Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Deciding on Interests and Developing a Learning Plan (Part 1)

”Come to my place, and I won’t force you to study. Learn more if you’re interested, and less if you’re not. At Grandpa’s place, you can learn not only what’s taught at school but also what’s offered in hobby classes. Next, let’s see what you all want to learn. Don’t look at what others are learning; just learn whatever you’re interested in. After all, we’re all in the same room, so there won’t be anyone left behind.” Luo Qianqian and the other two sat dumbfounded in Old Zhang’s study, which was filled not only with books and an incredibly still rare computer, but also a guzheng, calligraphy brushes, and even a pipa... There were three desks; one with a computer, one with brushes and ink on rice paper, and one spread with books.

”Woof woof.” The advantage of living on the first floor was having a private courtyard with a large wooden dog house in it. Unlike the vegetable gardens in the neighbors’ yards, this one had beautiful flowers—Luo Qianqian, with her shallow knowledge, could only recognize the roses. A large part of the yard was empty, where a big Golden Retriever joyfully ran about on its own. A lazy ’big-faced Garfield cat’ lounged on the windowsill, basking in the sun.

”Raising dogs.” After observing the three little ones for a while and confirming there were no objections, Elder Zhang said with a mischievous grin, revealing the first ’course’.

”What?” Luo Qianqian gave Elder Zhang a look as if to say ’have you lost your mind,’ while He Wenyu’s face lit up with excitement.

”Walking dogs, learning how to care for dogs, preparing for the possibility of owning a dog in the future. It’s so simple, don’t you get it? You really need to study linguistics and literature,” Elder Zhang said, picking up a piece of paper and writing something on it.

”I want to raise a dog, a dog, I, I, I,” said He Wenyu as she jumped down from her chair, waving her hand high.

”Mm-hmm, good, but you don’t need to come down; just raising your hand while sitting is fine,” Elder Zhang said as he looked at the girl overly brimming with joy and then glanced sympathetically at the equally happy Golden Retriever in the yard. He sighed and continued, ”Raising cats.”

”I, I, I.”

”...” Luo Qianqian and Luo Shufan watched speechlessly as He Wenyu excitedly raised her hand again. How come they had never seen He Wenyu raise cats or dogs in their past lives?

”Alright, alright, alright, you, you, you,” Elder Zhang again looked sympathetically at the sunbathing and languid ’master’ on the paper, wrote something down, and shook his head, ”Guzheng.”

”I, I, I,” He Wenyu continued to be the only one raising her hand.

Elder Zhang’s gaze lingered on Luo Qianqian for a long time, ensuring that she indeed had no intention of raising her hand, before he continued:

”Pipa.”

”...” He Wenyu looked at the pipa, which was almost bigger than her, and decided not to raise her hand. Luo Qianqian and Luo Shufan showed no intention of raising theirs either.

”I’m curious, as a young lady, aren’t you interested in any of these classical instruments or classical beauties?” Elder Zhang asked, unable to hold back his question as he looked at Luo Qianqian, who showed neither any fluctuations on her face nor any eagerness to try.

”Me? I’m tone-deaf, so I’d rather not desecrate classical culture,” Luo Qianqian readily admitted her shortcomings, ”If it were the piano or something, I might consider it. After all, it seems very high-status... and playing the part of a melancholic young lady isn’t too bad.” However, that was a pity, because when she came in, she had already looked around, and there was no such species as a piano in Old Zhang’s house.

”Hey, indeed we don’t have one,” Elder Zhang saw the smile on Luo Qianqian’s face and slowly continued, ”But my son’s family does. My daughter-in-law is a music teacher, and the piano is a trifle to her. Since you mentioned it, it wouldn’t be bad to have her come over and wander around when she has nothing to do.”

”... I was just saying. No need to trouble Auntie with coming and going all that distance,” Luo Qianqian quickly showed that she was just kidding, shaking her head to decline.

”It’s no trouble at all; it’s less than a hundred meters away.” Less than a hundred meters away, and Zhang Ye, Officer Zhang, still had to be threatened and intimidated to come? Are you kidding me? Luo Qianqian bowed her head and remained silent.

”Calligraphy.” Elder Zhang pretended to be indifferent as he glanced at his piece of prized calligraphy on the wall, picked up a cup from the desk, and took a drink, waiting for praise.

”Du Fu can move, Grandpa Zhang, did you write this? It looks beautiful,” Luo Shufan followed Elder Zhang’s gaze and saw it.

”Pfft~” Elder Zhang accidentally sprayed a mouthful of water on the unused rice paper on the table as Luo Qianqian tried to stifle her laughter, her shoulders shaking and tears of mirth almost spilling out.

”Bro, you’re reading it from right to left, wrong direction,” Luo Qianqian chuckled.

”Kinetic Du Fu? What does that mean?” Luo Shufan, puzzled, glanced at Elder Zhang, who was wiping up the water, and then at his sister, who was nearly doubled over with laughter, seeking an explanation.

”Bro, then what’s this one?” Luo Qianqian pulled her brother closer to Elder Zhang’s collection, looking at a slightly smaller phrase and asked.

”Dang... harlot?” Luo Shufan looked at his sister with an embarrassed face, wondering how he was supposed to explain this term.

”Grandpa Zhang, my brother must learn calligraphy; it’s too embarrassing,” Luo Qianqian said to Elder Zhang, holding back her laughter.

”Oh? What about you?” Elder Zhang looked at his two proudest calligraphic works being misinterpreted in such a way that he felt an urge to pack them away.

”I wouldn’t read ’diligence can compensate for lack of skill’ as ’Du Fu can move’ or ’magnanimous’ as ’prostitute,’ so I guess not.” I really want to learn pen calligraphy, as good brush writing isn’t often used in daily life, thought Luo Qianqian to herself.

”Diligence can compensate for lack of skill? Magnanimous? I must learn... I must learn...” Luo Shufan looked helplessly at the two pieces of writing, near tears, as he seemed unable to recognize the characters anymore. To salvage some dignity, he decided it was best to learn.

”Both of you need to learn calligraphy,” Elder Zhang said as he noticed all three showing no interest. ”Having good handwriting is like making a good first impression; it adds points to your character.” He then slowly came to a decision: ”When I say calligraphy, I mean pen calligraphy, not brush writing.”

”Pen calligraphy is fine,” agreed Luo Qianqian with a nod. Seeing that Luo Qianqian had agreed, Luo Shufan and He Wenyu also nodded in agreement without objection.

”Cooking, including common dishes, dough foods, pastries, and traditional Chinese sweets,” continued Elder Zhang.

”Me, me, me!” exclaimed Luo Qianqian, eagerly raising her hand at the mention of food.

”And me,” followed He Wenyu, promptly raising her hand too.

Luo Shufan kept silent, watching the two of them. He didn’t know about He Wenyu, but his own sister? She used a whole cucumber to smack cucumbers—could she actually make anything tasty? Whether what she made was even edible was a question in itself.

”Hm, you’ll have to choose at least three from what follows. First, language and literature—including poetry and prose, a mix of all sorts—can be learned alongside calligraphy.”

All three raised their hands in unison, seeing such an easy choice not to pick would be foolish. However, Luo Qianqian looked sympathetically at He Wenyu, who had no foundation in the subject, and thought of all that could be included in those studies.

”Second, mathematics—including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, word problems, and stuff like Olympiad math—it’s not hard, not hard at all.”

Luo Qianqian calmly raised her hand; the stuff elementary school kids learned was easy for her to handle. Not learning would be foolish. Luo Shufan glanced at his sister and raised his hand as well. He Wenyu tucked her hands into her arms, refusing to reveal them, rejecting any chance of being misunderstood as wanting to study math.

”Biology, which is about studying humans, animals, plants, how they grow and how they wither. You can even go out to catch butterflies or raise tadpoles,” Elder Zhang continued.

Elder Zhang, you’re tricking people. Luo Qianqian watched as Luo Shufan and He Wenyu raised their hands without hesitation, and she followed suit. These two hadn’t studied biology and didn’t know a single plant cell can contain a myriad of differences. But biology was a subject that would be essential later on, and laying a good foundation for future high scores was something she certainly intended to do.

Elder Zhang looked at the three, all with hands raised, and raised his eyebrows, continuing: ”Chemistry, which is about lighting a fire, observing the colors of the flames, mixing various colored liquids.”

Elder Zhang, continue your trickery; I won’t call you out. Luo Qianqian raised her hand, shaking her head as she saw her companions also raising their hands, taken in by the deception.

With a gleeful smile, Elder Zhang announced his expertise: ”Physics, which is about teaching you how to save electricity, how to repair home appliances, and things like that.”

Luo Qianqian raised her hand, but when she saw He Wenyu lower hers, she breathed a sigh of relief. The subject of physics, which wouldn’t be encountered until junior high, was different from biology, with its natural science basis, or the experimental nature of chemistry. She doubted that He Wenyu, who disliked math, would take a liking to physics.

Seeing Luo Shufan hesitating, Luo Qianqian rolled her eyes with an expression full of disdain as she looked at her brother. When Luo Shufan saw his sister’s expression, his hand, which he had been about to lower, just couldn’t come down.

”Alright, alright, next up, history, geography, and civics—that’s the history and culture of various countries, their geography, and political culture,” said Elder Zhang.

Elder Zhang, that nonchalant attitude simply means you don’t really want to teach, right? History, geography, and civics, fusing three subjects into one—are you even serious?

Luo Qianqian wasn’t interested, while Luo Shufan and He Wenyu, seeing Luo Qianqian’s hand that had not been lowered since the beginning now come down, naturally didn’t raise theirs either.

”Good, good, the last one, English, is mandatory,” said Elder Zhang as he sketched a few strokes on the paper before putting down his pen.

??? What’s that all about? No need to raise hands? And it’s mandatory??? Has anyone asked for our opinion? Huh? Why are my brother and Xiao Yu nodding in agreement as if it’s fine? It’s English, English... Oh right, my brother was here for English in the first place... However, Xiao Yu, aren’t you afraid you’ll confuse English’s ’Abishti’ with Hanyu Pinyin’s ’A Bo Ci Di’?