Chapter 164 2/3

“His articles are really good, ordinary people can’t write like that.”

“Next year’s township examination, there will definitely be a place for him!”

“Maybe he can compete for the top spot!”

…

A year ago, hardly anyone in the provincial capital knew who Li Qingzhi was, but now, almost everyone knows him.

The township examination is held every three years, and the next one is scheduled for next year.

Many people in the provincial capital plan to participate in next year’s township examination. Most of these people have bought the “Anjiang Collection” and studied Li Qingzhi’s articles.

Some of them initially saw Li Qingzhi as a formidable rival, but after reading his articles and hearing about his remarkable memory, they realized they had overestimated themselves.

They weren’t qualified to see Li Qingzhi as a rival.

“It’s a pity that after the provincial examination, Li Qingzhi returned to his hometown. Otherwise, I would definitely pay him a visit.”

“Me too. I heard about his reputation before, but I didn’t go to see him… What a pity.”

“Wait until next year’s township examination; there will surely be a chance to meet him.”

…

Of course, not everyone thinks this way. Some people fabricate a few sentences, feeling that Li Qingzhi’s articles are not as good as those of Taoyuan Jushi.

Li Qingzhi is unaware of the happenings in the provincial capital.

On the first day of writing his book, he was somewhat affected emotionally, but he quickly adjusted.

In the following days, he woke up early every morning to write. After writing three thousand words, he went to the place where the school was being built, then went to Li Xiucai’s place to tutor three children.

After tutoring, he went home for lunch. After lunch, he continued writing. After writing another three thousand words, he took Li Damao and Li Ermao to see the construction site of the new school.

After visiting, he went to Juewei Zhai near the new pier, gave his manuscript to Chang Zhan, and took Chang Zhan back.

During this time, Li Qingzhi received a letter from Governor Zhang, inquiring about the situation in Yuxi Prefecture.

Li Qingzhi told Governor Zhang about the fabricated background of the original owner and claimed that everything he wrote was based on what he saw and heard during the famine.

Later, Governor Zhang saw the situation of the Yuxi County Magistrate in the book and wrote to inquire about it. Li Qingzhi wrote back, detailing everything he knew about Yuxi County at that time.

He couldn’t say that these were his own experiences, so he claimed that they were told to him by a minor official in the Yuxi County Magistrate’s Office.

Li Qingzhi and Governor Zhang exchanged letters every day, and in the blink of an eye, ten days had passed, and he had already written sixty thousand words for “Record of Fleeing Famine.”

For people at this time, writing six thousand words by hand every day was quite a lot, but Li Qingzhi had been pushed to his limits when writing “Record of Injustice,” so writing six thousand words a day now was quite easy for him.

He even had time to read the books Governor Zhang sent him.

One afternoon, while Li Qingzhi was writing, Du Yongning arrived and shouted from below, “Brother Li, I’m back from Linhu County!”

Li Qingzhi had been busy with his regular life routine during this time and had almost forgotten about Du Yongning. When he heard Du Yongning’s voice, he hesitated for a moment.

He locked away the manuscript he had already written in the cabinet and then went downstairs to find Du Yongning.

After not seeing each other for ten days, Du Yongning had tanned a bit. He greeted Li Qingzhi as soon as he saw him. “Brother Li, I gained a lot from this trip to Linhu County.”

Du Yongning was eager to talk to someone and ended up saying a lot.

After arriving in Linhu County, he began inquiring about Recluse Solitary, but like the scholars in Linhu County, he found out nothing.

He also found out that “Record of Injustice” was not based on oral accounts from the common people, but it wasn’t fabricated either. Everything written in it had real-life examples.

“I visited many places in Linhu County and even went to the stone quarry under the Prince’s name to inquire about the situation of the laborers who escaped from the quarry… Recluse Solitary’s writings are all true,” Du Yongning said.

After wandering around various places in Linhu County this time, he had a deep understanding.

Du Yongning talked a lot to Li Qingzhi. After finishing, he remembered one thing, “Brother Li, I heard you’ve been studying diligently lately? What are you reading?”

Li Qingzhi mentioned the name of the book Governor Zhang gave him.

“I’ve read that book too!” Du Yongning immediately started discussing it with Li Qingzhi and continued chatting until mid-afternoon.

At this time, Li Damao came to find Li Qingzhi. “Dad, are we going to the new school site today?”

Every afternoon, Li Qingzhi took his four children out to increase their physical activity.

To prevent them from getting bored during the process, he would tell them stories along the way.

Because of this, the four children were now very interested in going out in the afternoon.

“Are you going to the new school site? I’ll go too,” Du Yongning said.

Since Du Yongning said so, Li Qingzhi took them out together.

The school Li Qingzhi was building had already laid the foundation and was now building walls.

He had hired someone to manage the construction for him. If he were an ordinary businessman, he would probably be cheated out of money, and the workers he hired might not be so dedicated.

But he was a talented scholar with a bright future, and he even knew the county magistrate!

The people helping him were very dedicated and dared not deceive him.

Li Qingzhi was very satisfied with this situation and even spent some extra money to improve the food for the workers.

This made the workers very grateful.

He had just arrived today, and everyone greeted him, saying, “Master Li!”

Li Qingzhi smiled and talked to them, accurately calling out each person’s name.

These people were even happier and began to tell Li Qingzhi what they had done that day.

“The house was built really fast!” Du Yongning was somewhat surprised. He had only been away for a few days, and this place had already changed a lot.

Li Qingzhi said, “Yes, it was.”

“In the future, we can plant some roses here and a few peach trees over there…” Du Yongning continued.

Li Qingzhi had already seen the drawings of the house he designed. He thought the house was a bit ugly, but Li Qingzhi pursued practicality, so he didn’t say much.

Now that the house was built, he thought the exterior arrangement could follow his ideas.

Li Qingzhi said, “Don’t plant roses, but you can plant peach trees, but they should be planted by the river. By then, this vacant land will be used for growing vegetables.”

Du Yongning was dumbfounded

. “Grow vegetables?”

“Yes, grow vegetables. After they’re grown, they can be eaten by the people here, self-sufficient.” Li Qingzhi said.

Du Yongning couldn’t quite understand, but Li Qingzhi explained, “I’m establishing this academy to let the children of ordinary families learn a skill here so that they can make a living in the future. They need to work.”

Du Yongning quickly understood after thinking about what he had seen and heard recently. “Brother Li, you’re right.”

Li Qingzhi asked Du Yongning if he planned to establish a school in Linhu County. Du Yongning said, “I donated money to the Linhu County Poor Relief Institute, so it may not be possible to establish a school… My father sent me a letter, and I have to go home tomorrow.”

Du Yongning actually wanted to stay in Linhu County and do something for the people there. He even wrote a letter to his father, asking for more money.

A few days ago, he received a reply from his father.

His father refused to give him money and asked him to go back and study hard to prepare for next year’s township examination.

Without money from his father, he couldn’t do anything… After feeling uncomfortable for two days, he had decided to go back.

Now he was too weak, but things would be different once he passed the township examination.

He must pass the township examination!

Thinking like this, Du Yongning said again, “Brother Li, after I return home this time, I will focus on studying. Let’s say goodbye today, and we’ll see each other again next year!”

“Alright.” Li Qingzhi agreed.