Chapter 87: Chapter 87: Dream On If You Want a Second Child
Xiao Li was thrilled upon hearing this, "You have your own piano. How about playing something at Tingfeng Pavilion for me later?"
Qin Xiao nodded with a smile, "Sure..."
While chatting, the two reached the room where the older class was held. Inside, one person was playing the piano while the others listened with their eyes closed, each having a piano in front of them, likely taking turns to play and listen to the melodies.
As someone was playing the piano, to avoid disturbing them, Qin Xiao and Xiao Li just glanced around and left. Behind the room for the older class was the room for the younger class.
Xiao Li paid closer attention here; after all, this was Mianmian’s first stop in the family school!
Upon reaching the younger class, Xiao Li saw many little kids writing, and they were using calligraphy brushes.
Seeing this scene, Xiao Li stiffly turned to Qin Xiao, "Starting to practice writing at such a young age?"
Qin Xiao covered his mouth and chuckled, "It’s not just practicing writing. Playing instruments, chess, painting, and calligraphy are all practiced from a young age. There’s even tea ceremony, alcohol etiquette, dance, and martial arts."
The more Xiao Li listened, the more overwhelmed she felt, "Uncle, didn’t you say you didn’t know what the girls learn in the family school nowadays?
How come you seem to know now?"
Qin Xiao coughed lightly, "I recently asked Qin Zilong, whose sister is still in the older class."
Of course, he hadn’t just asked; Qin Xiao had always known what was taught in the girls’ family school.
But he didn’t dare say it at that time!
He feared saying it would ruin Xiao Li’s mood, which would affect the wedding the next day!
Okay! In fact, he was more afraid that Xiao Li would take Mianmian and flee the ancestral home overnight, so he dared not say...
Upon hearing Qin Xiao’s words, Xiao Li reached out to take Mianmian from Qin Xiao’s arms, "Mianmian... Mommy really wants to put you back in the belly now and be reborn with a different gender, is that okay?"
Oh my!
Shouldn’t girls be born to be cherished and pampered?
How can there be a girls’ family school for this?
It’s understandable for boys to carry on the family tradition through family school education.
After all, boys should grow up tough; learning more things is fine. On the contrary, the more they learn, the better; the more skills, the better!
But girls, why should they be so burdened?
How wonderful it would be for them to grow up pampered!
Look at her, growing up pampered by Xiao Zhennan and Wen Lan from a young age.
The more Xiao Li thought, the sadder she felt, suddenly losing interest in the girls’ family school, carrying Mianmian out.
Qin Xiao touched his nose, and quickly stepped forward to take Mianmian in his arms again, and walked with Xiao Li back to the courtyard.
Little Mianmian, one moment in mommy’s arms, the next in daddy’s arms; she thought mommy and daddy were playing with her, smiling so happily...
Upon returning to the courtyard, Xiao Li had low spirits, just thinking about Mianmian having to learn so many things at family school after turning six made her mood irreparable...
Seeing her like this, Qin Xiao sent someone to take Mianmian to Qin Mother’s side.
After the servant took the child away, Qin Xiao embraced Xiao Li, "Can’t bear it? Hmm..."
Xiao Li nodded...
Qin Xiao chuckled lightly, "Then let’s try for a boy next time, so you don’t have to feel reluctant."
Xiao Li glanced up at him, "If the next child is a boy, Mianmian won’t have to go to family school?
Isn’t it the same that she has to go too, regardless of what the next child is?
Besides, can you guarantee that the next one will be a boy?
If we have another girl, won’t I have to bear twice the heartache?
Uncle, I feel deceived by you. You never told me about the family’s rules before.
You’re such a big liar! Hmph... dreaming of having another child, as if it’s all up to you..."
Xiao Li, saying this, lightly stomped on Qin Xiao’s foot and walked away.
Qin Xiao looked helplessly at Xiao Li running away, the little girl was angry, now there would be coaxing to do.
Xiao Li’s low spirits lingered until lunch without improving...
However, though she was in a bad mood, she didn’t show it in front of Qin Mother and the others.
Yet, this lunch at the Qin family was destined to be uneasy because Xiao Li didn’t show displeasure, but He Jie was different.
Throughout the meal, He Jie kicked Qin Tan’s foot several times, grabbed Qin Tan’s dishes too, and Qin Tan, having his foot stepped on, dared not utter a word, silently enduring.
When his dish was taken, he immediately picked up another portion to put in He Jie’s bowl.
And then was disdainfully removed by He Jie...
Qin Mother, eating while watching her eldest son’s utterly aggrieved and flattering demeanor, was reminded of when Old Qin used to humor her the same way.
After watching her eldest son for a while, she turned to look at her younger son, only to find that everything seemed normal on his side, as harmonious as usual,
Hmm... isn’t Xiao Li angry?
Intrigued, Qin Mother deliberately took another look, then discovered that while superficially calm, there were also undercurrents beneath her younger son’s table.
Look, Mianmian’s seating today had changed; she usually sat on Qin Xiao’s left, but today she was on the right, and Xiao Li sat beside Mianmian.
Feeding Mianmian also became Xiao Li’s task today.
Realizing something was off, Qin Mother withdrew her gaze and focused on her meal.
After lunch, Qin Mother sent Qin Father and their two sons away and took her two daughters-in-law and grandchildren back to the courtyard.
In Qin Mother’s courtyard, Qin Mother, He Jie, and Xiao Li sat at the stone table, while little Stone and Mianmian played nearby...
The three adults watched the siblings play for a while before Qin Mother spoke: "Xiao Jie, Xiao Li, not happy today, right?"
He Jie, hearing Qin Mother’s words, turned to her, "Mom, sorry, at lunch I was being petulant."
Qin Mother shook her head, "It’s nothing... No need to apologize. Back then, when I first knew that the Qin family had a family school and required every child to go, I was upset too.
I caused quite a stir back then."
As to who was stirred, without Qin Mother saying, both He Jie and Xiao Li knew.
"Back then, when I first learned about the family school, I had scolded Old Qin, saying the Qin Family has so many quirks.
It’s not like only the Qin Family is a prestigious family in B City. Not to mention others, just our Zhen Family, it’s not inferior to Qin Family.
Zhen Family values literature more, holding a towering position in the Literary World.
But even Zhen Family doesn’t have a family school like the Qin Family!
Why do young children have to learn this and that, is there nothing that can’t be learned at school?
For a while, I ignored Old Qin, and for several years before Qin Tan went to family school, Old Qin didn’t dare mention family school in front of me again.
Until the summer Qin Tan was five, when he was to enter family school, I was so angry that I didn’t want Qin Tan to go.
But normally being accommodating to me, Old Qin was unyielding on this point, taking Qin Tan to family school forcefully.
His only explanation to me was, tradition cannot be abandoned."