County Magistrate Guan originally had a grudge against Li Tiancai's lack of vision. Although he dressed up mostly because this magistrate was always out crying about poverty and asking for donations, always saying that the county didn't have money or rice to give him - although this was true.

, but you don’t care about the leader’s face too much. Besides, I am diligent, and the county really has no money, and if you don’t give face to the squire, they will naturally not give you face. You are not honest.

That’s pedantic, isn’t it?

But this time Liu Baiyu finally gave you a chance to study in the county, and you still have to be picky. Why bother bothering me?

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Magistrate Guan snorted: "What can I do? Nowadays, the shops and real estate in the county are worthless, and everyone's business is half-dead. I'm good at persuading Liu Baiyu to help."

The county has learned to do its part, but if you still create problems from the side, then there is nothing I can do about it. I don’t have the ability to turn stone into gold. There are so many places to spend money in the county, and it’s not like you can’t see it.”

"No, no, no, how dare you, a lowly official, to be picky? Moreover, Qingshan layman is also for the sake of the county's culture. He is also a great scholar..." Li Tiancai explained stumblingly. He seemed to think that County Magistrate Guan had a bit of a misunderstanding, so he hurriedly

explained.

"Since the school fields are all in their hands, does Liu Baiyu have the right intention to build the Confucian Temple County School?" Magistrate Guan asked strangely.

"But according to the law of the Ming Dynasty, the skin of this school field belongs to Qingshan layman, but the bones of this school field always belong to the official family. If the county changes the teaching or... But you can spend some money.

Redemption, wouldn't this harm layman Qingshan? So I..."

Li Tiancai was greatly embarrassed. Although his understanding as an official was not high, he still thought that it was taboo for him to talk about the possible resignation of his superiors, so he naturally spoke hesitantly.

It's just that Magistrate Guan got Liu Baiyu's help. He was very confident. He didn't think he might be laid off at any time, but he had a mentality of making a difference. However, he was not sure whether what Li Tiancai said would happen in more than ten years.

He didn't know what was going on, so he frowned and said:

"It's easy. Just exchange the land in Xuetian with the mountainous land in Daqingshan. There is no value in taking back the mountainous land."

Wouldn't this mean that I would be criticized as someone who harmed the public and enriched my private life? Li Tiancai was extremely concerned about his reputation, and what he feared the most was this. He hesitated and said to Magistrate Guan:

"This is also a way to draw money from under the cauldron! It's just that the fields of this school are not around the county school, but in Daqingshan. It is always against the laws of the imperial court. It is easy to say it or not..."

Magistrate Guan hated mediocre officials like Li Tiancai who cared more about face than getting things done. He immediately said angrily:

"In line with the laws of the imperial court? If all the laws of the Ming Dynasty are implemented, nothing can be done. Since Li Jiaoyu cherishes his reputation so much, what if I let him bear the burden? Li Jiaoyu doesn't have to worry about it.

, I’ll just take on this whole thing.”

Little did Li Tiancai know that he had offended the leader by saying something that was too disrespectful to him when he was trying to persuade him to donate. He thought that the county magistrate was blaming him for not taking responsibility, so he quickly stood up and said: "It's always the case that lower officials are confused for a moment. This matter always has to be solved."

You and I just have to shoulder the responsibility together..."

"In today's world, if we can maintain the smooth flow of basic government decrees, financial balance, and no big things happen in the local area, we can be considered worthy of the court. What else? If such trivial matters are criminalized, then the court will really be doomed. As for the people in the court,

What does the dispute between the Eunuch Party and the Donglin Party have to do with petty officials like you and me?" Magistrate Guan has completely ignored the actions of the court. Anyway, no matter what, he only needs to have a clear conscience. It's just Magistrate Guan

He never imagined that this trivial matter would bring huge trouble to Li Tiancai and himself in the future. In the future, he and Li Tiancai would no longer be minor officials.

Li Tiancai didn't know whether he received support or not from Magistrate Guan, but there was still one thing he had to do...

That night, Li Tiancai just entered the city from outside the west gate - sighing from time to time along the way.

He was going to pay homage to the students. A member of the "affiliated school" in the county had just passed away. As a teacher, he had to go, and he also lived in the city, so he had time. Although the weather was fine, Li Tiancai's

But his heart was very heavy. The deceased was only in his early forties. When he went to express his condolences, the deceased left behind a pair of orphans and a widowed mother who were very pitiful. The family's financial situation was very poor - it turned out that they were just relying on driving.

It is a private school that only accepts a few children to study and make a living. The county has not been able to pay out the tuition money for many years - if he could have had money and rice to supplement it a month ago, maybe he would not have died. Fortunately, he has it.

Liu Baiyu's recent subsidy of one hundred taels of silver was given to the orphan and widowed mother, which can be regarded as a way to make up for the situation.

The literary spirit here in this county is already weak, so another one has died. Although the quota is empty, someone will naturally be admitted as a substitute, but there are not many scholars in this county, and there are even fewer scholars with such qualified knowledge...

Generally speaking, in ancient times, those who took the road of studying and taking exams would not be in extreme poverty at home. In the rural areas of Jiangnan, they had to be at least a middle peasant or above. In other places, this threshold rose to the rich peasants or even small landlords.

.But once a man studies and wants to learn something, he must give up physical labor and study hard. After all, the number of talents in this county is limited. The so-called farming and studying without delay is just a storyteller's fantasy. Studying in this era

This means that the family has lost a strong labor force, plus the expensive expenses of pens, inks, paper and inkstones, and must sell off some properties. At this time, if the family has a small population, or encounters any three disasters or six diseases,

It is easy to fall into poverty.

There are many scholars in this county who are in poor economic conditions. Originally, there was no problem in opening a private school for the middle class or above. However, with the depression of all industries caused by the Little Ice Age, the number of middle class people who can pursue the dream of being a scholar has rapidly decreased.

The industry of opening private schools has naturally suffered a devastating blow. Not only are the scholars poor, but the children who do not receive tuition money are even poorer. During the last county examination, many children were in rags and had patches on them.

The clothes are all in one piece, and the floor is swept gracefully, just like a beggar - and besides the scholars who need relief, children are the roots of scholars, so they also need some subsidies.

Naturally, the county couldn't come up with any money, and the gentry's donations had almost been spent. When he spoke to Liu Baiyu, he had received so many favors from him, and there would be nothing in return for him in the future, so Li Tiancai really had no shame in going there anymore.

This scholar is the foundation of the imperial court. If it is reduced to this, the country of the Ming Dynasty will be lost! Can no one in the imperial court see it? Li Tiancai had tears on his face, and for the first time in his heart
Chapter completed!