Chapter 359: Why Are You Here?
Lu Yuanji felt somewhat apprehensive: “Uncle…”
Lu Ning patted his shoulder reassuringly, offering comfort: “It’s fine. Second Uncle holds a bit of friendship with Mister Qiu as well. During the last banquet hosted by the Wen family, had you not been away from the prefectural city, Second Uncle would have certainly brought you along.”
Lu Yuanji knew of Wen Xiuyi. Upon hearing about his affairs back then, Lu Yuanji admired him deeply as well, yet simply hadn’t held an opportunity to meet him. Hearing Lu Ning mention him again now, Lu Yuanji couldn’t refrain from asking: “Uncle, why does Mister Qiu reside in the Wen family?”
Lu Ning: “Ah? Did I not tell you?”
Lu Yuanji shook his head.
Only then did Lu Ning waggle his head: “Oh oh oh, look at my memory—I didn’t tell you after all. Well, Mister Qiu took Master Wen’s youngest son as his godson. Mister Qiu has remained unmarried and childless his entire life, so he treasures this godson like a precious gem. Had it not been for him, Mister Qiu wouldn’t have re-entered the secular world to teach and educate people.”
So that was why. Unexpectedly, Lu Yuanji actually felt a wave of envy toward Master Wen’s youngest son out of nowhere.
Uncle and nephew waited at the gate, not daring to enter rashly for fear of annoying Qiu Zhi. Meanwhile, Songshan stumbled and staggered all the way to the classroom, almost knocking over Master Jiang, who was standing at the classroom doorway eavesdropping on the lesson.
“What are you doing?” Master Jiang scolded in a low voice, terrified of affecting the atmosphere inside the classroom.
Songshan pointed outside the door, lowering his voice to say: “The Prefectural Governor has arrived, and brought Young Master Lu along!”
His deliberately lowered voice sounded somewhat like a duck’s quack, yet Master Jiang heard it clearly nonetheless.
“Why has the Prefectural Governor come?” Yet upon a second thought, he realized why the Prefectural Governor had come. Bringing the young master of the Lu family along—who else could it be for if not Mister Qiu?
Casting a glance inside the classroom, Master Jiang dragged Songshan along to leave carefully, arriving at the main gate.
“Your Excellency,” Master Jiang offered a bow to Lu Ning.
Lu Ning cast a glance at him and offered a smile: “Master Jiang, long time no see!”
The corners of Master Jiang’s mouth twitched, somewhat speechless at Lu Ning’s sudden air of familiarity. After all, they had only met a handful of times in total, and all were distant glances from afar. On ordinary days, if he wished to see this Prefectural Governor, it was as difficult as ascending to the heavens.
“Governor Lu, long time no see. Governor Lu’s purpose today is…?” Master Jiang asked while feigning ignorance regarding their intention.
The corners of Lu Ning’s mouth curved up into a smile that everyone understood, speaking up: “Master Jiang, this official won’t beat around the bush with you either. Is Mister Qiu here at your place?”
With an expression that read as expected, Master Jiang said: “In reply to Your Excellency, Mister Qiu is indeed at our academy, but Mister Qiu is currently conducting lessons for the children, so I fear…”
“Doesn’t matter, doesn’t matter! We can go inside to wait, can’t we? This official came in person—is Master Jiang not going to invite this official inside to take a seat?” Lu Ning said with a chuckling smile.
Master Jiang: “…” He couldn’t decline either, could he?
“Your Excellency, Young Master Lu, please step inside.” Master Jiang led the people inside the gate.
Upon entering the courtyard, Lu Yuanji’s excited mood could no longer be contained. Hearing Master Jiang say earlier that Mister Qiu was conducting lessons for the students, he had already been unable to wait to enter; right now, he cast frequent glances toward the classroom, faintly catching sight of the figures standing inside the classroom.
The yearning and thrill deep in his eyes were unconcealed, and his footsteps even veered slightly toward that side.
Seeing this, Lu Ning spoke up as if casually: “Master Jiang, this nephew of mine is studying as well. Why not let him go over to the classroom side to take a look, which happens to give us an opportunity to sip tea and chat freely?”
Master Jiang: “…”
He had never felt that their Prefectural Governor possessed such a thick skin. Still, with Mister Qiu currently conducting class, it wasn’t good for him to interrupt Mister’s lesson for the sake of Lu Yuanji.
“Well… Your Excellency, Mister Qiu is currently conducting class, so this old man cannot easily go interrupt.”
Was this a refusal? Lu Ning knitted his brows slightly, while a look of disappointment surfaced on Lu Yuanji’s face, staring at the classroom side with eager anticipation like that.
Seeing his nephew like this, Lu Ning felt somewhat heartbroken after all, so he said: “Doesn’t hurt—just let him listen from the outside, then.”
Hearing this, Lu Yuanji hastily nodded and bowed: “Tutor, I won’t make a sound—I’ll just listen outside the classroom.”
Master Jiang looked at Lu Yuanji. He had long heard of Lu Yuanji’s erudition; he was a diligent, studious, good child as well, so deep down he couldn’t bear to refuse after all. Master Jiang nodded: “Songshan, take Young Master Lu over.”
A look of joy surfaced on Lu Yuanji’s face: “Thank you, Master Jiang!” He then followed Songshan off. Songshan hesitated for a moment before reminding him in a low voice: “Young Master Lu, you must not make a sound to interrupt Master’s class.”
He had only learned today that Mister Qiu actually held such a massive background. To say nothing of Lu Yuanji, he wished to listen as well, yet could only stand outside the classroom to listen.
Just now when Lu Ning and the others knocked on the door, running over to open the door had already delayed quite a bit of time, missing far too much.
At this thought, the steps beneath Songshan’s feet couldn’t help accelerating as well.
Lu Yuanji was eager to listen to Mister Qiu’s class as well, and didn’t mind this at all. The two young lads reached the outside of the classroom very quickly, exercising utmost caution to avoid making a single sound.
When they drew near the classroom, Qiu Zhi and the children inside the classroom had already noticed them. Yet no one spoke, nor did anyone dare spare them even a single glance, terrified of missing even a fraction of Mister Qiu’s lecture.
Qiu Zhi, on the other hand, cast a glance out the window and said nothing.
What he taught them today were precisely some of the articles he had written previously.
With an excited heart, although understanding only half of it, Lu Yuanji still listened with utmost earnestness.
Without knowing how long he had stood at the classroom doorway, he heard Qiu Zhi say to the crowd inside the classroom: “That will be all for today. For the remaining time, each person shall write an essay.” He cast a glance outside, speaking up: “Take winter as the topic.”
“Yes.” A unison response sounded, and even Lu Yuanji outside the window couldn’t refrain from responding along.
Only then did Qiu Zhi turn his gaze slowly toward the window, asking, “Who is outside?”
Lu Yuanji’s heart jolted with a shock, feeling a wave of constraint as if suddenly discovered by his idol, yet he composed himself very quickly. Adjusting his mood, he walked to the doorway and offered a respectful bow: “Student Lu Yuanji greets Mister.”
Standing in the middle of the classroom, Qiu Zhi sized him up for a moment, asking, “Lu Ning’s nephew?”
“Precisely this student.” Lu Yuanji offered another bow.
Qiu Zhi nodded. He indeed knew of Lu Yuanji; the Lu family had dispatched people to seek him out several times, wishing to invite him to teach Lu Yuanji, yet he had declined every time.
Just at this moment, Wen Fa and the others caught sight of Lu Yuanji as well.
“Why are you here?” Wen Fa’s sudden outburst captured everyone’s attention.
Only now did Lu Yuanji notice Wen Fa and the others. Standing by the window just now, his entire attention had been focused solely on Qiu Zhi, completely failing to notice who was seated inside the classroom. Only at this moment did he discover that the several people he had encountered at the bookstore yesterday were all seated here.
“Why are you guys here?” Lu Yuanji was equally astonished.
