I am the stepmother of my son, and the little villain has changed into a little cotton-padded jacket

Xiao Ze walked forward and took a closer look. On the table was a ready-made chess game.

The black pieces surrounded the white pieces and launched a fierce attack. Even someone like Xiao Ze, who was not very good at playing chess, could see at a glance the white pieces' declining trend.

He frowned and glanced at the smiling old man, somewhat confused about his purpose. What else was there to play in a game where the outcome was already decided?

But the old man didn't say anything, so Xiao Ze had to sit opposite him and began to study the chess game carefully.

After watching for a long time, he suddenly realized that although the white pieces were trapped in the corner, there were still a few pieces that were not completely surrounded, but they were scattered. If these scattered pieces could be connected together, then the game might have a different outcome.

Xiao Ze considered for a moment and picked up the white chess piece in the jar beside him, but he was not in a hurry to connect the scattered chess pieces. Instead, he placed it in another place where the decline was not so obvious.

"Master, it's your turn."

When Zhao Sixian saw Xiao Ze put the white piece there, he was stunned at first, then a trace of regret emerged in his eyes, as if he had already determined that Xiao Ze was bound to lose the game.

He reached out and took a black piece and slowly placed it next to Xiao Ze's white piece, as if he saw through his thoughts. The black piece's intention to cut off was too obvious.

Xiao Ze lowered his head in thought. His moves were blocked by Zhao Sixian several times, but he still did not show any anxious look.

Zhao Sixian determined that he had lost, and smiled amiably, stroking his beard and saying slowly: "You are still young, and you are eager to get out of your current predicament, but you don't know how to look at the overall situation. However, you are already quite good among your peers for being able to walk this far with me."

Before he could finish, the white piece in Xiao Ze's hand had already fallen.

Zhao Sixian was stunned for a moment. The few scattered white pieces in the corner were completely connected because of his last move. Looking at the overall situation, all the white pieces were connected, and the dead pieces that were originally surrounded by black pieces also came alive.

The white pieces occupy a large area in the center of the board, while the black pieces simply surround the white pieces, occupying less space than the white pieces.

It seems that the black pieces were too confident and were sure that they could capture all the white pieces, so they only surrounded them in a circle and did not attack inwards, which allowed the white pieces to turn defeat into victory.

Zhao Sixian stared at the chessboard blankly, still carefully studying this game of chess that brought him back to life.

Xiao Ze stood up and bowed to him, saying, "My chess skills are not very good, I won by luck, please don't be angry, Master."

Zhao Sixian came back to his senses when he heard his voice, and his eyes were filled with intense surprise as he looked at him.

In all the years since he set up this chess game, this kid is the first one who can win so beautifully. When he first set up this chess game, he himself did not notice the white pieces in the corner.

At such a young age, his overall view is even better than that of an old man in his sixties.

Zhao Sixian also sat up straight, his tone full of satisfaction at getting the treasure.

"What's your name, kid? How old are you?"

"Xiao Ze, you will be fourteen after the New Year." Xiao Ze was a little nervous. After all, it was a little late for him to come to the academy at his age.

Zhao Sixian didn't care at all, instead he said "OK" twice.

"Okay, Xiao Ze, there is an old saying that 'Ze means bright and smooth.' It is a gentleman's demeanor. What a good name. Are you willing to study under me?"

Xiao Ze was stunned for a moment, his eyes filled with shock, then he came to his senses and immediately knelt in front of Zhao Sixian and bowed deeply, his tone excited.

“The students are willing!”

Zhao Sixian nodded with satisfaction, stood up and helped him up personally: "Good boy, from today on, you are my student, Zhao Sixian."

The two men walked out of the house one after the other.

Wen Shutang and the others had been waiting in the yard for a long time. Although the servant told them that they could wait in the reception room outside the hall, the whole family was worried about Xiao Ze and naturally had no appetite for tea.

Even Xiao Ye, who was usually the noisiest, frowned and looked into the room from time to time.

Although Xiao Yizhuo didn't show it on his face, his tense body showed that he was nervous.

Seeing the two people coming out, Wen Shutang stood up suddenly, but when she saw Xiao Ze's relaxed and happy expression, the big stone in her heart fell to the ground.

Zhao Sixian glanced at Wen Shutang and Xiao Yizhuo for a few times, his face was kind and there was a hint of smile in his bright eyes.

"You two must be his parents, right? Your child is very good. He is so smart at such a young age. He is definitely not comparable to ordinary people."

Wen Shutang was completely relaxed after hearing what Zhao Sixian said, and his eyes were filled with relief: "So the Master is willing to accept my Aze?"

"Of course, since you trust me, I will use all my life's knowledge to help him study."

The whole family was very happy to hear this, and Xiao Ze's handsome face also showed a shy smile.

"Although he is already fourteen, it is not too late to start now. You can send him to the academy tomorrow, and I will personally supervise his homework." Zhao Sixian stroked his beard and turned to look at Xiao Ze. The more he looked at this child, the more he liked him.

The servant handed over a cup of tea at the right time: "Young Master, it's time to serve tea to the Master."

Xiao Ze quickly took the cup of tea and prepared to pay his respects to his teacher.

The so-called apprenticeship is to kowtow and offer tea. The disciple hands his apprenticeship letter to the teacher. After the teacher receives it, he will give the student a lecture. After the lecture, the ceremony is considered complete.

Xiao Ze knelt down in front of Zhao Sixian, kowtowed three times, and then respectfully handed him the tea.

Zhao Sixian took the tea and took a big sip, which was enough to show how much he valued Xiao Ze.

When Xiao Ze saw that he had drunk the tea, he took out the letter of apprenticeship that he had written last night from his arms and handed it to him with both hands.

Zhao Sixian was slightly stunned when he saw the letter of apprenticeship. Nowadays, most academies are mainly focused on making money, so there are very few apprenticeship ceremonies.

It was he who insisted on having Xiao Ze perform the ceremony today, but what he didn't expect was that Xiao Ze would actually take the initiative to submit a letter of apprenticeship.

Zhao Sixian felt an indescribable emotion in his heart. He exhaled a breath and looked at Xiao Ze with more loving eyes.

"You prepared this?"

Xiao Ze was a little embarrassed: "I heard from my peers in the village that I need to prepare a letter of apprenticeship to study, but I don't know how to write it, so I just wrote some of my thoughts, I hope the teacher will not dislike it."

"How could I despise it? It's great that you have this kind thought." Zhao Sixian put away the letter of apprenticeship, and his old hand brushed across the paper. At this moment, he felt that there was someone to succeed him.

Wen Shutang looked at Xiao Ze from the side, his eyes full of tenderness that he himself did not notice.

Xiao Yizhuo had also relaxed at this moment. There was now a faint smile on his usually expressionless face, and his cold eyes became much softer.

He looked at Wen Shutang who was standing beside him, and felt a little sour in his heart.