"Little girl, when do you think we can go visit?"
After finishing the soup, the bored Du Bin began to ponder this question again.
"After Grandpa Du has fully recovered."
It was impossible to visit and express gratitude, but her visiting to become a disciple was still an option.
Qiuxi, secretly thinking while looking at the potted plants with Li Minglan, suddenly had an idea.
"Grandma Li, your flower..."
Unintentionally, Qiuxi, relying on the knowledge she had just inherited, began to chatter at length about the flowers before her.
Li Minglan listened and nodded repeatedly, "Mm... mm..."
She had lived for decades and, while not an expert, knew a thing or two about growing flowers.
Now, this young girl, not even twenty years old, spoke so articulately that it made her doubt herself.
"Xiao Xi, did you study this professionally?"
"Ah? No."
"No? Then where did you learn all that you just said?"
She had assumed the girl was majoring in agriculture, specializing in horticulture.
Now, to hear she wasn't, made her even more pleasantly surprised.
"Oh, this, I used to like reading a lot, read widely, and with a good memory, I picked up a bit."
"..."
This child!
If this was considered "picking up a bit," then hadn't she, with her decades of experience, not even started?
"Then what is your major?"
Even if it wasn't related, surely her major had some tangential connection?
"Oh, English."
"Oh! English, huh? What year are you in?"
Upon hearing about a familiar field, Li Minglan no longer dwelled on where the young girl learned her flower-growing skills and continued the conversation.
"I'll be starting my second year in the fall."
"Mm, come, Grandma will test you."
So, Li Minglan, now idle, pulled Qiuxi over and began a question-and-answer session.
...
"Not bad, not bad, your foundation is quite solid."
After chatting for a long time, one old and one young, Qiuxi's performance made Li Minglan nod repeatedly.
She herself had studied languages, and though retired, the knowledge she had accumulated over a lifetime was etched into her bones, unforgettable.
She hadn't expected that in her twilight years, she would encounter such a promising talent.
"Grandma, you studied languages too, what about Grandpa Du?"
"Him? He's an old stick-in-the-mud, but he studied the same as you."
"Then Grandpa Du must be very skilled."
"You're not wrong there. Although he specialized in translation, language comes naturally to him."
Talented from a young age, translating for the country when he was young, he would likely have become a university professor. Even in old age, he hadn't forgotten his work.
If it weren't for this illness, he probably would have wanted to work for a couple more years!
"Hmph!"
"Don't be afraid of your flattery backfiring!"
The bored old man, who had been lying down reading, immediately perked up his ears upon hearing his own story.
And as he listened, the words blurted out.
As expected, very Old Du!
"Don't let his appearance fool you, your Grandpa Du does appreciate talent."
"He always wanted someone to pass on his legacy, but with his temper, he just never found anyone suitable."
"Pfft~"
"How could I find someone suitable? One by one, they were all unfocused. And the one I finally took a liking to was snatched away by that old hag!"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
With your temper, shouldn't you be complaining?
"Grandpa Du, do you like me?"
Seizing the opportunity, Qiuxi blinked her big eyes and immediately stepped forward to ask.
Li Minglan chimed in from the side, "Old Du, I think she's perfect. It's a good chance for you to repay the favor."
Looking at his wife and the young girl before him, Du Bin turned his head and grumbled, "Do I look like someone who takes things lightly?"
"I think you're just being stubborn!"
Don't think because she's old, this old woman is blind. She had seen it when she asked Xiao Xi just now.
His eyes kept glancing over, wanting to say something but holding back. As his wife of decades, how could she not know?
"Then Grandpa Du is definitely not someone who takes things lightly. What are the conditions, Grandpa Du, please tell us."
Although she really wanted to agree with Grandma Li, she dared not, fearing that one more word would make this cheap master slip away.
"Cough... that depends on my mood."
"I think you're just being difficult. Xiao Xi..."
"Sigh!"
"Why are you making such a fuss? I'm just testing her."
Seeing his wife about to lead the girl away, Du Bin became a little anxious.
"Hey! I..."
"..."
Seeing the situation, Qiuxi now understood that this was indeed a fortuitous encounter for a master.
However, after the previous conversation, Qiuxi had gained a new understanding of this potential master.
Her endeavor to become his disciple would surely not be a loss, and would undoubtedly be highly beneficial.
"Grandpa Du, just tell me what the test is. I can do it."
"I'm afraid you can't."
"Well, whether I can or not, we have to try to find out, don't you think?"
"Alright, Alan, go get those few papers from my middle drawer."
"Okay."
Seeing the old man's serious demeanor, Li Minglan was happy to fetch them.
However, upon seeing the papers, she was a little surprised.
When had this old man prepared this, even keeping it from her?
And judging by the questions, the difficulty level was quite high. She wondered if this girl Xiao Xi could handle it.