Chapter 41
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S T E L L A R C L O U D
[Celeste S.] [Azurixa] [Robert K.]
O R A N G E S T A R
[K.Rom]
Y E L L O W S T A R
[Camille] [Linds] [Esther D.]
Gu Jiao never thought that she, a top student who had gone through the College Entrance Examination [1], Postgraduate Entrance Examination [2], and Ph. D. qualifying exam in her previous life and finally hatched from the high pressure with great difficulty, had to start as a primary school student again, and it was also the area she was least good at—— Calligraphy.
Gu Jiao listlessly walked over, her whole person not well.
Although there was a beauty on the side, and this beauty was a real feast for the eyes too, she really didn’t want to practice calligraphy, really didn"t want to!
"Let’s start with your name." Xiao Liulang said.
His voice was somewhere between a juvenile’s voice in its changing period and that of an adult man. It wasn’t that kind of ugly male duck voice, but instead it revealed a trace of a fresh deepness.
Gu Jiao, who was a little resistant to incompetence, still watched silently as he wrote down her name on a piece of paper.
Unlike the sign on the surgery’s consent form from before, this time seemed to be more carefully and neatly written.
But Gu Jiao still didn’t quite understand it.
Gu Jiao was sitting opposite of Xiao Liulang. From her point of view, the words were upside down. Xiao Liulang upended the paper and asked Gu Jiao to study it carefully.
After that, he taught her the strokes and stroke order one by one, writing them on paper.
Looking at so many strokes, Gu Jiao felt a major headache.
This wasn’t the traditional Chinese character, nor was it the clerical script[3], the lesser seal script[4] or the great seal script[5], but rather a character she was completely unfamiliar with.
Seeing how clumsily Gu Jiao held the writing brush, with a look of bitterness and resentment, Xiao Liulang said, "The posture of holding the brush is wrong, raise your hand a little bit, and don"t be too stiff at your wrist."
"Like this?" Gu Jiao adjusted according to his instructions.
Gu Jiao"s brush-holding posture was actually the standard in her previous life, but it wasn"t enough in front of ancient people like Xiao Liulang.
"Index finger." Xiao Liulang said.
"Hm?" Gu Jiao was confused.
Xiao Liulang hesitated for a moment, then stretched forward his slender jade finger, and gently pushed her index finger upwards.
If he did this on other occasions, Gu Jiao was sure to think, "He touched my fingers, I’ll count that as holding hands." But right now, he was teaching her to write, which she counted as attending a cla.s.s, and Gu Jiao was always a serious student in cla.s.s.
Gu Jiao took off her shoes, sat cross-legged opposite him, and practiced earnestly, one stroke at a time.
Xue Ningxiang was still waiting in the main room. She had no idea why Gu Jiao had been in there for so long. That letter wasn’t long. Did it really have to take this long to read?
Xue Ningxiang didn"t know that the two people in the room had completely forgotten about the letter, one reading and the other practicing calligraphy.
Xiao Liulang corrected Gu Jiao"s brush-holding posture once in a while. As for whether she wrote well or not, he didn’t force it either. After all, holding a brush for the first time without writing on the outside of the paper was already quite good.
If Gu Jiao knew his thoughts, afraid she would jump to her feet at once and go berserk. She was a grand modern-day top student, how could you say it was her first time holding a brush?!
Gu Jiao"s memory was still very good. Those complicated strokes, she just had to write them down once to remember. Only, her handwriting was simply too ugly, too horrible to look at.
According to Xiao Liulang"s standard, it was indeed that of a primary school student who just started to hold a writing brush.
After all, his handwriting when he was two years old was better than this.
Before they knew it, they had been staying in the room for half an hour. Finally, the elderly woman came to find Gu Jiao in her boredom and leisure, only to find that the two people were actually busy writing characters in the room.
The elderly woman didn"t take a closer look, but only glanced from the door. She saw the red paper.
She immediately had a judgment in her heart, "Writing Spring Festival couplets? Well, it"s about time to write it. If you don"t write it now, you might not be able to finish it later. Call me when you"re done."
She wanted to put up Spring Festival couplets!
This was really a beautiful misunderstanding. But Gu Jiao also knew that Xiao Liulang was indeed planning to use these red papers to make Spring Festival couplets, he just happened to practice writing the characters first, delaying the work.
But now that the elderly woman proposed it, they better get back on track and start writing Spring Festival couplets!
"I"ll cut the paper!" Gu Jiao put down the writing brush and went to look for scissors or something in the house.
Thanking grandaunt for saving her from the suffering! If she kept on practicing like that, her hand would be crippled!
Xiao Liulang stared at the red papers in front of him, looking a little dazed.
However, when Gu Jiao cut them neatly and beautifully, and placed them at his hand, he still took up his writing brush and wrote several sets of Spring Festival couplets.
"Write some copies for Little Xue too." The elderly woman reminded them.
The elderly woman liked Xue Ningxiang a lot. Of course, she liked Gu Jiao very much as well. She wouldn’t say anything, but Gu Jiao could sense other people’s kindness and malice towards her.
For instance, Xue Ningxiang was full of malice when she met her for the first time, but now this malice had completely disappeared.
The elderly woman"s fondness for Xue Ningxiang was different from her fondness for Gu Jiao. Towards Gu Jiao, it was a family affection, but towards Xue Ningxiang, it was the host"s fondness for her guest.
To put it bluntly, she thought Xue Ningxiang was a good guest suitable for frequent hang outs.
When the elderly woman said this, the two people finally realized that they had forgotten Xue Ningxiang and her letter, and both of them felt somewhat embarra.s.sed.
Don"t know what kind of mood Xue Ningxiang was in while waiting for them in the main room...
Half an hour later, Gu Jiao came out with Xue Ningxiang"s letter and the Spring Festival couplets written by Xiao Liulang, plus a plate of sesame candies and chestnut cakes for Xue Ningxiang to bring home.
"Why are you giving all these?" Xue Ningxiang was astonished.
Gu Jiao certainly wouldn’t say that it was her expression of apology. She solemnly said, "It"s almost New Year. Grandaunt asked me to bring these. The Spring Festival couplets are for you, the chestnut cakes and sesame candies are for your mother-in-law and your son."
Xue Ningxiang hurriedly thanked her.
"Just now..." Gu Jiao hesitated and decided to explain in the end.
Who knew Xue Ningxiang would show her a teasing smile and give her a look of “I know.”
Gu Jiao: You know? What do you know?!!
Xue Ningxiang was a person with experience. The little wife entered her husband’s room and didn’t come out for a while. What else could they do?
How could she be angry about such a thing? The reason why she stayed aside without saying a word was to avoid seeing what she shouldn"t see and hearing what she shouldn"t hear.
"Only..." She whispered to Gu Jiao, "Remember to close the door next time. Grandaunt is still at home."
Gu Jiao: I think you’re misunderstanding something here...
Xue Ningxiang’s brother-in-law said in the letter that he made a small meritorious contribution at the border, became a squad leader, and received a reward of 10 taels of silver. All the rewards had been sent back to Xue Ningxiang. He asked Xue Ningxiang to take care of his mother and her son, and at the same time, don’t treat herself badly.
He said he would earn a lot of money in the future, so don"t worry about spending the money.
This brother-in-law wasn’t bad.
Gu Jiao asked Xue Ningxiang if she wanted to reply, but Xue Ningxiang shook her head. During this period, everyone had gone back for the New Year, and there was no one at the post station. Even if she wrote him a response, no one would send it.
After Gu Jiao gave the things to Xue Ningxiang, she returned home. Xue Ningxiang accepted all the edibles, but as for the Spring Festival couplets, she only accepted one set saying Spring Festival couplets were too expensive. Gu Jiao told her she didn"t buy it from the outside, but Xiao Liulang wrote it himself. But then she said, "Red paper is very expensive."
The red papers were sent by Feng Lin, and there were a lot of them, so Gu Jiao didn"t think about its price. When she asked Xiao Liulang, she found that this kind of paper for writing Spring Festival couplets was several times more expensive than ordinary paper.
"It"s not too expensive at ordinary times, but the price will increase during the New Year." Xiao Liulang explained.
"That... Is Feng Lin"s family financially good?" Gu Jiao asked.
Xiao Liulang thought for a moment and then shook his head, saying, "I didn"t ask, but it should be... not so good."
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Also, please also have a look at our other translations!
Everyone But Me Is Reborn
Her father is a coward and senselessly filial. Her mother is weak and gullible. Her elder brother is a wastrel.
When she married into the w.a.n.gfu, she suffered and was coldly treated. And by the time she was in labour, she was fated to die with the unborn child in her belly.
This was supposed to be Ning Nuan"s life.
However this time, everyone but her is reborn.
Ning Nuan is at a loss. She felt that her dad has suddenly become the pillar of the family, her mother’s temper became fierce, and even her elder brother, who would only walk the dogs and play with birds all day, has begun picking up books and reading them carefully.
There is also that juvenile that shows up at the wall of her courtyard everyday, calling her “Ah Nuan, Ah Nuan” with an honest face.