WBSGVS Chapter 59 V1

It seems that the county magistrate sent someone to help retrieve the money, likely due to the scholars that Qingli had trained. The bailiffs went to the Cheng family to search the house during dinner time, and curious neighbors came out to see what was going on. When they realized it was the bailiffs handling a case, they quickly withdrew, only listening to the sounds of the search.

By the time the bailiffs left, the news of the Cheng family being searched had spread throughout the entire town.

The Luo family heard the news when the bailiffs came to their door as well.

The lead bailiff brought three money bags and said helplessly, “Luo Fushi, Miss Luo, we really couldn’t find any more. We even searched under the bed, but we only found a little more than one hundred taels. There are still over four hundred taels missing. We’ll just have to wait for the Cheng family to pay it back gradually. However, we noticed there were still some valuables in their house, so we took them too.”

Luo Yuzhi and Qingli looked towards the courtyard. What was said to be the Cheng family’s belongings were just some calligraphy and books, mostly items belonging to Cheng Zhaoyang and Cheng Zhaohua. Altogether, they probably wouldn’t fetch more than thirty taels if sold.

Luo Yuzhi looked at his daughter, and Qingli shook her head. Luo Yuzhi then spoke, “Thank you for your hard work, why don’t you stay for some tea?”

“No, no, we still have to report back to the magistrate,” the bailiff waved his hand.

Luo Yuzhi handed each of them a red envelope, smiling, “Thank you, we’ll accept the silver, but we need a receipt. As for the rest, please take it to the orphanage. The silver is innocent, but these things were used by that scoundrel Cheng Zhaoyang, and I don’t want them.”

“Understood,” the bailiff took the money, his mood brightening considerably, and nodded happily.

The items weren’t heavy, and they quickly mounted their horses to take them away.

Once they left, Qingli closed the door. Luo Yisheng rushed out, curious, and asked, “Sister, where did this money come from? Why did the bailiff give us silver?”

Qingli smiled. “It’s compensation from the Cheng family.”

“Too little,” Luo Yisheng scrunched his nose in disdain.

He remembered how hard the family had worked to gather money for the Cheng family, so he knew it couldn’t be just this amount.

“Of course, it’s too little. The Cheng family can’t have made that much silver,” Luo Yuzhi shook his head and laughed. He jingled the three heavy money bags in his hands. “But, this is enough.”

Qingli nodded. “Yes, it’s enough. From now on, the Cheng family has nothing to do with us. Don’t bring it up again.”

Luo Yisheng obediently nodded.

Luo Yuzhi gave his daughter a deep look and also nodded.

Luo’s mother called them for dinner, teasing, “Hurry up, dinner’s ready.”

Qingli quickened her pace, feeling exhausted after a full day, and missing the taste of home-cooked food. “Mother, you’ve worked hard.”

“It’s nothing. Cooking is no trouble at all.” Luo’s mother waved her hand. After taking care of the Cheng family, she was in a good mood. When she turned around, she saw her husband still standing there and urged, “Hurry up, you’re still waiting for someone to invite you!”

Luo Yuzhi snapped out of his thoughts, smiled, and followed, “Coming.”

In September, the academy exams came to a close, and families all over town began celebrating.

Qingli became an overnight sensation.

After the exam results were posted, she received invitations every day for over ten days, either for celebrations or requests to take in new students.

Because in such a short time, Qingli had taught five scholars, a rate almost of 2:1 among her students, which was truly impressive.

At first, the special exam cheat book that had leaked from her students was disregarded by most, but those who did look at it benefitted greatly.

Many knew about this, and Qingli had originally planned to increase overall competition by lowering Cheng Zhaohua’s chance of success, all while focusing on training a top student to overshadow him.

Qingli had said from the beginning of the exams that she would make it difficult for Cheng Zhaohua to succeed.

If only she had more time, she could have helped even more students pass the exams.

For instance, Wang Shanxue, though academically weak, was obedient. He carefully did the practice problems she set and diligently worked through the questions she suggested. If it had been a regular exam, he would have had no trouble passing.

However, with the increased competition, he failed.

But Qingli wasn’t planning to focus on exams like these anymore. She wanted to move towards the provincial and imperial exams.

Her students were all highly loyal to her, so when they heard she planned to continue teaching, no one was willing to leave.

However, since the town was small, news didn’t spread easily, and learning materials were limited.

So, Qingli decided to rent a place in the county to open a private school.

Luo Yuzhi and his wife, feeling regretful for having let their daughter marry a scoundrel, were now overly protective. When they heard she planned to go to the county, Luo Yuzhi waved his hand and said, “Let’s move!”

In the past six months, the family had earned quite a bit, especially with the more than a hundred taels they got from the Cheng family. Although the initial phase of moving to the county would be difficult, as long as there were students, money wouldn’t be an issue. Besides, once movable type printing became available, it would be easier to sell books.

Since they agreed to move, things proceeded smoothly.

Qingli spread the word, and soon, a local gentry in the county offered to rent out his house, or even give it away, as long as it helped ensure his child’s success in the exams.

Wang Shanxue hurried over, “Teacher, don’t! My family just so happens to have a house available. You can come directly to us.”

Qingli was surprised. “You’re coming too?”

Wang Shanxue scratched his head and grinned, “My grandmother says my studies are the most important, so she’s willing to come with us to the county.”

Familiar transactions were easier, and Qingli readily agreed.

Ten days later, the family had moved.

The private school was set up next door to the Luo family’s house, and many students came to try their luck. However, upon hearing that Qingli only taught scholars, most of them left. Only a few chose to give it a shot.

Some others tried to become students of Luo Yuzhi, hoping to sneak into Qingli’s classes.

Luo Yuzhi laughed and said, “Now everyone thinks you’re better than me! You’ve really surpassed me.”

Of course, he wasn’t actually upset, just amazed at how successful his daughter had become.

Qingli, naturally, soothed him.

Once he had calmed down, she even got him to help her correct some homework.

Qingli introduced modern educational methods but still focused on small-class teaching, which was highly efficient. Anyone who could become a scholar wasn’t dumb; with a little guidance, they’d quickly improve.

Qingli set up bi-weekly tests, and many students showed visible progress.

With the provincial exams in August of the following year, they still had plenty of time. Qingli laid out her plans and followed them step by step.

Midway through, when Qingli realized the governor had left Huaiyang City, she visited the prison at City Jail Camp. Just as she had suspected, she couldn’t find anyone. Even after offering silver, they kept making excuses, and she left empty-handed each time.

It was clear that Cheng Zhaoyang and Xiong Shi were no longer there.

They surely hadn’t died.

Taking the opportunity, Qingli returned to the town. The Cheng family had left their house, and the neighbors said, “They left several days ago, sneaking out. But someone overheard that they sold Ban Chun. That poor girl screamed terribly.”

Qingli smiled slightly. Last time, Ban Chun had left with them because Cheng Zhaohua’s path to the imperial exams was going smoothly. But this time, things were different. Now they had to rely on the Wang family, and they wouldn’t dare act recklessly.

Qingli just wanted to confirm her suspicions, and once she had, she returned home immediately.

She appeared to not react at all. Luo Yuzhi couldn’t quite figure out what she was planning to do back in town. He heard that the Cheng family’s house had been emptied, and he tried to reassure her, saying, “This must be a huge matter. They probably didn’t dare stay here any longer.”

“I know,” Qingli said with a smile.

Seeing that she was not upset, Luo Yuzhi relaxed and continued grading papers. His daughter was being lazy, so it was up to him to do all the work.

Soon, a year had passed in the blink of an eye, and the township exam was approaching.

Qingli’s eighteen students who had passed as scholars went to the exam site a month in advance to prepare.

Luo Yuzhi was especially nervous, afraid that his daughter’s reputation might be ruined this time. Since his own students were also participating in the exam, he had some free time and spent it waiting at the entrance of the county, hoping for some good news.

Waiting at the front was pointless, but when the results were announced, they came.

There were twelve students in the county who received good news, and among them, Chen Wen had once again achieved the top honor.

The Luo family’s doorstep was almost crowded with visitors.

The county magistrate even personally came to reward Qingli.

After that, even more people came seeking to have Qingli take them on as students.

However, she refused all of them and instead went to find Chen Wen and the others, saying, “I’m going to the capital with you.”

Chen Wen and the others were stunned. “Teacher?! Are you joking? That’s such a long journey!”

The capital was at least two months’ travel from Huaiyang City, and the metropolitan exams were held in February of the following year. To ensure they would arrive on time, students usually left three months or even longer in advance.

The travel expenses alone were no small sum.

This was one of the main reasons why ordinary people couldn’t afford to participate in the imperial exams.

Despite the many doubts, including opposition from her parents, Qingli insisted, simply saying, “I want to see it for myself.”

She was always very determined, and her parents had no choice but to agree.

In early November, the students set off together, and Qingli went along, of course.

Luo Mu reluctantly saw her off, sighing as she returned home, feeling that the house had become too quiet.

Luo Yisheng leaned on his mother’s shoulder, grinning, and said, “Mother, I’m still here!”

Luo Mu smiled and patted her son’s head, saying seriously, “That’s not the same!”