Chapter 60 Another Eternal Masterpiece

Hearing these words, Su Yi and Wang Wei were instantly stunned. They only knew that Chen Fan had been released, but they had no idea that these two distinguished figures had spent days running around to save him.

The scholars gathered around immediately stood up upon hearing this, their faces filled with excitement. Those were the Imperial Tutor and the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy! None of the people present had expected these two heavyweights to personally come and congratulate Chen Fan, which only deepened the scholars' respect for him even further.

Chen Fan himself had not anticipated their arrival. Having previously rejected their offers, he assumed they would certainly be angry with him. Little did he know that he had merely measured the hearts of gentlemen with the standard of a petty person.

Chen Fan hurried out to greet them. Toward these two, his heart was filled with genuine gratitude. Not only Chen Fan, but all the surrounding scholars also rushed out behind him. Even Su Yi and Wang Wei subconsciously followed them outside.

"Greetings to the two lords." Reaching the entrance, Chen Fan immediately bowed respectfully to the pair.

"Greetings, Lord Fang, Chancellor Liu." As soon as Chen Fan finished speaking, the surrounding scholars also bowed respectfully.

Fang Zhengru and Chancellor Liu gave them a slight nod before turning their attention directly to Chen Fan.

"Chen Fan, you didn't invite the two of us to your housewarming, so Brother Liu and I had to shamelessly come anyway. Are you welcoming us or not?" Fang Zhengru took the initiative to speak upon seeing Chen Fan.

Listening to the tone between Fang Zhengru and Chen Fan, they sounded just like close friends. Su Yi and Wang Wei were even more astonished. Could it be that Chen Fan's relationship with these two was this good? The surrounding scholars were equally taken aback.

"I was merely afraid that the two of you were too busy to be disturbed by my humble affairs," Chen Fan said with a smile. "Your arrival brings immense radiance to this humble dwelling of mine!"

"This is our gift." At this moment, Chancellor Liu pulled out two pieces of calligraphy with a stern face and handed them to Chen Fan. Clearly, he still held a grudge over Chen Fan's rejection.

The surrounding scholars looked at the two scrolls of calligraphy, their eyes instantly glowing with greed. Although they looked like two simple scrolls, they were personally written by the Imperial Tutor and the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy! Countless officials begged for such works in vain.

Su Yi and Wang Wei also wore expressions of deep envy. Coming from a family of merchants, they had always wanted to acquire paintings and calligraphy by famous figures to elevate their social status, but those luminaries wouldn't even deign to look at them.

Chen Fan was also extremely excited. In his eyes, these two scrolls would serve as powerful tools to leverage influence in the future!

"Many thanks to both lords. Please, come inside," Chen Fan hurriedly said.

"Wait a moment." Just as Chen Fan was about to usher them in, Chancellor Liu suddenly stopped him.

Everyone looked at Chancellor Liu with curiosity.

"Back at your old dilapidated shack, you said, 'Though it is humble, my virtue makes it fragrant.' How would you describe this new house of yours?" Chancellor Liu looked at Chen Fan with interest.

"Though it is humble, my virtue makes it fragrant."

When the scholars present heard this sentence, they were utterly shaken. This was a masterpiece destined to be passed down through the ages! They all privately admitted that, given their current literary levels, they could never write anything like it.

Everyone looked at Chen Fan with an extra layer of respect and curiosity. They were eager to hear how he would describe this new residence, which clearly could no longer be called a humble shack.

"Mountains need not be high; if there are dragons, they become sacred. Waters need not be deep; if there are dragons—no, if there are immortals, they become famous," Chen Fan recited with a smile. "This house of mine is ordinary, but because two lords have graced it today, it will surely become famous throughout the world."

He purposely said this to flatter the two dignitaries. However, he did not realize that everyone had been completely stunned by his first sentence and barely paid attention to the flattery in the second.

"Mountains need not be high; if there are dragons they become sacred, waters need not be deep; if there are immortals they become famous..."

"Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful."

Listening closely to Chen Fan's words, Fang Zhengru repeated the word "good" three times, his face beaming with excitement.

"Hahaha! Brother Zhengru, what did I tell you? I said if this kid doesn't come to the Imperial Academy, it'll be our academy's loss," Chancellor Liu said excitedly.

"Indeed. If this kid doesn't join the Imperial Academy, the loss to the academy will be immeasurable," Fang Zhengru agreed with absolute certainty.

These words echoed like peals of thunder in everyone's ears.

*Chancellor Liu and Fang Zhengru want to invite Chen Fan to the Imperial Academy.*

These were the words repeating over and over in everyone's minds.

Su Yi and Wang Wei, who had looked down on Chen Fan just moments before, now wore expressions of profound excitement. Because whether measured by his relationship with these two high officials or the immense attention he commanded, Chen Fan vastly surpassed Zhao Hongwei. His future achievements would undoubtedly eclipse Zhao's as well.

With that realization, the Su family could soar to the skies by leaning on Chen Fan.

Silently, Su Yi tore the letter of annulment in his hand to shreds. He silently cursed himself for being a senile fool, possessing such an exceptional son-in-law yet remaining unsatisfied.

Chen Fan, on the other hand, felt a throbbing headache coming on. It was already difficult enough to refuse Chancellor Liu alone, and now an Imperial Tutor had been added to the mix. Had he known this would happen, he wouldn't have blurted out that famous quote.

"My two lords, can we avoid discussing this matter today?" Chen Fan could only offer an awkward smile.

Hearing this, the two men exchanged a glance and nodded. Yet, Chen Fan could read the absolute refusal to give up in their eyes. With a helpless sigh, Chen Fan invited them inside.

"Lords, these two are my father-in-law and mother-in-law. They have taken good care of me in the past," Chen Fan purposely paused to introduce them as they passed Su Yi and Wang Wei.

Hearing Chen Fan introduce them thus, Su Yi and Wang Wei instantly became nervous and thrilled.

"I... this humble commoner greets the two lords," Su Yi said, his voice trembling.

Though Su Yi had previously shown no fear of death when confronting the Fan family, appearing daring and bold, that was only because the Fan family had crossed the bottom line he could tolerate. In ordinary times, restricted by his status as a merchant, he had to smile obsequiously even when meeting a minor clerk at the county magistrate's office. How could he not be nervous now, facing these two great figures from the capital?

Wang Wei was so nervous she couldn't even speak.

"Chen Fan is a fine son-in-law. You've struck gold," Fang Zhengru and Chancellor Liu said with successive smiles. "You truly are blessed."

Never had they imagined that these two towering figures would be so approachable toward them, which only heightened their agitation.

"Yes, indeed, yes," Su Yi nodded repeatedly.

It was only long after the two dignitaries had walked away that Su Yi finally caught his breath. They both knew that the only reason these great figures were treating them with such courtesy was entirely because of their remarkable son-in-law, Chen Fan.

Chen Fan led Fang Zhengru and Chancellor Liu into his courtyard, offering them the seats of honor. However, the two men strongly insisted that Chen Fan sit alongside them, leaving him no choice but to comply.

Consequently, a rather strange scene unfolded: Chen Fan, flanked by two middle-aged dignitaries, sat in the seats of honor, while the young scholars sat on either side. Yet none of the scholars felt any dissatisfaction; in their eyes, Chen Fan sitting there was entirely deserved.

"Master, Young Master Zhao Hongwei has arrived," old steward Fu came running over to report shortly after everyone had seated themselves.

Knowing that Chen Fan and Zhao Hongwei were on bad terms, the old man had deliberately refrained from shouting it out loudly at the entrance.