“Those rumors… you, you know about them all?” Shi Fa Ke stammered.

Seeing her panicked expression, Lu Chi couldn’t help but sigh. “Don’t worry, I haven’t taken those rumors to heart. You don’t need to show such an expression.”

Seeing her like this made him want to do something…

“Maybe the Zhu family values you being a scholar.” Shi Fa Ke bit her lip, arguing.

“A mere scholar is just the starting point of the long imperial examination path. How would the Zhu family, who have always advanced through the imperial examinations, regard it highly? Moreover, the Zhu family has a clan school that not only accepts students from their own clan but also many poor but talented students. So the Zhu family’s clan school is quite renowned, with numerous scholars among them.” Lu Chi looked at her. “So, do you still think the Zhu family values my scholar status?”

Shi Fa Ke was stumped. She had clearly come to persuade Lu Chi, but somehow ended up being persuaded by him instead…

Then… why exactly did the Zhu family take a fancy to Lu Chi?

“Wait… let me think through this again…”

Shi Fa Ke had come enthusiastically, but after Lu Chi’s explanations, she left in confusion.

Lu Chi saw her to the school gate, watching her leave with a perplexed expression, and his lips curved slightly.

Turning back to the classroom door, it was still silent inside, and the chubby boy was still standing in punishment at the entrance.

Lu Chi was about to enter the classroom when the chubby boy suddenly jumped out to assert his presence. “Teacher, where’s that young lady?”

Lu Chi looked back at him.

The chubby boy smiled provocatively and said, “Teacher, you like that young lady, don’t you?”

Lu Chi stared at him steadily until the chubby boy’s scalp tingled and his legs trembled, beginning to regret why he had courted death, before slowly smiling. “You’re right.”

Hmm, if only A’ke were this clever and perceptive.

With that, he withdrew his gaze and walked into the classroom.

Shameless!

The chubby boy was so angry he choked.

He actually admitted it! This shameless teacher!

“But teacher, that young lady… doesn’t like you, does she?” The chubby boy looked at his teacher’s retreating figure and said quietly.

Lu Chi’s figure suddenly stiffened.

After a long while, he turned back and smiled. “No need to stand in punishment anymore. Come in.”

The chubby boy pressed against the wall warily. “You… what are you planning to do now…”

“This teacher thought about it – standing in punishment doesn’t actually help with your studies. How about copying instead?” Lu Chi looked at the chubby boy with a kindly expression, saying gently, “If you can’t remember after copying once, copy twice. If you can’t remember after twice, copy three times. Over time, you’ll definitely remember.”

The chubby boy immediately looked devastated.

You reap what you sow – why did he have to provoke his teacher…

But one thing he was certain of – this teacher was truly an irredeemable villain!

Meanwhile, Shi Fa Ke tried every way to gather information about the Zhu family’s young lady, but found that this Miss Zhu was truly a proper young lady from a prestigious family who never left her chambers – she couldn’t discover even a bit of information.

Carrying Lu Chi’s doubts, Shi Fa Ke once again arrived at the Zhu family’s gate.

This time, Shi Fa Ke waited for a full incense stick’s worth of time, drinking tea until she needed to use the privy, before Madam Zhu finally arrived leisurely.

“Does Miss Shi have good news?” Sitting above Shi Fa Ke, Madam Zhu’s expression wasn’t warm, just asking coldly.

Though it was a question, for some reason it carried a tone of certainty, as if this marriage would definitely succeed.

Indeed, with the Zhu family’s social standing, ordinary people probably wouldn’t examine the reasons carefully and would eagerly accept this excellent marriage, as it would be like a pie falling from heaven for a poor scholar.

Shi Fa Ke felt Madam Zhu’s attitude was strange. After hesitating, she cautiously probed, “I wonder if you’ve heard the rumors about Scholar Lu?”

Madam Zhu’s expression paused slightly. After a moment of silence, she smiled faintly. “Rumors should stop with the wise – they’re not worth believing.”

Shi Fa Ke was immediately moved by these words, completely forgetting she had waited a full incense stick’s worth of time here, and overlooking Madam Zhu’s somewhat cold attitude. She only felt that this Madam Zhu truly deserved to be from a scholarly family, possessing wisdom and foresight that ordinary people lacked!

“Madam is truly reasonable.” Shi Fa Ke sincerely praised Madam Zhu, then continued, “To be honest, I’ve come this time because Scholar Lu still has some confusion and doubts about this marriage. Marriage is about joining two families in harmony – if there are doubts, it won’t be beautiful. I hope Madam can clarify things.”

“Oh?” Madam Zhu was slightly stunned, seeming surprised that Scholar Lu would have doubts about this marriage. She paused before saying, “Please speak, Miss Shi.”

Shi Fa Ke nodded and asked, “From a common sense perspective, Miss Zhu and Scholar Lu don’t seem to be well-matched… I wonder why you chose Scholar Lu for Miss Zhu?”

Hearing this question, Madam Zhu narrowed her eyes. “Is this Miss Shi’s question, or Scholar Lu’s?”

For some reason, Madam Zhu’s face now showed frost, her expression somewhat unfriendly.

Shi Fa Ke was speechless, not understanding why Madam Zhu’s emotions fluctuated so greatly. And of course this was what Lu Chi wanted to know – otherwise, why would she ask so many questions…

“It’s Scholar Lu’s question.” Facing Madam Zhu’s somewhat unfriendly expression, Shi Fa Ke said reluctantly.

Madam Zhu raised an eyebrow, seeming somewhat surprised. Her expression became somewhat stiff as she said, “The common saying goes ‘don’t look down on poor youth,’ especially when Young Master Lu is a scholar. Miss Shi should know that my father-in-law advanced through the imperial examinations and reached the third rank. Therefore, the Zhu family doesn’t value wealth when choosing a son-in-law – as long as he has talent for learning and is motivated to improve, there will always be a day for success.”

This answer was similar to Shi Fa Ke’s own thoughts, but setting aside Lu Chi’s concerns, she still felt Madam Zhu’s emotions and attitude were strange…

Was it her imagination?

It seemed to carry a sense of insincerity…

“But I’ve heard that in the Zhu family’s clan school, there are more than five scholars like Scholar Lu.” Shi Fa Ke probed, “Wouldn’t it be more reliable to choose a talented scholar from the Zhu family’s clan school, knowing his background and character?”

Madam Zhu froze.

After a long while, she suddenly laughed coldly. “Miss Shi makes a good point. Then let this marriage be called off – no need to mention it again.”

Eh? Eh?!

Shi Fa Ke was stunned… what kind of development was this?

She had just wanted to know the reason, and it was… called off just like that? Were marriage proposals so casual nowadays?

“Then, Miss Shi, please leave.” Madam Zhu picked up her teacup.

Shi Fa Ke felt somewhat aggrieved… Since taking on Lu Chi’s marriage matter, this was already the third time she’d been shown the door with tea. While she could understand the previous two families, this Zhu family… wasn’t it Madam Zhu herself who had sent the invitation asking her to be the matchmaker?! Why was she being so fickle?

Before Shi Fa Ke could speak, a maid approached with a smile, offering a purse. “We’re sorry to have Miss Shi make a wasted trip. This is from our madam for your tea.”

Shi Fa Ke’s words were stuck in her throat, making her even more aggrieved. But she realized that even if she said more, it would just be a waste of breath. Moreover, this Zhu family marriage had been suspicious from the start – she didn’t know the real reasons behind it… what could she say?

Shi Fa Ke glanced at the purse in the maid’s hand, which looked quite heavy, and with a ‘might as well take it’ attitude, silently took the purse and left.

In the hall, Madam Zhu sat there motionless for a long time.

“Madam… sending the matchmaker away like this, what about the young lady…” the personal maid serving nearby said with some concern.

“Hmph, a mere poor scholar dares to put on airs – does he think I can’t do without him?!” Madam Zhu’s face showed anger.

Seeing this, the maid lowered her head, not daring to say more, but silently grumbled in her heart… but the young lady truly cannot do without him…