Chapter 134: Chapter 134: Xiao Jingran Teaches His Siblings
The pair of siblings jumped in fright.
They stiffly turned around to find Xiao Jingran smiling kindly at them. The latter raised his eyebrows, waiting for an explanation.
Xiao Yuxi and Xiao Fenghao nudged each other, urging the other to explain first.
"Er... um... it’s nothing, Eldest Brother." Xiao Yuxi muttered. Her eyes gleamed with a hint of cunning. "Second Brother wants to say something to you."
Xiao Fenghao whipped his head at her, the look on his face screamed as though he was accusing her as a traitor.
"Hao’er?" Xiao Jingran raised his eyebrows at his younger brother as he leaned on the wall behind him.
"Actually, Xi’er–"
Xiao Yuxi hurriedly covered Xiao Fenghao’s mouth and sent a stiff smile to Xiao Jingran’s direction.
Then, she had a flash of inspiration.
Actually, if they wanted to find the best teacher to teach them martial arts... isn’t their eldest brother actually the best person?
In order to make him capable of protecting himself, Physician Bai had hired several talented martial arts teachers for Xiao Jingran. He had truly regarded the latter as his own family member.
Compared to paying some random teacher they found at the county, they could try to ask him.
She believed that Xiao Jingran wouldn’t tell their mother as long as they begged him not to. After all, besides his occasional stern nature, he was actually a very helpful and responsible brother.
"Eldest Brother," she cleared her throat and released her palm from Xiao Fenghao’s mouth. "You are so talented at martial arts. How about you teach us instead?"
She was rather nervous. When she lifted her head, their eyes met, and she subconsciously wanted to explain further. "I-I also want to protect myself!"
"Eldest Brother, you don’t know, when–" her voice was cut off.
"Alright." Xiao Jingran agreed.
"Huh?" It was Xiao Yuxi’s turn to be stunned. It was so easy?
Xiao Fenghao had an indescribable look on his face. He had a very mixed feeling... because he could already imagine how Xiao Jingran would teach them.
In contrast to his conflicted feeling, Xiao Yuxi jumped in joy.
"Really, Eldest Brother? Really?" Xiao Yuxi asked again to make sure. Once she received his affirmation, she bounced around again.
Then, she stopped. "But... don’t tell Mother about this, Eldest Brother. You and Second Brother might get scolded."
Xiao Jingran was a little surprised. "Scolded?"
She nodded seriously. "Don’t you think it’s too unladylike?"
They were living in the ancient times where women’s virtue meant they had to serve their husband instead of learning unusual things like fighting. It applied to every woman, no matter their status.
Xiao Jingran understood Xiao Yuxi’s hesitation.
However, ever since his master often brought him travelling, it had broadened his horizon. He got to see various cultures and people’s lives.
He realized something important.
The way Zhou Anran raised them was unlike any other household. She actually gave them a lot of freedom, and sometimes her way of thinking was unlike women of their era.
Xiao Jingran glanced at Xiao Yuxi again. His sister perhaps didn’t realize that their mother already saw through her a long time ago. She just didn’t expose her. After all, she was the one who raised them.
Xiao Yuxi’s worry was completely unnecessary.
"So what if they think it’s unladylike?" Xiao Jingran raised his eyebrows. "Are people’s opinions going to stop you?"
Xiao Yuxi was taken aback. She scratched the back of her head and then shook her head vehemently.
How could she stop just because of some people’s opinions? She didn’t get to beat up that scoundrel Zhou Shiming yet.
"Of course not. Don’t worry, Eldest Brother, I will learn seriously." Xiao Yuxi promised.
However, the next day, after they finished working at the field and finally learned martial arts from Xiao Jingran.
"Eldest Brother, are you sure you are not trying to torture us instead?" Xiao Yuxi collapsed on the grassy lawn, fanning herself as she gasped for breath.
The others beside her weren’t better off. When Sun Tiezhu and his younger brothers saw what the Xiao siblings were doing, they also requested to join in.
Xiao Jingran had told them to run dozens of times around the house and the barn, wearing sacks filled with sand on each of their feet.
He let out a low chuckle. "What? Giving up already?"
Xiao Fenghao snorted. "Of course not. If someone gives up, it will definitely not be me."
At this moment, Xiao Yuxi jumped up, almost falling down because she forgot the weight on her feet.
Fortunately, Sun Tiezhu was close, and the latter helped her to steady herself. Xiao Yuxi coughed in embarrassment. She muttered a small thanks before she turned to face Xiao Fenghao.
"Second Brother, you are not insinuating I will give up, are you?" She narrowed her eyes.
"Did I mention a person’s name?" Xiao Fenghao retorted.
Sun Tiezhu’s two younger brothers were still rather young, but they were also quite lively. Seeing the Xiao siblings’s banter, they joined in and told everyone they also wouldn’t give up excitedly.
Xiao Jingran was more tolerant of them and didn’t make them run as much as everyone else.
The adults were in the fields. Seeing that there wasn’t much to do, they let the children stay at home.
Xiao Qingya was sitting on her small chair, occasionally cheering for her siblings when they passed by. The Ling siblings also floated by her side, telling her gossip they just found.
[The Deputy Magistrate is actually from a noble family in the previous dynasty?] Xiao Qingya asked them.
Ling Bo nodded. [Little Master, we have asked a lot of ghosts in the vicinity, and they all told us a lot of secrets about the Deputy Magistrate.]
Xiao Jingran had warned them not to speak nonsense in front of Xiao Qingya, so they didn’t reveal any dangerous information.
[One of the children sold by the human traffickers is actually his illegitimate son!] Ling Yu delivered the explosive news.
Xiao Qingya’s eyes widened. [Huh? Are you serious?]
She held out her hands and let Xiao Xue help her crack open the chestnuts with its teeth.
[Where is his son now? Does the Deputy Magistrate even care about an illegitimate child?]
