Chapter 28: Cao Meng Talks About His Father

Li Si practiced The Black Tortoise Record in the courtyard. His body movements were sometimes fast and sometimes slow, and at times he stumbled through them, but he soon grew practiced. After two repetitions, he was already able to complete the practice moves in standard form.

Before long, he easily practiced the entire set of practice moves once. This set of practice moves could be considered deeply engraved in his mind now. In the future, he only needed to practice them over the long term and strengthen his proficiency.

At this moment, Li Si was sweating all over. He took off his clothes, baring his upper body, and felt his body become much more comfortable.

After finishing The Black Tortoise Record, he felt a force slowly flowing through his limbs and bones, making him feel that his strength had increased somewhat.

However, at this moment, his stamina had already reached a state of overdraft, and it was no longer suitable to continue practicing.

After washing his whole body with water, Li Si put on his clothes and walked to the door. Because he had asked the neighbours to notify everyone today, children had already come here to study at this time.

Li Si smiled and received them, divided the osmanthus cake he had bought in the morning among them, then began today’s lecture.

During the lecture, he placed Xiaoyu in the corner. What surprised him was that these children really did seem to have become smarter. Almost anything he taught them, they were able to learn very quickly.

For a time, the learning atmosphere became relaxed. Li Si taught easily, and the children learned easily as well.

This lecture lasted from the Shen hour in the afternoon until the You hour in the afternoon, nearly reaching the Xu hour, a full four hours.

Afterward, when Li Si announced that today’s lecture would end here, everyone still felt unsatisfied, feeling that they had learned a great deal here.

Especially Li Si’s teaching method of giving examples and telling stories, which fascinated them even more. Some among them were studying in private schools, and they also felt that this way of teaching was something they had never seen before, making it even more novel.

One had to know that the teachers in private schools now only made them memorize mechanically and had never explained things so vividly.

In truth, Li Si himself had originally been a normal university student, and he had always wanted to become a teacher. When he was in school, he had always been pondering teaching methods, preparing to become an outstanding teacher in the future.

Although his teaching level was not high, it was still not something the rigid teaching of this world could compare with.

After everyone left, only one child remained. This was precisely Cao Qing’s son, Cao Meng.

Although Cao Meng was only seven or eight years old, he was built as sturdy as an eleven or twelve-year-old, and his whole body already had some sinewy muscle.

“Stay here with me today. Sit for a while first. I’ll go cook.” Li Si smiled and spoke to Cao Meng, then walked into the kitchen and began cooking, preparing to heat up the leftover dishes from noon as well.

While Li Si was busy in the kitchen, he suddenly happened to see Cao Meng silently sweeping the courtyard. He shook his head helplessly.

Cao Meng had lost his mother when he was young, and had even personally seen his mother, grandfather, and grandmother eaten by a tiger. These experiences had clearly changed him somewhat, making him seem much more mature than children his age.

So he tacitly accepted Cao Meng’s act of sweeping the courtyard for him. This could make this precocious child feel a little more at ease.

After covering the wooden lid, stuffing firewood into the stove, and lighting it, he walked out of the kitchen.

Li Si sat on the bluestone steps and called out to Cao Meng, who was still sweeping, beckoning him over.

After Cao Meng came over, Li Si looked at this somewhat uneasy child, put a gentle smile on his face, and said softly, “Cao Meng, tell me about your father. I’m very curious about him.”

Li Si had indeed developed a trace of interest in Cao Qing, because back when he was chopping up the zombie, everyone else had been looking around left and right, but only Cao Qing had handed him the knife.

Moreover, this man had raised a child this old all by himself, and the child was this sensible. Clearly, he was no ordinary person, because in this world, there were plenty of people who raised children without teaching them.

“My father?” Cao Meng was somewhat stunned. Then a trace of light appeared in his eyes, but that light immediately dimmed again, and he murmured, “Teacher also knows about what happened in my family?”

Seeing the child like this, Li Si naturally knew that he had accidentally made the child sensitive. He smiled and said, “I know a little. I heard your father is a very skilled hunter?”

When Cao Meng heard his words, light once again appeared in his eyes, and he said proudly, “My father is the most skilled hunter in Fengmen County.”

“Oh?” Li Si’s interest was stirred, and he continued asking with great interest, “How is your father’s hunting so skilled?”

“My father can catch prey every day, and he has even killed tigers and wolves before. In Fengmen County, only my father can do that.” When Cao Meng spoke of his father, he immediately became animated and extremely excited, his eyes even shining with admiration.

“But my father doesn’t hunt anymore.” At this point, Cao Meng’s enthusiasm suddenly sank. Then he looked up at Li Si and said, “Teacher, actually, I don’t hate my father at all.”

“My father is a hunter who follows the old ancestors’ rules. He never kills pregnant female beasts or young beasts. That time was completely an accident. That young tiger had treated my father as prey and wanted to hunt him.”

“At the time, my father also did not pay attention and accidentally killed that young tiger. Afterward, the mother tiger wanted to kill my father. Because my father felt guilty at the time, he did not kill the mother tiger. He only shot and injured its front leg, making it retreat in fright.”

“No one expected that the tiger had developed intelligence, bore a grudge in its heart, and followed my father back from far away.”

At this point, Cao Meng’s eyes reddened somewhat, and tears almost fell. Clearly, he had thought of his deceased relatives.

“All right, don’t think too much. Believe that this time, your father will definitely be able to kill that tiger with his own hands.” Li Si patted Cao Meng’s shoulder and comforted him warmly.

After that, he said no more and walked into the kitchen. After some time, he walked out, carrying the cooked rice and reheated leftovers into the sitting room.

After the two washed their hands, they sat down and began eating dinner.

When Cao Meng put a thin slice of pork belly into his mouth, his eyes lit up, and he could not help saying, “Ah, it’s so delicious.”

“Eat more if it’s delicious.” Li Si smiled and picked some slices of meat into Cao Meng’s bowl.

“Thank you, Teacher.” Cao Meng’s eyes showed a moved expression.

After that, the two of them quietly began eating. For a while, the hall became quiet.

This also made Li Si feel very comfortable. He still rather liked not speaking while eating and not talking while sleeping.

After finishing the meal, Cao Meng silently began clearing the table.

“Leave this to me. You can go to my study and read.” Li Si took the bowls and plates from Cao Meng’s hands and said with a smile.

Unexpectedly, Cao Meng gripped the bowls and plates tightly and said with a serious face, “Teacher, my father said that while I am staying in your home, I must help you do more work. I think the same. If I eat and live here for free, I definitely won’t feel right in my heart.”

Hearing this little fellow say this, Li Si’s expression froze. Then he let out a long sigh and said, “All right, then wash the bowls and chopsticks. Seeing you so sensible also makes me feel very gratified.”

He also understood Cao Meng’s thoughts. Having lost his mother, Cao Meng was more sensitive than many people imagined.

If Li Si did not let him do anything at this time, it would instead make him feel uncomfortable staying here.

As for why Li Si could guess Cao Meng’s state of mind, it was because in his previous life, he had been an orphan abandoned by his parents. It could be said that he had some similarities with Cao Meng.