Chapter 20 The number one scholar’s father is a charlatan who always wins in gambling!
Ever since Si Yuan sent little Changqing to go to school at the Jingyuan Earl's Mansion, he basically didn't have to worry about anything except for the child's academic performance and how he got along with his classmates.
So Si Yuan, who had nothing to do, would go out for a stroll half an hour before the children got out of school every day. When he arrived at the Jingyuan Marquis's Mansion, he would just catch up with Xiao Changqing's school.
Si Yuan entered the Jingyuan Marquis's mansion as if he were entering his own home. The gatekeeper would not stop him. He went to wait outside the classroom where the three children were having their lessons. After the teacher finished the class, Xiao Changqing and his two cousins and classmates walked out of the classroom. He saw his father standing not far from the door. He happily ran over and threw himself into Si Yuan's arms: "Dad!"
Si Yuan held little Chang Qing in his arms with one hand and said with a smile: "Dad is here to take you home! Before you go home, Dad will take you to Zhenweilou to buy your favorite roast chicken."
Little Changqing hugged Si Yuan's neck, his little face full of smiles, and he kept talking about the new courses he learned and what happened in Jingyuan Marquis's mansion today. No matter whether what he said was interesting or boring, Si Yuan would give him a positive response. The father and son were like good friends who got along very well and chatted enthusiastically.
Li Changji and Li Changwen, who spent the same day with Xiao Changqing, never knew that their boring study life would be as interesting as Xiao Changqing said.
The sun was shining brightly through the window, making them feel hot and irritable, but in Xiao Changqing's mouth it was sunny and the weather was just right, making them feel happy; the chirping of the birds outside the window was annoying and making it difficult for them to memorize their lessons, but in Xiao Changqing's mouth it was the birds singing sweet songs that made him more motivated to memorize; the stray cat that came from nowhere was dirty and ugly, but in Xiao Changqing's mouth it was a wandering cat that was carefree and free...
It seemed that Xiao Changqing could always look at things that seemed ordinary and boring to them from a different optimistic perspective.
Li Changji and Li Changwen didn't understand why little Changqing was such an optimistic person, but when they saw their third uncle holding little Changqing and patiently listening to his whimsical and naive words, they vaguely understood something in their hearts.
If it were their father, Xiao Changqing would be severely reprimanded before he could finish his words, followed by a long lecture and punishment, and he would not even have the chance to say these fantastic words again.
But Third Uncle/Third Uncle was very cooperative and patiently held little Changqing in his arms and listened to him. Even though what he said was naive and fantastic, Third Uncle/Third Uncle did not think at all that his behavior was a waste of time and effort instead of focusing on his studies. The relationship between them as father and son was better than that between friends. It was really enviable. It would be great if their father was like Changqing's father.
Si Yuan felt two envious gazes from behind falling on himself and Xiao Changqing, and he left the Jingyuan Earl's Mansion holding Xiao Changqing as if he didn't notice anything.
The two children, Li Changji and Li Changwen, envied Xiao Changqing for having such a good father like Si Yuan. Li Chengyuan and Li Jingyuan also envied Si Yuan for having such a smart son like Xiao Changqing.
In terms of intelligence, Li Changwen is actually not inferior to Xiao Changqing. Only Li Changji is really much inferior to the two of them, because Li Changji is neither as hardworking nor as talented as them.
But as the three children grew older and learned more in-depth knowledge, their respective temperaments and styles gradually became clear.
Li Changwen is a hard-working and motivated child who studies very seriously. However, due to the pressure from his parents, he is very mature at a young age. Especially with Si Yuan and Li Changqing, father and son, around him, Li Changwen feels like a bird trapped in a cage without freedom, and every day is torture.
This kind of life of longing for freedom yet being extremely oppressive wore away Li Changwen's spirit, so his poetry and songs were evaluated by his teacher as being too mechanical but lacking in spirit.
In contrast to him, Li Changqing was quite gifted in poetry and songs. His imaginative thinking and eyes that could see the beauty of things from different angles enabled Li Changqing to always come up with amazing verses. Even the articles he wrote on a daily basis were full of his own unique spirit. He was one of the teacher's favorite students.
Although Li Changwen had excellent grades compared to Li Changji, who gradually developed a dislike for studying, his grades plummeted, and he got a headache when he saw books. Even though his teacher commented that his poems were too mechanical, the imperial examinations did not place much emphasis on poetry. Since he could not compare with Li Changqing in this aspect, Li Changwen should have been able to move on from it.
But Li Changwen just couldn't let it go, not only because his father Li Jingyuan and his mother Tan often told him that he must surpass Li Changqing, but also because he had seen Li Changqing live a very happy life since he was a child, which seemed to make him look too unfortunate. He couldn't help but want to be better and more outstanding than Li Changqing. In this case, would the third uncle who was always gentle and amiable to them only focus on him, the more outstanding junior?
The classroom, which was once filled with the sound of reading, became quiet. Three young men sat at their desks, looking at the serious-looking teacher in front of them, sitting upright and not daring to show the slightest disrespect.
The teacher looked at the three students from the Jingyuan Earl's Mansion. He had taught them for more than ten years. Li Changji, the legitimate heir to the Jingyuan Earl, was increasingly unable to keep up with the progress of the other two students. Fortunately, his family had a title to inherit, so even if he did not take the imperial examination, he could just lie back and wait to inherit the title.
As for the other two students, one was gifted with natural talent, the other was precocious and steady. Although Li Changwen was not as talented as Li Changqing in poetry and songs, and his talent and reputation were not as great as Li Changqing's in literary gatherings for foreign exchanges in recent years, to be honest, the imperial examinations did not value poetry and songs, otherwise there would not have been so many famous poets in history who repeatedly failed the exams.
But Li Changqing is not worse than Li Changwen in other aspects. Otherwise, why would he, as a teacher, feel sorry that Li Changwen is not as good as Li Changqing in terms of spiritual energy? It is because Li Changwen is at the same level as Li Changqing in other aspects except that he is not as talented as Li Changqing in composing poems, lyrics and essays. This small difference leads to the fact that the two people's talents and fame are completely on different levels, which is really a pity for him.
However, the children of noble families valued the results of imperial examinations and becoming an official more. No matter how talented and famous one was, it would be useless if one could not pass the imperial examination and become an official.
The gentleman looked at Li Changqing, who was sitting there with a sense of ease and elegance, and said with a smile: "Changqing, do you want to take the exam this year?"
The teacher liked Li Changqing very much. He was a student who was respectful and naturally friendly to his elders. Even the tone of his voice when speaking to him subconsciously carried a hint of negotiation.
Li Changqing blinked and said without hesitation: "I want to ask my father." Yes, he is such a daddy's boy!
He went home and made a bet with his father. If his father bet that he could take part in the imperial examination this year, then he would take the examination. Just like three years ago, my father bet that he would be implicated in the imperial examination cheating case when he took the next imperial examination, and sure enough, my father won the bet. Fortunately, he listened to his father and did not take the imperial examination three years ago.
The gentleman was not surprised by the answer of Li Changqing, the daddy's boy. He nodded and turned to look at Li Changwen: "What about Changwen? Three years ago you said you would give it a try, but you were unable to participate because you fell ill at the last minute. Are you going to continue this year?"
Li Changwen glanced at Li Changqing inconspicuously and said, "Sir, I should take part in the imperial examination this year." However, although he said so, whether he would really participate or not depended on whether Li Changqing would participate. If Li Changqing did not participate, he would have to pretend to be sick and not take part in the imperial examination this year.
Li Changwen often hung out with Li Changqing over the years. Due to some unspeakable envy in his heart, he paid close attention to Li Changqing's every move, so he keenly noticed that Li Changqing was always very lucky to avoid certain situations where accidents might happen.
For example, they used to go to Zhenweilou for dinner every month, but one time Li Changqing suddenly suggested changing the location, and it happened that on that day, something happened at Zhenweilou. If they had gone to Zhenweilou for dinner that day, they might not have been implicated, but they would definitely have been in trouble.
For example, Li Changqing, who particularly liked to attend various literary gatherings, suddenly rejected an invitation to a literary gathering from a friend with whom he had a close relationship. On the same day, it was reported that a very serious accident had occurred at the literary gathering. Fortunately, Li Changqing did not attend that day, otherwise he would have been implicated...
This kind of thing has happened not once or twice, but many times over the past decade or so. Every time, Li Changqing was able to accurately avoid these accidents, big or small.
Li Changwen, who had been observing Li Changqing, boldly guessed that Li Changqing must have some way to predict good and bad luck in advance.
As for Li Changqing's explanation that he didn't go to places where accidents might happen because he made a bet with his father, Li Changwen didn't believe it at all.
Although Li Changwen never found out how Li Changqing avoided danger and sought good fortune, this did not stop him from following Li Changqing's steps.
They both passed the provincial examination and became Juren. Three years ago, Li Changwen was urged to take part in the metropolitan examination by his parents who were eager for him to pass the imperial examination as soon as possible, as they were more eager than Li Changqing. Li Changwen agreed on the surface, but in fact he was observing whether Li Changqing would sign up for the metropolitan examination.
When he found out that Li Changqing not only did not sign up for the imperial examination, but also reminded him many times not to take part in that examination, he decisively took a cold shower, made himself sick, and avoided the imperial examination three years ago, thus avoiding the imperial examination cheating case that caused a sensation in the court and the country.
You must know that every time there is a case of cheating in the imperial examination, regardless of whether they are innocent or not, the candidates of that year will be implicated and lose their reputation or life. Even if they are eventually proven innocent, they will have no future.
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