IDWBE -Chapter 214 Graduation Completed

“You damn well stop crying! I didn’t even hit you that hard!”

Ma Gui looked helplessly at the over-200-pound fat boy crying like a fountain.

Clearly, he was the one who got beaten!

Is there any justice left in the world?!

“Then hit lighter, don’t go too hard,”

A’dai sniffled as he said, “I really… I really am afraid of pain.”

“I’m done hitting you!”

Ma Gui snapped irritably. “Run now! See? Xiao Xi has arrived. You won’t get away.”

A’dai glanced behind him, saw the approaching figure growing closer, and bolted in terror.

“You really aren’t stupid, huh!”

Ma Gui got even angrier.

Stopping in front of him was because he simply wasn’t a match. Not stopping in front of Xiao Xi? Because he wasn’t a match for him either. And playing innocent in front of Xiao Xi? Completely useless.

The only fools are those who don’t run!

After Xiao Xi zipped past him, Ma Gui squatted on the roadside, catching up to the bruised and battered Yu Xiaoshi, teasing, “With all that blood on your face, better go wash it off quickly. Don’t get it on your clothes.”

Yu Xiaoshi mumbled a couple of times, then bolted down a side path like a flash.

“Hehe.”

Ma Gui was overjoyed.

He had long hated these two little bastards, but could never beat them. Today, seeing them get a proper beating finally gave him satisfaction—he couldn’t help feeling pleased.

When Lin Yi rode up on his donkey, Ma Gui quickly went to meet him, pulling up the reins, smiling, “Your Highness, this beating only lasts three days. These two little bastards never learn.”

Whenever there’s a chance to use some eye medicine… Ma Gui never passes it up.

Lin Yi sighed, “Poor golden-threaded nanmu…”

In Sanhe, nanmu wood isn’t hard to find, not exactly precious—but thousand-year-old golden-threaded nanmu is rare!

That piece of wood had been a gift from Tian Shiyou, a top-quality nanmu. Lin Yi had put it in the corridor without deciding what kind of ornament to make, when Yu Xiaoshi and A’dai had turned it into wooden clogs!

Absolutely infuriating.

Ma Gui consoled him, “Your Highness, Tian Shiyou said that there’s plenty of this wood in the South Seas. Sounds believable to me—many locals even wear it as pendants around their necks.”

“The South Seas, huh?”

Lin Yi smiled. “When we get a chance, we’ll travel there too, see the different customs and lands.”

“Yes,” Ma Gui smiled. “Your Highness, recently, there are more of these locals around. They don’t all seem to be Ayus either. They’re not as honest as the natives, have been causing trouble lately.”

Lin Yi thought a moment. “Tell Master Shan Qi: whether native or Aryan, if they marry, they get a house. Their children must go to school. Without education, they’ll only be trouble.”

“Yes, I’ll tell Master Shan Qi right away,” Ma Gui replied.

Sanhe forbade human trafficking, but did not forbid Ayus or natives from trading.

After all, in the eyes of the people in Sanhe, Ayus and natives aren’t considered fully human.

From a distance, Lin Yi could hear otters squealing—not one or two, but five or six carts coming toward him. Each cart carried a large cage, each cage containing a dozen or two otters.

Lin Yi reined in his donkey, puzzled. “What the heck, why catch these things? Starving? No food left? Planning to eat otter meat?”

He hadn’t heard of any food shortage in Sanhe—after all, the autumn harvest had just finished!
Even if there were a shortage, the Sanhe fleet would buy grain from Aryan ports.

Grain was abundant, and more and more was being transported to Yuezhou and Hongzhou for disaster relief.

Ma Gui explained, “Your Highness, they’re catching otters to help reclaim land. The marshes are full of crocodiles, hiding in water holes—one careless step, and you get bitten. So everyone wants to throw small critters into the holes. Don’t underestimate these little ones; seven or eight together can tear a crocodile apart.”

Lin Yi didn’t bother correcting the “otter” vs. “mouse” distinction. Curiously, he asked, “These things can really handle crocodiles?”

That was outside his knowledge.

He only knew crocodiles were top predators, never imagined tiny otters could rival them!

“Your Highness, no exaggeration,” Ma Gui said firmly. “These little things are ferocious against crocodiles. Even with thick skins, the otters can bite straight through.”

“Seems plausible,” Lin Yi thought. Otters are pretty formidable.

He had seen two otters devour a turtle alive.

Turtles have solid shells, usually impervious to most animals—but otters can strip the shell right off!

Never underestimate otters, never underestimate the sea!

Watching the carts pass, Lin Yi returned to his mansion.

The craftsmen were already repairing the damaged pavilion. Lin Yi glanced at the work and felt reassured; the new columns looked fine, not jarring.

Zhou Jiuling and Yuan Busheng had finally completed their studies, tears of joy in their eyes—they no longer had to cram into a classroom with the other children.

At the provincial magistrate’s office, Shan Qi had specially prepared a farewell dinner for the two.

“Thank you, gentlemen!”

Zhou Jiuling stood, drained his cup in one gulp, then sat again, glancing occasionally at the woman across the table—Cao Xiaohuan.

As arranged by Shan Qi, she would lead 200 officers to Yuezhou the next day to help maintain public order.

He had his concerns.

Is Sanhe completely deserted? Sending a woman as the chief constable? But no matter how dissatisfied, he kept it to himself, afraid of offending her.

After all, he couldn’t change the facts. Better to remain silent than risk her dislike.

His safety in Yuezhou would now depend on this woman and Bao Kui.

“Lord Zhou, never underestimate Chief Constable Cao,” Xie Zan seemed to understand Zhou Jiuling’s thoughts, pointing to Cao Xiaohuan. “Though a woman, she’s a hero among women, a true powerhouse. When our Sanhe forces fought the Ayus, she often led the charge. Later, during our reforms, she had no choice but to leave the army. Being made chief constable is actually a slight to her. If it weren’t for Lord Zhou, we would have been reluctant to let her go.”

“I see!”

Zhou Jiuling stood again, raising his cup. “I look forward to your guidance, Chief Constable Cao.”

“Not at all!”

Cao Xiaohuan also stood, raising her cup. “I look forward to your guidance, Lord Zhou.”

Xie Zan then pointed to Wang Xu. “Chief Wang is also exceptional. With Lord Yuan alongside, I’m sure Lord Yuan can rest easy!”

That was a complete lie.

Wang Xu wasn’t that capable; his only merit was his loyalty to Lord Lin.

Yuan Busheng raised his cup with Wang Xu. “I look forward to working with you, Chief Wang.”

“You’re too kind, Lord Yuan!”

Wang Xu drained his cup.

Shan Qi stroked his beard, smiling. “Han Jin, Liang Yuanzhi.”

“Yes, sir!”

Both men stood, cupping their hands respectfully.

Shan Qi smiled, “Lord Zhou, Lord Yuan. Han Jin and Liang Yuanzhi are rare talents of Sanhe, my proud disciples. Please treat them well.”

“Rest assured, Shan Qi,”

Zhou Jiuling said, “The Prince personally entrusted me. Education is the foundation of a century-long plan. I will not fail his trust.”

“I am older than Teacher Han by a few years, yet wisdom should be respected. I admire his knowledge,”

Yuan Busheng smiled. “When Teacher Han reaches Hongzhou, I will treat him with the respect due a teacher.”

Shan Qi nodded with satisfaction. “Han Jin, Liang Yuanzhi, once outside, do not be complacent. Lord Yuan and Lord Zhou are world-renowned grand scholars, full of knowledge. You must seek their guidance—you might even become top scholars yourselves.”

“Yes, sir!”

The two responded in unison, “We humbly accept your teachings, sir.”

“Good, very good.”

Shan Qi laughed heartily, raising his cup; everyone was in high spirits.

The next day, before dawn, the grand convoy set off. Upon reaching Xin’guan Town, the convoy split—one headed west to Yuezhou, the other north to Hongzhou.

Sanhe constables going to Hongzhou and Yuezhou—what did that mean for merchants? “Even a fool would understand!”

Liu Duo paced outside the silk shop, excited. “Stability! Damn it, finally stable!”

His father, Liu Banzi, scowled. “Besides business, can you think about Kanzi? He’s old enough to marry!”

“Dad! We’ll handle that later,” Liu Duo replied, brushing him off. Then, turning to the young clerk Chen Xiangdong, he said, “Stop standing there. Go find that bastard Wei Yishan! Tomorrow, we open a branch in Hongzhou!”

Chen Xiangdong’s eyes lit up at the prospect of a branch. He patted his chest eagerly. “Master, I can handle it! Why find him?”

“You know nothing!”

Liu Duo angrily kicked him aside.

Chen Xiangdong dodged, saw his master was serious, and ran off helplessly.

“All done?”

Liu Banzi scowled. “I think the butcher’s daughter is suitable. Whether you agree or not, tomorrow I’ll arrange it.”

“Oh dear,” Liu Duo sighed. “What kind of man is the butcher? You know him! Plenty of good girls out there, why bother? Leave it to me—I already have a plan.”

“Who?”

Liu Banzi asked urgently. “Other than the butcher’s daughter, who else nearby is suitable?”

Liu Duo looked around, saw no one, then whispered, “Zhou Xun.”

“Oh, that girl…”

Liu Banzi tapped his pipe, thought a while, then said, “No, small household, too much of a slight to Kanzi. Not suitable.”

Liu Duo smiled. “Cao Xiaohuan has left; Zhou Xun is now the chief constable of the women’s prison. You didn’t know that, did you?”