TSWPF -Chapter 444 Lesson

The village chief’s wife stiffened when she heard her granddaughter’s words. Her wavering resolve solidified—she would not let Gou Dan enter to eat.

She had to admit that her precious grandson’s table manners were… well, a little messy. If the magistrate got angry, not only would their family lose any credit, but they might even be guilty of wrongdoing. For this reason alone, she couldn’t agree.

“Gou Dan, we won’t go in to eat. The magistrate will be angry, okay?” she said.

“No! No! I want to go in and eat!” Gou Dan protested, tugging hard at the village chief’s wife’s hand. “Gou Sheng can go in, so why can’t I? There’s so much delicious food in there—it’ll all be eaten by Gou Sheng!”

The second daughter-in-law shot the first daughter-in-law a sharp glare. If it weren’t for her daughter talking so much, her son would already be inside.

“Mother, didn’t you say Gou Dan’s table manners are good? How could he possibly make the magistrate angry? Besides, the magistrate isn’t that petty—how could he get mad at a child?” the second daughter-in-law whispered, trying to persuade the village chief’s wife. “Mother, just let Gou Dan go in, or he’ll start crying.”

As if on cue, Gou Dan burst into tears, shouting that he wanted to go eat.

His cries carried into the main hall. The village chief felt embarrassed. He glared at his second son, then awkwardly smiled at Liu Zhimou and the others, signaling his second son to go check what was going on.

The second son, shrewd, rolled his eyes, said “Yes,” put down his chopsticks, and went out.

Not long after, the crying grew louder.

The village chief furrowed his brows, apologized to Liu Zhimou and the others, and got up to go outside.

“What’s going on?” he asked, frowning at Gou Dan. “Why are you crying? Huh?” He was embarrassed in front of the magistrate.

“Father, Gou Dan saw Gou Sheng go in to eat, and he also wants to go in,” the second daughter-in-law said, seizing the opportunity with a hopeful tone.

The second son also said he couldn’t handle Gou Dan.

The village chief glared at his second son. “Go in? You’ll eat in the kitchen.”

Hearing this, Gou Dan’s cries intensified—he was almost rolling on the floor.

At that moment, Liu Zhimou’s voice came from the main hall, telling the village chief to let Gou Dan in to eat.

Success…

The second son and second daughter-in-law exchanged glances, their eyes twinkling with amusement, and they loudly said, “Thank you, sir!”

The village chief glared at his second son again, told him not to cry, and led Gou Dan by the hand inside.

“Magistrate, sorry for the embarrassment,” the village chief said.

Liu Zhimou shook his head. “It’s fine. Let him sit and eat.”

As soon as Gou Dan entered, his eyes locked on the chicken on the table, drooling.

Seeing Gou Dan looking so unrestrained, the village chief felt even more embarrassed. He tugged at Gou Dan’s hand, urging him to sit and eat properly.

Gou Dan ignored him and reached for the chicken with his hands.

“Gou Dan…” the village chief quickly grabbed his hand. In front of the magistrate, he felt a burning shame on his face. “You can’t grab food with your hands—use your chopsticks.”

After teaching Gou Dan, he apologized again to Liu Zhimou and the others.

“The magistrate is generous; he won’t quarrel with a child,” the second son said with a flattering smile, thinking his son was clever to seize the chance to eat.

Liu Zhimou looked at the second son and calmly said, “Parents are role models for children. They learn by watching you. If parents fail to set a good example, children may be led astray. By then, it could ruin them.”

Hearing this, the second son’s face turned red, and he stammered, “Yes.”

“Village chief, why hasn’t Gou Sheng gone to school?” Li Qingling asked, giving Gou Sheng two pieces of chicken and looking at the village chief. “Gou Dan has gone to school, right?”

The village chief felt cold sweat dripping. Before he could answer, Gou Dan loudly demanded a chicken leg too.

Whenever a chicken was slaughtered, he always got the drumstick—how could Gou Sheng eat it?

“Gou Dan, if you keep whining, you’ll eat outside,” the village chief said, handing him a drumstick with chopsticks. “Eat properly.”

Then he respectfully answered Li Qingling’s question: Gou Sheng hadn’t gone to school because he was too young.

Li Qingling glanced at Gou Dan, who was wolfing down his food, then looked at the village chief. At what age does a child go to school?

The village chief understood her meaning and stammered, unsure what to say.

“Ten fingers have different lengths; showing favoritism is normal. But if it’s excessive, that’s not good,” Li Qingling said coldly, picking up a piece of fish for Gou Sheng. “Village chief, what do you say?”

“You are right, madam,” he replied.

Li Qingling then turned to the village chief’s eldest son. “Filial piety is good, but blind obedience is not. Remember, besides being a son, you are also a husband and father.”

The eldest son’s eyes reddened. He nodded, remembering her words. He realized that over the years, he had let his wife and children suffer.

“Sorry, my wife just recalled past events and got a little emotional,” Liu Zhimou said in time. “Her grandparents’ excessive favoritism caused my parents-in-law to die early. That’s why she can’t help but speak up when she sees this happening.”

The village chief felt relieved hearing Liu Zhimou’s explanation.

He looked at his eldest son, thinking he should restrain his wife and not let her show favoritism. He didn’t want his eldest son to grow apart from them.

“Madam, did you… have a particularly hard life before?” Gou Sheng asked, gripping Li Qingling’s hand and looking up at her. “Did the magistrate treat you well?”

“If he didn’t, what would you do?” Li Qingling teased.

Gou Sheng clenched his fist, glanced at Liu Zhimou, and said, “If he doesn’t treat you well, don’t go home—stay at my house. I… I’ll protect you.”

“Little one, how will you protect my wife, hmm?”

“I… I’ll grow up and become a high official, and protect madam!” Gou Sheng said bravely.

“Gou Sheng, you…” the eldest son was a bit startled and wanted him to apologize.

Liu Zhimou raised a hand, stopping him. “Alright, I’ll wait.”

Li Qingling smiled, patting Gou Sheng’s head. “Be good. I’m teasing you! The magistrate and I were engaged since childhood, grew up together, and have a good relationship.” She paused. “But we do hope you’ll become a high official one day.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Gou Sheng exhaled in relief. He had really worried that the magistrate mistreated Madam.

Li Qingling chuckled at his expression, then gave him some vegetables. She turned to the village chief, saying Gou Sheng was a clever child and should not be delayed—he must be sent to school as soon as possible.

Before the village chief could respond, the second son complained bitterly that they had no money.

Li Qingling cast a sharp look at him. “If that’s the case, why can Gou Dan go to school? No money? Then none of the children should go.”

“Erzhu, shut up!” the village chief scolded his second son. “Madam, don’t worry. We’ll send Gou Sheng to school.”

Hearing this, Gou Sheng’s eyes widened, asking repeatedly if it was true.

He really wanted to go to school, but…

The village chief smiled. “It’s true.”

No matter what, he couldn’t oppose the village chief. If he sent Gou Sheng to school, no one could stop him.

Seeing his son so happy, the eldest son felt a pang of guilt. He had been useless and let his son suffer.

“Grandma won’t agree to you going,” Gou Dan said, interrupting while eating. “She won’t give you money to go to school.”

“Erzhu, take Gou Dan outside,” the village chief said angrily. He felt utterly humiliated watching Gou Dan stuff his face.

“I… I won’t go! I’m not done eating!” Gou Dan refused, grabbing chicken and stuffing it into his mouth.

Even Ma County Deputy felt Gou Dan had no manners and put down his chopsticks, losing his appetite.

“Village chief, my four sons aren’t as unruly as your grandson. Children need to be taught. If not, they’ll cause trouble for themselves and others. Honestly, I’ve disciplined my four sons a lot,” Liu Zhimou said.

The village chief, numb from embarrassment, admitted he had neglected this before and would properly educate his grandson in the future.

He looked at the second son, telling him to take Gou Dan outside.

The second son dared not argue and hurriedly led the crying Gou Dan out.

The second daughter-in-law ran out from the kitchen hearing the cries, asking what happened.

“What happened? Look at the son you raised—he embarrassed himself in front of the magistrate,” the second son said, pushing Gou Dan toward his mother. Why couldn’t he be clever like Gou Sheng and try to please Madam?

“What?” the village chief’s wife panicked. “Erzhu, did the magistrate get angry? He won’t punish our family, right?”

The second son, frustrated, shook his sleeve. “How would I know?”

He hurried inside to apologize to Liu Zhimou and the others, hoping they wouldn’t be angry.

But to his surprise, Liu Zhimou and the others were already standing.

“Magistrate, are you full so quickly?”

Liu Zhimou nodded. “Thank you for your hospitality.” With Gou Dan causing a scene, they no longer felt like eating. Better to inspect Wutong Village’s land and then return home.

The second son tried to politely persuade them to stay longer, saying there were still things to discuss.

Liu Zhimou declined and started to leave.

The village chief tugged at his second son’s hand, warning him not to speak recklessly.

After the warning, he quickly followed.

Outside the courtyard, Li Qingling patted Gou Sheng’s head lightly, giving him a few reminders before turning to leave.