Chapter 273 I'm still as useless as ever.
(Thanks to Haheyyun for casting 3 monthly tickets.)
During our stay in Sanshan County, due to the large number of people, the only two guesthouses in the county were booked by people from Liujiatun.
The innkeeper was also surprised, saying he had never seen an entire village come to the city together before.
However, Li Shiyue and his group only stayed in Sanshan County for one night.
Before dawn, Li Shiyue led everyone onto the official road toward the prefectural city.
Because they wanted to enter the prefectural city before dark, they did not walk slowly after they got on the official road.
Perhaps because of their previous experience fleeing famine in Henan, the three of them—the Wang family, Old Man Liu, and the others—were all very obedient to orders along the way.
Moreover, they set off early, and despite their hurried pace, they managed to enter the city before the city gates closed.
Li Wangming, who had been waiting at the city gate for a long time, saw Li Shiyue and the others lining up towards the city gate in the distance. He disregarded the demeanor of a scholar and ran towards Li Shiyue against the northwest wind.
At this moment, Li Wangming was already sitting on the carriage shaft, and he had to give directions to Li Qiutian, who was driving the carriage.
The destination of this journey was an inn that he had booked for the people of Liujiatun in the prefectural city long ago, after he received Li Shiyue's letter.
The prefectural city was bustling, and one inn there could accommodate more people than two inns in Sanshan County.
Really?
Li Wangming looked incredulously at Li Qiutian’s mother and Zheng Meiniang sitting behind him. He had just heard Li Xiatian, who was sitting behind Li’s mother, say that Li Shiyue had become an official!
With a smile on her face, Li's mother nodded at Li Wangming in response to his shocked expression.
Before Li's mother could explain anything, Li Xiatian quickly recounted how Li Shiyue had single-handedly fought eight Turkic princes in front of thousands of people at the trade market without being at a disadvantage, and how she had been granted an official position by the Prince of Zhenbei on the spot after her victory.
She described it very vividly, after all, she was really there at the time.
"Second Uncle, October will be the first time in the family to become an official!"
He's a sixth-rank official!
It's just that the green robe he wore was rather ugly.
However, October said that if she were to achieve merit in the future, she might be promoted and become a fifth-rank official in scarlet robes!
With a "smack," came the sound of Zheng Meiniang slapping Li Xiatian on the back.
"Don't talk about these things in the summer."
Li Xiatian quickly shut her mouth. She was genuinely happy that Li Shiyue could become an official, which made her feel that women were more capable than men!
She deliberately mentioned to Li Wangming that Li Shiyue had become an official.
Because she felt that Li Shiyue, Li's mother, and Shi Tou had really put in a lot of money and effort for Li Wangming's education.
Li Shiyue still has to do favors for others.
Li Wangming studied so that he could become an official.
Look, just look. Li Wangming has been reading this book for more than half a year now.
In the future, when Li Wangming passes the county-level examination and becomes a scholar, he can then take the provincial-level examination. If he doesn't take the examination again, he can become a minor official.
But if he has to take the exam again, who knows when Li Wangming will pass the imperial examination?
If that's the case, wouldn't Li Shiyue and the others have to support Li Wangming indefinitely?
This is the first reason why Li Xiatian deliberately spoke like this in front of Li Wangming.
As for the second reason, it was because of her own longing for her daughter to become an official and to have power and ability.
Because her family consisted of only her and Li Qiutian, back in Lijia Village, the women with sons would often subtly mock and ridicule Zheng Meiniang whenever her family returned to Lijia Village to visit Li's mother.
"Without even a son, the family line might die out in the future!"
“The woman has married out and has no sons. She will probably starve to death at home in her old age.”
How can a woman not give birth to a son?
Without sons, what hope is there in this life?
Li Xiatian even clearly remembers one time when a family in the village came to her house carrying a boy who was already six or seven years old and said, "...You don't have a son either. My family is very close to Wangzheng. Gou Dan is only six years old. Why don't you take him back and raise him?"
In the future, your butcher shop will have a successor, otherwise, will it be passed on to your daughter?
Besides, if you raise Gou Dan, your daughter will have her brothers to help her when she gets married, right?
Not to mention, even after you're gone, Gou Dan will still smash pots and wave banners for you!
The family wanted to say something more, but Li Wangzheng didn't give them the chance.
At that moment, Li Wangzheng simply picked up a broom and swept the floor out of the house.
When Li Wang turned around while holding the broom, he saw Zheng Meiniang had already picked up a butcher knife.
However, from then on, Li Wangzheng announced that he would find a husband for his eldest daughter, Li Qiutian, to live with his family.
Those members of the Li clan who have no idea what they're up to should stop bothering them.
If he were to come again, he couldn't guarantee he'd be carrying a broom or a machete!
Because of these things in his family, Li Xiatian had been holding his breath, always wanting to prove that women are no less capable than men!
Even without sons, women can still work as butchers, and sisters can help each other and take care of their parents in their old age and see them off in death!
Those women who say they must have sons, aren't they just looking for a better life and not afraid of being bullied?
In all of this, what does it matter whether one is a son or a daughter when it comes to being able to become an official and a person of power and status?
Look! Li Shiyue has become an official!
She is the one with power!
Who will dare to bully her and her family from now on?
Therefore, it was because of this that Li Xiatian excitedly told Li Wangming about Li Shiyue's appointment as an official.
After hearing Li Xiatian's words, Li Wangming didn't know how he felt. Was he happy for Li Shiyue?
Or was it out of shame for himself?
Even more so, were they jealous of Li Shiyue?
In short, he felt a mix of emotions.
Finally, he smiled and nodded emphatically, saying to Li's mother and the others, "Then we must have a good drink today!"
Although I had already booked a banquet at Yuelai Restaurant, I originally wanted to have a good meal with you all;
Now, what a coincidence! It's perfect for the banquet celebrating October!
None of the four women—Li's mother, Zheng Meiniang, Li Qiutian, and Li Xiatian—felt that Li Wangming was wrong, nor did they notice his stiff lips and the very fake smile on his face.
Li Wangming wasn't truly unhappy, after all, he and Li Shiyue had a very deep relationship.
But at this moment, when he looked at Li Shiyue riding ahead on horseback, he felt a pang of sadness in his heart.
"By October, she had already become an official!"
He was a high-ranking official, a sixth-rank official!
And me?
I'm currently only studying at the prefectural school, and even my admission was thanks to a favor I received in October!
Li Wangming originally thought that if he studied hard and passed the imperial examination, he would be lucky to become a minor official.
Once someone becomes an official, even a minor one, they are no longer the same as ordinary people.
In this way, Li's mother and the others could rely on Li Wangming for protection.
But when will we get there?
It will take at least three years, and at most five or eight years.
But then again, will the Great Long Dynasty truly never face another period of turmoil again?
Could the imperial examinations still really be held on a set date?
Therefore, at this moment, Li Wangming was in a very low mood, "...I am still as useless as ever."
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