Chi Yiyuan looked at Su Xiaotian, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
For some reason, every time he saw Su Xiaotian, he felt as if he was looking at his younger sister who had died young.
A few days ago, when he saw her being pushed into the river, he had felt an overwhelming pang of heartache, which was why he had jumped into the river without hesitation and saved her with all his might.
He had never imagined that he would have such a connection with this little girl.
He also wondered if becoming his grandfather's disciple was a good or bad thing for the young girl in front of him.
Never mind, everything was destined. Why should he worry unnecessarily?
"Xiaoyuan, from now on, Xiaotian is your sister. You must protect her well, understand?" Chi Ge said solemnly.
He understood the knot in his grandson's heart. If having Su Xiaotian as a sister could ease his grandson's burden, it would be for the best.
Sister?
Chi Yiyuan was stunned for a moment.
Su Xiaotian was also stunned.
This seemed a bit off.
Su Xiaotian thought that she was clearly apprenticing herself to Grandpa Chi, so how could she be Chi Yiyuan's sister?
However, she couldn't exactly say she was Chi Yiyuan's paternal aunt, could she?
Never mind, backups were not important.
As for Chi Yiyuan, he thought more deeply. He felt that while his grandfather had accepted Su Xiaotian out of appreciation for her talent, a part of it was also because he knew about the unresolved knot in his heart.
"Grandpa, don't worry, I will protect my sister well!" Chi Yiyuan, not wanting to worry his grandfather, agreed with a nod, a long-lost warm smile appearing on his face.
Grandpa Su did not understand why his granddaughter insisted on recognizing Chi Ge as her master.
However, farming families also had their customs. To recognize a master, gifts had to be presented. Although he had brought some gifts today, they were to thank Chi Yiyuan for saving Xiaotianbao and could not be considered apprenticeship gifts.
It seemed that after returning, he would have to ask the old woman to prepare some more presentable gifts for a formal apprenticeship.
"Old Brother Chi, I know that Xiaotian recognizing you as her master is an honor. Although our family are farmers, we are not ignorant of the rules."
"There aren't so many rules now," Chi Ge said, waving his hand.
"The ritual must not be neglected. Old Brother Chi, in a couple of days, I will prepare a meal and invite you over for a ceremony. Our family will also provide the apprenticeship gift!" Grandpa Su insisted.
"Didn't you already bring the old pumpkin?" Grandpa Chi pointed to the bamboo basket beside them.
"That won't do. This is to thank young Chi for saving my Xiaotianbao. How can it be considered an apprenticeship gift?"
"Brother Su, you are too polite," Chi Ge said. "It was only right for Xiaoyuan to save Xiaotian. Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda! Saving others is also saving oneself!"
Grandpa Su, however, stood up and said, "Let's do as I say. Besides, in a few days, it will be my sixtieth birthday. We can use this as an excuse to invite some elders from the village. However, Xiaotian cannot kowtow to you. I feel a sense of guilt."
Chi Ge laughed heartily and said, "Brother Su, you are too polite. Xiaotian has already kowtowed today!"
After finishing his work, Su Laosan learned from his father that his youngest daughter had actually become a disciple in such a short time, and he was almost shocked speechless.
What was going on?
Although becoming a disciple was good, Professor Chi was someone who lived in a cowshed. Would this affect their family?
He asked in a low voice, but Grandpa Su glared at him.
"You brat, what do you know? Someone like Professor Chi is not ordinary. He will return eventually. The country will not let true talents remain in poor villages like ours forever. We are the ones who have benefited!"
If Professor Chi hadn't happened to be stranded here, how would his little granddaughter have had the chance to become a disciple?
At the same time, Chi Yiyuan took out the pumpkin from the basket.
Only then did he realize that the large bamboo basket contained not just a big pumpkin. Beneath the pumpkin were several cakes and a bag of candy. The cakes smelled of meat.
Even with his composure, he couldn't help but salivate.
Since arriving in the village, he had not eaten meat. The sudden smell of meat indeed made him crave it.
"Grandpa, they are meat pies."
"The Su family is too polite. Xiaoyuan, people who know how to repay kindness are worthy of deep friendship," Chi Ge said. "Our father and son have profited."
"Grandpa, it shouldn't have been accepted!" Chi Yiyuan looked at Chi Ge steadily and said.
"I understand what you mean. I truly don't want such a child to be delayed. Moreover, the situation is changing, and perhaps one day, it will pass," Chi Ge still held hope for life.
Chi Yiyuan remained silent!
Back home, Su Xiaotian was so excited that she couldn't sleep, tossing and turning on the kang.
When she read books, although she could remember the content, there were inevitably some difficult parts in the profound books she had encountered in the past two days. She had been worried about who to ask for guidance. Today, recognizing Professor Chi as her master was like a pillow arriving when one was sleepy.
In the main hall, Grandpa Su recounted his granddaughter's apprenticeship and said, "The ritual must not be neglected. Even though our family is poor, we must prepare a decent apprenticeship gift."
Grandma Su, however, did not object. She only said, "Two catties of meat, two catties of eggs, a bag of candy, and five catties of flour. Is that acceptable? Four gifts, quite respectable."
Grandpa Su was startled when he heard his wife say this.
"Old woman, can our family afford such a generous gift?"
He knew their family's situation. Preparing such an apprenticeship gift would likely mean the family would go hungry!
Although he doted on his granddaughter, he would not do anything that would cause the family to go hungry for her sake.
"Old man, don't worry. If I say we can afford it, we can afford it. And, we certainly won't let the family go hungry," Grandma Su said confidently.
Grandpa Su felt that his wife had a secret but refrained from asking.
Some things were called secrets precisely because they could not be known by others.
"Old woman, no matter what, don't bring danger to the family."
"I know. I'll have Lao San take some time to go to the county town to buy things. The town is too small," Grandma Su understood Grandpa Su's meaning.
She had also considered this. Going to the town too often would eventually attract attention. However, going to the county town was different. There were more people in the county town, and perhaps no one would be watching.
Besides, with just a few items, they would be brought home in two or three trips.
Grandpa Su, however, was startled. The town was too small?
What did this mean? Did the family have many coupons that could be exchanged for grain?
"Old man, the family still has quite a few coupons. I won't say where they came from, but you just need to know they exist," Grandma Su revealed the truth openly.
Grandpa Su's heart actually felt relieved.
"I won't ask you. Just be as careful as possible. If the sons and daughters-in-law ask, just say it was sent by someone I saved in the past."
Grandpa Su's words were not baseless. In his youth, he was a kind-hearted person and had saved many people. It was plausible that occasionally one or two people who had received Grandpa Su's help would reciprocate.