CHAPTER 274: 274. TEMPERING AND LEARNING GO HAND IN HAND

"Hehe, it’s good for girls to have a stronger personality, saves them from being bullied." Rather than constantly worrying that his daughters might be too soft and get pushed around, Lianshan actually hopes his three daughters will toughen up.

As a father, he’d rather apologize, pay for medical expenses, than see his three delicate flowers suffer even a bit of grievance.

Today’s incident, when it comes down to it, is entirely Chenchen’s fault.

If he hadn’t sneered at Xinzhi, none of this would have happened, right?

Being an older brother without acting like one, not knowing to protect his sister and instead being the first to mock and ridicule, Lianshan thinks Chenchen is the one who needs a good lesson.

Later on, he needs to properly discipline this brat. Maybe have a heart-to-heart talk and punish him to write "brotherly love" a thousand times?

The eldest is smart and clever, even the ways he proposes punishments are particularly novel and unique!

Hmm, it’s quite worthy of emulation.

Clearly, both made mistakes, fifty lashes each, none should take things lightly.

But as this ’doting on the daughters but not the sons’ dad stepped in, he openly showed favoritism, causing Shuzhen’s brows to furrow repeatedly.

Unwilling to argue in front of the children, she temporarily skipped this topic, yet pondered internally about finding a way to temper Xinzhi’s temperament.

When things are overly rigid, they easily break.

Everything has its limits. Shuzhen is willing to strive hard to provide her children with a golden start, allowing them to win early at the starting line. But she’s absolutely unwilling to indulge them materially and raise them to be arrogant, self-centered.

Parents are willing to bear the consequences for their children’s mistakes, but what if one day their missteps exceed the parents’ capacity?

One must recognize that in this world, there are always people beyond people, mountains beyond mountains.

Shuzhen hadn’t forgotten: a while ago, this girl knocked Shi Tou on the head with a rock, just because Liu Feng spoke ill of her big brother, giving him a huge purple lump.

Tsk tsk, such temper, such boldness.

Fortunately, the Liu family had no grounds, Ning Kang terrified Liu Feng.

Otherwise, by now Xinzhi’s reputation for being fierce would have spread across the villages!

Thinking she escaped unscathed, Xinzhi was blissfully happy, and gave her dad a sweet kiss. Little did she know, her mom was scheming to straighten out her somewhat arrogant nature?

If she’d known, she surely wouldn’t have argued so recklessly, generously proclaiming she didn’t mind!

However, it’s too late now, you can’t patch the leak once the ship’s in the middle of the river.

Xinzhi looked disenchanted, gazing at her chubby little hand punctured again. She whined sorrowfully, hoping to evoke her mom’s sympathy: "Mom, can we learn something else? Your eldest daughter is really not cut out for embroidery! In these three days, I’ve barely learned anything yet have a ton of needle marks on my hand.

If this continues, my chubby little hand will turn into a hedgehog!"

"Absolutely, dear. There are many ways to cultivate sentiments, like reading, writing, painting, and playing music. Why insist on making Zhi Zhi learn embroidery?" The needle marks of all sizes on the eldest daughter’s hand truly broke Lianshan’s heart.

Trying to plead for leniency, he also regretted buying the embroidery needles, threads, and cloth, and making several frames for his wife.

Originally, he thought his wife just got inspired to embroider something.

Who knew she actually wanted to teach the eldest daughter embroidery to temper her character?

In hindsight...

Lianshan chuckled, even knowing he couldn’t resist his wife’s sweet talk and charm.

Watching his daughter repeatedly pricking her hand, Shuzhen felt unbearable heartache.

Considering whether to switch to another activity, but then this crafty girl, cleverer than a sieve, turned to her father for rescue. Shuzhen’s wavering resolve immediately grew firm again: "Learning embroidery, there’s no way to avoid pricking your hands a bit at first. Gradually, you’ll become skillful, Zhi Zhi don’t be discouraged, mom believes you can do it."

"Can’t we switch..."

"A thousand pieces of gold are not as valuable as having a skill; embroidery is an ancient craft of our great country.

It’s culture, it’s art.

Instead of just idling away the summer, why not learn more things, right?

Otherwise, one day your big brother becomes a famous painter, your second brother a successful businessman. The younger siblings also have their careers and aspirations. If you have nothing to show, isn’t it a pity?

Besides, if you lag far behind, Chenchen will be even more unabashedly mocking you?" As a mom of six kids, Shuzhen is adept at persuading and using reverse psychology.

Sure enough, just thinking about being mocked by Chenchen, Xinzhi was filled with refusal.

Immediately picking up the embroidery thread again, continuing her efforts stitch by stitch.

Occasionally pricking her hand.

But moving forward, the young girl no longer complained of pain or exhaustion, nor cried over such tiny injuries.

Half a month later, the initially crying, pleading little Xinzhi had somehow completed a blue purse with yellow duck embroidery with Shuzhen’s help.

Although the stitching was messy, color choices were questionable, and the design quite simple.

However, when Lianshan received his daughter’s gift, his heart was filled with joy.

No matter if it matches or suits, he insisted on carrying his beloved daughter’s creation.

Anyone who asked, he proudly mentioned it was his nine-year-old daughter’s first embroidery piece. Despite her tiny hand being full of needle marks, she persisted and gave it to him. He said she promised to patiently and carefully learn from mom and make pouches, handkerchiefs, clothes for dad, mom, and siblings in the future.

Within days, everyone inside and outside the village knew Xinzhi is a talented and dutiful girl.

A nine-year-old girl, she hadn’t fully grasped the profound impact of a good reputation.

But she understood the pride and delight on her dad’s face, just a little shabby duck purse could make him so happy, what about something more refined?

Dad is so good to her, she must be more filial and diligent in return!

At least, she’d want those around to genuinely agree when dad praises her embroidery skills.

Rather than, like now, fake it.

Saying things they don’t mean, that’s just those hypocritical adults.

Pft, don’t think kids don’t understand anything. Actually, kids can best discern the sincerity of people’s attitudes!