Shang Xiulin’s house is located within the family living area for the staff of the Imperial First Military Academy, nestled amongst the hills and by the water, the environment is exceptionally good.
Ran Ran stopped in front of a yard’s gate and said, "This is Dean Shang’s house... should be this one, wait for a moment..."
She went up and knocked on the door, and soon someone pulled it open from inside.
An elderly lady with a kind face stood at the door, and seeing Ran Ran and Tang Fei with Little Fatty behind her, she said with a smile, "Is it Mr. Ran? Xiulin mentioned that you’d be bringing students over... please come in, come in."
"Thank you." Ran Ran voiced her thanks and asked, "May I know who you are?"
"Oh, I’m Xiulin’s wife." The old lady chuckled. "I rarely go out, so I’m not familiar with you young teachers. Mr. Ran, you should come by more often."
"Of course, of course," Ran Ran nodded continuously.
How could a teacher of her level often ’drop by’ the Dean’s home?
If it weren’t for Little Fatty’s influence, she might never have been able to enter Dean Shang’s house even as an old woman.
What can’t be discussed in the office? Why run to the Dean’s house?
Besides, Dean Shang’s temperament wasn’t the kind that liked inviting others over...
Shang Xiulin was tending to the vegetable seedlings in the yard. Seeing Ran Ran bringing Tang Fei and Little Fatty, he glanced at Tang Fei thoughtfully, then went to the tap to wash his hands and said, "Come inside and sit."
"Thank you, Dean." Ran Ran again expressed her gratitude.
The old lady personally brought them tea, and Tang Fei and Little Fatty all stood up in surprised delight to receive it.
Ran Ran took the tea and asked out loud, "Doesn’t the Dean have a maid at home?"
"Why would I need a maid?" Shang Xiulin countered, "There’s just the two of us at home, and we’re not so old to be immobile... isn’t it a trivial matter to do these chores? Why bother others?"
"Yes, yes, the Dean is right," Ran Ran nodded in agreement repeatedly.
She lived alone but still hired a part-time housekeeper to come to her place regularly to clean and cook.
Shang Xiulin, the head of an Academy, with such a prestigious status, surprisingly didn’t have even a caretaker at home, with all chores done by himself and his wife.
No wonder he could be the Dean, yet her salary wasn’t enough...
Shang Xiulin’s gaze settled on Little Fatty’s face and asked, "Had a good rest?"
"Rested well," Little Fatty quickly stood up, his chubby cheeks trembling with nerves.
"Sit down and let’s talk," Shang Xiulin said, noticing Little Fatty’s anxiety.
"Yes, yes," Little Fatty sat down cautiously.
"I’ve seen your performance in the Gravity Room, and I’m very satisfied. Without great determination, one can hardly sculpt such strength. So I rashly mentioned I wanted to take you as my disciple..."
Shang Xiulin held his tea cup, speaking softly and slowly, with a cultivated and scholarly demeanor, "Because your condition wasn’t good at that time, and I didn’t have the chance to discuss it with you. So, I asked Mr. Ran specifically to invite you here this time to ask for your thoughts and opinions..."
"I have no thoughts or opinions," Little Fatty said hurriedly.
He was simple-minded, not stupid.
Of course, he knew how difficult and honorable it was to become Shang Xiulin’s disciple...
Like the eldest brother who spoke all sorts of nonsense all the way here, even smelling slightly sour.
Like Mr. Ran who said all the way here that this was an extraordinary honor and a great fortune to fall from the sky.
A disciple of Shang Xiulin, Dean of the Imperial First Military Academy, just this title alone was enough to benefit him for life.
Shang Xiulin wasn’t troubled by Little Fatty interrupting him, his face even showing a rare smile as he said, "Since you have no thoughts or opinions, from today on, we will be family..."
Little Fatty quickly knelt on the ground and knocked his head on the floor three times loudly.
"Gong Shulei pays his respects to Master."
Shang Xiulin turned his head to glance at Tang Fei. Mimicking Little Fatty, Tang Fei chuckled foolishly and said, "This is the proper etiquette for becoming a disciple."
Clearly, Shang Xiulin had guessed that this scene was orchestrated by Tang Fei for Little Fatty.
With Little Fatty’s honest and straightforward nature, he would not likely make such a ’sophisticated’ move.
Shang Xiulin didn’t say much more, but pointed towards his wife and stated, "This is your Mistress."
Little Fatty then shuffled on his knees, moving towards the old lady to knock his head on the floor three more times, loudly saying, "Gong Shulei greets Mistress."
"Good boy, get up, get up," the old lady was very fond of Little Fatty, seeing even his forehead was scraped, she said distressedly, "Child, you’re too honest, why exert such force?"
"Heh heh..." Little Fatty grinned foolishly at Tang Fei.
The old lady took a displeased look at Tang Fei and remarked, "Don’t always teach the child all this nonsense, maintaining his nature is good enough."
This he really hadn’t taught.
He had come to see that everyone liked Little Fatty’s ’simplicity’, instantly perceiving him as a good kid.
But hey, I don’t have a face that appears sly and cunning either, do I?
Why can’t you take me as a disciple or a foster son or something?
The old lady pulled Little Fatty up and ran to the back room to fetch a first-aid kit, then personally applied medicine to the scraped area on Little Fatty’s forehead.
’With such a small injury, it would’ve started healing if you had moved just a bit slower...’
Tang Fei murmured in his heart.