At that moment, there was a knock at the gate in the courtyard, and someone called out loudly, “Excuse me, is this the home of Brian Thompson?”

　　“Coming!”

　　Edward Thompson got up and went into the courtyard, opened the gate, and was instantly stunned.

　　Standing outside the gate were four people, two of whom were attendants. Leading them was a middle-aged man of about fifty, with fair skin, a three-foot-long beard under his chin, wearing a gauze cap, a light purple scholar’s robe, and a jade belt at his waist, giving him a very refined appearance.

　　Behind him stood a tall young man. Although he wore a scholar’s outfit, he could not hide the air of martial valor about him.

　　Brian Thompson was sitting in the room, and he immediately recognized the visitor—it was actually the head of the Dunhuang Li clan, James Thompson. This truly surprised him.

　　They were merely from a minor branch of the family, not even qualified to attend the annual clan rituals, let alone have the clan head visit their home. In Brian Thompson’s memory, the clan head had only come once before, when his grandfather passed away.

　　Edward Thompson was stunned for a moment and asked, “What brings you here?”

　　James Thompson felt a bit displeased. After all, he was the head of the Dunhuang Li clan, holding the fate of hundreds of clan members in his hands. Yet juniors from a minor branch like Edward Thompson and Brian Thompson didn’t hurry to pay their respects, but instead asked what he wanted?

　　However, today he had come of his own accord, seeking help from Brian Thompson, so he suppressed his displeasure and forced a smile. “May I come inside to talk?”

　　Edward Thompson quickly said, “Please, come in! Please, come in!”

　　She rushed back to the main hall like the wind, tidied up the room a bit, then came out again to greet them with a smile. “Clan head, please come in and have a seat!”

　　After all, this was the clan head of the Li family. Edward Thompson understood social etiquette. Although she was already married and a daughter-in-law of the Cao family, she had to think of her younger brother. In the future, he would have many matters requiring the clan’s help, so she really couldn’t afford to offend the clan head.

　　Seeing Edward Thompson being so attentive, James Thompson felt a bit more at ease, nodded, and walked into the main hall with his hands behind his back. The young man stood behind him, looking at Brian Thompson with a provocative gaze.

　　The young man’s name was Paul Thompson, James Thompson’s nephew and a direct descendant of the Li clan. Like Brian Thompson, he studied at the state academy and was also participating in this year’s martial examination.

　　James Thompson sat down and glanced at Brian Thompson, who was standing at the door. Seeing that he still refused to kneel and pay his respects, James Thompson felt a bit displeased again.

　　“You are Brian Thompson?” James Thompson asked indifferently.

　　……

　　[Note: The head of the Dunhuang Li clan should be named Li Kerang, but to avoid confusion with Li Kerang of Later Tang, the name has been changed to James Thompson.]

Chapter 004: Using Power to Oppress

　　Edward Thompson and her brother were nominally members of the Dunhuang Li clan, but they belonged to a minor branch and were not valued by the family. They weren’t even qualified to attend clan rituals. There was another saying, though, that their grandfather Daniel Thompson was not originally from the Dunhuang Li clan, but from the Longxi Li clan.

　　This theory made some sense. Otherwise, with their grandfather Daniel Thompson’s status as a scholar at the Shazhou official academy, how could he not be qualified to participate in the clan rituals?

　　For this reason, Brian Thompson felt extremely detached from the family. In his previous life, he never knelt to anyone, and in this life, he would only bow to his grandfather and his teacher. To kneel to this high-and-mighty clan head, who never cared whether he and his sister lived or died—his knees simply wouldn’t bend.

　　Brian Thompson bowed and said, “I am indeed he!”

　　At this moment, Edward Thompson brought in tea. James Thompson smiled at her and said, “You may leave for now. I’d like to speak with your brother alone.”

　　Seeing her brother refuse to kneel to the clan head, Edward Thompson felt a bit worried and forced a smile. “My brother is only seventeen and doesn’t understand much. If you have anything to say, please tell me. I can make decisions.”

　　“Very well. Please, have a seat.”

　　Edward Thompson sat down on the opposite side of the table, while Brian Thompson stood behind his sister, glancing at Paul Thompson across from him. Although they were clan members and both studied at the state academy, Paul Thompson always looked down on him and had never regarded him properly.

　　Now that he had actually come to his house, Brian Thompson had a vague idea of the reason—it probably had something to do with Paul Thompson.

　　James Thompson stroked his long beard and said unhurriedly to Edward Thompson, “You know about tomorrow’s martial examination, don’t you?”

　　Of course Edward Thompson knew. It concerned her brother’s future, and she’d heard there were three spots to go to the capital for the martial exam. Her brother was unmatched in horsemanship and archery among the Dunhuang youths, so one of those spots was surely theirs.

　　“I know. My Brian will be participating tomorrow as well.”

　　“Yes! Your brother is quite outstanding. For the Li family to have such a talented person, I, as clan head, am truly gratified.”

　　“Clan head flatters him. He’s still just a child, with a few strengths, but hardly outstanding.”

　　Edward Thompson was a very shrewd woman. She had considered this issue more than once. Her brother was indeed outstanding, and she was proud of him.

　　People always praised the Li family for producing such a talent, but the clan never paid any attention, which showed that the clan head didn’t really care about Brian.

　　Edward Thompson also knew that the Li family placed great importance on bloodline. No matter how outstanding children from minor branches were, they would never be valued by the clan—unless they became high officials or nobles.

　　If that was the case, why had the clan head come today, offering such insincere praise? Did they have some ulterior motive?

　　Thinking of this, Edward Thompson became wary.