I just wrote a love poem, how did that make me so powerful?

Xu Qing didn't respond to his question, but instead asked a direct one.

Why won't you sell me your lime?

The man was Wang Dafu's son, Wang Youcai. Upon hearing this, he chuckled and clapped his folding fan even louder in his palm.

"I'm not selling, that's final. I can sell my things to whomever I want, what? You think you can just take them from me?"

Xu Qing glanced at him. "Did you say that, or are you speaking on behalf of your father?"

Wang Youcai raised his chin and looked down on people, saying, "My words are my father's words. Don't try to put on airs with me. I said I won't sell, and I mean it."

After listening, Xu Qing calmly dusted off the dust on his robe.

"Since you put it that way, that makes things easier. When the Xiao family's cheap lime arrives in the village, I hope you'll still be as hard as you are now."

Wang Youcai's smile froze instantly.

"The Xiao family? Who do you think you are? The Xiao family would actually deliver lime to the village for your sake?"

Xu Qing looked into his eyes.

"Don't you even know who arranged this house for me? What's my status in the Xiao family now? If you think you can stop the Xiao family..."

Xu Qing took half a step forward.

"Then I might as well ask the county magistrate whether the Wang family or the government has the final say in this territory of Hengyang County?"

Wang Youcai stopped folding his fan, and his expression changed, but he still stubbornly maintained his composure.

"Who are you trying to scare? Do you think the county magistrate would see a country bumpkin like you?"

Xu Qing wasn't angry; instead, she smiled slightly.

"I told you to read more books, but you insisted on reading porn. The 'Great Liang Code' clearly states in the section on the value of goods: those who force others to buy or sell, obstruct transactions, or raise prices arbitrarily shall be punished with eighty strokes of the cane. Serious offenses shall be prosecuted as theft. You've obstructed others from buying and selling lime, which, according to the law, constitutes obstruction of commerce. If you don't acknowledge it..."

Xu Qing was only halfway through her sentence.

Wang Youcai's face turned deathly pale, almost bloodless.

He unconsciously gripped the folding fan tighter.

"You...you're just spouting nonsense! I simply refuse to sell you lime. What kind of forced sale is that? What kind of obstruction of trade? Don't try to intimidate me with the county magistrate. He has so many cases to handle; he can't possibly care about a commoner like you!"

Xu Qing smiled calmly.

"Heh, it seems you haven't left the house these past few days and don't know I'm already a formal student at Songlin Academy. If I were to submit a petition to Magistrate Li through the headmaster, do you think he would take it seriously?"

Wang Youcai opened his mouth, but no words came out.

His hands were already visibly trembling.

The headmaster of Songlin Academy holds the title of Juren (a degree in the imperial examination system).

His words carried immense weight; he was practically the standard-bearer for scholars in Hengyang County, and even the county magistrate had to show him respect.

Just as Wang Youcai was trembling all over.

"Cough cough cough..."

A coughing sound came from deep within the courtyard.

Immediately afterwards, a middle-aged man wearing an eggplant-purple robe came out from inside.

He was about fifty years old, with a round face and a plump body. He had his hands tucked into his sleeves and a smile on his face.

Like a smiling eggplant...

But that smile, no matter how you looked at it, exuded a shrewdness.

He walked to the door, glanced at his speechless son, then looked at Xu Qing, and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.

"It turns out to be Scholar Xu visiting. I apologize for not greeting you properly. I was checking the accounts inside and didn't have time to greet you. Please forgive me."

Wang Youcai saw his savior and shouted.

"Father, you've finally come! You don't know him..."

Wang Dafu glared at him, his tone full of authority.

"You scoundrel! How dare you speak to Scholar Xu like that? Get out of here!"

Wang Youcai was startled by his shout and retreated to the side, unwilling to accept it.

The expressions on his face were even more fascinating, constantly changing.

Wang Dafu turned to Xu Qing, his smile returning, and his tone became more polite.

"Scholar Xu, my son is ignorant and speaks without thinking, please don't take offense. The matter of lime was a mistake in the message relayed by his subordinates. I will have someone send it to you as soon as possible. You can have as much as you want, at market price, it won't cost you a penny."

Xu Qing smiled after hearing this.

"I have another question: why can't I use rice paste to build my house? If there's no rice paste, even if I use lime and sand, its strength will still be lower."

Wang Dafu was quite helpless about this.

"Scholar Xu, let's not even talk about your family's recent improvement in fortune. Look at my Wang family, it's been three generations, but my wall..."

As Wang Dafu spoke, he knocked on his own wall.

"Do you know why we're not allowed to use glutinous rice paste on the walls of my house?"

His question stumped Xu Qing.

Xu Qing didn't try to show off; instead, he simply cupped his hands in greeting and said, "I hope Master Wang will be kind enough to offer his guidance."

Wang Dafu waved his hand.

"What do you mean by 'Master Yuan'? Only those with official titles and ranks can be called Master Yuan. I'm just a country bumpkin, I don't deserve the title."

Since Scholar Xu has brought this up, I won't beat around the bush and will tell you in the most direct way.

According to the custom of this county and prefecture, glutinous rice paste mixed with quicklime and sand is used to build houses with blue bricks. Only temples and government officials are allowed to use this method. Ordinary people are not permitted to use rice paste.

Only families who had achieved official rank could use it. After all, rice porridge was extremely precious in Hengyang County.

After his explanation, Xu Qing immediately understood.

There are very few places in Hengyang County that can produce rice; most of it is transported from afar.

Therefore, that glutinous rice paste is truly a rare commodity.

Xu Qing cupped his hands in greeting, "I've learned something new. I didn't know that until you told me."

Wang Dafu sighed.

"There's nothing we can do. It's a pity that no one in my family is destined for education. It looks like my son won't pass the county exam, let alone the provincial exam. There's no hope for him to use glutinous rice paste in this lifetime. But for you, Scholar Xu, one day you will achieve success in your studies. Then you can still use glutinous rice paste to build a house."

Xu Qing muttered to himself: When I recover and arrive at that time, who will still use glutinous rice paste? There will naturally be better options.

At the same time, he was also very moved...

The saying "There are houses of gold in books" is truly not without merit.

To build a good house, one also needs to have official rank and title.

The importance of the imperial examination system is becoming increasingly apparent...

"As for the lime, thank you very much, Master Wang. I don't need much, just enough to finish building the outbuildings. I'll call someone to come and get it in a bit."

After Xu Qing finished speaking, she turned to leave.

Unexpectedly, Wang Dafu reached out and stopped him.

"Scholar Xu, this matter is not my son's fault..."

Upon hearing this, Xu Qing remained standing, saying, "I'd like to hear more details..."

Wang Dafu paced back and forth, clenched his fist, then withdrew it, seemingly considering his words.

"Actually, there are two main reasons. The first one, as you can probably guess, is that the Chen family sent word that they don't want to have any dealings with your Xu family. Of course, if that's all, I'll just take it as a rumor."

Xu Qing added, "It seems the main reason is the second one?"

Wang Dafu nodded. "That's right, exactly."