APSIL -Chapter 44 The Cunning Fatty and the Righteous Young Master

“Amitabha, I was only gone for a single day, yet so many things happened. Thank the Buddha for his protection, otherwise how could Mr. Ge have stepped forward to support A-Shou…”

Early in the morning, Zhang Shou was awakened by Madam Wu’s chatter coming from the courtyard.

Although he had stayed up all night the previous day, he was still young. After a good night’s sleep, he had finally recovered his energy. After getting up, washing, and changing clothes, he pushed open the door and learned from Madam Wu that Zhu Ying had hurriedly urged Zhu Hong to take people and escort Zhu Yu to the Shuntian Prefecture court in the capital. As for herself, she had taken Zhan Jin and Liu Yin into the village to investigate.

According to Madam Wu’s retelling of the eldest young lady’s exact words: “The money was something I lent out. Naturally, I have to see whether it was actually spent where it should be. Just like Father often personally investigates military supplies and provisions, I need to see whether the money was truly used to repair the houses. Only after confirming there is no problem can I provide the next batch of funds!”

After saying this, Madam Wu added with a smile: “Yingying went out carrying the umbrella you gave her. She also asked me to tell you that she won’t interfere blindly with the matters at Cuiyun Pavilion anymore. She believes you can make those people submit.”

Having spent these days together with Zhu Ying, Zhang Shou had to admit that this young lady from a prestigious family indeed had many unexpected virtues.

However, Madam Wu’s blatant matchmaking still gave him a headache.

He immediately made an excuse about going to Cuiyun Pavilion to take a look, quickly finished breakfast, and left in a dignified manner.

After entering the bamboo forest and seeing the adorable panda screen wall from afar, Zhang Shou noticed that someone was waiting there.

The moment that person saw him, he rushed over with speed completely inconsistent with his figure.

Who else could it be besides Lu Sanlang?

Before he could even stand properly, Lu Sanlang hurriedly began speaking.

“Little Sir, there is something I would like to discuss with you…”

Before Lu Sanlang could finish, Zhang Shou interrupted him with a smile.

“I also have something to discuss with you. Originally, I never intended to accept so many students. My plan was for most of you to stay here a few days before returning to the capital. But judging from the current situation, it seems everyone has no intention of leaving anytime soon. Since that’s the case, I was wondering whether this place should be renovated.”

Lu Sanlang’s eyes immediately lit up.

“Oh? That happens to be exactly what I was thinking!”

“Since this place was once where Grandmaster Ge lived in seclusion, perhaps he may return here for a few days in the future. Naturally, it should be properly repaired.”

“Rest assured, leave this matter entirely to me. Everyone will definitely be willing to contribute!”

If they continued living here like this, he and the others would literally die.

Not figuratively.

They would actually die from hunger and cold!

Zhang Shou did not need to think to know why Lu Sanlang wanted to take over this task.

However, for him, it was a convenient and effortless solution.

Therefore, he immediately nodded.

“Since that is the case, I’ll leave it to you.”

“Oh, by the way, you should remember that two days ago I publicly said that you have great talent in mathematics.”

The reason Lu Sanlang was waiting here today was not because the other young men had forgotten about Zhang Shou, but because…

This cunning fellow had woken up early and used every method available to keep everyone else occupied. Then he personally came here and waited for at least half an hour!

Now, he thought Zhang Shou had already seen through his other purpose.

His heart immediately tightened.

No wonder Zhang Shou, despite being born in the countryside, had a marriage agreement with Zhu Ying, could make the proud young lady lower herself to help him put on an act, and had even become Ge Yong’s final disciple.

This ability to see through people’s hearts was truly terrifying.

After hesitating for a moment, and remembering that Zhang Shou had already seen all his embarrassing behavior, Lu Sanlang simply admitted it honestly.

“Please forgive my honesty, Sir. I had already read the Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art long ago.”

“Actually, not only the Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art. Among the Ten Mathematical Classics, aside from those that have been lost or falsely attributed to ancient sages, I have read most of them.”

“Of course, I cannot say that I understood every single part.”

“But after Senior Brother Qi taught me the methods of solving problems, I begged him to remove all the bamboo plaques outside those bamboo houses and let me examine them.”

“As long as I understand the underlying method, I believe I can solve eight or nine out of ten problems.”

“So I wanted to ask you, Little Sir… when you said two nights ago that you were willing to teach me mathematics without reservation, did you truly mean it?”

As he spoke, Lu Sanlang stared firmly at Zhang Shou.

He originally thought Zhang Shou might act mysterious, delay the answer, or set some difficult tests for him.

But unexpectedly, after staring at him for a long while, Zhang Shou simply smiled.

“If you want me to teach you everything I know, of course there is no problem.”

“Go to Qi Liang and ask him to lend you the textbooks and exercise books he has accumulated over the past three years. Copy them all.”

“But I must warn you first—the textbooks and exercises all use those numbers introduced from overseas.”

Lu Sanlang’s eyes immediately brightened.

“That is even better!”

“I actually prefer those numbers. They are much easier to use than counting rods. Simple and clear!”

“Little Sir, I’ll go find Senior Brother Qi right away!”

Watching Lu Sanlang leave with excitement, bowing politely before running away, Zhang Shou thought back to the information Zhu Ying had casually revealed about this “Lu fatty.”

He felt that he had understood Lu Sanlang’s personality a little better.

Strong mathematical talent, and a preference for Arabic numerals instead of counting rods…

In this ancient society, someone with both these characteristics was unlikely to be an official whose talent tree had grown strangely in one direction.

There were only two possibilities.

An accountant.

Or…

A merchant.

An accountant clearly did not suit someone like Lu Sanlang, a son of an official family.

Therefore, this fellow was probably secretly engaged in business.

As for Lu Sanlang believing his mathematical talent was extraordinary…

Heh.

One of the most despair-inducing subjects in this world was mathematics.

Just as Zhang Shou was thoughtfully walking around the panda screen wall, someone suddenly rushed out from the side.

Caught off guard, he instinctively leapt backward. After landing steadily, he saw that the person in front of him was Zhang Chen, whose expression was shifting between gloomy and uncertain.

Zhang Shou immediately relaxed.

“Did you hear everything Lu Sanlang and I just talked about?”

“Hmph.”

Seeing that there was no one else nearby, Zhang Chen returned to his usual arrogant attitude.

He stared at Zhang Shou with an unfriendly gaze. However, after struggling internally for a while, he ultimately did not dare act recklessly. He could only speak stubbornly.

“Being able to make Zhu Ying act for you, being able to make Mr. Ge stand up for you… you truly have some impressive methods.”

“But I hope you don’t forget this—the power of others ultimately belongs to others.”

“Thank you for reminding me.”

Zhang Shou smiled calmly, as if he truly did not care.

“You, as the eldest son, are destined to become the Duke of Qin in the future. Yet you don’t want to spend your life as a wealthy idler. Instead, you wish to accomplish something.”

“Otherwise, you wouldn’t have arranged for someone to expose the matter of the servants of Marquis Tai’an colluding with the Tianjin Maritime Patrol Office, secretly robbing innocent merchant ships, and helping those victims seek justice.”

“How do you know that?!”

Zhang Chen was both shocked and furious.

His voice immediately became sharp.

“Were you spying on me?”

Zhang Shou immediately found the situation both amusing and irritating.

“Shouldn’t your first reaction have been to pretend you didn’t know anything or deny it?”

Seeing Zhang Chen first freeze, then reveal an extremely annoyed expression, Zhang Shou smiled.

“I have never left this village. How could I possibly have the ability to spy on you?”

“Previously, because people wanted to curry favor with Miss Zhu, naturally some people also tried to flatter me, the so-called old master. They came before me and exposed other people’s faults and scandals.”

“Some of those things were true, and some were false. How could I possibly confirm everything?”

“Your reaction just now was practically an admission.”

Without even looking at Zhang Chen’s increasingly ugly expression, Zhang Shou brushed off his sleeve and walked past him toward Cuiyun Pavilion.

Without turning his head, he continued: “Actually, I really wanted to say that your act of reporting wrongdoing was admirable. It showed a sense of justice.”

“But since this matter reached my ears, it means it is no longer a secret.”

“And once it is no longer a secret, not only will some people hate you, but some people may also hate your father.”

“Your lack of caution might end up implicating him.”

Zhang Chen felt like blood was about to rush out of his chest.

“Other people’s power ultimately belongs to others…”

Even if that “other person” was his own father!

Zhang Shou had used reality itself to throw those words right back at him.