The Li family made a fortune this time.
After returning to Shuxia Village, the group couldn't hide their excitement at all.
Needless to say, the feeling when dividing the silver was intense.
You've struck it rich!
Li Qingzhang was praised repeatedly by his elders, and his younger brothers and sisters looked at him with great respect.
They also seized the opportunity well; no matter how much the price of soybeans rises, it can't fly sky-high, there's an upper limit.
I later heard that not long after they left, the price dropped and stabilized.
After resting at home for several days in high spirits, Li Qingzhang was sent to work in the workshop by Li Xuming.
I'm busy.
The news of the tofu recipe being made public has spread, and the village chief is going to various villages to give speeches and promote the recipe.
Li's Workshop also took the opportunity to announce that the Li family would no longer make tofu, and planned to select several partners throughout the county to make tofu for themselves.
Soon, many people came to inquire about the requirements.
However, Lin Pei also had some ideas, so he sent a letter saying that he hoped the Li family would wait for his notification.
While the Li family was busy, the people from the palace finally arrived.
Meng Hui came to Shuxia Village again, this time with Li Xuhai and his son.
They returned to Shuxia Village ahead of time to prepare for receiving the imperial edict—it was an imperial edict!
"The imperial edict has arrived!"
"The Emperor's reward for the Li family has arrived!"
It was like pouring a ladle of water into a frying pan; Shuxia Village exploded.
This is insane!
"An angel is on his way. The Li family should prepare to receive the decree and set up an incense table!"
Meng Hui casually asked a villager to inform him, and the news immediately spread to the Li family.
"Village Chief! Village Chief! Hurry home, burn incense and bathe! Set up an incense altar throughout the village!"
Li Xuming and others hurriedly ran home from the workshop, and many merchants also gathered around to watch the excitement.
Zhao Qi and Qian Shulin have already arrived. At this point, can the Li family really be expected to handle the setting of the incense table themselves?
They'll handle it, and I guarantee it'll be done perfectly.
The Li family all changed into new clothes. Not only did Pan Jinhua change her clothes, but Liu Yun and the others also applied some powder and lipstick to her, and put a headband on her. She looked as solemn as could be, but it was hot.
"This outfit makes you look more energetic."
Pan Jinhua looked at her reflection in the water and was quite satisfied; it would be even better if there were a mirror.
"Mother always looks very well."
"This is because people are in high spirits when they have a happy event."
Indeed, there wasn't a single person in the entire Li family who wasn't smiling.
The day we've been waiting for has finally arrived!
When the palace eunuchs arrived, they were followed by a grand procession.
The one in the lead was particularly imposing.
"Li Shi, receive the imperial decree!"
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
The Li family members all knelt in a group, with Pan Jinhua at the front, Yan Shi with Li Qingyao on the left, and Li Xuming's family on the right.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The Li family of Nanze has presented a recipe for tofu and has also made significant contributions to increasing crop yields, benefiting all the people under Heaven. I am greatly pleased. All past events are now forgotten."
"From this day forward, all members of the Li family are hereby restored to commoner status. All members of the family may study and enter officialdom. Each family is granted one hundred taels of gold and a plaque bestowed by the Emperor. It is hoped that the Li family will remain true to its original aspirations. So be it!"
Pan Jinhua raised her hands above her head to receive the imperial edict, which meant that this old woman had touched the edict.
"Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"
The Li family couldn't hide their excitement. It's done!
The plaque, which had been covered by a red silk cloth, was lifted, revealing the four characters "Unwavering Original Aspiration".
"Never forget our original aspiration!"
"It seems that this is what the Emperor expects from our Li family."
Li Qingyao understood perfectly. Although the Emperor had pardoned Li's crimes, he did not want her to break the law again. This plaque was both a reward and a warning.
Although it was an old woman who received the imperial decree, Eunuch He showed no surprise. He then took out another appointment letter from his pocket.
"His Majesty also has an order: Li Xuhai of the Li family is to be promoted to the ninth rank of agricultural official and to set off for the capital as soon as possible to report to the Ministry of Agriculture."
Pan Jinhua was somewhat surprised; this was an unexpected delight.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Pan Jinhua thanked the emperor again, while Li Xuhai, who had been stunned, was only able to follow suit after being pushed by his wife. He then accepted the letter of appointment.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Father-in-law, we have prepared wine and food at home. Please do us the honor of coming from afar."
Li Xuming bowed and stepped forward to give Eunuch He a gift of money, then invited him to have a drink before leaving.
Grandpa He didn't refuse; he picked up the money bag and weighed it in his hand, finding it light as a feather.
"Lead the way."
"Auntie... I... I've become an official?"
Li Xuhai couldn't believe it.
The other brothers also gathered around, their eyes filled with envy.
"A grown man shouldn't act like this!"
"Everyone, disperse and hurry up to greet the officials. We can talk about this tonight!"
"Yes, Auntie!"
"Alright, Auntie!"
"Sister-in-law is right. Let's disperse quickly and talk again after the angels go back."
The people dispersed.
The crowd of onlookers then began to make a loud noise.
"An imperial edict! I've seen imperial edicts issued before!"
"Hehe, I even set up that incense table, so I'm part of the receiving of the imperial edict!"
"The Li family is truly remarkable. It's a blessing for Shuxia Village to have the Li family!"
"Of course! Look around this area, which family or village has ever seen an imperial edict? There aren't many in the whole county!"
"Hehehe! Our village is going to be rich!"
"Let's stop calling it 'Under the Tree Village'! I propose that from today onwards, our village be called 'Li Family Village'!"
"You're right, kid! That's right, Li Family Village is the one for us!"
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