After my luck was stolen, I led my whole family to defy fate and change our destiny.

Gu Ziming hid behind Gu Yu'an, clinging to her leg and begging for forgiveness: "Mother, I was wrong, I was wrong."

Gu Yu'an protected him, affectionately stroking Gu Zimo's head: "Mother, calm down, the teacher is still here."

Waaah, his older brother still loves him the most!

Gu Yu'an gently pulled Gu Zimo out: "Let's fight after the teacher finishes class!"

Gu Ziming stared at his older brother in shock.

It seems like they pleaded for mercy, but it also seems like they didn't!

Su Xiuran calmed herself down and said, "Sir, you flatter me. I will need your continued help with Zimo in the future."

Chen Boqing looked at the family and chuckled, "It's alright, I'll do my best as their teacher."

Su Xiuran nodded and left, leaving Gu Yu'an and the others behind. It was the first day of school, and they must have a lot to talk about, so it wasn't appropriate for her to stay.

It's almost lunchtime.

Gu Yu'an washed his hands, his brows furrowed with joy, a stark contrast to Gu Zimo's gloomy expression as he followed behind.

"How was it? How was Mr. Chen's teaching?"

Gu Yu'an took the handkerchief Chunhe handed him and wiped his hands: "Yes, Mr. Chen taught very well."

Gu Ziming said with a bitter face, "Isn't the teacher too strict? He wants me to memorize the Three Character Classic in five days."

Gu Liyao: "Actually, I guess Mr. Chen originally wanted you to memorize it within three days, but after the assessment, he felt you weren't up to par and was already very lenient with you."

Su Xiuran frowned: "Didn't you memorize it before?"

Gu Ziming sighed: "I've long forgotten. Who remembers what they ate a few days ago?"

Gu Linglong protested, "I remember, today was milk, yesterday was milk, the day before yesterday was milk, and the days before that were all milk."

Gu Ziming: "..."

Su Xiuran smiled gently, recalling Chen Boqing's gray clothes that had faded from washing: "An'er, since you are satisfied with this teacher, have you ever thought about becoming his apprentice?"

Gu Yu'an nodded: "Of course, but given our family's current situation, let's not consider it."

Su Xiuran: "Yes, you're right. Taking someone as a disciple is a big deal. It's not just about academic knowledge, but also about the other person's character. Mr. Chen is a man of great integrity who was able to lend a helping hand to the Gu family when they were in trouble."

"I noticed that Mr. Chen's attire is rather plain. I wonder if he is facing any difficulties. As his student, you should show him some concern."

Gu Yu'an then remembered Chen Boqing's attire. He lowered his head, somewhat ashamed, and said, "Thank you for the reminder, Mother. I know what to do."

Gu Liyao looked completely bewildered: "How do I do it?"

"..."

After lunch.

Gu Yu'an prepared a gift and went to Chen Boqing's house. After glancing at Gu Linglong, he decided to bring his younger sister along.

Chen Boqing's home was in Qingping Lane. Gu Yu'an asked around along the stone-paved road before finally arriving at Chen Boqing's door.

Gu Yu'an stepped forward and knocked on the yellowed wooden door, but no one answered. He gently pushed it; the door was unlocked and half-closed.

An argument could be heard inside: "Drinking again! Drinking every day! The rent is due, let's see how you're going to pay it!"

Chen Boqing: "Oh, my wife, I'm so happy today! Don't worry, I now have my tuition fees to pay the rent."

Madam Chen snorted, "You're so high and mighty. Tuition fees are so low. The scholar next door buys your essays for 10 taels of silver each and 5 taels for a poem. You could earn a hundred or two taels a day, but you just won't go."

"With your current reputation, not a single matchmaker will propose marriage for your daughter. It's fine if she doesn't want to marry; if our family is rich, we can find her a son-in-law."

Chen Boqing frowned: "Those recruits are all scoundrels. No way, I'd rather she never marry and I'll support her for the rest of my life."

"What nonsense are you spouting? What kind of girl doesn't get married? You're supporting her, so why don't you write articles for other people?"

Chen Boqing frowned slightly: "If I wrote it, I would really be harming him. It's wrong for young people to only know how to take shortcuts instead of reading and learning more."

"Fine, fine, you're so high and mighty. Marrying you is the worst thing that ever happened to me."

Chen Boqing was very happy to start teaching at the Gu family's house today. He slurred drunkenly, "I will definitely live an upright life and give you a good life, hiccup~"

Madam Chen glanced at him sideways; she had been hearing these words for over ten years.

Madam Chen ignored him and tended to the seedlings in the yard. She could add some vegetables to the menu in a while, which was more reliable than a man's promise.

Once he could no longer hear the arguing inside, Gu Yu'an knocked on the door again: "Is Mr. Chen home?"

Madam Chen put down the iron slab and went to open the door: "You...who are you?"

Gu Yu'an cupped his hands and said, "Is Mr. Chen at home? I, Gu Yu'an, have come to pay my respects."

Gu?

Madam Chen realized what was happening and quickly stepped aside, saying, "She's inside, come in quickly."

"Old man, your student is here."

Chen Boqing immediately sobered up a bit and asked, "Why are you here?"

Gu Yu'an cupped his hands in greeting: "Sir, from now on you will be teaching us to read, and we haven't given you any gifts yet."

Chen Boqing was taken aback: "Gift? What gift? Madam Gu's monthly tuition is quite high, take it back quickly."

Gu Yu'an placed the gift on the table: "Paying tuition is appropriate, but student etiquette should not be neglected."

Chen Boqing pursed his lips: "You didn't even formally become my disciple, so what gift did you give?"

"Gift"

Gu Yu'an then asked, "Mr. Chen, are you willing to accept me as your disciple?"

Chen Boqing turned his back, a slight smile playing on his lips, and twirled his thumb: "I don't want to. I only went to teach because of the high tuition fees your mother offered."

Gu Yu'an smiled gently: "Yes, you are right, sir."

"So many teachers were unwilling to come and teach at the Gu family home, but Mr. Chen did, so this is a token of our gratitude."

"Okay, just put it there."

Madam Chen poured tea for the guests, saying, "It's not very good tea, gentlemen, please make do with it."

Thank you, Master's wife.

Chen Boqing opened his mouth as if to remind Gu Yu'an that he shouldn't call her "Master's Wife," but seeing his wife smiling so happily, he didn't say anything.

Gu Yu'an took a small sip: "The taste is refreshing and elegant. Master's wife, what kind of tea is this?"

Madam Chen smiled, her eyebrows curving upwards: "It's flower tea that my daughter dried herself."

"Father, Mother, I'm home."

Chen Xining pushed open the door and ran in with light steps, but stopped immediately when she saw the man in the living room.

Chen Boqing said, "Ning'er, this is the eldest son of the Gu family, Gu Yu'an, the second son, Gu Liyao, and the one in his arms is the young lady, Gu Linglong."

Gu Linglong was secretly delighted; no one had ever formally introduced her to anyone before. [Oh dear, this old man knows what he's doing.]

Chen Xining bowed and said, "Greetings, gentlemen and young lady."

"I've met Miss Chen."

Hello, sister!

Gu Linglong turned her big eyes to look at the girl opposite her. She was fair-skinned and beautiful, wearing a pale yellow Confucian dress, with only a single pearl hairpin adorning her hair.

Oh, so this is Chen Boqing's daughter. What a beautiful young lady!

Chen Xining copied books at a bookstore to supplement his family's income. In his spare time, he wrote a poem, which was seen by Li Xiaohan, who was passing by. She took it and published it as her own poem.

[Tsk tsk, this father and daughter are really pitiful. They are both very talented, but their work was plagiarized and stolen.]

Because of Chen Boqing's reputation, no matchmaker is willing to arrange a marriage for her. What a pitiful young lady.

Gu Yu'an looked at Chen Xining and realized that the magnificent poem was written by her.

It is truly admirable that a woman could write such poems under such circumstances.

Gu Liyao looked over and was stunned for a moment. Was it her?