Liu Bei: My younger brother is a deity.

Chapter 57 This is a perfect match

Cai Yong returned to his residence earlier than usual today.

There weren't many things to do at Dongguan, so he finished his work before Shenshi (3-5 PM) and rode his donkey back to his residence, humming an off-key tune all the way.

After the Xiping Stone Classics were erected, the task of compiling history became much easier. Every day, all that was needed was to clock in, flip through a few old files, and approve a few documents, and most of the day would pass by.

He was happy to have some free time, arriving home promptly at 3:15 PM every day to change into casual clothes.

He might summon a dancer to perform a song, or order a musician to play a newly composed piece, or invite three or five close friends to his home to drink and discuss poetry...

They lived a carefree and leisurely life.

He sensed something was wrong as soon as he stepped through the second gate today.

The eldest daughter, Cai Wan, stood at the entrance of the main hall, holding her younger sister, Cai Yan, who was not yet three years old. She blocked the doorway with her body and stared straight at him with her almond-shaped eyes.

Her gaze held three parts questioning, three parts dissatisfaction, three parts stubbornness, and something she herself couldn't quite explain. (Author's note: Where did this style of description originate? It feels somewhat like Wen Ruian's work?)

Cai Yan, nestled in her arms, had no idea what her sister was going to do; she just found it fun.

So she imitated her older sister, putting on a serious face, widening her eyes, and shouting in a childish voice:

"Why?! Why?!"

"What? Why?" Cai Yong was completely bewildered.

"Father," Cai Wan said, her almond-shaped eyes wide, "why are you unwilling to accept the Liu brothers as your students?"

Cai Yong stroked his beard, coughed lightly, and said, "Well... Father is too busy."

He himself felt a little guilty about what he said.

Cai Wan stared at him intently, a slight smirk playing on her lips. "Hmph, Father isn't busy at all. He's home early every day at 3:15 PM, either entertaining dancers, listening to musicians, or occasionally going out with friends. What's there to be busy about?"

"Uh!" Cai Yong stroked his beard a little faster. "Father comes back early because Father finishes his work quickly. Think about it, among all the scholars in Dongguan, who can finish work by Shenshi (3-5 PM) every day like Father? It's because they work slowly, not because Father is lazy."

Cai Wan rolled her eyes and brought the topic back to the present: "Since Father has the time, why is he unwilling to accept the Liu brothers?"

Cai Yong continued to argue, "Well... Father isn't good at teaching his disciples."

Cai Wan blinked: "Father didn't even teach me, how do I know I'm not good at it?"

Cai Yong remained silent.

He could tell that his daughter harbored resentment towards him for not accepting the three Liu brothers as her sons!

He was a narrow-minded person by nature.

A thought suddenly occurred to me.

He suddenly winked at his daughter and teased, "Zhenji, you were angry with your father because of Liu Yuangu, weren't you?"

Cai Wan's face immediately turned red. "Ah, Father is talking nonsense."

"Whether Father is lying or not, Wan'er knows best in her heart." Cai Yong smiled and stepped forward, reaching out to pinch Cai Yan's little cheek. "Was Yan'er a good girl today?"

Cai Yan turned her head away, and suddenly sang a strangely melody: "Naughty, naughty, I'm not naughty, shake my little head; naughty, naughty, I'm not naughty, clap my little hands; naughty, naughty, I'm not naughty, I'm a little genius; naughty, naughty, I'm not naughty, I'm a little cutie! Hehehe!"

Cai Yong was taken aback. "What is this thing?"

Cai Yan pouted in dissatisfaction and said, "It's not a joke, it's a nursery rhyme that Brother Liu Quan taught me."

Cai Yong was shocked and exclaimed, "What?! Wan'er, you've been having an affair with that brat Liu Yuangu?!"

Cai Wan's almond-shaped eyes widened. "Father, what nonsense are you talking about? He only exchanged a few letters with Lord Yuangu."

"Communication? Several times? How come Father didn't know?" Cai Yong's eyes widened.

That brat even stole from our house?!

"Hmph, it's none of your business."

Cai Wan pinched Cai Yan's butt, saying it was all because of that talkative girl.

Then, holding Cai Yan, whose little mouth was turned down, turned and ran. Her skirt fluttered in the corridor. She ran so fast that she almost tripped over the threshold.

Cai Yong was startled: "Slow down, slow down, don't let him fall! Hold Yan'er tight!"

Cai Wan turned her head without looking back, went through the doorway, and disappeared behind the moon window.

Cai Yong stood in the hall, gazing in the direction where his daughter had disappeared, and shook his head with a sigh, "Alas, daughters grow up and leave home!"

Liu Quan's image flashed through her mind again. "This lad is exceptionally talented and handsome, making him a good choice for a son-in-law. However... Youzhou is too far away. I wonder if he will be able to come to Luoyang to serve as an official in the future. I don't want my daughter to marry too far away."

At Liu Kuan's residence, however, the scene was quite different.

Liu Kuan's residence was located in the southeast of Luoyang, not far from the Imperial Academy.

The courtyard was small, but it was kept very elegant.

The orange glow of the stove shone through the paper windows of the main hall, warm and comforting; you could feel the warmth even through the window.

Liu Kuan leaned back on the couch, a thin blanket covering his knees, holding a scroll of bamboo slips in his hands, reading slowly.

He is fifty-seven years old this year, and most of his hair has turned gray. However, his square face has few wrinkles, and he has a kind face, like a good-tempered old neighbor.

His wife, Zhang, sat opposite him, carefully sewing a light blue robe.

Perhaps she was tired, Zhang put down her needlework, raised her head, and shook her neck.

She glanced at her husband, and remembering what had happened yesterday, couldn't help but ask:

"Husband, why did you take the Liu brothers and Gongsun Zan as your disciples? Your health has been poor these past few years. Didn't you say you wouldn't bother teaching anymore? The imperial physician even said the other day that you should rest more and avoid overexertion."

Liu Kuan put down the bamboo slips, stroked his beard, and smiled.

"You know that, Madam," he said, with a hint of playfulness in his voice. "I have a quirk: I love taking on disciples. I take them wherever I go. I took them in Hongnong, I took them in Luoyang, I took them in the prefecture when I was governor, and I took them in the court when I was grand commander. I've been doing it my whole life, and I can't change it."

Zhang rolled her eyes at him, but couldn't help curving her lips into a smile: "When have I ever stopped you from taking on disciples? But isn't your health not what it used to be?"

"It's alright, these disciples don't need too much worry. Zigan said that if I want to teach them, I will; if I don't want to, I can simply lend him a title and protect his few favorite students. Besides—"

He paused, then continued, "I'm quite envious of Ziqian's four disciples, especially one of them."

"My husband is referring to that handsome young man, isn't he?" Zhang asked with a smile.

Liu Kuan laughed heartily: "Indeed, this is the young man. 'The body is a Bodhi tree, the mind a bright mirror stand,' 'Bodhi has no tree, the bright mirror is not a stand,' and his understanding of the scriptures is truly remarkable!"

Liu Kuan was slightly excited. "This child is exceptionally talented and will surely achieve great things in the future. I have become his teacher, and who knows, he might even be mentioned more in the history books in the future."

Suddenly, Zhang asked, "I've heard that this handsome young man is still unmarried?"

Liu Kuan was taken aback. Where did the topic go?

He nodded subconsciously.

Madam Zhang smiled and said, "I have several unmarried grandnieces in my clan, all of whom are of excellent character and appearance. Look..."

Liu Kuan thought for a moment, then said seriously, "Don't rush this matter. Let me examine his character further. If his character is good, he would be a good match."

Madam Zhang said, "You'd better hurry, I've heard this boy is quite popular among the young ladies in Luoyang!"

Liu Kuan waved his hand: "Understood."