Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

The crowd was swept over by Emperor Jing's gaze, and they couldn't help but lower their heads, not daring to look directly at him.

However, their hearts were filled with murmurs.

Changing a person's registered occupation was something that would absolutely not be allowed under normal circumstances.

It was best for the people to stay in their respective roles and for sons to inherit their fathers' professions.

But if people were allowed to change their occupations at will, their minds would become restless, and they would all want to develop according to their own ideas. Wouldn't that create chaos?

Farmers wouldn't properly farm, and blacksmiths wouldn't properly forge iron.

Although most people strongly opposed the idea, they really couldn't voice their objections at this moment.

They had just been rebuked by Fang Zheng, and now His Majesty was taking his side.

Most importantly, the students from Dongjiao University had indeed made a great contribution! Who knew how many uses the hot air balloon would have in the future.

If it was limited to Dongjiao University graduates being able to change their registered occupation, then perhaps compromising on this small opening would be acceptable.

The ministers were silent, and finally Li Yansong spoke, "Since His Majesty has agreed, we shall naturally comply."

Emperor Jing said, "Good, then this matter is settled. Make arrangements to provide Dongjiao University students with a convenient path."

Fang Zheng was overjoyed!

It was settled! The foundation of Dongjiao University was completely secure this time. With just this one permission, countless people with the ambition to change their fate would devote themselves to science.

Originally, the seedling of science was still very fragile, but now it had instantly grown into a sapling.

In the future, he wouldn't have to spend too much effort on recruiting students.

If branch schools were established all over the country to comprehensively screen talent, who knew if he could create a college entrance examination system parallel to the imperial examinations?

Wouldn't Fang Zheng be the father of the college entrance examination then!

This time, he had to completely turn the tables and make up for his wounded heart.

Fang Zheng licked his lips and excitedly said, "Your subject, on behalf of all the students of Dongjiao University, thanks His Majesty for his kindness!"

Emperor Jing waved his hand and said, "It's nothing, let's talk about this hot air balloon first."

"This object is easy to control, so Great Jing will be like having an extra pair of eyes. I plan to establish a Flying Guard, tentatively with a thousand men. The Ministry of Revenue will allocate silver to build another batch of hot air balloons."

"You first gather some manpower to assist the Ministry of War in teaching the method of controlling hot air balloons."

"Your subject obeys!"

......

The sky was already dark.

Xiao Letian returned home with light steps.

As he approached his door, he looked up at the bright moon in the sky and still felt a deep sense of unreality.

Everything that had happened today was too dreamlike.

He had entered the palace, met the emperor, and the young master Li who had gone crazy with him was actually the crown prince.

Most importantly, he had been vindicated!

Now, the knot that had been blocking his chest had been untied. If his father knew about this, he would be overjoyed.

He just didn't know when the court's rewards would be given out.

Thinking this, Xiao Letian pushed open the door to his house.

The house was still as dark as ever. If it weren't for studying, his father wouldn't be willing to light the lamp.

Xiao Letian fumbled to light the oil lamp.

Holding the oil lamp, he walked into the house and saw that Xiao Kang was already lying on his side, asleep. He gently blew out the oil lamp.

"You're back?" Xiao Kang's voice suddenly came.

"Dad, you're not asleep?"

"I was asleep. There's food in the pot. If you're not studying, don't light the lamp." Xiao Kang's voice didn't have a trace of emotion.

Although the knot in his heart had been untied, he couldn't stand the constant rumors that had been spreading recently.

Especially since he had offended that matchmaker last time, the old woman was very vengeful and fanned the flames even more vigorously.

Under her instigation, the rough men and shrewish women in the neighborhood were even more unrestrained in their speech, saying exceptionally unpleasant things.

Living in this kind of environment for a long time, Xiao Kang inevitably became depressed, and the father-son communication that had been somewhat alleviated became difficult again.

Xiao Letian was aware of this situation.

He had originally wanted to tell his father the good news with a heart full of enthusiasm, but his emotions were extinguished by Xiao Kang's indifferent attitude.

A bitter smile appeared on Xiao Letian's face. He walked to the couch and fell asleep with his clothes on.

I won't say it! I'll wait until the rewards come before I say anything. If I say it now, Dad might think I'm crazy.

....

The next day, Xiao Kang went to work as usual.

His morning shift was to transport goods for the Dongshi vegetable market. He had to leave before dawn to deliver the goods before most people woke up.

It was heavy physical labor. Although there were tricycles on the market now,

the boss didn't provide one, let alone a carriage. There was only an old wooden cart that had to be pulled from the front and pushed from behind.

After half an hour, Xiao Kang finally delivered the goods, and his hands were covered in black mud.

After a moment of respite, Xiao Kang took off the cloth towel that was draped over his shoulder and wiped away the sweat and dirt from his hands.

The slightly yellow cloth towel, which had been pre-washed the night before, instantly turned pitch black.

After carefully cleaning it, he frowned and sighed as he rubbed his already sore old back.

A fellow worker joked, "Old Xiao, your son has already earned a hundred taels. Why are you still doing this hard labor?"

"Now that you have time and can read and write, wouldn't it be better to find a job as a bookkeeper?"

Xiao Kang shook his head with a wry smile.

A bookkeeper was a very good job, but it wasn't easy to find. Strangers weren't trustworthy, and there were so many impoverished scholars in the capital, how could it be his turn, a scholar who looked like an old farmer?

"What can a hundred taels do? My son hasn't gotten married yet."

"Hah! Are you marrying a fairy? Isn't a hundred taels enough to find any woman? My son didn't spend a few taels on his wedding, and he already has two children. Don't set your sights too high. Don't think that just because you're a scholar, you're any different from us pulling carts here? Life is what it is."

Xiao Kang said faintly, "My son's requirements will naturally be higher. He won't marry anyone but a daughter of a prominent family. How could ordinary women catch his eye?"

The fellow worker suddenly felt despised!

Are you implying that my son is inferior to your son?

So he sneered, "That's right! It's only a hundred taels. Prices are rising fast now, and it may not be enough to spend in the future. Unless your son writes another mysterious article in the future."

"By the way, Old Xiao, what exactly is that article about airflow that your son wrote for?"

Xiao Kang's expression stiffened, and he didn't speak.

What was it for? It was useless!

He wasn't the only one who had made fun of him about this. Almost everywhere he worked, he was targeted because of his identity as a scholar.

Everyone looked up to scholars, but once a scholar became impoverished, everyone wanted to step on him.

Xiao Kang had long since learned to ignore this kind of situation.

But making fun of his son always made him extremely uncomfortable.

"Let's go, let's take the cart back."

The fellow worker saw that he looked somewhat dejected, with a hint of 'victory' in his expression.

The two began to pack up the wooden cart, preparing to return.

They had just pulled it a few steps when a heavily made-up, fat woman ran towards them, flailing her arms.

"Old Xiao! Old Xiao! There's good news at your house! Quick, come home with me?"

Xiao Kang was stunned. The person who came was actually the matchmaker who had been slandering him behind his back?

Good news? What good news could there be at my house? Could she be deliberately teasing me?

Xiao Kang asked vigilantly, "What nonsense are you talking about? There shouldn't be anyone at my house right now. Where would the good news come from?"

The matchmaker had a flattering smile on her face, "Really! Really! I'm not lying to you. A high official has come to your house. I heard he's from the palace. Would I dare to lie to you about this?"

"Go and take a look!"

From the palace?

Xiao Kang stood there in a daze, feeling somewhat恍惚...