Certainly, Yang Ruxin didn’t overlook the psychological counseling of the little ones, which was telling them stories after dinner every day. With so many novels and TV shows she had seen in her previous life, picking any one of them was enough to keep people engaged.
She told them about "Water Margin", which is about the peasant uprisings at the end of the Northern Song period. Figures like Song Jiang were real people. While in the previous life, she first listened to Dan Tianfang’s storytelling, then read comic books, and as she grew up, she read the original work. One could say that the book has a wide audience; both adults and children could name a few characters.
To be honest, she couldn’t remember all of the many characters in "Water Margin", like the thirty-six heavenly spirits and seventy-two earthly fiends. However, she always remembered the main ones, such as Song Jiang, Cu Zhishen, Wa Song, Ju Junyi, Li Kui...
Entertainment was truly scarce in ancient times, and reading a book at that time was a luxury, let alone a storybook. Therefore, Yang Ruxin’s stories instantly captivated the little ones. She even deliberately adapted them to be educational and fun, teaching them what was right and wrong, what life was for, and how to live it.
It was quite effective, Erya’s big eyes grew brighter and she even pulled her aside to say, "Big sister, I know it’s not your fault about big sister’s incident, she was the bad one, I won’t be sad, I’ll live well and be filial to you in the future..."
Yang Ruxin felt that she had achieved her purpose.
However, she gradually found that not only did the little ones want to hear her stories but after dinner, everyone began gathering around of their own accord, even old man Dao Xuzi didn’t go out for his walks anymore.
"What are you doing?" Yang Ruxin frowned.
"Don’t beat around the bush, didn’t you say yesterday that Cu Zhishen killed the Butcher Zheng, then what?" Dao Xuzi waved his hand, "Where did he go after that? Did he just join Liangshan?"
Yang Ruxin was speechless, scanning the crowd, she even saw Gu Qingheng with a face full of anticipation, which immediately satisfied her.
"Yes, Ruxin, please continue, what happened?" Zhou Xiao was anxious. Ever since hearing the stories, he’d been dreaming about them, "Didn’t you say there are a hundred and eight heroes? Who else is there?"
"Alright, I’ll continue for you: Zhao the Rich reopens Wenshu Academy, Cu Zhishen makes a big scene at Wutai Mountain..." Yang Ruxin slapped the table, "It goes like this..."
Life at the Yang and Gu Families calmed down, but it wasn’t so peaceful outside. Soon, some rumors began circulating, saying Yang Ruxin was a heartless person who had driven her cousin to death...
In response to this, Sanni was filled with righteous indignation and got into fights with several children outside.
But Yang Ruxin didn’t care at all.
"Big sister, how come you’re neither angry nor anxious?" Sanni, seeing Yang Ruxin still relaxed every day, was quite angry, "Those people are saying really nasty things."
"Mengmeng, ah, mouths are on other people’s faces, can you stop them from talking?" Yang Ruxin looked at Sanni’s face flushed with anger and burst into laughter, "Besides, their talk won’t cause me to lose a piece of flesh. Look at your sister, am I not still enjoying my meals?"
"But..."
"Just remember this: ’A person not envied is a mediocrity.’" Yang Ruxin couldn’t help but pinch Sanni’s chubby little face, which had gotten fleshier and felt even better, round and plump, "Do you think Aunt Hehua and Aunt Xinghua would talk about me?"
Sanni shook her head.