Walking out of Old Master Zhu’s courtyard well-fed and satisfied, Lu Chi’s expression was quite pleasant.

Outside the courtyard, he saw the little fatty pacing anxiously in circles.

When the little fatty saw his teacher come out, he quickly approached, “Teacher, are you alright? My grandfather is quite fierce. Did he scold or beat you?”

…He truly had an innocent and pure nature. Let your teacher teach you to recognize the dangers of this world.

Lu Chi was quite moved and reached out to pat his head.

This gesture was so gentle that the little fatty was momentarily dazed. His teacher seemed particularly gentle today?

Had something happened?

…Such a gentle teacher was inexplicably somewhat unsettling.

“Nothing happened. Your grandfather is calling for you. I’ll head back first.” Lu Chi withdrew his hand and said matter-of-factly.

“Ah?” The little fatty was stunned, saying nervously with a worried expression: “Grandfather is looking for me? Did he say what it was about?”

“You’ll know once you go in.” Lu Chi said irresponsibly, then waved and left.

The little fatty could only stand there, watching helplessly as his teacher waved and walked away, then entered the old master’s study with a rarely serious chubby face… because his grandfather never liked his frivolous, grinning manner.

In a pavilion not far away, the Zhu family’s First Madam witnessed this scene.

“That man… is Lu Chi?”

“Yes.” The maid beside her answered in a low voice.

“He truly does have fine looks.” First Madam Zhu frowned slightly. For a man to have excessive beauty was not a good thing.

Because her usually timid and obedient daughter had suddenly become stubborn, insisting on marrying no one but Lu Chi, First Madam Zhu had naturally investigated and learned that Lu Chi taught at a school in town, where coincidentally Zhu Li from the second branch also studied.

Since the day she regretted her decision and refused the match through that girl from the Shi family who acted as matchmaker, Zhu Yanyan had grown thinner by the day. Recently, she had become so weak she couldn’t even get out of bed, which truly worried her mother. Today, upon hearing servants gossiping that Zhu Li wanted to arrange his fourth sister’s marriage to his teacher, and hearing that the teacher had come to meet the girl, First Madam Zhu naturally became anxious and came personally.

“Did he really come to meet Fourth Miss?” First Madam Zhu asked again.

“It was just rumors. This servant has inquired clearly—this Master Lu came on business to see the Old Master.” The maid said, then leaned forward to whisper the situation that had occurred in the reception hall into First Madam Zhu’s ear.

After hearing this, First Madam Zhu sneered, “That Second Madam is becoming more and more…”

She didn’t finish saying what she was becoming, but the meaning in her words was already quite contemptuous.

First Madam Zhu had always looked down on Second Madam Zhu, considering her nothing but a foolish woman who thought herself clever. However, at this moment she had no mood to concern herself with that confused Second Madam—she had her own troubles.

“How is Yanyan today?”

“Miss only drank some congee today, but vomited it all up. Continuing like this is truly harmful to her health…” The personal maid seemed somewhat hesitant to speak.

“Children are all debts.” First Madam Zhu sighed deeply, “Fine, I’ll swallow my pride and send another invitation to that girl from the Shi family.”

“Madam is in the prime of life.” Seeing that the madam had relented, the maid’s expression also became joyful, then she softly sighed, “Miss finally has something to hope for.”

First Madam Zhu shook her head and turned to leave.

Meanwhile, the little fatty steeled himself and entered the study, where he saw Old Master Zhu sitting behind the desk. Old Master Zhu paid great attention to his health, so although he was nearly seventy, his body remained quite robust. Only his rigid, stern face was full of furrows—he truly wasn’t an approachable person.

“Grandfather.” The little fatty, who was usually aggressive outside, called out obediently.

Old Master Zhu leaned back in his chair, squinting as he examined the unremarkable chubby boy before him. This was his grandson Zhu Li, who had been spoiled rotten by his second daughter-in-law, developing an arrogant and unruly temperament that was quite unlikeable. On his first day at the clan school, he had caused complete chaos and even struck a teacher, resulting in his expulsion. Later, he had no choice but to attend the town school.

For a legitimate descendant of the Zhu family to be unable to attend the Zhu clan school was simply shameful.

Old Master Zhu, who had once held a third-rank official position, was shrewd with age. Even if he hadn’t noticed initially, how could he fail to see through Second Madam’s clumsy tactics of destructive praise over time? Unfortunately, by the time he realized it, it was too late. Moreover, as a father-in-law, it wasn’t appropriate for him to directly scold his daughter-in-law. Whenever he brought it up, Second Madam would always wipe her tears and say being a stepmother was difficult—treating him well was called destructive praise, while not treating him well would be called harsh treatment.

He had also mentioned this to his second son, but the second son was dismissive, only saying that his good-for-nothing son was born to be trouble. Over time, Old Master Zhu had become somewhat disheartened with this grandson.

Until today, when the teacher from the town school came to visit and actually said that this seemingly worthless grandson was a genius with photographic memory…

The little fatty didn’t know what the old master was thinking. Being stared at by his thoughtful gaze made him tremble, when he saw the old master push a book toward him. The cover read “Baopuzi.”

“Have you read this?” Old Master Zhu asked.

The little fatty nervously shook his head, thinking his grandfather was about to scold him for being unlearned again.

“Take a look.” Old Master Zhu pointed at the book.

The little fatty was confused but still didn’t dare disobey. He obediently stepped forward to pick up the book and began reading.

The study was very quiet. Although the little fatty was anxious inside, he still tried hard to read through the somewhat obscure content on the pages.

After turning just two pages, he heard Old Master Zhu tap the desk, “Alright, put it down.”

The little fatty felt greatly relieved and quickly put down the book.

His speed was so fast that Old Master Zhu frowned directly—how much did he dislike reading…

Seeing the old master frown, the little fatty’s heart became anxious again.

“Tell me what you just read.” Old Master Zhu said.

The little fatty was stunned, becoming even more confused, but this wasn’t difficult for him, so he recited fluently: “Baopuzi said: There was Master Bingbing, who despised the restless wandering life and grieved over the bitter struggles for position. He yielded fertile land to Lu Hai, preferring to farm in the salt marshes, keeping the six mysteries secret…”

Old Master Zhu had initially been leaning back in his chair somewhat carelessly, but as he listened, his eyes grew brighter and brighter. He unconsciously sat up straight, looking at the chubby boy standing before him reciting in a methodical manner, suddenly feeling extremely excited.

Even that face, which appeared somewhat unremarkable due to excessive fat, seemed to become more refined.

“…Ten thousand things cannot disturb his harmony, the four seas are insufficient to trouble his spirit.” The little fatty was still reciting.

Old Master Zhu calmed his excited mood and interrupted him, “Have you ever read this book before?”

The little fatty shook his head with a blank expression.

Old Master Zhu squinted at him for a long while, then got up and took a copy of “Tiangong Kaiwu” from the bookshelf, randomly opened a page and handed it to him, “Read.”

The little fatty took a breath, feeling somewhat aggrieved as he lowered his head to read again.

After reading two pages, the old master took the book from his hands, “Recite.”

This time the little fatty had experience. He blinked and methodically recited what he had just read: “All varieties of beans are as numerous as rice and millet, with planting and harvesting seasons continuing through the four seasons. Their function in filling the stomach is part of people’s daily use, accompanying them from beginning to end in eating and drinking… All soybeans depend on whether the soil is fertile or barren, whether weeding is diligent or lazy, whether rain and dew are sufficient or scarce, determining how much can be harvested…”

The recitation was very fluent, without any stuttering.

Old Master Zhu knew that this grandson had been taught by his second daughter-in-law to become an unlearned dandy who was most afraid of reading books. Even if he had read “Baopuzi,” he couldn’t possibly have read “Tiangong Kaiwu,” a book about handicrafts and agriculture.

Although he was already certain in his heart, Old Master Zhu rarely indulged in childish behavior, like discovering a novel and interesting toy. He found many more books and had Zhu Li try almost every one, becoming more delighted with each test.

What Master Lu had said was true—his grandson Zhu Li was indeed a genius!

He had photographic memory! How important this was for a scholar!

Learning that his seemingly worthless grandson was actually a genius with photographic memory, Old Master Zhu practically experienced a second spring in his life.

He had risen through the imperial examinations and had barely climbed to a third-rank official position when it was time to retire. He wasn’t without disappointment about this, especially since none of his descendants showed great promise. How glorious he had once been, how disappointed he was now. Now, learning that Zhu Li was actually a genius with photographic memory, how could Old Master Zhu not be excited? He was simply overjoyed, immediately deciding to personally teach this grandson and not let him be ruined by that foolish woman in the second branch!