Chapter 46 - An'an An'an!
Chapter 46 of "Red Heart Patrols the Sky" begins revealing surprises: âWhat?Cheating on an exam?Skipping classes?And insubordination?âIn the private school known as Mingde Hall, Jiang Wang... Read on to find out!
âWhat?
Cheating on an exam?
Skipping classes?
And insubordination?â
In the private school known as Mingde Hall, Jiang Wang felt both shocked and furious.
Originally, when Anan told him yesterday that her teacher wanted to meet him as a parent, he had been uneasy, easily attributing it to the threat from Fang Zehou.
If the Fang Family were to employ some underhanded tactic, such as using their connections to get Anan expelled from the private school she was attending, he really would be at a loss.
He had even prepared himself to personally spend money to hire a tutor for Anan.
But he racked his brains and never imagined that Jiang Ananâs teacher wanted to see him just because Jiang Anan was behaving poorly.
Jiang Wang felt a tremendous sense of the absurd.
It was common for a teacher to lecture, smack palms with a ruler, order students to stand as punishment or to copy texts.
There was never a case of a teacher being at a loss with a student.
Hasnât he, Jiang Wang, been admitted to the inner sect of the Taoist academy and still got watched by Xiao Tiemian while copying Taoist scriptures?
Just how terrible and disobedient must a student be for a teacher to request a meeting with their parent?
âLook at this.â The old teacher from Mingde Hall threw a stack of notebooks over, âI punished her to copy the Thousand Character Classic, look what she copied?â
Jiang Wang took them with both hands and looked, about to say there was no problem, the content was indeed the Thousand Character Classic.
But he quickly realized that while the content was correct, the handwriting was in seven or eight different styles.
That is to say, even the copying Jiang Anan was punished to do was completed by cheating.
Jiang Wang only wanted to cover his own eyes; he couldnât bear to look.
He had been punished by Xiao Tiemian to copy the Taoist canon one hundred times, and never thought to ask for help, but instead painstakingly copied it himself, character by character, night after night!
How could this Jiang Anan be so lively in her thinking?
âShe cheated during the exam, too?â asked Jiang Wang, trembling.
âCaught her red-handed writing answers for someone else during a minor test,â the old teacher said, raising his voice suddenly, âShe herself fails her tests!
What gives her the right?!â
Jiang Anan stood by the side, head hanging low, presenting a pitiful image as if ready to accept a thrashing, but those large eyes surreptitiously gauged Jiang Wangâs reactions.
Whenever Jiang Wang looked over, she would immediately avert her gaze.
There was another little girl in the room, who at the moment was sprawled arrogantly in an armchair, fiddling with her fingers.
Presumably, she was the classmate who had asked Jiang Anan to help cheatâŚ
Such an arrogant attitude!
She looked quite pretty though, with skin like creamy jade and delicate features.
Although still young, she already had the makings of a beauty.
The only thing a bit much was her small nose which was turned up so high, it seemed a trifle too proud.
Her clothes and accessories were evidently expensive, the very image of a little demoness causing trouble everywhere.
WellâŚ
who could expect something else from her asking Jiang Anan who fails tests to help her cheat?
She couldnât be a good student who loved to study, could she?
Jiang Wang told himself to stay calm.
His little sister was shy, gentle, obedient, and cute; there must be some kind of misunderstandingâŚ
Misunderstanding my foot!
The evidence was clear as day!
Jiang Wang grabbed Jiang Ananâs arm and turned to leave, âCome home with me!â
In the sentiment that an elder brother is like a father, it is the fatherâs fault if his child is not taught properly.
He decided it was time to assert some parental authority.
How had the timid little girl he knew transformed into this in just a few months?
He resolved to give her a good whacking, at least ten smacks with the ruler.
It was too embarrassing to be punished in school, so he planned to do it at home.
WellâŚ
three smacks ought to do it, three is quite severe as well, enough to hurt for quite some time.
At that point, the little demoness jumped up and waved, her voice crisp, âBye Anan!â
Jiang Anan, her hand held by Jiang Wang as they walked out, had realized things were going south for quite some time already.
Hearing her friendâs call, she tentatively started to lift her free hand in responseâŚ
Jiang Wang tugged hard at her hand, cutting off this farewell of friendship.
A few steps out of Mingde Hall, heading south along Black Tortoise Street, they would pass Cai Jiâs mutton shop.
When Jiang Anan caught the aroma of mutton, she purposely coughed.
Normally, a single glance or even just a sniffle from her would make Jiang Wang stop, leading her inside.
But today Jiang Wang, holding her hand, walked past without even a sideways glance.
Thatâs when Jiang Anan realized her brother was truly angry.
Turning left ahead, they entered Qingmu Avenue, headed east along Qingmu Avenue to the end, and arrived at Feima Alley.
There was their home.
âBrotherâŚâ Jiang Anan called out.
But Jiang Wang stayed silent.
âBrotherâŚâ Jiang Anan gently shook Jiang Wangâs hand.
Jiang Wang grunted through his nose, signaling his stern disposition.
At this moment, they had reached the doorstep of the house, where Jiang Anan pleaded eagerly, âBrother, let me open the door.
I have the keys!â
Jiang Wang simply unlocked the door, pushed open the yard gate, and let go of Ananâs hand he had been holding all along.
His voice deliberately took on a colder tone, âGo inside.â
He couldnât let Jiang Anan think that she could easily gloss over this incident.
A child of four or five was at an age where her character was slowly taking shape; she needed to learn a lesson.
Jiang Anan brushed her little hand against Jiang Wangâs, seeing that he indeed had no intention of holding her hand again, her hand drooped dispiritedly.
But almost immediately, she seemed to remember something and perked up, darting ahead.
Jiang Wang followed her into the bedroom to see Jiang Anan making a beeline for her little bed.
Jiang Wang was about to stop her.
Whenever Jiang Anan didnât want to do something, she would just sprawl on the bed, exclaiming, âOh, Iâm so sleepy, Iâve fallen asleep,â and smoothly gloss over the matter.
But Jiang Anan suddenly ducked down, her small body swiftly crawling under the bed.
Do you think I canât hit you if you hide under the bed?
Jiang Wang was almost amused by irritation, casually picking up a broom from beside the door and blocking the front of Ananâs little bed.
But Anan quickly crawled back out, clutching a small wooden box that she had rubbed against under the bed, her little face now smudged with dust.
She held up the worn little wooden box high, exclaiming joyfully, âThis is for you!â
Jiang Wang leaned the broom against the cabinet nearby, taking the small wooden box with a mix of suspicion and anticipation, âWhat is it?â
He opened the little wooden box and saw a pile of silver, red gold, pearls, and more, a dazzling array of jewels.
Jiang Wangâs heart clenched suddenly, lifting the wooden box with one hand, his voice turning harsher than ever before, âWhere did this come from?â
Jiang Anan had never seen her brother with such an expression and suddenly panicked.
Pouting her lips, she whimpered, âIâŚ
I earned it!â
âEarned it?â Jiang Wangâs hands began to tremble, âWhere did you earn this, how did you earn it!â
He flung the wooden box to the floor with a huge clatter, âSpeak!â
The glint of gold, silver, and pearls scattered all over the ground.
Jiang Anan, terrified, burst into tears, âHelping classmates in examsâŚâ
âHelping classmates in exams nets you this much?â
Jiang Anan sobbed, âQingzhiâŚ
Qingzhi is very rich.
I helped her in the exams, and she gave me money.â
Jiang Wang felt the heaviness in his heart slowly subside.
He began to regret his earlier ferocity.
He squatted down, placing both hands on Jiang Ananâs little shoulders, as delicate as fine porcelain that seemed it would shatter if not carefully protected.
âWhen has the family ever needed you to earn money?â Jiang Wang looked at her, reaching out to wipe away her tears, âBrother has money, a lot of money, do you understand?â
Jiang Anan cried, âDidnât you borrow money from that pretty boy to buy a house?
Borrowed money must be repaidâŚâ
Jiang Wang suddenly recalled that day he went to Zhao Rucheng to ask for silver, for a house, he had held Anan in his arms.
Poor little Anan, her little chest, the heart she had tenderly brought out, how sad she must have felt when it smashed to the ground?
Jiang Wang looked at her, tears streaming down her dusty little face, washing away to reveal a snow-like complexion underneath.
Jiang Wangâs nose tingled with emotion.
His heart suddenly felt an immense tenderness, shattering into the most exquisite pieces.
âŚ
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ââââââââ
(Thanks to the book friend Xizi Chu for the helm.
Thanks to the book friends Shen Ayao, book friend Life Loser Ah Zhan, and book friend Yan Ergou for their rewards.
AndâŚ
give Jiang Anan some recommendation tickets!!!)