The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

Xiaolong always gets angry for no reason.

Man'er could tell that Xiaolong was angry again.

She didn't know what Xiaolong was angry about. Could it be that he was angry because he wasn't allowed to pick out the lantern first?
Man'er decided to have a good talk with him when she got home.

However, he was pitiful enough without parents. Thinking of this, Man'er stepped forward and handed a golden dragon lantern to the little dragon.

"Here, take this one. Look, the golden dragon even has patterns on it," Man'er said.

Xiao Long snorted and took the lantern.

There are three lanterns left: one is a peony, one is a magpie, and the other is a tiger.

Man'er took the peony, and Yaozu took the tiger.

Yaozu originally thought that if he wasn't allowed to choose first, the good ones would be taken by others.

Fortunately, no one wanted the tiger he had his eye on.

"There's one left for the flowers." Master Su handed the magpie lantern to Tong Pandi.

Tong Pandi said with a surprised look, "Hua'er is only two months old, she doesn't know how to pick up a lantern yet."

Master Su said, "Then let's wait until she's old enough to choose."

Tong Pandi accepted the lantern, touched by Master Su's thoughtfulness.

The children all received lanterns and gathered together to admire each other's lanterns.

Every child was happy.

Especially for Duo'er and Chunni, this was the first time they had ever received a lantern.

Chunni used to envy the children who carried lanterns on the night of the Lantern Festival. Her grandmother, Luo, would buy lanterns for Chunwang every year, and she could only watch longingly.

Thinking of Chunwang, Chunni realized she had to hide the lantern in the pigsty; if she brought it home, it wouldn't be hers anymore.

Seeing the children's happy smiles, especially Duo'er's, filled Master Su with great joy.

If Duo'er is happy, Tong Pandi will be happy.

Master Su didn't come to see Gu Jingzhe at all. He saw the beautiful lanterns in town and thought of Tong Pandi's two adorable children, so he couldn't resist buying two and holding them in his hand.

Thinking that it wouldn't be appropriate to only give the lamp to Tong Pandi's two daughters, as it would seem like he had some ulterior motive, he simply bought one for each of the children he knew and then headed straight for Qinghewan.

Tong Pandi's happy smile brightened Su Fuzi's mood.

He still had things to give to Duo'er and Chunni.

Master Su opened the wooden box, took out a tracing book and a pen, and said, "This is for Duo'er. I see that Duo'er is learning to recognize characters with Man'er, and this tracing book, 'Youxue Qionglin,' is suitable for Duo'er to learn characters. This pen is specially selected by me and is suitable for children who are just beginning their education."

Tong Pandi was so surprised she almost cried.

On New Year's Eve, Master Su saw Duo'er practicing calligraphy with Man'er and actually remembered it.

I specially bought Duo'er a tracing book and a calligraphy brush suitable for starting her studies.

After accepting the gift, Tong Pandi kept pulling Duo'er to thank Master Su.

"This set is for Chunni." Su Fuzi's words caused Chunni's envious eyes to turn into shock.

Cao was also shocked; there was even Chunni among them.

Master Su was deeply impressed by Chunni.

The last time he came to Qinghewan, he saw this little girl writing words on the ground with pebbles by the river. Although her writing was not good, it was clear that she had put her heart into it.

When Master Su asked her who she learned to write, Chunni said she learned it by passing by the private school.

As a teacher who imparts knowledge, instructs students, and resolves doubts, Master Su most admires students who work hard and strive for self-improvement.

Whether male or female.

Therefore, when he gave Duo'er a calligraphy practice book and writing materials, he also brought a set for Chunni.

Chunni took the tracing book and writing materials, her throat tightening. She couldn't even utter a thank you.

Cao said thank you, and her eyes reddened.

She wished Chunni were a boy. Chunni was so smart; she could learn any word Chunwang didn't know just by listening to it once when she passed by the private school.

If it were a boy, he could sit in a private school and study, becoming a child prodigy praised by everyone, just like Gu Jingzhe.

“Master Su, it’s almost noon, and you haven’t gone to your aunt’s house yet. Let’s go together,” Tong Pandi said cheerfully.

Master Su helped her feed the pigs and brought a lantern and a calligraphy practice book for Duo'er, which rekindled Tong Pandi's hope for life after her mood was ruined by Tong Zhaodi.

Master Su was naturally willing to go to Tong Huaqiong's house for dinner with Tong Pandi. He held Hua'er's hand in his left hand and Man'er's hand in his right hand. Man'er held Xiaolong's hand in hers. They followed Tong Pandi to the Gu family like a dragon in a chain.

Gu Jingzhe had just finished reading his book and came out to look into the distance. He saw Master Su and thought that the master had come to urge him to do his homework.

"Master, what brings you here? I've been studying and just came out of the house to relax a bit."

Gu Jingzhe was worried that his teacher would say he wasn't studying hard enough, so he first defended himself.

Master Su said with a stern face, "I've been standing at the door since I arrived. If I hadn't come, who knows what you would have been doing. Before the private school starts, I will come to supervise you every day."

Gu Jingzhe: "."

Tong Pandi smiled and said to Gu Jingzhe, "Cousin, Master Su's padded jacket is too thin. Find Master Su a thicker coat."

Gu Jingzhe agreed and went.

The sound of "huh heh heh" came from the courtyard; it turned out that Nie Xiaofeng was practicing martial arts with Su Chengmin.

Since Nie Xiaofeng came to the Gu family in the second year of junior high school and learned a few kung fu moves from Su Chengmin, he has been persistently pursuing Su Chengmin to become his disciple.

They had long since forgotten their vow to be irreconcilable with the Gu family.

He used to be cold and hostile towards Tong Huaqiong, Gu Taohua, Gu Jingzhe, and others. Now, in order to become Su Chengmin's apprentice, he barged into the Gu family's door and refused to leave. He called Tong Huaqiong "Grandma" very affectionately, and he was even more enthusiastic about calling Gu Taohua and Gu Jingzhe "Auntie" and "Uncle".

The weather in January was still very cold, with the wind howling and icicles climbing all over the eaves. Despite the freezing weather where water would freeze instantly when splashed, Nie Xiaofeng was only wearing a single layer of clothing and was sweating profusely from his training. His rolled-up sleeves revealed bulging muscles that gleamed in the sunlight.

Nie Xiaofeng was most afraid of Master Su.

Upon seeing Master Su, he immediately shrank back like a quail.

He didn't look at any of the homework assigned by his teacher.

"Master." Nie Xiaofeng bowed respectfully to Master Su.

"Practicing martial arts?" Master Su asked.

Nie Xiaofeng nodded obediently.

"You've practiced well."

Just as Nie Xiaofeng was feeling pleased, Master Su continued, "Since you don't have the brains for studying, don't waste your time going to private school. You won't learn anything anyway. As long as you can read military books, that's enough."

Tong Pandi's lips twitched as she went into the main room to nurse. This Master Su looked kind, but he had a sharp tongue towards his students.

Nie Xiaofeng's eyes lit up, and he said, "Teacher, if it weren't for my mother forcing me, I wouldn't want to go to the private school at all. Otherwise, I won't go when school starts the day after tomorrow, and you can just say I'm being expelled. Otherwise, my mother will still force me to go."

Master Su readily agreed.

Nie Xiaofeng thought for a moment, then suddenly grinned and said, "Master, you just said that as long as I can understand military books, that's fine. So, do you mean I can join the army?"

Otherwise, why would he be reading military books?

Nie Xiaofeng became excited and made a further request to Master Su: "Master, could you talk to my mother and let me join the army?"

Nie Xiaofeng had always wanted to join the army, but Gu Baishuang opposed it.

Gu Baishuang was worried that he would die on the battlefield, so the mother and son couldn't talk about it. Whenever the topic was mentioned, Gu Baishuang would get sad, as if he were really dead.

Seeing Su Fuzi's speechless expression, Nie Xiaofeng said optimistically, "I think I can do it. Even Grandma says I have the potential to be a general."

Nie Xiaofeng took Tong Huaqiong's casual remark seriously. (End of Chapter)