“What? Cheating on exams? And skipping class? And still being disobedient?”

In this private school named Bright Virtue Hall, Jiang Wang was both astonished and furious.

He had been uneasy since yesterday when An’an told him her teacher wanted to see him, her guardian. It was easy to connect it to Fang Zehou’s threat.

If the Fang family used petty tricks, such as using their connections to get An’an expelled from the private school she was attending, he really wouldn’t have any good solutions.

He had even prepared himself to pay out of pocket for a private tutor for An’an.

But he racked his brain and never imagined that Jiang An’an’s teacher wanted to see him simply because Jiang An’an was behaving poorly.

Jiang Wang felt a huge sense of absurdity.

Teachers lecturing, smacking hands with rulers, making students stand as punishment, and assigning lines to copy were all common occurrences. No teacher had ever been unable to deal with a student. Hadn’t he, Jiang Wang, entered the inner sect of the Daoist academy and still been supervised by Iron-Faced Xiao to copy Daoist scriptures?

How bad and disobedient must a student be for the teacher to request a meeting with the guardian?

“Take a look at this,” the old teacher of Bright Virtue Hall said, throwing over a stack of notebooks. “I punished her to copy the Thousand Character Classic, look at what she copied!”

Jiang Wang received them with both hands. He looked at them, and was about to say there was no problem; the content was indeed the Thousand Character Classic. But he quickly realized that while the content was correct, the handwriting varied at least seven or eight times.

In other words, even when assigned to copy as punishment, Jiang An’an had completed the task by cheating.

Jiang Wang wanted to cover his eyes; he couldn’t bear to look. He had been punished by Iron-Faced Xiao to copy the Daoist scriptures a hundred times, and he never thought of asking for help. Instead, he honestly copied it word by word, spending countless nights doing so!

How could this Jiang An’an have such a lively mind?

“She cheats on exams too?” Jiang Wang asked, trembling.

“During the minor exams, she helped others write answers and was caught red-handed.” The old teacher’s voice rose sharply as he said this, “She doesn’t even pass her own exams! What right does she have?”

Jiang An’an was nearby, hanging her little head, looking pitiful like she would accept any punishment, but her big eyes were secretly glancing at Jiang Wang’s expression. Whenever Jiang Wang looked over, she immediately averted her gaze.

There was another little girl in the room, now sprawled carelessly in an armchair, playing with her fingers. She was probably the classmate who asked Jiang An’an to help her cheat… This attitude was too arrogant!

Her appearance was quite beautiful; her skin was like凝脂, her eyebrows and eyes were exquisite. Although she hadn’t fully matured, it was clear she would be a beauty. Only her small nose was turned up high, making her seem too proud. The clothes and accessories she wore were all expensive, making her look exactly like a mischievous little devil.

Well… what kind of well-behaved child who loves to study would ask Jiang An’an, who fails her exams, to help her cheat?

Jiang Wang told himself to calm down. His younger sister was introverted, quiet, and obedient. There must be some misunderstanding… Misunderstanding my foot! The evidence was irrefutable!

Jiang Wang grabbed Jiang An’an and turned to leave, “Come home with me!”

The eldest brother was like a father, and if a child wasn’t taught properly, it was the father’s fault. He decided that today was the time to show his parental authority. How did the timid little girl from before turn into this in just a few months? He decided to give her a good spanking, at least ten strokes on the hand. It would be too embarrassing to get beaten in the school, so he would take her home to do it.

Hmm… three strokes would be enough. Three strokes was quite harsh and would hurt for a long time.

At this time, the mischievous little devil jumped up and waved, saying crisply, “Goodbye, An’an!”

Jiang An’an was being led away by Jiang Wang, and had realized something was wrong long ago, having looked downcast for a while. Hearing her friend’s greeting, she tentatively raised her other hand to respond…

Jiang Wang pulled her hand forcefully, interrupting the friendly farewell.

From Bright Virtue Hall, going south along Xuanwu Street for a few steps would take them past Cai’s mutton shop.

When Jiang An’an smelled the aroma of mutton, she coughed deliberately. In the past, with just a glance, or even a sniff, Jiang Wang would stop and take her inside.

But today, Jiang Wang pulled her along, walking past without looking.

Jiang An’an then understood that her brother was really angry.

Turning left ahead, they entered Green Wood Avenue. Heading east on Green Wood Avenue to the end was Flying Horse Lane. In Flying Horse Lane was their home.

“Brother…” Jiang An’an called out.

But Jiang Wang didn’t say a word.

“Brother…” Jiang An’an gently shook Jiang Wang’s hand.

Jiang Wang snorted from his nose to show his cold attitude.

Just as they reached the front door, Jiang An’an eagerly said, “Brother, let me open the door, I have the key!”

Jiang Wang unlocked the door himself, pushed open the courtyard gate, and released An’an’s hand, deliberately saying in a cold tone, “Go in.”

He couldn’t let Jiang An’an think she could easily get away with this. Four or five-year-old children were slowly forming their personalities, so he had to teach her a lesson.

Jiang An’an’s little hand touched Jiang Wang’s hand, and seeing that Jiang Wang really didn’t intend to hold her hand again, she despondently lowered it.

But she seemed to remember something and perked up, running ahead.

Jiang Wang followed her into the bedroom and saw Jiang An’an heading straight for her little bed.

Jiang Wang was about to stop her.

Usually, whenever Jiang An’an had something she didn’t want to do, she would lie on the bed, shouting something like, “Oh, I’m so sleepy, I’m asleep!” and easily get away with it.

But Jiang An’an suddenly squatted down, her small body squeezing under the bed.

Hiding under the bed won’t stop me from hitting you, will it? Jiang Wang almost laughed in anger, grabbed the broom by the door, and blocked it in front of Jiang An’an’s little bed.

But An’an quickly crawled out, holding a small wooden box. Her face was smudged with dust from being under the bed.

She held the old wooden box high with both hands and said excitedly, “This is for you!”

Jiang Wang leaned the broom against the nearby cabinet and took the small wooden box, full of doubt. “What is it?”

He opened the small wooden box and saw a pile of silver, red gold, pearls, and more, a dazzling array of jewels.

Jiang Wang’s heart was suddenly gripped by something. He held the wooden box in one hand, his voice more stern than ever, “Where did this come from?”

Jiang An’an had never seen her brother with such an expression, and she panicked. She pouted and sobbed, “I… I earned it!”

“Earned it?” Jiang Wang’s hand trembled. “Where did you earn it? How did you earn it?”

He threw the wooden box to the ground, making a loud noise. “Speak!”

Gold, silver, and pearls scattered all over the floor.

Jiang An’an was frightened and burst into tears, “Helping classmates with exams…”

“Helping classmates with exams can get you this much money?”

Jiang An’an sobbed, “Qingzhi… Qingzhi is very rich. I help her with exams, and she gives me money.”

Jiang Wang felt his heart, which had been hanging high, slowly come down.

He began to regret that he had been too fierce just now.

He squatted down and held Jiang An’an’s small shoulders. She was like a delicate porcelain doll, as if she would break if he wasn’t careful.

“Does the family need you to earn money?” Jiang Wang looked at her and reached out to wipe away her tears. “Brother has money, a lot of money, understand?”

Jiang An’an sobbed, “Didn’t you borrow money from that pretty boy to buy the house? Borrowed money has to be paid back…”

Jiang Wang suddenly remembered that he had taken An’an with him when he asked Zhao Rucheng for money and a courtyard that day.

Poor little An’an, her little box, her heart carefully presented, how sad must she have been when it was smashed to the ground?

Jiang Wang looked at her, tears flowing down her dusty little face, revealing a snow-white base.

Jiang Wang’s nose tingled.

His heart suddenly became incredibly soft and shattered into countless pieces.