Liu Ji was eating his meal noisily all by himself.

Everyone around him was watching, waiting for him to share his tips on acing the courtyard exam.

By the way, Ah Wang already knew the secret, so he was also focused on his meal.

Having been used to his own cooking all day, suddenly tasting someone else’s culinary skills, Ah Wang felt it was quite good.

Liu Ji, strong-minded, calmly filled his stomach in the face of the eager eyes of Qin Yao and her children, burped, lazily shrugged his shoulders, and then shared his excellent essay from the courtyard exam—

"My Daily Life with a Great Scholar Teacher and the Prodigy Junior Brother from a Noble Family"

Liu Ji spoke eloquently: "The examiners this time had quite unique preferences, and it just so happened that my essay suited their tastes."

"Actually, the courtyard exam isn’t as difficult as everyone imagines. As long as you have ideals in your heart and express them boldly, striving towards your goals, you will surely find your mentor someday, just like a thousand-mile horse meeting its Bo Le..."

Qin Yao glanced over the children’s faces and Yin Le, seeing they were listening intently, deeply inspired and yearning, she quickly raised her hand to stop Liu Ji’s serious nonsense.

Liu Ji hadn’t noticed anything amiss, being bathed in the admiring gazes of the children in front of him, he even started to believe his own tall tales.

Seeing Qin Yao halt him, he asked gently, "Darling, what’s wrong? Did I speak too fast for you to understand? No worries, you just ask boldly, I will answer everything to the best of my ability."

Ah Wang, being an honest person, stood up and said, "Madam is worried you’re leading the kids astray, sir."

Having said this, he didn’t look at the stunned, handsome face of the master, and promptly tidied up the bowls and chopsticks, actively getting to work.

"I’ll help, I’ll help." Yin Le hurriedly got up to join in, eager to assist. Absolutely cannot let the master feel she’s less efficient than Ah Wang!

The Da Lang Brothers and Sisters were taken aback, wasn’t cleaning up the dishes their chore?

The siblings couldn’t help but smile happily.

Uncle Ah Wang coming home is really nice.

Qin Yao instructed the four siblings, "It’s getting late, hurry up and wash up, then go back to your rooms to sleep."

"Okay, okay." The four siblings obediently headed to the bathroom, washed their faces and feet, and went back to their rooms.

Yin Le still had evening classes, and Qin Yao reminded Liu Ji to remember to inquire at the Lotus Courtyard if they needed anything, and if so, to bring it from home for them.

In this village, it’s hard to buy things at a moment’s notice, it’d be best not to let people think they’re neglectful.

After reminding him, Qin Yao called Yin Le, who wanted to wash the dishes but couldn’t beat Ah Wang, and who was standing at the kitchen door, frustrated, to go up the mountain with her mentor.

The previously lively main room instantly became quiet.

Liu Ji sat at the table, now tidy, looking at the darkened door and windows of the children’s room, and then at Ah Wang, who was done with his work and ready to rest in the loft, slightly parted his thin lips, wanting to ask him to stay, but couldn’t speak it out.

Because he didn’t even know what he wanted to keep him for, just that he didn’t want to sink into this inexplicable low mood alone.

Soon, the whole front yard quieted down, with only the two dim lanterns at the front door of the main room providing light.

An indescribable emptiness filled Liu Ji; he felt something was missing.

Today was his first day back home, was his wife really going to leave him aside like this?

Da Lang and the others needed to wake up early to go to school tomorrow, so he understood them going to bed early.

But!

How could she take her apprentice up the mountain, leaving him here alone?

He’d been away from home for so long; didn’t she have anything she wanted to ask him?

Liu Ji couldn’t figure it out.

He took out a small copper mirror he carried and looked at it, still seeing the elegant, extraordinarily handsome man in the reflection.

So... love can really disappear, right?

Perhaps Liu Ji’s resentment was so strong that Qin Yao, focused on extra practice with her apprentice on the back mountain, felt an inexplicable restlessness, and her eyelids occasionally twitched.

After autumn, the night sky could change without warning.

Just as the two of them arrived on the mountain, it was peaceful.

Now, the autumn wind suddenly rose, rustling the trees in the forest.

"Master, it might rain," Yin Le reminded, panting.

She was exhausted from daily extra practice, and even though she wanted to grow stronger, human nature is inclined toward ease. If the rain meant ending today’s extra practice early, she couldn’t be happier.

Unfortunately, her master was the most ruthless.

Qin Yao raised her hand to suppress the jumping of her left eyelid, coldly saying, "Rain is perfect for experiencing different scenarios in different environments."

As soon as she finished speaking, without giving Yin Le any chance to lament, she sent a dart flying out with a whoosh.

"Hide well, if I find you, you’re done!" Qin Yao laughed mischievously, charging toward where Yin Le was hiding.

The dart had just missed, yet Yin Le made a slight sound as she dodged, unfortunately revealing her location.

Yin Le screamed internally, beginning her ’escape’ that night under the cover of darkness and forest.

The rain did indeed start falling; Yin Le only heard raindrops hitting leaves, which greatly interfered with her judgment of the pursuer’s movements.

Moreover, the muddy ground not only hindered her movements but also amplified her footsteps.

Her vision was blurred by the rain, and Yin Le felt that night was simply terrible.

However, as soon as she zoned out, a silver dart flew past her ear, warning her not to get distracted.

Yin Le shouted to encourage herself, immediately focusing all her energy, running forward.

Gradually, she began to notice some traces of her pursuer and knew how to use the rain to mask her moves, initiating two counter-surveillance attempts.

Although both ended in failure, compared to her former self, it was already significant progress for Yin Le.

When the rain stopped, both the master and apprentice were covered in mud, they glanced at each other and were amused by each other’s ridiculous appearances, bursting into laughter.

"Master, when we go back, just leave your dirty clothes in the stone trough, I’ll wash them clean for you tomorrow morning."

On their way down, Yin Le, as usual, advised Qin Yao.

Currently, she’s responsible for washing her master’s clothes, Mrs. Li is only concerned with Da Lang and his siblings, as well as household linens.

Yin Le felt that her master letting her wash her clothes was a sign of closeness and trust, so she couldn’t be happier.

But Yin Le didn’t expect the person beside her to say, "No need, just wash yours, someone else will wash mine now."

Besides, after dirtiness like this today, she’s too embarrassed to let the little girl wash it.

However, if it’s someone else, then it’s completely justifiable.

"Ah?" Yin Le was a bit bewildered.

Qin Yao lifted her eyes towards the back door, where a tall figure was standing with a lantern.

Upon seeing them approach, he immediately stepped forward with the lantern to greet them.

"Master-in-law? You haven’t slept yet?" Yin Le looked at him in surprise, suddenly realizing who Qin Yao meant by the person washing the clothes.

After bowing to Liu Ji, Yin Le wisely excused herself.

However, looking at the mud on her, and recalling her master’s mud-covered clothes, which were even worse, Yin Le silently mourned for a second in her heart for the master-in-law.