Chapter 34: Gorgeous Performance, Both Parents in Law were Shocked

After entering the room, the Count greeted his wife by uncovering the quilt and said, "Is Shen Lang still studying? Let him rest early and be careful not to strain his eyes."

The lady pouted, "He went to bed before nine."

Going to bed before nine o'clock is indeed a bit too early.

The Count was furious and said, "He is idle and lazy, not learning anything. He can't even finish memorizing for two months. Tomorrow, I will teach him a lesson."

But in the Count's heart, he thought to himself: My dear, you're going to lose this round.

The situation between this husband and wife was something that couldn't be reversed.

...

Not long after dawn, Shen Lang opened his eyes and saw the Count standing in front of him with a cold expression.

"Shen Lang, are you dissatisfied with me?" the Count asked.

Shen Lang got up and saluted the Count meticulously, "No, I hold my father-in-law in the highest esteem, like the surging river."

The Count said, "I told you to memorize the 'Golden House Rules' for your own good, yet you didn't. Moreover, you went to bed early. Doesn't that show dissatisfaction toward me?"

Shen Lang said, "Father-in-law, you've misunderstood. I've already finished memorizing it."

The Count was suddenly furious, shaking with anger, and said, "Nonsense, it took me a whole month to finish, and even the intelligent Mulan took twenty-three days. How long did it take you? Just one night. You claim to have finished? Are you speaking in a dream, or do you think I'm a three-year-old child?"

Shen Lang said, "Father-in-law, I really finished it. If you don't believe it, you can test me."

The Count took the 50,000-word family rules and glanced at the whip around his waist.

As Shen Lang was the son-in-law, the Count couldn't hit him as easily as his own son. If he was truly ignorant and spoke nonsense in front of him, then he would not hesitate to use the whip to discipline him.

Not finishing the memorization or even being lazy and avoiding studying was not a big deal, as the son-in-law didn't have to bear much responsibility. But lying was a big problem.

"Shen Lang, by entering into our family, you are half my son. If my own son can be disciplined, so can you," the Count said coldly. "I'll check a few chapters. If you can't recite them, don't blame me for using family discipline."

At this moment, the Countess hurried in and said, "Husband, it's fine if he can't recite them. Don't use family discipline. Shen Lang is tender, unlike our clever daughter, who is accustomed to being disciplined since childhood. If you really hurt him, how will you explain it to his parents?"

"Not being able to recite is acceptable, but speaking nonsense in front of the elders should be punished," the Count said. "Both of you are reasonable people, and I believe you will understand."

The Count unfastened the whip from his waist. If Shen Lang couldn't recite, he would use family discipline right away.

The Countess said, "Lang, apologize to your father-in-law right away."

Shen Lang said, "Mother-in-law, don't worry. I won't disappoint you."

"You see, you see, you're still talking nonsense. Now tell me, what is the content of the fifth chapter of the 'Golden House Rules'? Recite it. If you can't, you will suffer today," the Count said, with the whip in his hand ready to move.

At this moment, Mulan rushed in and said, "Father, don't be angry. Shen Lang is my husband. He has done nothing wrong. I apologize to you on his behalf."

Shen Lang recited word for word, "In the 'Golden House Rules,' Chapter Five on Ethical Conduct states: 'Ceremony mentions that one seeing likes to squint, while hearing of a name, the heart becomes anxious.' When there is a sensation, one should vent it to the side, treating it as normal or trivial. One must not avoid it and must endure it, just as with an uncle or a brother. If a relative commits an offense, it should be broken off. Moreover, 'Forthright in literature, forthright in the ancestral hall,' the ruler should not have private names...."

(Source: This text is adapted from the "Yan Family Rules." A passage was selected to remain historically accurate.)

Shen Lang recited the entire fifth chapter, over 2,000 words, without making a single mistake. His articulation was clear and expressive.

The Count, the Countess, and Mulan were all stunned, almost unable to believe their ears.

How could this be possible?

The Count didn't believe it and thought that Shen Lang was just lucky. The Count happened to have opened the chapter that Shen Lang had memorized.

So, he randomly turned to another page and said, "Recite the entire sixteenth chapter of the family rules for me."

Shen Lang didn't hesitate at all and recited directly, "The two teachings, internal and external, are originally one body, but have gradually diverged, with differences in depth and shallowness. The internal scriptures begin with five prohibitions, while the external scriptures are aligned with benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trust. Benevolence represents the prohibition of killing, righteousness represents the prohibition of stealing, propriety represents the prohibition of deviance, wisdom represents the prohibition of alcohol, and trust represents the prohibition of falsehood..."

Just three minutes later, Shen Lang had finished reciting again.

And he didn't miss a single word!

Next, the Count couldn't believe his eyes and pulled out several more chapters in succession, but Shen Lang's recitation was as smooth as flowing water.

Afterwards, the Count didn't make him recite a specific chapter, but instead suddenly read out a passage and had Shen Lang continue.

This was a killer move.

The Count's father and grandfather had both used this move, and it had been effective time and time again. When the Count was young, he didn't know how many times he had stumbled over it.

However, Shen Lang didn't pause at all. As soon as the Count finished speaking, he almost didn't need to recall or think, but continued seamlessly.

The feeling wasn't like reciting; it was as if he had written the whole book himself.

As he reached the end, he also enthusiastically interpreted the meanings and expressed his feelings about the text.

Not a single word was wrong, not even the rhythm, and there was no hesitation or delay.

A flawless performance!

The three masters of the Count's Manor were completely shocked, unable to close their eyes.

This... this is unbelievable!

But... it doesn't make sense.

When the Count was still the heir to the Count's title, he spent at least two to three hours daily studying and it took him more than a month to recite this family training manual.

Mulan, with her extraordinary intelligence, also took a whole twenty-three days.

The entire five thousand characters... Shen Lang managed to do it in just one night.

This is truly mind-blowing.

Mulan stared at Shen Lang's face, carefully examining it.

Is this really my husband? The rumored dim-witted and foolish man?

As a woman, the Countess recovered quickly.

Because this was great news.

"Lang is amazing, he performed so well and didn't embarrass me," the Countess looked at Shen Lang with loving eyes.

Then, she said to the Count with a straight face, "Husband, I win. Twenty-nine items!"

What's this about twenty-nine items?

Shen Lang and Mulan were both puzzled.

Could it be that there was some undisclosed deal between the father-in-law and the mother-in-law?

The Count's face turned slightly red. He waved his hand and said, "Alright, my dear, take Mulan and go outside. I need to have a word with Shen Lang."

The Countess looked happy but also a little angry, and walked out directly.

The Count asked, "Where are you going?"

"To scold our son, the fool," she replied.

A certain chubby man felt his ears heating up and couldn't help but shrink his body.

I haven't done anything wrong today. Will I be unfairly punished?

...

The Count had wondered if Shen Lang had memorized the Golden family training manual beforehand.

But he quickly dismissed the thought, as this family training manual was only for members of the Golden family and it hadn't been spread outside. Furthermore, it wasn't a martial arts secret manual that others would treasure.

"Lang, how did you do it?" the Count asked.

Shen Lang said, "Four days ago, I was critically ill at the Xu family. I nearly died. When I came back to life, I found my mind had become very bright and my memory was exceptionally good. I can remember everything at a glance."

"Thanks to a brush with death?" the Count asked.

Shen Lang said, "You could say that."

After pondering for a moment, the Count said, "This is what they call an epiphany. Although it's extremely rare, it's not unheard of. One hundred and eighty years ago, a certain ancestor of the Golden family also had an epiphany after coming back to life from a critical state, transforming from a waste into a martial arts genius and making great achievements for the family. The emperor wanted to award him, but he refused and instead asked for a new fief. It was under his management that the Golden family's fief reached its peak, with a territory of five thousand square kilometers. But today, not even a third of it remains."

Then, the Count continued solemnly, "This is your good fortune, but you must be even more respectful. Don't let your success go to your head. Understand?"

"Yes," Shen Lang replied.

The Count said, "Before, you spent a decade studying and didn't even graduate from the local school. Now that your mind is bright, don't waste your academic studies; pick up where you left off for all those subjects."

"Yes," Shen Lang said.

Studying?

In his past life, Shen Lang spent over ten years studying and had long been fed up with it.

No matter what his father-in-law says, he obediently agrees to it.

Finally, the Earl finished admonishing him.

Shen Lang said, "Father-in-law, you promised before that as long as I finish reciting the 'Gins Family's Instructions,' the house arrest will be lifted and I will regain my freedom. What do you think..."

"Ah, so you were waiting here?"

The Earl took a deep breath.

He could see that this son-in-law was really troublesome.

He promised on the surface, but immediately disregarded it, completely ignoring Shen Lang's words.

He was really obstinate.

He didn't want to agree, but once he said something, he had to keep his word.

"Alright, your house arrest is lifted," the Earl said, feeling really unwilling.

This was his shortest house arrest ever. It only lasted for one night, allowing Shen Lang to sleep in the study.

The Earl said, "Are you still going to confront Tian Hong?"

"Yes, I am." Shen Lang nodded. "I said yesterday that I must make Tian Hong publicly break his son, Tian Shisan's legs with his own hands, forcing him to sever his arm, in order to restore his dignity. When it comes to being a person, we must keep our promises. Otherwise, what integrity would there be? I won't be able to hold my head up high as a person in the future."