After being reborn as a man, the woman improved her family's fortunes through education.

Chapter 632 Competitive Relationship

After Qin Shilang ended the banquet, Liu Peng took Jiang Xiaoqi and Xiao Ming to his own courtyard.

Liu Peng's courtyard was quiet, with many servants guarding it outside, so no one could easily get in.

Even if someone wants to come, they must be notified in advance.

The topics they couldn't discuss at the banquet could now be continued in Liu Peng's own courtyard.

"Who is this Vice Minister Qin from the Ministry of Works? Why does it seem like he's targeting Mingfei from the very beginning?"

Xiao Ming had no impression of this person at all. Besides, their Hanlin Academy and the Ministry of Works had absolutely no connection. How did they end up with such a strange and eccentric person?

Could it be that Mingfei, at such a young age, has been granted the rank of fifth grade official and thus qualified to attend the Grand Court Assembly?

Isn't it?

Jiang Xiaoqi also felt that she had never provoked such a person, so she had the same question.

The two men exchanged questioning glances with Liu Peng, waiting for his answer.

"Cough cough."

"Don't cough. If you cough, I'll know you're going to keep me in suspense again. Just tell me directly and we'll still be good brothers!"

Liu Peng waved his hand helplessly, "Alright, alright, I won't keep you in suspense any longer."

This Vice Minister Qin has a nephew who also works in the Hanlin Academy. He was a second-class Jinshi in our year's spring imperial examination, passed the examination to become a Shujishi, and entered the Hanlin Academy. Now he is a seventh-rank official.

His nephew had hoped to get promoted in the Hanlin Academy by leveraging Qin Shilang's connections, but the Ministry of Personnel rejected him on the grounds that the Hanlin Academy's quota for this year was full.

It wasn't originally because of that; it was just an excuse to refuse. Who would have thought that Vice Minister Qin would take it seriously and actually go to inquire who had been promoted in the Hanlin Academy?

Actually, it was just me and Mingfei. He naturally wouldn't dare cause me any trouble, so Mingfei was the one who suffered.

But I really didn't expect him to say those things in front of so many people. I don't know if he's just being honest or stupid.

Jiang Xiaoqi understood; it turned out he really did have a "grudge" against that person, so it wasn't surprising.

However, I feel quite wronged. It's like having a toad crawl on my foot—it doesn't bite, but it's disgusting.

"That's not right, is it just because of this? Judging from the way Qin Shilang looked, he seemed like he wanted to bite Mingfei."

How much does he love his nephew? Is it worth offending a promising official and getting involved with a powerful member of the Liu family for his nephew's sake?

That person didn't seem that stupid; they just walked right into him.

"Of course that's not all. I'm just taking a break to have some tea. I haven't finished yet!"

"Then keep going! Why drink tea halfway through? Will you die of thirst if you drink it later?"

Xiao Ming and Liu Peng spoke without any restraint in private, which made Jiang Xiaoqi give her fifth brother-in-law a thumbs up in her heart.

Liu Peng rolled his eyes at Xiao Ming, "Even storytellers in teahouses can take a break to soothe their throats during a storytelling session, so why can't I?!"

Alright, alright, I'll tell you now. Of course, it's not just about Minister Qin's nephew.

No matter how close they are, he's just a nephew, let alone a cousin.

You didn't know, did you? Minister Wu of the Ministry of Works is preparing to retire!

"Lord Wu? Minister Wu? How could this be so sudden! Lord Wu is usually in good health, isn't he?"

"Yes, Lord Wu is in good health, but his wife is not. She has been bedridden for years, and even the most renowned doctors he has consulted have not been able to help her."

When His Majesty learned of this, he even sent the head of the Imperial Medical Academy to see the patient in person, but the head of the academy only said that the patient needed to be cared for.

This care has lasted for more than ten years. Lord Wu felt that he and his wife could not spend the last years of their lives confined to a small courtyard.

So he decided to retire and take his elderly wife back to his hometown to live out their days in comfort, perhaps hoping that returning home would gradually improve his health.

"Ah~ Minister Wu is truly a man of deep feelings, loyal and righteous."

"I haven't finished speaking yet! Don't interrupt me! Let me finish!"

"Alright, alright, continue!"

"This matter is basically settled, and His Majesty has agreed."

With Minister Wu returning to his hometown, the position of Minister has become vacant!

Xiao Ming reacted quickly, "My God, you mean, Vice Minister Qin has his eye on the Minister's position!? He's very, very ambitious!"

"Haha, you mean he's very ambitious, right? A minister in his thirties, the Great Zhou has never had one before. I have to say, a vice minister who doesn't want to be a minister isn't a good vice minister."

Xiao Ming reacted quickly this time: "So he thinks Ming Fei's great-uncle will be his rival for the position of Minister?"

Liu Peng nodded. It was obvious. There were only two vice ministers in the Ministry of Works. If His Majesty intended to promote someone from the Ministry of Works, it would naturally be one of the two.

However, the possibility of being transferred from other departments cannot be ruled out, but the most likely scenario is that an official familiar with the affairs of the Ministry of Works will be appointed as the Minister of Works.

As one on the left and one on the right, Jiang Changqing and this Vice Minister Qin were bound to be rivals vying for the position of Minister of Works.

Therefore, Qin Shilang's sarcastic remarks and provocations towards Jiang Xiaoqi today were all for his own benefit, and probably had little to do with his cousin who works in the Hanlin Academy.

This left Jiang Xiaoqi even more speechless. If he wanted to compete for the position of Minister, then he should just go for it! Who was stopping him?!

Why are you trying to show off at the Liu family's banquet?

He is "young and holding a high position"—doesn't this thirty-something-year-old vice minister also want to hold a high position at a young age?

Since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, there has never been a Minister in his thirties. This person is quite confident and daring.

Jiang Xiaoqi had never wanted her great-uncle to win more than at this moment.

I just want to see how frustrated and angry this person will be when they lose the argument.

“Mingfei, but you don’t need to take it to heart. This person is still inexperienced. If he really competes with Lord Jiang, his chances of winning are not high.”

Liu Peng believes that, without resorting to back channels, the promotion of officials should still be based on seniority and seniority.

Jiang Changqing has been the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works for eight or nine years, while this Vice Minister Qin seems to have only been in the Ministry of Works for two or three years.

By all accounts, he shouldn't be the one to rise to power, but if he uses some underhanded tactics or latches onto some powerful figure, then who knows?

Don't tell Mingfei these things, lest you cause him unnecessary trouble.

After all, Mingfei had only just been promoted to the fifth-rank lecturer and could not really help his great-uncle in any practical way; he could only worry along with him.

“I know that my great-uncle’s business is his business, but now that this person has involved me, I can’t just let it go.”

"Oh? Then what do you want?"

"Sigh~ Let's give him a shock from a young person~"

Shocking to young people?

Liu Peng and Xiao Ming looked at each other, both seeing the words "I don't understand" in each other's eyes.

Just as the two were about to ask, Jiang Xiaoqi quickly changed the subject.

"By the way, do you like the sea?"

Um... this topic is really jumping around.

"Hmm, I haven't seen her much. She must like me, right?"

"Do you get seasick?"

"I rode on an official boat when I returned to my hometown, and I didn't get seasick."

"And you, Brother Liu?"

"I'm fine. I have a sightseeing boat at home, and when I have free time, I go on a boat trip with my family."

Wow! A private yacht! Jiang Xiaoqi was once again amazed by the Liu family's wealth and background.