Guo Lingyun still remembered, when he had just joined the Jinyiwei in Shangjing, he had heard of such an incident.
In Liang City, not far outside Shangjing, there was once a horrifying [Abacus Case]. The case was directly tried by The Dali Temple of the Northern Prefecture, and the executors were all Jinyiwei from the local area. According to his colleagues, the case originated from a student of Tang Sect who strayed off course and borrowed a loan with an interest rate six times the principal, known as fatal usury. With no other recourse, he reported it to his sect, and eventually, the matter was brought to The Dali Temple.
Legally speaking, those who charged more than triple the interest on loans were to have their illegal gains confiscated and then to be branded and exiled. However, the water behind this case was deeper than anyone had imagined. Initially, The Dali Temple arrested three lenders. But a few days later, The Dali Temple suddenly went silent, and did not announce the outcome of the case.
After another half month, two-thirds of the county officials in Beiliang were suddenly arrested and imprisoned. The leading County Magistrate, the chief clerk, and the local Colonel were swiftly and severely sentenced, all to be executed by lingering death.
Then, empowered by an imperial mandate, The Dali Temple ordered the local Jinyiwei to detain all the accomplices named by the lenders. These men did not even live to see the autumn. The Emperor sent three personal letters, one of them an urgent golden order, for the heads of these thirty-some villains to roll.
In an instant, the heart of Beiliang was unsettled, the common people felt a profound sense of relief, but the big householders with shady businesses were all driven mad, severing limbs in panic, getting rid of their unspeakable assets completely.
Within a month, all of Beiliang's gambling dens were closed, the brothels reformed, and the street thugs faced sudden deaths on the streets. The protectors of the big families who had once ran rampant, were nowhere to be seen.
Ever since, Beiliang became bright and clear, with all filth and polluted mud swept away. Other Jinyiwei from different regions, when they learned of this, believed it to be the work of imperial relatives in disguise or high-ranking officials using their authority. Otherwise, they reasoned, it would not have been possible to clean up the once firm "net" so thoroughly.
Now, Guo Lingyun had learned the truth from Tang Wan's mouth, and he could never have imagined that the instigators of the Abacus Case, which had terrorized officials and businessmen in Liang City, clearing away their filthy and shady dealings, were merely a few students from the Imperial Academy. And the sole reason they did this was to seek justice for a fellow student who had died unfairly.
Thinking of this, Guo Lingyun could not help feeling a bit emotional, admiration for Zhou Li welling up within him. He lifted his head pensively and looked towards Zhou Li, who was laughing heartily in the embrace of a beautiful woman.
?
Looking at Zhou Li, who showed absolutely no shame and just lay in the enveloping softness with a delighted expression, Guo Lingyun's admiration turned sour, and his facial expression became fixed.
At that moment, faced with the flattery and praise from those around him, Zhou Li modestly pressed his hands down and said, "Ah, please don't say so. It's merely some insignificant cleverness."
"Young master, do you know of Mountain God Village's origins?"
Even though Zhou Li was well aware, he feigned curiosity like a fascinated child and inquired, "Does the origin of Mountain God Village have anything to do with me?"
"It has everything to do with you!"
The old man stamped his foot in excitement, his beard trembling, "Young master, look at our clothing. Aren't the ornaments we wear extravagant? Aren't the men robust and the women voluptuous?"
"That's true."
Zhou Li stroked his chin, nodded in agreement, and curiously continued:
"Your clothes are clearly high-quality silks from Jiangnan Three Provinces, and the jewelry the beautiful woman wears comes from the high-end shops in Central Plains Jincui Town. And this walking stick—if I'm not mistaken—the cat's eye gemstone is the Ice Water Type from Zhonglan Mountain. Looking at everyone's ample physique and luxurious features, it seems under your governance, Mountain God Village is indeed prosperous."
"Ah~~~ Young master, let's not exaggerate, I am merely an old man in his eighties. How can it be all my doing?"
Upon hearing this, the old man felt mentally and physically refreshed. He glanced inconspicuously at the high mountain not far away, then questioned with surprise:
"I am rather curious, how does such a young man like you know so much about luxury and wealth?"
"Ah."
Zhou Li waved his hand and said with a smile, "I had a part-time job before."
"Making fake goods."
"I'm old and weak, you should be diligent."
The old man was overjoyed, and after glancing at Divine Mount, he considered the young man as the next candidate for the village chief.
"Don't look at me."
Noticing the fearful look in Guo Lingyun's eyes, Tang Wan sat cross-legged on a tree trunk and said with a shaky voice, "His family was short on money when he went to school, so he had many part-time jobs."
While marveling at how truly skilled Zhou Li was, Guo Lingyun's gaze fell on Zhou Li, who was conversing with an elder nearby.
By this time, the elder had already enlightened Zhou Li about Mountain God Village's rich cultural history (tales of villagers striking it rich), the cultural environment (idiots and fools, eating, drinking, prostitution, and gambling), and the vast opportunities ahead (flinging coins). After speaking these words, the village chief's expectations were met, as Zhou Li's face immediately lit up with excitement.
"Is there really such a wonderful opportunity?"
Zhou Li gripped the village chief's hand tightly and stealthily removed one of the man's gold rings, speaking with excitement, "Village chief, where shall I stay?"
"Do not hurry, young master. You must still pass three challenges, otherwise known as Qiansan Pass."
Watching Zhou Li's expression stiffen, the village chief smiled contentedly and comforted him, "Rest assured, our Qiansan Pass is practically tailor-made for someone like you."
"Oh."
Zhou Li's expression immediately softened, and he gently patted the well-endowed bottom of a beautiful woman, signaling for her to step aside. Then, he looked at the elder in front of him and ingratiatingly said:
"Could you... perhaps share some tips about these challenges? I'd like to prepare."
"Ha-ha, you little rascal."
The old man laughed heartily. Then he gestured to the crowd around them, and soon two large barrels appeared at the entrance of the village. As everyone watched with greedy eyes, the old man took out a small statue of the Mountain God, knelt devoutly on the ground, and chanted under his breath.
The next second, countless brand-new copper coins, shimmering with luster, fell like rain into the two wooden barrels.
"This first challenge is called Money Eye."
Patting the barrel filled with copper coins, the old man squinted his eyes and said with a smile, "For this challenge, you must use something from your body to thread through the eyes of the coins in this barrel. You can use hair, fingers, anything—as long as it passes through."
Hm?
Zhou Li paused for a moment, as this differed from what the man under interrogation had said. That man mentioned that the first challenge was only to thread through the Money Eye using a twig. But the village chief mentioned using "something from your body," which was quite different.
Of course, this was no trouble for Zhou Li.
"Anything from my body will do?"
Facing Zhou Li's confusion, the old man nodded affirmatively, "Anything will do."
"Alright."
Zhou Li was decisive and walked in front of the two large barrels under everyone's gaze. He then took out a water bladder, spat into it, and to the shock of the villagers and the elder, emptied the water from the bladder directly into the barrels.
"Does that count?"
Watching the water droplets thread through the eyes of the copper coins and sink, Zhou Li looked at the village chief and said gravely, "Dilution counts too, right?"