Lady, escort the emperor! 42
Chapter 42: Irreplaceable
Returning to the Li residence from the county magistrate’s office, as expected, Song Mu Er was already waiting for him in the courtyard.
“Sweet potato, sweet potato, I’m a potato!”
“Potato, potato, I’m a sweet potato!”
After exchanging their simple secret code, Li Nuo confirmed Song Mu Er’s identity.
Actually, he knew it was Song Mu Er even without the code. Song Jia Ren was in the nearby pavilion; she frequently appeared with Mu Er, and Song Ning Er hadn’t come to see him since the last time.
Every time Song Mu Er came, she would ask Li Nuo mathematics problems.
Starting with one problem, it became two, then three, the problems getting longer and more difficult.
Of course, it wasn’t difficult for Li Nuo, but he wanted to make it progressively harder for Song Mu Er to understand, requiring a lot of thought.
Before, it was just counting the number of chickens and rabbits, calculating the area of irregular shapes. But recently, it has become increasingly excessive: field measurement, grain measurement, proportional distribution; engineering calculations, finding widths and lengths, solving problems involving gains and losses; equalization of taxation, Pythagorean theorem, equations – all the nine chapters of mathematics were thoroughly examined by Song Mu Er’s tutor. Even the imperial examination in mathematics only covered these topics.
And Mu Er is just a six-year-old child.
What the hell is a six-year-old supposed to be learning this?
Li Nuo strongly suspected that the old man didn’t know how to teach. In his previous world, with the advanced development of modern mathematics, a six-year-old would typically be in first grade, learning addition and subtraction within one hundred. The “Nine Chapters” are too profound for a six-year-old.
Even the chicken and rabbit problem is usually treated as an extracurricular activity.
However, since she asked, Li Nuo would answer. It was simply a more challenging process, requiring him to break down each knowledge point and derive it from the most basic steps for both her and his wife to understand.
When Li Nuo explained the problems, not only Song Mu Er was listening, he once unexpectedly discovered that his wife was also listening attentively behind him.
Although she wasn’t well-educated, she was quite studious and never missed a session.
Today, Li Nuo was teaching the “Pythagorean Theorem.” He used three methods to prove it to them, ensuring they understood before picking up his own book to read.
Song Mu Er went to swing in the corner of the courtyard. Song Jia Ren didn’t follow; she looked at Li Nuo and asked, “Are you free tomorrow?”
Li Nuo looked up and asked, “Is something the matter?”
Although he’d been in this world for half a month, he wasn’t very familiar with his nominal wife.
His wife’s whereabouts were unpredictable, and he was busy every day, sometimes not seeing each other for a whole day.
Song Jia Ren was silent for a moment, then said, “Grandmother said to ask you to have dinner at home tomorrow—if you don’t have time, it’s fine. I’ll explain to Grandmother.”
Li Nuo didn’t hesitate, saying, “Since the old lady said so, then I’ll go.”
Anyway, he had nothing to do tomorrow, and as a junior, he couldn’t refuse the old lady’s invitation.
Song Jia Ren knew Li Nuo was busy every day, so she hadn’t held out much hope, but he agreed so readily.
After a brief moment of astonishment, she quickly recovered, saying, “I’ll return to the Song residence tonight and pick you up tomorrow.”
…
The next day, Li Nuo slept until nearly noon.
He was awakened by a young maid.
The chubby little maid sat by the bed, shaking Li Nuo’s arm, urging, “Young Master, wake up quickly; the sun’s already high…”
Li Nuo mumbled sleepily, “Don’t bother me, let me sleep a little longer…”
He had been exhausted for half a month, working hard every day. Finally having a day off, he went to bed early yesterday and intended to sleep in today.
Seeing that she couldn’t wake the Young Master, the little maid turned to the door and said, “Madam, the Young Master won’t get up…”
Hearing the words “Madam,” Li Nuo instantly woke up, his sleepiness completely gone.
He remembered promising his wife that he would return to the Song residence with her.
He sprang up from the bed, saying, “Get up, get up…”
Li Nuo quickly washed and dressed. When he came outside, Song Jia Ren was already waiting.
She had returned to the Song residence last night and came to pick him up today. Clearly, she didn’t consider the Li residence her home. It’s understandable—at eighteen, she had already reached the Fourth Realm in martial arts, possessing unparalleled martial arts talent. How could she be content to marry a man without martial arts talent?
They didn’t even have a common language. Those young heroes with equally outstanding martial arts talent were her ideal partners.
In the carriage to the Song residence, the couple sat opposite each other, saying nothing.
Their eyes met. Seeming to find the atmosphere awkward, Li Nuo took out a book to read, and Song Jia Ren looked away.
They soon arrived at the Song residence. Song Jia Ren first took Li Nuo to see the old lady.
The old lady looked healthy and, holding Li Nuo and Song Jia Ren’s hands, spoke happily for a while. Li Nuo responded with a smile. The Song family’s eyes remained on Li Nuo, and seeing that his expressions and actions were normal, they finally confirmed that he was truly not stupid anymore.
To tell the truth, when he was foolish, the Song family felt that he wasn’t good enough for Jia Ren.
Now that he wasn’t stupid, his entire demeanor had undergone a drastic change. Standing with Jia Ren, they were a perfect match.
Song Lao Fu Ren patted Li Nuo’s hand and said, “Jia Ren grew up in a military family, so her temperament may differ from other women. But since you’ve become husband and wife, you must tolerate each other’s shortcomings. Only then can your relationship last…”
Li Nuo secretly glanced at Song Jia Ren and said with a smile to the old lady, “Grandmother, don’t worry, I like my wife’s temper…”
The old lady laughed, “That’s good, that’s good…”
Song Jia Ren glanced at Li Nuo and said nothing.
Song Qian looked at Li Nuo with disdain. Wasn’t this guy… a masochist?
As a woman, Song Jia Ren disliked reading and needlework from a young age. She fought with others all the time. The children of Chang’an’s military families were all beaten by her, and almost every day someone came to the Song residence to complain. This Li guy, did he have a masochistic tendency?
Besides, she lacked figure and gentleness. Except for her beautiful face, she had none of the qualities a woman should have. Could anyone actually like such a woman?
Song Qian glanced at the two of them and thought, *You two should be locked up together for life, and never separate to harm others.*
After meeting the old lady, Li Nuo was called to speak with Song Jia Ren’s uncles.
They were just polite pleasantries, and Li Nuo responded with a smile, handling them effortlessly.
Song Mu Er stood beside Song Jia Ren, looked up at her sister, then at Li Nuo in the distance, and suddenly said, “Sister, can I ask you a question?”
Song Jia Ren nodded, “Ask away.”
Song Mu Er asked doubtfully, “Are you and Brother Li Nuo really husband and wife?”
Song Jia Ren looked at her, asking, “Why are you asking this?”
Song Mu Er lowered her head, her index fingers touching, and whispered, “Last time I asked Brother Li Nuo to make me look pretty, Brother Li Nuo said he vowed to only dress his wife. But… he doesn’t seem to have ever done your hair…”
Song Jia Ren turned to look at Li Nuo, but said nothing.
He can write poetry, understand mathematics, and has such high literary talent. His ideal wife should be a talented lady who is proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, not a martial artist who only knows how to wield a sword and can’t even recognize many characters…
Not to mention, she had even fought him indiscriminately.
If she were a man, she probably wouldn’t want such a wife either.
Li Nuo had just finished exchanging pleasantries with Song Jia Ren’s uncles. At a certain moment, he suddenly felt something, turned to look at the courtyard, and saw Song Mu Er swinging, while Song Jia Ren, her hands holding a sword, was leaning against the swing stand, gazing at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle.
The midday sun shone on her, giving her a faint aura of light.
This breathtaking scene made his heartbeat skip a beat, and he couldn’t take his eyes off her for a long time.
Undeniably, his wife had beauty, temperament, figure, and culture. Most importantly—she provided him with a sense of security.
Although she lacked a bit of femininity, if she truly became as gentle as ordinary women, she wouldn’t be the Song Jia Ren in Li Nuo’s heart.
It was fortunate that it was Song Jia Ren. If he had married a lady who only knew music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, he would have probably died under an assassin’s arrow long ago.
Perhaps other women are gentler, more obedient, and have larger breasts…
But the sense of security his wife gave him was irreplaceable.
(End of Chapter)
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