Hearing the question, the young man blushed again, lowered his eyes and dared not look at anyone, and said slowly: "Years ago, my brother saw that I failed in the exams again and again, so he persuaded me to follow the wishes of my family and join the Qingzhu Academy. At that time, I had a quarrel with him for a few words, and I felt unwell so I stayed at home. Two days ago, my brother took me to participate in the academy's spring recruitment... In short, I didn't accept it, but later I heard that the teacher had already accepted the student and moved out of his residence. So I had no choice but to go to the restaurant where the teacher often went to wait."
Lao Buyu slapped his thigh and said, "Then why don't you come forward when you've waited for me? What are you doing following me? I'll just bump into you..."
Not wanting to say that he thought he saw a ghost, Lao Buyu changed his words temporarily, "I thought I saw some petty thief, Xiao Xiao!"
The young man's face turned even redder, and his voice became lower as he said, "I have disturbed you for so long. I have shown you all my poems, songs, and six arts, but you still don't like me. I guess I am not talented enough and dull, and I am not worthy of your attention. Since you have already found a satisfactory student, I should not bother you any more. So I didn't dare to approach you and talk to you. I just wanted to follow you and see from a distance how talented your student is. I would know what I am lacking, and then I would be satisfied... But I didn't expect there was a pit under the tree. I couldn't see much at night, and I fainted when I stepped on empty air..."
In fact, where is his shortcoming? It’s just that Lao Buyu was too dishonest in his past. If it were anyone who wanted to teach and educate people, they would have to treat a good seedling like him as a treasure!
So after saying this, Lao Buyu also blushed and said awkwardly, "So that 'dong' sound wasn't the sound of you hitting the tree, it was the sound of you falling into the pit."
When Mu Erpang, who was standing next to him, heard the words "a genius", his chubby face also felt hot.
The young man in front of him was very eloquent. He could not compare to others at all at the moment. It was just because he had a smart mother that she got a good husband!
Shen Cui didn't care about blushing, she was extracting key information from the boy's words.
It is true that he is rich, talented, and even educated, and is a staunch supporter of Lao Buyu. All these are known before.
But after hearing what he said, Shen Cui also knew something else - he was not in good health and had night blindness.
Night blindness is a minor problem. Although in this era, night blindness will affect people's night life and reading efficiency, the impact is not that great after all.
It's a matter of physical condition. Studying for the imperial examinations is the most stressful. People with poor health will easily die young if they take this path.
But the output of the system can improve physical fitness, but Mu Erpang’s physical fitness was excellent, so Chen Cui didn’t spend any time thinking about it.
If this thing can be accomplished later, his training should focus on this aspect.
In terms of temperament, he is shy and introverted. He has been "slaughtered" by Lao Buyu for so long, but he has no resentment at all. He even thinks it is his own problem. Therefore, he is simple-minded, but also a bit stubborn and determined. Once he makes up his mind, no one can change it.
If not guided properly, it is easy to get stuck in a dead end.
But overall, it is indeed a very good candidate for training!
After they finished talking, it was time for dinner. Chen Cui called Mu Erpang home, leaving time and space for the boy and Lao Buyu to wash up, and said that she would bring them food later.
At home, Zhou heated up the stew she had made at noon in the evening, steamed some buns, and stir-fried some cabbage.
There was no meat on the table, but the cabbage was specially fried by Zhou with a small piece of lard. It looked fragrant and tender, and very tempting.
Usually Mu Erpang was the one who accepted the food the most. Today, although he also praised his sister-in-law for her good cooking skills, he seemed to have no appetite. He picked up the vegetable leaves and ate them slowly, one by one, looking a little listless.
"Is the food not to your taste? Just eat it for now. I'll go buy some meat tomorrow." Zhou said apologetically.
Mu Erpang quickly shook his head and tried to put on a smile to Zhou, saying, "Don't worry, sister-in-law. The food is delicious! Maybe I'm a little tired today, so I can't eat much."
Zhou nodded when she heard this. "Studying is very time-consuming. Then you can eat slowly. I won't disturb you."
As she said this, she got up and went to the kitchen, where she took the food left for Lao Buyu out of the pot and put it in the kitchen.
When Zhou left, Shen Cui reached out and took the chopsticks away from him, "Don't force yourself to eat if you don't have an appetite. Tell me, what's up?"
Fat Mu had no reason to pretend in front of his own mother. He sighed and said, "After listening to what that brother said just now, I felt very guilty. It would be fine if I was a 'genius' like my eldest brother. But I know I'm not. If it weren't for my mother's help, the master would definitely not look down on me. I feel... I feel like I'm taking that brother's place. I feel so sorry for him."
"Don't think like that. If we hadn't worshipped Master Lao, when the child was sick, Master Lao would have left the county. Wouldn't he have asked someone to keep his books? Perhaps the two of them would never see each other again, and there would be no reunion today."
There were some things Chen Cui was embarrassed to say. The young man was polite and dutiful, but his bad thing was that he was not polite at all. Facing Lao Buyu who did not play by the rules, it was just like a scholar meeting a soldier.
If Lao Buyu really wanted to recruit him, could he continue to treat him as a fat sheep to be slaughtered? I even only remember the little fat sheep and not his name.
But now Lao Buyu is the teacher of his fat son, and it is not good to damage his image, so Shen Cui only mentioned the problem of time difference.
Chen Cui thought for a moment and said, "Of course what you said makes sense. He is devoted to learning and particularly admires Master Lao. He has such a good aptitude, but he has not been able to become Master Lao's disciple. It is really a pity."
When Mu Erpang heard her words, he knew that she was thinking of a solution. When he thought about what his mother had said to him during the day about finding him a classmate, his eyes immediately lit up!
The mother and son are now more and more in tune with each other, so there is no need to say many things in detail.
Besides, Zhou was still in the kitchen next door. Although she was hardworking and likable, she was not a complete family member now. The matter of the young man has not been settled yet, so it is not convenient for her to know.
Shen Cui didn't say anything more, put the chopsticks back next to him, and said with a smile: "Can you eat now?"
Mu Erpang smiled and nodded, picked up the chopsticks, and ate the two steamed buns with the cabbage and the stew.
The meal lasted more than a quarter of an hour. Zhou cleared the table as usual. Shen Cui ate one less steamed bun from her dinner and put it in the meal she was going to send to Lao Buyu. Then she took Mu Erpang out of the house.
At this time, in the old house of the Mu family, Lao Buyu and the young man had changed their clothes and washed up simply.
Especially the young man, who wiped his face and changed his clothes. Although Lao Buyu's scholar's shirt was big and old, it looked indescribably handsome on him.
Shen Cui and Mu Erpang each carried two bowls of food, and the other carried steamed buns and bowls and chopsticks.
Because the boy had an injured foot, they placed the meal on the kang table inside.
He thanked her gently and began to help.
The steamed buns were placed in a small plate, and Mu Erpang inevitably touched some of them when he was putting the dishes on the plate. He was already considered a very fair-skinned farmer, but compared with this truly wealthy young man, his fat hands seemed a shade darker.
The young man unconsciously looked at him a few more times.
Mu Erpang quickly said, "My hands are very clean. I washed them several times with soap."
He said with some regret, "If I had known, I would have waited for my sister-in-law to wash the dishes in front, and then I would have used a big bowl to carry them over."
"That's not what I meant." The young man explained hurriedly, then coughed twice. Shen Cui reached out and touched the kettle on the kang table, and found that it was ice cold. So instead of pouring him water, she scooped a bowl of hot soup for him to drink.
He thanked her even as he coughed, and after drinking, he continued, "It's my fault. I shouldn't have looked around."
He really didn't dislike Mu Erpang, but he thought his hands were white and plump, with a hollow in them, like a steamed bun, and it was very interesting to see him holding a steamed bun in his hands, so he took a second look.
The food was still warm on the stove and was no longer as hot as when it was just out of the pot. Lao Buyu urged the young man to start eating.
Lao Buyu was a person who didn't care much about food and drink. He enjoyed the fried steamed bread slices made by Zhou in the morning very much. Now that he was starving, he immediately started to eat it in big mouthfuls.
The young man took a steamed bun, a sip of soup, a bite of vegetable, and a bite of staple food, and ate slowly and carefully. It was particularly pleasing to the eye. Compared with him, Lao Buyu's eating manners were almost unbearable to look at!
Chen Cui was also puzzled at this moment. What did this beautiful young man like about Lao Buyu?
Lao Buyu finished two steamed buns quickly. He had to give lectures at night, so Zhou prepared three for him. Together with the one saved by Chen Cui, there was still one left on the table.
Lao Buyu, who was about 70% full, put down his chopsticks.
When the young man saw it, he said, "Master, please take it. I don't eat much on a daily basis."
Lao Buyu was no longer polite and ate the other steamed bun.
This action undoubtedly made Shen Cui's favorability towards this young man increase a little bit - although he was born into a wealthy family, he was not particular about food and drink, and he had a small appetite and was easy to feed!
Shen Cui naturally didn't come here to watch them eat. When she saw Lao Buyu finished eating, she was about to invite him to the main room to talk.
Unexpectedly, Lao Buyu stood up from the kang first and said, "There is something I want to discuss with my wife."
The two of them went into the main room.
Lao Buyu seemed to be hesitant to speak, stammering, and couldn't utter a complete sentence after opening his mouth several times. He looked very embarrassed.
Chen Cui said, "Master is my second fat man's teacher. I'm being arrogant. We are also family. I am younger than Master, so Master treats me as his own junior. You can say whatever you want to say."
Lao Buyu then said, "Okay, I'll be frank. This little fat sheep wanted to be my student, but I just wanted to make money from him. It was really unfair. He got hurt today. Although he said that it was because of his poor night vision that he slipped and fell. But it also has something to do with me. I feel really uneasy..."
Is there anything Shen Cui doesn't understand after hearing this? This Lao Buyu is not a cruel person after all. Seeing that the young man admired him so much and even fell into a pit and sprained his ankle for him, he must have been touched.
You should take the initiative to compensate them, fulfill their long-cherished wish, and accept them into your family!
It was Chen Cui who originally asked Lao Buyu to do this, but she didn't expect that Lao Buyu would have the same idea as her!
Shen Cui looked at him in surprise and motioned for him to continue.
"I want to compensate him, so..." As he spoke, Lao Buyu scratched his hot face, "So, Madam, can you lend me some money? I will return some of it to him."
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