Chapter 198: Big Shot's Persuasion
Chapter 198: Big Shot's Persuasion
Xiao Wei dared not utter a word.
Bai Lu had already been discussing problems with Xiao Cheng.
"I admit your problem-solving approach is correct and clear, unprecedented. But Xiao Wei has just entered the second grade. Using methods beyond elementary school level might make him seem like a child prodigy, attracting special attention from the teacher."
Bai Lu felt Xiao Cheng was intentionally making things difficult for Xiao Wei and, consequently, for Xiao Wei's teacher.
The suggestion was tactfully rejected, and Xiao Cheng didn't argue. Instead, he proposed another solution.
Bai Lu rejected it again, saying, "Your process is too complicated; Xiao Wei won't understand."
Xiao Wei: "... Just pretend I'm not here."
Xiao Cheng proposed another problem-solving method, only to be rejected by Bai Lu once more, repeatedly.
He gave up, saying, "You tell me how to solve it."
"I only know how to calculate the answers; I haven't learned how to explain to kids." Bai Lu looked innocent.
Her bright eyes were also full of innocence.
Xiao Cheng couldn't resist and pinched her cheek. After realizing what he did, he casually brushed a strand of hair blown onto her face by the evening breeze back behind her ear.
Solemnly, he said, "I'll think about it."
After thinking, he started explaining, ignoring the stunned Bai Lu.
Xiao Wei listened with great interest. There's a difference between understanding a problem on the surface and comprehensively understanding it.
The problems he prepared himself, even if the answers were correct, he couldn't apply them flexibly.
Xiao Cheng's problem-solving approach was indeed complex, but it covered a broad spectrum. Xiao Wei had an epiphany; he felt like he could solve a hundred more problems.
After explaining the assignment, Xiao Cheng also covered the next unit's topics. Xiao Wei grasped it instantly.
Bai Lu confirmed once again that these two brothers' intelligence and talents far exceeded their peers, standing at the top among them.
One understood immediately, the other mastered at a glance—simply extraordinary.
The consequence of being extraordinary was finishing homework quickly.
Xiao Wei was not satisfied; he thought he should be a bit slower. Finishing the assignment abruptly silenced his big brother.
The wall clock chimed nine times.
It was already nine o'clock without them noticing.
"Alright, it's late. Go to bed." Bai Lu stood up and stretched lazily, showing signs of weariness.
Xiao Cheng handed a candle from Xiao Wei's desk to her. "You go to sleep first."
"Aren't you two sleeping yet?" Bai Lu took the candle, finding it hard to believe these two brothers made such rapid progress after solving just one problem.
Was this an all-night discussion?
Xiao Wei, still tidying up his books, was taken aback when his candle was taken away. Did big brother take his candle?
Did big brother give his candle to big sister-in-law?
He thought the tone improved when discussing problems just now. Why the partiality again?
Xiao Cheng glanced at Xiao Wei, who was busy packing up. "We still have something to discuss."
Bai Lu, slightly surprised by his serious tone, couldn't help but advise, "Don't bully Xiao Wei."
Before Xiao Cheng could reply, Xiao Wei earnestly interjected, "Big brother won't bully me. Big sister-in-law, rest assured."
Xiao Cheng also gave Bai Lu a reassuring look, implying he wouldn't mistreat Xiao Wei.
Bai Lu, recalling the cheek-pinching incident, quickly touched Xiao Cheng's head and then Xiao Wei's head. Feeling balanced, she went back to her room satisfied.
"I'll go to sleep now. You guys sleep early too. Goodnight."
Xiao Cheng: "..."
Xiao Wei: "..."
Were they ambushed?
Or were they ambushed?
Watching the gentle figure disappear into the room under the moonlight, the joyful and relaxed atmosphere also disappeared.
Xiao Wei got nervous, instinctively straightening his back. He didn't know where to put his hands, fidgeted with his clothes, then put his hands under the table, and started pinching his fingers.
Xiao Cheng, withdrawing his gaze from where Bai Lu disappeared, looked at the small figure bowing his head.
He cleared his throat and casually asked, "What do I do when I'm drunk?"
Xiao Wei's heart suddenly stopped. So, it wasn't about something he did wrong; big brother wasn't here to blame him.
Just asking a simple question.
Xiao Wei answered honestly, "You vomit."
In the past, when Xiao Cheng came home drunk, he often vomited into the yard's broken pot, flooding Xiao Wei's planted ginger and green onions.
Or he vomited in the yard, and Xiao Wei would sneakily hide behind the door, waiting to clean up once Xiao Cheng returned to his room.
Although not frequent, those memories were deep. Xiao Wei wouldn't forget anything about his big brother.
Unfortunately, Xiao Cheng often had no memory after getting drunk. Now he wanted to know something other than vomiting.
"In addition to vomiting, what else?"
Xiao Wei didn't quite understand Xiao Cheng's meaning.
He sneakily glanced up, noticing that Xiao Cheng occasionally looked in the direction of the room where Bai Lu disappeared. Suddenly, everything made sense.
Big brother wanted to know what he did to big sister-in-law after getting drunk.
Xiao Wei recalled for a moment and answered seriously, "Before, when you came home drunk, you would wash without taking off your clothes. Every time, big sister-in-law had to bring you clothes. She said it's not good to bathe when drunk, asking you to wait until the next day. You wouldn't listen and insisted on bathing. Big sister-in-law had to pour hot water for you."
Xiao Wei's description was straightforward and honest.
Xiao Cheng's expression went from slightly relieved to slightly surprised, then furrowed: "Insisted on bathing?"
Xiao Wei quickly changed the adjective, "Absolutely insisted."
Xiao Cheng reluctantly accepted this description and skipped to the next question: "How did she react at that time?"
Xiao Wei had gotten used to his big brother's straightforward way of speaking, understanding what he wanted to know.
He truthfully replied, "I don't know if big sister-in-law was angry. I didn't hear her scold you or see her hit you. I only saw her finding clothes for you."
"Her tone when talking to you was also very gentle, as if coaxing a child."
Xiao Cheng's face went from slightly relieved to slightly surprised, then wrinkled again: "What do you mean by her tone when talking to me?"
Xiao Wei finally understood why Bai Lu made vinegar-glazed cabbage, sweet and sour spare ribs, etc., for dinner tonight.
Big brother was really good at being jealous.
"I said it wrong. It's big sister-in-law's tone when talking to me, like her tone when talking to you."
Xiao Cheng reluctantly accepted this wording, and with a calm face, he asked, "Anything else?"
Xiao Wei thought for a moment, "That night, after big sister-in-law picked you and Hao ge up from the city, when you came back, you sent Chen Chunli home. When you came back with big sister-in-law on your back, she found out about your injury and brought you back."
"After coming home, big sister-in-law found out and got very angry. She applied medicine to your back with quite a bit of force."
"You said, 'LuLu, be gentle.' Speaking of which, your voice changed as if I couldn't believe it but had to believe it: 'LuLu, it hurts...'"
Xiao Cheng couldn't believe he spoke so explicitly, so vulnerably.
His cool gaze was fixed on Xiao Wei, "Speak honestly. Did you see it with your own eyes, or did you hear it with your own ears?"
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