Seeing that she was truly angry, he appeased her, "Yu Meng is our daughter, that's true, and the entire army knows it. But wanting military power isn't about status; it's about speaking with strength. If I don't train her now, what will happen in the future?"
"We can't possibly protect her forever, can we? Of course, if we could live for ten thousand years like turtles, protecting her for a lifetime would be no problem. The key is that we are human, not gods. We can only make plans for our child in advance. Don't you agree!"
Zhao Jiaqi opened her mouth, finding herself speechless. She just felt it was too harsh for their daughter!
"Can't you wait another two years? Wait until she's fifteen and her body is stronger before training her?"
Her wife's soft pleading was truly rare, yet he still shook his head mercilessly, "No, this age is the best time to learn. If we miss it, it will be a regret!"
He embraced Zhao Jiaqi, fully understanding her feelings, and whispered in her ear, "Yu Meng drank mother's milk since she was little. Her body is as strong as a calf's. She's also followed me everywhere since childhood, practically growing up on horseback. A little hardship and suffering will only make her fall faster and grow stronger and more resilient!"
"When I was thirteen, I was already hunting in the mountains with a iron fork and a bow and arrow. Our daughter has completely inherited my character. You have to believe she can complete the task!"
Zhao Jiaqi hated hearing this the most. She pushed him away, "You are a man, and Yu Meng is a woman. Can their physical strength and courage be the same?"
Fan Zehao sighed and murmured, "No, they're not the same. But our daughter has chosen such a path. Different or not, it has to be the same. She must be capable."
"Otherwise, you can only persuade her to give up her dream of becoming a general and come back to be a well-behaved young lady ready for marriage!"
For Yu Meng to give up her childhood dream was like talking to the wind!
"To make her a lady of refinement, I've disciplined her since childhood. I've hit her, scolded her, and reasoned with her, but it's all been in vain. If you ask me to persuade her now, wouldn't it just increase the conflict between us and our daughter?"
Fan Zehao spread his hands and retorted, "Then what do you suggest we do!"
With that question, Zhao Jiaqi didn't know how to respond. They both stood there, staring blankly!
Finally, Fan Zehao lowered his head, grasping his wife's shoulders. "How about this: let's not be angry about this matter. Let's call Fan Yu Meng back, explain the training to her, and let her decide whether to go or not. What do you say?"
What else could she say? Even if she didn't want to agree, she had no good excuse to refuse him!
His wife's silence meant she agreed!
Fan Zehao sent a servant to fetch their eldest daughter. They were truly worried sick about this daughter. Whenever Yu Meng was mentioned, the couple would surely bicker.
In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Yu Meng returned on horseback. She entered the front hall and strode towards her parents, a happy smile on her face. Her uninhibited nature truly resembled her father's.
"You're a young lady, can't you take small steps? Look at how you stride! Aren't you afraid of dislocating your hip!"
Yu Meng's smiling face froze. She frowned, "Mother, think about it. If we were fighting on the battlefield, and we all took small steps forward, do you think we could win?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Jiaqi pictured a small figure brandishing a weapon, inching forward while shouting about fighting, a truly bizarre image.
Ugh~ She couldn't help but shiver and quickly threw the image out of her mind!
"Alright, alright, I can't say a word to you without you having ten words waiting for me!" Zhao Jiaqi rubbed her aching temples and waved her hand, "Come sit. Your father has something to tell you."
Yu Meng sidled up and sat beside her, naturally hooking her arm with hers. At this moment, she looked like a young lady. It was only then that Zhao Jiaqi felt she had a considerate daughter. Although this padded jacket was a bit torn and drafty, it was still cotton and could withstand the cold!
Her relief lasted less than a quarter of an hour before she heard Yu Meng shouting excitedly over there. Zhao Jiaqi immediately clutched her chest!
Why was this child so excitable? Seeing her almost jumping for joy made her furious!
"Mother, did you hear? Father wants me to go train with those special forces soldiers?" Yu Meng asked, her eyes sparkling as she tugged on Zhao Jiaqi's sleeve, her voice full of excitement!
She helplessly corrected her daughter, "Your father is asking you IF you want to go, not ordering you to go. Did you hear clearly?"
Yu Meng's nose wrinkled. "Of course, I want to go! Such a great opportunity isn't something everyone gets. I'm only getting this honor because I'm Father's daughter. Why wouldn't I go? Not going would be foolish!"
She then firmly replied to Fan Zehao, "Father, I'll go. No matter how tough the training is, I'm not afraid. As long as I can broaden my horizons, I'll consider it worthwhile!"
These words made Fan Zehao's heart swell with joy. He slapped his thighs and burst into laughter, praising Yu Meng, "My Yu Meng is the best! She's my pride. From now on, I'll teach you personally. You must learn humbly and not be arrogant!"
Her father teaching her personally, Yu Meng was overjoyed, how could she be arrogant!
"Father, I'm already proud to be your daughter. What else could be more arrogant than that!"
Her words were so sweet, they made Fan Zehao incredibly happy. Looking at the father and daughter, Zhao Jiaqi felt a sour taste in her mouth. She immediately left the front hall. If she stayed any longer, watching their deep father-daughter affection, she wouldn't need to eat dinner that night!
She didn't understand. The child she worked so hard to give birth to, who grew up and wasn't close to her, was instead so close to her father. Her father had merely contributed a seed back then!
It was she who risked her life to give birth to her. She truly didn't know if they, mother and daughter, had some past life debt to settle!
As she left, Yu Meng looked at him curiously. "Father, what's wrong with Mother? She looks unhappy! Tell me, did you bully her!"
Looking at his clever daughter, he poked Yu Meng's forehead. "How dare I upset your mother? It's you who upset her!"
Yu Meng was suspicious, her delicate brows furrowed. "I just got back, and I didn't argue with Mother. How did I upset her?"
Fan Zehao explained the reason he had called her back, and only then did she suddenly realize, "So that's it!"
She looked at the purple figure at the entrance of the front hall, let out a slight sigh, and a happy smile curved her lips. "Mother has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. She clearly dotes on me, yet she insists on acting stern and disciplining me!"
Yes, Fan Zehao also felt his wife had this habit and couldn't help but nod!
"Alright, Father, I'll go and comfort Mother. When you're not busy, can you create another one for me and my younger brothers, preferably a sister? That way, Mother will have time to train her as a lady of refinement, fulfilling Mother's wish for the fourth child."