Chapter 170 2/3

A laborer from Juéwèizhāi has arrived, saying that Governor Zhang sent something for Li Qingzhi, so he brought it over to you.

“Li Qingzhi, they came back late yesterday, so I’ve only just brought the things over now,” the person said, handing a food box to Li Qingzhi.

It takes four or five hours to row from Chóngchéng County to the provincial capital.

People from Juéwèizhāi who go to the provincial capital usually set off very early, but sometimes they get delayed, and then they return very late.

“They’ve worked hard,” Li Qingzhi said, taking the food box and giving the person a handful of melon seeds.

Li Qingzhi had been waiting for Jīn Xiǎoyè to finish her classes before going upstairs. He opened the food box and found a greaseproof paper package inside.

The greaseproof paper package contained the complete set of “Records of Fleeing from Famine,” along with a letter from Governor Zhang.

Governor Zhang told him that on the sixteenth of November, yesterday, “Records of Fleeing from Famine” had already begun selling in the provincial capital!

Governor Zhang had received the books sent to him by the Shěn family head a long time ago, but because the Shěn family had not yet started selling the books, he hadn’t distributed them.

But now, the Shěn family had started selling the books!

The head of the Shěn family had given all the books meant for the capital to Lǚ Qìngxǐ, but in Jiāng’ān Province… “Records of Fleeing from Famine” was not selling cheaply.

“Records of Fleeing from Famine,” along with “Strategies for Managing Water,” were being sold together for two taels of silver!

Even so… according to Governor Zhang, the books were selling exceptionally well.

As long as the books sold well, Li Qingzhi was in a good mood.

But the people in the provincial capital thought Li Qingzhi should be feeling quite bad right now.

This all stems from Li Qingzhi’s article being published again in the November fifteenth issue of “Anjiāng Collection.”

In the previous months’ issues of “Anjiāng Collection,” there had been articles by Li Qingzhi!

When his articles were first published in “Anjiāng Collection,” they attracted numerous people’s attention, and some even thought his articles were ghostwritten… but after appearing several times, everyone got used to it.

At the same time, Li Qingzhi’s reputation grew bigger because of the successive issues of “Anjiāng Collection.”

The article Li Qingzhi wrote for this issue of “Anjiāng Collection” was about water management.

Initially, Li Qingzhi had written several articles and sent them to Governor Zhang, covering various topics, and among those articles, this one was considered relatively good.

The original owner had experienced a flood, so while “taking the exam,” Li Qingzhi added some genuine feelings.

Because of this, after receiving the new issue of “Anjiāng Collection,” many people in the provincial capital praised him: “Li Zixiao’s article this time is much better than what he wrote before!”

“This article has some unique insights into water management, it’s really good!”

“This is my favorite among all his articles!”

…

Some people even began to copy and memorize them — when they encountered similar exam questions in the future, they could imitate Li Qingzhi’s style to write!

However… Li Qingzhi’s article was praised for only one day, and then no one mentioned it again.

The next day, Shěn’s bookstore started selling “Records of Fleeing from Famine,” along with a complimentary copy of “Strategies for Managing Water.”

At first, those who bought the books thought Shěn’s family was selling them too expensively — “Records of Fleeing from Famine” didn’t cost that much before!

A book of similar quality, “Records of Fleeing from Famine,” could be bought for one tael of silver, and if one was willing to buy one of slightly lower quality, it could even be bought for a few hundred copper coins.

The price of “Records of Fleeing from Famine” had doubled directly, selling for two taels of silver per set… this was too expensive!

But after they had a look…

“Records of Fleeing from Famine” was indeed similar to “Records of Unjust Cases,” but the complimentary “Strategies for Managing Water” was an extraordinary book!

It detailed methods of dealing with floods, but the illnesses mentioned in it could also occur in ordinary times, meaning this book could be useful on regular days too!

In short, this was a very useful and valuable book, and just for this book alone, selling it for one tael of silver was reasonable!

In the end, many people gritted their teeth and bought the books.

For those who were reluctant to buy books, they had to borrow them from others and copy them.

“Records of Fleeing from Famine” sold very well, and most of those who bought “Records of Fleeing from Famine” had read the previous day’s issue of “Anjiāng Collection.”

“I used to think that Li Qingzhi’s arguments were extremely good, but compared to ‘Strategies for Managing Water’… Li Qingzhi’s articles seem a bit superficial.”

“Li Qingzhi’s articles are like flowers in a vase, while ‘Strategies for Managing Water’ is like a vast expanse of forest.”

“These two can’t be compared!”

…

After being reminded like this, people also remembered that when Li Qingzhi’s article was published for the second time in “Anjiāng Collection,” it should have caused a sensation, but as long as they bought that issue of “Anjiāng Collection,” they would receive a copy of “Dusan Collection,” and nobody mentioned Li Qingzhi at all.

Li Qingzhi was quite unlucky, always encountering Dusan scattered people just as he was about to become famous.

He must be feeling very unhappy right now.

When Li Qingzhi received the “Records of Fleeing from Famine” sent by Governor Zhang, Fang Shanchang met with Governor Zhang and gave him a set of “Records of Fleeing from Famine”: “Old Zhāng, you must take a look at this book, especially ‘Strategies for Managing Water’! While there aren’t many floods in Jiāng’ān Province, there are still some…”

“I already have this book,” Governor Zhang said.

Fang Shanchang was stunned: “This book has just come out, and it’s so expensive. Did you really buy it?” He didn’t think Governor Zhang would necessarily be willing to buy books, so he specially bought an extra set to give to Governor Zhang.

Governor Zhang smiled: “After Dusan scattered people wrote this book, they sent it to me, and I took it to the Shěn family… Shěn’s family sent me twenty sets.”

Fang Shanchang

 asked, “When did Shěn’s family give you the books?”

“Half a month ago,” Governor Zhang said.

“Why didn’t they give me any?” Fang Shanchang instantly got angry.

Governor Zhang coughed lightly: “The head of Shěn’s family specifically instructed me not to distribute them until their books were sold…”

Fang Shanchang put away the books he had brought: “Zhāng Zhìrú, I misjudged you! I won’t forgive you unless you show me the original manuscript of the Dusan scattered people!”

Governor Zhang said, “That manuscript, I’m afraid, has already reached Lǚ Qìngxǐ’s hands.”

Fang Shanchang paused, then said, “This day, it’s about to change…”

Governor Zhang sighed, “No one knows if it will change or not. Without the King Jin, what comes next…”

The children in the palace are too young, and no one knows what they will be like when they grow up.

As for the King Jin… the King Jin does have some problems, but apart from six years ago, embezzling relief funds and the incident in Línghú County, he has handled other matters quite well.

“I heard that the Prince of the County is a good person,” Fang Shanchang said.

Governor Zhang said, “When the King Jin was young, he was always praised by people, and… His Majesty won’t agree.”

The two looked at each other, both feeling a bit worried.

Their Majesty is kind, but he truly hates the Empress Dowager of the former emperor!

Who wouldn’t hate her? What the Empress Dowager did back then was simply abhorrent. Even the newborn child of Noble Consort Liu was ordered to be killed on the spot!

Governor Zhang and the others thought about it a lot, but most scholars just marveled at the broad knowledge of the Dusan scattered people.

Du Yongning, who had already returned to Yǒnghé Prefecture and was studying with his master, was admiring the book while reading: “I didn’t expect the Dusan scattered people to have experienced the flood in Yùxī Prefecture. Fortunately, he was unharmed, otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to see such a good book!”

The Du family has some industries in the provincial capital, so the book was sent to Du Yongning’s hands first.

Du Yongning’s master was also reading, and when he heard Du Yongning’s words, he said, “It’s better to read fewer books like this, so as not to be swayed.”

Du Yongning felt a bit aggrieved.

His master continued, “If you hadn’t forgotten my advice, why didn’t you make it into the top ten in the provincial exam?”

Du Yongning’s master had analyzed political theory with Du Yongning, but unfortunately, Du Yongning didn’t take it seriously.

The Du family had some dealings with the government, so Du Yongning should have been able to get second place no matter what, as long as he didn’t make mistakes.