APSIL -Chapter 23 Bludgeoning People with Money

Having been caught off guard by the second problem, Lu Sanlang no longer dared underestimate the puzzles. He took down each bamboo plaque one by one, examined every question with painstaking care, then hung each one back up, his brows knitting tighter and tighter into a knot.

Liuyin had originally intended to stay and enjoy the spectacle. But after Qi Liang discreetly shot her a meaningful glance for the third time, she finally spoke with obvious reluctance.

“Young Master Lu, take your time solving the puzzles. I’m leaving now. If I don’t get back soon and Miss can’t find me, she’ll be angry.”

“Very well, take care.”

Although Lu Sanlang said so, he never once looked up from the bamboo plaques.

After all, he wasn’t genuinely trying to win Miss Zhu’s affection. He couldn’t care less what Liuyin thought of him.

Better if she wasn’t here.

That way he could devote all his attention to the problems.

At that moment, he picked up the second plaque again and racked his brains for a solution, displaying a level of determination that was almost unprecedented.

At home, although he was his mother’s most beloved son, he was also the child his father valued the least.

Yet Lu Sanlang had always believed that every person was born with a purpose, and that even after spending a fortune, one could always earn it back again.

He simply had never found the right opportunity to prove himself.

He had no illusions about becoming a scholar, provincial graduate, or jinshi through the imperial examinations.

But he prided himself on his extraordinary mental arithmetic.

He refused to believe he couldn’t solve a few mathematical problems.

Inside the bamboo cottage, after noticing Liuyin leave in mild frustration, Zhang Shou no longer bothered concealing himself. Quietly stepping over to the window, he watched the fat-eared youth outside with growing interest.

Originally, Zhang Shou had assumed that Lu Sanlang—the persistent suitor Zhu Ying despised—was merely another spoiled aristocratic playboy who spent his days indulging himself, relying on his father’s official rank and his mother’s affection while obsessively pursuing the beautiful young lady.

If that were true…

Then upon seeing these puzzles, Lu Sanlang’s reaction should have been completely different.

Shouldn’t he have flown into a rage, shouting,

“What do these ridiculous questions have to do with the Four Books and Five Classics? Who could possibly solve such things?”

Suddenly, without lifting his head, Lu Sanlang asked, “Which puzzle did Miss Zhu solve?”

Qi Liang, who had been calmly standing beside him all along, was momentarily stunned.

Glancing toward Zhang Shou’s direction, he saw the young master smiling and giving him a slight nod.

Qi Liang immediately answered in an offhand manner.

“The very first one you looked at, Young Master Lu.”

“So that’s it.”

Lu Sanlang smiled in satisfaction and casually remarked, “I figured she could probably only solve something at that level.”

“The first question is quite simple. The two carriages together travel one hundred and seventy li each day. For four of the seven days, they each traveled the full four double-hours, totaling six hundred and eighty li. During the remaining three days, they traveled only three double-hours each day, which is naturally three-fourths of their normal daily distance. Altogether, that’s another three hundred and eighty-two and a half li.”

“So the total distance between the two cities is easy enough to calculate.”

“One thousand sixty-two and a half li.”

Hearing the answer, Qi Liang wasn’t particularly surprised.

He simply nodded.

“Correct. Young Master Lu solved that one.”

Young Master really made the first question a free point…

Lu Sanlang showed no trace of pride. Instead, he merely cleared his throat.

“The second question is a bit trickier, but nothing too difficult.”

“The inlet pipe fills one-fifteenth of the pool every double-hour.”

“The outlet drains one-twenty-fourth of the pool every double-hour.”

“If the inlet runs alone for two double-hours, the pool fills by two-fifteenths.”

“Afterward, with both pipes open simultaneously, the net gain becomes one-fortieth of the pool per double-hour.”

“The remaining thirteen-fifteenths of the pool, divided by one-fortieth per double-hour, comes to thirty-four and two-thirds double-hours.”

“In other words, two full days plus another ten and two-thirds double-hours.”

This time, Zhang Shou couldn’t help clicking his tongue.

Back in his own era, this would merely have been elementary-school mathematics.

But Lu Sanlang had no scratch paper.

He had worked it all out entirely in his head.

That level of mental calculation was genuinely impressive.

At the very least…

He certainly wasn’t a pighead.

No sooner had that thought crossed Zhang Shou’s mind than Lu Sanlang suddenly flashed Qi Liang a broad smile and winked.

“Brother Qi… Since you copied these questions, how many of them can you solve?”

Had Lu Sanlang spoken arrogantly, the question would naturally have sounded offensive.

Instead, he spoke as warmly as an old friend.

Moreover, after finally meeting someone else interested in mathematical problems, Qi Liang—who had only recently passed the county examination and wasn’t even officially recognized as a licentiate yet—couldn’t help feeling a sense of kinship, mixed with a little pride.

“Naturally, I can solve all dozen or so of them.”

Watching from inside, Zhang Shou couldn’t help laughing silently.

Qi Liang had actually begun displaying the quiet confidence of a science prodigy.

Before Zhang Shou even had time to wonder whether the pampered young master might become jealous…

Lu Sanlang suddenly reached out with one arm and cheerfully hooked it around Qi Liang’s shoulders.

From a distance, with their heads nearly touching, anyone unaware that they had only just met might have mistaken them for close friends.

Then Zhang Shou noticed that Lu Sanlang’s four or five attendants had all quietly turned their backs at the same time, unanimously directing their attention toward the bamboo forest.

At once, he understood.

This behavior—so different from the Lu Sanlang described by Zhu Ying—wasn’t an act.

It was simply his true personality.

“Brother Qi, how about we make a deal?”

Lu Sanlang was already heavily built, and now, with one arm wrapped tightly around Qi Liang, no amount of struggling could free the young man.

Without feeling the slightest awkwardness over suddenly changing his form of address, Lu Sanlang grinned even more slyly.

“Could you teach me the solutions to the remaining questions? I already have some ideas about a few of them, but I can’t quite work them out…”

Qi Liang was already annoyed by the sudden familiarity, and hearing Lu Sanlang whisper into his ear made him even more irritated.

He was just about to ask, “Why should I?” when Lu Sanlang casually produced an offer that was almost impossible to refuse.

“Five taels of silver for each problem!”

“There are twelve questions hanging here.”

“If you explain every single one of them to me…”

“I’ll give you sixty taels.”

Sixty taels?!

Back then, his entire family had owed only ten taels of debt.

That amount alone had nearly driven him to despair.

Qi Liang took a deep breath before finally resisting the temptation.

“Young Master Lu… That wouldn’t be appropriate…”

“Why not?”

Lu Sanlang patted his chest confidently.

“You think I’ll tell the old gentleman who lives here?”

“Heaven knows.”

“The earth knows.”

“You know.”

“And I know.”

As he spoke, he casually glanced around.

The moment he looked up…

He froze.

An elderly man dressed in blue robes, wearing a bamboo hat draped with a white veil over the front, was leisurely emerging from the central Hall of the Gentle Breeze.

Naturally, Lu Sanlang assumed he was the old gentleman.

After all, Liuyin had repeatedly referred to the master here as “the old sir.”

And just then, from the corner of his eye, he noticed Qi Liang immediately bow respectfully toward the newcomer.

In the blink of an eye, Lu Sanlang released Qi Liang and hurried over with an ingratiating smile.

“Old Sir!”

“Brother Qi can testify that I’ve already solved two of your puzzles.”

“According to your rules, that means I may stay here for two nights, correct?”

“To be honest, I’m deeply interested in mathematics.”

“If possible, could you personally explain the remaining puzzle plaques hanging outside that bamboo cottage?”

“This student is willing to offer proper tuition.”

“I sincerely hope you’ll accept me!”

Since Qi Liang seemed reluctant to teach him…

He might as well study directly under the old gentleman instead.

Behind the veil, Zhang Shou nearly burst into laughter.

Although he was wearing a bamboo hat, a white face veil, and even the silk gloves Zhu Ying had insisted he wear to prevent anyone from recognizing him…

Being repeatedly addressed as “Old Sir” still felt rather strange for someone who was, in truth, nothing more than an impostor.

Before he could even assume the dignified demeanor of a learned recluse…

Young Master Lu struck again with the same overwhelming force he’d just used to stun Qi Liang.

“This student is willing to present fifty bolts of fine Hangzhou silk, together with a complete set of the Four Treasures of the Study, as tuition!”

Zhang Shou was completely dumbfounded.

He had originally intended to fleece a fat sheep.

So how had it suddenly become the fat sheep trying to bury him under piles of money?

Though…

He had to admit…

It was quite a pleasant feeling.