Li Qinzai may be more aware of the importance of scientific research in the Tang Dynasty than Li Zhi and Empress Wu.
He knew how difficult it was to implement this matter and how much pressure they had to face. Li Zhi and his wife were challenging the clan politics that had been formed since the Eastern Han Dynasty.
For Li Zhi and his wife, the promotion of scientific examination was to consolidate the imperial power, but Li Qinzai understood better that scientific examination was the hope of poor children. Once successful, its influence would last for thousands of years, until the modern era more than a thousand years later.
Scientific examinations are still the biggest way for poor families to transcend class.
This is a glimmer of hope left by heaven for ordinary people, because it is relatively fair to everyone.
Not to mention the hypocritical words of being loyal to the emperor and serving the country, the scientific examination is a lasting achievement that affects future generations. Based on this alone, Li Qinzai must stand on the same front as Li Zhi.
However, the father-in-law in front of him obviously did not understand this.
As the head of an aristocratic family, his ideas and Li Zhi's ideas were obviously at odds with each other.
What he advocated was still clan politics, using clan elites to assist the emperor in governing the world. This is the universal value of today's aristocratic clans.
As for those children from poor families, they are just dog meat that cannot be brought to the table. They have a bad background, did not have a good pregnancy, and do not have pure family blood. This is the original sin, and they are not qualified to be officials.
That's why Cui Linqian nonchalantly asked Li Qinzai for a quota and to seek fame for the younger members of the clan.
In his opinion, whether or not to grant this honor is nothing more than a matter of Li Qinzai's words. In Cui Linqian's eyes, the scientific examination has no seriousness and is just a resource that can be used to gain connections at any time and use the back door.
Li Qinzai could not discuss values with his father-in-law, nor could he persuade him to agree with the scientific examination system, because the scientific examination system and aristocratic families had always had a hostile relationship, and it was impossible for Li Qinzai to get the head of an aristocratic family to agree with it.
When favors came to his door, Li Qinzai was thinking about how to deal with the situation.
"If my father-in-law wants to seek fame for his children, why should he take part in the scientific examination? Nowadays, aristocratic families can still recommend talents to the court. My father-in-law only needs to write a letter, and the emperor will naturally appoint two young and handsome people." Li Qinzai said with a smile.
Cui Linqian laughed, shook his head and said, "No, no, it's not that simple. Nowadays, the emperor doesn't like the aristocratic family very much. Since Changsun Wuji was deposed, the aristocratic family has been greatly suppressed."
"The talents recommended by major aristocratic families are gradually not valued by the emperor. Even if they are appointed, they will only be given a painless official position. They will waste their time in that position and achieve nothing."
"The people the emperor values now are those who were selected through the scientific examination. I hope that these two young people in the clan will be recruited through the scientific examination, so that they will have a bright future in the official positions they will be awarded in the future."
Li Qinzai understood and felt heavier.
The atmosphere in the hall gradually became a little stagnant. Cui Linqian turned sideways and smiled: "Is there anything difficult about a good son-in-law?"
Before Li Qinzai could answer, Cui Jie said rudely: "Dad, you must let your husband consider the errands that the emperor entrusts to you. There is no reason to ask your husband to agree in person."
Cui Linqian was stunned for a moment, and then said with a wry smile: "Young women can't help their mothers. If that's the case, then you're talking in favor of your husband's family."
…………
After the banquet was over, Cui Jie arranged for Cui Linqian and his two cousins to stay.
At night, Li Qinzai and Cui Jie were lying on the bed. Cui Jie had a big belly and could only lie on her side, while Li Qinzai gently massaged her calves.
Due to her pregnancy, Cui Jie's figure has become much rounder and her calves are also a little swollen. She is exhausted after walking a few steps. Li Qinzai massages her every night.
Seeing Li Qinzai's frown, Cui Jie said cautiously: "Husband, are you embarrassed by Dad's request?"
Li Qinzai forced a smile and said: "Two quotas are not a big deal, but... the rules are broken, and it will be difficult for me to do things in the future."
After a pause, Li Qinzai explained: "It's not against your Cui family. You've also seen it. Recently, I've closed the door to thank guests. What I'm afraid of is that favors will come to my door. It's just that I can't turn away Dad when he comes, but I can't turn him away.
The request he made is really..."
Cui Jie thought for a while and said: "It's not convenient for my husband to refuse, why not let me tell my father? I am his daughter. Some things can be said more straightforwardly. I believe my father will understand."
Li Qinzai shook his head: "You and I are one husband and wife, and your refusal is no different from mine. Your father will eventually feel uncomfortable, and future interactions between the two families will be awkward. I don't want you to be caught in the middle."
Cui Jie thought for a while and said: "Maybe my two cousins are really proficient in arithmetic? If so, let them take the scientific examination. My husband doesn't have to make it difficult. Just treat them equally."
Li Qinzai smiled bitterly, the truth was hard to hear and hard to say.
If those two people really had this ability, Cui Linqian would not take them to ask for this favor. People with ability have always been confident.
According to Cui Linqian, those two people started studying arithmetic at the age of sixteen, and they only studied for three years after struggling to survive. What could they learn in three years? At best, they were about the same level as Li Sujie.
Changing the pace of my previous life, I started learning mathematics from the first grade of elementary school until I graduated from college. There is new knowledge to learn every year. In total, I have to study hard for at least ten years. I can barely learn anything and enter the society.
In other words, it is a barely qualified product from the assembly line.
Unless the two young students named Cui are astonishingly gifted geniuses like Princess Xuancheng, they will not have much ability after studying for three years. They will only be crushed after entering the examination room. Otherwise, why would Cui Linqian take the initiative to come to her?
Li Qinzai was silent. Cui Jie held his arm tightly and said softly: "Husband, I will always stand with you. Let me try it tomorrow. Maybe I can persuade my two cousins to leave."
…………
Early the next morning, Cui Jie called her two cousins Cui Ling and Cui Rui out of the room with a big belly. She said she would take them to visit Ganjing Village, and the three of them went out surrounded by countless people and old women.
Door.
Cui Jie walked out of the door and went straight to the school. Cui Ling and Cui Rui followed her in confusion. Seeing Cui Jie's legs and feet stumbling, they stepped forward to help her, but Cui Jie pushed her away.
The school was Li Qinzai's domain, and Cui Jie rarely came. She always knew what was right, and rarely interfered with men's careers.
The little bastards were playing in the playground. When they saw Cui Jie coming in, everyone hurriedly came forward and saluted respectfully, calling them "Master's Mother".
Cui Jie smiled and greeted everyone, and then waved to call Li Sujie over.
"Take two sets of test papers. The one that is a little more difficult will be found in a corner sheltered from the wind. Set up two tables and give the test papers to my two cousins."
Li Sujie immediately executed it, and soon set up two low tables in the corner of the playground, with test papers and pen and ink on them.
Cui Ling and Cui Rui suddenly looked a little ugly.
Cui Ling looked at Cui Jie and said, "Sister, it doesn't have to be like this, right?"
Cui Jie pointed to the low table without looking back and said: "You two sit down and do the questions carefully. Dad said that you are the most outstanding children of the Cui family. I want to know how outstanding you are. If you can't do it,
Just don’t embarrass the Cui family, don’t make it difficult for me as a husband, just get better and get out of here.”