"How about it?"
"Uncle Ming, it's done."
Li Qingyao exhaled a deep breath.
He was also afraid that he wouldn't even pass the county magistrate's test and would disappoint his mother and clan.
"That's good. If Qingzhang and the others hadn't been unable to read it, we wouldn't have put all the pressure on you. Now we're just hoping the children below will be smarter."
“Uncle Ming, there’s no need for that. Jun’er is very intelligent, and Tong’er is also outstanding in martial arts. They are both quick-witted and talented generals. The younger generation in the other branches of the family are also quite good.”
"You're right. With you all here, the family's prosperity is just around the corner."
Looking at the young man as green as bamboo, Li Xuming couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.
The family needed someone to take this step. If there weren't other family members who were exceptionally good at studying, they wouldn't have rushed to send Li Qingyao.
Is it that they don't want to be officials? His father wants to, he wants to, and his sons want to too, but it's not possible.
For some people, reading is as natural as drinking water, but for others it is extremely difficult.
He took the exam, and so did Li Qingzhang; neither of them even passed the preliminary exam.
He is a human being, and humans have selfish desires. How could he not want his family to produce a high-ranking official?
The crops should bear fruit this year. The new emperor's birthday falls in the autumn, and if the Li family can catch it, they can turn their fortunes around.
Once the Li family rises to power, Li Qingyao can immediately step into the imperial examination system and participate in the examinations.
With him taking the first step, the family will have time to slowly nurture other children, allowing the Li family to grow rapidly.
After all, serving as an official in the court is a difficult task, just like Li Qingyao's father, who was like a candle in the wind, which could be extinguished in an instant.
Not only Li Qingyao, but as long as the Li family grows stronger, they will also generously distribute money to support impoverished scholars and build good relationships.
This will make the Li family an unshakeable behemoth.
Thinking too much is useless; the most important thing now is to make money quickly and save up enough money.
Li Xuming shook his head, clearing his mind of a myriad of thoughts.
"Just focus on your studies. If you need anything, just tell me. Everything will be settled by autumn."
This is a done deal.
Why did Lin Pei's attitude towards Li Qingyao change so quickly?
It was because he foresaw the Li family's success from the crops that he was willing to do them a favor.
The Li family knew this, and Lin Pei also knew that the Li family knew this.
Li Qingzhang slowly strolled back and was spotted by Li Xuming.
"But what happened?"
"Oh, Mother said that there was some trouble with my great-aunt, so she went to help."
"What’s wrong with you?"
"Me? I'm fine, Father."
"Then go and see your mother. Has the matter been resolved?"
"yes."
By the time Li Qingzhang arrived, the matter had already been resolved.
A woman came to apply, but her parents came and refused to allow the Li family to hire her.
This caused a disturbance. There were many people in line at the time, and Yuan Shi couldn't handle it all by herself. She thought that the distinguished guests had all left, so she asked Liu Yun to help deal with it.
"Wasn't this woman here to work and earn money? Why is her own family causing trouble?"
Li Qingzhang found it hard to understand. He could understand the words, but why did they sound so strange when put together?
Liu Yun also had a complicated expression.
"The woman has a younger brother who is getting married, but they don't have enough money for the bride price. She thought she would come to work to earn money, but she didn't know that her parents had already promised her off to someone else in exchange for the bride price. Today she came to register, and her parents thought she had run away..."
"This, this..."
Li Qingzhang didn't know what else to say. He felt that he was suffering, but many people's suffering was so profound that they couldn't even shout it out; it was all silent.
"Oh, what a mess. Let's not talk about that. Did you pass the gift on to Madam Cao?"
Li Qingzhang's heart skipped a beat at his mother's sudden change of words, as if he were seeing a certain figure again.
"It's already been paid. Madam Cao must like it; she asked me to thank you."
"It's not that Madam Cao likes her, it's that Miss Cao likes her. I've long heard that Madam Cao dotes on this daughter..."
It turns out she likes Yao Huang.
Only the peony is truly a national beauty; when it blooms, it stirs the capital.
This flower is indeed beautiful, yet somewhat unattainable.
——
The workshop released the list of successful candidates on the third day, and the day was as lively as when a scholar was listed on the imperial examination.
Not everyone from Shuxia Village was selected; the workshops were chosen in a more equitable way, with people from both inside and outside the village participating.
Those who weren't selected didn't dare to cause trouble. Not to mention that this was a workshop under the supervision of the county magistrate, even the families who were selected wouldn't allow others to cause trouble. What if they caused trouble and lost their own family members?
Besides, didn't the workshop say they'd be hiring again next time?
So, without any problems, the hundred people started work the next day.
At the same time, the county magistrate also began to promote the Li family's products extensively to outside merchants.
In addition, local businesses began to gradually stock up on goods, and the reputation of the tofu workshop became popular throughout Shaoguan County.
The Li family's workshop business is on the right track.
Li Qingyao studies on his own in the morning and teaches the Li family children in the afternoon, reviewing and learning new things.
He also corresponded with Lin Pei from time to time, sending him his policy essays, and occasionally Lin Pei would give him some problems to solve.
As Li Qingzhang matured and became more composed, he also became involved in the workshop's affairs.
Li Qingruo and her sisters, along with Yan Min and the others, were busy making hairpins every day.
After the first batch of hairpins was sent out, they received a large number of orders. People even came to the prefectural city to inquire about business. Many jewelry shops also wanted to do business with them. Unfortunately, Yan Min and her team had too many orders and did not want to cooperate with jewelry shops.
Yan Min learned from the letter sent by Madam Lin that a lady had gone to the prefectural city to attend a spring flower viewing banquet while wearing a hairpin.
The lady's hairpin was an apricot blossom hairpin, very intricate and exquisite. At first glance, people thought she was wearing real flowers, but upon closer inspection, they realized they were fake.
It attracted the attention of many ladies and young women, greatly satisfying their vanity.
Normally, everyone in the county has these kinds of hairpins, so it's not appropriate to show them off. But she went outside to show them off, and somehow she managed to do it.
Because of her actions, many people started flocking to the prefectural city. The people of the prefectural city had always looked down on them, thinking they were unsophisticated.
Now, I have her, but she doesn't.
It's time for us to laugh at them.
Especially when asked by others, they pretend to say something.
"Oh, you mean this hairpin? It's just an ordinary piece by a famous artist."
As the velvet flower hairpins became a hit, the names of Lady Yan, Lady Liu, Lady Mo, and Lady Li also spread.
Each of them had their own focus. Madam Yan was good at simplicity, and her ink-wash style hairpins were elegant and sophisticated.
The hairpins made by Lady Liu are intricate, with layers upon layers of petals, breathtakingly beautiful, yet not cumbersome.
The ones made by Lady Mo are even more lively and playful, often adorned with small animals.
Lady Li's hairpins are adorned with jewels and gemstones, demonstrating her skill in using various jewels and jade to enhance their beauty.
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