Chapter 3

After more than ten days, Wang Huaqiang's injuries had basically healed. He had been able to get out of bed for the past five or six days. During these days, apart from going out for a walk every day, he would lock himself in his room and study the book *Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art*.

Compared to the addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of later generations, this book, which was considered a mathematical masterpiece at the time, seemed rather primitive. In just three days, Wang Huaqiang had worked through all the examples in the book. He even practiced with two account books from home. For the first time in his life, Wang Huaqiang discovered that he was actually a genius in mathematics.

During this period, Wang Huashi and Wang Huawei also came several times to invite him to practice martial arts together. Wang Huaqiang always claimed that his injuries had not fully healed and that he needed a few more days of rest. The two brothers had no choice but to give up. However, Wang Huaqiang noticed that whenever he went out for a walk, his two brothers were practicing martial arts with determination, gritting their teeth and suppressing their anger.

One day, while Wang Huaqiang was checking the accounts of the previous year with an abacus, he suddenly heard a commotion outside.

The Wang family now had five shops in Xinfeng City: three rice shops, one silk shop, and one cloth shop. After paying the wages of dozens of employees, the income barely covered the expenses of the four-member family and four or five servants. The Wang family's residence was not large, with only two courtyards. Any noise at the front gate would be heard in the back courtyard.

He heard Wang Huashi's roar echoing: "Wang Shiji, you villain, you came to our door last time to seize our property and injured my brothers, making Ah Da furious. Now you bring so many people, what do you want?"

Wang Huawei's voice also rang out: "Villain, you are dressed like this today and bring these soldiers. Do you want to rob us by force? We will never bow to you!"

Wang Huaqiang's heart stirred, and he quickly ran out. The back courtyard was not large, and he only needed to run a dozen steps through an archway to reach the front courtyard. He saw his two brothers holding sticks, standing guard at the front gate. The four or five servants of the family had also picked up brooms and mops, crouching behind the two brothers, trembling slightly.

Through the gaps between Wang Huashi and Wang Huawei, he could vaguely see a fully armored general with a large robe, accompanied by a dozen helmeted and armored subordinates, standing at the gate.

A rough, wolf-like voice sounded: "Ha ha, my dear nephews, please don't misunderstand. Last time, I didn't control my subordinates well, and they injured you. Today, I have come to apologize. Please inform Ah Da that Wang Shiji has come to apologize."

Taking advantage of Wang Shiji's words, Wang Huaqiang squeezed to the side of the door. He saw that Wang Shiji was eight feet tall, with a physique like an iron tower, almost as wide as half of their front door. His armor jingled as he spoke. He had a black face, a beard like a brush, and eyes like copper bells, with thick eyebrows like ink.

Although Wang Shiji was smiling, the strong and bull-like guards behind him stood with their heads bowed, not daring to breathe heavily, fully displaying the general's dignity and presence.

Among these people, the tallest and strongest one was familiar to Wang Huaqiang. It was Huangfu Xiaoxie, who had struck him on the back of the head last time. He was even half a head taller than Wang Shiji, as strong as a bear, with a fierce face. However, he was now as obedient as a lamb behind Wang Shiji, not daring to raise his head.

Wang Huaqiang stood beside his brothers and said coldly, "General Wang, you bring so many soldiers to our humble home today. Is this how you apologize? My head still hurts from the blow your subordinates gave me!"

Wang Huashi then noticed Wang Huaqiang and quickly blocked him behind him, pointing his fingers at Wang Shiji and said sternly, "Wang Shiji, as a general of the court, you let your subordinates beat a few children. Isn't that shameful? If you cause trouble today, we will fight to the death and go to the capital to file a complaint against you!"

Wang Huawei also puffed out his chest and added, "That's right. The county magistrate of Xinfeng dares not deal with you, but we don't believe the emperor can't handle you!"

Wang He's voice came from behind: "Stop being impertinent, step back!"

The three brothers turned their heads and saw that Wang He had already come out, with a serious expression, exuding a dignity and presence that was different from ordinary people.

Wang Huashi curled his lips: "Ah Da, this villain..."

Wang He waved his hand to stop Wang Huashi: "I have eyes. All of you step back."

Wang Huashi and Wang Huawei stepped back angrily, clearing a path.

Wang He walked forward and bowed to Wang Shiji: "A general of the court has come to our humble home. What can I do for you?"

Wang Shiji laughed: "Younger brother, it was my fault a few days ago. I didn't control my subordinates, and they injured your children. I have been thinking about it for days and feel very guilty. Today, I have brought them here to be punished. Do you think this is acceptable?"

Saying this, Wang Shiji turned to look at the guards beside him and said sternly, "Kneel down and accept the punishment!"

The guards who had beaten them, led by Huangfu Xiaoxie, knelt down, took off their upper armor, and revealed muscles that could rival those of modern bodybuilding champions. Huangfu Xiaoxie, in particular, had tattoos and scars all over his body, and his chest was covered in black hair, making him look terrifying.

Wang Huaqiang, who had fought and killed for a lifetime in his previous life, had seen many strong men, but he had never seen such well-developed muscles as those of Wang Shiji's subordinates. He couldn't help but admire them in his heart.

Wang Shiji's other guards took out whips from their horses and dipped them in a bucket of water. They raised the whips high and struck Huangfu Xiaoxie and the others on their backs. With each strike, blood and flesh flew, and the continuous "slap, slap, slap" sounds were heart-wrenching.

Huangfu Xiaoxie and the others had wooden sticks in their mouths. Although their eyebrows were trembling and their facial muscles were twitching, their fists were clenched so tightly that their knuckles cracked, and the veins on their necks and arms were bulging. However, they remained silent.

Wang He watched the scene coldly, but a hint of sympathy flashed in his eyes. Wang Huawei, who had initially looked smug, also showed a trace of sympathy after a while. He quietly pulled Wang He's sleeve and whispered, "Ah Da, that's enough, right? This will kill them!"

Wang He sighed and said to Wang Shiji, "General Wang, even iron bodies can't withstand such beating. That's enough, right?"

Wang Shiji laughed and raised his hand, saying solemnly, "Listen to Mr. Wang, stop!"

The guards who were whipping them stopped. Huangfu Xiaoxie and the others spat out the wooden sticks in their mouths, helped each other up, and their backs were already a bloody mess. The guards took out medicine from their pockets and applied it to their wounds, causing them to wince in pain.

Wang Huaqiang keenly noticed that Huangfu Xiaoxie's fierce eyes showed a hint of resentment when he looked at Wang Shiji.

"Brother, I have punished them. You should be satisfied now. Can we talk about the real matter now?" Wang Shiji's face still had a smile, but his voice had a hint of ill intent.

Wang He's heart sank, and he inwardly groaned, but his face remained calm: "What real matter is there to talk about between us?"

Wang Shiji's smile slowly faded: "Brother, when Uncle handed over this family business to you twenty years ago, there were already five shops in Xinfeng City. But after twenty years, there are still only five shops.

In these peaceful years, others could open at least two or three more shops in twenty years, but you have made no progress at all."

"This is our family's business, what does it have to do with you? Besides, I have been an official for many years and have no time to manage the family business. Are you, a general of the court, going to resign and do business?" Wang He replied coldly.

Wang Shiji shook his head with a smile: "Not at all. I know you are good at managing finances. Otherwise, you wouldn't have risen from a clerk to a state secretary by your accounting skills. So, I have no objections to your managing the family business. However, these three good nephews of mine don't seem to be able to inherit your business."

Wang He's face changed slightly: "My three sons are not idle rich. They don't need your concern. They can fight on the battlefield and earn their own fame."

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