"Creak!"
Halfway through the lecture, Qiu Xi felt someone enter the study.
She instinctively looked up at her master, wanting to say something.
But her master continued the lesson as if he hadn't seen anyone. Qiu Xi watched for a moment, then immediately began to listen attentively.
Since Master didn't say anything, it must be part of his plan. She just needed to listen obediently.
Du Bin didn't say anything because, at that moment, he really didn't want to deal with this person. He also wanted to let Ding Yujing see the talent and perceptiveness of his little disciple.
Of course, Ding Yujing, who came in later, wouldn't say anything either. He had entered without announcement with the subtle intention of getting a good look at Old Du's little disciple, to see what abilities she possessed that made the old man praise her so highly.
However, he hadn't expected that, after coming in with only the intention of watching the fun, he would be pleasantly surprised by this young girl shortly after.
Just as Old Du had said, she had talent and perceptiveness; she was indeed a rare good prospect.
It made him eager. He couldn't snatch a disciple, but he could certainly have another master, right?
If all else failed, this girl still had to call him Martial Uncle!
This was his greatest boast to Du Bin in the past.
"Alright, that's it for this morning."
After lecturing for a long time, Du Bin finally concluded the lesson.
"Okay, Master."
"Come, Xiao Xi, let me introduce you. This gentleman behind me is Ding Yujing. He should still be at your school..."
Mid-sentence, Du Bin was interrupted by Ding Yujing, "You old Du, what do you mean 'still'? I am here!"
Then he grabbed the little girl and started talking.
"Little girl, let me tell you, don't listen to your master. I am a professor and doctoral supervisor at our Minhua University, and I haven't retired yet!"
Although he was old, he hadn't retired yet. He felt he could struggle for another year or two.
By then, he would likely have found a successor.
"..."
Du Bin had never seen such a straightforward self-introduction, complete with self-praise.
He truly was a black fox. However, if he thought he could poach his disciple like this, it would be quite difficult.
"Hello, Teacher Ding."
As expected, his own disciple simply maintained her student's decorum and greeted him respectfully. "..."
Ding Yujing hadn't expected that his status wouldn't impress the girl.
He was a little surprised!
Seeing Old Ding's reaction, Du Bin finally smiled with satisfaction and then asked his little disciple to leave.
"Alright, Xiao Xi, you go out first and see if Grandma Li needs any help. Teacher Ding and I will chat for a bit."
"Okay~"
Qiu Xi left without a word. She thought Grandma Li would surely know, and going down now was the perfect time to gossip.
However, as soon as she got downstairs and before she could speak, Qiu Xi saw a strange old woman.
She looked about the same age as Grandma Li, but a bit more refined. Grandma Li was very simple.
Moreover, the elder seemed heroic; she must be a very cheerful old lady.
After watching for a moment, Qiu Xi walked up, "Grandma Li, who is this?"
"Oh! Xiao Xi, you're out. Let me introduce you. This is my old friend, Ge Jiaojie. Just call her Grandma Ge."
"Hello, Grandma Ge."
"My, my! Is this Xiao Xi? She's so pretty, no wonder your Grandma Li praises you so much!"
Before her old friend could speak, she had already wanted to step forward. This young girl looked exactly like the granddaughter she had in mind, so delicate and beautiful!
"Grandma Ge, you look beautiful too. You can tell you were a great beauty~"
Qiu Xi was serious about complimenting people, and besides, this elder truly looked beautiful.
She must have been a great beauty in her youth.
Ge Jiaojie, upon hearing this, burst into laughter. She waved her hand, "I'm old, I don't deserve such praise, I don't deserve it."
"That's not what they say. 'Time never defeats beauty,' that's said about great beauties like Grandma Ge."
"Oh~ look at this sweet talker. Little girls know how to speak well."
"Ah Lan, what you're saying is really good. This girl is so considerate!"
Li Minglan smiled, "Sister Jiao, I told you, you would definitely like her."
"I like her, I like her very much!"
In just this short while, she had already taken the little girl's hand and started chattering.
"Grandma Li, let me help you."
"What? Your master let you come down?"
Logically, shouldn't he have shown off a bit more?
"Yes, Master seems to have something else to discuss, so he let me come out first."
"That's fine too. Come over and chat with us two."
"Okay~"
Helping out on the side, Qiu Xi listened to the two elders chat, occasionally interjecting, which led to them laughing throughout.
"Grandma Li, which Teacher Ding was it that went upstairs just now?"
"He's an old fellow disciple of your master. You still have to call him Martial Uncle. He's also your Grandma Ge's husband. We old folks have known each other for most of our lives."
"That's wonderful. I'll cook for you all later, so you can have a good gathering."
Hearing the information she wanted, Qiu Xi was overjoyed.
Finally, she didn't have to worry about her master and Grandma Li not having old friends.
Otherwise, them traveling such a distance just to teach her made her think quite a lot.
"Alright, then I can show off to your Grandma Ge again."
Li Minglan thought for a moment and then nodded in agreement.
Thinking that the old man could be happy for a while longer was also quite good.
The key was that she felt very good about it right now!
"You, you're still thinking about your old man."
"Sister Jiao, he's been nagging me for days. If I don't help him, he'll probably nag me again later."
"Fine, fine. Who can blame him when this little girl is so likable?"
"But can we really trust this little girl with the kitchen?"
Ge Jiaojie was a bit worried. She wasn't really confident in the cooking skills of children nowadays, even though she really liked this girl.
When asked this, Li Minglan smiled even more broadly, "Don't worry, you'll know in a moment."
"..."
Smiling like that? What did it mean?
However, seeing that her old friend didn't say anything more, she didn't ask again and decided to wait.