20demayo Chapter 238 Changyun's New Teacher
Chapter 238 Changyun's New Teacher
Uncle Ma, Aunt Ma, and Nineteen, who had disappeared for several days, have returned.
Upon returning to the Zhang family, they reported to Liu about what they had done during the past few days and the whereabouts of Wang and her daughter.
Upon seeing the message from Zhao Wu, Liu Xiaocui laughed until tears streamed down her face.
"Wang, she's finally got what she deserves, hahaha... karma really works."
Seeing her younger sister's somewhat delirious state, Liu told Uncle Ma and the others to go and rest first. Only after they had all left did she pull her sister into her arms and gently comfort her.
"Alright, Wang has gotten her just desserts. Let bygones be bygones. I don't want you to live with hatred forever. Do you want to go home? Or do you want to stay with me?"
Hearing her sister's question, Liu Xiaocui lowered her head and remained silent for a long time before looking at Liu Shi and saying, "Sister, can I go with you? Everyone in the family knows that I was abducted. If I go back, I don't know what kind of rumors will spread. I'm scared and worried."
"If you don't want to go back, just stay at your sister's house. In a few years, I'll definitely find you a good match with a good family background and marry you off in style." Liu patted her sister's back gently after hearing her sister's words.
"Okay, I'll do whatever you say, sister," Liu Xiaocui replied softly in her sister's arms.
The matter between the Wang family and the Liu family came to an end. Liu Xiaocui stayed at her sister's house. However, when Liu discovered that her younger sister had actually learned a lot of skills over the past few years, Xia Yu's good days were over.
Liu Xiaocui had indeed learned a lot during her years at the Red Pavilion. While she wouldn't say she was an expert in everything, she was certainly skilled enough to teach Xia Yu. From then on, in addition to learning martial arts from Nineteen every morning, Xia Yu also had to learn from her aunt.
Before Uncle Ma and his group left, the Zhang family's house had already broken ground, so their absence for a few days did not attract anyone's attention. They were simply assumed to have been sent by Zhang Youtie to purchase materials.
The family had discussed building the house for a long time, revising the plan several times without settling on a conclusion. One day after the New Year, Zhang Youtie brought up the matter while having drinks with his father and brothers at the old house, and Zhang Chengwen offered an idea.
The garden in town was built by the Emperor for Li Taifu, who had retired to his hometown. The garden buildings are now complete; all that remains are the flowers, plants, and landscaping. Third Brother, why don't you invite the chief designer of that garden over to see how your area can be planned?”
Upon hearing Zhang Chengwen's suggestion, Zhang Youtie was very tempted, but considering his own status, he felt it was impossible.
"Fourth brother, I'm just a peasant, and I don't know anyone here. Would they be willing to build a house for a peasant like me?" Zhang Youtie thought it was a good idea, but he didn't know where to start.
“Third Brother, you invited him over only to do a planning and design for your house, not to have him oversee the construction. Besides, the chief designer isn’t an official. He has no official rank; he’s just quite famous in the construction industry.”
"Fourth brother, how do you know these things?" Zhang Youjin asked curiously, hearing that Zhang Chengwen, who had been studying away from home for many years, knew more about these things than the locals.
"I heard it yesterday when I went with Teacher Li from the school to pay New Year's respects to Grand Tutor Li." He then looked at Zhang Youtiedao.
“Third brother, when we were at the Grand Tutor’s house, he mentioned that he was planning to take on two or three students. I was thinking of sending Changyun. What do you think?” Zhang Chengwen said to Zhang Youtie after answering his eldest brother.
"What? We can learn from Grand Tutor Li? Can we do that with Changyun?" Zhang Youtie was so excited that he stammered.
“I have tested Changyun’s teaching skills. Although he started learning a bit late, he is intelligent and willing to learn. I have high hopes for him. I have also spoken to Master Li about this. He also believes that if Changyun can become a disciple of Grand Tutor Li, his future will be limitless.”
"Good, good, fourth brother, thank you very much. Please take good care of Changyun's affairs." Zhang Youtie excitedly downed the wine in his cup in one gulp. To become a disciple of the Grand Tutor—what did the Grand Tutor do? He was the Emperor's teacher! Just thinking about his son becoming a disciple of the Grand Tutor filled Zhang Youtie with excitement and his blood boiled.
Now that things were settled, on the sixth day of the month, Zhang Chengwen took Changyun to visit Li Taifu's home and recommended his nephew to him. However, at Li Taifu's residence, they also encountered Master Shen from the Shen family in the county town, who had come with his grandson, Shen Luo.
When Zhang Chengwen first visited, he and Master Shen did not know each other and exchanged a few polite greetings.
After testing Changyun's studies, Grand Tutor Li was quite satisfied. He then randomly asked Changyun to recite an article from memory and explain its meaning. Changyun did as he was told, neither humble nor arrogant, and performed very well.
"Excellent, Changyun is very good. Come formally to become my disciple at the age of sixteen." After reading Changyun's article, Grand Tutor Li said this to Zhang Chengwen.
Hearing Li Taifu's words, Changyun looked at his fourth uncle with some confusion. He thought he was just accompanying his fourth uncle to visit his teacher, but it turned out he was being asked to find a teacher for himself. Only after realizing this did Changyun belatedly feel a little nervous. Fortunately, he had performed quite well; otherwise, if the teacher hadn't taken a liking to him, wouldn't he have let his fourth uncle down?
After the apprenticeship was settled, the adults let the two children go off to play. Perhaps it was fate, because although Changyun and Shenlu were seven or eight years apart, Shenlu really liked Changyun as her older brother. When he finally finished his exams and heard the adults say that they could play, she couldn't wait to pull Changyun to the yard to play.
Inside, Li Taifu introduced the two parties. This reminded Master Shen that the hot pot broth for his restaurant seemed to be supplied by Zhangjia Village. He then asked Zhang Chengwen about it. Zhang Chengwen knew his third brother supplied hot pot broth to restaurants in the county town, but he didn't know it was business with the Shen family. Hearing Master Shen's question, he realized that his third brother's family had been doing business with the Shen family all along.
"Haha, what a coincidence!" Grand Tutor Li said with a smile, stroking his beard, upon hearing that the two had such a connection.
The atmosphere in the room instantly became even more lively.
Master Shen had a very good impression of the Zhang family. They were honest in their business dealings, and their watermelons helped their shop quickly gain a foothold in the capital, making them quite wealthy. Their hot pot business in winter was even more profitable. Although even without these profits, they would still be the richest family in the Shen household, what businessperson would complain about making too much money?
Zhang Chengwen was the top scholar in the previous provincial examination and received guidance from Grand Tutor Li. Now he has sent his nephew to Grand Tutor Li's tutelage. It seems that the Zhang family has a bright future.
The group ate lunch at Grand Tutor Li's house. After the meal, Master Shen took his leave, stating that he would bring Shen Luo back on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month to formally become his apprentice. Zhang Chengwen also took the opportunity to say goodbye, but Grand Tutor Li stopped him. After seeing Master Shen off, Grand Tutor Li and Zhang Chengwen chatted for a long time in the study before Zhang Chengwen and his nephew bid farewell to Grand Tutor Li.
On the way back, Changyun asked Zhang Chengwen
"Fourth Uncle, is Shen Luo here today also to become an apprentice?"
"Well, from now on you and Shen Luo will be fellow disciples. Study hard and don't let your family down," Zhang Chengwen said, patting his nephew on the shoulder.
"Yes, Fourth Uncle, don't worry, I will definitely study hard." Changyun nodded heavily to assure him.