How Could I Resist His Madness and Charm [Transmigration] - Chapter 9

On the day the small school began its lessons, Qinglian brought along a dark-skinned girl, introducing her as her older sister, Qingcao.

Qingcao was shy by nature, her fingers calloused from labor. She adamantly refused to touch the brand-new books, waving her hands and saying, “I’ll dirty them.”

Luo Yan took the sisters by the hand and sat them down, gesturing toward Liu Changsheng, who was tossing a book around playfully. “That book has already fallen to the ground twice, who could possibly make it dirtier than him?”

With this comparison, Qingcao finally relaxed a little. She carefully opened the title page and softly read, “Three?”

“Three Character Classic,” Luo Yan said, her eyes lighting up. “So, you can read!”

“Mother taught me a few characters when I was little.”

Luo Yan had heard a little about the Liu family’s situation and guessed that Aunt Cui had been educated before her marriage. After marrying, she became too busy with daily chores to teach her daughters.

But for Luo Yan, this was already a pleasant surprise. As she ground the ink, she sighed, “Originally, only Guyu was willing to learn. Now with Qingcao here, I’m truly overjoyed.”

Jia Yufang pushed two square tables together and set up a stand for tea and pastries.

Luo Yan stood in the center, placing Qingcao and her sister on her left, while Zhu Yun and Guyu sat on her right. The uninterested Changsheng siblings and the too-young Guyang stood opposite.

She signaled Zhu Yun to distribute paper and brushes, then took out the teaching materials she had prepared and announced clearly, “Today, we’ll start by learning numbers.”

First numbers, then roof tiles, cattle, and sheep, followed by sky, clouds, thunder, and rain. After covering everyday objects, they would move on to characters found in land deeds and personal contracts.

This was actually her grandmother’s suggestion.

Having served in the Luo household for decades, her grandmother believed that reciting poetry had little to do with the lives of common folk. But if one could keep accounts and read contracts, they would not only earn the favor of the mistress in charge of household management but also avoid being deceived.

Luo Yan wholeheartedly agreed with this, especially since her own knowledge was limited to a few dozen classical texts, she couldn’t teach anything more advanced anyway.

…

Guyang, being young, chewed on his brush after writing just a couple of strokes. Liu Changsheng was sweating profusely but, under Luo Yan’s stern gaze, obediently continued tracing.

The most outstanding was Guyu, who had previously practiced with his older brother’s old books, his brushstrokes were steady and confident.

Luo Yan then glanced at the distracted Zhu Yun and noticed he had finished writing early. Though his handwriting was still childish, his memory was undeniably sharp.

Qinglian and Changyi gradually leaned toward each other, exchanging worried glances. Fortunately, Qingcao remained completely focused, writing her characters as small as possible to fit more practice on the page.

Seeing that it was about time, Luo Yan said, “Students who are tired may have a snack now. Those who aren’t tired can bring their chairs over and continue writing slowly.”

With so many people, there wasn’t enough seating, but once only Guyu and Qingcao remained, the shed suddenly felt spacious.

Zhu Yun also made to leave but was caught by Luo Yan. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“…”

Just because he could remember the characters didn’t mean he enjoyed it, if he could slip away, he would.

“You’re not allowed to leave,” Luo Yan said, spreading open the Three Character Classic. “I know you find this too easy. How about learning from this instead?”

Zhu Yun glanced at the grinning Liu Changsheng and replied impatiently, “Why should I?”

She retorted confidently, “Because if you go out to play, I won’t be able to sit still either. But I’m the teacher, how can I leave before my students?”

“Fine.” Zhu Yun pulled over a chair and sat down, staring intently at Guyu, who was bent over his practice.

Beads of sweat formed on Guyu’s forehead.

He turned to scare Qingcao again, but Luo Yan grabbed his face with both hands and forcibly turned it back. “Big brother, I won’t force you to study anymore, alright?”

The girl’s palms were soft and warm, and Zhu Yun instantly froze as if under an immobilization spell. When he regained his senses, he subtly broke free, holding up the “Three Character Classic” to block their view of each other, and said in a muffled voice, “Go on, teach me.”

“?”

Whatever. It wasn’t the first time she’d witnessed him going back on his word.

Luo Yan snatched the book back, slowing her pace as she read it to him. After just two repetitions, Zhu Yun had already memorized it.

Just as she was about to teach the next page, Qingcao stood up. “Sister Yan, I should go.”

She still had farm work to do at home. Luo Yan took out a cloth bag she had prepared in advance and walked her to the fork in the road. “These are some things I’ve used before. Take them back to play with. Also, thank Aunt Cui for the pancakes for me.”

Qingcao was only thirteen and easy to placate. Hearing they were old items, she accepted them without hesitation.

Luo Yan, worried she might overexert herself, admonished her like a little adult, “Once it gets dark, no more reading. Don’t strain your eyes.”

Hearing this, Zhu Yun, who had followed behind, exposed her, “And who’s the one who insists on reading storybooks late into the night, refusing to stop even if eight oxen tried to drag her away?”

“Keep your voice down!” Luo Yan shot a quick glance at Qingcao, who was already walking away, then turned back and kicked him. “You’re so annoying. You should protect your teacher’s reputation in public.”

Guyu also stepped out of the shed, his face flushed, and said, “I want to go skip stones.”

Zhu Yun, as if he had expected it, took Luo Yan’s hand and headed toward the stream. “Alright, now we can finally take a break.”

“Did you tell Guyu to say that?”

“Ask him.”

Guyu waved his hands in a panic. “I said it on my own, really.”

Luo Yan: “…”

Liu Changsheng had already gathered a pile of flat stones and, seeing them approach, let out a monkey-like cheer, boasting, “My stones can skip two or three times!”

Gu Yang couldn’t throw far and looked to his older brother for help.

Guyu looked troubled. Just as he was about to say he didn’t know how, Luo Yan teased, “Since you wanted to play, you must be really good at it.”

“Watch me.” Zhu Yun pulled her back to his side, flicked his right wrist, and sent a stone flying. It skipped seven times across the water before sinking. He curled his lips smugly but feigned regret. “My aim’s off today.”

In Luo Yan’s opinion, if he had a tail, it would be wagging up to the sky by now.

“Let me try.”

She picked the smoothest stone from Liu Changsheng’s “collection” and imitated his motion, managing four skips.

Liu Changsheng: “…”

It had to be the stone’s fault. He vowed never to lend another one to Luo Yan.

“Stingy.” Luo Yan found a stone on her own and turned to Zhu Yun. “Quick, teach me.”

Zhu Yun stepped forward, took her hand, pulled it back slightly, and then threw it. The stone skipped eleven times before sinking into the water.

Everyone stared in amazement, clapping and cheering until Luo Yan couldn’t stop grinning.

Liu Changsheng, left with an armful of stones and nowhere to put them, nearly gritted his teeth in frustration. He swore to himself that he would practice in secret and amaze the entire village.

…

The rainy season had officially begun. With barbecues and fishing out of the question, everyone stayed in the Jia family’s shed after school each day.

A while ago, Liu Changsheng had gone to town with his father to deliver goods and brought back a few popular storybooks for Luo Yan. She became so engrossed in them that she stopped playing chess, lounging lazily in the rattan chair instead.

Zhu Yun, now well-trained by her, found winning too easy and let Guyu take his place. He then picked up a martial arts manual and sat down beside Luo Yan.

He still struggled with writing, but he had already memorized many characters, allowing him to finally pick up the dust-covered secret manuals and study them slowly. Whenever he encountered obscure or difficult passages, he would nudge Luo Yan with his elbow.

Little did he expect that Luo Yan, completely engrossed in her book, would pout so deeply after being disturbed twice that one could practically hang an oil bottle from her lips.

Zhu Yun sneered, “What earth-shattering story could possibly be worth such devotion?”

Flushing at his remark, she split the book in half and placed one part on his lap, lowering her voice as she explained, “It’s about a scholar who takes shelter from the rain in a dilapidated temple and meets a wealthy young lady who is actually a fox spirit in disguise. The lady is so moved by the scholar that she gives him silver to fund his journey to the imperial exams. Over time, the two fall in love and marry. I haven’t read beyond that yet…”

A rather ordinary story, far less dramatic than the tales of love and vengeance from the martial world.

He flipped through it casually, unable to grasp what made it so captivating. Yet, it seemed to have completely enchanted some people, who couldn’t tear their eyes away from it.

Noticing his disdain, Luo Yan retorted defensively, “A gentle scholar paired with a spoiled young lady, how sweet! And the scholar is truly wonderful. He remembers everything his wife says and defends her even when others suspect she’s a demon.”

Zhu Yun’s face remained impassive, clearly conveying the message, “What does that have to do with me?”

Reluctantly, she closed the book and said, “Fine, you just want me to play with you. Chess or Werewolf?”

“Chess.”

Guyu, who had been dragged into the game only to be dismissed immediately, thought to himself, “…”

Luo Yan glanced at the unfamiliar cultivation manual and asked casually, “Have you finished reading the previous ones? Any parts you don’t understand?”

“None,” Zhu Yun replied with a proud expression.

She immediately praised him, “You’re amazing! You’re the smartest student I’ve ever taught.”

Just then, Liu Changyi heard a faint, listless meow and quickly tugged at Luo Yan’s sleeve. “Sister Yan.”

Zhu Yun, with his keen hearing, knew the sound came from the corner of the courtyard gate and informed them, “There are two stray cats sheltering from the rain under the eaves.”

“Cats!” Luo Yan sprang to her feet. “Take me to see them quickly!”

“…”

Was there anything she didn’t like?

But the rain was heavy, so Zhu Yun didn’t let her follow. Instead, he went alone with an umbrella and returned carrying two cats, one large and one small.

The larger cat, wary of strangers, dashed away as soon as it touched the ground. The smaller one stumbled around, unable even to make it past the long table.

Qingcao crushed some pastries, trying to feed the kitten, while Qinglian muttered, “It probably only eats mice.”

Sure enough, the kitten sniffed the offering, then turned away indifferently and collapsed on the table, refusing to move.

Zhu Yun had no interest in the matter, but Luo Yan was clearly captivated. She broke off a blade of grass to tease the kitten, calling out, “Here, kitty, kitty.”

He examined it patiently. “It’s probably only one or two months old.”

“It’s so tiny!”

Guyu, whose family made a living from hunting, was the closest to an expert among them. He picked up the kitten and observed, “It’s too young. It won’t be easy to keep alive.”

The girls’ eyes welled up with tears at his words.

Fortunately, Luo Yan had a backup plan. She called for Jia Yufang and pleaded hopefully, “Grandmother, do you have any way to save it?”

Jia Yufang had no solution either, but not wanting to disappoint the children, she agreed to help.

It was time for everyone to head home. Luo Yan stroked the kitten and said to her equally worried friends, “Once it’s settled in a couple of days, I’ll invite you over to play.”

“I’ll start by feeding it some meat broth,” Jia Yufang said, wiping the kitten dry with a clean cloth as she pondered. “Since the mother cat is still around, we can leave some meat outside. Once she’s eaten her fill, she’ll naturally nurse her kitten.”

Luo Yan let out a relieved sigh and leaned closer to Zhu Yun, grinning as she said, “A-Yun, A-Yun, when I found you, it was almost the same as today. You and Mimi are quite fated, aren’t you?”

He inexplicably grew irritated at her words: “You pick up everything and insist on keeping them all.”

“?”

Jia Yufang, however, understood the situation and laughingly urged them to build a nest to avoid another argument.

Zhu Yun gathered a few pieces of dry wood, smoothed them with a dagger, and assembled a simple bed frame. Paired with bedding made from old fabric, it looked quite presentable.

Suddenly struck by inspiration, Luo Yan pointed at Zhu Yun and declared, “Big Brother.”

Then she pointed at herself, “Second Sister.”

Finally, she pointed at the kitten, “Then let’s call her Third Sister.”