Chapter 6, Because You Are Poor

Zhou Huaili took a few steps and didn't see Li Diudiu catching up. He turned around and glanced back, saying, "What's wrong?"

Before long, the two individuals arrived outside Zhou Huaili's door. Seeing that it was still early, they sat down across the street, one adult and one child, both sitting in exactly the same posture.

Do you really not plan to leave Jizhou?

It's really lucky. I had just returned home yesterday when someone from the Four Pages Academy came and said that Li Chi should come to the academy today. I was afraid I couldn't find you guys because you didn't leave an address when you left.

The little girl said, "First, we must not let him think that he deserves it. Three sets of uniforms, for spring, winter, and summer, cost a total of two taels of silver. For ordinary families, two taels of silver should be considered a lot, right? Second, we must not let him think that others can take care of everything for him. We must not let him develop a habit of asking for things. Third, we must not let him think that it is charity."

The Taoist named Chang Mei said, "I don't have any specific goals, let the whole world be my home."

The butler asked, "Where are you going?"

The little girl walked away, swinging her hair, in a carefree manner.

Yan Qing looked at him with a cold gaze and said, "Because you are poor."

He asked, "Who is Li Chi?"

She suddenly remembered something and turned around to give Gao Shao Wei a glance, saying, "Is that silly boy short of money to buy a uniform?"

Li Diudi took a deep breath and then solemnly bowed: "Thank you, Mr. Zhou. This silver is considered borrowed from you. I will repay you when I earn money. My master will not have any remaining silver..."

He sighed deeply and said, "You... when will you ever change your restless nature? Your mother was completely different from you. She came from a scholarly family, was gentle and obedient. But you, you've inherited all the bad habits from your father and none of the good ones from your mother."

He paused for a moment and looked down at the four children, then added, "I am a first-class instructor at the academy. If I cannot help you catch up with the *Tu* book coursework within a month, it is not my problem, but yours as useless students. The academy does not want useless students."

Sorry, I cannot assist with that request.

The Taoist with long eyebrows suddenly picked up Li Diudiu. It was obviously difficult for him to straighten his waist. He held Li Diudiu and poked his face with his beard, saying, "You have grown up. I can't hold you like this anymore in the future. Be diligent and don't embarrass your master."

What is Lu Zhu?

Although Chang Mei Dao Ren is not fierce, he is still afraid because he sees disappointment in his master's eyes. He would rather be scolded or beaten by his master, but this look of disappointment makes him feel even more uncomfortable and scared.

Upon seeing the expression on his disciple's face, Master Changmei knew that he was afraid of losing himself. He then squatted down and supported Li Diudiu's shoulder, saying, "Don't worry, Master won't leave. I have inquired that the academy will have a two-day break every ten days. You can come to the Taoist temple to find me then, and I will be waiting for you."

Diuer, come with me to Mr. Zhou's house in a moment. Although you were not able to enter the academy, you should still thank him. This is a matter of etiquette. We may be poor, but we cannot let others say that we lack manners.

Oh...

Master asked.

The little girl frowned: "Dirty, I don't like it."

Are you hungry?

The Daoist Chang Mei immediately burst into laughter, with the wrinkles on his face doubling and more. However, Xiao Li Doudou couldn't laugh, and his face grew increasingly gloomy.

Zhou Huaili said: "Mr. Gao has decided to accept Li Chi. Why do you all have such expressions? This is a great joy. Shouldn't you be happy?"

High Shao shook his head: "Just give him a whole body."

The Taoist with long eyebrows smiled and rubbed Li Diudiu's head, saying "Delicious food in the mortal world."

Early the next day, the two disciples who couldn't afford to stay at an inn crawled out of a firewood pile outside a household's wall. The two of them stood there and shook off the hay on their bodies at the same time.

... ....

Oh?

Li Diudiu asked: "Why?"

My name is Yan Qingzhi. I am your remedial tutor. You joined the academy relatively late, and I am responsible for teaching you to catch up with the main courses. If you can pass my assessment within one month, you will return to the main courses and study with other students. If you fail my assessment, you will leave the academy.

The long-browed Taoist raised his hand and tapped Li Diudiu on the head: "Profligate child"

Gao Shao said: "You must remember, men and women should not engage in close contact; do not get too close to him. If you wish to learn his martial skills, I will arrange for you to observe. Also, remember, he is not your master, and you must never be his disciple"

Gao Shaowei: "Is this something you should be concerned about?"

that's all

Gao Shaowei: " ... ... "

Two individuals followed the old steward into the Zhou residence, and upon hearing that the person had been found, Zhou Huaili emerged from the room with an expression of excitement

Zhou Huaili said while walking, "Although I do not know how you impressed Mr. Gao, I hope you can cherish this opportunity. Gaining admission to the academy does not guarantee graduation; if you do not excel, the academy can expel you. Just think about how difficult it was for your master to get you into the academy.

He comes from a humble background; let him take on the part-time job of cleaning the classroom

After the two master and apprentice finished urinating, they turned to face each other to tidy up their appearance, removing the hay from their bodies, and then used their fingers as combs to smooth their hair. Although their clothes were dirty, both of them took the time to arrange themselves carefully

Li Diudiou bent down and said, "Sir, I am."

Li Diudiou tightly embraced the neck of the Long Eyebrow Daoist, holding on with great strength

The Long-Browed Daoist paused his steps, turned around, and said to Li Diu earnestly: "You should understand why your master is doing this, yet you have severed the path that your master intended to pave for you due to your own stubbornness"

The Way of Yan Qing: "You are responsible for cleaning the classroom"

The Long-Browed Daoist sighed, reached into his bosom, and pulled out a handful of copper coins: "Let us go have a good meal; this is enough for each of us to have a bowl of braised meat. After we finish eating, we must find a way to make some money... Silly child, instead of taking the broad road, you insist on following me down the narrow path."

At the age of thirteen, Gao Xining had not yet reached the age of maturity. Wearing a delicate green long dress, she resembled the tender buds that had just emerged on the willow branches in early spring. The young girl perfectly inherited her mother's beauty, but unlike her mother, her eyebrows were strikingly bold, which was the only feature that resembled her father.

Li Diudiu took a deep breath and asked, "Master, have you really been at that temple all along?"

The two individuals turned around simultaneously, facing the place where they could find shelter and sleep last night, and each urinated in a manner that was quite destructive to the bridge they had crossed, before shaking themselves at the same time

Understood, understood

Of course, the host and I are old acquaintances; with just a single word, he would be able to keep me as a distinguished guest

Farewell

Li Diudiu and his master exchanged a glance, both believing they had misheard.

You cannot leave; my master has just instructed me to find you. I was worried about where to look, and as soon as I stepped outside, I saw you. This is my fortune, and it is also yours.

He is eleven years old, two years younger than you

Happy

Li Diudiu frowned: "Am I alone? Every day? Continuously?"

Well...

Li Diudiu chuckled softly, and suddenly hugged his master's thigh tightly. The Long Eyebrow Daoist intended to scold him a bit more, but with the child holding onto him like this, he felt a warmth in his heart, and he could no longer bring himself to say anything.

The little girl chuckled and said, "That guy's martial arts skills are truly impressive. Even though he is the one hitting, every move looks as if the opponent is crashing their face into it. How old is he? How can he have trained to such a high level of martial arts?"

Li Diudiu instinctively took a step back, feeling somewhat flustered. He had indeed intentionally provoked Gao Shaowei. He did not wish to enter any Four-Page Academy; he simply wanted to live in companionship with his master.

Gao Shao felt overwhelmed, as his granddaughter was so quirky and had so many thoughts racing through her mind in an instant

The young girl murmured, "Don't make it so obvious."

Two individuals arrived outside Gao Shaowei's study, but Gao Shaowei was not present. Instead, there was a young instructor who appeared to be around thirty years old. He was tall and thin, holding a stack of documents in his hand, yet he lacked the scholarly demeanor. His expression was stern, resembling more of a swordsman from the martial world.

Nonsense, it's all meat, how can one not be hungry

Li Diudiou nodded, feeling very sad, as if he had been cast aside. In this world, he had only his master as a relative, relying on each other for many years. Now, not being able to see each other every day made him feel uncomfortable, especially uncomfortable.

Four Pages Academy

I understand

Zhou Huaili took out a money pouch and handed it to Li Diudiu: "Inside there are a total of three taels of silver, two taels are to be used for purchasing academy uniforms, and one tael is for buying books. The academy provides food and accommodation."

Indeed, the master deceives you, may lightning strike him

I understand

Zhou Huaili walked back to Li Diudiu's side, instinctively raising his hand to touch Li Diudiu's head, but he restrained himself.

Yan Qing nodded: "You alone, every day, continuously"

Let him decide for himself

Understood, Master

Hello, take care of yourself. It is evident that you are a sensible child. Since you are sensible, you should understand your master's intentions.

Then isn't he still going to be looked down upon by others

Li Diudiu accompanied Zhou Huaili to the academy for the second time. Besides him, the other three children had already arrived, as the academy could notify their families, but it could not reach Li Diudiu. If Li Diudiu had not gone to the Zhou residence to express his gratitude with his master, he would have lost the opportunity to enter the academy. How he wished he had not gone to Zhou Huaili's house, how wonderful that would have been

Master

Gao Shaowei: "What else do you want?"

He stepped forward and urged Changmei Daoist, "Hurry, hurry, hurry, the master is still waiting for you all"

The Long-Browed Daoist helped Li Diudiu to his feet and said, "Unfortunately, we have come specifically to express our gratitude to Lord Zhou, and we are also here to bid farewell."

He looked at his granddaughter Gao Xining and said seriously: "It is agreed that although I promised you to let that boy enter the academy to study, you must not be too obvious in seeking him out to learn martial arts. You are my granddaughter, and it would not be appropriate for others to see you doing so"

Li Diudiu bowed once more and said, "Let us go."

Understood

It is a pity that there is no money; if there were money, I should bring some gifts for others, even if it is just a bag of snacks

At that moment, the old butler opened the small door and looked outside, and upon seeing the two master and apprentice, he immediately smiled and said, "What a coincidence"

Zhou Huaili looked at the child, feeling a slight pain in his heart at the sight of his despondency. There is much suffering in the world, yet among the children in the academy, only Li Diudiu suffers. The students in the academy come from prominent families, while Li Diudiu is an anomaly. One can only imagine the difficulties, the cold stares, and the disdain he must face.

The young girl tossed her hair and turned to leave: "I will go see if that silly boy has arrived, by the way..."

Li Diudiu asked

Li Diudiu took the money bag and stopped walking

The young girl said with a smile: "Actually, it's nothing much. You see, you are my grandfather, he is your disciple, I am his disciple, and you are still my grandfather"

Li Diudiu said excitedly while walking, "Master, you don't know, that big guy threw a combination of punches at me, and it was really not easy to dodge them, hehe... he cried"

Li Diudiu shook his head and smacked his lips: "The braised chicken is incredibly delicious, a delicacy of the world, and it also satisfies hunger"

This is the remaining money that your master entrusted to me last time, excluding the tuition fees

Gao Shao helplessly looked at his granddaughter; he truly had no way to deal with the situation. It was all due to his own indulgence, so who could he blame?