Seeing that Hanghang didn’t respond at all, Xiao Jingchuan stepped forward a few paces, nodded slightly at Fu Yunzhu, and said politely, “Let me take care of him.”
Fu Yunzhu didn’t need to ask to know who he was. She handed Hanghang over to Xiao Jingchuan. “All right.”
Xiao Jingchuan crouched and picked up Hanghang. “You’ve worked hard. Go rest.”
After saying this, he left with Hanghang.
Polite. Courteous. Distant.
Fu Yunzhu turned and went back to her room, lying on the bed to rest for a while. Jiang Youqing soon returned.
She held a washed apple in her hand and smiled as she handed it to Fu Yunzhu. “Have an apple.”
Fu Yunzhu looked at Jiang Youqing’s smiling face and felt warmth in her heart. “Mom, I haven’t stopped talking since I got here.”
She set the apple aside. “Now, teach me Go.”
“All right.”
Jiang Youqing went to get the Go set and brought it into the room. She moved a small table to the center, set up the board, and began teaching step by step.
After a few rounds, Jiang Youqing looked at her daughter in astonishment. “Yunzhu, you really are a genius. It took the Director a long time to teach me Go, and you… you can play already?”
Yunzhu smiled. “It’s because you taught me well, Mom.”
Jiang Youqing waved her hands repeatedly. “No! No! No! You really have talent. Come, let’s play a couple more games.”
Fu Yunzhu placed the white stones first, and Jiang Youqing followed. It seemed as if Fu Yunzhu was simply imitating her, but in reality, she was controlling the board. Jiang Youqing was so clever: “Yunzhu, don’t go easy on Mom. I’ll be so happy if you win.”
She wanted to see Fu Yunzhu’s true skill.
After a few rounds, Fu Yunzhu stopped hiding her abilities and decisively defeated Jiang Youqing.
Jiang Youqing stared at the board for a long time, speechless.
After a while, she exclaimed excitedly, “My daughter is actually a genius! I’ve played Go with the Director for many years, winning about half the time. Aside from the eldest son, hardly anyone can beat him. And you did it!”
Fu Yunzhu smiled. “I didn’t expect I had this kind of talent.”
Talent? Hardly. She had been raised by her father to meet the standards of a high-society daughter-in-law music, Go, calligraphy, painting, tea appreciation, instruments, foreign languages all from age four, taught by top-tier teachers.
Playing Go was nothing to her.
She wasn’t forceful or particularly tactful, so she knew she couldn’t do business or rely on marriage. It was better to reclaim these skills for herself.
“These years in the countryside really wasted your potential,” Jiang Youqing said, sounding regretful.
Fu Yunzhu comforted her. “Mom, it’s not too late to learn now. Just like learning Go now.”
“What else do you want to learn?”
Fu Yunzhu said seriously, “Mom, I want to take the college entrance exam. This year it’s too late, but next year I definitely can.”
“But Yufen said you didn’t want to continue after elementary school. Can you make up six years of study in one year?” Jiang Youqing said, then quickly added, “Mom isn’t worried about paying for your schooling. I’d be delighted that you made this decision, I just worry.”
Fu Yunzhu nodded in understanding. “Mom, I didn’t stop studying because I wasn’t good at it. My family needed me to work. More importantly, they wanted me to use the monthly support money you sent for my younger sister’s schooling. Even though I wasn’t formally studying, I secretly used my older sister’s old textbooks to study. I’ve read some of the junior high and high school textbooks.”
Jiang Youqing was shocked and angry. “Why didn’t you ever tell me this?”
“At the time, I didn’t understand. I thought Sister Yufen treated me well, but it was all just on the surface.”
Jiang Youqing tenderly stroked Fu Yunzhu’s head. “It’s all right. As long as you’ve returned to me and understand what you want, that’s what matters. If you really want to take the exam, in a few days, I’ll find out where there are good tutors for you.”
Fu Yunzhu smiled. “Thank you, Mom. You don’t need to rush to find a tutor. Just tell me where the Xinhua Bookstore is.”
“All right.”
The mother and daughter talked for a long time before sleeping.
The next morning, Fu Yunzhu took Hanghang while Jiang Youqing cooked.
Liu Aunt saw Fu Yunzhu running around barefoot with Hanghang and making him do strange gestures before giving him food, and she immediately looked down on her. “Truly from the countryside.”
She wanted to report this to the Director, but considering how protective he was of Jiang Youqing, she probably could only remind lightly. Better to tell the eldest son.
Jiang Youqing finished breakfast and set the table. Only four people were eating both men of the Xiao family had gone to work.
Liu Aunt glared at the dirt-covered Hanghang and snapped, “Jiang Youqing, don’t forget your status. Hanghang is the young master. How can you let your daughter treat him like a countryside child?”
Fu Yunzhu was about to respond but Jiang Youqing tugged her sleeve quietly. She calmly said, “Liu Aunt, since Director Xiao entrusted Hanghang to me, how I raise him is my business. If you disapprove, you can take him yourself I have no objection.”
“You…”
“All right, stop. If you think it’s unfair, you can do it your way. If you can do better, I’ll give you all the work I’m doing now.”
Fu Yunzhu looked at Liu Aunt, whose face had turned bright red and speechless, and raised an eyebrow. Truly a daughter of the Fu family never taken advantage of.
Yesterday, she had worried about Liu Aunt’s words, even afraid to argue, not wanting to trouble her mother. She realized now she had been overthinking.
After breakfast, Jiang Youqing stood and said to Liu Aunt, “Your turn. I’ll take my daughter to buy a couple of outfits.”
“And what about the young master?”
“We’ll take him,” Jiang Youqing said, picking up Hanghang and placing him in a stroller as they left.
On the street, Fu Yunzhu pointed things out to Hanghang and explained as they went. Jiang Youqing laughed at her daughter’s teaching. “All right, Yunzhu, you can’t teach him.”
Fu Yunzhu didn’t argue. “Just pretend I’m idle.”
At the department store, Fu Yunzhu picked two still-countryside-style outfits and shoes. Jiang Youqing couldn’t resist commenting, “Yunzhu, let Mom choose for you?”
Then she added, “And your hairstyle I’ll take you to fix that too.”
Fu Yunzhu held her chosen clothes. “Mom, don’t I look fine in these?”
“Of course, but this is the city. You need to be a bit more presentable. With a little styling, no one in the military housing estate could compare.”
Fu Yunzhu smiled. “I just need to stay clean and decent. I don’t need to be beautiful I’m going to take the university exam.”
She had worn all kinds of clothes, and for important occasions even had someone prepare her image. She knew what suited her.
Jiang Youqing paused. Indeed, her daughter looked fine even like this just a strong rural vibe, not flashy.
There were many young masters in the estate. Without power or influence, she couldn’t protect herself or marry up. She needed to quietly develop herself, while her mother, who was older, could freely indulge.
After buying the clothes, the mother and daughter returned.
After lunch, Jiang Youqing insisted Fu Yunzhu play Go with Xiao. Caring for a child was exhausting. Although Yunzhu was happy, she couldn’t bear to let go.
Liu Aunt was sweeping at the door. Seeing Xiao Jingchuan stop, she immediately went to him. “Young master, seeing Jiang Aunt care for the child like this is truly unbearable.”