"Teacher!"

Little Lai Fu, who had just finished school and hadn’t gone home yet, was picking bugs for the chickens near the water mill by the river when he saw Zhen Yubai suddenly appear. He was quite startled.

He thought to himself that he hadn’t made any mistakes in school today.

Zhen Yubai knew what the little guy was thinking.

Without teasing him, he first clarified that he wasn’t there to find his parents. Standing by the roadside, he smiled and asked, "School’s out. Why aren’t you home yet? What are you doing here?"

Knowing that the teacher wasn’t there to find his parents, Little Lai Fu immediately felt relieved, stood up, and handed the bamboo tube full of bugs to the teacher with a grin, and curiously asked:

"Teacher, are you going to see the lady?"

Zhen Yubai nodded, graciously glanced at the lively grasshoppers in the bamboo tube, and asked softly, "Is the village chief at home?"

"He is." Little Lai Fu closed the bamboo tube lid, put it into the empty slot of his Divine Power Book Box, waved his hand generously, "Teacher, I’ll lead you. The lady just came back from the fields."

Zhen Yubai followed the little guy’s footsteps and asked again, "Is Liu Junren home?"

"He isn’t." Little Lai Fu said, "Master and Uncle Ah Wang have gone to town to collect rent."

The wheat was just harvested, and the spring harvest this year was pretty good. Master said he’d sell the collected grain later and secretly buy them some fruits.

Oh, and in the neighboring town, there’s a big orchard where the pear flowers are in bloom. Master said when he’s free, he’ll take them to tour the garden and paint. He’s really looking forward to it.

But the little guy clearly didn’t know that his master was very good at making empty promises. He often said this, and when asked later, he’d innocently say, "Huh? I forgot!"

Zhen Yubai didn’t know the child’s expectations, but upon hearing Liu Ji wasn’t home, he hesitated a bit but thought since he had come this far, he might as well follow the child into Qin Yao’s home.

"Madam! The teacher is here!" As soon as Little Lai Fu entered, he left his book box and ran towards the main hall, shouting.

Not seeing anyone, he ran back out and shouted towards the backyard, "Madam, madam! The teacher is looking for you!"

Mrs. Li, who was drying clothes in the backyard, heard the commotion and could only feel helpless as she softly chided, "Keep your voice down, the madam is in the vegetable garden."

Little Lai Fu nodded repeatedly and after informing his mother that the teacher had arrived, he quickly rushed towards the vegetable garden to notify the madam.

Qin Yao had picked a handful of vegetables, and after washing her hands, walked into the main hall. Mrs. Li had already brewed the tea, and the guest was standing there, holding a cup and admiring the abstract paintings that Liu Ji insisted on hanging.

"Ahem!" Qin Yao coughed awkwardly twice, seeing Zhen Yubai shift his gaze from the paintings. He walked over to the main seat, sat down, and asked puzzledly, "Teacher, what brings you here?"

In the corner of the main hall stood Si Niang’s piano. The newly acquired item always felt fresh and exciting. Last night, she played it with her father all night and even declared that she would practice for half an hour every night after completing her homework.

Qin Yao didn’t know how long she would keep it up, but as a parent, she certainly couldn’t refuse a child’s initiative to learn, so she had Yin Le bring a long table earlier to settle the piano in the corner of the hall.

Zhen Yubai looked at the piano and, with a half-smile, told Qin Yao, "Last night I was about to turn off the lights and sleep early, but I was suddenly awakened by a burst of piano music. It turns out someone in the village chief’s house is practicing piano. I wonder who’s learning to play?"

Inwardly, Qin Yao cursed Liu Ji for being such an embarrassment!

Smiling on the outside, she replied, "It’s my daughter Si Niang’s. Her uncle just returned from the Capital City and brought her a piano. You know we can’t have a Piano Master in this rural place, so she just tinkered around with it for fun. Please don’t laugh."

Zhen Yubai nodded in realization, "I see."

He walked to the piano table, examined it closely, and found it was just an ordinary piano. Two strings were loose and hadn’t been tightened, indicating that the owner had no idea how to use it.

No one visits without a reason. Seeing that he hadn’t brought up the main topic, Qin Yao was about to press him when she heard Zhen Yubai say with a chuckling voice:

"To be honest, I do know a bit about playing the piano. If the village chief doesn’t mind, I can teach your Si Niang to play after class."

Qin Yao was instantly tempted and stopped urging him. She quickly asked when he was available and how much the tuition would be.

The family wasn’t short of money, and the child was interested, so what was wrong with letting her take an extracurricular class!

Upon hearing Zhen Yubai say it would be free, Qin Yao suddenly found him looking increasingly pleasing to the eye.

Outside the courtyard came the sound of carts and horses. Liu Ji and Ah Wang had returned, each pulling a cart full of wheat. All the excess had already been sold for silver.

Liu Ji unhitched the cart, threw the whip to Ah Wang, and excitedly walked into the courtyard, "Wife, we collected two taels more in rent this year... huh? Zhen Yubai, why are you here?!"

Inside, it was just a man and a woman, and the man was somewhat good-looking. Liu Ji quickly rushed into the main hall, standing between the two.

Intending to boast to his wife about today’s gains, he glanced up and caught a glimpse of her eyes full of satisfaction she couldn’t hide, and alarms rang in Liu Ji’s mind, instantly putting him on guard.

"Wife, what are you two chatting about so happily?" Liu Ji asked with a slightly furrowed brow, his voice full of a dubious tone.

He also cast a wary glance at Zhen Yubai, noticing him standing beside his daughter’s prized piano table. In a few steps, he moved over to pull him away, "Teacher, be careful, this is the only piano in the whole village. You can’t afford to break it."

Zhen Yubai’s mouth twitched. Liu Ji’s thick malice was almost palpable. How could he not sense it? Silently, he retreated a few steps, returned to the guest seat, and poured himself a cup of tea with the teapot, explaining while he did so:

"Mr. Liu, please don’t misunderstand. I’m just mediocre at best but was discussing with the village chief about your daughter learning the piano."

Liu Ji sat on the opposite side, wanting to drink tea but found none, so he decided to forego it, cleared his throat and sneered, "Thanks a lot, but I don’t believe a word you say. So, tell me, what brings you to my house?"

Qin Yao poured a cup of tea and placed it by the touchy Liu Ji’s hand, who was secretly delighted and almost couldn’t hold back the smile.

A cup of tea down, feeling emboldened, he stared at the person opposite, listening to what he had to say.

Zhen Yubai felt wronged, took a sip of tea to wet his throat, hesitated for a moment, and then said:

"Mr. Liu, your family teacher might not be doing well."

Upon hearing this, Liu Ji nearly jumped up ready to hit him, "Nonsense! My teacher is doing well in the Capital. What do you know!"

Zhen Yubai didn’t debate with him, continuing in a deep voice, "The old ailment has returned, with heart issues and depression. I’m afraid the days are numbered."

Liu Ji’s heart jolted as he saw Zhen Yubai’s serious expression, which didn’t seem like he was deliberately here to disgust or scare him, so he fell silent.

"Every word I said, I saw with my own eyes. Believe it or not, it’s up to you. I’m just repaying the village chief for saving my life by giving a reminder."

Zhen Yubai cupped his hands towards Qin Yao, "Village Chief, since Mr. Liu doesn’t welcome me, I’ll take my leave."

He stood up, took the umbrella he had left on the porch, and walked out, leaving the couple inside at a loss.