Chapter 98 Be wary of men who confide in you.
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Even before leaving Liujiatun, Li Shiyue had some doubts in her mind.
Why did Li Shiyang insist on going with them to Sanshan County to exchange barbarian heads for silver?
This matter is enough for Li Shiyue and the others to handle; there's no need for Li Shiyang to come along.
After all, Li Shiyang's physique was really no match for the rest of them, yet he insisted on coming along. If something happened to him on the way, they would have to take care of him.
In this way, Li Shiyang not only couldn't help, but might also add to their burden.
But Li Shiyang was, after all, a scholar, and it was he who received the news in advance and led them to flee the famine;
More importantly, Li Youfu, the clan chief of Lijia Village, is his grandfather. If nothing unexpected happens, Li Shiyang will become the new clan chief after Li Youfu dies.
Therefore, when Li Shiyang suggested going with them to Sanshan County to exchange silver, they naturally did not refuse.
I didn't refuse, but I had some reservations.
When Li Shiyang knocked on the door and started talking about his unfilial, unkind, and unjust second uncle tonight, Li Shiyue already had some thoughts in her mind.
Be wary when a man tells you about his unavoidable circumstances and hardships.
Generally speaking, men who do this are mostly trying to lower your guard and win you over with affection, hoping you will willingly sacrifice your own interests to achieve their desired goals.
Because a truly upright and honorable person will not expose their shortcomings to others.
They would only lick their wounds in quiet corners, rather than openly expose them to others to gain sympathy and get what they want.
Isn't Li's father just shameless like that?
His excuse for his affair with Qin Tao was that Shi Tou was stupid, and as the eldest son of the Li family, he had the responsibility of carrying on the family line.
That's why he had no choice but to ask Qin Tao to do such a despicable thing, all for the sake of ensuring the Li family's continuation.
He said this in the hope that his capable mother, seeing his "helplessness" and "difficult reasons," would grant his wish to make Qin Tao his concubine so that he could enjoy the bliss of having two wives.
As for Li Shiyang's deliberate killing of Li Wangren, in Li Shiyue's view, Li Shiyang definitely had the intention to kill him long ago.
However, the Japanese pirates arrived suddenly that night, and under such circumstances, he did not have time to plan carefully. That night was a good opportunity to kill Li Wangren directly through the Japanese pirates, so he did it directly.
If it weren't for the Japanese pirates hijacking the ship, the people of Lijia Village would have successfully settled in Liujiatun, and Li Shiyang probably wouldn't have complained to Li Youfu and asked him to control Li Wangren.
The hatred Li Shiyang felt for Li Wangren was not only because of his shameless affair with Qin Tao, but mainly because Li Youfu had made his father perform corvée labor in place of Li Wangren, which resulted in his death!
The hatred in Li Shiyang's heart for killing his father would definitely drive him to find a way to kill Li Wangren later.
His unexpected discovery of Li Wangren and Qin Tao's affair was merely the trigger.
At this moment, when Li Shiyue asked, "...Is there anything that can't be said directly?"
She had already figured it out. Li Shiyang had just mentioned that he wanted to continue taking the imperial examinations or become a civil official under the Prince of Zhenbei. So, he must have his eye on the "Xuan" token that Liu Tan had given her, right?
Previously, Chen Wenfu, a strategist under the Prince of Zhenbei, gave Li Shiyang a "Xuan" character token in the prefectural city. But how could the strategist's "Xuan" character token compare to the "Xuan" character token personally given by the eldest son of the Prince of Zhenbei?
Sure enough, Li Shiyang looked up at Li Shiyue and asked, "Back in the village, the eldest young master asked you if you would be willing to serve as a soldier under him. What do you think about that?"
Li Shiyue would definitely not agree to Liu Tan's request!
Putting aside whether there are any female soldiers in Liu Tan's Xuanjia Army, given the mess Li Shiyue has at home, it's impossible for her to abandon her mother and the others to join the army and become a killing machine!
It's not advisable to be a foot soldier; it's much better to be a general with troops under your command.
Suddenly, a brilliant idea flashed through Li Shiyue's mind!
She took the "Xuan" character token that Liu Tan had given her from her waist, placed it on the table, and looked up at Li Shiyang: "Brother Shiyang, do you want to use this token to go to Sanshan County to find Mr. Chen?"
Yes, Mr. Chen!
Li Shiyue suddenly remembered what Liu Tan had said after giving her the "Xuan" character token: "...Just take this token to the military garrison behind Qingsong Town and find a Mr. Chen."
I wonder if this Mr. Chen is the same Mr. Chen that Li Shiyang met in the prefectural city.
Li Shiyang's eyes immediately fell on the "Xuan" character plaque on the table. He picked it up and examined it in his palm, even bringing the oil lamp on the table closer to look at it.
"Compared to the piece Mr. Chen gave me, this piece has an extra word in the corner."
Li Shiyue looked down at the spot Li Shiyang was pointing to, and a small character for "handsome" appeared before her eyes.
Seeing Li Shiyue nod, Li Shiyang continued, "Sister Shiyue, what do you think?"
Li Shiyue reached out and took the "Xuan" character plaque from Li Shiyang's palm. She looked at Li Shiyang and said, word by word, "Brother Shiyang, although I have no intention of becoming a soldier in the army, I intend to promote the men of our village to go."
As you said, chaos is coming. Our village has settled in Liujiatun. If we want to live a good life in the future, how can we do it without someone in the army?
Yes, we fled with you to escape famine when the land was dry and the spring crops were dying, just so we wouldn't be arbitrarily conscripted into the military.
But things are different now. There's no drought here, but there are barbarians!
Listening to Li Shiyue's words, Li Shiyang thought that Li Shiyue probably didn't want to lend him the "Xuan" character token.
Li Shiyang's face immediately fell, but as long as Li Shiyue's eyes were fixed on him without missing a single detail, Li Shiyang's face quickly regained its gentle smile.
"However, this card can be borrowed by my elder brother for now."
I believe that if this talisman can help my brother meet Mr. Chen, with his intelligence, he will surely have a bright future!
After saying this, Li Shiyue smiled and placed the card in Li Shiyang's hand: "If this card is of any use, please do not forget the people of Liujiatun, brother."
Actually, all Li Shiyue needs to do is take this sign to Mr. Chen at the military garrison, and then bring Li Shiyang along.
However, Li Shiyang's request for the plaque at this moment must mean he wants to see Mr. Chen alone. It's unlikely that he was able to see Mr. Chen because Liu Tan noticed Li Shiyue's skills.
Ultimately, it boils down to the question of who should take the lead between Li Shiyue and Li Shiyang.
Li Shiyang just wanted to take advantage of this.
Li Shiyue could naturally refuse Li Shiyang, but if she did, it would mean she would have a complete falling out with him.
Li Shiyue was not afraid of Li Shiyang, but she still had a family. If she really had to be wary of the next clan leader, how would her mother and the others live in Li Family Village?
Therefore, we can only agree to this matter for now. From now on, we will have to rely on Li Shiyue herself. If she becomes more capable, she will naturally not be afraid of Li Shiyang's ulterior motives.
Furthermore, Li Shiyue considered that if Li Shiyang could really get a job here through Mr. Chen, it would naturally be a good thing for the people of Lijia Village.
Therefore, Li Shiyang took the sign.
The next day, after everything was packed up, they entered Sanshan County and followed the soldiers who were transporting grain to the government office. Li Shiyue went to find the county magistrate to exchange the silver, while Li Shiyang, carrying the "Xuan" character plaque, asked the soldier who brought them there, and then went to the garrison to find Mr. Chen.
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