Chapter 6: A Clever Move

  On the way back, I passed by a very large dam, which was filled with water and was quite deep. In Qiao Lianyu's memory, it should be around 2-3 meters deep.

  In rural areas, the role of a weir can be quite significant. Normally, it is filled with water, and when there is drought or villagers need to use water collectively, the opening on one side is opened, allowing water to flow into the irrigation canal, which then flows into the rice fields of each household in sequence.

  The embankment pond also has a significant effect, and the village's dozens of large and small yellow cows and water buffalo all come here to drink water. Especially on hot days, this place is simply a paradise for water buffalo. When the children who herd the cattle return, they drive the water buffalo to the embankment pond, and before they even arrive, the water buffalo catch a whiff of the water and go crazy, rushing into the pond with a "splash" and starting to roll around, frolic, chase each other, and even fight. They don't want to come out again, so the children who are herding them play cards on the grass nearby, laughing and having a great time. Only when the sun sets do they go to drive the cattle back up, but the cows in the water feel comfortable staying in the embankment pond and don't want to get up. Often, several children have to use sticks to shout and hit them from the shore to get those playful guys out of the water, and it takes half a day before they slowly return home for dinner.

  If it were late afternoon, Qiao Lian'ou would definitely lie down on the grass by the side of the dam and daze off for a while, but not now. Now the sun is high in the sky, Qiao Lian'ou thinks about some past events as he quickens his pace and returns home.

  Returning home, I saw my second sister Qian Hua lying on the table doing her homework, and my heart was delighted. I quickly walked over to ask:

  "How come you're so self-aware today, not running out to have fun, and still knowing to do your homework?"

  Qiao Lianhua didn't even lift her head and said while doing her homework:

  "Mom is in a bad mood today. If I don't behave well, I'll definitely get scolded badly. When she comes back and sees me doing my homework, her anger might dissipate."

  Qiao Lian'ou smiled slightly, thinking to herself that this guy was indeed formidable. At such a young age, he already knew how to read people's faces and act accordingly. Unlike her in the past, who had been foolish and never thought things through, resulting in getting beaten many times and being forced to kneel for long periods of time. Alas, looking at him now, she really needed to use her brain more often, otherwise...

  Qiao Lian Ou saw the lotus flower in the "field: character grid, with pinyin on top and characters below, so she went over to take a look. After looking for a while, she said:

  "Lotus, you've written this character too big, see, some strokes are even out of the grid, it doesn't look good. Come on, sister will teach you how to write."

  He took up the lotus pen and began writing "broadcast" on his notebook, saying as he wrote:

  "There's a saying that goes, 'the character of a person is reflected in their handwriting.' When you start learning to write, you must make sure your characters are square and upright, expansive and generous. Don't fill up the entire grid, or it will be suffocating; nor can you write too small, or people will think you're stingy. Filling up about 80% of the grid is best. Horizontal strokes should be level, vertical strokes straight, with a sharp point at the end, and the finishing stroke should be flowing..."

  "Huh, big sister, what's wrong with you today? You're speaking just like our teacher, and your handwriting is so beautiful! It's even more beautiful than our teacher's!" She said, staring at Jiao Lian'ou with a pair of round eyes full of curiosity.

  Jiao Lian'ou's face turned red, and she immediately pretended to be nonchalant, smiling and saying: "Sister, didn't our teacher say so? Doesn't Father usually teach us like that too? Of course I can do it. What are you looking at? Don't you recognize your sister?" In her heart, she was thinking proudly: Lian Hua little girl, in my past life not only did I write beautiful characters, but I also used to be a teacher, teaching a second-grade kid like you is naturally effortless.

  Qiao Lianhua wrote a few more, following Qiao Lianyu's example. They were indeed much better than before, with neater and more standardized characters. Qiao Lianyu was busy praising her on the side, and children all love being praised. Qiao Lianhua was so thrilled by the praise that she became more and more enthusiastic about writing, feeling better and better, and refusing to stop.

  It seems that this guy is still teachable, and I'll teach her more in the future. Qiao Lian'ou ran to his own room, took out his school bag, turned out the things inside, and found a book for grade four, volume two, as well as an assignment notebook. There was also a book called "Summer Vacation Life". In a plastic stationery box, there were some pencils, pens, erasers, etc.

  Curiously flipping through the notebook, Qiao Lianou smiled. The words on the homework were neat and tidy, with fairly standard handwriting, but there was no particular structure or style, and they were still far from being truly calligraphic. However, it was already quite good, and this handwriting often received praise in class.

  Thinking of this, Qiao Lian'ou thought of a primary school classmate named Chen Tingting. Her father was a middle school teacher and attached great importance to her studies, asking her to practice calligraphy at home every day. She was one of the top students in her class, and her handwriting was very good. The teacher often asked her to copy questions onto the blackboard for the other students, but there was one time... never mind, just thinking about it made Qiao Lian'ou feel extremely annoyed.

  Although Qiao Lianyu looks like a tomboy, she is actually very serious and strict when it comes to studying.

  It's still early, we have to wait a while before going up the mountain to find the cow and head back home. Let's follow our sister's example and do some homework first. Mom might be back soon, and if she sees us being so well-behaved, maybe her anger will really dissipate.

  Thinking of this, Qiao Lian'ou took out "Summer Vacation Life" and sat at the desk with her second sister Qiao Lianhua to do their homework seriously.

  Qin Ying was furious that Qiao Lian'ou had taken her sister to the river to bathe, and she went after him. She chased him for a while, but he was nowhere to be seen. Her pride wouldn't let her give up. However, Qin Ying is an optimistic person, and she doesn't dwell on troubles overnight. Her mood gradually improved, and she thought that Qiao Lian'ou was just a bit wild, but not too bad. After all, which child isn't playful? On such a hot day, playing in the water was indeed better than being cooped up at home. Earlier, in a fit of anger, she had pushed Qiao Lian'ou into the river, and something terrible almost happened. Fortunately, nothing did, or else Qiao Zhenxuan would never have forgiven himself. He had given birth to three daughters with one breath, and Qiao Zhenxuan didn't mean to be disgusted with her at all. He was still as good to her as ever. Such a man is really hard to find.

  Forget it, don't be angry with the child anymore. As long as everyone in the family is healthy and safe, that's what matters most. Qin Ying worked efficiently, finishing the weeding quickly, then added a bit of urea to the base of the corn stalks, covering it with soil. Looking at the thriving corn, although she was sweating profusely and her face and arms were scratched by the corn leaves, which stung after being soaked in sweat, but now it didn't hurt as much as before.

  After finishing weeding, Qin Ying put away her hoe and wiped the sweat from her face with a handkerchief before heading home.

  Arrived at the courtyard, it was quiet to the point of being eerie. I wondered where those few hooligans had run off to cause trouble again. Just as I was pondering this, I turned a corner and saw Qiao Lianyu and Lianhua diligently doing their homework on the table. My heart warmed up, my face relaxed, and I couldn't help but walk over with a smile.

  Qiao Lian and Yu saw their mother come back, but to their surprise, she didn't look like she wanted to hit them. Qiao Lian Hua reacted quickly and stood up, showing off to Qin Ying: "Mom, look! The characters I wrote are so beautiful!"

  "Really? Let me see." Qin Ying walked over, took the notebook and looked at it. It was indeed much better than before, and a smile bloomed on her face. She patted Qiao Lianhua's head and said, "That's right, write like this from now on."

  "Big sister taught me." Looks like sisters are connected at heart, since I didn't get a beating, I'll spare my sister's beating too.

  "Uh-huh." Qin Ying glanced at Qiao Lian'ou, thinking that the child was frightened today, and couldn't help but feel a surge of hidden love in her heart. "Where's Sanmei?"

  "I've just sent him/her to kindergarten."

  Qin Ying took another look at Qiao Lian'ou and felt that this child seemed to have suddenly grown up today, except for taking a bath on her own initiative which made her angry, everything else was handled just right.

  "That lotus flower this afternoon has nothing to do with picking up the third sister, big sister wants to go up the mountain, and I still have to go hoe another piece of land." Qin Hui instructed while entering the house.

  "Good!" The two sisters replied in unison.