I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 30 News from the Clouds
Li Shaobai stared at Chen She, "First, claim to the outside world that it was a mistake made by a temporary worker at the newspaper who misused a discarded manuscript."

Second, Xue Xiang should be held accountable. This villain concealed his desire to see Jiangnan, delayed the publication of the Yunmeng Times, and watched us end up in this situation. His intentions are despicable.

Third, severely punish Xue Xiang and force him to hand over the true story of Xiang Jianjiang; then all difficulties will be resolved.

After Li Shaobai finished speaking, Chen She fell silent. After a long while, he raised a long eyebrow and said, "Everyone says that Vice Dean Li comes from a prominent family, and that reputation is well-deserved."

Such an arrogant and self-important manner is something even the city magistrate couldn't match.

At this point, his voice suddenly turned stern, "Do you think everyone is a fool or blind?"

Is there no morality on Mount Jiufen?

How did the Yunmeng Times come about? Was it created by Xue Xiang?

How did I transfer it to your account?

At first, outsiders really didn't know, but now, the Anlu Evening News is eager to make it known to everyone.

Now that you've lost control, let Xue Xiang be held accountable.

Should the order for accountability be issued by me or by the city government?
Do you think everyone is like you, shameless?

If you don't have the teeth, don't fucking stuff everything into your stomach...

Chen Sheng was furious and, disregarding all decorum, started hurling profanities.

Li Shaobai chuckled, "The academy master is right to reprimand me. It is I, Li, who am incompetent. I will accept the punishment myself."

Is there anything else, Dr. Chen?

If there's nothing else, Li will need to write a letter of apology.

He has come to terms with it completely; without the official support from Yunmeng, the situation is definitely beyond repair.

But so what? The official robes he wore and the official business he handled were, at most, decision-making errors.

If you don't embezzle or take bribes, the only punishment you can get from above is a reprimand, and at most, you won't be able to get promoted for two years.

Once he understood this, he had nothing to worry about.

"You've made a mess, and you think you can just walk away?"

Chen She saw right through Li Shaobai's slacking off and said sternly, "The managers of all the major banks are now crowding my office."

The prefect repeatedly emphasized that whoever caused the problems during their term of office should fix them.

"Heh heh, expecting me to take the blame for you? No way!"

Li Shaobai's head buzzed, and he saw stars before his eyes.

He suddenly realized that he had overlooked one crucial factor: a large loan.

When Xue Xiang was in office, he borrowed three hundred spirit stones.

Logically speaking, a new official should not concern himself with the debts of the old one. As long as he doesn't take over, the debt of three hundred spirit stones should be handled by Xue Xiang.

At the time, the situation at Yunmeng Times was very good, and Li Shaobai was only thinking about seizing power, so he didn't care about anything else.

After he took over the Yunmeng Times, its circulation soared. He was obsessed with getting things done quickly and efficiently. He disliked Xue Xiang for walking with bound feet like an old lady, and borrowed another 500 spirit stones to establish a distribution network in the six cities of Canaan County.

Now that the Yunmeng Times has collapsed, all the major banks are holding him accountable for this mess.

Such a huge economic hole cannot be closed with a mere letter of apology.

The thought of his once bright future and the praise he received throughout the county has now turned into a complete mess, leaving him with no way out.

The pressure that had been building up for days suddenly exploded. Li Shaobai could no longer hold on, spitting out black blood and collapsing to the ground.

"My lord, my lord..."

Wang Pang and Lu Zhang rushed in.

………………

"Why do you love setting up schemes so much?"

Xie Haiya stared at Xue Xiang, unable to reconcile the image of this handsome young man with that of a cunning old official.

"I do not wish to harm others, but I also cannot allow myself to be harmed."

Xue Xiang was as pure and innocent as a lotus flower.

"Another instance of repaying evil with evil?"

"Of course."

"Ran, do you even realize how big a mess you've made this time?"

"With the esteemed academy leader standing tall and upright for me, I have nothing to fear."

"you……"

Xie Haiya was both angry and amused.

He was stern in words, but cheerful in heart and joyful in spirit.

Li Shaobai snatched the Yunmeng Times, and Xie Haiya didn't say it aloud, but he was cursing him in his heart.

Unfortunately, the sword came down from the sky, and the power of Jia Nan County was also involved, leaving Xie Haiya helpless.

He never expected that Xue Xiang's sudden turn of events would bring clarity to the previously gloomy situation.

Even the city magistrate took the initiative to invite him for tea, implying that he should step in and quell the situation.

Xue Xiang brought one surprise after another, leaving Xie Haiya somewhat overwhelmed.

"Tell me, what are your plans to do about this mess in Yunmeng?" "That depends on what the higher-ups say."

"Your superiors have ordered you to hand over the document requesting to see Jiangnan and to appease the owners of the major banks. Are you willing to do that?"

"If it is Your Excellency's will, I am willing."

"Alright, stop beating around the bush. Tell me your terms. This time there's plenty of room for negotiation."

"Yunmeng Newspaper is independent. Also, give me a new gold flying fish emblem. I dare not be greedy, just these two."

Xue glanced at Xie Haiya out of the corner of his eye.

"Should we ask the city magistrate to give up his position to you?"

Xie Haiya was both angry and amused.

Xue Xiang shrank his neck.

Xie Haiya sneered, "If you want the gold medal, dream about it after you pass the city examination."

Furthermore, it's impossible for Yunmeng Newspaper to become independent.

The newspaper has already been incorporated into the system; how can it be abandoned with just a few words?

Xue Xiang said, "Then I will start from scratch and take over the assets and debts of Yunmeng Newspaper."

Xie Haiya paused for a moment, "I knew you had big ambitions."

But the Yunmeng Times has already gained widespread recognition; everyone knows it's a lucrative opportunity. Do you really think you can monopolize it all? Is that realistic?

Xue Xiangdao said, "The Yunmeng Times will continue to be published, and will be transformed into the official Yunmeng City Daily."

In addition to the Yunmeng Times, another newspaper will be launched, tentatively named "Yunjian News". This daily newspaper will be operated by your subordinate.

However, if we offer shares to the public, I'm willing to offer 80% to 90% of the shares.

"Release 80% to 90% of the shares?"

Xie Haiya was surprised by Xue Xiang's boldness and clapped his hands, saying, "Although you have a broad mind, aren't you afraid of doing the work for someone else again?"

"Rights and interests can be separated, and the released shares can generate profits based on share capital, with zero voting rights."

"hiss."

Xie Haiya never imagined such a thing could happen.

"Does Your Excellency think this is feasible?"

"If you're willing to sacrifice your cubs, catching wolves won't be difficult at all."

"As for the remaining 80-90% of the shares, I humbly request Your Excellency to take the trouble to transfer them out."

As soon as Xue Xiang finished speaking, Xie Haiya was stunned.

He understood perfectly well that Xue Xiang's generous gift was tantamount to handing over the right to share a giant cake to him.

"Your Excellency is too kind. Without Your Excellency, how could I be where I am today?"

"I won't go into the mutual flattery; you'll have to wait for news."

…………

On February , the dragon looked up.

A sudden cold snap turned the entire Yunmeng City into a world of ice and snow once again.

Xue Xiang got up early in the morning, endured the excruciating pain, and finished guiding the spirit before leaving his room and arriving at the main hall, where he saw Liu Mei washing her hair.

With Xue's mother and Xiao Shi not around, she was busy pouring water on her head while trying to prevent the water from seeping into her collar, making her quite flustered.

Xue Xiang stepped forward, took the water ladle, and said, "Bow your head and bend over."

Even after a ladle of water was poured on it, quite a bit of water still flowed down the swan's neck.

"Hey, can't you even bend down properly?"

"Don't worry about it, I'll do it myself. You're just making things worse."

Liu Mei panicked and tried to snatch the water ladle.

"I didn't say anything to you, but you're getting all worked up. I'll water it slower, okay?"

Xue Xiang noticed that her willow-like eyebrows and swan-like neck were stained rose color and assumed she was angry.

Unexpectedly, as he slowly watered her, the water still flowed down her neck, and the curvature of her slender waist and delicate eyebrows gradually decreased.

"Stop messing around, you're getting me all wet."

Xue Xiang pressed down on Liu Mei's shoulder with one hand.

"You're just making things worse. I don't need you."

Liu Mei twisted her body.

Xue Xiang stopped moving, his pupils were bloodshot, and his eyes felt hot.

He knew why Liu Mei was acting awkwardly. As she bent over, her cotton pants were stretched into a round, full curve.

The trousers are parted in the middle, like two halves of a peach.

She was stunningly beautiful, and he was full of youthful vigor; they had no other home.

Unhealthy images involuntarily surfaced in Xue Xiang's mind.

(End of this chapter)