It wasn’t until Shi Fa Ke walked out of the Zhu family’s main gate that she let out a heavy sigh, looking dejectedly at the bulging, heavy purse in her hand. From the moment she received that invitation from the Zhu family, the entire course of events had been completely illogical.

If not for this purse with such a strong presence in her hand, she would have almost thought this was just an overly realistic dream…

Squeezing the purse in her hand, Shi Fa Ke let out a long sigh. Although the Zhu family marriage had inexplicably fallen through, this marriage proposal had come inexplicably in the first place… Just as Lu Chi had said, without understanding the reasons behind it, even if it had succeeded, it wouldn’t have been a good thing.

Forget it, there wasn’t really anything to regret.

At this point, Shi Fa Ke could only comfort herself this way.

In the end, Shi Fa Ke couldn’t help but let out another long sigh. Lu Chi’s marriage prospects… why were they so difficult!

At the school, the chubby boy had shamefully been kept after class again. All his classmates had gone home, leaving only him copying the Mencius with a lifeless expression… The teacher was really too cruel! It was just a bit of teasing, and this was already the umpteenth time being kept after class!

Fortunately, he was finally about to finish copying.

After writing the last character, the chubby boy put down his brush, stretched with a big yawn, then looked at the stack of densely written papers before him – truly written with blood and tears!

Holding the not-so-thin stack of papers, the chubby boy stood up and walked to Lu Chi’s desk, knocking on it.

“Hmm?” Lu Chi put down the book he was reading and looked at the chubby boy.

“I’m done copying.” The chubby boy lifted his chin, using it to point at the stack of densely written papers he’d placed on the desk, looking triumphant.

“Oh?” Lu Chi lowered his eyes to flip through the stack of papers before him. What surprised him somewhat was that this chubby boy’s calligraphy wasn’t as terrible as he’d imagined.

The characters were proper small regular script. Su Shi once said: “Large characters are difficult to write densely without gaps, while small characters are difficult to write spaciously with room to spare.” This chubby boy had actually achieved coordination and consistency. The entire piece was commendable, and for his age, it was already quite good.

Lu Chi glanced at him. “Hmm… this calligraphy is barely acceptable.”

The chubby boy was the type who could open a dye shop if given three points of color. Hearing this, he proudly rubbed his nose. “My grandfather says calligraphy reflects character. Young master me has been forced to practice copybooks since I could hold a brush.”

Hey… being forced to practice – was that something to be proud of?

Seeing him start with “young master this, young master that” again, Lu Chi raised an eyebrow. “However, this is only one copy.”

“What? One copy isn’t enough?!” The chubby boy’s eyes widened, his tender little fat face flushing red with anxiety.

This one copy had already kept him after class for several consecutive days – it was already his limit!

“How could one copy be enough?” Lu Chi smiled slightly, raising his hand to show five fingers, saying leisurely, “This teacher copied it five times back then.”

This shameless teacher was definitely still holding a grudge!

“That… that was already settled with payment, can we not mention it anymore!” the chubby boy said with grief and indignation.

What could he do? Finding a ghostwriter on the street and ending up with his future teacher – he was desperate too!

“Hmm, alright.” Lu Chi nodded agreeably.

The chubby boy was stunned, then looked at him somewhat suspiciously. Would this shameless teacher really be so reasonable? Just as he was thinking this, he heard him speak again.

“However…”

He knew it! The chubby boy couldn’t help but roll his eyes.

“This teacher remembers saying that the purpose of this copying punishment was to help you memorize the entire text.” Lu Chi looked at the eye-rolling chubby boy, leaning back slightly and settling comfortably against his chair back, saying unhurriedly, “So now, can you recite it?”

“Of course I can! Young master me isn’t like those mediocrities – one time is enough!” The chubby boy stretched his neck and shouted, his face red and neck thick.

Lu Chi raised an eyebrow slightly. “‘I understand words, I am good at cultivating my vast qi’ – where is this from?”

“Gongsun Chou.” The chubby boy answered quickly.

“May I ask what is meant by vast qi?” Lu Chi asked again.

“It is said: ‘It is difficult to explain. As for this qi, it is supremely great and strong. If nurtured uprightly without harm, it fills the space between heaven and earth. As for this qi, it matches righteousness and the Way; without these, it becomes weak. This is born from accumulated righteousness, not seized through righteous action. If one’s actions are not satisfying to the heart, it becomes weak.'”

Lu Chi’s eyes finally showed some surprise, and he asked again, “What is meant by understanding words?”

“It is said: ‘Biased words – I know their prejudices, excessive words – I know their pitfalls, evil words – I know their departures, evasive words – I know their inadequacies. Born in the heart, they harm governance; expressed in governance, they harm affairs. Should a sage arise again, he would surely follow my words.'”

The chubby boy answered as if without thinking, speaking fluently without any pause.

“‘The great person is one who does not lose their childlike heart.'” Lu Chi looked at the chubby boy and asked again, “Where is this from?”

“Li Lou.”

Lu Chi looked at the chubby boy thoughtfully, remaining silent for a long time.

“How about it? Did I pass?” The chubby boy was getting impatient from waiting and urged repeatedly.

After a long while, Lu Chi nodded. “Consider yourself passed.”

The chubby boy cheered and ran away eagerly, as if there were dogs chasing him, afraid the teacher would suddenly change his mind.

Lu Chi watched the chubby boy’s joyful retreating figure. After a long moment, he couldn’t help but smile. So… this troublesome chubby boy was actually a genius with photographic memory.

Being able to memorize the entire Mencius in one reading – this memory was truly astonishing. Only… did the elders in his family know about this?

Just as he was thinking, he saw the chubby boy suddenly running back at full speed. “Teacher, teacher, guess who I saw?”

“Hmm?” Lu Chi was still pondering his photographic memory and looked at him somewhat puzzledly.

“Hey, teacher, if I tell you who’s outside, can we call it even?” The chubby boy’s eyes rolled as he smiled ingratiatingly at Lu Chi.

A wise man doesn’t fight when the odds are against him; a great man can bend and stretch. Right now, one was the teacher and one was the student – if he insisted on opposing him, young master he would definitely be the one to suffer! So it was better to show weakness and pretend all those little previous unpleasantnesses never happened!

Lu Chi looked at the calculating chubby boy with an expression that was half-smile, half-not. “If I want to know who’s outside, this teacher can go look myself – no need to trouble you.”

With that, Lu Chi stood up.

As for who was outside, he actually had a good idea.

After all, in all of Tongluozhen, there was only one person who would come to the school to find him.

“Teacher, you’re really being unfriendly!” the chubby boy shouted, very dissatisfied. “They say adults don’t hold grudges against children. You’re a dignified teacher – why do you keep giving me trouble? Give each other a way out!”

Lu Chi chuckled coolly. “Could it be you’re reluctant to go home? Then how about this teacher assigns you some more homework?”

The chubby boy stared in disbelief, looking deeply hurt, then ran away without looking back.

Lu Chi laughed and followed him out quickly. Just as he walked out of the school, he saw Shi Fa Ke squatting at the entrance, drawing circles with something unknown.

“Young lady, young lady, let me tell you a secret.” The chubby boy rushed to Shi Fa Ke’s side, speaking mysteriously.

“Hmm?” Shi Fa Ke looked up at him in confusion.

The chubby boy leaned close to her ear and suddenly shouted, “Our teacher fancies you!” Then he turned to make faces at Lu Chi behind him and ran away without looking back.

“…” Lu Chi’s mouth twitched.

This brat really needed discipline.