Chapter 8: 8. Chapter 8: Treant

Chapter 8: Cultivating People

Shen Ning’s several "diligently and conscientiously" remarks made even Grandmother Jia frown.

Madam Chen stood there, her face gradually turning pale.

Although the Jia family school had been open for these many years, her husband was incompetent; even Jia Jing, the only one in the clan to pass the imperial examinations, had not been taught by him.

But no matter how incompetent he was, he was still Shen Ning’s elder.

In the entire Jia family, besides Jia Jing who had run off to become a Taoist, who else could replace him to preside over the school?

"Fine, fine, fine! Good for you, Shen Ning! Just because two children had a fight, you’re going to treat our family like enemies, aren't you?"

Madam Chen was being held back; otherwise, she would have rushed over to fight Shen Ning to the death. "How has my husband ever wronged you? No matter how bad he is, he is still your elder. For you to be so unfilial..."

"Don't force me to hit you."

Shen Ning set down her teacup with a 'clack'. "As for the word 'filial,' Jia Dairu does not deserve it."

She turned to Grandmother Jia. "Does Aunt know why my Rong'er and that Jia Rui were fighting?"

Since she had already started, she might as well let the storm rage even harder!

"...Why?"

Grandmother Jia’s usually kind face turned serious.

Today’s matter had to be settled.

She was weighing the balance between Jia Dairu and the Ningguo Mansion, as well as between the clansmen and the Ningguo Mansion.

Although Shen Ning could not represent the entire Ningguo Mansion, neither Jia Jing nor Jia Zhen could possibly abandon her.

Even if she was pregnant and might not live for many more months.

Because of their status, they naturally stood behind her.

"The Ning and Rong mansions have what they have today, and the Jia family has what it has today, because the two founding dukes fought through blood and fire." Shen Ning looked at the wives and grandmothers who were trapped in the inner chambers, enjoying wealth and luxury, spending their days either bickering out of jealousy or coddling and spoiling their descendants. "They were worthy of the Emperor above and the common people below. Yet, there are descendants of the Jia family who claim they committed such heavy sins that the eldest branch is now reduced to a single heir."

"..."

"..."

Madam Chen’s mouth hung open, and the other wives and grandmothers pressed their lips tightly together.

Even Grandmother Jia’s breathing hitched.

They had all heard certain rumors!

They had even gossiped about them in private.

But those rumors didn't involve the Rongguo Mansion!

How could...

Everyone looked at each other, not daring to speak.

The two dukes were biological brothers and were essentially one entity.

What Shen Ning said didn't seem wrong.

"That Jia Rui, in front of a group of Jia family disciples, cursed me and the child in my womb, saying she was a soul-snatching Yama and that I would surely die by her hand, and that she herself would never grow up, just like Brother Fu did back then."

Shen Ning’s eyes held a piercing light. "Jia Lian, I ask you, if you were Rong'er, could you endure it?"

Jia Lian: "..."

This had nothing to do with him!

But being called out by his aunt on the spot, what could he do?

"Rong'er was right to hit him."

Jia Lian said loudly, "Jia Rui... does not deserve to be a disciple of the Jia family."

His mind had always been quick.

Brother Zhen was still going crazy in the middle courtyard.

Jia Rui’s words had touched the reverse scale of the Ningguo Mansion; he was finished, and his grandfather, Elder Dairu... would no longer be able to stay in the clan school.

"Aunt!"

He bowed and cupped his hands. "Inside..."

"Their cold-eyed observation is already a great lack of filial piety, not to mention that some of them were even laughing and giggling at the time."

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

"They should!"

Jia Lian’s legs trembled slightly, his tone firmer than ever before.

"Good!"

Shen Ning seemed satisfied with his answer. "If a tree is not pruned, it will not grow straight; if a person is not taught, they will not become talented. Considering they are still young and are fellow Jia family disciples, those who echoed Jia Rui and laughed the loudest will only receive thirty strokes."

"..."

"..."

Several wives and grandmothers clutched their chests.

Thirty strokes was no small amount!

But at this moment, none of them dared to say it was wrong.

"Manager Chen has gone back to get medicine for the wounds. Once the beating is over, they will naturally be treated."

Shen Ning glanced at Madam Chen. "But Jia Dairu, who is ineffective in both teaching his grandson and managing the school, ceased to be my elder or an elder of the Ningguo Mansion the moment he misled my son into beating my grandson with thirty strokes."

Madam Chen’s body went limp. The two matrons holding her let go, and she collapsed to the floor.

Shen Ning lifted her feet, and the maid Qingzhu and the others hurriedly moved the fire cover and added a few more pieces of charcoal.

She let them serve her. "I apologize for the lack of decorum today." She seemed not to notice everyone’s shocked, surprised, and tightly-pressed lips as she apologized to Grandmother Jia first. "It is just that when your niece-in-law learned the truth, I couldn't catch my breath and fainted. Although I was revived, there is no warmth left in my body."

"...Are you feeling better now?"

Grandmother Jia asked with concern. "Shall we go home and talk?"

"It's fine, I'm much better now."

The brazier was set, and the water for washing hands was held up by a young maid on her knees.

Shen Ning washed her hands carefully, had them dried by Qingzhu, and took up her hand warmer. "Since everyone is here today, there is something I must discuss with my aunts and sisters-in-law."

"Sister-in-law, please speak."

Lady Wang glanced at Madam Xing, and seeing her poor complexion, she didn't dare to speak, so she hurriedly and gently waited for Shen Ning to continue.

"This school concerns all the Jia family disciples."

Shen Ning sighed. "Guanzi once said: 'If you plan for a year, plant grain; if you plan for ten years, plant trees; if you plan for a lifetime, cultivate people.' Our ancestors did not build it for the children to play around and waste their days. Jia Dairu is not qualified as a teacher; under his guidance, the children have all gone astray. A loud drum needs a heavy hammer. My meaning is, once their wounds heal, let them experience the hardships our ancestors endured."

What?

The wives and grandmothers exchanged looks, but none dared to voice an objection, only looking at Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang with pitiful eyes.

Madam Xing was not to be relied upon.

Now, only Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang could speak to this woman.

"...I wonder how Sister-in-law intends for them to endure hardship?"

Lady Wang’s heart was also drumming.

She still had a younger son who needed to study.

Although her son could hire a different tutor and didn't have to come to the school, if all the children in the clan were suffering in the school, Lady Wang felt her son might not be able to escape it either.

"Mencius said, 'When Heaven is about to confer a great office on any man, it first exercises his mind with suffering, and his sinews and bones with toil. It exposes his body to hunger, and subjects him to extreme poverty. It confounds his undertakings. By all these methods, it stimulates his mind, hardens his nature, and makes him capable of what he could not otherwise do.'"

Shen Ning sighed. "I don't expect them all to become talented, but whether they succeed or not, they must first become decent human beings."

There were very few men in the Jia family who could be called decent.

"There will be other teachers for their studies, so I won't speak on that. But Jiao Da followed the Great Grandfather onto the battlefield, and his loyalty is known to everyone in the mansion. From now on, while the children study at the school, they will also add a martial arts class. It doesn't need to be long—half an hour a day is enough. Consider it a way to temper their bodies alongside him. With strong bodies, we can worry a little less."

A stick followed by a carrot.

"But the 'remembering bitterness and thinking of sweetness' meal once every seven days cannot be skipped. Furthermore, every Jia family disciple, except for those who do not study, must attend. Anyone who is absent will be fined ten taels of silver."

Shen Ning glanced at Lady Wang; this was something she had prepared for Jia Baoyu after seeing her. "Of course, if you have the money and cannot bear for your child to suffer, then you may donate five hundred taels to the clan school each year. This money will be distributed annually as rewards to the top ten in the monthly literary and martial exams. In addition, I will personally donate two hundred taels each year to reward the top three."

She turned to Grandmother Jia. "Aunt, do you think this is feasible?"