Chapter 45

Inside the private room.

Su Wenjing stepped out of the room with one foot.

He then heard Wang Fugui's complaints.

Gu Jinnian and Su Huaiyu remained silent, somewhat awkward.

"Brother Gu, Brother Su."

"I'm exhausted."

"If I can't pass this year, I must go back and write an article to criticize this nonsense."

Wang Fugui was still being reckless, threatening to write an article.

However, when Wang Fugui reached the door of the private room, he saw Su Wenjing.

"Who are you, sir?"

Seeing an outsider, Wang Fugui immediately became serious and humble.

"I was just passing by."

"May I ask who you are, young friend?"

Su Wenjing smiled slightly and asked the other person's name instead.

"My name is Wang Fugui."

Wang Fugui introduced himself without any hesitation.

"Oh, the eldest son of the Wang family in Suzhou."

"I see."

"I'll take my leave first. If we meet again in the future, it will be a pleasure."

Su Wenjing smiled and left without saying more, but glanced at Wang Fugui's feet before slowly departing.

After Su Wenjing left,

Wang Fugui was puzzled. He walked into the private room and asked Gu Jinnian and Su Huaiyu,

"Brother Gu, Brother Su, who was that old man outside just now?"

Wang Fugui was very curious and couldn't help but ask.

"Uh..."

Gu Jinnian was about to answer, but Su Huaiyu spoke up first.

"Just a passing scholar."

"It's not important."

Su Huaiyu didn't tell Wang Fugui the truth.

"Oh."

Wang Fugui nodded, not caring much about it, but continued,

"Brother Gu, Brother Su, I can't take it anymore."

"I've been out for more than two hours and haven't found a single token."

"Moreover, I don't know who leaked the news. Now everyone knows to look for tokens. The streets are filled with people who are like bandits. If you go out now, any villager who dares to step out of their house will be blocked."

"Even the waiter is surrounded by four or five people. I think we won't pass the second round."

Wang Fugui looked dejected, sitting down and drinking a cup of wine.

He was very depressed and frustrated.

"Brother Wang, don't be discouraged."

"I have a business proposal for you. Are you interested?"

Gu Jinnian comforted Wang Fugui and then talked about business.

"Brother Gu, I don't have the heart to talk about business now."

"If you need money, just say so."

Wang Fugui was helpless; he had no interest in such matters.

Talking about business?

Talking about what kind of business?

Do you even have any business to talk about?

"Do you think Brother Fugui can give me ten thousand taels of gold?"

Hearing that he could take it directly, Gu Jinnian spoke without hesitation.

But as soon as he said it, a wave of resentment rose from Wang Fugui.

Ten thousand taels of gold?

Brother, my family is rich, but I don't control the money. I can give you a few thousand taels of gold.

But ten thousand taels of gold? That's my annual living expenses.

"Alright, I won't joke with you, Brother Wang."

"This business involves the second round tokens. If you agree, I can guarantee you pass smoothly."

Gu Jinnian smiled but looked serious.

"Pass?"

"Brother Gu, are you serious?"

The latter was amazed, looking at Gu Jinnian, not quite believing it.

"This prince never lies."

"It's up to you, Brother Wang, whether you want to do this business."

Gu Jinnian spoke seriously.

"Please, Prince, I'll do anything."

To pass smoothly, he would definitely participate.

"It's simple."

"Brother Wang just needs to do this, and then that."

Gu Jinnian whispered a long plan in Wang Fugui's ear.

As Wang Fugui listened, he suddenly understood.

But after hearing the plan, Wang Fugui was curious and asked Gu Jinnian,

"Prince, will this cause trouble?"

"I meant Mr. Wenjing."

Wang Fugui understood.

Gu Jinnian's plan was simple: do this, do that, and then take the money.

"No problem, just go ahead."

"But Brother Wang must investigate clearly, who is close to Zhang Yun or secretly unfriendly to me. Don't sell to any of them."

"The rest is up to you."

Gu Jinnian was calm.

The price was fixed at five hundred taels of silver per token, so there was no worry about no one buying.

But who to sell to was another matter.

Gu Jinnian definitely didn't want to sell to Zhang Yun, not out of dislike, but because the guy was useless.

After so long, he still hasn't condensed his qi.

He's a disgrace to his father.

This kind of villain, the sooner he leaves, the better, with no benefit at all.

"Alright."

"Brother Gu, you wait here."

"I'll take care of the rest."

Wang Fugui didn't dawdle, took the tokens on the table, and left.

Gu Jinnian left one Earth token, and Su Huaiyu left three.

Wang Fugui took two as his reward, leaving 165 tokens.

After Wang Fugui left,

Gu Jinnian remained calm, waiting to collect the money.

165 tokens, at the regular price, would be 8,250 taels of gold.

But this was the regular price. With the plan Gu Jinnian just gave, making at least 10,000 taels of gold was no problem.

Thinking about this, Gu Jinnian didn't say anything more, asked the waiter to open two rooms, and rested.

At the same time,

In Xiaoxi Village,

By a lakeside,

Su Wenjing stood quietly, his gaze on the pond, deep in thought.

At that moment, a figure slowly appeared behind him.

"Teacher."

"Jiangning County might be in big trouble."

The newcomer was a man, about 27 or 28 years old, elegant and distinguished, wearing a white scholar's robe.

As soon as he appeared, he lowered his voice and informed Su Wenjing.

"How big of a trouble?"

Su Wenjing was slightly silent, turned around, and looked at him.

"According to the investigation by the academy students, Jiangning County not only has demonic disturbances, but local officials and merchants are colluding, secretly opposing the government. If this really erupts, the people will suffer, and a great disaster will occur."

"I hope, Teacher, you can personally meet the emperor and inform him of this matter."

The man spoke; he was Su Wenjing's student, showing great respect.

"The court has already sent a great scholar to suppress the demonic disturbances."

"Grain is being transported these days. Although Jiangning County is large, there are many other matters to handle in the court."

"Even if I meet the emperor, I can't change much."

"But you should prepare well, stockpile grain, and send it to Jiangning County at a critical moment. If nothing happens in Jiangning County, consider it a precaution."

"If something does happen, this act of sending grain will add to your future career, understand?"

Su Wenjing spoke.

It wasn't that he was unwilling to talk to the emperor, but the country had many daily reports. The court was already sending grain and dispatching people.

There was no need to say more at this time.

Some things sound easy to say but are hard to implement, and everything depends on the cost-benefit ratio.

If the cost is greater than the benefit, no one will do it.

It's not a matter of selfishness but of the bigger picture.

"I understand."

"Teacher, your guidance is appreciated."

The scholar nodded.

Finally, he continued,

"Teacher, before I came, I heard that someone has collected all the Heaven and Earth tokens."

"This is a cunning move. I hope, Teacher, you will be cautious, so that no one can take advantage and harm our Great Xia."

He continued, mentioning this matter.

"I already know about this."

"As long as it's within the rules, it's not cunning. In fact, I see it as a good thing."

"Cheng Ming, you are upright and hate evil, but sometimes don't let bias cloud your judgment."

Su Wenjing was not concerned but praised Gu Jinnian.

"Teacher, I will remember."

"I will keep it in mind."

"But, Teacher, your actions today might upset some people in the academy."

"Moreover, I heard that the scholars of the Great Xia Academy gathered recently, seemingly discussing something."

"Teacher, you are indifferent to fame and fortune, half a step into the realm of sainthood, but these people are troublesome. If you need it, I am willing to enter the academy to assist you. I believe the Crown Prince will agree."

Cheng Ming continued.

But as he said this, a hint of displeasure flashed in Su Wenjing's eyes.

He was slightly unhappy with what his student had said.

The scholars of the Great Xia Academy, though they might be secretly dissatisfied with him, were still scholars, educating and nurturing virtue. Describing them as troublesome was disrespectful.

"A teacher must be respected."

"Cheng Ming, I hope you always adhere to your principles and don't forget your purpose in entering the government."

Su Wenjing spoke calmly.

Cheng Ming's expression changed, and he bowed to Su Wenjing.

"It's my fault."

"Please forgive me, Teacher."

He lowered his head, his eyes filled with fear and some other emotion.

Su Wenjing didn't dwell on this but continued,

"It's normal for the Great Xia Academy to have opinions about me, as my teaching methods are completely different from theirs."

"But appeasing them is simple. Just set up a new hall without shaking the foundation of the academy."

"Alright."

"Tomorrow, you will oversee the third round."

Su Wenjing remained calm, not caring about the intrigue.

"As you command, Teacher."

"But, Teacher, what will the third round test?"

Hearing this, Cheng Ming felt relieved. Now that the third round was entrusted to him, it was a great honor.

"Writing."

Su Wenjing spoke calmly.

"What is the topic?"

Cheng Ming asked curiously.

"The state."

Su Wenjing spoke calmly.

Cheng Ming memorized the topic.

Then,

Su Wenjing wrote again, rode a celestial crane, and flew towards the Great Xia Academy.

Leaving Cheng Ming alone.

After that,

In Xiaoxi Village,

A message spread.

The second round was about collecting tokens, and it had spread throughout Xiaoxi Village.

But no matter how hard everyone searched, they couldn't find a single token.

Just as everyone was at their wits' end,

Another message spread.

Someone had collected all the tokens.

This news caused a wave of complaints.

Some said this person must be crazy.

Others said this person must be sick.

The complaints were loud, and some even wanted to file a complaint.

But when they learned that the tokens were being sold for 500 taels of silver each,

The complaints were halved.

The selling place was at the tavern. The news spread for only the time of one incense stick, and the tavern was already packed.

500 taels of silver per token was not expensive.

Those who made it to the first round were not ordinary people.

The token sale

Sold out over a hundred tokens.

The remaining ten were auctioned and required immediate payment.

There was no major issue.

But there was a dispute, as a group of people were not included in the sale.

It was Zhang Yun's group.

This discriminatory treatment caused controversy.

But under the collective mindset, most people agreed, as it wasn't them who would suffer.

Fewer people were better.

Thus, 165 tokens were sold out in about half an hour.

The total sale was 10,000 taels of gold.

After the sale, the controversy grew even more.

Most people didn't get tokens, naturally generating resentment, and various disputes arose.

But no matter how much they complained, the Great Xia Academy seemed uninterested, with no one stepping in to manage.

But the news spread widely.

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I can't help but say a few words.

Many readers are urging for updates.

I understand, as my previous book had 20,000 words per day, while this new book has only 7,000 to 8,000 words per day, a significant difference.

This has led to many people saying I'm slacking or criticizing.

But I have to explain.

First, for a new book, 20,000 words a day would mean 300,000 to 500,000 words by the end of July.

Second, books on the signed list automatically drop off after 200,000 words, which is a significant exposure loss.

Finally, writing this book is exhausting. If I wrote it like my previous book, 20,000 words a day would be easy, just setting up a villain and repeatedly humiliating them, cycle after cycle, find a point, and go for it.

But if that were the case, why would I start a new book? I could have continued the previous one for another million words.

Starting a new book is to write something new, improve on the shortcomings, and write a better work.

To be fair, the pace is a bit slow, but the quality is better than the previous book.

So I hope everyone can understand. Also, I checked the list, and not many new books have more explosive updates than mine.

Cry!!! Please support me, recommendations, donations, monthly votes, let's go!!!