Chapter 274 It's nothing more than self-interest.
(Thanks to Gusu Flower Shopkeeper for casting a monthly vote.)
Li Shiyue had only been sitting in the lotus room on the second floor of the Yuelai Restaurant for a short while when she noticed Li Wangming's strange behavior.
Especially when she and Li Wangming made eye contact, Li Wangming practically wore the word "awkward" on his face.
However, since Li's mother and the others were discussing what to buy in the prefectural city the next day, Li Shiyue didn't feel comfortable asking Li Wangming what was wrong at that moment.
After a good meal, Li Shiyue and the others left the restaurant and headed back to the inn after 7 PM.
Because it was nearing the end of the year, even on a winter night, there were still quite a few pedestrians on the streets of the prefectural city.
Many shops had lanterns lit outside, adding a touch of warmth to the dark night.
As soon as Li Shiyue entered the inn, she saw Li Wangshui and Li Shiliang sitting in the lobby waiting for her.
"In October, everything was accounted for, and everyone came back."
Li Shiyue nodded, exchanged a few words with the two, agreed on a meeting time the day after tomorrow, and then went upstairs with Li's mother and the others.
"It's been a while since I had a proper talk with my second uncle. Mother, come with me to talk to him."
Li's mother was stunned for a moment, and didn't react immediately. "Ah? Ah! Okay, okay."
"October?"
Li Shiyue waved to Li Xiatian, called for Shitou, and then pulled Li's mother's arm and the somewhat bewildered Li Wangming into the room where he and Shitou lived.
The four people each occupied a corner of the square table, and Li Sanniang poured a cup and a half of lukewarm water for each of them.
"When we were at the restaurant, I noticed that my second uncle seemed distracted. Could something have happened at the academy?"
After hearing what Li Shiyue said, Shi Tou turned his head and stared at Li Wangming.
Li's mother looked as if she had just realized something, put down her teacup, and looked at Li Wangming with concern.
"I didn't even think about the future; I was just too happy to come to the prefectural city."
Wangming, tell your sister-in-law, could it be that those rich and powerful students at the prefectural school are bullying you?
Faced with Li Shiyue's questions and Li's mother's concerned gaze, Li Wangming felt like a rat in a ditch, utterly unworthy to be seen by others!
Looking at Li Wangming's flushed cheeks and evasive eyes, and seeing his mouth open and close repeatedly, Li Shiyue knew that it couldn't be something from the school that made Li Wangming so embarrassed.
However, when Li's mother saw Li Wangming like this, she thought that Li Wangming had been bullied but dared not speak up.
She slammed her hand on the table, startling the other three people at the table.
Li's mother raised her voice and shouted at Li Wangming, who was looking down, "Why don't you say something?"
Why are you still the same as when you were a child?
"You were bullied and you didn't even know to go home and tell them!"
Li's mother got angry as soon as she saw Li Wangming's sticky and cuddly manner.
With a "smack," Li's mother slapped Li Wangming's forearm.
Li's mother had used considerable force; even through her thick outer garment, one could tell that the blow was quite severe.
"But they ostracized you because you were an outsider?"
Or maybe they took advantage of your young age and made you do bad things?
Li Wangming's face flushed red and then turned pale, then flushed again. He wanted to say no, but when he met his mother's eyes, he didn't know what to say.
Seeing Li Wangming like this, Li's mother became even angrier.
Besides being angry that Li Wangming didn't say anything, she also felt that she had been busy with the village's trade market lately and had neglected Li Wangming.
Because Li Wangming was studying at the prefectural school, which was far away, he couldn't visit him often. The last time he saw him was during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Therefore, Li's mother was both angry and heartbroken at this moment.
She was angry that Li Wangming didn't tell his family the truth, and she felt sorry for leaving Li Wangming alone in the prefectural city to study, without anyone he knew around him.
"Tell your sister-in-law the truth, what exactly happened?"
Don't be afraid. Shi Yue is now a sixth-rank official. Even if this rank is nothing in the eyes of those powerful people, Shi Yue's rank was personally recognized by the Prince of Zhenbei!
If they bully you again in the future, just say you are October's second uncle!
Otherwise, we can have October send you to the academy next year.
When the time comes, let October wear his official robes, and let's see what they'll do then...
"No!
No, sister-in-law, they didn't bully me.
My classmate, Brother Gu, took great care of me; no one ostracized me.
Hearing Li Wangming's words, Li's mother felt a little relieved, but she was still not completely at ease.
Then she asked Li Wangming, "What's wrong with you? Why do you look so pale?"
Li Shiyue also looked over at this moment, and Li Wangming's eyes met Li Shiyue's. He felt very ashamed and dared not look at Li's mother and Li Shiyue's concerned and questioning eyes anymore.
He lowered his head, remained silent for a few moments, and then said in a voice barely audible, "I wasn't bullied."
I looked unwell in the restaurant because when I went to pick you up at the city gate earlier, Xia Tian told me...
She said she would become an official in October, but I... I'm still just a student in the imperial examinations. I don't know when I'll be able to pass the provincial examinations and become a scholar.
"I," Li Wangming raised his head, his eyes seemingly moist, his voice trembling with emotion, "I heard he'd be appointed an official in October, and I felt... both happy and... a little jealous..."
Li Wangming's face looked somewhat obscure in the candlelight.
Li's mother was somewhat stunned. She could understand what Li Wangming had said before, but she really didn't understand this word "jealousy".
Li's mother thought to herself, "Why would you be jealous of Shiyue?"
That's your dear niece, October, who grew up with you and is like a younger sister to you!
Li Shiyue wasn't particularly surprised when she heard Li Wangming's words.
It's true that she inherited the original owner's feelings; she has a sibling-like affection for her uncle, Li Wangming.
But from the moment Li Wangming still wanted to build a cenotaph for his father after arriving in Andong and settling in Liujiatun, Li Shiyue understood that in the future, she would eventually stand on the opposite side of Li Wangming.
She was willing to compromise on the matter of erecting a cenotaph for Li's father at the time;
She chose to save face, conform to the prevailing filial piety, and use this to provoke Li Youfu, gradually clarifying the conflict between them. This laid the foundation for her to sever ties with Li Youfu and seize power in Liujiatun later.
At this moment, Li Shiyue was smiling as she looked at Li Wangming.
She didn't have a problem with Li Wangming as a person; after all, jealousy is a human trait.
That's human nature; there's really no need to be too harsh on him.
As for why Li Shiyue said that she would definitely stand on the opposite side of Li Wangming in the future?
That's because Li Wangming, who grew up receiving a Confucian education, could accept that Li Shiyue killed someone to survive on the way to escape famine.
After arriving at Liujiatun, he could understand why Li Shiyue would oppose Li Youfu and his group for his own benefit;
Even though Li Shiyue, as a woman, became the head of Liujiatun, Li Wangming didn't think that Li Shiyue, as a woman, shouldn't show her face in public or be in charge of the household.
He could accept all of this, and he could even gain some benefits by relying on Li Shiyue.
For example, he doesn't have to worry about money because he receives dividends from the paper mill and paper shop provided by Li Shiyue.
He could also study at the prefectural school as a student, because Li Shiyue had taken him to Liu Tan's door to ask for help, and he could enroll directly.
Li Shiyue even created opportunities for him to show off in front of Liu Tan.
However, Li Wangming really couldn't accept that Li Shiyue had become an official before him!
He was a sixth-rank official, which wasn't low!
This is the fundamental reason why Li Shiyue said she would eventually stand on the opposite side of Li Wangming.
Nothing more than self-interest.
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