Li Qiao and Tao Zhu went to a bookstore that they had only visited half of on the first day of the new year. This bookstore was in the east of the city, where dignitaries lived. There were many bookstores and they were large in scale, with two floors and three floors. There are many types of books.
Arriving at the door of the bookstore, Li Qiao and Tao Zhu got off the bullock cart.
The waiter standing at the door took the initiative to greet him: "Two distinguished guests, do you need me to help you take the ox cart to the backyard?"
"Okay." Li Qiao nodded.
The roads here are not very wide, and he and Tao Zhu have to spend a lot of time at the bookstore, so his family's bullock cart will not stand at the door and affect traffic.
It is worthy of being a famous bookstore in the entire capital. Even if he and Tao Zhu were riding in an ox cart, the clerk's attitude was very good. Well, I can visit more in the future.
After entering the bookstore, Li Qiao and Tao Zhu went straight to the second floor. Last time they only visited the first floor, this time they started directly from the second floor.
It's still the New Year, but since the exam is about to begin, the bookstore is doing good business, and there are many people inside buying the books they want.
Li Qiao and Tao Zhu acted separately. Tao Zhu was also able to do the job of searching for books. He knew what books Li Qiao needed.
After sweeping the second floor, the two went to the third floor.
It took more than an hour for the two of them to select more than 20 books.
When checking out, Li Qiao bought some more paper and pens. Prices in Beijing were a little more expensive than in Fucheng, but they were not too expensive and not outrageous.
For example, papyrus costs 40 cents per knives in Fucheng and 45 cents per knives in the capital, which is within Tao Zhu's acceptable range.
The two of them stood at the door of the bookstore holding books, paper and pens, waiting for the waiter to bring the bullock cart over.
It was now past lunch time and both of them were hungry.
Li Qiao glanced at the gloomy sky. Yesterday there was another light snowfall. Looking at the weather today, there is a high probability that it will also snow.
Snowy days are perfect for dates. He said to Tao Zhu, "Shall we go to a restaurant?"
The two of them have never been to a restaurant alone in the capital.
In order to visit Mr. Zhao today, he set aside a free day, and the imperial examination was not less than half a day of hard work.
"It's better to go back. Ershan and Brother Xia must be waiting impatiently. Besides, we just bought so many books, don't you want to read them?"
Tao Zhu said, raising the book in his hand and shaking it.
"...Okay."
Seeing that his face fell, Tao Zhu smiled softly and said, "When the test is over, we will go out alone to play. We should eat and drink."
"Sure." Li Qiao became energetic again.
At this moment, several people walked towards the bookstore. Among these people, one of them was obviously an extraordinary person, and the remaining people surrounded them.
These people were all drunk and smelled strongly of alcohol. As they walked, these people stared at Li Qiao and kept saying, "That's Li Qiao, right?" There is an ugly brother" and the like.
Li Qiao had good ears and heard these words clearly. He took two steps forward and blocked Tao Zhu behind him.
"What's wrong?" Tao Zhu looked at him, a little confused.
"It's okay, don't be afraid." Li Qiao shook his head gently.
Soon, these people stood in front of Li Qiao. The leader was wearing a valuable white fox cloak and holding a folding fan in his winter hand. His face was red from drinking and he looked to be in his forties.
"May I ask, are you Li Qiao?" He spoke, his tone was quite polite, but there was arrogance in his eyes.
Moreover, Li Qiao heard what these people were talking about just now.
Li Qiao nodded calmly: "Yes, I am Li Qiao. Your Excellency is..."
"My name is Qian Chen. Like Li Xiandi, I was a candidate for the new imperial examination last year. I have heard of Li Xiandi's name for a long time. When I saw him today, he was indeed as extraordinary as the legend said."
Qian Chen said with a smile.
"It turns out to be Brother Qian." Li Qiao also smiled: "Brother Qian came here specially, but is there something wrong?"
"Of course I have something to do. There will be a poetry competition held in Yunxiao Tower in three days. There are many participants. If you win the first place, you will definitely become famous among the candidates of this year. Brother Li Xian, let's go and have a look. You don't have to participate, but you can make more friends. Friends are always good. How about I pick you up at your house personally? "
Qian Chen was so familiar that he actually wanted to pick him up directly.
"Thank you Brother Qian for your kindness, but forget about the poetry competition. My poetry is average, and I am not lacking in fame."
Li Qiao smiled and refused: "Who among the candidates in the world knows me, Li Qiao?"
Does he still need to go all the way to Yunxiao Tower to become famous?
Maybe he wants to make a fool of himself out of Yunxiao Tower. No one knows that his poetry is mediocre.
Sure enough, as soon as he said these words, the smile on Qian Chen's face froze, and for a moment he didn't know how to speak.
At this time, a person behind Qian Chen suddenly said: "Li Qiao, are you afraid?"
Hearing this, Li Qiao raised his eyes and looked at this person.
It was the one who just called Tao Zhu an ugly guy. He had a mustache, small eyes, sparse eyebrows, a mouth full of yellow teeth, and a foul-smelling breath when he spoke.
Li Qiao curled his lips, with such a disgusting look, he still dared to call Tao Zhu ugly.
"I don't call it fear, I call it self-awareness. Why should I compare my shortcomings with other people's strengths?"
"Besides, with my current reputation, if anyone beats me, it will be like I helped him become famous. I'm not stupid."
After Li Qiao finished speaking, a flash of discomfort flashed across Qian Chen's face.
Huang Ya's face turned red, and he said angrily: "Humph, I'm just scared after saying so much."
"You're not afraid, then you compete with me in growing crops, do you dare? Oh no, no, I'm more famous than you. If I compete with you, that's to help you become famous. I don't compete with you."
Li Qiao frowned as he spoke: "However, your trick has succeeded now. After today, the entire Shengjing government will know that you were rendered speechless by my refutation."
"After all, I am still too young for your shameless ways."
Li Qiao's words were so sharp that no one could bear them, let alone a scholar who always had a strong self-esteem in front of him.
Huang Ya was trembling with anger, and his face was as red as if the blood vessels on his face were about to burst. He pointed at Li Qiao with his finger, but could not refute a single word.
Seeing this, Li Qiao glanced at these people one by one.
His words were a scolding for all of them. Except for Qian Shen, who was still calm enough to keep smiling, the others were filled with anger.
"Brother Li Xian, I've said that. Brother Zhang was just joking with you." Qian Chen tried to smooth things over.
Hearing this, Li Qiao smiled: "Then I wasn't joking just now. With what I said today, I have indeed made him famous."
"After studying hard for thirty years, no one asked me, but once I met Li Qiao, the whole world knew him. He has to thank me, brother Qian, don't you think so?"
Qian Chen: "..."
What a venomous mouth!
He could barely keep the smile on his face.
This Li Qiao came from a small place in the countryside. He was not good at poetry and calligraphy, and he only had two articles that were eye-catching.
He had always thought that it was difficult to live up to his reputation. Li Qiao had some abilities, but he was not very capable.
So he came today.
After meeting Li Qiao, it turns out that Li Qiao is indeed a handsome young man as rumored. He has seen many such young people. They have strong self-esteem, thin skin, and lack of experience and will not reject others.
He politely invited him in front of everyone, and also made it clear that he didn't have to participate. Li Qiao couldn't save face, so he probably wouldn't refuse.
When Li Qiao really arrives at Yunxiao Tower, everyone will be shouting and rousing, and they will use all kinds of methods. Li Qiao will have to participate even if he doesn't want to participate.
Everyone knows that Li Qiao's poetry is mediocre. If he beats Li Qiao in a poetry competition, even though it will not be very glorious, he can still become famous in one battle. That's Li Qiao, the most famous Li Qiao this year!
With this idea in mind, he heard that Li Qiao was in the bookstore here, so he put down the half-drunk wine and came in a hurry.
But who knew that Li Qiao didn't follow the routine at all. Not only did he refuse, but he also exposed his thoughts in public, and his mouth was as poisonous as a crane's crown!
It seems that he is scolding the person named Zhang, but in fact he is also scolding him!
Mad!
His heart exploded with anger, but looking at Li Qiao's smiling face, he could only squeeze out a slightly stiff smile: "Forget it, since Brother Li Xian is so honest, let's forget about the poetry competition."
He didn't dare to say anything else, lest he provoke a more vicious counterattack from Li Qiao.
He wants face.
The goal was not achieved, Qian Chen led the people away in despair.
However, after taking a few steps, Huang Ya's foot slipped and he fell heavily to the ground.
The ground was paved with stone slabs, and when he fell, he fainted.
Seeing this, Li Qiao quietly took back the water droplets the size of rice grains, and reminded with a smile: "The road is slippery, Brother Qian, please be careful, the snow has not melted yet."
Qian Chen: "..."
His face was gloomier than the weather today.
Mad!
Qian Chen and others left, and Li Qiao looked at Tao Zhu. The fake smile on his face turned to worry: "Don't be afraid, I'm here."
"I'm not afraid." Tao Zhu shook his head.
These people came with bad intentions, but he was really not afraid. He was standing behind Li Qiao just now and saw all of these people clearly.
Although they were men, they were all very weak. If they were in a deserted place, he could beat them all down by himself.
He actually invited Li Qiao to participate in a poetry competition. He deserves a beating!
"As long as you're not afraid, let's go back." Li Qiao breathed a sigh of relief and went to hold his hand.
The clerk from the bookstore has already brought the bullock cart.
"Yeah!" Tao Zhu smiled and followed his footsteps.
Li Qiao and Tao Zhu didn't take this episode seriously, and they would do whatever they had to do after going back.
However, the bookstore where they had a dispute with Qian Shenqi had a lot of traffic, so the dispute really spread.
When Mr. Zhao heard about this, he was a little funny, but more pleased.
He had previously told Li Qiao not to agree to other people's invitations. At that time, he was actually a little worried. Li Qiao was young and impulsive and had a strong self-esteem. He asked Li Qiao to avoid fighting because he was worried that Li Qiao would be depressed and dissatisfied. , the mentality will be unstable.
But who knew Li Qiao was so magnanimous and admitted his shortcomings in public.
He really worried too much. As for Li Qiao's honesty, he was the only one who could break other people's mentality.
