The Prime Minister s Darling

Chapter 368: 194 Paying Respect to the Master (Second Update) _2

“Has Master Feng taken a disciple?” Nanxiang sneered, “The old stick-in-the-mud does not even approve of Zhuang Da Ru, but he took a liking to a child with a lame leg?”

The Zhuang Da Ru she referred to was Zhuang Xianzhi, the fourth master of the Zhuang family who was recently appointed as the prefecture chief of Youzhou, and is now one of the most respected scholars in Zhan Country.

Zhuang Xianzhi has always held Master Feng in great reverence and wished to succeed him, but it was unfortunate that Master Feng never accepted him as a disciple.

“I think that boy’s pretty good.” Master Lu said, “He doesn’t appear to be an ordinary country boy in his words and manners.”

“Can anyone who catches Master Feng’s eye be ordinary?” Nanxiang gave a faint smile and shifted the conversation from Xiao Liulang, “He got two disciples in exchange for one favor – is the price too high?”

Master Lu said: “Not at all. If it weren’t for Master Feng’s help, I wouldn’t have met you in this lifetime. Master Feng is our matchmaker; I must repay this favor.”

Nanxiang laughed.

She was usually wary of looking too fearsome when she smiled in front of others, but had no such concern in front of her husband.

After she had laughed herself out, she took her husband’s hand and said, “I like those two children; they’re much better than the previous ones.”

Gu Xiaoshun and Gu Yan were not the first ones to come asking to be apprentices. Many had come before them. Among them were some talented individuals, but Nanxiang liked none of them.

Whenever she appeared, all of them seemed to have seen a ghost; some even peed their pants out of fear.

“If Xiaotang likes them, that’s good enough for me. When I accept disciples, I don’t look at their qualifications. As long as my wife likes them, even if they’re fools, I’ll accept them.” He thought to himself, the youth named Gu Yan who is quite good-looking, seemed a bit silly actually.

“Teach them properly.” Nanxiang said, “You are not allowed to fool them.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Ɲονɢο.сο

Master Lu cleared his throat, “Yes, madam. I understand.”

Despite his quick agreement, he was aware that woodworking was a tough, exhausting, and monotonous job. Most people wouldn’t be able to stick with it for more than a few days, let alone three months. He was confident that those two children would soon beg him to quit.

Upon Xiao Liulang and the others’ return to Bishui Alley, they could already hear the lively sounds from the Courtyard from afar. It turned out that Fen Lin and Lin Chengye had come over.

A familiar face from Pingcheng also came with the two – Du Ruohan.

Once he had returned to the capital, Du Ruohan was made to study at home by his uncle and didn’t even get to go out during the New Year. His aunt had to plead on his behalf before Zhuang Xianzhi finally gave him a day off.

As soon as Du Ruohan learned that Fen Lin and Xiao Liulang were studying at Guozijian, he had to look them up. He wasn’t close with Lin Chengye and didn’t actively try to seek out his whereabouts until he literally ran into him at Guozijian while looking for Fen Lin.

By Du Ruohan’s logic, since the two had finally made their way to the Capital City, he wanted to host them, treating them to a grand meal at the famed Zuixian Inn in the city, and then rent a boat to cruise the lake. A day of utter relaxation and joy!

But Fen Lin and Lin Chengye were more interested in Xiao Liulang and Jiaojiao, mainly Jiaojiao. Missed her dearly and had to pay her a visit, so they dragged Du Ruohan along with them.

Xiao Liulang didn’t care much about Du Ruohan, but Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun were quite curious about the guest in their house.

“Jiaojiao’s little brother.” Fen Lin introduced Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun to Du Ruohan and also introduced Du Ruohan to Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun, “He’s a childhood neighbor of your brother-in-law and I. We grew up together. You can call him Brother Du.”

Xiao Liulang: You sure know how to make yourself at home.

Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun greeted the guest.

Gu Jiao was out buying groceries. Just as the three of them got back, she entered the courtyard.

She noticed the extra guest in the courtyard.

The guest noticed her as well.

Just as Xiao Liulang was about to introduce, Fen Lin went gleefully forward, “Jiaojiao is back! What did you buy that’s so heavy? We told you not to buy so much food! Xiaocheng, quick, quick, quick!”

Lin Chengye quickly came over and took over the things from Gu Jiao.

“This is Jiaojiao!” Fen Lin introduced Gu Jiao to Du Ruohan, and then introduced Du Ruohan to Gu Jiao, “His name is Du Ruohan but you can call him little Du Zi! His aunt is married to someone here in Capital City, therefore, he’s half a citizen of Capital City. He’s going to join us for the imperial examinations next month!”

Xiao Liulang’s eyes turned frosty: You’ve gotten quite talkative when it comes to Jiaojiao, huh! And you’re acting like you’re the man of the house!

Although Du Ruohan was not as close with Xiao Liulang as he was with Fen Lin because of the time he spent with him during their childhood, he always felt Xiao Liulang was not the same person anymore.