Chapter 5: The Ruckus of Greeting the Teacher and the Initiation Tea

Your teacher He Pingsheng heard that you returned to the Ye Family; although you were once foolish and dim‑witted, He Pingsheng still keeps you in mind and now sees the differences in you.

Task One: Accumulate noticing one difference – reward: cultivation speed increased by one percent.

Task Two: Accumulate noticing five differences – reward: cultivation speed increased by two percent.

Task Three: Accumulate noticing seven differences – reward: cultivation speed increased by three percent.

Task Four: Accumulate noticing nine differences – reward: a talent, photographic memory, and ability to infer from one example.

Ye Xiuxiu widened her eyes,

looking at the detailed description of the task rewards,

she was stunned.

She was surprised to discover,

that this reward was not given all at once but divided into several stages!

Even more unexpectedly,

when she saw Task Four she suddenly realized it actually included a talent ability as a reward!

That was truly tempting,

yet, despite her yearning for this talent,

Ye Xiuxiu fell into deep distress—because she had no idea how to complete these tasks!

Studying the task requirements carefully,

Ye Xiuxiu suddenly realized,

perhaps it would be easier to try again when she is sixty‑one years old.

After all, by then teacher He Pingsheng would already have seen her,

but now,

He Pingsheng is still seeing her for the first time; everything is a first, so how could there be any difference?

Thinking this, Ye Xiuxiu couldn't help feeling a wave of dejection.

It seemed this task was doomed to fail.

"Xiuxiu,"

Bai Qingxia reminded Ye Xiuxiu.

Ye Xiuxiu instantly snapped back; she was currently in the middle of a disciple‑taking ceremony,

and in a childish voice she shouted,

"Hello, teacher!"

Her small body stood perfectly upright,

both tiny hands placed neatly at her sides,

the movement was quite standard.

But the words that came out of that cute little mouth,

made everyone present burst into laughter.

Even the normally stern He Pingsheng,

couldn't help but let out a "pfft" laugh at the sudden scene.

The crowd laughed while silently thinking to themselves:

She's still just a two‑year‑old child!

Although teacher He Pingsheng felt that Ye Xiuxiu's performance seemed not as outstanding or proper as Ye Ruyan's,

it is undeniable that,

the innocent, childlike joy displayed by Ye Xiuxiu,

was far more precious.

The students he had dealt with before,

were mostly like Ye Ruyan—precise, proper, and respectful,

so seeing someone as unconventional as Ye Xiuxiu was truly a first for him!

Your teacher He Pingsheng saw one of your differences,

Reward: cultivation speed increased by one percent.

Ye Xiuxiu was completely stunned,

she widened her eyes, staring blankly around,

thinking to herself:

"What on earth did I do? I just simply said 'Hello, teacher',

how could Task One be completed so easily?"

"Could the task really be that simple?"

"Maybe… I'll try shouting again?"

So, Ye Xiuxiu took a deep breath and shouted loudly: "Hey, teacher!"

However, this time the system gave no response,

as if it hadn't heard her shout at all.

At that moment, He Pingsheng smiled and cheerfully said,

"Hello there, hello there!"

"From now on, I am your teacher, both of you!"

He said this while lightly nodding.

Then, he continued to add, "However, before we formally begin the instruction,"

"we still need to observe some of the proprieties of taking a teacher!"

In truth, these so-called formalities had all been agreed upon in advance with Ye Qingping, and they were requirements that Ye Qingping himself had proposed.

After all, if he had not received Ye Qingping's approval,

even if he were lent ten times the courage,

he absolutely would not have dared to come up with such tedious and complicated rules.

Simply because Ye Xiuxiu and Ye Ruyan had called him "Teacher,"

from then on, every time he went out,

in front of his peers,

he could hold his back straighter and more upright than before.

At this moment, Ye Qingping, who had remained silent all along, finally spoke in a calm tone:

"Serve the tea."

As soon as the words left his mouth,

a servant came hurrying over with quick steps.

The servant held steadily in his hands a tray made of expensive brown wood,

upon which were placed two exquisite white porcelain bowls.

After the servant came close,

he first bent slightly at the waist,

then carefully set the tray down in front of the two young mistresses, Ye Xiuxiu and Ye Ruyan.

Though the teacups were covered, the fragrance of the tea had already seeped through.

Next, they only needed to wait for the two of them to reach out and lift the teacups, and respectfully present them to He Pingsheng,

then He Pingsheng would take a sip,

and the matter would be considered done.

With the completion of this simple yet crucial action,

the entire ceremony would be brought to a close.

It had to be said, such a procedure was far too simplified,

but it was merely a formality, the symbolic significance outweighing the practical execution.

At this moment, the sisters Ye Xiuxiu and Ye Ruyan simultaneously turned their gazes to the two equally flawless white teacups placed before them,

and together reached out and steadily lifted them.

Just then, the hearts of Ye Xiuxiu's mother Bai Qingxia and Ye Ruyan's mother Liu Yuesong, who stood to the side, instantly leapt into their throats, becoming incomparably anxious.

By normal reasoning, as the elder sister, Ye Xiuxiu ought to go first,

which was to say, if everything proceeded in proper order,

He Pingsheng should first taste the tea offered by Ye Xiuxiu.

Because the cup of tea that was drunk first by the teacher often represented the order of entry.

However, Ye Ruyan's outstanding performance just now had given rise to doubts.

Her manners were more thorough, more befitting a student,

and perhaps it was precisely these things that had captured He Pingsheng's attention,

making it possible for him to change the original order,

and prioritize tasting the fragrant tea presented by Ye Ruyan.

In the span of a few short seconds,

the two mothers' hearts felt as if scratched by a cat's claws, desperately anxious to know what the final outcome would be.

Liu Yuesong in particular,

she fully hoped that her daughter could stand out in this competition,

being the younger sister to begin with, so gaining any slight advantage was worth it.

Ye Ruyan was seen holding the teacup with both hands, stepping with light, graceful strides, and slowly walking up to He Pingsheng.

Immediately after, she bent slightly at the waist,

leaning her body forward to nearly a ninety-degree angle,

and said with utmost reverence, "Teacher, please have some tea."

Upon hearing these words,

a warm, kindly smile appeared on the face of the white-bearded old man,

and he replied softly, "Good."

He then extended his right hand,

carefully taking the teacup from Ye Ruyan's hands,

and gently took a sip.

The tea that He Pingsheng drank first was actually the one presented by Ye Ruyan!

Bai Qingxia was instantly rooted to the spot,

as though her entire person had been struck by a body-binding spell, unable to move at all.

At the same time, the corners of Liu Yuesong's mouth turned up slightly,

and a faint smile quietly appeared.

At this moment, Bai Qingxia's mind was filled with bewilderment:

Where is Xiuxiu? Why hasn't the teacher first tasted the tea that Xiuxiu served?

Could it be that Xiuxiu's posture while serving tea wasn't proper enough?

Alas! It's all my fault!

She couldn't help blaming herself deep down.

If I had known this would happen, I should have taught Xiuxiu the proper way to serve tea earlier.

I didn't teach her any etiquette at all—what a failure as a mother!

Now that this situation has arisen, it's truly my fault.

Thinking this, Bai Qingxia felt full of regret.

Thus, she hastily turned her gaze toward Ye Ruyan's side.

Wanting to see what Xiuxiu is doing now.

But she was dazed.

There, it was completely empty; there was no trace of Xiuxiu.

Where did Xiuxiu go?

The scene only had the three of them as a couple, He Pingsheng, Ye Ruyan, and the servant.

Yet Xiuxiu was nowhere to be seen.

Just as Bai Qingxia was extremely anxious,

A sudden "sizzle-sizzle" sound suddenly entered her ears.

This strange sound caught her attention,

She hurriedly looked in the direction the sound came from.

The sound came from behind the servant,

The servant hastily stepped back, revealing Xiuxiu's figure.

All that could be seen was Xiuxiu standing steadily in place, both hands holding the tea cup,

With her little mouth pursed, continuously making the "sizzle-sizzle" sound,

She was happily drinking the tea that ought to have been offered to Teacher He Pingsheng.

(End of chapter)