to be ruthlessly trained by his father.

It was said that having a father as a soldier would bring honour and pride for the children. Well, that was utter bullshit!

What it did bring was blood and tears.

Since the children were trained, their appetites have also grown. Lin Lan had to spend some time making breakfast.

Han Qingsong, “You two can step on each other’s legs to relax your muscles.”

He wasn’t holding the cane when he said this, so Dawang didn’t take it seriously.

Han Qingsong didn’t care about him either.

Lin Lan advised Erwang, “There’s no harm in listening to your father.”

Erwang listened to Lin Lan, asking Sanwang and Maisui to step on his legs.

Lin Lan’s old mother looked at him kindly, “Erwang, you will know the benefits tomorrow.”

Tomorrow, when Dawang’s legs were so sore that his teeth would even hurt, he would know that his father didn’t lie to him when he would feel as light as a feather.

They shouldn’t think that they were fine just because they did farm work on a daily basis. Squat jumps and push-ups exercise were different muscle groups from what they use to work.

This was the talk of experience!