Chapter 70 The world is unkind, I was originally a golden dragon
The impoverished Tianfu region comprised nine counties.
It takes nine colors from the world: blue, red, yellow, green, crimson, orange, purple, blue, and black.
Huangyu County is far more prosperous than Qingning County. Upon arriving in the county, one is immediately struck by its lively local atmosphere.
Li Xian's long hair was secured with bamboo strips, and his longbow was stored in a wooden box, carried on his back. He wore loose clothing, perfectly concealing the long sword at his waist.
He looked perfectly normal, but his handsome appearance always drew glances from passersby.
"Selling tofu!"
"Hot tofu, fragrant tofu!"
"Come and see! There are sugar figurines here."
"These vegetables were just picked yesterday. Come on, gentlemen, have a look."
...
Various shouts and calls.
"A bowl of hot tofu, please." Li Xian had been traveling all day and was already hungry. When she arrived at the tofu stall, she smelled the aroma and wanted to eat something warm.
Okay.
The vendor scooped up a bowl of steaming tofu with a wooden ladle. He sprinkled some brine on top, then drizzled on some chopped green onions, and a bowl of hot tofu pudding was ready.
"Sir, three coins." the vendor said with a smile.
"become."
After paying, Li Xian squatted down and slurped up the hot tofu. He felt much warmer, but for a martial artist, one bowl was definitely not enough.
"Three more bowls, please."
Li Xian gave him another ten coins.
"Okay, okay, there's plenty of tofu, sir, eat slowly." The vendor beamed.
"Yes, I've heard that this county has been quite lively lately?"
Li Xian casually inquired.
"It's incredibly lively there," a vendor said, bringing over a bowl of tofu. "The winter exam results were released recently, and wow, there are dozens more powerful officials above us now."
"I can't read, so I can't understand the articles. Maybe I should give it a try. Who knows, I might be able to become a high-ranking official in the literary world."
"Please enjoy your meal, sir. I'll get you some more."
Li Xian took the wooden bowl, which was obviously much thicker. The steam hit her face, melting the frost on her eyelashes.
After filling your stomach with the previous bowl, savor this one slowly.
"Speaking of the list of successful candidates, where is it located? I'd like to go and take a look," Li Xian asked.
"It's not far; there are several places."
“Notices were posted in front of government offices, in some large restaurants, and even in some bustling streets and alleys.”
The vendor said.
"I see." Li Xian asked, "I heard that this year's literary ranking is a bit different from previous years?"
"Oh," the vendor said, "you know what. In previous years, every flower-picking gentleman came from a prestigious family. But this year, for some reason, it's a poor boy."
"But, as the saying goes, 'A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime.' You might ask, isn't this talent and learning a kind of treasure in itself?"
"For ordinary people, being a little foolish, silly, or clumsy is a blessing, isn't it?"
Li Xian's heart sank slightly; it seemed this matter was true. He then asked, "I didn't expect you to be so talented."
"hey-hey."
The tofu vendor scratched his head. "As I said, I can't read words or books, but I do know a little about those poems and phrases."
"Sir, here's another bowl. Please enjoy it slowly." Seeing that Li Xian had finished eating, the sensible man handed him another bowl.
"It seems you have quite a bit of knowledge about this academic examination?" Li Xian asked.
“The winter exams are held every year in Huangyu County, so it’s impossible not to study them,” the tofu vendor said self-deprecatingly. “Besides, for us ordinary people, literature is more tangible and accessible than martial arts.”
"Of course, that's what they say, but in reality, very few ordinary people pick flowers every year."
"What usually happens to the students who pick flowers after the academic exams?" Li Xian asked.
"Hmm..." The vendor paused, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Those who learn to pick flowers can report to the prefectural city. The prefectural city has an academy where flower-picking students can study."
"I don't know if it will go any further."
The concept of fate and destiny is something that ordinary people find difficult to explain.
"Okay, thanks."
After eating four bowls, Li Xian's hands and feet felt warm.
Heading into the bustling city, I came across a restaurant with a red list hanging from its second-floor terrace. Various names were listed on it, in no particular order.
"Li Xiaofan..."
Seeing his younger brother's name, Li Xian felt a surge of relief: "My brother really made the list. It was worth all those late nights studying."
Even with his photographic memory, Li Xiaofan's hard work was still vivid in everyone's mind.
After their father died, the two brothers had no money to buy books. Li Xiaofan would often wrap himself in his father's coat and hide next to the private school to eavesdrop.
They used every means possible just to acquire a little knowledge.
Looking forward to the winter exams and picking flowers.
To turn the two brothers' lives around.
Li Xian clenched his fists, his gaze turning cold. But as he read through the names, he only found thirty-six.
"A total of thirty-six people made the list."
“Now that my brother is nowhere to be found, the thirty-seventh person is the key to this trip.” Li Xian went to three different lists, but each only listed those who were on the list.
It wasn't until they reached the front of the government office that they saw the thirty-seventh person.
Zheng Caiqi
"Thirty-seventh place."
He's the one!
Li Xian remained calm as he left the yamen. His next step was to find out which faction Zheng Caiqi belonged to.
Only by following the trail can we find out where my brother is.
"I must not give myself away."
"Otherwise, it will alert them, and the situation will become even more unpredictable."
Although the student who picked flowers has a special status, if he were to die suddenly, it would be enough to cause a great uproar.
But weakness is the original sin.
These factors only make the enemy wary. But this life is still in their hands.
Therefore, they were extremely cautious in gathering information.
Li Xian remained calm and started by investigating from the streets. After all, the other party was from a large and powerful family, and he was able to find out quickly that Zheng Caiqi was the seventh daughter of "Zheng Xuezhang," the leader of the Blackwater Gang.
He is his youngest son, whom he dotes on very much.
He sent a full thirty people to accompany him on his winter exam trip, at his beck and call.
The Blackwater Gang's main sphere of influence was not in Huangyu County, but Zheng Xuezhang did have a share in the rice shops, restaurants, and security escort agencies in the county.
"call…"
"Things have made some progress, let's move on to the next step!"
Li Xian exhaled, calming his mind, and hid in the shadows, his killing intent concealed.
...
Night fell in the blink of an eye.
There were few pedestrians on the street, and only a few groups of people walked out of the gambling den together.
Li Xian waited for a long time, then squinted and quietly followed.
"Damn it, I lost money again."
"I'll take down this damn gambling den sooner or later."
"Ugh, what bad luck, what really bad luck! Aren't they all said that flower-picking masters are favored by heaven? My hands slapped the flower-picking master, but why hasn't my luck improved at all?"
"Maybe he didn't get enough of a beating. That kid's got a tough bone to stick out. When asked if he has any family, he won't say a word."
"Look at his poor and shabby appearance. Even if he has family, what waves can he make? If you ask me, he should obediently give up that flower-picking position to my seventh young master."
"That's right, that's right. If Seventh Young Master goes to the prefectural city and enrolls in an academy, our Blackwater Gang will benefit too, won't they? If we can also obtain a wisp of mysterious luck, hehe, then the prospects will be huge."
"How could that person be so greedy? He's a lowly bastard, like a stray dog, yet he insists on becoming a big shot."
"Seventh Young Master was furious with him. If it weren't for him, our Seventh Young Master would have earned the position of Flower Picker openly and honestly, based on his own abilities."
"What kind of world is this? Still dreaming of turning things around? What a joke."
...
The men spoke freely, arms around each other, completely at ease. Their skin was dark, and although they were dressed in casual clothes, it was clear they came from the Blackwater Gang.
Li Xian had been following for a long time. He touched the long sword at his waist, circulated his internal energy through his limbs, and slowly caught up.
That's just how the world is; when you're weak, everything becomes an obstacle.
"Xiao Fan, if the world doesn't help you, your brother will."
"You should be that golden dragon!"
(End of this chapter)
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