Chapter 369: 194 Paying Respect to the Master (Second Update) _3
All in all, they were strangers to each other.
But Xiao Liulang’s family members were quite easy to get along with.
Especially Xiao Liulang’s eldest aunt.
The story begins when Du Ruohan paid a visit. He was a reasonable person; even though Fen Lin told him not to be overly formal, he still brought some gifts with him.
Among his gifts was a box of candied chestnuts, which delighted the old lady so much that she cheerily beckoned him forward.
The old lady doesn’t keep her possessions at home anymore for fear that Xiaoshun will snitch; so she keeps them at the old Priest’s place.
The old lady thought this young man was nice and decided to take him under her wing.
“Would you like to play a hand?” The old lady took out the leaf cards that Gu Changqing gave her. The new leaf cards felt especially comfortable in her hand, and she couldn’t put them down.
Du Ruohan knew about leaf cards, but his uncle in the mansion wouldn’t allow him to play.
Fen Lin didn’t know how to play, but Lin Chengye did.
The old lady called Gu Xiaoshun over.
Gu Xiaoshun, the old lady, Du Ruohan, and Lin Chengye gathered to play a game of leaf cards.
Du Ruohan was a newbie.
As it turns out, not every newcomer has the same luck as Gu Changqing. After one game, Du Ruohan had lost to the point of only having his trousers left.
The old lady thus liked him even more!
He’s a promising young man!
Close to lunchtime, someone came to the house.
“I’ll go open the door! I’ll go open the door!” Xiaoshun trotted off to answer the door. He peeked out his small head through the door crack and squinted at the visitor, “May I ask who you’re looking for?”
The man replied, “I’m looking for Xiao Liulang.”
“Oh.” Xiaoshun was disappointed.
Why wasn’t anyone there to see him?
He wasn’t a friendless kid anymore!
Xiaoshun slowly went to call Xiao Liulang from the study room.
Xiao Liulang came to the door and inspected the bearded man in front of him. He seemed kind and sharp, dressed well with proper etiquettes.
Yet, Xiao Liulang didn’t recognize him: “You are…?”
The man bowed his hands: “My last name is Wang, Xiao Liulang may call me Wang Yun. I have long admired Xiao Liulang’s reputation, and I’ve come to pay a visit today. May I come in and talk, please?”
Xiao Liulang took another look at him, and led him into his study room.
Xiaoshun was also in his study room working on his homework.
Xiao Liulang said to him, “Take a break; you can continue writing later.”
Xiaoshun suspiciously looked at him, “Why did you suddenly become so kind?”
Xiao Liulang: “Jiaojiao made something yummy.”
Xiaoshun vanished in an instant!
Wang Yun chuckled, “Is that Xiao Liulang’s younger brother? Truly cute like jade and snow.”
Cute like jade and snow? That’s just the appearance. In fact, he’s a truly naughty, aggravating little monk.
Xiao Liulang didn’t badmouth the little monk in front of guests, instead, he indifferently asked, “I’m not sure what brought Mr. Wang over?”
Wang Yun was taken aback by Xiao Liulang’s directness, laughed and replied, “I have an important matter to discuss with Xiao Liulang.”
Xiao Liulang: “Is it about the imperial examinations?”
Wang Yun was surprising again, he laughed, “As expected, Xiao Liulang really is smart, guessing even this.”
Many people have come to find Xiao Liulang recently, all for the matter of the imperial examinations. But they usually approach him at Guozijian, Wang Yun was the only one who came to visit at home.
Xiao Liulang bluntly said: “I don’t have the time to tutor others, or make predictions about the examination topics.”
Those who seek Xiao Liulang out generally fall into two categories. One is students like Lin Chengye and Fen Lin who seek education genuinely. The other is those who hope to get the exam subjects predicted by tutors and ask Xiao Liulang to write articles according to those subjects to sell to them.
Xiao Liulang has refused them all.
Wang Yun looked down with a smile, flicked his wide sleeves and said: “I’m not here to ask Xiao Liulang to tutor my young master, nor to buy Xiao Liulang’s articles. I’m here to ask Xiao Liulang to—”
He said the last two words.