“This…”

A flash of understanding crossed Su Ming’s eyes, but was immediately covered by worry. “But what if his appetite is too big, and he thinks one share isn’t enough, and instead demands even more directly…”

“That’s why it’s ‘dry shares’!” Lin Yu cut him off. “Only dividends, no involvement in operations. Moreover, it must be delivered through Zhao Chunlan. Zhou Kang cares about his reputation and is self-important; he won’t bargain directly with his own wife. He will only hint, and Zhao Dequan just needs to play dumb and deliver the money on time. This is called feeding the wolf meat but not letting it near the sheep pen.”

“As for Clerk Sun, that’s the ‘rule money’ fed to the government. Let him know we understand how things work. In the future, if there’s any news, he might, for the sake of the silver, leak a hint in advance. This is called spending money to buy an informant.”

Su Ming fell silent for a moment, his eyes flickering, clearly digesting Lin Yu’s words at high speed. Finally, he nodded heavily, his brush no longer hesitating as he wrote down this strategy in detail.

“Third, technical secrecy. Have him completely separate the core paper-making processes, such as pulping, ingredient mixing, and paper lifting. Have the most reliable families in the village, like your Su family and the Zhao clan elders, each master one step. Establish a blood oath that no one is allowed to pry into the other steps. This way, even if someone is captured, they can’t spill the complete formula.”

“Finally, prepare a way out. Have Zhao Dequan secretly convert the silver earned by the workshop into grain and ready cash, and hide it in several locations. Prepare for unforeseen circumstances.”

Su Ming wrote furiously, recording Lin Yu’s words without missing a single character. Every word of this letter felt heavy, concerning the lives of the entire village.

After finishing the official letter, he changed to a new sheet of paper.

“Master, what about the private letter?”

“The private letter is simple.” Lin Yu’s tone softened. “Tell your second brother, if… I mean if, things reach the worst point, he should not care about anything—the workshop, silver, or land—they can all be abandoned.”

“The first thing is to immediately take your entire family, along with those core notebooks on paper-making from our home, and run! Run to the place I specified for you in the letter, and wait for me to find you.”

“Tell him, as long as people are alive and the technology remains, making a comeback is as easy as turning over a hand. If the workshop is gone, it can be rebuilt; if the village is gone… as long as family is together, anywhere can be home.”

The tip of Su Ming’s brush trembled slightly.

He could imagine how shocked and heavy-hearted his second brother, Su Yang, would be upon reading this letter.

He wrote slowly, pouring complex emotions into every character. He even drew a small mark at the end of the letter using the agreed-upon secret code. It was a symbol he and his second brother had agreed upon in their childhood, representing “highest alert.”

After finishing the two letters, Su Ming felt utterly drained, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.

He carefully folded the letters and sealed them in an envelope. Then, he folded the private letter into a tiny square and tucked it into a hidden layer within the official letter.

After doing all this, he let out a long sigh.

Everything that could be done, had been done.

The rest depended on fate, and on Zhao Dequan’s resolve.

Early the next morning, Su Ming found the familiar porter.

He gave an extra ten copper coins and solemnly instructed, “Uncle, this letter is extremely urgent. You must deliver it personally into the hands of my second brother, Su Yang.”

The porter weighed the coins in his hand and grinned. “Don’t worry, young Su. I guarantee it will be delivered.”

After sending off the letter, Su Ming’s heart felt as if a heavy stone had been lifted, yet another one remained suspended.

The next few days were a long and anxious wait.

After his initial despair, Zhao Rui returned to his usual slovenly demeanor. His greatest daily pleasure was dragging Su Ming to the liveliest tea house in town to listen to storytelling, claiming it was to “relax his mind,” but actually because he couldn’t stand the bland food at the inn.

Su Ming did not refuse.

He needed to go to crowded places to listen for news from the outside.

In the tea house, the storyteller was at the most exciting part of his tale. With a slap of the gavel, the room erupted in cheers.

Zhao Rui grabbed a crab roe bun, eating with grease all over his mouth, mumbling indistinctly, “Su Ming, do you think… my dad will really break my leg?”

Su Ming’s ears, however, caught the whispers from a neighboring table where several silk-robed merchants were sitting.

“Have you heard? The County Lieutenant is a bit short on funds lately and is looking everywhere for ways to make money.”

“Who doesn’t know that the Wei Family Cloth Store is the County Lieutenant’s money bag. That Young Master Wei has been getting more and more arrogant recently.”

Su Ming’s gaze sharpened.

Young Master Wei… that young man who mocked them in the tea house.

It seemed the waters of Qingshi Town were even murkier than he had imagined.

Just then, a person dressed in Zhou family servant attire hurried into the tea house and walked straight to Su Ming’s table.

“Are you Su Ming, Young Master Su?”

Su Ming put down his teacup. “I am.”

The servant bowed. “My eldest young master requests your presence.”

Zhou Yulin?

Su Ming and Zhao Rui exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other’s eyes.

The study in the Zhou Residence still carried that elegant scent of ink.

Zhou Yulin, dressed in a moon-white robe, seemed more composed than before. He personally poured a cup of tea for Su Ming, the rising steam blurring his gentle features.

“Brother Su, I trust you have been well since we last met.”

“You are too kind, Brother Zhou.” Su Ming picked up the teacup but did not drink.

Zhou Yulin smiled and got straight to the point. “Tomorrow, the County School will post the results.”

Su Ming’s heart skipped a beat.

“My father and Professor Liu jointly reviewed the policy discussion papers from this examination.” Zhou Yulin looked at Su Ming, a strange light in his eyes. “My father said he hasn’t seen an essay in many years… that so accurately targets current ills while being so bold and pragmatic.”

He paused, then said word by word, “Brother Su, congratulations. For this County School assessment, you are… the top scorer.”

Top scorer!

First place!

Even with Su Ming’s steady temperament, hearing these two words made his mind go blank with a “buzz.”

“Master…”

“Calm, calm! Standard procedure, all within your master’s calculations!” Lin Yu’s voice rang in his mind, carrying barely suppressed pride. “See? This is the power of knowledge! Your policy discussion essay was a dimensional strike against those fools who only know classical phrases!”

Lin Yu was both happy and worried. “Top scorer! This gives us more leverage in negotiations! Ah! But will this make us stand out too much and attract unwanted attention?”

Su Ming forcibly suppressed his surging emotions and cupped his hands towards Zhou Yulin. “Thank you for informing me, Brother Zhou. This is merely luck, entirely due to the favor of Professor Liu and Director Zhou.”

His calmness and humility deepened the appreciation in Zhou Yulin’s eyes.

“Brother Su is too modest. Fine essays are born of nature, occasionally captured by a skilled hand. Your talent deserves this honor.” Zhou Yulin waved his hand, his expression turning serious. “The reason for inviting Brother Su today, besides offering early congratulations, is another matter. My father… wishes to see you.”

Su Ming’s heart tightened sharply, but his expression remained unchanged. “May I ask why the Director wishes to summon me?”

Zhou Yulin smiled slightly, but the smile seemed somewhat meaningful. “Brother Su need not be nervous. My father merely read your essay, felt moved, and wishes to have a chat with you.”

“A chat”?

Su Ming’s fingertips turned slightly cold. Zhou Wenhai wanting to see him was definitely not just to discuss scholarship!

Was it because he scored first? Or because… Zhou Kang had already noticed something, or, Zhou Wenhai had heard rumors about the Su Family Village paper-making workshop?

Lin Yu’s voice rang rapidly in his mind. “Disciple! The main event is here! Remember, listen more, speak less. Before you understand Zhou Wenhai’s intentions, do not easily reveal our cards! Especially details about the workshop and our plans—not a single word!”

His inner thoughts: “This is terrible! Just finished dealing with the junior, and now the senior is personally entering the fray? Isn’t this pace a bit too fast?!”

Su Ming took a deep breath and drank the now slightly cool tea in one gulp.

He raised his head, his gaze already restored to clarity and calmness.

“In that case, I dare not keep the Director waiting. Please lead the way, Brother Zhou.”

Su Ming followed behind Zhou Yulin, walking steadily along the corridor leading to Zhou Wenhai’s study. The bluestone path was cold, but his heart was even calmer than the stone.

“Disciple, listen carefully. Time is short. Zhou Wenhai is ten times more difficult to deal with than his son. His meeting with you is definitely not just to praise your essay.” Lin Yu’s voice rang rapidly in his mind, carrying an unprecedented seriousness.

“He must have already heard rumors, about Su Family Village, about paper-making. He might even have had Zhou Kang whispering in his ear or poisoning his mind. Even if he is solely devoted to the Sage’s Books and hasn’t heard the rumors, this meeting is also our chance to break the deadlock!”

Su Ming kept his eyes forward, silently responding in his heart. “Master, how should we respond?”

“Remember the strategy we analyzed? Now, use the first plan—drive the tiger to devour the wolf! This is the superior strategy, the one with the highest risk but also the greatest reward.” Lin Yu spoke rapidly. “But you must never mention benefits directly; that’s too vulgar and would make him look down on you. It needs packaging, packaged into something he cannot refuse!”

“How do we do that specifically?”

“Present a plan, not present profit!” Lin Yu said decisively. “In your capacity as the ‘top scorer,’ under the pretext of ‘grateful for cultivation, willing to offer strategies for the hometown.’ Frame the paper-making technique as a benevolent policy, a ‘good governance measure to enrich the village and benefit the people’!”

“Benevolent policy?” Su Ming’s heart stirred.

“Exactly!” Lin Yu’s voice carried a hint of excitement from a successful calculation. “Suggest that the County School or the local government take the lead, attaching Zhou Wenhai’s name to it, and establish an ‘officially supervised, privately operated’ workshop in Su Family Village. As for profits, part would subsidize the County School, part would be used for local public welfare, and the rest would go to the villagers. As for the Zhou family’s ‘management fee’ or ‘sponsorship fee,’ they can come up with any name; naturally, they get a share, and a large one at that! The key is, the core technology must remain firmly in the hands of our own people. He only needs to collect money and lend his name!”

“Will this… really work?” Su Ming felt this move was quite bold.

“Hmph, for Zhou Wenhai, this is a pie falling from the sky! He gains a clean reputation, receives tangible benefits, and can genuinely produce an achievement, shutting up fools like Zhou Kang who only know how to grab money! Once his name is attached, if the Wei family, the County Lieutenant, or even Zhou Kang tries to reach out again, they’d be slapping Zhou Wenhai’s face! This is called leveraging influence!” Lin Yu analyzed thoroughly. “Of course, this is the most ideal situation. If this old fox’s appetite is too big or he’s overly lofty, we have a backup plan.”

“Backup plan?”

“Bluff! Golden cicada sheds its shell!” Lin Yu sneered. “If he hesitates or wants to swallow everything, you should appropriately show a bit of ‘helplessness’: some foreign merchants have already heard rumors and are willing to pay a high price to buy the technology, or have invited Su Family Village to relocate entirely to another place to set up a factory. The bonds of hometown affection are deep, it’s hard to leave one’s native soil, you find it truly difficult to decide, and so on… Put some pressure on him!”

“What if he remains unmoved, or even tries to use force?” Su Ming thought of the worst possibility.

“Then immediately activate the fourth plan, secret diversion!” Lin Yu’s tone turned cold. “Hint that the technology cannot be easily replicated; away from Su Family Village’s unique conditions and the people’s hearts, it’s just worthless paper. At worst, we can temporarily stop production and secretly relocate. Zhou Wenhai would get nothing and would have to bear the bad reputation of driving away talent and destroying good governance for nothing! He’s a smart man; he’ll calculate this cost.”

“I understand, Master.” Su Ming took a deep breath, running Lin Yu’s words through his mind over and over again. How to speak and act at each step, with Lin Yu adding several key details and possible responses.

“Remember, disciple.” Lin Yu finally instructed. “No matter how he probes, not a single word about core technology or specific profit shares can be revealed! Only paint the big picture, talk about the overall situation, describe the benefits!”

At that moment, Zhou Yulin stopped before a carved wooden door and said softly, “Brother Su, my father is waiting inside.”

Su Ming raised his head, his gaze as calm as still water, giving Zhou Yulin a slight nod. “Thank you, Brother Zhou.”

He straightened his robe, tucking away the slight excitement from hearing about being top scorer and all the strategizing deep beneath the calm cultivated by the Aura Concealment Art.

“Brother Su need not be reserved. My father is just a bit stern by nature, but he has always respected those with true learning.” Zhou Yulin turned his head slightly, offering gentle reassurance.

Su Ming nodded, saying nothing.

His heart was beating a bit fast, not from nervousness, but from a mix of excitement and vigilance.

“Master, will this line of reasoning really work?” he silently asked in his heart.

“What’s there to fear!” Lin Yu’s voice rang in his mind, carrying a tone of exasperation. “You are now the top scorer, a potential stock! The high-performing asset Zhou Wenhai loves to invest in! We’re not going to beg him; we’re delivering achievements and silver to him! You need to project the confidence of a project leader!”

Lin Yu’s inner thoughts, however, were wailing: “Heavens, this is the County School Director, a proper official. This kid Su Ming is only fourteen. If he says the wrong thing, will he be dragged out and beaten with the board? My remnant soul can’t take this fright!”

Su Ming took a deep breath, suppressing the chaotic thoughts in his mind.

He could sense that although Zhou Yulin’s words were polite, the inherent composure and sense of distance that came with being from an established family was always present.

The study door was slightly ajar.

Zhou Yulin stepped forward and gently knocked three times.

“Father, Su Ming is here.”

“Enter.”

A steady voice came from inside the room, not loud, but seeming to carry weight, striking the heart.

Zhou Yulin pushed the door open and made a “please” gesture.

Su Ming stepped inside.

A strong scent of ink mixed with the smell of aged wood assailed him.

The study was more austere than he had imagined. There were no luxurious decorations. All four walls were floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, crammed full with countless scrolls and volumes. The only light source came from a carved wooden window. The afternoon sunlight slanted in, casting a beam of light in the air where tiny specks of dust could be seen dancing.

Behind the writing desk sat a middle-aged man wearing a dark Confucian robe.

He was Zhou Wenhai.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep