The entire morning, everyone gathered together, listening to Shen Hechuan tell all sorts of fascinating stories from his travels. Lu Shuo had to admit that Shen Hechuan was an extremely amiable and interesting person—any normal person would find it hard not to be drawn to his speech and manner. Because he had seen so many strange people and things, and while others might be equally experienced, few shared his eloquence and sharp mind; those who matched his eloquence often lacked his breadth of experience. Moreover, he knew his limits. Even when speaking of things none of them had ever heard of, he never showed off or boasted. Instead, like a storyteller in a teahouse, he narrated slowly and clearly, word by word. Helan Chang and Helan Rong listened intently, occasionally interjecting, and even Helan Pei couldn't help herself at times, grabbing paper and brush to write questions for Shen Hechuan. From beginning to end, Lu Shuo just listened quietly, not saying a word.
Finally, at lunchtime, Zhang Yizhu forcibly ended the lively chat and shooed everyone to the dining hall. After the meal, Helan Chang and Helan Rong still wanted to talk more, but Zhang Yizhu scolded them lightly: "Enough. He came to our mansion to prepare for exams, not to play. You've already talked all morning; don’t bother your cousin anymore. If it affects his exams, it’ll be your fault." "It’s not that serious, Aunt, you exaggerate," Shen Hechuan said with a smile. "But there’s no need for the younger cousins to rush. I’ll be troubling you for a long time yet, so we have plenty of time to chat slowly." Helan Chang and Helan Rong let it go for now and allowed Shen Hechuan to rest.
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