Chapter 965 – War in the North
“Lanlan, your two classmates are quite nice. You should get along with them well and not act spoiled.”
To put it realistically, Feng Yi and Qi Guan Jinghui were both children of influential families.
If Jiang Pengji were to make further progress, they could potentially be the mainstay of the next generation.
Building good relationships now means you won’t have to worry about future security!
In the past, Sun Wen was quite indulgent with his grandson and refrained from imposing adult worldly thoughts on the child.
After a significant change, he had no choice but to adjust his established mindset.
He was almost forty-seven; in a few years, he’d be a grumpy old man. Who knew how long he could accompany his child?
Should he pass away, Sun Lan would truly be alone in this world, with no relatives to rely on—just friends.
Understanding this, Sun Lan nodded earnestly, “Got it, Grandpa. I’ll make sure to get along well with Jinghui and the others.”
“Good, good.”
Sun Wen gently caressed his grandson’s delicate face with his calloused hand, filled with joy.
“Now, let Grandpa test you a bit, see if you’ve been studying well.”
“Sure, Grandpa, feel free to quiz me!”
Sun Lan’s enlightenment was solely under Sun Wen’s guidance, and even during their hardest times, he never relaxed in educating Sun Lan.
Knowing his grandson was young, he kept the questions simple, but Sun Lan’s performance surprised him greatly.
“My dear Lanlan, you’re so brilliant! You’re already smarter than your father was back in the day!”
Sun Wen’s eyes sparkled with delight, his face blooming with joy as he generously praised his grandson.
He himself was a late bloomer; it was hard for him to learn back when he was young, and his son was dull-witted too, seemingly lacking any talent. Sunny Lan’s generation had him worried—was this child also going to be intellectually mediocre?
After his enlightenment, reality hit Sun Wen hard.
The family legacy of dullness!
Everything was difficult to learn!!
He didn’t despise his grandson’s clumsiness; he was just worried that Sun Lan might be too mediocre and could easily be bullied in the future.
If it weren’t for these worries, Sun Wen wouldn’t be risking his life to accumulate achievements.
He sought only that Jiang Pengji would treat Sun Lan well, given his significant contributions.
However—his grandson greatly surprised him.
This surprise felt even more rewarding than outsmarting those fools in the northern frontier.
Sun Lan dropped his head, his face flushed from the praise, accidentally revealing his adorable little tiger teeth.
“I still have many things I don’t understand and need to study harder.”
Sun Lan didn’t become arrogant; instead, he earnestly reflected on himself.
It was impossible not to be influenced when a genius like Feng Yi was flaunting around, making Sun Lan feel quite humble, even at the Golden Scales Academy.
“Yes, that’s right; don’t get cocky in victory, don’t be disheartened in defeat. You truly are grandpa’s good Lanlan.” Sun Wen patted his grandson’s head and added, “If there’s anything you don’t understand, you must ask and think more. Don’t be afraid of being mocked; figuring things out is what matters most.”
Sun Lan inherited his parents’ shy and reserved personality, which made Sun Wen worry he might bottle up his questions, hindering his learning.
Sun Lan nodded seriously and then said, “Then, Grandpa, I just happen to have a few questions.”
He had been in Chongzhou for some time now, and every time he witnessed Qi Guanrang instructing his daughter or Feng Zhen guiding his son, he felt quite envious.
But not anymore—Jinghui and Feng Yi had knowledgeable fathers, and he had an even more knowledgeable grandfather!
Sun Wen smiled, “Alright, let’s hear them.”
Sun Lan ran back into the house and brought several books, making Sun Wen’s eyebrows jump.
Of course, the books Sun Lan brought were all made from precious Xuan paper, which was as valuable as gold!
This wasn’t just studying—it was burning money!
Opening the books to reveal Sun Lan’s neat notes on the clean, white pages made Sun Wen’s fingers tremble.
He wasn’t holding a book; it felt like he was cradling a pile of gold!
At this moment, he couldn’t help but feel envy and jealousy.
If only he had such a great learning environment when he was young, maybe he wouldn’t have had to struggle until his forties to achieve anything!
“Sigh—” He let out a soft sigh, sitting on the porch, one hand opening a book while the other cradled his grandson, “What are the questions?”
Questions that were brain-busters for Sun Lan were mere child’s play for Sun Wen, with answers coming effortlessly as he enjoyed Sun Lan’s starry-eyed admiration, revealing a rare smile from him over the years.
“Grandpa is amazing!”
Sun Lan didn’t spare any praise, making Sun Wen feel elated, as if he had just eaten a heavenly peach from the Queen Mother.
“Lanlan wants to be as great as Grandpa, so you must study hard from now on.”
Sun Wen glanced at the sky. He took his grandson’s hand and headed to the main hall for breakfast.
Seeing his grandson eat every grain of rice with good manners left Sun Wen both delighted and heartbroken.
He was grateful that the grandfather-grandson duo had weathered through hardships; better days were sure to come.
Yes—
Only if the Lord rose higher could he and Lanlan have better lives.
After lulling his grandson to sleep, Sun Wen got up to fetch a lamp, removed his inner shirt, then carefully cut open the collar with scissors to take out what was inside.
He had read this content countless times, so he was thoroughly familiar with it.
He sat there waiting until dawn, washed up, and changed into new clothes, meticulously checking from head to toe.
Just as he was about to head out, his grandson was already ready.
“You’re up so early? Why not sleep a bit longer?”
Sun Lan replied, “I’ve arranged to practice morning drills with Feng Yi and the others.”
Outside, two carriages were parked, and a familiar head poked out from the curtain.
“Good morning, Mr. Sun.”
It was Qi Guan Jinghui speaking; Feng Yi, with his stern demeanor, wouldn’t make such a rude gesture by sticking his head out in public like that.
Getting out of the carriage gracefully, Feng Yi also bowed.
Sun Wen raised an eyebrow, hearing Feng Zhen was notorious for being a complete rake.
Now seeing him, he dismissed the rumors as unfounded.
“Hmm.”
“Jinghui!” A stern voice rang from the carriage, carrying a hint of authority.
Qi Guan Jinghui shrank her neck, hurriedly pulling her head back, “Father—”
Hearing that voice, Sun Wen speculated—
The man inside the carriage must surely be Qi Guanrang.
The curtain of the other carriage was lifted to reveal a somewhat gloomy, thin face. Looking at Sun Wen, he smiled invitingly, “This must be Sun Wen, right? Mr. Sun Zai Dao? Zixiao was worried you wouldn’t know the way, so he asked us to come and escort you.”
Wherever Jiang Pengji went, she built houses everywhere, most for selling and a few for rewarding subordinates.
Sun Wen’s neighbors were none other than Qi Guanrang and Feng Zhen.
“Well then, I appreciate it.”
Seeing Feng Zhen’s warm demeanor, Sun Wen’s impression of him elevated a notch, only to slightly disdain Qi Guanrang on the inside.
Feng Zhen was quite the performer; he seemed hooked on his role.
As the young ones went for morning drills, the adults headed to the administrative hall.
It was Sun Wen’s first time meeting the Lord.
Thank goodness his lord was a woman; with such an imposing presence, Sun Wen didn’t have to worry about mistaking her for anyone else.
