Chapter 50: The Savior

Dou Hongyan suddenly spoke up, halting Tutor Wang in his tracks.

His expression did not improve, though he was willing to afford Dou Hongyan some courtesy, saying rather sharply, "Do not bother pleading on their behalf! An indulgent mother ruins her children!"

"Tutor, you misunderstand. I have no intention of pleading for them. On the contrary, I believe the punishment is well deserved."

At these words, young Shun's gaze grew even more venomous. He glared viciously at the smiling Dou Hongyan, cursing her inwardly in his heart.

Today, first he was made to stand facing the wall, and then he was pinched by his mother—all of it was this vicious woman's fault!

His stare was so intense that Dou Hongyan found it hard to ignore, yet she cared not a whit and continued, "However, Tutor, you yourself have often said that teaching should be tailored to each student's aptitude. I believe that even punishment ought to vary from person to person."

"Corporal punishment does little good for the bodies of young children. If it is too severe, recuperating from their injuries will only cause them to miss your valuable teachings. Instead..."

Changing her tone, she proposed, "Since they are being punished for a lack of fraternal harmony, why not have them live and eat together for the next few days, and copy texts side by side to foster their bond?"

"As for their disrespect toward their sisters, that is easily resolved as well."

Dou Hongyan looked with a gentle smile at the suddenly stunned Shun: "Then let him learn to respect his sisters. Each of the three of them must do a good deed for Er'ya, so they realize she is family, just like them."

At first hearing, this punishment sounded far easier than being whipped on the backside with a rattan rod.

At a complete loss, Shun nervously pinched the corner of his tunic with both hands, his venomous glare replaced by utter bewilderment.

He waited with wide-eyed anticipation for Tutor Wang's response.

Tutor Wang didn't even hesitate. "What kind of punishment is it if there's no corporal punishment? Unless they feel some pain, they will never realize where they went wrong!"

"If you ask me, I should slap their mouths." Wielding his rattan pointer, his lean and vigorous figure cut a menacing profile.

The three boys trembled in terror, looking toward Dou Hongyan for rescue.

*Hurry and argue reasonably with the tutor!*

Dou Hongyan shook her head with a light laugh, "Tutor, you are splitting hairs now. They show no affection for their brothers or sisters, so isn't my suggestion precisely the right medicine for the illness?"

After quite a round of sharp verbal sparring, Tutor Wang was actually persuaded.

He finally lowered the pointer that had been hanging like a sharp sword over the boys' heads, conceding defeat to Dou Hongyan: "We shall see if your method works this time. If it doesn't, I will double the punishment and beat it back into them!"

"It works!" Terrified that the tutor might catch him at fault, Shun hastened to pledge his loyalty. "It works! I know I was wrong, it really works! I will definitely treat my younger brother and sister well from now on."

He cast a fearful glance at the pointer, his legs turning to jelly with fright.

Dou Hongyan's smile deepened. "You see, it works after all."

She then warned the three boys in a warm tone, "One must never be discourteous when getting along with others, and you must cherish your family. Do you understand this for the future?"

"We understand! We understand!"

The three boys nodded repeatedly, tamed now like a clutch of obedient little chicks.

Looking at Dou Hongyan again, they no longer found her as hideous as their mother had described.

Only Liu Xin'er clenched her fingernails deep into her palms, watching with intense irritation as Dou Hongyan stole the spotlight entirely.

It was she who had invited Tutor Wang here, and yet it was Dou Hongyan who was now winning everyone over. She was the one who had proposed the punishment, only to end up looking like the bad guy!

Once matters were settled, Tutor Wang refused to let Shen Yishu off so easily.

He called him back and rebuked him in a low, angry voice, "When I said you fail to govern your household strictly, how was I wrong? Look at your meddling concubine, and your children who have grown this large without the slightest sense of propriety!"

It was yet another fierce, head-to-head scolding delivered with the frustration of someone whose hopes had been dashed.

Being lectured like a child was one thing, but to still be lectured as a grown man left Shen Yishu feeling resentful. He let the words go in one ear and out the other, racking his brain for a way to muddle through as quickly as possible.

At that moment, the appearance of the Old Madame acted as Shen Yishu's salvation.