The Shortfall

"I wonder whose son he is, traveling here for his studies. Could he be interested in farming? That's rare!"

For many scholars, what was the point of studying?

It was to rise in the world through the Imperial Examinations. Knowledge of farming did nothing to help them pass, so many men who became officials through the examinations did not even know how crops grew.

But with a string of officials behind him, this was no time to strike up a conversation. He merely gave Su Ziji a couple of looks before walking past him.

Su Ziji turned slightly and watched the man's retreating figure, momentarily lost in thought.

That's Qi Hongxin, the prefect of Shunan Prefecture? He was nothing like Su Ziji had imagined.

He had only been muttering to himself, yet someone beside him answered, "It is indeed Qi Hongxin."

"He wasn't always like this. In his youth, he was known for his handsome elegance and loved refined pursuits."

"But ever since he became governor of a small commandery, he hasn't been promoted. No matter how much he accomplishes, he only gets transferred sideways. After enough years, he gave up on advancement."

"Now he devotes himself entirely to the people's livelihood. Perhaps his surroundings changed him too. Little by little, he became like this."

There was both emotion and quiet admiration in those words.

Then the speaker added, "And for that, he has earned a great deal of Merit."

As he spoke, he walked up to Su Ziji.

Su Ziji smiled and bowed. "Greetings, Scholar."

The man who had answered him was none other than Liu Zhan, who had decided aboard the official ship to come to Shunan Prefecture.

Now dressed in a Daoist robe, Liu Zhan smiled. "No need for ceremony when we're alone."

Liu Zhan had set