Seeing Qiuchen's cautious look, wanting to say something but not daring to, Yuan Ge doesn't bother to continue mocking him and patiently replies instead, "He's not really an official or a merchant, he's sort of - a teacher at the Directorate of Imperial Academy[1], except that he lives abroad all the time and teaches foreigners."
Yuan Ge, now more accustomed to Qiuchen's ways, pauses at this point and gives him a "Do you understand?" look, until he sees Qiuchen nod his head in understanding, he continues, "My parents usually come back to China once every couple of years, so I have this house all to myself. Come on over and I'll show you around."
