Chapter 186

When it comes to mentioning Qingdu Sanren, everyone can’t help but bring up “Records of Escape from Famine” and “Strategies for Flood Control.”

“News from the capital: Mr. Li Zhao has been exonerated!”

“The Emperor sent people to investigate Yu County, and the people there all say that Mr. Li was a good official.”

“It’s a pity about Mr. Li. He devoted himself to the people, yet his entire family was executed!”

“Speaking of this, ‘Strategies for Flood Control’ is truly an excellent book!”

“I wonder what Qingdu Sanren’s new book will be about.”

“It will surely speak up for the common people again!”

…

As everyone was talking, they agreed to go buy the new book together the next day.

Books by Li Qingzhi could be bought for entertainment, but books by Qingdu Sanren needed to be studied carefully.

In the blink of an eye, the next day arrived.

Before dawn, some scholars from the provincial capital left their homes and headed to the bookstore owned by the Shen family.

On the way, they ran into some acquaintances. “Brother Li, why are you out so early?”

“Brother Zhang, aren’t you out early too?”

“I’m eager to see Qingdu Sanren’s new book…”

“Me too.”

…

These scholars gathered at the bookstore entrance and formed a long queue.

Finally, the Shen family’s bookstore opened!

The crowd surged forward. “I heard Qingdu Sanren has written a new book?”

“Shopkeeper, give me two copies!”

“I want three copies!”

“I’ll take one too!”

…Everyone was eager to buy the book.

The shopkeeper had already brought out a stack of books. “Qingdu’s Travels, one tael of silver per copy!”

Those who came to buy books were prepared for Qingdu Sanren’s books to be expensive and had brought enough silver. One tael of silver per book was acceptable to them.

But now… it’s just a travelogue?

If it’s just a travelogue…

The scholar at the front, who initially said he wanted to buy two copies, hesitated slightly, then took out a small ingot of silver. “I’ll buy one copy.”

The shopkeeper examined the quality of the silver and had the accountant next to him weigh it before promptly giving him a copy of “Qingdu’s Travels.”

When it was the next person’s turn, after some consideration, he also said, “I’ll take one copy too.”

Having come so early to queue, they still wanted to buy the book, but if it was just a travelogue, there was no need to buy multiple copies.

He had initially planned to buy two copies for his friend, but now… after he read it, he would lend it to his friend.

Qingdu Sanren’s travelogue… Qingdu Sanren was well-traveled. Hopefully, their travelogue wouldn’t disappoint them.

By this time, it was already daylight. The first two people who had bought the book stepped outside the bookstore and immediately opened it…

They both froze in place.

This book… this book…

This book was extraordinary!

The book had punctuation marks throughout, and judging by the opening words… Qingdu Sanren must have learned this “punctuation” from elsewhere?

The two continued reading, and then…

This was nothing like they had imagined—a travelogue describing the beautiful landscapes of the homeland. This was clearly “The Peach Blossom Spring”!

“The Peach Blossom Spring” had made countless people yearn for an ideal world, and this book… the world within it was depicted so meticulously that it seemed as if such a place truly existed.

They had only read a little before they started to regret it.

They should have bought more copies!

Although the book could be copied, the unique punctuation… handwritten copies could never match the quality of printed ones!

Moreover, such a book was worth keeping at home for a collection!

The two of them exchanged a glance and, without hesitation, lined up at the back of the queue again.

They could read the book while waiting in line to buy more copies!

The people still in line had heard that Qingdu Sanren’s new book was a travelogue: “Qingdu Sanren’s new book is a travelogue?”

“How can it be a travelogue? I thought it would be like ‘Records of Injustice’ or ‘Records of Escape from Famine’!”

“I was planning to buy several copies, but if it’s just a travelogue, one will do.”

…

They were talking when they saw the two people who had bought the book earlier lining up at the end of the queue again.

Something was off. If it were just a travelogue, why line up again?

Qingdu Sanren’s travelogue must be extraordinary!

Those who were about to buy the book started speaking up: “I’ll take two copies!”

“I’ll take three copies!”

…

When they bought the book and opened it…

“This punctuation is really useful!”

“This is… ‘The Peach Blossom Spring’?”

“My teacher at home will love this book!”

…

In this world, there were scholars who were solely focused on studying and knew nothing about farming.

But there were also many scholars who read agricultural books and understood the lives of the common people.

After all, they took the imperial examinations and became officials to benefit the people!

And now, this book… the farming methods described within seemed quite practical?

Some scholars who had bought the book gathered to discuss: “The methods described in this book don’t seem far-fetched!”

“The seed cultivation techniques mentioned here seem feasible?”

“Is there really such a thing as biogas that can burn?”

“Collective land ownership that cannot be bought or sold… a great idea! This would prevent people from being left without land to farm!”

“Previously, Qingdu Sanren’s ‘Collected Works of Qingdu’ sharply pointed out many issues in Daqi, but in this book… many of Daqi’s problems are nonexistent in this world!”

…

Everyone was talking about it.

After the New Year, Qian Fugui had spent most of his time in the provincial capital.

He had come to Jiang’an Province to help the King of Yan take over the businesses previously managed by the King of Jin in Jiang’an Province. For this purpose, he had transferred a significant amount of silver from the Yulong Trading Company.

However, just as he was about to embark on this endeavor, his family “ran into trouble”! His wife and sister-in-law, while taking his nephew to see a doctor, were ambushed and killed.

Qian Fugui, enraged and fallen ill, had been bedridden for several days, and he had arranged for a large group of people to investigate the incident.

Of course, this was his official story, and it was also the message he had his men relay to the King of Yan.

In reality… Qian Fugui used this incident to contact many trusted subordinates and had begun targeting the Yulong Trading Company.

He occasionally left the provincial capital secretly to go to Chongcheng County.

Initially, he went to see Li Qingzhi. Later, he also went to see his wife and nephew.

The house he had bought in Chongcheng County was near the new dock by the river, and he had diverted river water into the house! By taking a small boat with a canopy, he could enter the house directly and leave quietly.

However, today, Qian Fugui stayed in the provincial capital. He had long known about the release of Qingdu Sanren’s new book.

Qingdu Sanren was actually his nephew… Qian Fugui had sent his trusted subordinates to line up early and buy five copies for him.

He was curious about what his nephew had written this time.

The “Stories for Children” he had written earlier were truly delightful. When Qian Fugui had free time, he liked to read them.

As he thought about this, Qian Fugui opened the new book…

Could such a world really exist?!

Qian Fugui was captivated, reading attentively, and the more he read, the more he appreciated the book!

He hadn’t expected his nephew to also be knowledgeable about agriculture!

While Qian Fugui was reading the book, Governor Zhang was also reading.

Opposite him sat Master Fang.

Master Fang had always been pursuing his vision of an ideal world, and Qingdu Sanren’s book seemed to resonate deeply with him!

“Governor Zhang, who exactly is this Qingdu Sanren?” Master Fang couldn’t help but ask.

Governor Zhang remained silent.

Master Fang added, “This person not only knows how to control water but is also versed in agriculture. You should persuade him to become an official, as it would benefit the country and its people!”

Governor Zhang glanced at Master Fang but still said nothing.

Li Qingzhi was already determined to become an official; he didn’t need any persuasion.

As for the book… Governor Zhang also felt that Li Qingzhi was knowledgeable about many things.

According to Li Qingzhi, much of what was in the book had been taught to him by a laborer at the quarry owned by the King of Jin, where Li Qingzhi had also worked as a laborer. That person was highly learned but had been captured and forced to work in the quarry, eventually dying there.

Among the remains they had collected, one of them was that very person!

It was such a pity!

Such a learned individual, killed by the King of Jin!

Governor Zhang sighed deeply, yet felt fortunate that Li Qingzhi had an exceptional memory and had retained all the knowledge that man had imparted.

In the provincial capital, many were discussing “Lonely Travels,” but in Chongcheng County, no one had yet mentioned the book.

The people of Chongcheng County didn’t know that Qingdu Sanren had written a new book!

That day, Qian Changsheng came to see Li Qingzhi as usual.

Since coming to Chongcheng County, Qian Changsheng had felt much better each day he spent talking with Li Qingzhi.

He had once suspected it was just his imagination and feared that after the initial excitement, he might fall seriously ill again.

In the past, he had experienced feeling slightly better, only to faint after taking a few extra steps, and then be bedridden for a long time.

But this time, he had not fallen ill at all.

Qian Changsheng realized that his health was indeed improving.

For one thing, his appetite had become unusually good!

The first time he came, Li Qingzhi had stayed with him the entire time, but later, when Qian Changsheng visited, Li Qingzhi had him accompany him in his work.

For instance, writing educational materials or sitting in the back of classrooms during lessons to observe the teachers.

Li Qingzhi, with his photographic memory, had already memorized all the students in the school, and over this period, he had also gotten to know them better.

Even though he had expelled some, there were still students with questionable character in the school.

Additionally, some students were naturally not good at studying and found it very difficult.

As for those with character issues, Li Qingzhi planned to observe them further and, if they did not improve, he would advise them to leave. For those who struggled academically, he intended to arrange other work for them.

For example, they could help with tasks like killing chickens and ducks at Juewei Zhai or helping with growing chili peppers.

He would pay them for their work, which would be a good option for those students.

For the clever and diligent ones, there was a need for manpower at Juewei Zhai and Jin Ye Embroidery Workshop, and even Qian Fugui could use help.

They also needed to choose a few people to assist Chang Zhan…

As Li Qingzhi busied himself, Qian Changsheng looked on with envy.

Some people are busy and long for a life of leisure, while others are idle and yearn for something to do.

Qian Changsheng, having spent so much time at home doing nothing, was desperate to find something to occupy himself.

Li Qingzhi assigned him various tasks to help out.

For instance, he asked him to help calculate the expenses of the school cafeteria.

Though Qian Changsheng came from a merchant family, he had never learned bookkeeping.

Li Qingzhi initially worried that he wouldn’t do well, but he quickly got the hang of it!

With proper training, Qian Changsheng could become an excellent assistant!

After a busy morning, Li Qingzhi said to Qian Changsheng, “Changsheng, let’s go have lunch and take your medicine.”

With Qian Fugui away, he didn’t have to apply medicine for him, but he made sure Qian Changsheng took his medication daily.