"Come on, tell me honestly. Did you two have a hand in what just happened?"
Lady Lu rubbed her temples.
Sometimes, it wasn't necessarily a good thing for kids to be too smart.
"Mother, just now, Cousin Chengxian insulted Chaochao! He said Chaochao was just a bastard born to a concubine and that he was so naughty that he even threw stones at the fish in the lotus pond!" Lu Yuanyi preemptively accused.
"He also deliberately bumped into Aunt Shishu and Chengxian even lifted the skirt of a cleaning maid! What a shameless guy!" Lu Chao chimed in.
Lady Lu was both angry and amused.
"So, you two instigated them to lift the skirts of your Second Uncle and Second Aunt?"
Lu Chao nodded guiltily.
"After this lesson, I guess they won't dare to lift anyone's skirt again in the future."
"Then your Second Uncle and Second Aunt should really thank you two."
Lu Chao and Lu Yuanyi shivered as they looked at Lady Lu, who was speaking in a sarcastic tone.
"If there had been outsiders here today, do you know what they would have said?"
Lady Lu spread her hands.
"They would have said that the Lu Family lacked proper upbringing, and that the younger generation dared to lift the skirts of female relatives in public, which was simply disgraceful. And the news would have spread far and wide. Wherever you went, you'd be laughed at because you're members of the Lu Family. Your Second Uncle and Second Aunt don't often meet outsiders. So, who do you think would be most affected?"
The two kids were quick to understand and hung their heads dejectedly. Lady Lu's anger subsided a bit.
"Don't think that just because you're a bit smart, you can act recklessly and always try to prove who's right and who's wrong. Do you understand?"
Lu Chao nodded sincerely. Lady Lu was indeed right. The so - called "nine - clan punishment" was no joke. A family rose and fell together. In the future, he should be more cautious.
"However, there's one thing you did right today. When you're bullied outside, if the bully is too powerful, just stay away from them. But if it's someone on par with our family, you should stand up for yourselves. A real man shouldn't be too weak."
"Moreover, you actually did me a big favor today. Your Second Uncle and Second Aunt wanted Chengyin to live in the mansion and study with you. Thanks to what happened today, your father flatly refused. It's not that I'm being stingy, but your cousin's personality is really worrying. If he goes to school and accidentally hurts other kids without knowing his own strength, I'll be in a really awkward position."
Lady Lu leisurely waved her fan. Having gotten rid of a big headache, she felt it was worth having a couple of drinks. Then she ordered,
"Nanny Liu, warm up my plum wine."
"Also warm up my plum syrup!"
Lu Yuanyi waved his hand in an imposing manner, which made the maids waiting on the side cover their mouths and giggle.
"Also heat up Chaochao's milk tea. Tonight, the three of us will have a little drink."
Lu Chao's eyes sparkled. He looked at the gentle Lady Lu and the mischievous Lu Yuanyi, and then grinned.
"It's a pity that Big Brother is at the county school. Otherwise, we could all drink together!" Lu Yuanyi said with a tinge of regret.
After passing the prefectural school exam, Lu Yuanzhao entered the county school. He could only come home once every ten days. It was more intense than the college entrance examination in modern times.
Lady Lu originally planned to send someone to deliver meals to him every day, but Lu Yuanzhao refused. The teachers at the county school didn't like students who were overly indulgent. Besides, the food in the school cafeteria wasn't too bad. So, he decided to live and eat with his classmates.
"Only a few more days, and Big Brother will be back!" Lu Chao counted the days on his fingers.
Lu Yuanzhao was a steady - tempered person and was very kind to him and Lu Yuanyi. Besides often guiding them with their studies, he would also bring them some small gadgets from outside. Lu Chao really liked this elder brother.
Sure enough, a few days later, Lu Chao saw his long - unseen elder brother.
But why had Lu Yuanzhao lost so much weight?
His originally lean figure had become even more gaunt, and his eyes seemed to be covered with a layer of dust, no longer bright.
