I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

It's easy to imagine how Ah He, whose mind is filled with these outdated ideas, will educate his descendants.

"Chōtarō, how many times do I have to tell you before you understand? As a samurai, you must not be picky about food!"

Although Ahe is old, her eyes are still sharp and bright.

"How many people in this world can't even afford dried radish, let alone pickled radish!"

"Do you know how lucky you are to be able to eat your fill of pickled radishes like this?"

"The nation is currently in turmoil. Leaving aside the foreign powers overseas, the rebellious ministers and traitors such as the Choshu Domain in the West could seize the opportunity to rebel at any time."

"When the world is in turmoil, let alone rice and pickled radishes, we might not even be able to eat millet, red rice, or barnyard grass!"

"Refusing to eat this or that is not the behavior of a warrior!"

"You have to eat everything to build a strong and healthy body!"

"Only by possessing a strong body can I better serve the shogun and the shogunate in the future!"

Chotaro kept his head down, looking dejected.

"Yes... Grandma, I understand..."

Ahe seemed to want to say something more, but Nishino stopped her in time.

"Alright, Mother, stop talking."

Nishino looked at Ahe and sighed.

“Chōtarō is still young, and it’s understandable that he makes small mistakes from time to time. Look, Chōtarō already knows he’s wrong, so please forgive him this time.”

As soon as Nishino finished speaking, his wife interrupted and offered her advice.

"Yes, yes, Grandma, Chotaro already knows he was wrong, please calm down."

After being gently persuaded by the Nishino couple, Ahe's stern expression softened slightly.

"Humph!"

Ah He gave a cold "humph" through her nostrils.

"Hosojiro! You're just too gentle!"

"All young children are like iron ore full of impurities; they must be forged and tempered to become steel!"

"Indulging Chotaro and being too gentle with him will not raise him into a strong and excellent samurai!"

Nishino smiled helplessly and did not reply.

The family continued eating.

Before long, Chotaro put down his bowl and chopsticks, neatly placed the chopsticks on the bowl, put his hands together, and bowed to the bowl, chopsticks, and table in front of him.

"I'm done eating."

"Ah."

Nishino nodded slightly.

"Chōtarō, go back to your room and study."

"Yes."

Chotaro stood up and walked out of the hall at a leisurely pace.

Just as one of his feet had already stepped out of the hall—

"Chōtarō, wait a minute!"

Suddenly, Ahe's loud shout rang out behind him.

"Chōtarō, there's leftover rice in your bowl."

Ahe stretched out her hand and pointed to the few grains of rice left in Chotaro's bowl.

"I have given similar advice countless times!"

"As a samurai, there must never be any leftover rice in your bowl!"

Not even a single grain of rice!

As if hearing the most terrifying curse in the world, Chotaro's face turned pale instantly.

"Yes, yes!"

As he responded quickly, he turned around and returned to the table as fast as he could, picked up his chopsticks, and used the tips to pick up the few remaining grains of rice in the bowl.

Seeing Chotaro's action, Ahe nodded, a hint of satisfaction flashing in her eyes.

"Yes, that's right! Even if there's only one grain of rice, you must use chopsticks or a spoon. You must never do anything unseemly like grabbing rice with your hands or licking the bowl with your tongue."

Chotaro had already finished his leftovers, but Ahe still didn't stop lecturing.

"Chōtarō, who do you think you're on to get such good rice?"

"This is all thanks to the General!"

"It is thanks to the General's kindness that we are able to eat such good rice in such a nice house."

"The general has shown us such great kindness, how can we waste food?"

"Every meal and every bowl of porridge should remind us of the general's kindness!"

"Every garment and every piece of clothing should remind us of the general's kindness!"

When she spoke of the phrases "remembering the general's kindness" and "remembering the general's affection," Ahe straightened her back perfectly, a look of reverence appearing on her face, her expression as solemn as that of a fanatical believer.

Just as Ahe was reveling in his own world... Chotaro suddenly spoke up and asked:

"Grandma... there's something I've never quite understood."

"Hmm? What is it?"

“You always told me, ‘Never forget the great kindness of the General,’ and ‘It is thanks to the General’s kindness that we have food to eat and clothes to wear.’”

"But... I don't understand—when has the General ever done us any favors?"

The atmosphere around them changed abruptly as soon as Chotaro said this.

Whether it was Nishino or Ahe, everyone looked horrified.

Especially Ah He—she suddenly widened her eyes, her pupils bulging out like goldfish.

Chotaro, oblivious to the change in the atmosphere around him, continued speaking as if nothing had happened:

"This rice was grown by farmers, and these clothes were woven by artisans."

"The money to buy rice and clothes was earned by my father through hard work."

"The fragrant rice and the spotless clothes were all cooked and washed with great care by my mother."

"Whether it's eating or dressing, the general has never offered me any help."

"I really can't think of any reason why I should thank the General..."

"After much thought... the people I should truly thank are the rice farmers, the cloth weavers, my hardworking father, and my diligent mother..."

Snapped--! !

Before Chotaro could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a loud thud of physical contact.

Ahe dashed to Chotaro and slapped him hard across the left cheek.

Judging from the wind pressure generated when she slapped him, Ah He didn't hold back at all; she used almost all her strength.

Although Ah He is old, she is still an adult.

How could 5-year-old Chotaro withstand a powerful blow from an adult?

The instant Ah-He's slap landed squarely on Chotaro's left cheek, Chotaro was sent flying sideways, landing two steps away on the tatami mat.

As if by magic, Chotaro's left cheek swelled up at a speed visible to the naked eye.

In the blink of an eye, her once delicate face swelled up into a large mound.

Chotaro was caught off guard by the sudden change.

A moment later, he covered his injured face and burst into tears.

"Wa ...

However, even so, Ahe still refused to let him go.

"You beast!"

While cursing, Ahe ran towards Chotaro again.

Upon seeing this, the Nishino couple both stood up.

Nishino's wife protected Chotaro.

As for Nishino himself, he stood between his mother and son.

"Mother! Please calm down!"

Nishino used his body as a shield, holding onto Ahe tightly to prevent her from getting close to Chotaro.

In terms of sheer strength, the frail and elderly Ahe is no match for Nishino.

However, Ahe was in no way inferior in terms of momentum.

"You beast! What kind of nonsense are you spouting!"

Ah He's eyebrows were raised, his eyes blazing with anger, and his face was flushed red from the blood rushing to his head, making him look just like a demon from hell.

"Without General, where would you be?!"

How could you utter such treasonous words!

"Do you even consider yourself a samurai?"

"Hosojiro! Let me go! Let me go!"

Nishino knew all too well what would happen if he let go of his mother, who was currently in a fit of rage.

So he not only disobeyed his mother's orders, but also tightened his grip on her.

"Aso! Take Chotaro back to his room!"