Making money, taking exams and supporting the family

chapter 35: Child Li Sheng

When Li Guangcai saw Lin Ze stop in his tracks, his face turned pale.

Upon hearing Lin Ze’s voice again, sweat instantly appeared on his forehead. He quickly pulled his son back and began to apologize.

“Mr. Lin, please don’t be upset. My son is young and doesn’t know any better. He was just speaking nonsense earlier. I will make sure to discipline him properly when we get home…”

As Li Guangcai spoke, he could not help but regret deeply.

It was all because their family had pampered Sheng’er so much since he was born late in their lives, being the only child and all. They spoiled him excessively, which led to him developing a reckless and fearless attitude.

When his son said those words earlier, the worst he could have done was to scold him and walk away, but if someone with malicious intentions were to use those words against them, it could lead to severe consequences, even threatening the entire family’s safety.

At that moment, Lin Ze stopped and turned around, wearing a calm expression, prompting Li Guangcai’s son to repeat what he had said earlier. This was clearly a sign of irritation and concern.

Li Guangcai was so nervous that he was breaking into a cold sweat. In this era, freedom of speech was not a given, and saying the wrong thing could lead to trouble.

Seeing Li Guangcai’s pale face, Lin Ze suddenly realized that some things could not be casually discussed in public during ancient times.

Observing the curious villagers around them, Lin Ze thought for a moment and then smiled, saying, “You mentioned wanting me to be your teacher, right? Well, come with me to my house, and let me test your knowledge…”

This turn of events seemed to indicate that Lin Ze was willing to give Li Guangcai’s family a chance to prove themselves rather than dwelling on the earlier conversation.

“Mr. Lin, or should I say, Master Lin, are you willing to take my son as your student?”

Li Guangcai, being a clever man, was pleasantly surprised by this turn of events.

Li Sheng also looked at Lin Ze with wonder, his eyes widened in disbelief. He could not understand why his earlier rude behavior was met with a change in attitude from the scholar. This was entirely different from his previous encounters with teachers.

The villagers were equally astonished.

“I prefer challenging myself with difficult tasks. If I can successfully teach such a stubborn student, it would be a testament to my abilities. I can give him a chance, but whether he can become my student will depend on his own abilities,” Lin Ze replied.

Lin Ze maintained a demeanor of a knowledgeable person, smiling faintly. However, his interest could not be hidden from those around him, particularly Zhang Xiu.

Knowing that his man likely had some mischievous intentions, Zhang Xiu looked at Li Guangcai and his son with a hint of sympathy in his eyes.

But Li Guangcai could not care less about these nuances. Lin Ze’s words had already filled him with joy, and he hastily grabbed his reluctant son and followed along.

His two servants remained behind, waiting in the same spot, along with their belongings.

Since Lin Ze had not directly accepted the student, Li Guangcai refrained from offering any gifts. Giving gifts now could tarnish Lin Ze’s already questionable reputation further, and Li Guangcai understood this much.