"That old bastard Li Laocai only has two days left to live. I need to add some fuel to the fire and anger him to death!" Qin Wang had a thoughtful look in his eyes as he formulated a plan.
He remembered that Li Laocai had dozens of shops in Qingniu Market, all acquired from others.
"Just four more days until I master Taizu Long Fist!" Qin Wang nodded at the second piece of intelligence. Seeing progress in Taizu Long Fist training gave him hope for becoming stronger.
"This little girl Bai Fenghuan is quite nice." Seeing the third piece of intelligence, Qin Wang smiled slightly. This girl thought he was too skinny and was planning to add a dish for him today, which was commendable.
"Chief Constable Zheng Kecheng is eyeing Li Laocai's property?" Qin Wang frowned deeply as he looked at the fourth and fifth pieces of intelligence.
He hadn't expected Zheng Kecheng to covet Li Laocai's assets. After all, Zheng Kecheng was the county chief constable, his martial arts skills were at the advanced second level, and he managed nearly a hundred constables, maintaining the peace in Yanyun County. For now, Qin Wang was no match for Zheng Kecheng.
With Zheng Kecheng eyeing Li Laocai's property, it would be difficult for Qin Wang to get his hands on Li Laocai's silver.
"Things are constantly changing. With my intelligence board, there will always be a way!" Qin Wang calmed down and continued to review the intelligence.
"Yu Hai? That middle-aged apothecary has a grudge against me?" Qin Wang felt speechless when he saw the seventh piece of intelligence. He just wanted to earn a living and read medical books, yet someone had ill intentions toward him. "Never mind him. If he dares to harm me, he will regret it!"
"Li Laocai is dying, and his servants have their own agendas." Qin Wang looked at the ninth piece of intelligence and sighed.
This was human nature. Who wouldn't look out for themselves? With Li's family about to collapse, his subordinates would inevitably seize the opportunity to make some quick money.
"Hmm? Worshipping the River God? Starting in six months? This time, the Chen family from the four great families is sending maidens?" Qin Wang's eyes flashed as he read the last piece of intelligence. The River God worship was an annual event where four boys and four girls were thrown into the river to pray for good weather and a bountiful harvest.
The twelve major markets and the four great families in the county town took turns sending boys and girls.
"Time to give Li Laocai another push!"
Qin Wang got up, took out some charcoal, closed the door, avoided the night watchmen, and headed to Qingniu Market in the dead of night.
The next day.
At Baicao Hall.
Qin Wang was in the back hall processing medicinal herbs when Bai Fenghuan walked in and said, "Big brother, I have some interesting news for you!"
"What interesting news?" Qin Wang's eyes flashed.
"Last night, someone wrote on the wall of Li Laocai's shop in the market with charcoal, saying that when Li Laocai dies, they will dig up his grave and flog his corpse eight hundred times! They also said they would dig up his ancestral grave! The news is spreading all over the market."
"If Li Laocai finds out, won't he die of rage?" Bai Fenghuan, who had a strong sense of justice, seemed to enjoy Li Laocai's misfortune.
"Ah? Is that so?" Qin Wang pretended not to know. In reality, he was the one who did it late last night. His goal was to give Li Laocai a final push.
After all, Li Laocai was about to die.
Making him die of rage was even more satisfying.
"Yes!" "Big brother, do you think the person who wrote this might be the mysterious one who called Li Laocai a great grievance last time?" Bai Fenghuan seemed very happy.
"I don't know. Li Laocai did a lot of bad things, so this might be retribution!" Qin Wang smiled slightly and continued to process the medicinal herbs.
At noon.
In Li's Manor.
In a classical side room in the second courtyard.
The first wife, Fei Feiyan, and her son, Li Tianyi, were in the room talking to the weak and still conscious Li Laocai.
"Madam... Tianyi..." "I have... two... places where I've hidden silver..." Li Laocai, seeing that the maids had left and his sister was not there, began to weakly explain his will. Just then, urgent footsteps were heard outside, and Li Laocai paused, looking toward the door.
Before long, the butler Chen Pu stood at the door, gasping for breath. "Master... Madam... I just went to the market... the person spreading rumors appeared again."
"What rumor this time?" The first wife frowned.
"That person... they wrote on the wall of our shop in the market with charcoal, saying that when the master dies, they will dig up his grave and flog his corpse eight hundred times... and dig up his ancestral grave..." Chen Pu looked at the master and conveyed the news he had heard in the market.
"Dig up my grave and flog my corpse... scoundrel... scoundrel... urgh... urgh..." Hearing that someone wanted to dig up his grave and flog his corpse, Li Laocai's eyes widened in fury. He started trembling all over, foaming at the mouth. His body suddenly went rigid, his mouth emitted 'urgh, urgh' sounds, and he collapsed, head tilting to the side, lifeless.
"Ah? Master!" "Master! Master, what's wrong with you!" "Father!" Seeing the master lifeless, the first wife, Li Tianyi, and Chen Pu all cried out in alarm. The maids and servants outside, hearing the commotion, rushed in.
At Baicao Hall.
Qin Wang and Bai Mingliang, along with Bai Fenghuan, were having lunch when the butler Chen Pu appeared at the door, urgently saying, "Doctor Bai, hurry, hurry, hurry, come and take a look, my master... he has fainted!"
"Xiao Qin, pack up the medicine chest and come with me." Bai Mingliang sighed inwardly. He knew that Li Laocai's time had come, and going there was just a formality.
"Alright." Qin Wang quickly packed up the medicine chest and followed Doctor Bai to Li's Manor.
After a quarter of an hour.
In the second courtyard side room of Li's Manor, Doctor Bai checked Li Laocai's eyelids and pulse, shaking his head at the first wife and sister-in-law Li Chunxia. "Madam, according to my estimation, it should have been tomorrow night. How..."
"The master... he heard that someone in the market said they would dig up his grave after he died, flog his corpse eight hundred times, and was so enraged that he... he... urgh, urgh..." The first wife wept bitterly.
Sister-in-law Li Chunxia and Li Tianyi were also crying.
"Sigh! Accept my condolences!" Doctor Bai said to the first wife and Li Chunxia, then called Qin Wang to leave. Li Laocai was already dead.
Qin Wang took a deep look at Li Laocai's corpse, glanced under the bed, and left with Doctor Bai.
"Serves him right! Finally dead!" Qin Wang was in a great mood.
It seemed his rumor-spreading had indeed hastened Li Laocai's death.
The news that Li Laocai had died of rage upon hearing that someone wanted to dig up his grave spread throughout Qingniu Market, becoming a hot topic in teahouses and taverns.
Qin Wang continued to work at Baicao Hall during the day and practiced Taizu Long Fist at night.
Time flew by.
Four days later.
In the dead of night.
Qin Wang was practicing boxing in the main hall. Just as he executed a 'Charge Step Double Palm' move, he suddenly heard a 'ding' sound.
At the same time, a stream of insights about the thirty-two styles of Taizu Long Fist flooded his mind, and the right side of the intelligence panel showed new information.
[Qin Wang]
[Lifespan: 17/67]
[Skills: Culinary Arts (Entry Level)]
[Progress: (788/800)]
[Effect: Proficient in boiling, steaming, frying, baking, roasting, braising, marinating; diligence makes up for clumsiness, can become proficient in two to three months.]
[Martial Arts: Taizu Long Fist (Entry Level)]
[Progress: (1/800)]
[Effect: Agile footwork, long and short range attacks, strong explosive power, excels in close combat; can reach minor achievement in two years.]