The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 8 Tree Man
Shen Ning's words of diligence made Grandmother Jia frown.

Chen stood there, her face gradually turning pale.

Although the Jia family school has been open for many years, her husband is incompetent. The only person in the family to pass the imperial examination, Jia Jing, was not taught by her husband.

But no matter how incompetent he is, he is still Shen Ning's elder.

In the entire Jia family, apart from Jia Jing who ran away to become a Taoist priest, who else could replace him to oversee the school?
"Fine, fine, fine, you Shen Ning, so you're going to treat our family like enemies just because your two kids are fighting?"

Chen was being held back; otherwise, she would have rushed over and fought Shen Ning to the death. "What has my master ever done to wrong you? No matter how bad he is, he is still your elder. How can you be so unfilial..."

"Don't make me hit you."

Shen Ning slammed her teacup down. "Jia Dairu is not worthy of the word 'filial piety'."

She turned to Grandmother Jia, "Auntie, do you know why my Rong'er and Jia Rui fought?"

Since we've already started, let the storm rage on!

"...Why?"

Grandmother Jia's usually kind face turned serious.

This matter needs to be settled today.

She weighed the options between Jia Dairu and the Ningguo Mansion, as well as between her clan and the Ningguo Mansion.

Although Shen Ning cannot represent the Ningguo Mansion, neither Jia Jing nor Jia Zhen can abandon her.

Even if she is pregnant, she probably won't live more than a few months.

Because of their status, they naturally stood behind her.

"The Ning and Rong mansions are where they are today, and the Jia family is where they are today, thanks to the bloody battles fought by the two Dukes back then." Shen Ning looked at the group of ladies and mistresses who were trapped in the inner quarters, enjoying their wealth and luxury, and who spent their days either fighting over love or controlling and spoiling their children and grandchildren. "They have done right by the Emperor above and the common people below, but there are some descendants of the Jia family who say that they have committed too many killings, so that the eldest son's line can only be passed down to a single son."

"..."

"..."

Madam Chen opened her mouth wide, while the other ladies and grandmothers pursed their lips tightly.

Even Grandmother Jia's breath caught in her throat.

They've heard all the rumors!
They even gossip among themselves in private.

But those rumors didn't involve the Rongguo Mansion!

how……

The crowd looked at each other, none of them daring to speak.

The two dukes were brothers, and were essentially one.

What Shen Ning said doesn't seem to make any mistakes.

“In front of all the Jia family members, Jia Rui cursed me and the child in my womb, saying that she was a demon of death, that I would surely die at her hands, and that she herself would never grow up, just like Brother Fu back then.”

Shen Ning's eyes flashed with a compelling light. "Jia Lian, I ask you, if you were Rong-ge'er, could you tolerate this?"

Jia Lian: "..."

This has nothing to do with him!

But what could he do when his aunt called him out on the spot?
"Rong-ge'er did a good job."

Jia Lian said loudly, "Jia Rui... is not worthy of being a member of the Jia family."

He always has a quick mind.

Brother Zhen is still going crazy in the Intermediate People's Court.

Jia Rui's words touched a nerve with the Ningguo Mansion. He was finished, and his grandfather, Dai Ru, could no longer stay in the clan school.

"Auntie!"

He bowed and clasped his hands in greeting: "Inside..."

“It would be extremely unfilial for them to stand by and watch, let alone the fact that some people were laughing and joking at the time.”

Shen Ning looked at him, "Lian-ge'er, do you think they shouldn't have been hit?" "Yes!"

Jia Lian's legs trembled slightly, and his tone was more resolute than ever before.

"Not bad!"

Shen Ning seemed satisfied with his answer. "A tree won't grow straight if it's not pruned, and a person won't become talented if they're not taught. Considering they're still young and are all members of the Jia family, the one who echoed Jia Rui and laughed the loudest only received thirty lashes."

"..."

"..."

Several ladies patted their chests.

Thirty strokes of the cane is quite a lot!
But at that moment, none of them dared to say that they were wrong to hit her.

"Manager Chen went back to get medicine for their injuries. He will apply the medicine after the fight is over."

Shen Ning glanced at Madam Chen, "But Jia Dairu, who is ineffective in both teaching and educating his grandson, was not my elder, nor was he an elder of my Ningguo Mansion, when he misled my son to beat my grandson with thirty strokes of the cane."

Chen's body went limp, and the two old women who were holding her let go, causing her to collapse to the ground.

Shen Ning lifted her foot, and Qingzhu and the other maids quickly opened the fire cover and added a few more pieces of charcoal inside.

She let them serve her, saying, "I'm sorry for being rude today." She seemed oblivious to everyone's shocked and surprised expressions before pursing their lips. She apologized to Grandmother Jia first, "It's really because my niece-in-law fainted when she found out the truth. Although she was brought back to life, she's still not warm at all."

"Are you feeling better now?"

Grandmother Jia asked with concern, "Why don't we go home and talk about it?"

"It's okay, I feel much better now."

After the brazier was prepared, the water for washing hands was held up to her by a young maid who knelt down.

Shen Ning carefully washed her hands, then had Qingzhu wipe them clean, and picked up the hand warmer. "It's rare that everyone is here today. There's something I need to tell my aunts and sisters-in-law."

"Sister-in-law, just keep talking."

Madam Wang glanced at Madam Xing and noticed that she looked unwell. Not daring to speak, she gently waited for her to speak.

"This school is related to all the children of the Jia family."

Shen Ning sighed, "Guanzi once said, 'The best plan for a year is to plant grain; the best plan for ten years is to plant trees; the best plan for a lifetime is to cultivate people.' Our ancestors did not build this place for children to play around and waste their lives. Jia Dairu is an unqualified teacher, and the children have gone astray under his guidance. Even a loud drum needs a heavy hammer. What I mean is, once they recover, let them experience the hardships our ancestors went through."

What?
The ladies and grandmothers exchanged glances but dared not utter a word of dissent; they could only look at Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang with pitiful eyes.

The Xing family is not someone we can count on.

Now only Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang can speak with this person.

"...I wonder how much hardship you intend to make them suffer, sister-in-law?"

Wang was also feeling uneasy.

She also has a young son who needs to go to school.

Although her son could hire another tutor and not have to attend school, Wang always felt that if all the children in the clan suffered in school, her son might not be able to escape it either.

Mencius said, "When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a person, it will first test their resolve, strain their muscles and bones, starve their body, leave them destitute, and thwart their endeavors, so as to strengthen their character and increase their abilities."

Shen Ning sighed, "I don't expect them all to become successful, but regardless of whether they become successful or not, they must first become good people."

Few of the men in the Jia family are decent human beings.

"There will be another teacher to teach the literary aspects, so I won't go into details. But everyone in the manor knows that Jiao Da has followed his grandfather to the battlefield several times. In the future, when the children study at the school, they will also have an additional martial arts class. Half an hour a day is enough. It will also help them strengthen their bodies and make them stronger, so we can worry less about them."

Give a beating and then a sweet treat.

"But the 'bitterness-remembering-and-sweet-appreciation-the-sweetness' meal once every seven days cannot be missed. Moreover, all members of the Jia family, except those who do not study, must be present. Anyone who is absent will be fined ten taels of silver for each absence."

Shen Ning glanced at Wang Shi, whom she had prepared for Jia Baoyu after seeing Wang Shi. "Of course, if you have money and can't bear to see your child suffer, then donate five hundred taels a year to the clan school. This money will be distributed as a reward to the top ten in each monthly civil and military exam. In addition, I will personally donate two hundred taels a year to reward the top three."

She turned to Grandmother Jia, "Does Auntie think this is feasible?"

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(End of this chapter)