Chapter 188

Ye Xiaotian and Le Yao wandered around for a while and bought a basket of bamboo shoots for Fuwa. They had just returned to the inn and just brewed a pot of tea when Mao Wenzhi rushed back. As soon as he entered the room, he shouted: "Aiya, Big Brother, you have to hurry. If you are late, your wife, my sister-in-law, will run away with someone else."

Ye Xiaotian was shocked and said: "What do you mean run away with someone? Say it clearly."

Mao Wenzhi reached out his hand to touch the teapot. With a sizzling sound, he said, "It's scalding!" He looked around, picked up a teacup, and ran to the basin where Ye Xiaotian had just washed his face. He scooped up some water and gulped it down.

Ye Xiaotian and Shuiwu looked at each other. Fuwa did not look up and continued to eat the bamboo shoots.

Mao Wenzhi drank three cups of water in a row before returning to the table and sat down. He wiped his mouth and said: "As soon as I heard the news, I immediately rushed back. Don't you think it's urgent? That old thing from the Xue family went to the Xie family today. The Xie family lives in the neighboring village. He asked the Xie family to ask their eldest son, who is your love rival, to come back as soon as possible to settle the marriage. "

"Old Xie specially went to their house and is very fond of my sister-in-law. He said that the marriage is settled. This is what I heard when that old fart sent the Xie family out of the village. You see, if you don't think of a solution, my sister-in-law will sleep with someone else … "

Ye Xiaotian was furious when he heard this: "Hey! This father-in-law of mine is really not a good thing. Why does he always look down on me? No way! Even if you are already taken, I still want to replace the flower with the tree! The surnamed Xie kid, tell him to get lost. If I like a woman, there is no reason for me to give her to someone else! "

Mao Wenzhi happily said: "Big Brother's words are pleasing to the ears. It is overbearing! If you raise the flag and pull the pole, I will definitely follow you up the mountain! "

Ye Xiaotian said, "Nonsense. They live at the foot of the mountain. They don't live on the mountain. Have you been there or not? Don't try to trick me."

Mao Wenzhi laughed and said: "Big Brother, you don't understand. Raising the flag and pulling the pole is the same as being a bandit in the mountain. Do you know that? Let's snatch my sister-in-law away and make her your wife! "

Ye Xiaotian's anger turned into joy: "Yes! That is a good idea! Tomorrow morning we will go to Sanli Village! "

Mao Wenzhi said, "Brother, why are you in such a hurry? I heard that the eldest son of the Xie family is in Shuixi. It will take him a long time to come back. It's going to rain tomorrow. Let's go another time."

Ye Xiaotian asked curiously, "How do you know it's going to rain tomorrow? Do you know how to read the weather? "

Mao Wenzhi said, "What do you mean by looking at the weather? When I was young, I was beaten by Wang Laocai. That old bastard stomped on my calf. With a crack, my calf broke. Later on, it recovered, but it left behind internal injuries. Whenever it rains, it hurts. It hurts a lot when it rains, and it hurts a little when it drizzles. Now, it's hurting. It's sore and painful.

Ye Xiaotian: "… …"

Le Yao clenched her fist and said: "Even if it is under the knife, we must go! My mother does not want to be with anyone else! "

Ye Xiaotian looked at her with a gratified expression, pinched her little cheeks, and praised, "Yao Yao is right. Even if we have to be stabbed tomorrow, we still have to go."

Mao Wenzhi said: "Alright. Big Brother, give me some money. I will buy two sets of raincoats."

Le Yao said: "Four sets! Me and Fuwa will go too. "

Mao Wenzhi pointed at Fuwa, who was eating bamboo shoots: "That thing? Even it wants to wear a raincoat? This is quite evil. "

Ye Xiaotian fished out some money and handed it to him, saying, "Alright! Don't care if it is evil or not. Quickly go and buy it. "

Mao Wenzhi agreed, took the money and rushed out of the door. Mao Wenzhi had just left for a while when he heard someone knocking on the door and calling out, "Excuse me, is the owner of this room here?"

Ye Xiaotian had just poured a cup of tea and was about to raise it to his lips when he heard the voice. He quickly put down the cup and went to open the door. As soon as he opened the door, he saw a middle-aged man in a scholarly robe, with a thin mustache and a thin appearance standing outside the door, smiling at him. When the door opened, the man saw Le Yao and Fuwa who were eating bamboo shoots in the corner of the room, his eyes immediately lit up.

Ye Xiaotian saw that he did not know this man and asked: "May I know who you are?"

That person chuckled, stroked his beard, and said, "How is this the way to treat a guest? Are you not going to invite me in to sit?"

Ye Xiaotian quickly opened the door and said: "Oh, so it is Mr. Li. Please come in and sit."

Since young, Le Yao had been taught all kinds of rules by the Shuiwu family. When she was in private with Ye Xiaotian, she was cute and naive, fully retaining the innocence of a little girl. But when there was an outsider, she was especially sensible. She immediately straightened the seat for this Mr. Li and poured him a cup of tea. Instructor Li smiled and nodded at her. He felt that this little girl knew the rules very well.

After Le Yao Zhu finished pouring the tea, she retreated to the side of Ye Xiaotian's chair and stood still. Blinking her pair of large clear eyes, she listened to their conversation. Instructor Li smiled and said: "I just asked the waiter. Your surname is Ye, right? Haha, I wonder if you are passing by or planning to stay here for a long time? "

The wariness in Ye Xiaotian's heart intensified. "Mister Li, may I know why you're asking about this?"

"Ah … hahaha …"

Instructor Li tossed his beard and laughed: "You don't need to be wary. I will get straight to the point and tell you. I am the instructor of Tongren Province's prefectural school. Today, I saw a couplet at the prefectural school gate. That should have been written by you, right? "

Ye Xiaotian thought: "Oh no! The main character has caught up to me. "

Ye Xiaotian immediately replied: "That is correct. However, I have no money. I have already owed the shop for three days. If you want to claim damages, then I … "

Instructor Li waved his hand and said with a smile: "No, no. I am not here for compensation. It's like this, I see that your inscriptions and calligraphy are excellent, so I think your literary talent must be outstanding as well. That's why I'm appreciating your talent. I came all the way here to know if you are passing by or planning to stay here. Do you have any scholarly honors? "

Ye Xiaotian thought for a while and said: "I will be staying here for a long time. As for whether or not I will stay here, I have not decided yet. Speaking of scholarly honors, you must be joking. I am not qualified to seek scholarly honors. Not to mention scholarly honors, I have never studied properly. I am not even a student. "

Instructor Li stroked his beard and laughed: "If that is the case, then it is easy. If you are willing, I will be responsible for your registration. Once you become a local, I will guarantee you an Elementary Scholar title before the end of the year. If your home is outside or you want to return your registration, it is not difficult. After all, you have an Elementary Scholar title and can go anywhere in the world. What do you think? "

Ye Xiaotian was shocked: "There is such a good thing in the world? Could it be that a meat pie has fallen from the sky? "

Ye Xiaotian hesitated: "Your Excellency, are you serious?"

Instructor Li replied: "Of course. Do you think I will lie to you? As for the title of Elementary Scholar, I and the prefectural magistrate can decide on it. The prefectural magistrate only needs a word from me. As long as I nod my head, you will definitely be an Elementary Scholar! "

Obtaining the title of Elementary Scholar only required the prefectural magistrate or the prefectural magistrate to decide. The prefectural magistrate and the prefectural magistrate would naturally play a big role. So why did Instructor Li not choose a single person for the past two years? Why did he have to be reprimanded by the prefectural magistrate? It was because there was no one to choose from!

If a person who could not read or write well was chosen as an Elementary Scholar, the prefectural magistrate would have to conduct regular inspections and examinations. At that time, it would be discovered that the person was merely making up the numbers. Instead, it would become a crime. Who knows, there might even be an Imperial Censor who would think that the person was bribed. They had the 'power to report to the Imperial Censor'. If they thought that way, they could use this crime to report to the Imperial Censor.

Ye Xiaotian hesitated and said: "All the scholars in the world want to obtain an Elementary Scholar title. Some of them study hard for their entire lives but are unable to achieve it. Your Excellency, why did you …"

Instructor Li knew that if he did not tell the truth, it would be difficult to dispel the suspicions of this young man. He could only sigh and tell the truth: "The situation you are talking about is in Zhejiang and even in the north. It is not in the southwest. Especially in Guizhou …"

Instructor Li sighed and explained the situation once more. He said: "Actually, it is not necessarily that there are no foreigners who understand the situation here and wish to stay in this province. It is just that it is easy to become an Elementary Scholar, but difficult to become a High Scholar. If you want to become an official through the imperial examinations, you have to participate in the Southern Examinations. This is something we cannot control.

When you are young, who doesn't think that you can stand out from the crowd? That's why I won't have this idea. Once I've obtained my status as a student in this province, and after failing the examinations, I want to change my status. The vetting process will be extremely strict, and I don't know how many connections I have to go through. Those with power can still become Elementary Scholar, but those without power can't even move even if they want to. You are blessed by the heavens, don't miss this opportunity. "

When Ye Xiaotian heard this, his eyes immediately lit up. He thought: "This imperial examination is really too much to eat and too much to eat. When I was in the capital, I never thought that there would be such a good thing here. If I have an Elementary Scholar title, I am sure Father Xue will be interested in me?

Even if it is not for this matter, when I return to the capital with my Elementary Scholar title, it will be incomparably glorious in front of my parents! Elementary Scholar! I, Ye Xiaotian, am actually going to become a scholar. How much rain must it take for it to fall on my head. My Ye family's ancestral graves must be emitting green smoke! "

Ye Xiaotian was so excited that his face was flushed red. He wanted to blurt out and agree, but his heart suddenly moved. He suddenly thought that the reason why Instructor Li was like this, was just like how the Hulu County Instructor Gu Qingge treated Xu Boyi. It was all for the sake of his own political achievements. Xu Boyi was originally receiving six buckets of rice every month. Should he also …

Ye Xiaotian hurriedly pretended to be calm and picked up his teacup. He was so nervous that he was thirsty. He wanted to moisten his throat and think of how to phrase his words. Le Yao was standing at the side like a little maid. When she saw Ye Xiaotian raise his teacup, she remembered that Shuiwu had taught her to 'serve tea and send off guests'. She immediately put on a straight face and sternly shouted: "Send off guests …"

Ye Xiaotian had just thought of what to say. With a smile on his face, he turned his face to Instructor Li. When Le Yao said "Send off guests", Ye Xiaotian's smile immediately froze on his face.

Instructor Li had a high status. Although he was eager to find a promising talent to ensure his' enrolment rate 'this year, this matter was also giving people benefits. It was not like he was asking people to commit murder and arson. If this person did not agree, he could just think of another way. Although it was difficult to move people from other places, it was not necessarily impossible. Could it be that he had to beg him?

Instructor Li smiled bitterly, stood up and said: "Sigh! Everyone has their own aspirations. It's not good for me to force you. If that's the case, I will leave now! "

Ye Xiaotian said in a daze: "Ah …, Master Li …"

Instructor Li waved his hand and said: "There's no need to send me off!"

"I … actually I want to agree! I don't want the grain rice, I can even find the grain rice! "

Ye Xiaotian shouted from the bottom of his heart. He wanted to cry but had no tears as he watched Instructor Li walk out of the room. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity! What modesty, what elegance, could it be eaten? Ye Xiaotian shouted loudly: "Don't go!" He pounced out like a hungry dog fighting for food …