Chapter 556: Accepting Apprentices

All credit to original author: Yi Yi Lan Xi

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Che’er hurriedly smile respectfully at the old man and said: “Master, this is my second brother!”

“Oh, it’s your brother!” Master Ding smiled, stroking his beard. He nodded at Lian Ze.

“Lian Ze greets the old master!” Lian Ze hurriedly saluted.

He did not know Master Ding but Ah Jian did.

He was just about to go up to greet Master Ding and monitor Lian Ze from the side, in case he said something wrong, when Lian Che frowned and said: “What old man? This is Master Ding!”

Then he hurriedly bowed his hands deeply: “Master Ding, this student was not polite!”

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Ah Jian raised an eyebrow and didn’t go forward anymore, he just stood to the side.

“Master Ding?!” Lian Ze cried in surprise, completely taken aback. With a face full of disbelief, he looked at Master Ding and said in a daze: “You, you are Master Ding? The one who recently came back from the capital?”

Master Ding was a little surprised and couldn’t help laughing. Nodding, he smiled and said: “Well, it’s this old man!”

Lian Ze blushed slightly and scratched his head in embarrassment. Hastily, he took two steps back and saluted: “This kid was rude, please forgive me! You have accepted our Che’er as your apprentice, when my sister finds out, I don’t know how happy she will be!” Lian Ze couldn’t help lifting the cornered of his mouth.

Everyone could see the joy in his heart and couldn’t help but be affected by his flamboyant emotions.

“It’s alright, those who don’t know are not guilty! By the way, why didn’t your sister come?” Master Ding couldn’t help smiling when he saw Lian Ze’s attitude and secretly praised in his heart: The brothers and sisters of the Lian family were all very close! Such a family could not produce a crooked person, he had chosen his apprentice wisely!

Thinking of this, Master Ding felt even happier!

It should be known that after students pass the Tongsheng examination, they usually entered the county school to learn from the teachers and study hard so they could take the scholar examination the next year.

The purpose the dean the other teachers for coming to the banquet today was to meet the new students and pick out promising ones as apprentices.

Lian Che scored first place and at such a young age. He was like a piece of high-quality rough jade, with great potential to be explored and refined.

Several teachers in the school, including the dean, were all watching him! Every one of them worked hard to take him as their student!

Thinking about it, if they could train a number one scholar in the future, what could be more gratifying to a teacher than this?

But none of them realized that Master Ding had already taken a fancy to him!

Since he wanted to bring Che’er into his family, who would dare rob him?

Thinking of the looks of disappointment, surprise, and depression on those people’s faces, Master Ding couldn’t help but feel a burst of joy in his heart.

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When he heard Master Ding ask about his sister, Lian Ze felt a little strange but he hurriedly laughed and said: “My sister was busy today, so she didn’t come.”

Master Ding nodded. “I see! Your sister is skilled and you are skilled too!”

Lian Ze did not expect Master Ding to suddenly praise him and was a little at a loss. His face turned red, not only from embarrassment but also from excitement.

After a moment, he stammered and said: “Thank you, Master Ding, for your compliment! I, I am actually not as good as my sister…”

Surprised, Master Ding couldn’t help laughing.

He secretly praised: This child has a good heart! Lian Fang Zhou really has some skill, all of her brothers were taught very well.

Smiling, he said: “Your Che’er has already paid respects to me, so you don’t have to be so restrained!”

Lian Ze’s face became hot again and he nodded with a shy smile.

On the side, Lian Hai was furious but though he opened his mouth several times to speak, he didn’t dare to interrupt at will for fear that Master Ding would be offended. He couldn’t help but be silently annoyed with Lian Ze.

Master Ding couldn’t stay for long. Smiling at Lian Che, he asked: “Do you remember what your teacher told you earlier?”

Lian Che nodded quickly: “This student remembers!”

“Go back and get ready. Master will wait for you at the Ding Manor.”

“Yes! This student will send Master off respectfully!” Lian Che hurriedly said.

Master Ding nodded at him and his brother and left with his servants.

Lian Hai opened his mouth but didn’t have time to say anything.

When he had heard that Master Ding would attend tonight, he had tried his best to perform well in front of Master Ding. But when they arrived, he had no chance at all. Master Ding was sitting beside the county magistrate and surrounded by a crowd of people. Between the famous master, the county magistrate, and the dean of the academy, where would it be his turn to talk?

It would have been great if there was so way to show off his talents but unfortunately the talent competition was between the new students and had nothing to do with the talents from the previous year.

Seeing this Lian Hai was filled with rage, wishing that he was also a new student.

Not to mention Lian Che, who was in the limelight again and won countless praises. When the scholars around him heard that Lian Che was his cousin, they cast envious glances and praised him. Lian Hai was even more sour! It was so suffocating! All those compliments just felt like taunts.

And then, Master Ding actually accepted Lian Che as his apprentice on the spot! Everyone was so shocked their eyeballs almost fell to the ground.

Lian Hai felt dizzy and his face was so pale, there was not a drop of blood. After this, would there still be a place for him? Lian Che would be the only one in the eyes of the villagers!

Master Ding accepted him as an apprentice! How could this be!?

He was just a kid who didn’t understand anything, wasn’t he just a student? What was the big deal! There were so many talents here, how could Master Ding choose him?

Lian Hai was so depressed that he almost blurted out ‘it’s not fair’ but fortunately, he was not courageous or completely confused, so he didn’t dare to stir up trouble.

But the grief, frustration, indignation, and bitterness in his heart were beyond words.

The dean, the county magistrate, and the other noble guests all congratulated Master Ding and Lian Che. The county magistrate even brought out tea on the spot for Lian Che to pour.

Seeing everyone holding Lian Che up and praising him like the stars holding the moon, Lian Hai wished he could just leave.

But he couldn’t, not when Master Ding was still here.

Since Master Ding could accept Lian Che, why couldn’t he accept him? Lian Hai was no worse than Lian Che! Master Ding must not have noticed his potential!

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Even if he didn’t accept him, it would great if he if he could get him to praise him and give some pointers!

Lian Hai even suspected that the reason that Master Ding accepted Lian Che was because Lian Fang Zhou had done something behind his back to mess it up! She was always full of tricks!

The more Lian Hai thought about it, the most he thought he was right! He couldn’t help but complain about Lian Fang Zhou in his heart.

His thoughts were wild, full of worries over losses and gains, and he was confused until the end of the banquet. If Sun Ming hadn’t kindly given him a push to remind him, he didn’t know if he would have made some unconsciously rude behavior!

After they came out, Lian Hai had wanted to use Lian Che to have a chat with Master Ding but who knew that damn Lian Ze, who was usually so honest and shy hearted, stole his chance!

He watched Master Ding leave helplessly, not able to say even a single word.

TN: Lian Hai is becoming more and more like his father…