Chapter 86.2

This didn’t mean the boy no longer needed to study. Rather, when it came to foundational knowledge, dogma, or meticulous detail work, it was now just a matter of spending time and practicing until mastery.

He still needed to learn—but not from Liu Yumei.

It would be far more appropriate for Aunt Liu or Uncle Qin to teach him the basics.

As for Liu Yumei, her best contribution would be to sit back, sip tea, and refrain from interference.

She couldn’t even help with logistics—after all, the old lady didn’t know how to cook.

Liu Yumei took a deep breath. She had to force herself to face reality and make peace with it emotionally.

There was no need to cling to a sense of involvement. The boy would soon formally enter her tutelage anyway.

Once he made his name in the world, that fame would belong to their house.

Even if she someday laughed and claimed she never taught him anything, those old fogeys would only assume she was being modest out of politeness.

“Grandma, can I move on to the second chapter?”

“Hmm?” Liu Yumei returned from her thoughts and sighed. “You can start the second chapter tonight. I’m tired. From now on, read one chapter at a time and report back to me afterward.”

Li Zhuiyuan had originally planned to show her the second chapter and beyond right away, but seeing her respond this way, he just nodded.

He fully opened his eyes, broke the illusion, and returned to reality.

Liu Yumei blinked slowly and muttered:

“Seems the Yin Clan’s method of walking the shade does have its merits.”

“Still not as refined as our Liu Clan’s.”

“Now that’s something Grandma likes to hear, you rascal.”

She paused, then added:

“But each generation has its own luminaries. A man like Yin Changsheng still deserves respect. No one’s a master of all things. He simply lacked in managing his household. The family rose because of him, and declined because of him.”

In truth, Li Zhuiyuan could sense that Liu Yumei was excellent at managing a household herself. She’d held the crumbling Qin-Liu alliance together through storm and tide—but that kind of flattery would only touch a nerve.

Liu Yumei bowed her head, picked up a fresh teacup, and began to rinse it.

“Still want tea?”

“No, I just had breakfast. Too much tea on an empty stomach is bad for the gut.”

“Then go play with Ah Li.”

“Okay, Grandma.”

Li Zhuiyuan stood, packed The Liu Clan's Art of Observing Qi into his bag, and left the study.

“Huh? Xiaoyuan, done already?” Aunt Liu had just finished cleaning up the kitchen and dining room.

“I’m a little tired. Grandma said we’d continue tomorrow.”

“Oh.” Aunt Liu didn’t quite buy it, but waved him over. “Come, try on these clothes.”

She led him into the first-floor guest room to try on new outfits—four sets in total. They weren’t old-fashioned, nor overly flashy. They fit well and looked dignified.

Each outfit came with matching shoes and accessories like watches, bracelets, and pendants.

“Aunt Liu…”

“I know. Take the clothes and shoes with you. Leave the rest here.”

“Okay, Aunt Liu.”

“Comfortable fit?”

“Very. Aunt Liu, your eyes are sharper than a tailor’s ruler.”

“Heh, keep that one on. Leave the ones you came in; I’ll wash them for next time.”

“Thank you, Aunt Liu.”

“Sit, I’ll give you a quick trim. Hair’s getting long.”

She pressed him onto the bed, tied a white cloth around his neck, and fetched a comb and scissors.

“Aunt Liu, how do you know how to do everything?”

“Of course. I’ve taken care of the old lady’s food, clothing, shelter, and travel for years.”

A quick, smooth trim followed.

She held his head gently and angled him toward the dresser mirror.

“How’s that?”

“Excellent work.”

“Don’t flatter me—it’s your features that make the difference. Li Juxiang once told me, when your dad came back to the village with your mom, he looked like one of those young heartthrobs you see in movies or newspapers.”

These days, “heartthrob” referred to a fair-skinned young man with a noble look.

“Mm.”

Li Zhuiyuan gave a quiet nod. It had been a long time since he’d seen his father. After the divorce from Li Lan, his father had joined a geological survey team. He was probably rugged and rough-looking now.

The divorce hit him hard. He seemed to be deliberately avoiding the family. And under Northern Grandpa’s strict orders, he hadn’t visited in years.

Li Zhuiyuan didn’t blame him. In fact, he understood. As the youngest son of Northern Grandpa and Grandma, his father had always led a smooth, stable life—until he met Li Lan.

Li Zhuiyuan could still spar with Li Lan, skinning each other metaphorically in a back-and-forth match.

His father, however, had endured the entire arc of her decline—from illness to collapse. The trauma must have been unimaginable.

“By the way, Aunt Liu, I want to ask you about a type of costume and an incense…”

The costume had been taken as evidence by Tan Yunlong, so Li Zhuiyuan did his best to describe it.

“Sounds like ghost sandalwood incense, and the costume sounds like an Officer-General.”

“Officer-General? Why haven’t I heard of it?”

“You know the Eight Generals?”

“Sure, they originated in Fuzhou—eight generals under the Five Blessings Prince’s court, tasked with exorcising evil.”

“Well, the Officer-General figure evolved from that, through local customs.”

“I see.”

These customs usually appeared during temple fairs—painted faces, theatrical robes, ritual tools, marching in processions to ward off evil and pray for blessings.

But that was just the outward form. Take his own Taigong, a corpse retriever. Before encountering Dead Sinkers, he would also sit vigil at funerals.

Li Zhuiyuan recalled the fear in the man’s eyes last night when he’d used a shock technique to force him back.

Now, thinking back, the fear didn’t seem to come from unfamiliarity with the technique—but from shock that he could actually use it.

“Alright, go find Ah Li. Let her see.”

“Okay, Aunt Liu.”

“I’ll pack the other three sets into your bag.”

Li Zhuiyuan headed upstairs. Grandma had only mentioned the tailored clothes yesterday, and he was already wearing them today. Clearly, they’d been made long ago. Which also meant the old lady had been holding herself together all this time.

Aunt Liu walked to the study door and pushed it open, only to find Liu Yumei staring at a single droplet of water on the tea table, deep in thought.

“Well now, what’s gotten into you? Even a child like Xiaoyuan is giving you a headache?”

“Ting, bring me paper and ink.”

“Tsk tsk, this really is something else. When you taught me and A’Li, it was all yelling and whacks. Said you’d never seen two dumber kids. Now you’re even prepping lessons?”

“Heh, me teaching him?” Liu Yumei let out a helpless laugh. “It’s him teaching me.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“Why would I scare you like that? Just bring me the paper. I’m reworking Chapter One.”

Aunt Liu immediately brought over writing supplies, grinding the ink herself. “That boy only studied it for one night, and he’s already at that level?”

“He was about to show me the second chapter just now. I pretended to be tired so I could stall. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to process it all.”

“Well, compared to A’Li and me, I guess we really were dumb as rocks. But shouldn’t you be proud? You’ve always been magnanimous. A gifted younger generation wouldn’t make you feel down.”

“I am troubled. If Xiaoyuan weren’t so extraordinary, I could’ve selfishly taken him into the Liu Clan. But now, I don’t have the heart to do it.”

“So the Qin family’s young matron is going to recruit on their behalf?”

Liu Yumei looked up pitifully at Aunt Liu.

“I… I really can’t bear it.”

“There, there. Don’t feel bad.” Aunt Liu leaned in and hugged the old lady. “Aren’t you worried the younger ones will see this and say you’ve lost your dignity?”

“Now I’m stuck with the Qin family’s name, forced to think of their future. If I’d known, I should’ve divorced that old goat before they crossed the river.”

“Now, now, don’t go saying such things.”

Liu Yumei took a deep breath, smoothing away all unnecessary expression. Her elegance returned.

Aunt Liu withdrew her arm and resumed grinding ink.

“Ting…”

“Yes?”

“This boy learns so fast… might as well let him pick up two disciplines.”

Aunt Liu swallowed hard, too stunned to respond.

“Well?”

“That's not something I should comment on.”

“You're usually the most talkative one, with no respect for rank. Why the sudden silence?”

“I’ll leave it to your judgment.”

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