Chapter 66: Summoning the Teacher, Prepare to Draw the Snake Out of Its Hole!

No wonder Dad went hunting in the mountains every year around the end of the year or the beginning of spring. It turns out they spend this much money every single year!

Looking at Li Feng's broad back, Li Eryou felt a pang of sorrow in his heart.

So, Dad has been working this hard all along!

"Dad!"

Big Dog stepped forward, looking at the silver coins handed over to the shopkeeper with a look of extreme reluctance!

He didn't need to study; there was completely no need to buy these things!

It was so expensive!

Glanced at by Li Feng, Big Dog instantly shrank back and dared not say another word!

Li Feng paid the money and let out a long breath. Now, all that was left was to find a tutor!

Stepping out of the bookstore, Li Feng headed in the direction of the Jianwen Private School.

He planned to look around there. Sometimes, impoverished, down-and-out scholars struggled to make ends meet; Li Feng could easily find such a scholar and see if the man would be willing to go to Li Family Village!

Halfway there, Li Feng spotted a stall offering letter-reading services!

After observing for a moment, he thought the man looked decent.

Moreover, the person was quite skilled at painting; many freshly painted artworks were displayed around him, and they actually looked quite good!

"You two wait here for a moment, I'll go ask about the situation!"

Li Feng told Big Dog and Eryou, then walked toward the man.

"Old master, do you need a letter read?"

The young man wore a white scholar's robe that had been washed very clean, but it was evident that the garment had been worn for a long time, with the threads fraying at the edges in several places!

Li Feng was overjoyed!

The impoverished scholar had arrived!

"Are you a scholar?" Li Feng asked.

The man was slightly stunned, a flash of desolation crossing his eyes, before he nodded: "This humble student is untalented, but I do possess the rank of a scholar!"

"Then what are you doing here..." Li Feng asked again.

Such a young scholar, how could he be reduced to this?

Wang Wenzheng's face showed embarrassment. After a long moment, he replied: "My family can no longer make ends meet; we've run out of rice in the pot. Driven by desperation, I have no choice but to sell some calligraphy and paintings, or help read letters, just to sustain our livelihood!"

As he spoke, his face flushed red!

"Would you be willing to go to someone else's house as a private tutor?" Li Feng asked with complete calm and absolute seriousness, devoid of any mockery.

Hm?

Wang Wenzheng stood rooted to the spot as if struck by lightning, completely dumbfounded for a long while without reacting.

It wasn't until he noticed a hint of impatience on Li Feng's face that he finally came to his senses and asked, "Does the old master know who I am?"

"Are you that famous?" Li Feng asked.

It was just a casual joke.

Unexpectedly, the man nodded: "That's right, I am very famous in Huaiyang County. From the prefect down to the minor clerks in the county office, everyone knows me!"

Li Feng was taken aback!

Well, that certainly counted as famous!

Could he have committed some grave crime?!

"You..."

Before Li Feng could finish, the man took the initiative to speak: "The prefect himself pronounced a definitive sentence upon me, shattering my path to official advancement and nearly costing me my scholar's rank!"

"In this Qinghe Commandery, there is no longer any prospect of success for me. Are you certain you want me to teach your young son?"

Li Feng fell silent for a moment!

In this era, scholarly lineages were highly regarded, and a teacher was akin to a father. Choosing the wrong master would lead to severe repercussions.

"Did you commit some serious offense?" Li Feng asked again.

Wang Wenzheng nodded, then shook his head. Seeing Li Feng's confusion, he explained: "Actually, it wasn't any major crime. I merely spoke the truth, which infuriated the prefect!"

"His Lordship declared that as long as he remains in office, I will never advance a single step. With no other choice, I was reduced to this..."

"Then would you be willing to leave Huaiyang County?" Li Feng proposed. "My home is not in Huaiyang County, but in Li Family Village under its jurisdiction. If Sir is willing, I am prepared to have my boy treat you with the full propriety due to a master!"

As long as it wasn't a major crime, that was fine!

For someone this young to have already earned the rank of a scholar showed he was a man of genuine ability; he likely had an exceptionally formidable mentor behind him as well.

The prefect of Qinghe Commandery had already been in office for four years, and this was his fifth!

Local officials in the Daliang Dynasty were rotated every few years: county magistrates every three years, and prefects every five.

For this scholar to have been suppressed for several years yet still manage to survive safely in Huaiyang County was impressive.

There were only a few months left. Once the prefectural examinations concluded, the prefect would be leaving office, and by then, this man would undoubtedly soar to the skies!

Wang Wenzheng looked at Li Feng, a trace of puzzlement in his eyes!

During this period, he had noticed that the number of people keeping an eye on him had increased significantly.

In other words, it was entirely possible the prefect would not let him live until the day of his departure.

Who could blame him for offending someone so severely? If not for his influential mentor standing behind him, he might have already been exiled or stripped of his scholarly rank!

Precisely because of this, even though everyone in Huaiyang County knew of his extraordinary talent, no one dared to step forward to recruit him or take care of him. Someone as straightforward and direct as Li Feng was a rarity nowadays!

"Old master, you..."

Wang Wenzheng intended to say more, but Li Feng interrupted him: "I am not interested in your past. As long as you have done nothing treasonous or outrageous, I am fully inclined to have you become my boy's teacher!"

"Are you willing?"

Li Feng stood neither servile nor overbearing; there was no pity in his eyes, nor any ulterior motives—only sincere conviction. This old master genuinely wished for him to come home as a tutor.

"Then I must return to report this to my mother and inform my wife as well. If my mother consents, I am willing to go!" Wang Wenzheng answered!

"Where is your residence..."

At this, a look of unnatural hesitation surfaced on Wang Wenzheng's face once more, and he said with a hint of shame: "I do not yet own a house. I currently reside in my mentor's former residence, right beside the Jianwen Private School—the Wen Mansion is the one."

Hearing this, Li Feng cupped his fists in a salute: "Then I shall look forward to your arrival, Sir!"

"I will have my second son escort you back. Once I have prepared the ox cart, I shall come to invite you personally."

Wang Wenzheng did not refuse.

Since he was going to be a tutor for someone else's household, allowing them to understand his background beforehand was only fitting.

Once both parties reached an agreement, Li Feng arranged for Eryou to accompany him back!

Eryou was quick-witted and wouldn't be easily intimidated. Sending him along would not only broaden his horizons but also allow him to observe how a true scholar conducted himself.

He would undoubtedly learn a great deal.

After sending Eryou and Wang Wenzheng off, Big Dog scratched his head: "Dad, let's go tell Uncle Dafai and hitch up the ox cart!"

"You go on ahead first and take the purchased goods with you. Dad is going to buy a few other things!"

Li Feng sent Big Dog away because he intended to take care of some unfinished business!

As a hunter in his past life, his vigilance was naturally keen. Not long after entering Huaiyang County, he had already sensed that someone was tailing him!

The people who found it worthwhile to hire someone to track him were very few. The third uncle, Li Qingyun, counted as one.

Then there was Li Dameng from the Mighty Escort Agency!

He and Li Dameng were merely acquaintances who nodded in greeting, having barely exchanged a few words on the road. The only reason Li Dameng would invest heavily in having someone follow him would be the mysterious gold mine in Li Family Village!

Li Dameng's return this time around had been rather suspicious to begin with!

Moreover, during the journey, this fellow had deliberately brought up that courtyard house.

He claimed he missed Li Family Village and wanted to return to purchase property there!

Such an excuse might fool others, but on him, it was far too naive. Did he really take everyone else for fools?

Li Dameng was the prime suspect, though Li Qingyun couldn't be completely ruled out either.

Sending Big Dog and Eryou away was the perfect opportunity to investigate the truth!