Chapter 17: A Desperate Move

After leaving the General Li Temple, Li Laizi returned home directly. His residence was a large mansion with four courtyards and six halls. Upon returning, he did not go to the back garden but instead went to the inner hall where guests and relatives were received.

In the inner hall, a bailiff dressed in black official attire was sitting and sipping tea. It was none other than Li Laizi's in-law, Huang Deyong, also known as Huang Daliu, the head of the constables in Chengji County. As the saying goes, there are no wrong nicknames, only wrong names. Huang Daliu lived up to his nickname, with a large, egg-sized tumor on his neck, veins protruding, and it would sway with every movement, making people feel nauseous.

"Father-in-law is back?" Seeing Li Laizi enter, Huang Deyong put down the coarse porcelain teacup and continued to sit arrogantly, acting as if he were the host. He asked, "How was the drink at the General Li Temple?"

Although they were in-laws, Li Laizi was just a wealthy landowner, while Huang Daliu was a trusted confidant of the county magistrate, Chen Yasi. Li Laizi could only ignore Huang Deyong's rudeness,拱手 and smiled, "I must thank you for your strategy, Father-in-law. Han Caiyuan's face turned green."

Sitting down and waiting for the servants to serve the tea, Li Laizi sighed, "But now, I have really offended Han Caiyuan."

Huang Deyong snorted, dismissing Li Laizi's concerns, "Actually, it wasn't necessary, but since Han Caiyuan doesn't know his place, we can't be too considerate. Besides, Han Caiyuan isn't from Shaanxi, he's just an outsider with no family support. Why should we fear him?"

"Han Caiyuan's third brother watched the banquet with a cold eye, not even speaking a word. He has been studying outside for two years and might have met some influential people. I'm afraid he might cause trouble..." Li Laizi frowned. Han Aili's rolling pin was harmless from a distance, but Han Gang's expression and gaze at the banquet made him uneasy. He felt something was off and couldn't settle his mind.

"A teenager, what influential people could he know? Even if he did, could they be more influential than Magistrate Chen?" Huang Deyong sneered, "Why worry, Father-in-law? Think about it, has Qinzhou ever produced a Jinshi (imperial scholar) in all these years?"

Li Laizi shook his head, he had never heard of such a thing. He chuckled, "I've seen many poor scholars, though."

"Those who can't pass the Jinshi exams and can't enter the academy will be village scholars for life. If they're lucky, they might pass the special imperial examination at the age of forty or fifty, and the emperor might take pity on them and give them a minor position, like a literary assistant. Such poor scholars don't need Magistrate Chen's intervention; I could crush them with a finger." Huang Daliu's arrogance was boundless, as if he were not just a constable but a general commanding thousands of troops.

Li Laizi, who had some knowledge, knew about the special imperial examination. It was for those who failed the regular imperial exams and were at least forty years old. They would be specially recommended by local officials to the capital, where the emperor would grant them a simpler exam, and those who passed would be given a minor, low-ranking position.

The special imperial examination was more common in Shaanxi, partly to prevent them from defecting to the Western Xia. Zhang Yuan, who was dismissed during the palace examination, and Wu Hao, who repeatedly failed, led Li Yuanhao to wreak havoc in Shaanxi. Even now, the Western Xia court has many Han officials who fled from Shaanxi. These resentful scholars are the most dangerous and need to be appeased.

"Look up at the sky, and you won't see the star of literature in Qinzhou. Han Gang can only hope for a special imperial examination. To pass the Jinshi, his family's ancestral grave would have to emit green smoke!" Huang Deyong shook his head and the tumor on his neck swayed, predicting Han Gang's fate, confirming he would be a poor scholar for life.

Li Laizi smiled, "Hearing you say this, my mind is at ease. We will proceed as we discussed, and send Han Caiyuan to the county to take on a position with a deficit, forcing him to sell his land."

Huang Deyong patted his chest, "Rest assured, Father-in-law. Leave everything to me. Once Han Caiyuan is in the county, I will make sure he is dealt with properly."

Li Laizi's smile became more confident, "Han Caiyuan is a skilled farmer. With his guidance, the crops in our village grow better than in the neighboring villages by a margin. If not for his vegetable garden dividing our riverbank fields, and his intention to buy it back after selling, why would I be the bad guy?"

"A mu of wheat field needs only one cart of manure per season. But a mu of vegetable garden requires at least three carts of manure. The Han family has been tending that land for nearly thirty years, and the amount of fertilizer they've used could bury three mu of land up to a person's height. It's probably richer than the best fields in Jiangnan..." Huang Deyong said meaningfully.

"Rest assured, Father-in-law." This time, Li Laizi reassured Huang Daliu, "The land in the northern mountains will be for our daughter, and I will send the deed to you in a few days."

"Hmm..." Huang Deyong nodded without showing much emotion, still unsatisfied. The land in the northern mountains was not as good as the riverbank land, both in yield and value.

"Also, the Han family's maid. When Han Caiyuan is forced to sell, she will be sent to your household to serve."

Huang Deyong finally smiled, the tumor on his neck shaking violently, "Why speak of such things between family? Whenever you entrust me with something, I always do my best. The land in the northern mountains is for the new bride; why would I be greedy? I just find the Han family's maid to be clever..."

Li Laizi, hearing Huang Daliu's false modesty, felt nauseous and quickly raised his wine glass, smiling, "You're right, Father-in-law! You're right! Come... let's drink! Let's drink!"

The two raised their glasses and drank heartily, celebrating their impending success. They drank until the third watch, a leper and a man with a tumor, a fitting pair.

While Li Laizi and Huang Daliu were plotting against the Han family, the banquet at the General Li Temple had ended. The four members of the Han family gathered in the main room, discussing their strategy.

"Li Laizi first said that the county had just issued a notice with my name on it, then said that out of consideration for Third Brother's illness, he delayed it for two months. When he spoke to Liu Huishu, he said the county hadn't decided who would serve, and anyone could take my place. In a few words, he changed his story three times, clearly lying!" In the main room of the Han family, Han Qianliu spoke angrily. Li Laizi had lied without blinking at the General Li Temple, clearly trying to take the Han family's land, with no regard for his own face.

"What nonsense! That would lead to legal trouble!" Han Qianliu shook his head. While his wife's angry words were understandable, he couldn't follow her lead, "Third Brother's future is important."

Han Gang remained silent. At the General Li Temple, he had smiled confidently, but upon returning, he was calm and composed. He hid his burning anger, his fists clenched tightly in his sleeves, his brows trembling slightly, as if ready to draw a sword. Han Gang was now so angry that he wanted to kill Li Laizi's entire family. Li Laizi's plan to take their vegetable garden was bad enough, but now he was targeting Yunniang with such vicious means, aiming to destroy the Han family. How could he bear this?

However, this was also due to the Han family's lack of power. If he were from the Han family of Xiangzhou, who would dare to look down on him? If he were already famous in Guanzhong, would Li Laizi dare to bully him?

---

The Han family was discussing their strategy, while Li Laizi and Huang Daliu were plotting against them. The banquet at the General Li Temple had ended, and the four members of the Han family gathered in the main room, discussing their strategy.

"Li Laizi first said that the county had just issued a notice with my name on it, then said that out of consideration for Third Brother's illness, he delayed it for two months. When he spoke to Liu Huishu, he said the county hadn't decided who would serve, and anyone could take my place. In a few words, he changed his story three times, clearly lying!" In the main room of the Han family, Han Qianliu spoke angrily. Li Laizi had lied without blinking at the General Li Temple, clearly trying to take the Han family's land, with no regard for his own face.

"What nonsense! That would lead to legal trouble!" Han Qianliu shook his head. While his wife's angry words were understandable, he couldn't follow her lead, "Third Brother's future is important."

Han Gang remained silent. At the General Li Temple, he had smiled confidently, but upon returning, he was calm and composed. He hid his burning anger, his fists clenched tightly in his sleeves, his brows trembling slightly, as if ready to draw a sword. Han Gang was now so angry that he wanted to kill Li Laizi's entire family. Li Laizi's plan to take their vegetable garden was bad enough, but now he was targeting Yunniang with such vicious means, aiming to destroy the Han family. How could he bear this?

However, this was also due to the Han family's lack of power. If he were from the Han family of Xiangzhou, who would dare to look down on him? If he were already famous in Guanzhong, would Li Laizi dare to bully him?