Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 269 Zhou Wan could not repay even a fraction of the county magistrate's kindness even in death.
"Ma Zhou is a man of great talent!"

After lunch, Li Shimin deliberately sent everyone else away and went to Wen He's study with him.

As soon as he entered, he couldn't help but offer a compliment.

"You little rascal, you have quite the eye for talent." He walked over and sat down casually, then pointed to the table in front of him, indicating that he wanted Wen He to serve him tea.

"It's not that I have a keen eye for talent, but he's someone who knows how to seize opportunities." Wen He brewed a cup of tea and brought it over.

Li Shimin asked, puzzled, "Why do you say that?"

Wen He answered while making tea for herself.

“He didn’t have much money on him, but he still went to my bookstore and bought a ‘mathematics’ book. But in my memory, Ma Zhou was not a person who liked mathematics, so he was not buying the book for the sake of the mathematics book, but rather to buy himself an opportunity.”

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin pointed at Wen He and laughed, "You scoundrel, you're judging a gentleman by your own petty standards."

"Does Your Majesty know how many mathematics books have been sold in my bookstore?" Wen He asked.

How many?

"Two books, one bought by Ma Zhou, and the other by a young Taoist priest, while the others didn't even glance at them. What does Your Majesty think his purpose was in buying the mathematics book?"

Wen He never believed in coincidences.

While it's true that stories don't happen without coincidences, coincidences are often intentional.

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin narrowed his eyes slightly, pondered for a moment, and then shook his head: "How could he possibly know you would go?"

Wen He carried the tea to Li Shimin, sat down, and said.

“That is my bookstore. Even if I don’t go today, I will go tomorrow. And if I don’t go tomorrow, I will go someday. And someone who buys obscure books will naturally attract my attention.”

“Even if I don’t know Ma Zhou’s future, I will be curious about why he bought that book. At this time, Ma Zhou is showing his talent. If I am someone who values ​​talent, I will definitely recommend him to Your Majesty. If I am not, he will not suffer any loss if he leaves.”

Li Shimin was a smart man, and he naturally understood what Wen He was saying.

However, he didn't care about this. A person who can find opportunities for himself is enough to demonstrate his ability.

In addition, his conversation with Ma Zhou in the carriage earlier further convinced Li Shimin of this.

"He is an interesting person, but this makes me wonder where to send him. If I promote him rashly, I'm afraid it will attract attention from others."

Li Shimin knew about Ma Zhou's abilities, but how to use him was a bit of a headache for him.

Wen He remained silent, calmly sipping her tea.

It's best if he doesn't offer advice on this kind of thing.

"You brat, can't you help me relieve my worries?" Li Shimin tapped the table with his hand, making a dull sound.

Wen He chuckled and said, "Your Majesty, I'm just a lowly ninth-rank official. Shouldn't you ask Fang Xuanling and the others about this kind of thing?"

"If I could ask, why would I have summoned you? This person can't be said to be someone you recommended. Without a recommender, I can't easily assign him an official position..."

Wen He's title is sufficient, but he is now being targeted by the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families.

If he were to recommend someone, I'm afraid most people in the court would refuse.

"Ahem, Your Majesty, the Duke of Dai is also here today." Wen He coughed lightly, interrupting Li Shimin.

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin's eyes lit up and he laughed: "That's right, the apothecary is here today too. I've got it! I've figured out what to do for Ma Zhou."

Wen He was not concerned about what official position Li Shimin would assign to Ma Zhou.

But when Li Er said this, looking into his own eyes made him feel somewhat uneasy.

Is he going to rip me off again?

Not long after, Li Shimin and Li Jing left.

As soon as the two left, Ma Zhou bowed deeply to Wen He. "Thank you for your great kindness, Magistrate."

"It's not that bad, it's because you have the ability to earn His Majesty's favor." Wen He stepped forward and helped him up.

After Ma Zhou stood up, he bowed to him three more times. When he raised his head, tears were streaming down his face.

"When Zhou entered officialdom, he only received a minor position as an assistant instructor. Frustrated, Zhou could only spend his days drinking. Later, he was repeatedly reprimanded by Da Xi Shu, the governor of Bozhou. In anger, Zhou resigned and left. Unexpectedly, he was insulted by Cui Xianshou, the magistrate of Junyi. So, in a fit of rage, he went to Chang'an."

"Having just arrived in Chang'an, I find myself looked down upon by everyone in the area. After years of wandering around, I am now penniless. I never expected to meet the county magistrate, who, being of noble character, did not consider me lowly and recommended me to the emperor. I could never repay even a fraction of the county magistrate's kindness..."

Wen He was a little confused by the way the words were being spoken so pedantically.

He quickly waved his hand and said, "Alright, alright, it's all in the past. But you need to think this through. His Majesty won't give you a very high official position in the first place. You must not abandon your post this time."

He was teasing him on purpose.

The teaching assistant was a nobody, a nobody.

Li Shimin would have given him at least a ninth-rank official position.

Unless Ma Zhou does something foolish, he will naturally not resign.

The next day.

After yawning and washing up, Wen He arrived at the main hall, where Ma Zhou was already waiting for her.

After everyone had arrived, Ma Zhou bowed to Li Tai and the others before sitting down to eat together.

"From now on, you don't need to follow so many rules with me. They'll just be Li San, Li Si, and Li Wu here. If they ever dare to act arrogantly towards you, just tell me, and I'll beat them up."

Wen He didn't stop Ma Zhou from bowing earlier because she was fulfilling his wishes. Her subsequent reminder was to tell him not to reveal the identities of the three little ones in the manor in the future.

“Sir, I haven’t done anything wrong recently,” Xiao Liyou muttered.

"Alright, I understand. I'll be attending court today, so I'll give you all a day off as a reward," Wen He said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Li Tai and Li You immediately showed joy.

Li Ke asked calmly, "May I leave the residence?"

When he spoke, Wenrou paused for a moment while holding the chopsticks, but quickly covered it up.

"Take your men out with you, and don't cause me any trouble," Wen He reminded him.

Li Tai chuckled: "It seems like it's always you who's causing trouble, sir."

Before he could finish speaking, Li You, who was sitting next to him, immediately shifted his position and distanced himself from him.

Sure enough, Wen He's slap came, albeit belatedly.

"Serves you right for being so talkative. Now eat."

What do you mean I caused trouble?
I'm a good person, when have I ever caused trouble?

It's all other people who provoked me, okay?

After the meal, he went out with Ma Zhou.

Zhou Fu had prepared the carriage well in advance, and A Dong was waiting outside.

Just as Wen He and Ma Zhou were getting into the carriage, they suddenly heard a loud hoofbeat.

A fast horse came galloping towards him from a short distance away and stopped right at the door.

The man on horseback dismounted and rushed towards Wen He's residence, shouting, "Where's the gatekeeper? Go and inform him that Chen Dahai of the Second Hundred Cavalry Squad wants to see the young master!"

(End of this chapter)