Chapter 165 2/3

This person diligently copies every day, and he even pays attention to keeping the handwriting neat… After copying so much, his handwriting has improved.

On the other side, the head of the Shen family was a bit dumbfounded.

He had always thought that Recluse Solitary was actually Governor Zhang, and in fact, many people suspected the same.

So he didn’t understand how Governor Zhang managed to write so much while dealing with official business?

Or… had he already written this book a long time ago?

But if it had already been written, why didn’t he give it all at once?

The head of the Shen family couldn’t resist sharing his doubts with his wife.

Although the Shen family was a merchant family, the head of the family’s father had a great admiration for scholars, and he spent quite a bit of money to marry a scholarly lady for the head of the family.

This Mrs. Shen was indeed quite knowledgeable and often had some insightful views.

Mrs. Shen asked, “Why do you assume that Recluse Solitary is Governor Zhang? They might be two different people.”

The head of the Shen family suddenly realized.

Mrs. Shen continued, “This book must have just been written. Before this, someone went to Linhu County and found that Recluse Solitary had never talked to the victims of Linhu County… This time, he wrote about the flood five years ago. Although he borrowed the voices of the common people, it definitely wasn’t dictated by the common people. He must have recorded his own experiences.”

“What Madam said makes sense!” The head of the Shen family immediately agreed.

“But…” Mrs. Shen hesitated.

“But what?” the head of the Shen family asked.

Mrs. Shen said, “Recluse Solitary must be in need of money. He sends eight thousand words of manuscript every day. If it weren’t for the lack of money, why would he write so much?”

The head of the Shen family thought back to his early days of studying. It would take him half a day to come up with a few hundred words for an article and nodded in agreement.

Mrs. Shen added, “Husband, you should send someone to print this book quickly. The day for the caravan to leave for the capital is not far off!”

Upon hearing this, the head of the Shen family immediately took the manuscript to the bookstore.

Li Qingzhi wrote eight thousand words every day. After more than ten days, he completed “Record of Fleeing Famine.”

When Governor Zhang saw the word “End” at the end, he felt somewhat lost.

Daqi was too vast, and floods and droughts occurred from time to time. The flood in Yuxian Prefecture six years ago, compared to the major disasters experienced by the common people in the past, was actually nothing.

He had almost forgotten about this flood before.

But Li Qingzhi’s book made him feel as if he had personally experienced the flood in Yuxian six years ago.

The brutality of this long-forgotten flood was unimaginable.

Countless people who were originally living happily lost their homes and lives.

On the journey of fleeing famine, the raw and naked humanity containing blood and tears was vividly displayed on paper.

With a long sigh, Governor Zhang called someone to copy it again.

He thought the book was already finished, and Li Qingzhi wouldn’t give him any more manuscripts. But unexpectedly, the next day, he received another thick envelope from Li Qingzhi.

Li Qingzhi wrote something else? Governor Zhang was stunned for a moment before opening the envelope.

This time, it was indeed a new book titled “Water Management Strategies.”

In the book, Li Qingzhi, still using the tone of “Recluse Solitary,” explained how the book came about…

In the book, Recluse Solitary said that it was a compilation of the water management methods left by Li Zhao, the magistrate of Yuxian Prefecture, combined with his own insights.

Governor Zhang was stunned when he saw this opening.

Then he continued reading.

The manuscript Li Qingzhi sent was only six thousand words, and although it didn’t cover much, Governor Zhang couldn’t help but praise it.

What was written here was extremely practical!

He couldn’t wait to see the rest of the content and wanted to promote it!

After reading it once, Governor Zhang’s gaze fell back to the beginning.

This “Water Management Strategies,” was it Li Qingzhi reorganizing the water management methods left by Li Zhao, the magistrate of Yuxian Prefecture?

Governor Zhang knew that the magistrate of Yuxian County, who was executed with his entire family, was innocent. In fact, many people in the court felt the same way at the time.

But that magistrate of Yuxian County was just a scholar with no connections in the court, and no one stood up for him at all!

He could only silently pass away in the end.

But who would have thought that he was so talented?

That commissioner, he had killed a pillar of Daqi!

It was such a pity, really too much of a pity!

For a moment, Governor Zhang even hated the commissioner from back then.

Taking a deep breath, Governor Zhang ordered someone to copy it again and then sent it to the Shen family.

He felt that “Water Management Strategies” was even more useful than “Record of Fleeing Famine.”

Li Qingzhi wrote “Record of Fleeing Famine” to seek justice, but “Water Management Strategies”… this could benefit the common people.

On the other hand, the head of the Shen family was delighted that “Record of Fleeing Famine” was completed.

Now that “Record of Fleeing Famine” was finished, he could print the book sooner and then send it to the capital!

Just then, he received another manuscript sent by Governor Zhang.

“Water Management Strategies”? Did the magistrate of Yuxian County leave behind something like this?

And Recluse Solitary… organized it?

Although these merchants were sometimes profit-oriented, they were also knowledgeable.

The head of the Shen family took out sixty taels of silver notes and sent them to Governor Zhang, instructing the people below to speed up the printing process—another book had to be printed.

“Record of Fleeing Famine” was a total of one hundred and fifty thousand words. The head of the Shen family had already decided to bind it into three volumes: upper, middle, and lower.

And now, there would be an additional volume, “Water Management Strategies.” When Li Qingzhi started writing “Water Management Strategies,” he didn’t think it would involve the original owner’s father.

It wasn’t until he started writing… that he thought of the original owner’s father’s efforts to study books related to water management, digging ditches with the people of Yuxian County, and trying to solve the water problem in Yuxian County.

If the original owner’s father hadn’t been unlucky, encountering a once-in-a-century flood, and if the dam built in Yuxian Prefecture hadn’t been shoddily constructed and collapsed… in a few years, the original owner’s father might have really managed to improve Yuxian County and even preserve it in minor floods.

Li Zhao wasn’t a genius, but he sincerely wanted to do something for the people. Such a waste.

Moreover, he was the original owner’s father.

Li Qingzhi simply attributed his knowledge from his previous life

to the original owner’s father and wrote it out.

As for how he knew all this… he wrote at the beginning that he accidentally obtained a book written by Li Zhao!

Li Qingzhi said the same to Governor Zhang, which conveniently explained why he knew so much.

When Li Qingzhi was writing “Water Management Strategies,” Jin Xiaoye prepared the goods requested by Wu Baichuan and gave them all to him.

Then she heard Wu Baichuan’s complaint: “I don’t know what’s going on with the Shen family. They said the departure date might be delayed for a few days… I’m eager to go to the capital!”

Jin Xiaoye smiled and said, “Perhaps something important has come up for the Shen family.”

Jin Xiaoye had read what Li Qingzhi wrote.

Li Qingzhi’s writing was really good, and although she didn’t quite understand “Water Management Strategies,” she felt it should be useful.

Li Qingzhi’s biological father was really a capable person, but unfortunately, he was framed and lost his life early.

Li Qingzhi was not bad either… Jin Xiaoye thought carefully and felt that when Li Qingzhi first arrived in Miaoqian Village, claiming to be bad at studying was probably just a cover.

At that time, Li Qingzhi might have been afraid of being recognized by someone, so he stayed low-key and pretended not to be good at studying.

But after being captured and returning many years later, he no longer hid his knowledge, which was understandable.

The current Li Qingzhi was completely different from before, and no one could recognize him.

So, he embarked on the path of imperial examinations.

Jin Xiaoye knew that Li Qingzhi wanted revenge, and she also knew that by doing so, Li Qingzhi might bring danger to their family, but people have emotions, and she couldn’t stop Li Qingzhi from seeking revenge. She could only watch over him and prevent him from doing anything too extreme.