Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Seeing Little Six so lively again made Old Madam Gang truly happy.

She blinked a few times, turned away to wipe the tears from her eyes, then turned back and hugged Gang Gye tightly as though he were a priceless treasure.

The other children also gathered around him, chattering as they asked how he was feeling.

Gang Gye patiently answered each of his older brothers and sisters.

Once everyone sat down at the table, Old Master Gang brought up Gang Gye's studies.

"Little Six is still young."

"How about staying home for another two years and building up your strength before starting proper studies?"

Gang Gye was stunned.

"Grandfather, I don't want to stay home all the time."

"I want to study too."

Old Master Gang didn't become angry just because his grandson disagreed with him.

Instead, he patiently coaxed him.

"Little Six, be good and listen."

"Studying is very difficult."

"Let's take care of your body first and build up your strength."

"Then you can study afterward."

"Otherwise, if you fall sick again, your father and mother won't be able to bear it."

"Neither will your grandmother and I."

Gang Jo-hang and Jang Un-chu remained silent.

It seemed they agreed with Old Master Gang's decision.

But that wouldn't do.

Gang Gye became a little anxious.

"But the physician said I'm completely better now."

"He said I won't get sick like this again."

Old Master Gang thought inwardly that no person could possibly never become sick.

But Gang Gye's words reminded him of the physician's visit that morning.

He looked at Gang Jo-hang.

Gang Jo-hang nodded and repeated what the physician had said.

Gang Gye's constitution really had improved considerably compared with before.

Even so, Old Master Gang still refused to change his mind.

Gang Gye had no choice but to start pestering him.

If Old Master Gang refused, then Gang Gye truly wouldn't be able to go study.

In the end, Old Master Gang compromised.

"Then you may study only until the weather turns cold."

"Once winter arrives, you won't be allowed to go to the private school."

Old Master Gang also knew it was unreasonable to keep a child locked inside the house all the time.

The temperature was still comfortable enough now, so letting him go outside often wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

But once the bitter winter arrived, he absolutely had to stay home.

"Yes!"

Gang Gye answered immediately.

Winter could be dealt with later.

For now, the important thing was that he could study.

And once Old Master Gang saw him running around full of energy every day, he probably wouldn't remain so firmly opposed anyway.

Now that Old Master Gang had agreed, Gang Jo-hang had effectively been persuaded too.

After breakfast, Gang Jo-hang prepared to go into town.

Gang Gye asked,

"Father, what are you going into town for?"

Gang Jo-hang stroked his son's head.

"I'm going to see if there's another private school suitable for you."

Gang Gye was surprised.

So he still doesn't want to send me to White Crane Academy?

He carefully asked,

"Didn't you already investigate everything before...?"

Gang Gye was referring to the day Liu Yunhe had visited.

After Liu Yunhe left, Gang Jo-hang had gone around nearby villages and visited the homes of students attending White Crane Academy.

He had asked several households about the academy in detail.

And what he learned matched almost exactly what Liu Yunhe had said.

Most commoner students were studying there peacefully.

There were two groups of students who acted arrogantly and occasionally caused trouble, but they usually targeted specific people.

Previously, their main target had been Lu Chen'an.

Most other students rarely suffered anything serious.

The academy also actively tried to prevent this kind of behavior.

Whenever trouble occurred, the teachers stepped in.

The academy prohibited students from humiliating or bullying one another.

But the teachers couldn't watch everyone every moment.

If personal grudges were settled privately, there were times when the academy couldn't prevent it.

For now, however, the incident where Lu Chen'an's hand had been broken had caused such a huge backlash that even the marquis household had been impeached.

Because of that, the academy had become quiet for the time being.

On the surface, it sounded acceptable.

But the moment Gang Jo-hang thought about his frail son, his heart tightened.

And after Gang Gye had just suffered such a severe illness, he wanted even less to send him to White Crane Academy.

The students there also came from very different social backgrounds.

Even if teachers maintained order openly, what about things that happened privately?

Many ordinary people instinctively didn't dare resist those with power.

They feared private retaliation.

Worse, they feared dragging their entire family into trouble.

Gang Jo-hang said,

"Father plans to ask whether that juren's private school will accept you."

"Scholar Zhou already agreed to accept you too..."

"Scholar Zhou seems to know Liu Yunhe personally."

"So perhaps if you study under Scholar Zhou, there won't be any problem."

"Besides, after seeing you become seriously ill once, Liu Yunhe may not be as determined to take you anymore."

They had asked Liu Yunhe whether Scholar Zhou had told him about Gang Gye that day.

It was an important question.

It also affected whether they wanted Munsaeng to study there.

If Scholar Zhou had rushed to Liu Yunhe the moment they left and immediately told him about Gang Gye, then even if most private schools had some connection to White Crane Academy, the family wouldn't want to send their children to a teacher like that.

Fortunately, Liu Yunhe had paused for a moment before answering truthfully.

He had already been sitting inside Scholar Zhou's study at the time and had heard everything himself.

From the fact that Liu Yunhe had been in Scholar Zhou's private study, Gang Jo-hang guessed the two men probably had some personal friendship.

Scholar Zhou himself also seemed like an upright man.

If he truly had no way to accept Little Six, he probably wouldn't have agreed last time.

So Gang Jo-hang wanted to speak with Scholar Zhou again.

Perhaps if Little Six studied under him, nothing else would happen.

Gang Jo-hang also planned to visit the juren's private school.

A juren stood far above a xiucai in status.

Even a county magistrate wouldn't treat a juren casually.

Perhaps such a teacher wouldn't fear Liu Yunhe.

Besides, Liu Yunhe had recently called several physicians to examine Gang Gye.

He clearly knew how physically weak the child was.

So if they chose a different private school, perhaps Liu Yunhe really wouldn't care that much.

Gang Gye was only four and a half years old.

If they could quietly let the matter pass like this, nothing could be better.

Gang Gye understood his father's reasoning.

But precisely because he understood it, he felt troubled.

White Crane Academy had originally been like a sweet fruit wrapped in danger.

Its educational resources were undeniably first-rate.

Liu Yunhe also valued teaching according to each student's talent.

And he clearly intended to use Gang Gye as an example of the academy's success.

That meant the benefits Gang Gye could receive would probably be enormous.

But now, the danger had become almost negligible.

For Gang Gye, going to White Crane Academy now offered far more advantages than disadvantages.

Especially because he intended to take the Imperial Examinations within only a few years.

If he could keep up with the necessary progress, the academy would support him with all its resources.

Thinking this far, Gang Gye hurriedly spoke.

"Father, don't do that."

"I think White Crane Academy is very good too."

"I want to go there."

Gang Jo-hang ignored him.

"This isn't something a child your age needs to worry about."

"Father is only going to investigate."

"If nothing else works, then perhaps we'll still have to send you there."

"But Father..."

Gang Gye looked miserable.

"I really want to go to White Crane Academy."

Gang Jo-hang froze for a moment.

Then he crouched down, placed both hands on Gang Gye's shoulders, and looked directly into his eyes.

His expression was serious.

"Little Six, you're still young."

"There are many things you don't understand yet."

"We can't only look at the beautiful promises other people show us."

"We also have to ask why they're willing to give us so many benefits for free, and what dangers might be hidden beneath them."

"Our family isn't wealthy, but we're not so poor that we can't afford your studies."

"The Koukouxiang business you brought us is doing very well too."

"We're earning money every day."

"Supporting you and Munsaeng's studies won't be a problem."

"So don't worry about such things."

Gang Gye realized that his father had misunderstood him.

He shook his head.

"Father, that's not why."

Gang Gye furrowed his tiny brows.

Then he made a decision.

There were some things that his parents would never feel at ease about unless he told them.

And they loved him so much.

Being honest with them didn't seem like such a terrible thing.

Once he made up his mind, Gang Gye grabbed Gang Jo-hang's hand.

"Father, come with me."

"I have something to tell you."

Gang Jo-hang stood and followed him.

Gang Gye also called out to his mother.

"Mother, come too."

"I have something to tell both you and Father."

It wouldn't make sense to tell his father while hiding it from his mother.

She was worried about him too.

"All right."

Jang Un-chu answered.

"Wait a moment. Let me finish wiping the table."

Jang Un-chu worked quickly.

She soon finished, washed and dried her hands, then entered the room.

Gang Gye poked his head out and checked the courtyard.

Once he confirmed no one was nearby, he closed the door.

Then he pulled Gang Jo-hang and Jang Un-chu toward the bed and gestured for them to come closer, as though he were about to reveal a secret.

The two adults cooperatively bent down until their faces were close to his.

Gang Gye whispered,

"Father, Mother, I want to go to White Crane Academy because if I go there, I can heal Father's leg."

Gang Jo-hang and Jang Un-chu both froze.

For a moment, neither seemed to understand what he meant.

Then Jang Un-chu smiled and tried to coax him as though he were making a childish joke.

"Who told you that going there would heal Father's leg?"

"The physician at the academy can't cure Father's leg."

"If you study hard and someday go to the capital, then perhaps we can find a physician there."

"That's not what I mean."

Gang Gye said.

"Mother, we don't need to find another physician."

Gang Gye reached out with his small hand and placed it on Gang Jo-hang's injured leg.

Then he looked up at his father with hopeful eyes.

"Father, can you feel it?"

The Health Preservation Heart Method possessed a faint healing effect.

There should definitely be some kind of sensation.

Gang Jo-hang's heart trembled.

Just now, he had felt something warm and soothing deep inside his injured leg.

But it was so faint that it almost seemed like an illusion.

This was far too unbelievable.

Could it be something supernatural? A spirit? A demon?

He carefully studied his son.

The eyes.

The expression.

Even the familiar feeling he gave off.

This was definitely his son.

"What is this?"

Gang Jo-hang asked hesitantly.

Gang Gye looked slightly excited.

"Father, Mother, I don't have to worry about getting sick anymore!"

"Do you know what martial arts are?"

Gang Gye deliberately described the Health Preservation Heart Method as martial arts.

"Health preservation" sounded too weak, as though it could only keep him alive.

If he wanted his parents to feel reassured, calling it martial arts seemed much more convincing.