The Host is Clearly A Scumbag (Quick Travel)

As soon as he returned, Su Hengzhong dragged Mingting to his home. Seeing his teacher's stern expression, Mingting was very puzzled, 'What had happened now? Why did Teacher look so displeased?'

"Mingting, have you ever thought about when you might marry?" Su Hengzhong cut straight to the point.

"Marry?" Mingting really hadn't thought about it.

"Teacher, I'm still young. And… who would I even marry?"

"What do you think of Lingyi?" Su Hengzhong didn't care about the threshold that he had said to Mrs. Su before, such as the need to pass the imperial examination.

Recently, several officials from the Ministry of Works had been inquiring about Mingting, and they seem to have taken a fancy to him and want him to be their son-in-law.

This is simply snatching food from the tiger's mouth!

Su Hengzhong would not tolerate it!

'Ah?'

Mingting finally understood what's going on, and after a moment of daze, he bowed to Su Hengzhong respectfully.

"If I may have the honor of marrying Junior Sister Lingyi, I vow to cherish her wholeheartedly. We will be together for the rest of my life."

"Good!" Su Hengzhong slapped his thigh in delight.

Though pressing his student like this was somewhat domineering for a prospective father-in-law, Mingting was simply too outstanding and coveted by everyone, so Su Hengzhong had to strike first.

Moreover, Mingting's words resonated with him.

Su Hengzhong had remained devoted to his wife his entire life. If his daughter could also receive such unwavering love from her husband, nothing would make him happier.

"Go home and inform your mother. Pick an auspicious day and invite the official matchmaker!"

When Li Sheng learned that Mingting was engaged to his teacher's daughter, he specially bought a jade ruyi from a treasure house as a congratulatory gift. (T/N: It's a symbolic scepter representing good fortune. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruyi_(scepter))

Naturally, if Li Sheng knew, Emperor Li knew too.

"That crafty Su Hengzhong!" Emperor Li was a little annoyed.

He was still thinking about choosing one of the princesses to marry Mingting, but he didn't expect Su Hengzhong to seize the opportunity first.

Mingting's idea for state-owned textile factories was eventually implemented by Emperor Li.

At first, Ming Ting had assumed that such a proposal, which is aimed at elevating women's status, would face significant hesitation from the ruler and might never come to fruition.

Unexpectedly, it proceeded smoothly.

What Mingting didn't know was that Emperor Li had indeed been hesitant, but after meeting Jiang Meimei, he changed his mind.

Jiang Meimei mentioned that the thick black line of misfortune on Emperor Li's luck had thinned.

She was also very surprised after seeing the Crown Prince, saying that the purple aura around Li Sheng had intensified and the dragon shape had become more vivid.

Recently, the Crown Prince has been with Mingting, and they have become sworn brothers. Before the winter came, Li Sheng also did a lot of good things for the benefit of the people according to Mingting's advice...

Previously, Emperor Li had consulted Master Xuanyi about his own ill fortune and the Crown Prince's weak luck.

Master Xuanyi's response back then was: "Do more good for the nation and its people. When hearts unite, it strengthens the fortune of the country, the Emperor, and the Crown Prince."

Now hearing what Jiang Meimei said, Emperor Li concluded that Mingting's luck had influenced Li Sheng's. This solidified his resolve to establish textile factories in the southeastern provinces after the new year.

When Mingting learned from the system that Jiang Meimei had inadvertently helped him again, he could only sigh.

'What is this called?'

'I stabbed the Female Lead thousands of times, yet she repays me with kindness, helping me over and over?'

In any case, the textile factories were launched with great fanfare.

With Emperor Li overseeing matters, Mingting no longer concerned himself with those things. Instead, he buried himself in farmland, researching fertilizers to increase the crop yields.

Li Sheng had land in the suburbs, and not only did he provide experimental fields, but also worked with Mingting every day.

At first, Li Sheng felt disgusted when he saw the manures, but when Mingting explained that it enriched the soil and could boost yields by dozens of pounds per hectare of lands, Li Sheng no longer despised it.

They even experimented with castrating pigs.

When the Crown Prince saw Mingting holding a sterilized dagger and swiftly make an incision on a piglet's rear and extract tiny white eggs for the first time, he couldn't help but feel a chill in his crotch.

"Brother Ting, you are really insulting the gentleman! It's too cruel! This young master refuses to eat it!"

However, when it was autumn, when Li Sheng tasted the tender, melt-in-your-mouth braised pork, all table manners and decorum were forgotten.

'It tastes so good!'

'What gentleman? Can it be compared to the aroma of meat?!'

The castrated pigs grew plump and large, providing the people with rich, flavorful pork that strengthened their physique. Even the pig manure served as high-quality fertilizer… the benefits were endless.

After Emperor Li personally tasted the pork, the practice was swiftly promoted nationwide.

"Mingting is truly a treasure!"

Emperor Li drank the pig trotter soup while imparting his experience to Li Sheng.

"You know what they say about capable people shouldering more responsibility? People like Minister Su and Mingting, you have to squeeze every drop of potential out of them. If you don't push them, you'll never know their limits."

"Look at little Mingting… he keeps breaking records and creating miracles, doesn't he?"

"Father, I'm not like you… I wouldn't..."

Li Sheng didn't finish his words because he was afraid that Emperor Li would be angry with him.

"Anyway, Brother Ting is a truly good man, devoted to the court and the people. I won't exploit him, and I won't betray his trust."

Li Sheng's words warmed Emperor Li's heart.

The Crown Prince's gentle temperament allowed him to accept subordinates who were more capable and intelligent than himself, which is a rare and valuable trait.

"Since you trust him and cherish this bond, Sheng'er, you must maintain it always." Emperor Li patted Li Sheng's head, "I hope your friendship remains this strong forever."

In the Year of Rabbit, Mingting returned to his hometown to take the provincial examinations and won the first place at the age of 13.

In the spring of the following year, he returned to the capital for the metropolitan examinations and won the first place too.

Before the palace examination, an unexpected guest arrived at Mingting's home.

Seeing the plump yet imposing face of Emperor Li, and hearing Li Sheng's introduction, "Brother Ting, this is my… father."

Mingting stepped forward and bowed.

"Mingting greets my honored foster father!"

The eunuch behind Emperor Li nearly fainted on the spot.

'This Huiyuan Jiang truly had the audacity! How dare he?!' (T/N: Huiyuan is those who ranked first in the metropolitan examination.)

Before Emperor Li could speak, Li Sheng spoke first, "Father, Mingting and I are sworn brothers. His mother is my foster mother, so it's only right that he calls you foster father."

Emperor Li has been secretly observing Mingting for the past few years and knows that he is a casual person. Seeing him act so boldly and naturally now, the Emperor couldn't help but wonder…

'Did this kid actually guess Sheng'er and my identity?'

'Is he pretending, or is he pretending to pretend?'