From one to ten, the host lectured until his mouth was dry and his tongue was parched.

The commoners below were also feeling stifled, but thinking that they would be able to claim their prizes soon, they persevered.

Most people, after learning, started gesturing and tracing the characters they had just learned in the air.

Some people were even grinning foolishly, feeling that they could now be considered literate, even if they didn’t know many characters.

But how could ordinary people know how to write?

Many people, afraid of forgetting and missing their chance to win, started whispering and discussing with each other.

Seeing this, Fang Zheng hurriedly signaled the host to take a break.

Shouting like this all the time until one’s voice went hoarse, normal people really couldn’t take it, even a storyteller who did this year-round.

The host looked at Fang Zheng gratefully and loudly announced again, “Good! I imagine everyone has gained some insights. You can discuss and learn from each other more.”

“Next, we’ll have a performance to let everyone relax a bit. Please listen to this poetry recital.”

“Long live our Emperor!”

“Author: The loyal official Mr. Sai.”

After saying this, the host slowly retreated, and another performer took over, immediately launching into an impassioned performance.

“Oh! Your Majesty, you are a beam of light in my life…”

“Spring nurtures all things, Your Majesty nurtures…”

Listening to the direct and sappy words from the stage, the three elders’ foreheads simultaneously hung down black lines.

The favorable impression of Fang Zheng that had just arisen instantly vanished without a trace.

Face! Where’s your face!? Can a person really have no shame at all?

The three old men wished they could let out a long wail to the sky and curse this beast for stopping at nothing, having no bottom line, and lacking any integrity as a scholar!

The instigator naturally didn’t care about this matter at all.

Everything was for the sake of the common people!

No matter what, flattery will never wear out. As long as I, Fang Zheng, flatter every day, constantly, there will come a day when I transform into Pavlov.

When that time comes, just hearing me speak will make the Emperor beam with joy. Then won’t I be able to do whatever I want with ease!

Who in the world doesn’t like being flattered? Moreover, how could the ancients resist my advanced 21st-century workplace experience!?

Hehe, what Banshan Square, it’s merely a stage for me, Fang Zheng, to display my talents.

“Hey! Look, Fang Zheng is over there!” Zheng Qiao suddenly spotted Fang Zheng in the crowd and pointed.

Zhang Dongxiang immediately widened his eyes. “Fuck…”

Rolling up his sleeves, he rushed towards Fang Zheng. The other two hurriedly followed.

Zhang Dongxiang angrily pushed through the crowd and walked straight towards Fang Zheng, reaching out to grab his collar.

Suddenly, a fierce-looking big fellow blocked his path.

Zhang Dongxiang sheepishly lowered his hand. Li Yansong and Zheng Qiao at the side were also scared out of their wits.

Fang Zheng saw Zhang Biao suddenly flash behind him, so he followed and looked back.

Upon seeing this, he laughed, “Oh, you three elders are here too? Zhang Biao, they’re our people, quickly let them through.”

Li Yansong and the others hurriedly hid their ticket-holding hands behind their backs and put on stern faces. “Hmm, just taking a look!”

“Crow- Lord Li, where is he?”

Hearing his question, Fang Zheng also became puzzled. Li Yuanzhao had gone wild with curiosity recently, and he seemed to have a special fondness for fining people.

Although he only got fined a dozen or so coins each time he was caught, he still did it with relish.

As time passed, fewer and fewer people relieved themselves on the streets. Li Yuanzhao resorted to chasing after individuals who looked like they couldn’t hold it any longer, whistling as he pursued them. This behavior made Fang Zheng look down on him.

Because there were many people today, and most had gathered in the square, Fang Zheng specially ordered the latrine workers to do their job earlier and clean out the district’s latrines.

Usually, this work was only done in the early hours of the morning. When Li Yuanzhao heard that the latrine workers were working, he ran off to watch them scoop feces out of curiosity.

He should have been back long ago… Could he have fallen into a cesspit? That would explain why he wasn’t back yet!

But there shouldn’t be any problem. He had been assigned a few guards, so it should be fine.

Perhaps he simply got carried away while playing. Even at his age, his energy and enthusiasm are quite strong.

Fang Zheng said, “Lord Li went out to play. He might be a bit late.”

“What brings you three elders here today?”

Zhang Dongxiang couldn’t wait to jump out. Pointing at the stage with a flushed face, he said, “Fang Zheng, this old man can see you have some talent. So why do you act so shamelessly?”

Fang Zheng glanced at the stage and shrugged indifferently. “It’s nothing. I’m just saying what others want to say but don’t dare to.”

“Why should I conform to your preferences? Go against His Majesty? Speak unpleasant words of loyalty that upset him? And then collude with mediocre officials?”

“Ridiculous! I, Fang Zheng, only care about results, not the process. Everything I do is to serve the common people. Don’t you agree, esteemed elders?”

The three fell silent. To a certain extent, what Fang Zheng said wasn’t wrong.

After all, they were all mixing in the same circles. It was hard to avoid the urge to flatter sometimes. But isn’t it a bit too much for you to flatter so blatantly?

However, considering that you, young man, have ability, we’ll spare you this once!

Li Yansong asked curiously, “How did you think of teaching the commoners these strange numerals? You could have used some other characters as substitutes. Your method is a real eye-opener for this old man. But wouldn’t it be better to teach some benevolence, righteousness, morality, and the words of sages!”

Fang Zheng retorted, “Can the words of sages be eaten?”

“You!!” The three glared at him furiously. If you have no integrity, so be it, but are you abandoning the identity of a scholar too?

Fang Zheng couldn’t be bothered to argue with them. He waved his hand and said, “There’s no other reason. Isn’t this simple and easy to learn? These commoners haven’t attended school. What words of sages can they read? Do we still want to do the lottery or not? Can they learn it in a short time?”

The three chuckled embarrassedly without a word. We’ll count you as correct.

In the heat of the moment, they had indeed forgotten that the commoners basically hadn’t read books.

Numbers were very important. Although the commoners were illiterate, it didn’t mean they couldn’t count. They were sharper than anyone when buying vegetables at the market.

This was the more important reason Fang Zheng chose numbers.

Once the commoners recognized basic numbers and number rules, price tags could be set up with clear pricing in the market.

In the current market transactions, how much something sold for was entirely up to the commoners making an offer, and then bargaining ensued.

It could be said that the entire process was opaque.

What Fang Zheng liked most was starting from small things with low cost and high returns.

If the vast majority of commoners recognized numbers, he could start forcibly ordering merchants to set up price tags for their goods.

This way, when buying things, the commoners would be able to compare, and the competition between merchants would also intensify, benefiting the commoners.

Clear and transparent prices often facilitated the better flow of goods.

Seeing the three old men standing there foolishly with nothing to say, Fang Zheng enthusiastically took out three slips of paper from his sleeve.

“Come, come, come! You three elders, everyone who comes today gets a share. I still have some lottery tickets here. Let’s play together.”

Then, without allowing any argument, he grabbed Zhang Dongxiang’s hand and slapped the ticket into his palm. Fang Zheng had sharp eyes and with one glance saw the other lottery ticket in his hand.

He teased, “Oh! So you elders already had one! Then I’m really sorry about that.”

“…………”