Today was a rest day, and little fatty Zhu Li rarely stayed home instead of going out to play. He had told his mother early in the morning about his teacher’s planned visit, and also said he wanted to arrange for his fourth sister to marry his teacher.

The fourth sister mentioned by the little fatty was Zhu Ningzhi, a concubine’s daughter from the second branch. This Fourth Miss Zhu was very beautiful and quite talented. Such an outstanding concubine’s daughter might be seen as a thorn in the side by the main wives of other families, but Second Madam Zhu had always been virtuous and lenient, treating all stepchildren and concubine’s children equally.

“Mother, you don’t know how sly that teacher is. Once he becomes my brother-in-law, surely he won’t make things difficult for me in school anymore.” The little fatty said with a grinning, wishful thinking.

Upon hearing her stepson’s absurd idea of arranging for their concubine daughter to marry the school teacher, Second Madam Zhu didn’t scold him but just smiled and chided, “Naughty.”

She then actually instructed someone to call Fourth Miss over.

Although Fourth Miss Zhu was a concubine’s daughter, she was much favored by her father, and Second Madam Zhu rarely managed her affairs, which had resulted in her developing a spoiled temperament. When she heard that her unreliable stepbrother actually had the audacity to want to arrange her marriage to his teacher, she was simply furious.

Even so, she ultimately didn’t dare truly disobey her mother. Though spoiled, she knew that the seemingly gentle mother was not magnanimous, so she came over in a huff.

Around the second quarter of the si hour, Lu Chi came visiting.

When the gatekeeper came to report, the little fatty was overjoyed. He had almost thought his teacher was just humoring him, and now he was finally at ease.

“For one who teaches, to have such corrupt morals is simply misleading the students.” Fourth Miss Zhu glanced at her grinning brother and said coldly.

Zhu Li glanced at her and chuckled, “Once you see what my teacher looks like, you won’t say that anymore.”

He looked quite confident, which infuriated Fourth Miss Zhu.

However, she soon understood why this stepbrother was so confident. When she saw that man approaching gracefully, Fourth Miss Zhu seemed to hear the sound of spring flowers blooming.

He was wearing only a very ordinary sand-blue long robe, yet he was so handsome and distinguished, like spring willows, like autumn moon. His appearance was the most beautiful she had ever seen in her life. Fourth Miss Zhu stared blankly, reluctant to look away for a moment.

“Teacher!” The little fatty’s voice rang out cheerfully, breaking Fourth Miss Zhu’s reverie.

Fourth Miss Zhu’s cheeks flushed slightly with a layer of crimson. So Zhu Li’s teacher… was actually such a person. If it were him, it wouldn’t be unacceptable…

“Teacher, please have a seat.” Second Madam Zhu said with a smile.

Lu Chi cupped his hands, “And you are?”

“This is my mother.” Before Second Madam Zhu could answer, Zhu Li spoke up first, then pulled Lu Chi’s hand and pointed to Fourth Miss Zhu sitting nearby with a slightly red face, saying proudly: “This is my fourth sister Zhu Ningzhi. Beautiful, isn’t she?”

Fourth Miss Zhu’s face turned even redder, yet she was secretly annoyed. This little devil… being so frivolous in front of her, wouldn’t it make this teacher look down on her?

Lu Chi didn’t look at Fourth Miss Zhu, but instead looked at the smug little fatty with an indifferent expression.

The little fatty belatedly shivered, “What… what’s wrong… teacher?”

“When elders are speaking, interrupting and taking over the conversation—who taught you such manners?” Lu Chi looked at him expressionlessly.

The little fatty was stunned, “Can’t… can’t I do that?”

No one had ever taught him otherwise.

Nearby, although Second Madam Zhu maintained a smile on her face, her well-maintained slender fingers hidden in her sleeves were tightly clenched.

“Revealing the private names of your family’s sisters to outside men—who taught you such manners?” Lu Chi continued.

The little fatty looked uneasily at his mother, only to find that she didn’t have her usual gentle smile but had slightly darkened her expression, making him even more at a loss.

“Teacher, you speak too harshly. My Li’er has always been innocent and pure-hearted. He meant well.” Second Madam Zhu forced a smile, “He told me that your several marriage proposals had failed, so he thought to introduce our family’s sisters to you, hoping to accomplish something good.”

Lu Chi looked seriously at Second Madam Zhu, “That Zhu Li is innocent and pure-hearted is true, but how could you, Madam, agree to such an absurd matter?”

Second Madam Zhu finally lost even her false smile, showing a slight anger, “Absurd? If it’s so absurd, why did you come visiting today?”

In Second Madam Zhu’s view, this teacher was merely superficially attractive. If he had disagreed with this matter from the beginning, why would he come visiting today? Now he was just wanting to climb up to the Zhu family’s good match while not wanting to be criticized, so he was taking the initiative to put on a hypocritical facade.

“What does my visit today have to do with this matter?” Lu Chi showed a surprised expression.

“Aren’t you here for the marriage arrangement?” Second Madam Zhu’s face showed mockery.

“Madam, how could you have such a strange idea?” Lu Chi said in surprise, “I came visiting today because I have business to discuss with Old Master Zhu.”

Second Madam Zhu was choked up.

Little fatty Zhu Li blinked, and to save his teacher’s face, he barely concealed the surprise on his face. His teacher had actually come to see his grandfather? Why had he never mentioned this to him?

However, the strange expression on Zhu Li’s face didn’t escape Second Madam Zhu’s notice. She became more convinced that this hypocritical, superficially attractive teacher was just putting on an act, so she sneered, “Someone come, take this teacher to see the Old Master.”

“But Madam… the Old Master cultivates himself and rarely agrees to see outsiders…” a nearby maid said timidly.

“No matter, just say that Li’er’s teacher has come to request an audience.” Second Madam Zhu said indifferently. She wanted to see what this teacher could say when he met the Old Master.

The maid bowed and left to carry out the order.

Fourth Miss Zhu sitting nearby could no longer sit still. Both ashamed and annoyed, she covered her face and left quickly.

Lu Chi and Second Madam Zhu both maintained their composure, as if they hadn’t seen this scene, making the atmosphere somewhat strange.

“Why don’t you sit and wait, Teacher?” Second Madam Zhu’s face showed a smile again.

Although the Old Master had now retired from office, he still carried his official authority and wasn’t an easy-going person. Usually, even the younger generation in the family didn’t dare to curry favor in front of him. Even Zhu Li, this little tyrant, didn’t dare to be presumptuous in his presence.

She was waiting to see this teacher who didn’t know his place get thrown out.

Lu Chi seemed completely unperturbed, calmly thanking her and actually sitting down to wait.

After a while, the maid returned to report that Old Master Zhu was waiting in his study and wanted the teacher to come see him.

Lu Chi then rose leisurely, thanked Second Madam Zhu, and followed the maid to the study with a calm expression.

Second Madam Zhu frowned, feeling somewhat uneasy for some reason, and sent someone to wait outside the Old Master’s study.

Lu Chi stayed in Old Master Zhu’s study for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick before leaving. No one knew what he and Old Master Zhu had discussed, but someone actually heard hearty laughter coming from the study… When Lu Chi was leaving, the Old Master even invited him to stay for dinner.