Li secured a Jinshi of the Wuchen year in the Longqing reign of the Ming, a Wuzhen inhabitant styled Yanhe with an art alias of Linchuan.

During his debut magistracy in Xingan County, Li approached minimalist rules and laws, complete with transparent administration. People-appeasing and law-abiding, the ethos welcomed an affluent community of peace and prosperity. He was hailed as a parent-like official. His clean character was exemplified as cited from one of his sayings, “free from intentional evils in spite of unintentional mishaps.” Shooting to fame, he was catapulted to the Beijing officialdom, promoted to the court high-up of jishizhong (supervisor-ship of ministries) with the Department of Rites, and soon shifted to Personnel. With a submission Proposal for Imperial Exam Malpractices, Li offended the Dajingzhao (governor of Shuntian, or capital-area), soon subject to frontier exile, with posts from qianshi (section chief) in Fujian, canyi (advisor deputy in department) in Jiangxi and Guangxi. Beneficial and devoted as ever, he pursued clear and clean administration, unapologetically punitive of negligence and corruption while self-disciplined. Later due to illness, he determinedly secured a secluded life back in hometown, despite an urging favor of the position, Shangbao Qing (custodianship of seals, symbols, and seals) from the royal court. This nonchalant act won far-and-wide applause of his locals, from the gentry to grassroots, who appealed to him whenever in trouble. Li in turn did not disappoint, showcasing a genteel demeanor owing to impartial deeds. Well deserved, he earned a plaque, embossed with Genuine Gentleman, hung in his residence hall, as a tribute from the court-to-Zhejiang circuit supervisor Peng Yingcan, post reporting to higher authorities.

Such a Wow official surely has a fabulous following base. While in office in Xingan, he played host to the imperial censor Xiao Lin, one of his fans, who had an invite for Li. During visit wait time, Li was impatient with Xiao’s seemingly hesitant presence, thus complaining loudly, “Magistrate is the host when Censor is a guest on tour. Instead, now Censor is the host when Magistrate is on visit. Why go slow?” In a fury, Xiao referred to his friend Zeng Jiantai when back. Savvy and sapient, Zeng put in a word for Li, comforting, “Propriety or not is beyond words,” which made Xiao relieved.

Into retirement, Li set out on a mission for a full volume of Li Annals in Wanli Reign, paying homage to the nonexistent Wuqing Town Annals by late-Song chronicler Shen Donggao (a Wuqing native). Carrying on the tradition, it was counted as the 2nd-edition epitome of the historic town. Considerably, later generations can cast a glimpse at its folkways prior to the reign via the Li’s kaleidoscope. A further version released in the Republic of China was curated by Lu Xuepu, who referred to the Li’s iteration, the unique in existence valued by his offspring.

Aged 87, the deceased Li was rounded off with personage-worthy memorial remembrance from the local community.

He was profusely survived by a couple of works, Jinchuan Records, Miscellanies (Jianwen Zaji), Quality Time in Filial Quanshao Garden, among others. His chef-d'oeuvre renamed Wuqing Town Annals in 5 revised volumes, available in Wanli 29th year.