After Chen Chuan left, Cheng Zitong waited for a while before someone came to receive him and led him into the building.
Upon entering the hall, he saw an elderly woman with silver hair gathered into a bun sitting on a nanmu chair opposite him, with a female attendant standing behind her.
She wore reading glasses and had a kindly-looking face. She was dressed in an ocher-red satin traditional robe with a right-closing lapel. Beside her rested a dark ironwood cane, its tip shaped like a burl.
She looked remarkably hale and hearty. Sitting upright, her back was straight and her spirits were excellent. Her facial contours still hinted at the graceful beauty she had possessed in her youth.
Seeing Cheng Zitong enter, she said slowly, "Little Cheng, you haven't visited me in quite some time."
Cheng Zitong said, "Old Madam, haven't I been busy?"
"Yes, everyone is busy." Teacher Ni said, "Worrying over students isn't easy, is it?"
Cheng Zitong replied, "It isn't easy, but good students save you a lot of trouble, so I haven't found it too difficult."
Teacher Ni said, "It seems this student has satisfied you greatly. I'll have to meet him later as well."
Cheng Zitong said, "That's easy. Once the assessment is over, I'll have him come meet you, Old Madam."
Teacher Ni said slowly, "That may take a while."
Cheng Zitong seemed to catch something in her words. He glanced outside several times, then said helplessly, "Old Madam, what are you trying to pull here?"
Teacher Ni patted the table. "Come, sit over here. Have a cup of tea first and calm yourself."
Cheng Zitong gave a chuckle and walked over to sit not far from her. Teacher Ni said with a smile, "It's only some young people's business. Let them make