Chapter 414 - Chapter 414: Visit
Chapter 414: Visit
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The news of Li Qing moving reached Li Fengqi’s ears. Li Fengqi went home angrily and said to Laidi, “The people in the posthouse are saying that your cousin held a moving banquet two days ago. Why didn’t Ah Qing invite you?”
Laidi looked at Li Fengqi’s angry expression and lowered her head, not daring to look at him. “I don’t know either. I was probably too busy to remember!”
Li Fengqi recalled that he had been wandering around the capital these days and the explanations on the exam questions he had bought were only superficial. Thinking of this, he could only endure it. He looked at Laidi and said gently, “Ah Qing’s moving banquet has been held. Cousin should be free. Go and ask her today. Tell her well that we don’t need your Cousin-in-law to take the time to guide me. We just need to borrow his notes and insights.”
When Laidi heard this, her heart was filled with bitterness. She nodded and went out to take a carriage to the Zhou family.
When Laidi arrived at the Zhou family’s door, she had just told the doorman that she wanted to see Li Yu. The doorman looked at her and cupped his hands.
“Madam, I’m sorry. My Madam is not feeling well and is recuperating at home.
She hasn’t seen guests for a long time.”
Laidi smiled obsequiously and said, “I’m your wife’s cousin. She’ll definitely see me. Please help me pass the message.”
The doorman refused flatly. “No, my master has instructed that no one is to disturb Madam’s recuperation. Please go back!”
Laidi glared at the door and got into the carriage angrily. When she was about to reach home, she was still thinking about how to explain to Li Fengqi when she got home. She was worried and couldn’t think of a way to fool him.
Laidi frowned and said to herself, “If Cousin-in-law and Ah Qing can easily get on the Golden Ranking List, why can’t Fengqi do it? It’s true that Ah Qing was taught by Cousin-in-law, but Cousin-in-law didn’t have anyone to teach him back then! He still got on the rankings. In that case, Fengqi can also rely on his own abilities! That way, I can hold my head high in front of my cousin and mother! Why does he have to beg my cousin and bear with their disdain? ‘
Just as Laidi was thinking this, she heard the coachman say that he had arrived. She got out of the car and entered the house with a depressed expression.
Li Fengqi knew that she had failed when he saw her. He was disappointed. He looked at her and said, “I’ve long suspected that you were chased out of the
Zhou family last time. Did you say something stupid to make them angry? Why were you so impatient: What should we do how:
“Why can’t you rely on your own ability to get on the Golden Ranking List? Zhou Jia also relied on his own achievements. Why do you want me to beg him?”
Li Fengqi was tongue-tied by Laidi’s question. He was stunned for a moment and looked at Laidi with disdain. “You’re indeed an ignorant village woman.”
Laidi looked at Li Fengqi’s disdainful gaze and blurted out angrily, “Without an ignorant village woman like me, you would only be a poor scholar now. Don’t think I don’t know that without Ah Qing to take care of you for more than half a year, your wish to become a High Scholar…”
Laidi turned into the room before she could finish speaking and slammed the door.
Li Fengqi choked on Laidi’s words. He looked at the closed door and could not refute her.
Laidi went into the house and lay on the bed. Tears flowed down her face.
Li Fengqi was stunned for a moment before turning around and leaving. He stood on the street and looked at the endless crowd. Suddenly, he felt a sense of desolation. He felt that there was no place for him in this bustling capital.
Li Fengqi, who was filled with desolation, walked into the Tongzhou Guild Hall and ordered some food and wine. The more he drank, the more upset he became. He got drunk and passed out on the table.
The shopkeeper in the hall looked at Li Fengqi and shook his head. He turned around and instructed the shop assistant, “Ah Gui, help High Scholar Li to the small courtyard rented by the Li family and hand him to Madam Li.”
Ah Gui asked the shopkeeper in a low voice, “Shopkeeper, I think the other two
High Scholars have gone to the restaurant. Can High Scholar Li sit and eat?”
The shopkeeper knocked on the shop assistant. “Why do you care about other people’s business? Help him back and hand him to Madam Li.”
Ah Gui looked at Li Fengqi, who was lying on the table, and shook his head. He went over and helped him to the small courtyard to knock on the door. He handed the drunk Li Fengqi to Laidi.
Laidi and the old woman helped Li Fengqi into the house. Looking at the drunk Li Fengqi lying on the bed, she said angrily, “I only said a few words to you, but you went out and came back drunk. Why weren’t you like this in the past?”
The old woman said, “Madam, Master is frustrated. Don’t blame him. I heard from the old sister of the helper next door that Master Huang went to a high-ranking official’s house. His monthly salary is quite a lot. If you get Master to find a family to do business, he can also subsidize the family with some silver.”
Laidi thought so and nodded. “You’re right. Go get some hot water to wipe Master down.”
After Li Fengqi woke up, Laidi looked at him and said, “After saying a few words to you, you went out to drink. Didn’t you say the same thing about me? I heard that High Scholar Huang next door is going to an official’s house up work. Go and ask him if he can help you find such a job and earn some money to subsidize the family.”
When Li Fengqi heard this, he thought to himself that it seemed that he couldn’t count on the Zhou family. It would be fine to find work in an official’s family. He could rely on them after getting familiar with them.
“Alright, we’ll do as you say. Go prepare some food and wine. I’ll ask Brother Huang to help introduce us.”
Seeing that Li Fengqi readily agreed, Laidi replied happily, “Yes! I’ll go shopping now.”
After Li Fengqi asked High Scholar Huang for help, not long after, High Scholar Huang helped Li Fengqi find a family to sit in. Li Fengqi also went to sit in peace and teach.
The news of Zhou Jia returning to the capital to become an official was spread to Zhou Rongxian’s old residence.
Zhou Rongxian looked at the steward in front of him and widened his eyes in surprise. “You said that Zhou Jia returned to the capital to become an official?
When did this happen? Where does he live?”
The man looked arrogantly at Zhou Rongxian, who was wearing wrinkled clothes. “He lives on East Street, the one at the head of Guihua Lane. You’ll know when you see it. It’s written on the plaque!” The man left after saying that.
Zhou Rongxian looked at the man’s back and smiled. “I didn’t expect that brat to be a capital official. Good, good.”
The man walked to a carriage and reported to the person in the car, “Madam,
I’ve already told Zhou Rongxian.”
The woman lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and Madam Yang’s face was revealed. “Alright, find two idlers to guard the Zhou family. When Zhou Rong goes to the Zhou family first, we’ll blow things up.”
“Yes.” The man took the order and left. Madam Yang knocked on the carriage and it started up and left.
The steward who sent the news to Zhou Rong first brought a man with a goatee on his mouth and two idlers to the opposite side of the Zhou family. He pointed at the Zhou family and said, “If a tall and thin old man in wrinkled clothes comes to the door to cause trouble, take the opportunity to make a fuss and blow things up. At that time, my master will give you the remaining silver.”
The goateed man smiled apologetically and said, “Manager Yang, don’t worry. My brother and the others are the best at this. As long as he makes a fuss at the door, we promise to blow things up.”
Manager Yang nodded. “Work hard. There are benefits for you.”
Zhou Rongxian went back to freshen up first and hired a mule cart to Guihua Alley on East Street. He got out of the cart and paid his fare. Soon, he found the
Zhou family..