Zuo Siming thought Bai Sheng was deliberately putting on a show to anger the parents. He cupped his hands towards Lu Ye and Bai Sheng and said, "May I ask the young heroes your surnames? I am merely an ordinary tutor. Is there perhaps some misunderstanding?"
Bai Sheng and Lu Ye did not wish to reveal their names in public. Bai Sheng took out a five-hundred-tael silver note from her sleeve and respectfully placed it in Zuo Siming's hand. "My husband and I wish to invite Tutor Zuo to be our child's private tutor. This is absolutely true. We can pay the annual salary in advance. Please accept this five-hundred-tael silver note, Tutor Zuo."
Zuo Siming was stunned again. For twenty years, he had not touched a silver note, let alone a five-hundred-tael one!
Could these two be sent by the villains who framed the Baili family back then? But, judging by the young girl's face, she didn't seem like a bad person.
Lu Ye said gently, "What my wife said is true. Tutor Zuo, will you come with us now, or will you pack up first? Once we reach our home, we will explain the specific arrangements to you."
Seeing Zuo Siming's silence, Jiu Ji tugged at his sleeve and whispered with longing in his eyes, "Grandpa?"
Zuo Siming hardened his heart. If he had to, for the sake of these five hundred taels, he would even give his life! At least his family's life could be better. "I will go with you now! Please wait a moment, esteemed sirs, I need to pack a few things."
Upon arriving at Yuhua Lane, Zuo Siming's expression suddenly turned somber. He clutched his sleeves with his hands, his knuckles turning pale.
Jiu Ji leaned out the carriage window, excitedly pointing at the grand houses. "Grandpa, look, that house is so big and beautiful!"
Zuo Siming forced a smile and nodded at him.
When they reached the entrance of the residence, Zuo Siming froze for a moment and said to Lu Ye, "I have long heard that someone has bought the haunted house in Yuhua Lane. I didn't expect it to be Young Master Lu and Madam Lu."
"Tutor Zuo, you don't happen to think this is a haunted house too, do you?" Bai Sheng teased.
Zuo Siming waved his hand, "I do not believe in such ghostly tales. What haunted house? I think they are the ones with ghosts in their hearts!"
Lu Ye found Zuo Siming much more agreeable. "Tutor Zuo, please come in."
"Master, Madam!" Uncle Ding and Xiao Gu greeted them.
When Zuo Siming saw Uncle Ding, he froze. "You... you are..."
Uncle Ding smiled and nodded at Zuo Siming. "Tutor Zuo, let's discuss it inside."
Everyone was seated in the reception hall. Bai Sheng asked A Qiu to serve tea and then brought out pastries and fruits.
Jiu Ji looked at the food and couldn't help but lick his lips, but he didn't reach for it. Bai Sheng pushed the plate towards him. "Jiu Ji, eat as much as you like, it's all for you."
"Grandpa?" Jiu Ji tilted his head and looked at Zuo Siming.
Zuo Siming smiled, "Eat, your sister is giving it to you, so eat generously."
Jiu Ji narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Thank you, pretty sister."
Lu Ye took off his mask. When Zuo Siming saw his face, he was slightly surprised. This Young Master Lu was exceptionally handsome. He felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if he had seen him before.
"Tutor Zuo, please have some tea." Lu Ye gestured towards Zuo Siming.
Zuo Siming came back to his senses, picked up the teacup, and drank it in one gulp. He hadn't tasted such fine tea in many years.
"May I ask, Young Master Lu and Madam Lu, why have you invited me here? Whom will I be primarily teaching?"
Bai Sheng smiled, "It's mainly our second child, who is almost two years old, and a few other young ones."
"A child not even two years old?" Zuo Siming sprayed out a mouthful of tea. He was a tutor, not a nanny. He couldn't handle such young children.
Jiu Ji was happily eating a pastry. Seeing his grandfather's astonished expression, he immediately sent him a look: No, Grandpa, you can handle it. If you can't, won't I be here? Our great-grandfather's medicine depends on you.
Zuo Siming coughed lightly, touched his nose, and immediately regained his composure.
Lu Ye curled his lips and smiled, "Tutor Zuo, don't worry. My second child is not like ordinary children. Besides him, there are my other three children and a few younger brothers, totaling ten children. If you have children at home, you can bring them along as well."
Zuo Siming exclaimed, "Young Master Lu and Madam Lu, you are so young, and you already have four children?" Good heavens, from what age did they start being intimate? And they must have had one child a year!
Lu Ye knew Tutor Zuo had misunderstood and explained with a smile, "They are quadruplets."
Zuo Siming said "Oh," slightly surprised. Quadruplets were a rare occurrence once in a century, and he was fortunate enough to witness it.
"Tutor Zuo, no matter how much we say, you can't imagine what my second child is like. Why don't you meet him in person?" Bai Sheng smiled. "A Qiu, go and ask Lu Huo to bring the children here."
"Yes, Madam," A Qiu replied and went out.
Soon after, Lu Huo carried the four cubs, and A Qiu led Lu Hu into the reception hall.
Seeing Lu Huo, both Zuo Siming and Jiu Ji were shocked. This young woman (sister) was so tall and imposing!
As the grandfather and grandson were staring, four plump little toddlers tumbled down from the strong woman's body and ran towards Jiu Ji with their short legs, "Brother, brother."
Upon seeing the four cubs, Jiu Ji's eyes lit up again. He immediately turned to Zuo Siming and said, "Grandpa, these four little ones are so beautiful!"
Zuo Siming also looked at the four cubs, and admiration flashed in his eyes. "They are indeed exceptionally beautiful."
Jiu Ji offered a pastry to the four cubs and Lu Hu.
Bai Sheng took out a book and said to Jin Ye, "Ye Ye, read a story to Grandpa Zuo."
"Okay, Mother," Jin Ye placed the half-eaten pastry into Bai Sheng's hand, then put the book on a stool, opened it, and began to read earnestly in his little milky voice.
Zuo Siming and Jiu Ji's eyes widened in shock. Jiu Ji thought he was the smartest child, but compared to this younger brother who was less than two years old, he felt completely outmatched.
Zuo Siming asked Lu Ye with disbelief, "When did you start teaching him to read and write?"
Lu Ye shook his head, "We never taught him. This storybook was written by my wife herself. From the moment they were born, my wife read stories to them every day. My second child memorized all the stories without missing a single word, and then he compared the words in the book with the stories. That's how he learned to read."
"Is... is this true?" Zuo Siming's worldview had a significant crack, on the verge of collapsing.
"Absolutely true," Lu Ye and Bai Sheng both nodded.
"A genius! This is a true genius!" Zuo Siming suddenly stood up and approached Jin Ye, carefully examining this exceptionally talented little doll.
"That's why we went to invite Tutor Zuo to personally teach him, along with the other nine children, making a total of ten children.
If Tutor Zuo does not mind, the small courtyard to the east of our Lotus Pond can be prepared as a small school. Tutor Zuo will teach my children exclusively, and your grandson Jiu Ji and your other children can also come and learn together."