webnovelfull Chapter 167
Chapter 167
Jiang Tunan nodded and turned to Tian Mier, "Is that so, Mier?"
Tian Mi'er bit her lip and didn't respond. She stretched her hand in front of Jiang Tunan and said, "She beat me until it was swollen, and she still said it didn't count!"
Jiang Tunan took out a handkerchief and wiped her tears. "Did you mention Wanqing? Did you point your finger at her?"
Tian Mi'er didn't say anything, but she cried even louder. Jiang Tunan knew that Wang Xiachu was telling the truth. Otherwise, Tian Mi'er would have already started to refute her. Her silence was a tacit agreement.
"Okay, I'll get some medicine for you." Jiang Tunan turned around and went into the house to get a box of ointment, and applied it carefully to Tian Mier.
There were several other women in the class, and when they saw this scene, they all started talking in low voices with their better wives.
"Master Jiang! She said you don't play the piano as well as she does!" Tian Mier looked at Xia Chu fiercely and said again.
"Really?" Jiang Tunan packed up and asked Tian Mier to go back.
Jia Wanqing wanted to stand up and loudly refute that she had said that, but she was afraid that Master Jiang would dislike her for it. She pursed her lips and looked embarrassed, as if she was about to cry.
Xia Chu just sat next to Jia Wanlin and said, "I didn't say that. Besides, I don't know how to play the guqin. The pipa is okay, and it's pleasing to the ear."
"Pipa?" This made Jiang Tunan look at Xia Chu. She paused, and then said with a hint of nostalgia, "I heard that the eldest lady of the Jia family is the best at playing the pipa."
Jia Wanlin had the good fortune to hear some music playing outside the courtyard, but wasn't sure who was playing it. Her aunt had loved playing the pipa, but later fell ill and didn't play it much. She held Jia Wanqing back as she tried to stand up and speak, whispering, "Don't tell anyone about your daughter's return for now."
"Why?" Jia Wanqing was puzzled.
"I'll explain it to you when we get back." Jia Wanlin motioned her not to ask any more questions, and Jia Wanqing nodded.
Tian Mier snorted and said, "Then play it for me! I don't believe you're better than Master Jiang!"
Xia Chu didn't bother to pay attention to her and touched the guqin in front of her. She could play a little, but her proficiency was not high.
No one responded to Tian Mier's words, and Jiang Tunan simply said, "Go sit down, class is starting."
"You don't dare anymore, right? Are you afraid of embarrassing yourself?" Tian Mier walked to Xia Chu's side.
"Mi'er." Jiang Tunan called out warningly.
Xia Chu didn't even look at Tian Mier. The more she paid attention to this kind of person, the more excited she would become. It was most painful to ignore her.
Tian Mier pursed her lips and said aggrievedly: "But she sat in my seat."
Cui Ya had already brought the zither over, and later two maids followed to help carry the tables and chairs.
Xia Chu stood up slowly and moved to another position.
Tian Mier was very angry about her attitude, but Master Jiang was already preparing to give the lecture, so she could only hold it back.
Xia Chu saw that her fair and tender little face was almost turning blue with anger. She didn't know how such a young child could have such a bad temper.
Jiang Tunan flipped open the music sheet, assigned a piece, and had everyone play it. The first was Tian Mier, dressed in red, her chin raised and head held high, like a fighting cock about to enter the ring. She raised her hands exaggeratedly, but after Jiang Tunan reprimanded her, she pursed her lips and calmed down.
But she played really well, with stable strength and rhythm, and never made a wrong note.
Next came the others, but none of them played as well as Tian Mier.
Xia Chu looked at the two Jia sisters and found them both very nervous. Especially Jia Wanqing, who was afraid that she would make mistakes if she went in this state.
Jia Wanlin took a few deep breaths before going up to the piano. She didn't make any mistakes. Just as Tian Mier had said, her fingers were too soft, and the piano sounded limp. A more lingering piece would have been fine, but the piece Jiang Tunan had chosen had a brisk tempo, and she couldn't play it that way.
Jiang Tunan frowned, as if he wanted to say something, but swallowed it back.
Next came Jia Wanqing, whose expression was as if she were about to be executed. Jiang Tunan shook his head. After Jia Wanqing finished playing the piece with a halting pause, he sighed and said, "Go back and practice more."
Tian Mier sneered and looked at Jia Wanqing smugly.
Everyone had played, and Jiang Tunan began the lesson. But before he could finish, Tian Mier raised her hand and said, "Master Jiang, Wang Xiachu hasn't played yet."
"Madam Wang hasn't attended lessons before, so she won't play today." Jiang Tunan looked at Tian Mi'er, thinking she was too noisy today. "Just listen to the class and don't interrupt."
Tian Mier closed her mouth reluctantly and turned back to glare at Xia Chu.
Xia Chu didn't notice it. She thought it would be a good idea to learn the guqin.
After the guqin lesson, it was time for dinner. The others went home. The Jia sisters all went back together. Tian Mier, who usually ate here, followed behind them angrily, determined to complain to her aunt again.
Xia Chu was going back to see Jia Qingwu and did not go with them.
Jia Qingwu calculated the time and stood at the entrance of the yard waiting. When she saw Xia Chu coming back, her face lit up, "Xia Xia."
"Mom." Xia Chu trotted over and took her arm. "Why don't you wait inside? How long have you been standing there?"
"A little while." Jia Qingwu looked at her with a smile. "You must be hungry. The meal is ready."
At the dinner table, Jia Qingwu poured her a bowl of soup and handed it to her, then asked about her day. "Did you have fun today? What did you learn?"
"Embroidery and guqin." Xia Chu took a sip. The medicinal food tasted quite good. The flavor wasn't too strong, just too bland. She really wanted to enjoy a feast. A barbecue would be ideal, and some fruit wine would be perfect. She fantasized about it, but unfortunately, there was no one here to drink with her. Jia Qingwu definitely couldn't drink.
"Embroidery? Did you prick your hand?" When Jia Qingwu heard this, her eyes scanned her fingers.
"I didn't move the needle. Embroidery is too boring, and I don't have the talent for it." Xia Chu raised her palm to demonstrate. "I learned it from my mother when I was a child, but I couldn't sit still."
After confirming that there were no needle holes on her hands, Jia Qingwu smiled and said, "If you can't do it, then don't do it. I'm not very good at it either."
Aunt Xu smiled silently. The eldest lady's needlework was famous. Her wedding dress was praised by everyone who saw it. Now, to appease her daughter, she said she couldn't embroider.
Xia Chu believed it, and felt happy to have found a comrade. "Really? That means neither my mother nor I have this talent."
"Yes." Jia Qingwu happily coaxed her, nodding repeatedly. "What about the guqin? You learned the pipa. The music theory is similar, only the fingering is different."
"Well, I know a little bit about the guqin, but I don't plan to master it. I still prefer the pipa." Xia Chu said.
"Then just listen to it." Jia Qingwu was like all mothers who spoiled their children, fearing that her child would suffer even the slightest bit.
After dinner, the two of them took a nap together. Xia Chu was quite used to sleeping next to Jia Qingwu by now. Jia Qingwu, perhaps because she had lived in the temple for a long time, often used the abbot's special calming incense. It always had a hint of sandalwood on her, which was very pleasant and calming. It was especially effective for hypnosis.