Chapter 98: Become Famous1/2

On this day, Li Qingzhi woke up early as usual and led his three children in morning studies and exercises.

Li Laogen had gone out for tea, and Jin Xiaoye added water and rice to the pot, lit a fire, and then came outside. “Ah Qing, today is the day the county exam results are announced. After breakfast, shall we go to the county government?”

Li Qingzhi smiled and agreed, “Sure.”

When Li Ermao heard this, he hugged Li Qingzhi’s leg. “Dad, I want to go too!”

Li Damao and Zhao Xiaodou also looked over.

Today was a rest day, so they didn’t have to go to school.

Jin Xiaoye thought Li Qingzhi would agree, after all, he was quite willing to take the children out. However, Li Qingzhi rejected them without hesitation. “No, you can’t go.”

“Father, why?” Li Ermao was puzzled.

Li Qingzhi explained, “There will be a lot of people there today; it will be crowded, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep an eye on you. You might be taken away by bad people.”

“What?” Li Ermao’s eyes widened. “Bad people?”

“Yes, before, I was taken away by them and couldn’t come home,” Li Qingzhi squatted down and hugged them. “If you were taken away by bad people, Dad would be heartbroken.”

“Bad people are so bad!” Li Damao hugged Li Qingzhi. “Dad, don’t let them take you away again.”

“Dad will be careful in the future,” Li Qingzhi assured them.

After comforting the two children, Li Qingzhi let them promise to stay obediently at home.

Seeing this, Li Qingzhi kissed them again. “Damao, Ermao, you’re both so good! Go play in the courtyard; Dad will teach your mother to read.”

As the children walked away, Jin Xiaoye asked, “Why didn’t you take them?”

The two of them, as adults, should be able to look after three children.

Moreover, the announcement of the county exam results was near the county government, which was safe.

Li Qingzhi said, “There might be trouble today. It’s better not to let them go.”

“Trouble?” Jin Xiaoye was surprised.

“Don’t worry, it’s nothing,” Li Qingzhi pinched Jin Xiaoye’s cheek. “It’s just that Hong Hui has been patient for a long time and can’t sit still anymore.”

To Li Qingzhi, the most important thing in the world was his own safety.

He didn’t want to die; he wanted to live and live long, to a ripe old age.

No, even living to a ripe old age wouldn’t be enough!

The world was so beautiful; there was so much good food, so many lovely people, and he had abilities…

He wanted to live to at least a hundred and twenty!

Li Qingzhi liked the living people around him. As long as they didn’t threaten his life, even if they weren’t very likeable, he wouldn’t despise them.

Take Yao Zhenfu, for example.

He didn’t like Yao Zhenfu, but it stopped there. He never thought about doing anything to Yao Zhenfu, because Yao Zhenfu could never threaten his life.

But Hong Hui was different. Hong Hui not only harbored ill intentions toward him but also acted on them.

After Hong Hui threatened Wu Baichuan and caused Wu Baichuan to harm Jin Xiaoye, Li Qingzhi paid close attention to Hong Hui.

Apart from having Wu Baichuan keep an eye on Honghui, Li Qingzhi also had Zhu Xunmiao arrange for people to watch Hong Hui.

These people couldn’t know exactly what Hong Hui was doing, but they could know his general whereabouts.

When Sun Juren brought Magistrate Zhang to set up a trap to frame Magistrate Gou, Hong Hui went to see Sun Juren almost every day.

Li Qingzhi felt that Honghui probably knew what Sun Juren was up to.

Afterward, Sun Juren’s plans backfired, and he even lost his life because of it, but Hong Hui wasn’t too affected. Li Qingzhi thought he would probably continue causing trouble.

Therefore, Zhu Qian’s people kept an even closer eye on Hong Hui!

Before the county exam, Li Qingzhi learned that the manuscript he had left with Li Xiucai had gone missing. He also noticed that Fang Zijian’s mood was off, which led him to speculate…

As expected, the people keeping an eye on Hong Hui had seen him interacting with Fang Zijian. Li Qingzhi was busy preparing for the county exam at the time, so he didn’t pay much attention to it. However, as soon as the exam was over, he immediately asked the people watching Hong Hui about it.

Then he learned that Hong Hui had brought some scholars from the prefectural city. Hong Hui must have had something in mind, and most likely, it was to question his integrity during the county exam.

Today, when the county exam results were announced, it would certainly be lively near the county government.

Hong Hui had already set the stage for him, so he couldn’t afford not to go. But he decided it was better for the three children not to come to avoid scaring them.

Li Qingzhi didn’t hide anything and told Jin Xiaoye about his speculations.

Jin Xiaoye was shocked after hearing it. “Such a big thing… Have you told Magistrate Gou about it?”

“No, Magistrate Gou is very busy. We don’t need to bother him with this matter,” Li Qingzhi said.

“What should we do now?” Jin Xiaoye asked.

“It’s quite simple… Xiaoye, you’ll see later how your husband debates with the scholars,” Li Qingzhi smiled. “After today, I’ll be famous in Hexing Prefecture.”

When Li Qingzhi first arrived in Daqi, he was very low-key.

At that time, he was just an ordinary commoner, physically weak, and lacking in knowledge. He had to keep a low profile.

But now, after more than half a year in Chongcheng County, he had established a certain foundation.

He no longer needed to keep a low profile; on the contrary, he needed a reputation.

In ancient times, reputation was very useful.

In the history of Daqi, there were many instances where well-known scholars offended powerful figures, and the powerful figures didn’t dare to harm them because of their fame.

If he could become widely known, not only would he be safer, but his path in the imperial examination would also be smoother.

The timing was just right, and it was time for him to take the first step.

“Famous in Hexing Prefecture?” Jin Xiaoye was somewhat surprised.

“Yes,” Li Qingzhi said, “Xiaoye, my goal is to become the most famous scholar in Daqi!”

He had supernatural abilities, learned at a faster rate than ordinary people, and had a longer lifespan. As long as nothing unexpected happened, he could achieve it.

Upon hearing this, Jin Xiaoye suddenly said, “I want to become the most famous merchant in Daqi.” She had previously used Zhu Qian as a role model, but now Li Qingzhi wanted to become the most famous merchant in Daqi!

Her goal could also be broader, such as becoming a great merchant.

It wasn’t illegal to think big!

The couple became more and more excited as they talked. At this moment, Li Damao arrived. “Dad, can we have breakfast now?”

All three children were hungry! Li Qingzhi and Jin Xiaoye got up to prepare breakfast.

The porridge was ready, and there were leftovers from yesterday’s stir-fry. Jin Xiaoye heated the oil in the pan and scrambled a few eggs. Then, they all sat down to eat.

After they finished eating, Sister Wang and Mrs. Xu came over. Jin Xiaoye asked them to look after the shop and then went to the county government with Li Qingzhi.

Today, the sunlight was brilliant.

Li Qingzhi walked through the small alleys of the county town, feeling as if he were surrounded by beautiful scenery everywhere.

Tiny flowers blossomed between the bricks, and peach blossoms in the courtyards were already past their peak, but new green leaves were sprouting vigorously.

A gust of wind blew, causing the leaves of the camphor tree to flutter down.

Perhaps because it wasn’t as cold as in the north, camphor trees didn’t shed their leaves in the winter. In spring, the tender green leaves would eagerly sprout from the branches, while last year’s old leaves would fall one after another.

Li Qingzhi enjoyed everything he saw. As he walked, he even saw someone harvesting a clump of bamboo shoots, each no thicker than a finger.

Though thin, these bamboo shoots, when boiled in saltwater at home, would make a decent dish.

Spring was truly delightful, and this vibrant world was wonderful.

Li Qingzhi arrived near the county government in such a good mood.

When he arrived, the clerks were already posting the results, and countless people rushed over to see them, but he didn’t rush to join them.

He should find out his own results soon enough.

Sure enough, someone soon shouted loudly, saying that he had obtained the top spot and questioning the legitimacy of his success.

“Xiaoye, Zhu Xunmiao has reserved a private room in the restaurant. Why don’t you go up and have some tea?” Li Qingzhi looked at Jin Xiaoye beside him.