Chapter 52: What Master Saw and Felt at the Li Family Mansion

As promised, Xi Sheng arrived right on time. The Li family had cleaned the house until it gleamed; even the chickens and ducks that usually roamed outside were locked in their cages and not allowed to wander.

“Uncle, what kind of person is your master?” Li Ziliang asked. If his uncle was already so clever, then his uncle’s master must be even more brilliant—just how amazing must that be?

“He’s extremely learned. If you’re not afraid of being scolded, you can ask him about anything you don’t understand,” Li Su replied with a mischievous smile.

The children collectively fell silent. Why did it feel like their uncle was up to no good?

Nevertheless, everyone was incredibly curious about Li Su’s master.

Xi Sheng soon arrived at Li Su’s door. “Is this the place?”

Sheng Wu nodded at once. “Yes, it is.”

Just as Uncle Lin was about to knock, the door swung open to reveal Li Su’s smiling face. “Master, Uncle Lin, come in quickly!”

Li Su led them to the rooms he had prepared for them in advance. “Master, Uncle Lin, please make do for now. I’m sure this can’t compare to the Sheng residence.”

In truth, both Xi Sheng and Uncle Lin found the accommodations better than they’d expected.

Meanwhile, the person Li Su had hired to build the heated brick bed had already arrived at the Sheng residence. Li Su didn’t plan to tell his master about it yet; he wanted him to experience the warmth for himself upon returning. As for his own home, Li Su intended to build the heated bed in the new house, not here—otherwise his family might grow too attached to the old place to move.

Li Su fetched his coursework from the past few days. “Master,” he said, presenting it with both hands.

Xi Sheng feigned annoyance. “You just can’t bear to let me rest, can you?”

With a disciple like Li Su, Xi Sheng could only say it was both painful and delightful. No matter how much work he assigned, this disciple always found ways to keep him busy.

Uncle Lin couldn’t hold back a chuckle. The master and his young charge were at it again, tormenting each other.

But there was no denying this method was extremely effective—it just wore out both teacher and student a bit.

Uncle Lin mused that none of the master’s previous disciples had ever dared treat him this way. Only this one would sometimes even joke with the master, who, with his stern face, could be so intimidating.

Uncle Lin quietly slipped out of the room and, seeing the children outside, found them charming and struck up a conversation.

The Li children were also curious about Uncle Lin, and the family greeted him nervously.

Except for Feng Cui-cui, this was the first time the Li family had met Xi Sheng. They were immediately awed—he certainly looked impressive.

Feng Cui-cui wanted to bring something in for Xi Sheng and Li Su, but Uncle Lin stopped her. “No need, Madam Li. The master and young master are probably… discussing coursework right now,” he said—perhaps already in the midst of a debate.

The young master was the boldest Uncle Lin had ever seen. The master’s other disciples always listened with bowed heads, never daring to argue, but not this young master—if he thought the master was wrong, he’d argue right back.

Sometimes he won, sometimes he lost, but Uncle Lin found it remarkable.

Although the master sometimes felt the young master’s sharp tongue was disrespectful, it was clear to Uncle Lin that he was very proud of this disciple.

After all, the master used to complain that his previous disciples were like blocks of wood—scolded but never talking back.

Feng Cui-cui finally said, “I see. All right, then…”

The Li family was large, with plenty of children, so laughter and cheer were constant. In such an environment, Xi Sheng couldn’t help but feel his spirits lift.

At dinner, even though neither Feng Cui-cui nor Li Daping were fluent in elegant speech, both expressed their sincere thanks to Xi Sheng.

They’d bought special wine for the occasion—costly, and something the Li family would never have splurged on otherwise.

Because Xi Sheng and Uncle Lin were guests, the family split into two tables: children and women at one, men at the other. The food was the same for both, except the men’s table had wine.

Li Su drank a little as well, and Li Daping, Li Zhengyi, and Li Zhengqiang, in their happiness, drank more than usual.

Lying on his bed later, Xi Sheng’s face still flushed from the wine, he remarked, “Uncle Lin, the Li family is truly special.” Their harmony was enviable.

Li Su’s older brothers and sisters-in-law were remarkably tolerant of their youngest sibling, and the youngest in turn always considered the family, never acting selfishly. “Brotherly love and respect”—a simple phrase, but so rarely achieved in truth.

In Xi Sheng’s experience, such harmony was rare; he’d seen far more of brothers tearing each other apart, fighting to the death.

He himself was a survivor of such familial strife.

“Indeed,” Uncle Lin replied. “Perhaps only such a family could raise someone as exceptional as the young master.” That was why the young master was so different—his family was always his support.

“The children are interesting, too. I didn’t expect Li Su to teach all the children equally, not distinguishing between boys and girls.” In the so-called noble families of the capital, girls could study, but their subjects were always different from the boys’.

If the boys’ education gave them wings, the girls’ curriculum was little more than a gilded cage.

“And the family’s attitude toward a divorced woman shocked me as well,” Xi Sheng continued. He never expected that his disciple’s sister, despite being divorced, would be treated as though nothing had happened; everyone regarded her simply as herself, unaffected by her past.

Uncle Lin nodded vigorously—he, too, was astonished.

Even in the capital, noblewomen seeking divorce paid a heavy price, and even if they succeeded, acceptance from their own families was rare.

That night, Xi Sheng and Uncle Lin talked at length.

During Xi Sheng’s days with the Li family, Li Su took him up the mountain to hunt rabbits and gather wild vegetables, accompanied by Li Zhengyi and Li Zhengqiang.

Feng Cui-cui initially wanted to scold Li Su for dragging his master off on such adventures, but Xi Sheng was happy to go.

With a spark of interest in his eyes, Xi Sheng said he didn’t know if they’d catch anything, but it promised to be a unique experience.

They collected plenty of wild greens, but saw no rabbits. Instead, they caught a wild pheasant.

Excited, Xi Sheng suggested, “Su, how about wild pheasant hotpot tonight?”

Li Su agreed—it was a perfect idea for a cold day. “Sure, Master. Now you can taste the flavor of wild vegetables you picked yourself.”

Xi Sheng nodded; he’d been thinking the same thing.

Li Zhengyi and Li Zhengqiang were bewildered. What was hotpot?

Since Li Su hadn’t spent much time at home and meals were usually prepared by his mother or sisters-in-law, he’d never had the chance to make hotpot for the family before.

“Big Brother, Second Brother, you can try it too. Since there are children at home, let’s make a divided hotpot with both spicy and mild broth,” Li Su said with a smile.

That night, Li Su took charge in the kitchen. The family now trusted his cooking skills. “Everyone out now—let me show you what I can do.”

Feng Cui-cui, worried, offered to help. “Let us give you a hand.”

“Mother, you go chat with the sisters-in-law and wait to eat.”

Eventually, Feng Cui-cui left. When the hotpot was served, the aroma was so enticing it haunted everyone’s dreams.

The meal was a joyous affair; Xi Sheng thought the wild vegetables he’d picked himself tasted especially delicious.

He had stayed for several days, but now decided it was time to return. As wonderful as the Li home was, he couldn’t linger forever—besides, it was truly cold.

Li Su guessed the heated brick bed should be ready by now. With a mischievous wink, he told Xi Sheng, “Master, I’ve prepared a gift for you—you’ll see it when you get home.”

With curiosity in his heart, Xi Sheng set off for home.