How can someone travel through time and space and become a beggar?

Chapter 169

Xia Chu didn't let Cuihua and Cuiya go with her. She saw that the other ladies didn't bring their own, and she didn't know why, but it didn't matter whether they did or not. She and Jia Wanqing were walking together, and Jia Wanqing suddenly said, "Cousin, why are you so brave?"

She lowered her head, and Xia Chu couldn't see her expression. After thinking for a moment, she replied, "I wouldn't call it brave. I just don't like to indulge someone like Tian Mi'er."

"Then aren't you worried?" Jia Wanqing raised her head. "Aren't you worried that she'll complain, that your aunt will blame you, that your teacher will criticize you?"

Would a child of Jia Wanqing's age have so many concerns when doing things?

Xia Chu was a little puzzled, but she believed in enjoying herself first and then dealing with the problem. It was certainly not easy to explain to such a child, but she knew her own limitations and wouldn't act rashly. She carefully considered her words and said, "I haven't done anything wrong, so why would Mother blame me? If the teacher criticizes me without asking any questions, then let her be. It goes in one ear and out the other. Irrational people can't teach me anything."

Is that so? Jia Wanqing fell silent, thinking of her mother. She didn't blame her mother, but it was hard for her to agree with her actions. It was just like what she'd overheard her grandfather say about her brother, who had been taught the wrong way. He was at an age when he should be free, yet he was hesitant to act. To put it nicely, he was gentle and cautious; to put it bluntly, he was too soft.

She was very sad at the time, and later her father sent her brother to live in the academy. It was not far away, but he would not let him come back and only let her eldest brother take care of him.

The mother was reluctant, but she did not dare to resist her father's decision, not even to raise any objections.

Jia Wanqing felt sorry for her mother. She was a concubine's daughter. Her biological mother had died in childbirth, and she was raised under the mistress's name. She had suffered countless injustices since childhood, which had shaped her personality. But she also hoped her mother would stand up straighter. Even if she couldn't protect her, she wouldn't hold her back.

The two met Jia Wanlin and Tian Mier walking one after the other halfway. Tian Mier snorted triumphantly at Xia Chu, pushed Jia Wanqing aside and walked ahead.

It looks more and more like a fighting cock, except that it's missing a comb on its head.

In the afternoon, it was cultural class: reading and writing. At first, Xia Chu felt the novelty of returning to her school days, but soon she found it dull. She glanced up at Jiang Tunan, who was sitting above her, and spread out a fresh sheet of paper. She began to think about a new song, but scratched her head, unable to find inspiration. This caught Jiang Tunan's attention, and she quietly walked around behind Xia Chu, wanting to see which word was causing her so much trouble.

When I got closer, I saw some writing on it. It was a piece of music, but there were only a few notes, and I couldn't tell what song it was.

Everyone else noticed Master Jiang looking at Xia Chu, but the woman herself was completely oblivious. She was simply emptying her mind, humming various tunes in her head.

Jia Wanqing wanted to remind him, but because Master Jiang was too close, she stamped her feet in anxiety.

Xia Chu didn't notice at all and was still immersed in the musical world in her own mind.

Seeing that she hadn't noticed yet, Jiang Tunan asked, "What are you writing?"

"Write a new song..." Xia Chu raised her head and met Jiang Tunan's half-smile, and laughed awkwardly twice. "Master Jiang."

"You can compose music?" Jiang Tunan raised an eyebrow in surprise, then realized that this was a classroom and jokingly said, "Writing is too boring?"

"No." Xia Chu put the paper at the bottom and took out the paper with a few words written on it. The handwriting was unbearable to read.

Jiang Tunan closed his eyes for a moment, puzzled as to how such a beautiful girl could write so poorly. The music she'd just seen was better than this, at least passable. "Practice more. I don't need to write beautifully, but at least it'll be acceptable."

Xia Chu knew her handwriting was ugly, and she'd only dared to show her music to Li Yun and the others after her second brother had copied it. She thought of Li Yun, who had left in such a hurry, barely able to say goodbye to her friends. She wondered if they'd forgotten her. How were her music books selling at the bookstore? I wondered if no one was interested.

Her thoughts wandered again, and she returned her attention to the paper beneath her. The brush was too difficult to use; writing beautifully was difficult. Zhang Zhou had tried to get her to practice before, but she'd gotten away with it by playing coquettishly and pretending to be deaf.

It’s enough to recognize what the characters are, there’s no need to write poems or inscriptions on them.

"Relax your wrist, don't tense it too much." Jiang Tunan reminded gently, and she also said a few things to pay attention to when holding a pen for the first time.

Tian Mier scoffed at this, but didn't say anything. After class, she wandered over to Xia Chu's desk and picked up the written paper. "My handwriting was better than this when I was four years old, Madam Wang, haven't you ever written before?"

"What does it have to do with you?" Jia Wanqing snatched it back and glared at Tian Mier.

"You are very arrogant today, Jia Wanqing." Tian Mier said unhappily.

"Are there any classes later?" After writing for a long time, Xia Chu felt sore and tired, and wanted to go back.

"Are you feeling unwell?" Jia Wanlin stepped forward and asked, "Danqing will be there soon."

Danqing, in the beginning of summer, six of the seven orifices were open, and none of them were open. "The flies are giving me a headache, and I want to go back."

"Herpes flies?" Jia Wanqing looked up and around. "No?"

"It's cold out now, so there shouldn't be any." Jia Wanlin followed suit, but she saw Tian Mi'er standing next to her. She looked unhappy and asked why Jia Wanqing didn't reply. Suddenly, she understood what Xia Chu meant and burst out laughing.

"I'm talking to you guys, don't you have any manners?" Tian Mi'er continued, "Jia Wanlin, what are you laughing at?"

Jia Wanlin turned a deaf ear and continued to say to Xia Chu, "Then you go back? I'll just tell Master Jiang."

"Okay, let's go back." Xia Chu collected the papers on the table and turned around and left.

"Huh? Just leaving like that?" Jia Wanqing was a little reluctant.

"Hey, I haven't finished talking yet!" Tian Mi'er took two steps after him. "Are you angry because of shame? Have you really never read anything?"

She turned around and sneered, "I forgot to ask, where did you find this blind cousin? She's never read a book and can't even write. And you actually brought her here to take classes with me? Aren't you ashamed?"

Jia Wanlin wanted to keep the peace, but then she thought about what she had said to her mother at noon. Unable to endure it any longer, she stepped forward and approached Tian Mier, "This is the Jia family. Do I need your permission to let me teach you?"

Tian Mi'er wasn't tall, more than half a head shorter than Jia Wanlin. Jia Wanlin's sudden approach completely enveloped her, his expression serious and his gaze piercing, unlike anything she'd ever seen. He even resembled an angry aunt. Tian Mi'er's throat seemed to be clogged, and she couldn't utter a word.

Jia Wanqing's eyes seemed to sparkle, casting a beam of light directly at Jia Wanlin. The admiration in her eyes was almost overflowing. This big sister has such an imposing aura! She's like an aunt!

"Wanqing, let's go." Jia Wanlin's heart was pounding. She had just subconsciously imitated her mother's usual way of scolding the servants. Unexpectedly, she immediately stunned Tian Mier and left the classroom. She couldn't suppress the smile on her face, and even jumped up and down twice.

"Sister?" Jia Wanqing looked at her in shock.