But Chad Sullivan didn’t step forward at all. He had seen clearly how Evan Sullivan was just ridiculed, and was already furious inside.

Like master, like disciple. If even these few people at the door dared to mock the Yue family for fun, who knows if it was their teacher who taught them to do so?

Evan Sullivan loves to seek out teachers and pursue learning, but as for him, he would never try to curry favor with those who look down on him!

Chapter 10: Not Worthy to Be Your Teacher!

Charles Carter sent away the disciple who had reported that a member of the Bai Men Yue clan had come to seek instruction, then paused for a moment and gave a slight smile to the young man in hemp clothes beside him.

“Your esteemed father is truly resourceful, to actually get the old Yue’s descendants to come here to seek a teacher.”

“Though my father is no longer in office, he is after all a former jinshi, with friends all over the world—certainly better than that old Yue, a mere peasant.”

“Heh, Cousin Yu, you should say that although your father has left his post, at least he finally got his wish to be restored to the Yu clan’s ancestral register. That’s better than when he used to be old Yue’s lackey.”

The young man in hemp clothes flushed red, but he took a deep breath to calm himself, glanced meaningfully at Evan Sullivan outside the door, and said, “A wise man submits to circumstances. Not just my father, but isn’t Mr. Carter the same? As long as you refuse the Yue clan today, and with the court’s side ready to act, you’ll not only be famous in Jinling, but throughout the land!”

Charles Carter narrowed his eyes and sneered, “That old Yue is a country bumpkin, ignorant and unlearned—what right does he have to occupy a high position in the court? And he still has the nerve to call himself of the Bai Men Yue clan? What a joke!”

At this, he turned and strode to the door. When Evan Sullivan stepped back respectfully and once again stated his purpose, Charles Carter only glanced at him out of the corner of his eye and then snorted contemptuously.

“I’ve never heard of any Bai Men Yue clan! If someone seeking a teacher has to falsely claim their family name, taking them as a disciple would only tarnish my reputation!”

Evan Sullivan felt a jolt in his heart, but still tried one last time: “My great-grandfather was Minister Yue of the Ministry of Revenue…”

“So it’s Yue Taichang. A peasant-born ignoramus like him dares to call himself of the Bai Men Yue clan?”

Although Chad Sullivan had already decided not to put up with this humiliation, when he heard this so-called famous Mr. Carter treat Evan Sullivan like this, he could no longer hold back.

No matter how many faults his nephew had, it was a family matter behind closed doors—no outsider had the right to humiliate him! And this so-called gentleman dared to look down on his grandfather and the Yue family? Outrageous!

He was about to step forward and vent his anger when he saw the young man in hemp clothes and straw sandals also come out.

“Minister Yue only rose to prominence in the last ten years or so. Why pretend to be refined and call yourself of the Bai Men Yue clan, just to make yourself look good? I heard Minister Yue’s study holds thousands of books, but he’d rather let his adopted grandson ruin them than give them to poor scholars and make friends with the worthy. No wonder Mr. Carter looks down on such a nouveau riche attitude!”

So now they were picking on him too?

Chad Sullivan grew even angrier, but suddenly heard Ethan Sullivan beside him let out a soft “hmm.”

He immediately caught on and quickly asked, “Uncle Ying, do you know that pretentious kid?”

Ethan Sullivan replied in an emotionless tone, “That is Yvonne King, son of former Vice Minister of Personnel James King.”

Chad Sullivan would never doubt whether Ethan Sullivan had mistaken the person. This man, who had always followed the old master like a shadow, must have met countless high officials and nobles—his memory was impeccable.

He also wouldn’t ask who James King was. After mixing around Hè Míng Xuān for three years, of course he’d heard of James King, and knew about the infamous incident between him and the old master.

Seeing that Evan Sullivan was completely dumbfounded by the old and the young, looking as if he might burst into tears at any moment, Chad Sullivan flung his sleeve and strode forward, raising his voice: “According to Young Master Yu, your family’s collection of books can be freely given to all the poor scholars in the world?”

As all eyes instantly turned to him, he feigned innocence and said, “If that’s really the case, I’ll have someone spread the word for Young Master Yu, saying that in Jinling there is a generous and charitable Young Master King who is willing to give away his entire collection to help all the scholars in the land!”

As he spoke, he stepped past Evan Sullivan and stood directly in front of the now mortified boy, holding his head high and facing the two adults.

Yvonne King never dreamed that one day he would be questioned like this by a child, and for a moment was left speechless.

Seeing Chad Sullivan in his bright clothes, the usually elegant and reserved Charles Carter felt displeased and said coldly, “The Yue family’s upbringing is really something—when the elders are speaking, how dare a mere child interrupt!”

“Elders? Since you look down on my Bai Men Yue clan and refuse to accept my nephew as a disciple, you have nothing to do with the Yue family. If you have nothing to do with us, what right do you have to call yourself my nephew’s teacher, or put on airs in front of me?”

Raising his voice, Chad Sullivan didn’t even look at the trembling Mr. Carter, but paused slightly and glanced sidelong at Yvonne King.