The Host is Clearly A Scumbag (Quick Travel)

Chapter 51: Chapter 51 The Villain is Beautiful and Powerful Without a Tragic Backstory (14)



A bookstore wasn't the place for such discussions, so Su Hengzhong simply took Mingting back to the Su Residence, where he offered guidance in his study.

Though Mingting was well-read, Su Hengzhong's decades of experience in the Ministry of Works gave him far more practical insights. He offered numerous constructive suggestions, cutting straight to the heart of issues that had stumped Mingting.

The wisdom Su Hengzhong shared was hard-earned from years in office, and Mingting listened with rapt attention, his eyes growing brighter by the minute… it was like a sudden enlightenment.

Su Hengzhong, too, was thoroughly impressed with Mingting.

Remembering Mingting's earlier words of 'No investigation, no right to speak', Su Hengzhong had been careful not to make assumptions this time.

But in just two hours, this young man has been constantly refreshing Su Hengzhong's cognition of him.

Mingting was astonishingly quick-witted, grasping concepts with just a hint.

When Su Hengzhong was young, he'd read about geniuses in books. However, he always believed that diligence is the most important thing in the world.

Now, having met Mingting, he finally understood, 'This sliver of natural talent was worth years of others' toil. Heaven had truly blessed this boy!'

What impressed Su Hengzhong even more was that despite his brilliance, Mingting remained meticulous and down-to-earth in his work. He was never arrogant, never impatient. This was rare indeed.

"Thank you for your guidance, old sir!"

With his doubts resolved, Mingting stood and bowed deeply to Su Hengzhong.

Su Hengzhong accepted the gesture without demur.

He stroked his beard and looked at Mingting with a smile. The more he looked at Mingting, the more he liked him.

Su Hengzhong then inquired about Mingting's family and education. Upon learning the boy had only two years of informal home schooling, Su Hengzhong could hold back no longer.

This time, he wouldn't let Mingting slip away.

"That day, you said you had no teacher. What would you think of taking me as your master?"

"Old sir, you'd accept me as your disciple?"

Mingting's face lit with surprise, then joy. Without hesitation, he dropped to his knees.

"Teacher, Mingting kowtows to you!"

Mingting's forehead struck the floor tiles with audible thuds. Su Hengzhong had never seen such an earnest child and hurriedly helped him up.

"You didn't even ask me what I know and what I can teach you, whether I've passed the imperial examination, and whether I am qualified to accept students. You just kowtowed like this, aren't you afraid of regretting it later?"

Su Hengzhong deliberately put on a stern face to scare Mingting.

"This is the Su Residence. I heard that there is a Lord Su, the Minister of Works, in the town. Since Teacher knows so much about hydraulic power, this student boldly guesses that Teacher is Lord Su."

Mingting replied.

'Smart, but also cunning.'

Su Hengzhong was very happy to have a disciple he liked.

Seeing that it was getting late, he asked Mingting to stay for dinner.

Mingting asked Su Hengzhong to send someone to the cloth shop to tell Wang Zhi so that his brother-in-law would not worry, and Su Hengzhong agreed.

When Sun Wei learned that Mingting had gone to the Su Residence, and not only did he worship Lord Su as his teacher, but he was also invited to eat at Su Residence, he was surprised and happy.

What surprised him was that in such a short time, Mingting could actually catch Su Hengzhong's eye and become a disciple of this senior official of the court.

What made him happy was that he had a good eye and had established a good relationship with Mingting early on.

Sun Wei immediately arranged a more comfortable room for Wang Zhi and doubled his salary.

Wang Zhi was also very happy that his brother-in-law had such an opportunity, but he was worried that Mingting was young and didn't know how to speak and deal with things.

In short, until Mingting returned, Wang Zhi was always worried.

Su Hengzhong was in mourning leave, so the Su Family was simple. In addition to the servants, there were only the family of three.

Before dinner, Mingting paid respects to his teacher's wife and met Su Lingyi, Su Hengzhong's only daughter.

Mrs. Su was very happy when he found that Mingting was clear-eyed, refined, and exceptionally handsome. He's poised and upright young man.

She promptly gifted him a white jade pendant carved with bamboo, which symbolized resilience and integrity.

"Thank you, Shimu!" (T/N: Shimu is the way to call their teacher's wife.)

After the meal, Mingting bid his teacher farewell, as he needed to return home to prepare the apprenticeship gifts and choose an auspicious day for a formal apprenticeship ceremony.

After Mingting left, Su Hengzhong couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Earlier, to maintain his dignified image in front of Mingting and avoid seeming too eager to take him as a student, Su Hengzhong had suppressed his excitement despite being utterly delighted.

Now that the student was gone, he could laugh heartily.

Between laughs, Su Hengzhong couldn't stop boasting to his wife:

"Madam, this boy is no ordinary talent! If I can properly teach this one student, it will be worth the students that others have taken in their whole life!"

The System relayed Su Hengzhong's words to Mingting, and he also laughed.

'Who would've thought that someone as stern and proper as Lord Su could be so lively in private?'

"Since my teacher has such high expectations of me, of course I'll strive to bring him honor."

Since he needed to prepare the apprenticeship gifts, Mingting returned to the cloth shop, and Wang Zhi accompanied him back to Xiaohe Village.

He Gu was overjoyed to see Mingting.

What she never expected was that, after just a few days away, her son had become the student of a high-ranking court official.

He Gu was so happy that she nearly fainted, and she repeatedly thanked their ancestors for their blessings.

"Mom, this is my gift to you. Big Sister, this is yours. And for Daya and Xiaosong, Uncle brought you gifts too."

The two taels of silver Mingting had earned hadn't even warmed his hands before he spent them. He bought He Gu a pair of silver earrings, gave Jiang Xiao'e a box of scented face cream, and brought the children pine nut candies and writing supplies.

"Ah, how much did all this cost?!"

He Gu fretted over the expense, and it was only after Mingting persuaded her for a long time that she accepted the earrings.

"Don't be so wasteful in the future. You don't manage a household, so you don't know how expensive firewood and rice are. Candy is pricey, there's no need to buy such a big bag."

Like all thrifty and hardworking mothers, He Gu urged Mingting to save his money for himself.

"Mom, all I need to do is study hard, achieve great things, and serve the court. Since I'm not good at managing finances, you can take charge of the household from now on and keep me in line."

Mingting's words warmed He Gu's heart, and she couldn't bring herself to scold him anymore.


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