As the only child of three generations of the Zhuang family, Zhou Boxu knew very well how much Mrs. Zhuang valued Zhuang Yun and could not teach Zhuang Yun martial arts behind her back. Then I took the time to go to the banker.
"No." Mrs. Zhuang decisively rejected it.
"If Yun'er reads well, she will be able to shine in the future without having to practice martial arts."
Zhou Bo prefaced: "With Yun'er's intelligence, there is indeed a good way out without practicing martial arts. However, practicing martial arts does not necessarily mean becoming a general and going to the battlefield. It can also be just to strengthen one's body and protect oneself."
"In addition to generals, there are also other military positions in the court, such as my commander-in-chief."
Zhou Boxu explained patiently, trying to dispel Mrs. Zhuang's concerns.
"What if, what if Yun'er goes down that road after practicing martial arts and something goes wrong, how can you compensate me?" Mrs. Zhuang looked excited, her chest heaving.
Zhou Poxu looked at Mrs. Zhuang, whose eyes were red and her face was angry, and said calmly: "There are hundreds of thousands of soldiers in Dazhao. Most of them were civilians before joining the army and did not know how to fight, but they still went to the battlefield. The old lady thinks that if Yun'er really wants to go to the battlefield, does it matter whether she is a martial artist or not?"
Mrs. Zhuang was shocked when she heard this, and a surge of desperate grief and indignation arose in her heart. She opened her mouth to scold Zhou Poxu, but she couldn't think of a word to refute.
Zhou Boxu was right, and it was precisely because he was right that Mrs. Zhuang felt scared.
Seeing that Mrs. Zhuang seemed to have heard more, Zhou Boxu said again: "Cao Qian of Tianji Mountain was assassinated. The Holy Emperor, the Prince and others all had the time to wait for reinforcements to save the day. Uncle Yun'er has also been assassinated many times in recent years. "If you don't have strong martial arts skills, you won't be able to escape danger every time."
"There are too many variables in human life, and dangers are everywhere. If you don't have the slightest effort, you can only be at the mercy of others."
"Yun'er likes riding and shooting, and wants to practice martial arts. Does the old lady really want to make him regret his life because of uncertain scruples, putting him in danger and unable to protect himself?"
Every word and sentence in Zhou Bo's preface is like thorns piercing Mrs. Zhuang's heart, piercing through her self-deception since the first poem.
Mrs. Zhuang lamented and shook her head helplessly.
Seeing that Mrs. Zhuang was moved, Zhou Boxu comforted him in a slow voice: "Since I have become Yun'er's father, I will regard him as my own son. The old lady's worries are also the concerns of the princess and I, and we will try our best to guide him." avoid."
Mrs. Zhuang understood that there were no absolutes in the world, so Zhou Boxu tried his best to make a guarantee.
And she is too old to watch over Zhuang Yun for many years. The only people who can rely on in the future are Zhou Boxu and Yu Lan.
Yu Lan is the royal princess, and Zhou Boxu is the son of the Taifu. In terms of knowledge and foresight, they were far superior to her.
After pondering for a long time, Mrs. Zhuang sighed bitterly: "The son is taught by his father, I don't care."
What this means is compromise.
Zhou Boxu breathed a sigh of relief and solemnly promised: "Don't worry, old lady, I won't harm Yun'er."
Mrs. Zhuang, who had bushy hair, raised her head, looked at Zhou Boxu intently, and entrusted her with a pleading voice: "The only incense left by the banker is Yun'er, and I leave it to you."
Zhou Boxu nodded in response.
Mrs. Zhuang moved her lips and said apologetically: "The banker is ashamed of you, and I can only pay you back in the next life."
Zhou Poxu shook his head and said with a magnanimous heart: "Old Madam, it is the best repayment for me to return the princess to me. The banker will no longer owe me anything."
As for Zhuang Yun, he is Yu Lan's child and he is willing to do so.
After hearing this, Mrs. Zhuang became even more ashamed.
Zhou Poxu is a gentleman and a good person. Zhuang Yun is extremely lucky to have him as his father.
The knot in her heart dissipated, and Mrs. Zhuang said calmly: "You don't have to ask me about Yun'er's affairs from now on. It's all up to you and the princess."
Zhou Boxu cupped his hands and agreed, "I will certainly live up to my old lady's trust."
Zhuang Yun returned home from school. After hearing that Mrs. Zhuang agreed to his martial arts practice, he couldn't wait to ask Zhou Boxu to teach him.
Zhou Boxu Lingsu said: "Practice martial arts is not something that can be accomplished in a few days. It requires years of persistence and is very difficult. You have to learn to get up half an hour early from tomorrow and practice every day without slacking off."
Zhuang Yun nodded heavily: "Okay, I'm not afraid of hardship, please teach me."
Zhuang Yun was fully prepared and full of enthusiastic expectations, but Zhou Boxu said: "Start with Zamabu and carry the bucket, and practice for a month."
Zhuang Yun was disappointed, but still did as he was told.
Zhou Boxu spent half an hour teaching Zhuang Yun the correct posture and asked him to get up early every day to exercise.
Zhuang Yun, who was pampered and had fine skin and tender flesh, suddenly started practicing martial arts. His arms were sore from fatigue that night, his legs and feet were weak, and the hand holding the chopsticks during dinner was shaking.
Although Yu Lan felt distressed, she didn't say anything.
When Yu Zheng first learned martial arts when he was young, he was like Zhuang Yun. So she understood that this was a necessary process.
Although Zhuang Yun was pampered and had never experienced such suffering, he had a tenacious temperament and never tired of what he was determined to do, no matter how hard it was. Just like when I learned horseback riding and archery before, even if my legs were red and swollen and my hands were cut by the bowstring, I would never flinch.
It was precisely after seeing this that Zhou Boxu taught Zhuang Yun how to practice martial arts. He believed that Zhuang Yun could persevere to the end.
It was completely cold in September. On the first day of the new year, Zhou Boxu took Yu Lan and Zhuang Yun back to Zhou Mansion for dinner.
Since they moved to the Princess Mansion, they have gone back to Zhou Mansion on the first day of every month and to the banker's house on the fifteenth day of every month.
"Yun'er is here. I asked the kitchen to make your favorite sweet and sour pork ribs, as well as the lion's head." Taifu Zhou waved with a smile and asked Zhuang Yun to sit next to him.
"Thank you, Grandpa." Zhuang Yun thanked him politely and sat down politely.
When the dishes were served, Yu Lan took a quick look and saw that almost all of them were what she and Zhuang Yun liked to eat.
Yu Lan always loves to eat fish, and Mrs. Zhou specially ordered her maid to put the steamed seabass in front of Yu Lan.
Yu Lan took a piece and put it into his mouth. After chewing it for a few times, he frowned.
"What's wrong? It doesn't suit your taste?" Zhou Boxu asked immediately.
Taifu Zhou and Mrs. Zhou came over upon hearing this.
Yu Lan swallowed hard and endured the discomfort and whispered: "It's a little fishy."
Zhou Boxu heard this and took a piece. He tasted it and said nothing.
The fish was the same as before, with no fishy smell.
He knew that Yu Lan was not an unreasonable person. Maybe he was feeling sick in his stomach today, so he thought briefly and said, "I'll stay away."
Zhou Boxu took the fish away and wanted to put it on the other side, but Mrs. Zhou said: "Give it to me."
Mrs. Zhou placed the fish in front of Taifu Zhou and took a bite, feeling suspicious immediately.
She looked at Yu Lan who was eating the lion's head, and with a slight thought in her mind, she filled a bowl of soup for Yu Lan.
"I've tasted this fish soup, and it's not fishy."
"Thank you, mother." Yu Lan took it, scooped it up with a spoon, blew it lightly and put it into his mouth.
"Ugh-" After taking a mouthful of fish soup, Yu Lan retched in disgust.
Mrs. Zhou looked happy when she saw this, and hurriedly ordered someone to call the government doctor.
Zhou Boxu handed Yu Lan a cup of tea, and Guan You asked, "But you feel uncomfortable in your stomach?"
Yu Lan was not an ignorant girl. With her successive weird reactions and Mrs. Zhou's words, she vaguely guessed something.
