Chapter 411: Ximen Qing Courts Death

What Wang Yan asked was, of course, a rhetorical question. After all, in this day and age, people truly exhausted their minds and eyes just to study and become officials. Regardless of how well they studied, if they could, no one would be willing to give up such an opportunity.

Listening to the sound of reading inside, Wang Baqing recalled the time he first started his education. He nodded heavily: "I want to, but my family is poor and cannot afford it." He was a sharp lad; it seemed as if this young master had the intention to sponsor his continued studies, and he couldn't help but look with full hope at the great philanthropist who smiled with such warmth and kindness.

This was the truth. To say nothing else, take Su Shi, who has been famous for ages. The father and his two sons took the examinations one after another, and their family, which was originally a wealthy one in Meishan, went directly bankrupt. Eating, drinking, playing, excursions, visiting friends, brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, books, and materials—all of it cost money. Moreover, they had to stop working to study with all their might. For a tenant family like Wang Baqing's, which had no surplus wealth, being able to start an education at all was only because of the kindness of Master Wang.

Because this private school in Wang Family Village had its location and building constructed by the families in the village working together. The teacher in the school, however, was supported by Wang Yan's money. Of course, there was also some tuition that should be given, which was just enough to cover the teacher's meals. The little children here were all literate, which was not bad.

Wang Yan smiled and patted his small shoulder, not saying much more, and walked to the entrance of the school. Just as he stood still, the sound of reading, which had been shaking heads and drawing out long tones, went from a rustle to silence. Pairs of lively, intelligent eyes belonging to the young children focused on the young man at the door.

The old teacher who taught the books also noticed the children's actions and looked over toward Wang Yan at the door: "Master Wang."

Wang Yan rubbed the head of the little fatty sitting by the door and smiled: "When reading the books of sages, one must be earnest; you must never be slack."

That little fatty scratched his head in embarrassment and grinned foolishly at Master Wang; he was the first one to stop.

Having said that, Wang Yan called the old teacher out to talk.

"I wonder for what matter Master Wang seeks this old man?"

This teacher was surnamed Zhang, nearly fifty years old, born into a humble family, and had not passed the examinations for many years. Seeing that he could no longer take the exams, he brought his old wife to teach for the rest of his life, also earning some silver to support his son's studies. His son was thirty-two and was studying at an unknown mountain academy outside. His wife and children lived here with Teacher Zhang and his old wife; firstly, to take care of the old couple, and secondly, for the convenience of the elementary education, which also saved money. Of course, it was mainly because his son couldn't take care of them.

"Teacher Zhang, are there any problems with the school or your living situation?"

Teacher Zhang cupped his hands: "Thanks to Master Wang's blessing, everything is well."

Wang Yan nodded and said: "Teacher Zhang is getting on in years, and teaching so many young children alone must be very tiring. I intend to expand the school. Firstly, to lighten the teacher's burden, and secondly, to separate the teaching according to the children's ages and their progress in studies. By then, Teacher Zhang, you will only need to teach the 'Hundred Family Surnames' and the 'Thousand Character Classic'. There will be another teacher to teach the 'Four Books', another to teach the 'Five Classics', and another to teach calligraphy."

"I wonder if the teacher has any close old friends? You may invite them to my Wang Family Village to open education for the young children and to pass on the teachings of the masters. Regarding all compensation, I can guarantee here that it will not be inferior to Teacher Zhang's; the specifics can be discussed in detail when they arrive. At that time, you, Teacher, shall be the first head of this Wang Family Village elementary school, and your compensation will naturally rise. I wonder what the teacher thinks?"

This place had beautiful mountains and clear waters, the four seasons were distinct, the folk customs were simple, the wealthy families were kind, and the compensation was generous. Since it was such a good thing, there was naturally no reason to refuse. Teacher Zhang only pondered for a few breaths before agreeing: "Master Wang has the poor people in his heart and performs good deeds to accumulate virtue; this is truly a good thing. How could this old man not do his best? I will write a few letters shortly to invite my good friends to come, and at that time, it will be up to Master Wang to decide."

"Teacher, please rest assured. Even if they cannot stay as teachers, I will still give them generous gifts so as not to waste the kind intentions of your old friends."

"That would be excellent, that would be excellent."

Watching Teacher Zhang, who had suddenly become high-spirited and no longer looked like he couldn't go on living, Wang Yan smiled, cupped his hands to take his leave, and wandered around the village again.

Regarding the rare arrival of Master Wang, the people of Wang Family Village were still very welcoming. Of course, they had no choice but to be welcoming. After all, the land they farmed belonged to him, and when the old master and his wife passed away from illness that year, this young master was only fifteen. At such a young age, he had stabilized such a large family business, which naturally involved ruthless methods. Coupled with the fact that this young master truly treated them well on a daily basis, and the village head directly managed them—with both prestige and virtue, with both dates and sticks—they all respected and loved him from the bottom of their hearts...

He came over with no other intention than to take a general look at what the living standards of these neighbors were like.

It is always said that the Great Song is rich and prosperous, but the ones who are rich have always been the gentry. When it came to the poor in the village, that was a different story. The families in Wang Family Village, except for two small landlords with a few dozen acres of land, did not have miserable lives, but they were definitely very bitter. There was basically nothing in their homes; they mostly wore tattered clothes with many patches. Seven or eight families raised pigs, sheep, or cattle, and every family had chickens and ducks, mainly to supplement their grain. They lived quite well by swimming in the river and digging in the fields, relying on the eggs to supplement the nutrition of the elderly and children. Many people had sallow complexions; they were basically just scraping by. As long as they were bitter and tired, they wouldn't die, and that was enough.

After taking a look around, simply understanding the situation with the people, and mentioning that each family needed to provide people to work on the school expansion, Wang Yan lay in the carriage, having removed the rear baffle, leaving only the two sides and a roof. With the guard driving the carriage on the ground, young Wang Baqing sat in the front room by the carriage shaft, blowing in the cool breeze and dangling his little feet, as they headed toward Yanggu County.

Yanggu County was nothing strange; it was just the style of an ancient city, surrounded by high walls and having city defense works. At the entrance, a team of gate-guarding soldiers and a few petty officials handling affairs were hiding in the shade, checking the goods of passing pedestrians. It was for tax collection—the city gate tax.

Wang Yan, of course, did not bring goods into the city again, so naturally, there wasn't much to say. In fact, his business paid very little tax. After all, in the county government, from the magistrate up to the nameless petty officials, they were all friends. Compared to paying commercial taxes, it was clearly a better choice for both sides to have generous gifts between friends to consolidate friendship and deepen connections—a true win-win.

Getting off the carriage at the city gate, Wang Yan walked into the city with his hands behind his back. From afar, the soldiers and petty officials began to greet him: "It's been a while, Master Wang, your spirit is even more vigorous!"

Responding a few words to this bunch of loose, spiritless, bullying, and time-wasting little fish, Wang Yan waved his hand: "A little silver for you gentlemen to drink after your shift. Baqing."

"Thank you for the reward, Master." The leader happily took the silver pieces from Wang Baqing's hand and, along with the others, cupped his hands to thank the master.

Wang Yan smiled and returned the gesture, then turned and wandered into the city.

Although the map of the Great Song was small, most of it was fertile land, and the population could reach one hundred million. Spread over such a large territory, coupled with the fact that land annexation was not suppressed and commerce was indeed developed, population mobility was relatively high, and the population in the city was still relatively dense.

However, although the population in the city was large, those with rosy complexions and neat clothes were in the minority; the majority were those who were struggling, all fighting for their lives. Apart from the antique architecture that made one's eyes light up, there was nothing special. The environment was still passable; it couldn't be called very clean, but it wasn't as dirty, messy, or poor as imagined.

Although there was no awareness of environmental protection in this era, people generally had some public morality regarding the places where they lived. When donkey carts entered the city, the dung they left behind was cleaned up by their own people. Of course, it was fine not to clean it up; at most, one would receive a few dozen strokes and be fined some money, which wasn't a big problem. Compared to the earlier punishment of "cutting off the hands of those who discard ash on the public road," it was much better.

And now, the environment in this small county, which no one would even know the name of if not for Wu Dalang and Pan Jinlian, was a paradise compared to contemporary Europe, which was in the Middle Ages.

"Master Wang, Master Wang, eat a peach, it's so sweet. I knew you were coming into the city today, so I specifically picked it and prepared it for you."

Just after walking for a while, a child with a boy's bun, about the same age as Wang Baqing, carrying a basket, dangled it in front of Wang Yan and shouted loudly.

This was Wu Dalang's little friend, the child named Yun Ge. As for why he wasn't selling pears but had switched to peaches, it was just past the sixth month, the pears weren't ripe yet, but the peaches were.

Wang Yan casually took a peach, washed it with water from a merchant's side, took a bite, and said: "Not bad, load it onto the carriage."

"Hey, thank you, Master Wang."

Watching him grin and take money from Baqing, Wang Yan smiled: "What is your name?"

"Replying to Master, my humble name is Yun Ge, everyone calls me that."

"Yun Ge, I want to eat steamed buns today. You walk the streets and alleys, do you know which shop is good?"

"The steamed buns at Li's Tavern in the east are good; the buns are big and not expensive."

Wang Yan nodded, dismissed the kid with a few casual words, and continued wandering down the street.

Wang Baqing, following behind, actively performed: "Young Master, shall I go to Li's to buy steamed buns?"

"We'll buy them when we pass by later, no rush."

He only asked that to see if Wu Dalang had arrived. After all, Wu Song hid at Chai Jin's place for more than a year before fighting the tiger, and Wu Dalang married Pan Jinlian not long after Wu Song left. It wasn't until not long after that he couldn't stand the rumors there and came to Yanggu County. If Wu Dalang had arrived, then Yun Ge would definitely recommend Wu Dalang's steamed buns. After all, truth be told, Wu Dalang treated Yun Ge quite well; the two of them sold things together and got along quite well.

Since Yun Ge didn't mention it now, Wu Dalang hadn't arrived yet.

The guard driving the carriage greeted him and went to wait at his Wang family's tavern. Wang Yan just wandered around with his little servant, greeting familiar people along the way. His name was very loud in Yanggu County, and many people knew him. Those who didn't know him also knew his affairs. After all, at eighteen years of age, possessing such a large family business, and being tall, sturdy, and handsome, he was a typical "tall, rich, and handsome."

Wandering like this, before he knew it, he arrived in front of a teahouse. Outside, there was a cool shed with two tables, and an old woman was sitting there, drowsy. Seeing Master Wang coming, she stood up from afar to greet him: "Master is in a good mood today. The heat is unbearable; why not come to this old woman's place to drink a bowl of plum juice to whet your appetite so you'll have an appetite to eat more at noon?" As she spoke, she diligently wiped the stool.

Who else could this old woman be? She was none other than Mother Wang, who matched Ximen Qing and Pan Jinlian and participated in the activity of Dalang taking medicine.

Wang Yan nodded and followed the flow: "Then bring a bowl; the arrival of summer truly makes one lose their appetite."

Although Mother Wang had already wiped it once, Wang Baqing still trotted forward and wiped it twice more with his sleeve before letting Wang Yan sit down, then consciously stood behind the young master.

"Mother Wang, bring a pot. Baqing, you sit down and drink too, it's fine."

"Thank you, Young Master."

"Oh my, look, look, Master is truly kind. You kid has hit the jackpot. Go ahead and ask around Yunzhou, how many are like Master who treat their servants so well?" Mother Wang scooped a pot of plum juice and placed it on the table, took two bowls and poured, her mouth unable to stop chattering: "Master, you are not young anymore, it's time to marry and carry on the family line, right? Is there no young lady you are fond of?"

Wang Yan looked at the house diagonally opposite and shook his head.

"How about this old woman helps you look around?"

This time, without Wang Yan even speaking, Wang Baqing glared at the old woman: "Introducing a wife to my young master, are you even worthy?"

Seeing that Wang Yan had no reaction, Mother Wang clapped her hands: "This old woman just wants to see a beautiful young lady and introduce her to Master as a concubine. As for finding a legal wife, how could this old woman do that? I must let Master know, that Ximen Qing, Master Ximen's second concubine, was introduced by this old woman."

"No need to trouble Mother Wang." As he spoke, Wang Yan watched the crowd swarming toward them from the opposite side.

The leader had sword-like eyebrows and a square face, eyes full of spirit, striding with his head held high, and even had a flower stuck in his hair. Behind him followed two little servants and four burly men holding knives. He was very imposing; one look and he was clearly a person of influence.

Of course, the newcomer indeed had some influence, and Mother Wang was already grinning and greeting him.

"Master Ximen, come quickly to this old woman's place to drink a bowl of plum juice, and just in time to talk to Master Wang. You are both big figures in the county; it's not easy to run into each other, so you should have a chat."

Ximen Qing laughed and walked over to sit opposite: "Younger Brother Wang, haven't seen you for many days, how have you been lately?"

"Originally quite well."

"Oh? So that means you are not well now? Why is that, Younger Brother Wang?"

Wang Yan smiled and watched Ximen Qing, and Ximen Qing also looked at him with full smiles. Before long, the two of them burst into loud laughter together.

"Big Brother Ximen is truly interesting."

"Hey, not at all, not at all." Ximen Qing took a big gulp of plum juice and smiled: "Younger Brother, the price of raw medicine has changed a bit lately. You also deal in raw medicine, so you must be more careful..."

This was the move of Ximen Qing that Wang Fusheng mentioned earlier. Because his business was large, he had some control over raw materials, and through back-and-forth price wars, he suppressed the old Wang family's pharmacy. At the same time, he also found people to cause trouble in the tavern to damage his reputation. At the cloth shop, he brought out a new dyeing formula and adjusted a new color. He attacked from multiple sides, striking comprehensively. He wanted to swallow the several industries he had in Yanggu County, and after that, he would naturally harm lives to plot wealth, occupy the fields and houses of Wang Family Village—he was very ambitious.

"Thank you for the reminder." Wang Yan smiled and nodded, staring closely at Ximen Qing's face: "I won't hide it from you, Big Brother Ximen, I have recently been studying the art of divination and fortune-telling. With my shallow skill in physiognomy, Big Brother Ximen is afraid of having a bloody disaster recently, so you must also be more careful."

Ximen Qing was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then burst into loud laughter: "Younger Brother's physiognomy is afraid of being ineffective. I have long heard that Younger Brother is fond of martial arts. I have also practiced martial arts and know a few shallow tricks. Coupled with my guards, I'm afraid it's difficult to have a bloody disaster. On the contrary, Younger Brother, you are the only one in your family, with no parents above, no relatives outside, and no family inside. If this great family business is obtained by others, wouldn't it be a pity? You must be more careful."

"Whether it is you, Master Ximen, who has a bloody disaster, or my Wang family business that is obtained by others, let's wait and see." Wang Yan smiled, stood up, cupped his hands symbolically, let Wang Baqing pay the bill, and continued wandering to look at the street scene from over nine hundred years ago...

"Master."

Listening to the greeting of his guard and seeing the murderous intent in his eyes, Ximen Qing shook his head: "No rush, no rush. I want to see how much skill this kid has."

Mother Wang, who was hiding in the house to avoid the confrontation, ran out...

"Young Master, that Ximen Qing is truly arrogant."

Wang Yan put his hands behind his back: "Too many words."

Wang Baqing said "Oh," and stopped talking, obediently following behind the young master.

Walking along, while looking at the county environment, Wang Yan pondered how to deal with Ximen Qing, who was courting death right in his face. Should he exterminate his family directly, or find some excuse to dispose of him?

Exterminating a family was a major homicide case that the prefecture government would have to pay attention to, which was quite troublesome. To say he would conspire with the county magistrate to find an excuse was also not easy to handle. After all, Ximen Qing had a large family and a big business, and his strength on paper was stronger than his, Wang Mou's, so they clearly favored Ximen Qing. Although Ximen Qing's family business was large and could earn more, most people would choose the side that was easier to manipulate; bullying the weak was the right path.

Thinking this way, it soon reached noon, and Wang Yan immediately took his little follower to his own tavern...

---Author's Note---

Thanks to (Yi Dongyue 0 Vanguard) Big Brother for the 100-coin tip to continue support.

Thanks to (The Ocean of a Slight Smile) (pickers) (Tianshan Heroic Eagle) (That Trace of Sorrow) four Big Brothers for continued support.

Daily thanks to the good brothers who voted for monthly tickets for their support.

Thanks to the brothers who voted for recommendations for their support.

Thanks to the Big Brothers who read silently for their support. ===== CHAPTER 412 =====