Li Gengtian was furious. "Do you think I’m made of money? Your father is only a little better off than the other villagers, where would I get the spare cash to open a shop for you? Besides, any extra money we have is being saved for your brother. He still needs to take the exams to become a scholar and then an Advanced Scholar. Don’t you think that costs money? Studying is the most expensive thing there is! Brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones; food, clothing, lodging, and travel—which of those doesn’t cost a fortune? Even if he gets lucky and becomes a scholar on his first try, the cost of traveling to the capital for the next exams is still a huge sum..."

Li Changyu cut him off. "Dad, since you’re so good at crunching the numbers, you should understand our family can’t afford to put two sons through school. It’s a struggle even for just my brother. He’s studying in Qinghui County and staying at our aunt’s house right now, so the expenses are low. But when the time comes for him to travel to the capital for the exams, you’ll have a hard time scraping that money together. The reason I want to open a shop is so my brother won’t have to worry about the future. Of course, it’s also true that I don’t really want to study."

Unable to out-argue his son, Li Gengtian stood up, fuming. He paced back and forth in the room, at a loss for what to do.

Just then, Li Changfeng came in. He spoke calmly to Li Gengtian. "Dad, there’s no need to persuade Changyu. He’s said for a long time that he doesn’t want to study. Changyu’s got a quick mind. Let him do his thing. Who knows, he might end up being more successful than his older brother."

Li Changyu was a naturally lively person, but he’d been sulking for the past two days and barely speaking, which was driving him crazy. Hearing his brother’s words, he leaped up from the bed, gave Li Changfeng a punch, and grinned. "Now *that’s* my real brother."

Li Changfeng gave him a helpless look. "So, I wasn’t your real brother before?"

Seeing his older son also supporting Changyu’s decision, Li Gengtian was both heartbroken and angry. "I had such high hopes for you both, but you..."

A pang of sorrow shot through him, and his eyes welled up with tears.

’Just the other day on the mountain,’ he thought, ’Zheng Changhe and Zhang Dashuan were praising how accomplished my two sons are, saying they were second to none. And now my younger son is quitting his studies. What a slap in the face!’

’Other families have sons who want to study but can’t, either because they have no money or not enough hands to work the fields. But this son of mine... I work myself to the bone to give him this chance, and he just throws it away.’

When Li Changfeng saw how heartbroken his father was, he quickly shot Changyu a meaningful glance. The two of them flanked Li Gengtian, helped him to a seat, and Li Changfeng began to gently reason with him.

He spoke softly to Li Gengtian. "Dad, let me be honest with you. This path of scholarship is a difficult one. Even after one becomes a Scholar, the road only gets harder. Even if one becomes an Advanced Scholar, it’s still difficult. Take County Magistrate Hu of our own Qinghui County—isn’t he an Advanced Scholar? You’ve seen how he’s been as County Magistrate these past few years. He serves the people wholeheartedly and has an excellent reputation among them. But what good does the people’s praise do him? In the world of officialdom, he’s not doing well at all. Neither Changyu nor I are the type of people to fawn over superiors or chase personal gain. Even if we passed the exams and became officials, I imagine we’d have a very hard time. That being the case, why should both of us brothers walk the same path? If Changyu doesn’t want to study to become a Scholar, let him do something else. We can consider it a fallback plan for the family."

Li Gengtian, having read a book or two in his time, was utterly stunned by his son’s words. His lips trembled as he asked, "A fallback plan? Is it really that difficult?"

Li Changfeng nodded gravely. "Being an official doesn’t guarantee a good life. Plenty of them end up with their families ruined and their heads on the chopping block. We country folk only know that becoming an Advanced Scholar is an incredible honor, but the truth is, the hardships of official life are far greater than the hardships of farming. Dad, we’re simple country people, and our lives have been good these past few years. I don’t want you and Mom to spend your future days living in constant fear just because your son became an official."

Li Gengtian was a reasonable man. He pushed his son’s hands away and said in a deep voice, "I understand. I wanted you to study for your own sakes, not so I could have bragging rights. Since you’ve told me the truth, of course I can’t force Changyu to continue his studies. We don’t have to be officials; we can live well as farmers. If being an official is so difficult, I’d rather Changfeng didn’t become one either. What good is glory? It’s nothing compared to you living well and giving your father peace of mind."

Seeing his father swinging to the other extreme, Li Changfeng quickly smiled and said, "I’ve already started down this path, so I have to see it through. Besides, if I didn’t study, I honestly wouldn’t know what else to do. I can’t compare to Changyu and his clever little schemes. In any case, we’re not even at that point yet, so what’s the rush? I haven’t even become a scholar yet, never mind an Advanced Scholar."

Li Gengtian smiled and nodded. He was just talking, of course; he knew he’d be heartbroken if his son actually gave up. But at least he wouldn’t force Changyu to study anymore.