“Hold out your hand.” Xu Wan interrupted his words, not falling for his ruse.
The little troublemaker: “…”
Zong Jincheng was looking quite sulky but still pouted and obediently stretched out his hand.
Getting punished was just part of being a son. Every son gets spanked by their mother at some point. Being scolded and hit was a sign of a close mother-son relationship. Not everyone understood that.
On the other side, He Zheng also obediently stretched out his hand, which made Zong Wenxiu’s mouth twitch. At least he was willing to share the burden.
Both boys held out their hands correctly, and Xu Wan examined their palms, seemingly weighing which part to strike and with what force.
The little troublemaker tried to argue his case: “Hit me if you must, I’m not holding a grudge. But at least tell me what I did wrong. I really can’t figure it out.”
He Zheng chimed in, “Auntie, you can hit me too, but can you smack my butt? My dad always hits there. I’m not afraid of getting hit, but I’m worried about injuring my hand and not being able to turn book pages properly.”
Zong Wenxiu: “…”
There’s no need to be that studious.
Xu Wan said woodenly, “Hold out your left hand.”
The two boys slowly switched hands…
The feather duster came down with a loud crack, and the two brothers immediately howled in pain, but surprisingly, neither of them ran away. Previously, when the little troublemaker was punished, Cui Liu had to hold him down.
After hitting them, Xu Wan asked, “Does it hurt?”
He Zheng was about to say it didn’t hurt as much as when his dad hit him, but seeing his older brother nodding vigorously, he quickly joined in, nodding like a little chick pecking at grain.
Xu Wan’s anger subsided a bit and she lectured them, “It’s not that I don’t allow you to play with firecrackers. You can set them off in the courtyard, but this stuff is so dangerous. How could you hold it in your hands? If you hadn’t thrown it quickly enough, or if a firecracker had exploded on your hands or face, do you know how painful that would feel? Do you still want to write? Would you like your face to be all scarred up? Think about how ugly that would be!”
Xu Wan delivered her spiel, and the two boys listened intently, imagining the horrific scenario she painted. It did sound pretty scary…
“Auntie, I’m sorry!” He Zheng immediately apologized.
The little troublemaker: “??”
Why are you so quick about it? I haven’t even finished thinking yet!
“I… I also know I was wrong.” The little troublemaker stammered.
Xu Wan looked at him, her expression a mix of anger and amusement.
The kid had good intentions, wanting to surprise her on New Year’s Day with a blast of fireworks, but he hadn’t fully grasped the risks and almost gave his poor mother a heart attack.
“Cui Zhi, go get the medicine.”
“Yes.” Cui Zhi replied.
The little troublemaker looked at his left palm. It was a bit red but not swollen or broken, much lighter than the time Cui Liu had punished him. He mumbled uncomfortably, “I don’t think I need the medicine. It doesn’t look that bad.”
“Come here.”
“Oh.”
Xu Wan applied the medicine to the little troublemaker’s hand, holding his palm with one hand and gently dabbing the medicine with the other. “Let me know if it hurts.”
“Oh.” The little troublemaker was feeling pretty pleased with himself.
He wouldn’t complain, not him. This little pain was nothing.
Zong Jincheng, letting her apply the medicine, couldn’t stop staring at her. Since it was still early morning, she hadn’t had the chance to apply makeup or draw her eyebrows, making her look much gentler than usual, not at all fierce.
This was what having a mother felt like…
When you got hurt, she’d give you medicine, and she could be so gentle.
The little troublemaker was already thinking, why did we only get hit on one hand? If we had both been hit, I could’ve stayed for a longer treatment.
While Xu Wan was applying medicine to his hand, Zong Wenxiu was doing the same for He Zheng, and the little troublemaker was even more satisfied, secretly overjoyed.
She only applied medicine to me alone. She must love me the most. I’m her only son, and I’m her most cherished person!
“Alright, go play. On New Year’s, don’t bother with books. You can study again tomorrow.” Xu Wan instructed.
“Got it, Auntie.”
“Understood, Aunt.”
“Understood… Mother.”
The three kids left the courtyard, and Xu Wan went back to freshen up and apply makeup. Zong Jincheng, walking out, kept glancing back and staring at her back.
He Zheng asked beside him, “Jincheng, is there something else you want to do?”
The little troublemaker shook his head and pondered silently for a while before asking, “What do you call your mother?”
“Huh?” He Zheng was a bit confused. “Of course, I call her 'Mother,' just like that. Isn’t that how it’s done?”
The little troublemaker pouted. “Why don’t you call her 'Mother' instead? That sounds more respectful, no?”
“But that doesn’t sound very close, does it? Calling her 'Mother' feels off. Wenxiu, Wei Xinglu, and even my brothers all call her 'Mother,' so I just follow suit.” He Zheng was even more bewildered. Why is the older brother asking this?
“Your brothers…” The little troublemaker mulled over it and suddenly had an idea.
Right! He could go along with his brother and his second aunt. When his brother called her 'Mother,' he could follow suit and change his own address to 'Mother.' Nobody would notice!
Zong Jincheng felt extremely clever, thinking of this brilliant tactic that would go unnoticed. I truly am a genius, blessed by destiny—a heavenly scholar!
Without delay, the little troublemaker happily looped his arm around Zong Wenxiu’s. “Brother, brother, let’s go find Second Aunt. I want to go on a boat ride.”
“Huh? Go out this early? Everyone hasn’t even had breakfast yet.”
“Oh right, right. Then let’s eat quickly. After breakfast, we’ll go together for a boat ride.”
Zong Jincheng had it all planned out. Once on the boat, his brother would definitely talk to Second Aunt and might address her as 'Mother,' and at that moment, he’d follow his brother’s lead, making it very natural!
As for He Zheng…
“Brother, I have a rare book that I can lend you for a day.” Zong Jincheng began fabricating.
He Zheng exclaimed happily, “That’s fantastic, Jincheng! You’re the best brother!”
The little troublemaker: Done deal.
After morning greetings with the elders on New Year’s Day, the two mothers took the two kids to Qingbo Lake for a boat ride.
Along the way, Xu Wan asked, “Didn’t we tell He Zheng not to study today? Why isn’t he coming?”
The little troublemaker lied with a straight face, “He’s feeling pressure and wants to study more to catch up to us. He even wants to take the child scholar exam for experience.”
Xu Wan merely said, “Oh. Then it’s basically hopeless for him to pass. At most, he’ll get some exam experience.”
The little troublemaker nodded eagerly, “Right, we should respect his efforts.”
Xu Wan: “…”
You suddenly showing so much compassion is unsettling.
Little rascal, are you plotting something again?
Xu Wan thought about it and decided it probably wasn’t anything major. The little troublemaker was quite clingy with her these days, always wanting to eat or go out with her. In between studying, they even played chuiwan†, and he’d show off, flaunting how amazing he was.
This boastful little boy with an attitude of supreme confidence…
