Having a Baby Before Marrying a Wicked Husband - Chapter 133

Qingke’s School Days

When Qingke was seven years old, he officially started attending the county’s private school. There were classes specifically for children his age, mostly attended by young masters from various families in the county. It was rare for children from poor families to attend school at this age. However, many of the young masters had started attending preschool at the age of three or four, so Qingke was considered late in starting at the private school.

Nevertheless, with Jiang Manyue’s teachings at home, Qingke skipped a grade and went straight to the academy after entering the private school. His classmates were all at least one or two years older than him.

Each young master was accompanied by a small servant and followed by household servants. Naturally, Qingke had his own attendants. Among them, Lan specifically, responsible for escorting the young master to school.

However, while household servants were allowed into the school grounds, they were not permitted to enter the classrooms during lessons. They sat outside the school building, listening to the childish reading voices from inside.

Neither Yan Cai nor Jiang Manyue had any intention of taking advantage of their status. Since returning to their hometown in Qingqu, Yan Cai hadn’t used his status as a prince to gain anything for himself. The family continued to live as they always had, although the county magistrate was very polite to them and sent them some things every now and then.

The former county magistrate had been dismissed from office several years ago, and their good fortune seemed to have continued with the arrival of the new county magistrate.

They didn’t boast about their status and never actively flaunted their identity, especially when it came to their children. Yan Cai had no interest in raising his two sons to be spoiled brats. Therefore, few people could tell that these two children were the young masters of the prince’s household when they were outside.

Therefore, in a class composed of young masters and heirs, Qingke’s family background appeared quite ordinary.

However, even so, he attracted a lot of attention.

Qingke had rosy lips and white teeth, inheriting all the advantages of both his fathers in terms of looks. By the age of seven, the small leaves on his head could be hidden, and his silver-green hair was styled into two small buns, tied with light blue ribbons. He wore light yellow clothes, resembling a chubby doll from a New Year painting.

Qingke’s appearance was unmatched in the entire class, but that wasn’t the main reason he attracted attention. While others carried schoolbags or book boxes to school, even those with large book boxes were already eye-catching, but Qingke carried an even larger basket. He carried his three-and-a-half-year-old younger brother to the private school. The second child was usually very lively at home, but here at school, he was very well-behaved, holding a white radish in his hand and grinding his tiny teeth like grains of rice.

Saliva dripped from the corner of his mouth, so Qingke wiped it off with a soft cloth.

Just before leaving, Qingke had told him seriously: “Don’t make noise or make trouble, or I won’t take you out to play next time.”

The Little brother nodded obediently. He adored his elder brother the most. It was too obvious bringing a little baby like him to class. The children in the class couldn’t help but glance at them. The private tutor tapped the desk of a distracted student with a teaching cane, instructing him to stand up and recite a passage.

The most distracted child immediately stood up. He was quite tall, towering over Qingke by more than a head. Besides, he was two years older than Qingke and bulkier. Both of Yan Cai’s sons had been short in their childhood, which had worried Yan Cai greatly.

As a father, he didn’t want his sons to inherit his shortcomings. He was dissatisfied with his own height and especially concerned that his sons might inherit it. If they were to inherit height, it should be from Jiang Manyue.

Jiang Manyue had a great figure, broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs.

Jiang Manyue could only console him, saying their sons were still young and would grow taller in a couple of years. Boys develop later.

Yan Cai looked at him distrustfully with one eye open.

“Are you telling the truth? You’re not tricking me?”

“When have I ever tricked you? I was short compared to my peers when I was a kid, but then I shot up. Besides, our sons have long arms and legs; they’ll grow tall easily.”

Yan Cai was convinced.

As a result, Qingke, who was already younger than many of the children in the class, seemed even younger when compared to others. Compared to the boy who was called upon to recite, he appeared to be at least two years younger.

Although he looked young for his age, he wasn’t timid at all, very steady and confident. Initially, Yan Cai was worried that his son would be bullied at school, but later he realized that his son had a strong presence, so there was nothing to worry about. Besides, there was always Lan keeping an eye on him in the school.

The distracted boy had just started learning a section of the “Classic of Filial Piety” yesterday and hadn’t memorized more than a few words yet, so he hesitated for a long time.

“The body’s flesh, hair and skin, received from the parents…”

“What are you receiving?” The teacher, who had two small goatees, tapped the desk with the teaching cane again, asking very seriously.

“Teacher, I don’t know how to recite it,” the boy deflated.

The teacher told him to sit down and then asked the whole class.

“Who can recite?”

No one answered. Qingke ‘s mind wasn’t on the teacher; he lowered his head and leaned over to the basket on the nearby chair, giving his little brother a kiss. His little brother was already asleep inside, so Qingke tucked him in tighter with the blanket.

The basket was large enough for the younger sibling to lie down and sleep. Although his little brother was much smaller than the average child, being only three years old, but the basket was still quite obvious.

Qingke ‘s distracted behavior in entertaining his brother was too apparent. However, the private school teacher didn’t call him up to recite.

Firstly, because he was young, and the teacher’s expectations for younger students were lower. Secondly, the teacher vaguely sensed that this child’s background is not what it seemed.

Although not clear about the specifics, the county magistrate had personally come to enroll him in the private school. So, the teachers turned a blind eye to certain things, treating Qingke like a little prince.

Initially, the teacher had been worried that having a rebellious little prince would be troublesome, but after the child arrived, he found that the boy was quite well-behaved, except for insisting on bringing his even younger brother to school, he didn’t misbehave in any other way.

Compared to the other young masters in the class, he was much more well-behaved

On the contrary, the other children, all from well-to-do families, were difficult to offend. They were all pampered at home and had quite temperamental attitudes.

For example, the student who couldn’t recite was also considered a genius at home, earning praise every day. It was rare for him to fail to recite and he felt embarrassed. Moreover, seeing the teacher ignoring Qingke ‘s behavior made him feel even more unhappy, thinking that the teacher was deliberately trying to embarrass him and favoring Jiang Qingke.

Feeling dissatisfied, he, a little tyrant from home, immediately pointed at Qingke and said, “Teacher, why don’t you let him recite? He’s so good, bringing his little brother to school every day. He must be very knowledgeable.”

His words were meant to be sarcastic. Everyone knew that this was the youngest in the class, and had joined midway through, so the teacher’s expectations for him were relatively low. Saying this was deliberately putting someone in an awkward position.

Just as the teacher was about to give Qingke a way out, Qingke stood up on his own.

“Teacher, I can recite it.”