Chapter 192 2/3

Qian Fugui was once a close confidant of Prince Yan or, more accurately, his purse. When the people under Prince Yan needed money, he would direct them to Qian Fugui, who also helped deliver silver to some officials on behalf of Prince Yan. As a result, he knew quite a few of Prince Yan’s subordinates.

This piece of information came from one of the acquaintances he had made during his service to Prince Yan. Li Qingzhi kept this information in mind and then turned to Qian Fugui, saying, “Uncle, let me check your back injury again.”

Qian Fugui hesitated, really not wanting to apply the medicine as he felt his health was quite good at the moment. But since Li Qingzhi insisted on checking, he reluctantly agreed.

Li Qingzhi managed to return home before Gou Ying and the others came back, taking with him the remaining six eggs from the brooding hen that the Qian family had bought. The poor hen, on the verge of hatching eight chicks, suddenly found itself without any eggs and had to “wake up” from its brooding state and continue laying more eggs.

When Li Qingzhi returned home, the carpenter that Chang Zhan had hired had already finished making a small wooden box for holding the eggs. After examining the eggs with his special ability, Li Qingzhi carefully wrapped each egg in cotton and placed them in the box, then set the box next to a heater to keep them warm.

“Mr. Li, you are really good to the children,” Chang Zhan remarked. Li Qingzhi was indeed very indulgent with the children, always making time to play with them despite his busy schedule. This made Chang Zhan feel that he wasn’t doing enough for his own daughter, Chang Cui.

“I haven’t really done much,” Li Qingzhi replied. The children’s requests weren’t excessive; in fact, their desire to hatch chicks was full of curiosity and exploration, which he certainly did not want to discourage.

Chang Zhan chuckled. Li Qingzhi might not think he was doing much, but how many fathers in the world would go to such lengths?

Gou Ying, seeing the eggs Li Qingzhi had prepared, was thrilled: “Mr. Li, you’re the best! Why can’t you be my father?”

He was envious of Li Damao and Li Ermao. How wonderful it would be if Li Qingzhi were his father! Li Qingzhi, feeling a bit helpless, advised, “Don’t say such things carelessly, or your father might hear it.”

Gou Ying quickly covered his mouth and carefully tucked three eggs into his coat. However, he didn’t hold onto them for long. Once Chang Cui learned about Li Damao and the others wanting to hatch chicks, she also wanted to participate, forcing Gou Ying to give up one of his eggs. Still, having two eggs left wasn’t too bad for him.

Returning to his place, Gou Ying made a nest with his own blanket, placed a hand warmer next to the eggs under the blanket, and lay on top of them, pretending to hatch chicks.

Li Qingzhi wasn’t aware of what Gou Ying was up to. He also didn’t know that in Jiang’an Province, many people who read the works of Qiongdu Sanren were replicating the inventions described in “Qiongdu Travels.”

One such person was Du Yongning, far away in Yonghe Prefecture. After obediently studying for a few months and gaining more freedom as his family relaxed their vigilance, he built a heated bed and bought many eggs to hatch chicks on it. He even set up a biogas digester, experimenting with producing combustible gas from manure and straw.

Of course, there were also those who believed Qiongdu Sanren’s writings were pure fiction and criticized them heavily. The notion of boys and girls attending school together, for instance, was intolerable to many. Unfortunately, they didn’t know who Qiongdu Sanren really was, so they had no target for their critiques. Sending their articles to the “Anjiang Anthology” was also futile since its editor, Fang Changzhang, highly esteemed Qiongdu Sanren and wouldn’t publish their criticisms.

In summary, after the release of “Qiongdu Travels,” subtle changes were gradually taking place.

Meanwhile, Li Qingzhi had asked Chang Zhan and Jin Xiaoshu to investigate Li Laogen, discovering that the person trying to seduce him was none other than Shen Xuniang, who was previously entangled with Yao Zhenfu.

Li Qingzhi was taken aback by the coincidence. However, if it was Shen Xuniang, her motives were likely just about money.

When the scandal between Yao Zhenfu and Shen Xuniang broke, Li Qingzhi wasn’t even a scholar and wasn’t involved, so he didn’t know Shen Xuniang well. It was only through Jin Xiaoshu’s inquiries that he learned Shen Xuniang never had a husband and had merely extorted the Yao family.

Li Qingzhi didn’t like Shen Xuniang. Despite Yao Zhenfu’s flaws, he had treated her well and given her money, yet she turned around and blackmailed the Yao family for a hundred taels of silver. Though Yao Zhenfu’s matter was in the past and Shen Xuniang hadn’t approached Li Laogen in recent days, Li Qingzhi decided not to take any drastic actions.

However, he still felt it was necessary to warn Li Laogen.

That evening, Li Qingzhi found Li Laogen and asked, “Father, was the woman who came to the teahouse to find you the one who wanted to marry you?”

Li Laogen nodded.

Li Qingzhi continued, “Father, someone recognized her at the teahouse. Do you know who she is?”

Li Laogen asked, “Who is she?”

“She’s Shen Xuniang, Yao Zhenfu’s former lover. She seduced Yao Zhenfu and then blackmailed the Yao family for a hundred taels of silver,” Li Qingzhi explained.

Li Laogen jumped out of bed, exclaiming, “What? She’s the one Yao Zhenfu mentioned? Is she trying to scam me for money?”

“Most likely,” Li Qingzhi confirmed.

Li Laogen started cursing immediately: “She’s too wicked, bound to meet a bad end!” After a few more curses, he added, “Good thing I didn’t fall for it! I’m smart and won’t be tricked by such a woman!”

Relieved that he hadn’t been deceived, Li Laogen resolved to stay far away from women who might have ulterior motives.

While Li Laogen made this decision, Gou Tongzhi was having similar thoughts. Always busy, Gou Tongzhi had recently been pestered by a beautiful young woman who claimed to admire him. Under normal circumstances, he might have been tempted, but he was far too busy now. Aiming to become a prefect, he couldn’t afford any distractions, especially not an unexpected romantic entanglement.

Finding the woman’s constant crying and delicate demeanor too reminiscent of his wife’s, Gou Tongzhi grew more annoyed. Though he loved his wife and appreciated her for their children, he wasn’t willing to tolerate a stranger’s demands. His wife, being a gentlewoman, cried but didn’t make a scene publicly. Annoyed, Gou Tongzhi found an excuse to visit his son in Chongcheng County, hoping to also consult with Li Qingzhi about his problems.

Gou Tongzhi left in the afternoon and arrived in Chongcheng County just as it was getting dark. Knowing his son was at the county school, he went straight there. Zhao Laosan, recognizing Gou Tongzhi, let him in.

Upon entering the school, Gou Tongzhi saw many children playing in the courtyard. When he asked about his son, someone pointed him in the right direction, saying, “Teacher Gou lives over there.”

“Teacher Gou?” Gou Tongzhi was confused.

The students didn’t recognize Gou Tongzhi but spoke highly of their teacher, “Yes, he’s our teacher!”