"I'll just say a few words to my son." County Magistrate Li waved his hand at Mrs. Xu and Li Dong, indicating for them to leave. Mrs. Xu looked puzzled - how could saying a few words to her son require chasing her out?

  Mrs. Xue inexplicably returned, still pushing Li Dong out, passing by Li Wenshan, pulling him and taking a step forward, biting his ear and whispering: "Your dad said he was ill and fell down, the doctor said he was frightened, you ask your dad what happened, I asked him, but he didn't say a word."

  Li Wenshan nodded repeatedly, his eyes darting to Li Xia who was slowly moving behind him. Just as he was about to reach out and pull her over, Mrs. Xu caught sight of Li Xia and grabbed her arm, dragging her out the door.

  Magistrate Li closed the door and spoke with Li Wenshan until just before lunch, but Mrs. Xu was worried and sent Li Dong to listen at the door several times, only to hear Magistrate Li crying; after listening several times, her heart didn't calm down, instead it became even more anxious.

  Lunch is ready and waiting. Li Wenshan finally opened the door, calling Su Ye to bring in a basin of water for Li Dongxian to wash his face.

  Magistrate Li's eyes were red, but his complexion and expression had improved a lot. Li Xia lay on the edge of the couch, looking at her father's expression, and secretly let out a sigh of relief.

  If I continue to feel as miserable and depressed as I did yesterday, I will surely fall seriously ill in a few days.

  After dinner, Li Wenlan went to the front yard for class, and Li Wenshan took Li Xia to the backyard to play.

  Li Xia's dependence on her fifth brother was something their family had long been accustomed to.

  Li Wenshan took Li Xia's hand and walked her around the backyard, then sat down on a stone bench beside the vegetable garden. The weather was nice today, with no wind and a big sun shining brightly. The warm sunlight felt very comfortable on their skin.

  "Is Father all right?" Li Xia asked Wu Ge, swinging her leg.

  Li Wenshan nodded, "It should be fine now. Father is thinking of resigning and said it's better to go back to being a teacher."

  "Father can't resign now, let's finish this term first. It's just as well that the Empress Dowager should return to the capital city too. We'll see then, Father's temper is best suited for a place like the Ministry of Works or the Temple of Imperial Ancestors, where he can hold an idle post." Li Xia said in a low voice, swinging his leg.

  Li Wenshan smiled and reached out to touch Li Xia's head, "Ah Xia said this, it seems like Father can do whatever he wants, and we can't pick and choose."

  Li Xia's legs stiffened and fell down, but now she couldn't arrange things as she wished, alas.

  "You'd better talk to your father more, and let him listen to Guo Sheng's words in everything. At least this time, nothing will happen no matter what. As for after this time, well, we'll see when the time comes."

  "However," said Li Wenshan, furrowing his brow, "I think Guo Sheng is a bit too self-willed."

  Li Wenshan told Guo Sheng about going to Jiangning Prefecture, "...... He came back from Hangzhou City and changed horses before heading to Jiangning City. I always felt that he didn't make the decision on a whim. Since he had planned it out beforehand, why didn't he mention it to me when we were in Hangzhou City? The more I think about it, the more I feel that something is off. This isn't a small matter, he should have at least told me. Mr. Qin doesn't know either."

  And also, how could he tell Dad about the adultery case? That adultery case had a gag order on it, and he knew that. What if Dad accidentally leaked it out, wouldn't that be a huge deal?

  Li Wenshan complained repeatedly, Li Xia's eyelids drooped slightly. After listening to his complaints, he glanced at the obviously annoyed Fifth Brother and said, "Fifth Brother, don't worry too much, I've got an eye on Guo Sheng and the county government."

  "It's just that knowing you're watching, I'm not too worried, otherwise... Alas!" Li Wenshan sighed in distress, compared to Mr. Qin, he obviously felt that Guo Sheng made him feel less at ease.

  "Big Brother Wu, Guo Sheng and Qin Qing are different. Firstly, Mr. Qin has been a staff member for decades and knows how to show respect to his master. Guo Sheng is mostly a lone ranger, only serving as a teacher's assistant for a few years, and that was also following his uncle, hiding behind his uncle's back. He definitely doesn't know how to deal with the master like Mr. Qin does."

  Li Wenshan nodded continuously, indeed it was so, Mr. Qin was very good, everything was so thoughtful, making people feel like a spring breeze.

  "Secondly, Mr. Qin and Guo Sheng have different personalities. Mr. Qin is gentle and meticulous, treating you as both a subordinate and a teacher. Guo Sheng, on the other hand, is a unique individual with a strong personality, who doesn't pay attention to details. When interacting with him, Fifth Brother should be more tolerant."

  Li Wenshan nodded slightly. This was also the case with Guo Sheng and Mr. Qin standing together, like the difference between a mountain full of blooming rhododendrons and a pot of elegant orchids.

  "Thirdly, Guo Sheng's talent is not something that Mr. Qin can match, Mr. Qin can only assist, Guo Sheng himself can accomplish great things."

  "Huh?" Li Wenshan was stunned. In his mind, Mr. Qin was still more capable and cunning, but since Ah Xia said so, he must have been wrong. "Then, if he can do great things himself, then what's the point of..."

  What else is he dependent on him for?

  "He has given up his career and doesn't rely on others, so he won't have the opportunity to do great things." Li Xia thought about Guo Sheng, a person like this, she had met one or two before.

  Guo Sheng's words: "I want to experience the extraordinary things that ordinary people cannot experience." This is his true intention.

  He treated her as a strange creature, like a talking cat, and wanted to follow her around. She didn't worry about him for the time being, at least not until she grew up... Now that she's all grown up, there's even less need to worry about him...

  "Fifth brother, don't worry. Guo Sheng has a sense of chivalry and is also a proud person. At most, he might leave with a nod one day, but as for other things, I think it won't happen." Li Xia said in a low voice.

  Li Wenshan let out a long sigh of relief, "Since you say so, that's good. These past few days have worried me to death, and I didn't dare show it. Right, Mr. Qin said to hand over the Wu Tong to him for disposal, do you think...?"

  Li Wenshan was no longer worried about Guo Sheng, and he thought of Wu Tong again. Mr. Qin's handling of the matter of Zhong Puzi last time made him still have lingering fears. Although Wu Tong's crime is unforgivable, it does not deserve death.

  "If you're worried, just tell Mr. Qin directly, or tell him directly how to deal with Wutong. Fifth brother, Mr. Qin will listen to you, not the other way around. If what he says makes sense to you, then listen; if it doesn't make sense, refute it. Of course, if you refute it and he refutes back, and you can't convince him, then you should seriously consider whether you're wrong."

  Li Xia looked at Fifth Brother with a sideways glance. Li Wenshan was stunned for a moment, both hands scratching his head, "Alright, Ah Xia, I used to think that studying is the hardest thing, now I realize that studying is actually the easiest."

  "Of course, it's extremely difficult to understand human feelings and even more so to see through people's hearts. There are hardly a few people in the world who can truly see through people's hearts." Li Xia also sighed with emotion.

  The empress dowager can probably be counted as one. She herself definitely cannot be counted.

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