A Distinguished Guest

"Teacher, how stupid did they have to be to come down from up there to study here? They're all just ordinary advanced academies, but the facilities, environment, and everything else are so much worse."

Cheng Ran said helplessly.

"All right, enough about irrelevant matters. The most important thing is finding a way to improve your grades. The school is already closed, so you can forget about using the training pods. They're hard to find outside too, and the ones available cost a fortune—you can't afford them. So you need to focus on the Comprehensive Exam. Starting today, if you're willing to come over during the day, I'll tutor you for free. I hope you can build a good future for yourselves."

Tang Yan spoke to everyone with utmost seriousness.

"Okay!"

Everyone answered confidently.

"And Minke, give the other students a call too and see if they're willing to come. If not, then forget it."

Tang Yan continued instructing Minke.

"Okay!"

Minke immediately agreed.

By evening.

Su Ming walked home, a trace of melancholy showing in his eyes.

Although Teacher Tang Yan was going to tutor them, his abilities were limited too. After cramming for a month, they might manage to get into an ordinary school, but their chances of getting into Imperial Court Academy were practically nonexistent!

What was worse, he no longer had a training pod to practice in. Normally, he could ask his parents for help, but the situation at home was hardly optimistic either.

His father had already been taken away for several days, and there had been no news at all.

Who could he even turn to?

Just as Su Ming, his face full of worry, approached his home, he saw a man standing at the entrance and speaking with Chen Hui.

The man had graying hair, wrinkled skin covered in dark spots, a stern expression, and a black suit.

Su Ming found the man strangely familiar. He seemed to have seen him somewhere before, but he couldn't remember where for the moment.

"Since Madam isn't here, I'll take my leave first."

Jiang Yu said goodbye politely.

Su Ming suddenly remembered. This man was Mr. Jiang Yu, who had apparently once been his father's teacher. He held a high position in the family and had visited their home several times in the past.

Most importantly, he wasn't merely an information expert. He was also a senior scholar and adviser.

Su Ming hurried over and greeted him warmly.

"Mr. Jiang Yu."

Jiang Yu was slightly taken aback. He turned to look at Su Ming, sizing him up before smiling and greeting him.

"You must be the young master, right? It's been so many years. You've grown so much."

"Yes. Were you looking for my mother?"

"Yes, but Madam isn't here, and I couldn't get through to her by phone."

"My mother went out to take care of something. She may be back later. How can we leave you standing at the door? Please, come in and sit!"

Su Ming warmly invited Jiang Yu inside.

Jiang Yu had been about to leave, but faced with Su Ming's invitation, he couldn't refuse. He could only follow him inside.

After entering, Su Ming said to Chen Hui, "Aunt Hui, hurry and bring out the white tea my father has been saving. And bring some fruit too!"

"Uh, all right."

Chen Hui froze for a moment. Those were all expensive luxuries kept in the household, things the master and madam usually couldn't bear to use. However, since Su Ming had given the order, she went to carry it out.

"There's no need for all this."

Jiang Yu was stunned as well.

"Of course there is. Mr. Jiang, please go sit down."

Su Ming led Jiang Yu to the living room and ushered him into a seat.

"Mr. Jiang, please sit!"

"You're being too polite, young master."

Jiang Yu hurriedly stood up. Although Su Yuan was not particularly capable and was looked down upon at home, which meant Su Ming held little status either, Jiang Yu had worked in the family for many years and held a fairly high position. Even so, he understood the distinction between master and servant and couldn't overstep the line.

"It's nothing. You're my father's teacher, which makes you my elder's elder. This is only right."

Su Ming spoke with great courtesy.

At that moment, Chen Hui brought over the brewed tea and fruit.

Su Ming immediately picked up a cup of tea and handed it to Mr. Jiang Yu.

"Mr. Jiang, please have some tea!"

"All right, all right."

Jiang Yu accepted it, flattered by the attention.

Su Ming then stood up, selected a large, bright-red apple, and handed it to Jiang Yu with great enthusiasm.

"Mr. Jiang, have some fruit. It's not every day someone comes all this way to visit."

"This isn't appropriate. It's too precious."

Jiang Yu naturally knew how expensive the fruit was. It had all been grown and distributed by the Su family, and even the Su family didn't cultivate much of it themselves.

Naturally grown crops were scarce for two reasons. First, the seeds were rare and the growing conditions demanding. Second, cultivation was strictly controlled and monopolized, while large-scale farming consumed vast amounts of unpolluted resources.

"It's fine. You're an honored guest."

Without giving him a chance to refuse, Su Ming pressed the red apple into Jiang Yu's hand.

"Thank you."

Unable to refuse his hospitality, Jiang Yu accepted it. Even so, he was somewhat surprised. In his impression, the young master had been extremely introverted and dull, barely speaking at all. Yet now he was treating him with such enthusiasm.

"By the way, Mr. Jiang, what did you want to see my mother about?"

"It's like this. I came down this time to investigate the matter of you being humiliated. I've already made some progress."

"Oh!"

"You can rest assured, young master. We'll be able to identify the person who humiliated you very soon."

Jiang Yu assured Su Ming.

"Actually, that matter isn't urgent. The real trouble is..."

Su Ming sighed. He could more or less guess who had done it. However, the City Exam was imminent. If he performed poorly, he wouldn't merely lose an opportunity—he might even be sent to the battlefield as cannon fodder.

"Young Master Su Ming, what trouble have you run into?"

Jiang Yu looked at Su Ming in confusion. Normally, the young master should have been delighted to hear that the person who had humiliated him was about to be found. Why wasn't he reacting much? Why was he worrying about something else instead?

"It's like this. The City Exam is approaching, but the school suspended classes after being attacked by Chilami larvae. Now I can only study by myself at home, but I can't keep up, and there's no one to teach me."

Su Ming explained, his face full of worry.

Jiang Yu was stunned when he heard this. He then looked at the son of his least capable student and pondered for a moment before speaking.

"I could tutor you, but I have far too much work on my hands. I also can't stay in the Thirteenth District for long."

"Ah, what a shame."

Su Ming was somewhat disappointed by Jiang Yu's words.

Seeing how eager Su Ming was to study, Jiang Yu sighed and then said, "There is another compromise. Since the young master wants to study, I'm certainly willing to make time. How about this? Once I return, I'll set aside time in the evenings to tutor you remotely by video. What do you think?"

"That would be wonderful! Thank you, Mr. Jiang."

Su Ming stood up overjoyed and bowed to Jiang Yu.

The arrangement was practically perfect. He could attend Teacher Tang's lessons during the day, then return home in the evening and receive Mr. Jiang's remote tutoring online.