229 A Harsh Lesson from Society
Wei Shulan nodded. "Yes, it was Tongtong and Qiao Muchen who came up with the idea. They looked through books for records of how our ancestors dealt with locust plagues. Then, they summarized the methods for controlling locusts from those accounts, including the pros and cons of each method and important precautions. They wrote it all down very clearly."
Country Gentry Wei's eyes lit up.
Then he nodded excitedly in agreement. "No problem, you go ahead. After lunch, I'll have our family's coachman drive you there!"
Seeing Country Gentry Wei so supportive of them, Wei Shulan was overjoyed and repeatedly thanked him, "Thank you, Uncle!"
Country Gentry Wei marveled at the intellect of Zhao Zhitong and Qiao Muchen. They're so young and already so astute, he thought. Imagine what they'll achieve when they grow up!
His gaze then fell upon his eight-year-old son in the courtyard, and his expression soured as a familiar headache began to throb. He'd told him countless times to spend more time with Zhao Zhitong and Qiao Muchen and learn from them, but the boy simply wouldn't listen, only wanting to play all day.
Look at them, he fumed internally. During Muxiu Time, they're already thinking of how to contribute to the country, while my son only knows how to play!
Immediately, he shouted angrily towards the courtyard, "Jian'er, come over here!"
Hearing his father's roar, Wei Zijian jumped in fright. He reluctantly stood up and shuffled unwillingly towards his father.
Seeing his listless demeanor, Country Gentry Wei's anger flared. "Hurry up!" he roared.
Another roar, and Wei Zijian panicked, immediately quickening his pace and rushing over. "Dad, what do you want me for?"
Country Gentry Wei glared at him irritably. "This afternoon, Lan'er, along with the children from the Zhao Family and Qiao Clan, is going to the county town to present a locust control strategy to County Magistrate Zhao. You will go with them. Learn from Little Master Qiao and broaden your horizons. Stop just playing all day!"
Upon hearing this, Wei Zijian instinctively recoiled, an unwilling expression crossing his face. "Dad, can I not go? I... I haven't finished my schoolwork yet. Yes, I need to do my schoolwork this afternoon."
Country Gentry Wei's face darkened instantly. "Why didn't you do your schoolwork this morning? You must go!"
Seeing his father's dark expression, Wei Zijian's shoulders slumped. He nodded dejectedly. "Alright, I understand."
After saying that, he trudged off, utterly listless.
Watching him go, Country Gentry Wei felt a surge of exasperation. He finally turned to Wei Shulan and instructed her to keep a close eye on Jian'er and ensure he learned alongside them.
Wei Shulan smiled and nodded.
「 」
After lunch, Zhao Zhitong placed her biscuit into her small knapsack, eager to head to the bridgehead and meet her friends.
Just then, Wei Shulan's voice called out from the doorway.
Zhao Zhitong hurried out. "Lanlan, what brings you here?" she asked happily.
Wei Shulan cheerfully took Zhao Zhitong's small hand. "I came to get you so we can go together! And I have good news: we don't have to walk! My Eldest Uncle has arranged for the family coachman to drive us."
"Wow, really?" Zhao Zhitong was overjoyed. Originally, Zhao Dong had said he would drive the ox cart to take them, but now there was no need.
After bidding farewell to Sun Mei and Zhao Dong, Zhao Zhitong and Wei Shulan ran to the bridgehead together.
By the time she arrived, Qiao Muchen and Zhao Yue were already there, waiting for them on the donkey cart.
When Zhao Zhitong approached, she noticed that beside Zhao Yue and Qiao Muchen, there was another small boy sitting in the cart.
I know him, Zhao Zhitong thought. He's Country Gentry Wei's son, Wei Zijian. He's in my class, but he never plays with us, so we don't really interact.
Seeing Zhao Zhitong's puzzled expression, Wei Shulan explained, "My Eldest Uncle insisted that my cousin come with us. He said it would be a good experience for him to broaden his horizons."
"Oh, I see."
Zhao Zhitong nodded.
At this point, Wei Zijian became impatient and yelled at Zhao Zhitong and Wei Shulan, "Hey! Are you two coming or not?"
His attitude was atrocious.
Qiao Muchen, unable to stand his behavior, snorted coldly. "What are you yelling about? If you don't want to go, then don't. We didn't force you."
Wei Zijian bared his teeth at Qiao Muchen and retorted miserably, "You think I want to go?"
He disliked Qiao Muchen intensely. Not only was Qiao Muchen the 'model child from another family' his father constantly compared him to—a comparison he deeply resented—but his father also invariably sided with Qiao Muchen. The very first time they met, they had fought over a toy, and his father had beaten him afterward.
Since then, whenever they had an argument, his father would undoubtedly be the one to punish *him*!
This caused him to dislike Qiao Muchen on sight.
Similarly, Qiao Muchen disliked him too, considering Wei Zijian ill-behaved and rude. During their first encounter, Wei Zijian had thrown a full-blown tantrum, rolling on the ground trying to snatch his toy.
Wei Zijian is just a bad kid, Qiao Muchen thought.
Seeing that the two were about to clash again, Wei Shulan quickly stepped in to mediate. Her Eldest Uncle had specifically instructed her to look after her cousin.
"Alright, alright, stop arguing, you two," she urged. "We should get going, or it'll be dark before we know it."
Saying that, she pulled Zhao Zhitong onto the donkey cart.
Qiao Muchen also snorted coldly and ignored Wei Zijian.
Once the children were settled, the coachman started driving the cart.
This donkey cart was also a flatbed type, without a canopy. Once the children were aboard, they naturally split into two factions.
Wei Zijian sat alone at the back of the cart, sulking and silent.
Qiao Muchen, Zhao Zhitong, Wei Shulan, and Zhao Yue sat together, buzzing with anticipation about their upcoming meeting with the County Magistrate.
Zhao Zhitong, however, was captivated by the little donkey. She remembered seeing one only once before, when her family went to the livestock market to buy an ox.
The little donkey is so much smaller than an ox, she mused. It's not as strong, but it runs pretty fast!
Before long, they entered the county town. The coachman knew the location of the County Government Office. Upon entering the county town, he headed straight there.
The mere sight of the County Government Office entrance was imposing enough to make one shiver.
The coachman held such official places—the Yamen—in deep awe. He didn't dare drive the donkey cart right up to the entrance, stopping instead a short distance away.
Zhao Zhitong, Qiao Muchen, Wei Shulan, and Zhao Yue happily slid down from the donkey cart one by one.
Zhao Zhitong glanced back and saw Wei Zijian still sitting on the flatbed cart, arms crossed, sulking and motionless.
Zhao Zhitong whispered to Wei Shulan, "Should we ask him to come down?"
Qiao Muchen scoffed, "Why bother with him? He doesn't want to come with us anyway."
Zhao Yue chimed in, "Exactly! Let's just go by ourselves."
Wei Zijian, who had likely overheard them, snorted. "It's not like I'm dying to go!"
Wei Shulan looked troubled. "My Eldest Uncle asked me to look after my cousin properly."
She then turned to Wei Zijian and said patiently, "Cousin, would you like to come with us? If you don't come inside, you'll have to wait for us out here, but it might get very boring."
Qiao Muchen interjected, "Why even ask him? He wouldn't dare go into the Yamen to meet the County Magistrate. Let's not bother with him."
Qiao Muchen's words, however, had the opposite effect, instantly igniting Wei Zijian's contrarian spirit. He slid down from the cart, his small face set stubbornly. "Who says I'm scared? I'm going! You don't want me to go? Well, I'm going anyway! Hmph!"
With that, he took the lead and dashed off towards the Yamen entrance.
Wei Shulan was alarmed and cried out, "Cousin, don't be rash! The Yamen isn't a place just anyone can barge into!"