Druid Fairy

Chapter 74 Greed

"Is this the child you were talking about?"

Li Pingcan nodded and said in a low voice, "Brother, I think this kid has potential."

What he sensed was not innate talent or physical constitution, but a kind of life force, which was probably a combination of mental strength and physical strength, or simply put, abundant "vitality and spirit".

Such people can achieve twice the result with half the effort in whatever they do.

But due to malnutrition caused by poverty, the child was like a weed that no one would notice if lost in a crowd.

Li Pingfu trusted Li Pingcan's judgment and looked at the old farmer and his son. The old farmer still had bits of twigs and withered grass on him, probably having come to town to sell firewood during the off-season.

He asked a few simple questions and learned that the two people lived in Xinghua Village. The old farmer's name was Sun Daniu, and the child's name was Sun Wa'er. Last year, the family had already been struggling to make ends meet because of the child's spiritual root test.

It's a pity that Sunwa'er didn't have any spiritual roots detected—this is the norm for ordinary families. They would go bankrupt for a hope, even selling their possessions and leaving themselves destitute, just hoping their son would become a dragon and that all their relatives and friends would rise to prominence.

How many people are in your family, Uncle?

Is life difficult?

"Does the child want to learn martial arts?"

The old farmer stammered, looking nervous, as if he were meeting a great person; the little boy's face was flushed, and he looked at his idol with excitement, quickly and loudly answering, "Yes!"

"Then let's practice together." Li Pingfu said gently.

"Then...how much silver would that cost..." The old farmer shrank back in embarrassment, wishing he could disappear into a hole. "I don't have any silver."

"Brother, how could you be so foolish? Master Li has taken a liking to your child, but he doesn't want your money!"

"What incredible luck!"

"Why didn't Master Li choose my second child? I look at that dark-skinned boy, he's not as spirited as my second child!"

……

The townspeople around him, seeing his cowardly appearance, were all disappointed and frustrated. Some even felt envious, looking at Sunwa and wishing they could take his place.

Realizing what had happened, Sun Daniu and his son knelt down and kowtowed excitedly. They had never imagined such good fortune would come their way, and they were so happy that they were incoherent.

"Thank you... thank you, sir! I'll kowtow quickly!"

Sunwa called out in a clear, crisp voice, "Thank you, sir."

Xie Xiaodao teased, "Why are you calling me 'Master'? You should change your address and call me 'Master'!"

"Master!"

……

Li Pingcan smiled slightly, recalling the scene of his elder brother becoming an apprentice, which was just as exciting.

At this moment, just like at that moment, a cycle of inheritance has begun!

…………

The Li family martial arts school was busy from the beginning of the month to the middle of the month after its opening. Finally, things calmed down. They took in more than ten disciples, and their annual income was nearly two hundred taels of silver.

The martial arts school has just opened, and many people enroll their children out of curiosity and excitement. But after a few months, their enthusiasm will fade, and they might have to withdraw.

Of course, the registration fee is non-refundable. And there are always more and more children joining the martial arts school. Take the oldest school, Baihu Martial Arts School, which claims to have a "century-old heritage," for example. It has a stable number of thirty to forty disciples, maintaining a dynamic balance.

Small restaurant.

Li Pingfu treated Xie Xiaodao, Li Yuan, and others to dinner and drinks. These days, thanks to the brothers running around and maintaining order, they would have been really too busy.

Young people are the most enthusiastic, sincere, and selfless.

After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became increasingly lively.

Li Chao asked curiously, "Brother Pingfu, is there anything special about the child you took in?"

“Sun Zheng has good potential. Although his foundation is relatively weak, he is young and can endure hardship. Sooner or later he will catch up with those children who have a solid foundation. He will definitely be the star of our martial arts school in the future.”

Li Pingfu said with satisfaction, "My brother's judgment was indeed correct."

Sunwa'er was an easy-to-raise "humble name". After obtaining Li Daniu's consent, he named Sunwa'er "Sun Zheng", hoping that he would act uprightly in the future and never forget his original intention.

"Congratulations, brother, you've found a promising talent."

The sixth brother, Yan Yufei, suddenly said, "Big brother, the martial arts school needs to purchase a batch of uniforms from the weaving workshop. It will cost about ten taels of silver. What do you think?"

He helped with the accounting in his parents' tofu shop from a young age. He had a good talent for calculation and could get accurate numbers just by thinking about the ledger.

Therefore, he is in charge of all the current accounts of the Li Family Martial Arts School, and he reports everything to Li Pingfu.

"You should buy martial arts uniforms. They don't need to be made of expensive materials; just choose something sturdy and durable."

Li Pingfu thought for a moment and said that he did not understand what psychological suggestion was, but wearing uniform-style martial arts clothes would make it easier for the disciples to identify with the martial arts school.

"You can withdraw the money from the account, and you're in charge of the ledgers. I trust you to do things right."

"No problem, brother."

Yan Yufei said happily that his martial arts potential was average, so he might as well switch to accounting. His elder brother's trust was his motivation.

…………

Yan Yufei didn't drink too much alcohol, as drinking could easily lead to mistakes and delay his work for his older brother.

After the banquet, he went to the weaving workshop, visited three or four shops, carefully examined and compared several materials, and found that a weaving shop had a batch of old materials. Because the colors were not fashionable, they were sold at a particularly low price.

Yan Yufei was delighted. He was good-looking and had a sweet tongue, which made the proprietress very happy. Moreover, the stockpiling of this batch of fabric was not a good thing for the proprietress. The two parties hit it off and placed an order for this garment, saving Li's Martial Arts School half a tael of silver.

After closing a deal, I felt a little lightheaded.

Thinking of her elder brother's admiring gaze, she couldn't help but hum a song.

As night fell, he paid the deposit, took the contract, and returned home. As soon as he entered, he saw that his house was blocked by people from the gambling den, and his face immediately fell.

"Yan Yufei, your little brother owes another ten taels of silver, and he's already signed and sealed the document!"

The people at the gambling den were watching intently, but they didn't resort to violence. Even when beating a dog, you have to consider its owner. Yan Yufei had Li Pingfu's backing, so it wasn't easy to offend him.

However, the debt was genuine and there was no excessive interest compounding, which was quite a favorable treatment.

"Today is the deadline. If you can't pay, don't blame us for taking your brother away."

"Brother, help me! Help me!" Yan Yuhao cried out in panic, hiding behind his brother. He didn't want to go to the gambling den's dark room!

"Fei'er, how could you bear to let your brother be taken away by the gambling den people? You are his own brother!"

"Never mind this good-for-nothing brat, I'm going to beat him to death!"

The mother's weeping, the father's roar, the shattered porcelain... all the sounds exploded in Yan Yufei's mind like screams from chaos!
"Stop arguing, I'll give it to you! I'll give it to you!" He pressed his throbbing temples in pain.

My younger brother is hopeless, what can I do?
He took out his last savings, but it wasn't enough.

He frowned and hesitated for a moment before taking out the money he had saved for the martial arts school that day.

Anyway, it's money I saved through my own hard work... It shouldn't matter if I use a little bit first!

"You've really struck it rich, huh? Ten taels of silver just like that? You're lucky, kid. You've chosen the right boss."

The people at the gambling den were astonished, because the Yan family originally made tofu, a job that was extremely tiring and could be described as "torture," and it didn't earn them much money.

Originally, the two Yan brothers were destined to do hard labor their whole lives, but unexpectedly they became rich overnight!

"What's it to you?" Yan Yufei said rudely.

"Ha, look how smug you are." The people at the gambling den exchanged glances, chuckled wickedly, and strode away.

After the people from the gambling den left, Yan Yufei threw a tantrum at home, angrily telling his younger brother, "If there's a next time, I won't take care of you anymore!"

Yan Yuhao, light on his feet, grinned and made a vow, "Brother, I promise there won't be a next time!"

"Hurry up and thank your brother!" Mother Yan tapped her youngest son's forehead, her expression relaxed. Father Yan smoked his cigarette for a while, then sighed.

"Thank you, brother!"

Seeing the relieved expressions on his family's faces, Yan Yufei's expression also eased a little. However, when he thought of Shan Qi in his arms, he felt heavy-hearted again, with no one to confide in about his guilt and unease.

How did something so good turn out like this?!
……

The next morning.

Holding the contract, Yan Yufei went to the proprietress's weaving shop. After hesitating for a while, he finally said, "Could you please issue a new contract at the original price for this fabric..."

Before he could finish speaking, the proprietress looked knowing and smiled, "I thought you didn't want to... This is simple."

"Simple?" Yan Yufei asked doubtfully. He had mentally prepared himself countless times and hesitated for a long time before finally mustering the courage to ask.

"This is an unspoken rule in the industry. All the wealthy families in town do their purchasing this way. If they didn't try to make money this way, where would they get the money to line their own pockets and put it in their safe?"

Yan Yufei was stunned by the landlady's dismissive words.

'Corruption for personal gain?'

"No, no, I'm not being greedy. I'm just 'borrowing' it. I'll pay it back once I have the money."

'I'm not like those greedy parasites!'

Yan Yufei exhaled a breath of stale air, his gaze gradually hardening. He calmly accepted the contract that the proprietress had rewritten and left the weaving workshop.

…………

Li's Martial Arts School. Li Pingfu glanced at the bill Yan Yufei handed him; the income and expenses were all quite reasonable. Seeing Yan Yufei's tense expression, he patted him on the shoulder reassuringly.

"Don't put so much pressure on yourself. It's okay if you miscalculate the price. Everyone makes mistakes. Just admit your mistakes and correct them."

"Yes, brother." Yan Yufei replied with his head down, his fingers gripping the ledger tightly.

Brother Pingfu indeed did not notice.

This is not surprising. Everyone has their own expertise. The eldest brother is skilled in martial arts, and the intricacies of these markets are difficult for laymen to understand.

Feeling his elder brother's trust, he no longer had the lighthearted joy he once had; a heavy weight pressed down on his heart.

…………

Peach Blossom Village, Li Family.

Upon hearing the news of the opening of the Li family martial arts school, Zhou Yu felt uneasy, fearing that the Li family would move to the town and abandon his herb fields.

He made a special trip to inquire about the situation and learned that the Li family was still living in Peach Blossom Village. Only then did he feel relieved. Taking this opportunity, he signed a 20-year contract with the Li family.

He realized that it was better to take shelter under a big tree than to work himself to the bone. The better the Li family prospered, the better his life became. After all, he wasn't alone anymore and had to consider his wife's future.

Zhou Yu married a peasant girl from the same village. Both he and his wife were kind and honest.

A contracted servant is not a slave. When we have a son in the future, it won't affect his studies in literature and martial arts. He might even be able to find a reliable job in the Li family.

He felt that the luckiest thing in his life was meeting such a kind person as Li Rongzhou after the disaster.

Once the price is agreed upon, the agreement is signed and sealed.

Li Rongzhou said, "Can'er, see your Uncle Zhou off."

"Good dad."

"No need to trouble yourself." Zhou Yu hurriedly replied with an "Eh," shaking his head and waving his hand. He couldn't stop Li Pingcan from setting off, so he had no choice but to follow.

The two walked and talked.

"Uncle Zhou, you often associate with herb gatherers and mountain hikers. Do you know of any unusual or spiritually significant places?"

Li Pingcan came to gather information. Everyone has different channels, so the information they can hear will naturally be different. It is very necessary to listen to all sides and pool our wisdom.

“A strange and beautiful place?” Zhou Yu pondered for a moment, then shook his head: “There is no such place, but there are rumors of spiritual herbs.”

"Ok?"

"It was Old Sheep, the treasure hunter, who told me that in the place where Yin and Yang are separated, there is a spirit herb that can grant one 'spirit communication' if consumed," Zhou Yu said in a low voice.

Treasure hunters, also known as geomancers, are a mysterious profession in the martial arts world. Legend has it that they are well-versed in feng shui secrets and can identify the celestial treasures in mountains and rivers. They also use the methods of geomancy and feng shui, but unlike tomb raiders, they do not go down into ancient tombs for fear of being tainted by yin energy and losing good karma.

However, industry rules are industry rules, and who can know whether they are hiding treasures while wearing clothes and robbing tombs while taking their clothes off?

To Li Pingcan, what the old sheep said seemed more like a fabrication. If there really was a spirit herb, why didn't he take it himself?
Moreover, people often regard precious herbs and blood-nourishing herbs as miraculous herbs, using them as a basis for boasting.

Li Pingcan didn't get any useful information, but he was used to it. He saw Zhou Yu to the door and was about to turn and leave.

Zhou Yu suddenly said, "If you want to find herbs in the mountains, I can introduce you to the treasure hunting business, but it's very expensive."

Where mountains and lands are blessed with spiritual energy, precious medicinal herbs will grow. Such places are often quite dangerous, and sometimes even guarded by ferocious beasts.

If a martial artist desires a rare medicinal herb that is unavailable on the market, they must find it elsewhere. The treasure hunting trade is a trading venue that arose from this need, and it is also one of the "treasure hunting" pleasures favored by many young masters from wealthy families.

A fixed price is given, and whatever good items the treasure hunter finds belong to the investor. With the guarantee and regulation of the treasure hunting industry, treasure hunters will not break the rules, damage their reputation, or be blacklisted. Those with serious offenses may be subject to criminal penalties.

Li Pingcan was somewhat interested.

While his mushrooms can broaden one's horizons and help find herbs that ordinary people can't find, it's like catching fish with a large net.

Treasure hunters, on the other hand, use a more strategic approach, like "location." They first determine a few points and then set off to search, which is much more efficient than "casting a wide net."

Whether or not you find any treasures is not important; what matters is learning a trick or two for 'treasure identification'...

Druids are not omnipotent; at the very least, they cannot perceive the location of the spiritual materials of heaven and earth.

The mountains are deep and vast; having a direction is always better than wandering aimlessly like a headless fly.

Don't bother two people with one thing.

Li Pingcan then asked Uncle Zhou Yu to help him contact the treasure hunter and choose a day to go into the mountains.

…………

After a long period of busy work, Li Pingfu finally had a chance to catch his breath and went back to Peach Blossom Village for a meal.

Mrs. Qin happily prepared a sumptuous dinner.

As Li Pingfu and Li Pingan's business prospered, their home became increasingly quiet. When their eldest and second sons returned home, it was as lively as if they were guests.

When a son grows up, he is no longer under the control of his mother.

Seeing her eldest son full of vigor and ambition, Madam Qin concealed the reluctance in her heart.

At the dinner table, Li Pingfu took a bite of pickled vegetables. The sour taste instantly whetted his appetite.

No matter how exquisite the food outside is, it can't compare to the taste of my mother's cooking.

The family ate and chatted.

"Are you going to collect treasures?" Li Pingfu asked his underling.

“Dad has already inquired for me. The treasure hunting business is very disciplined. That old sheep is a good person and has been doing it for thirty years. He has a good reputation in the neighborhood,” Li Pingcan said.

"When will you go with me?" Li Pingfu asked with a smile, still worried. "I also want to broaden my horizons."

Li Rongzhou made the final decision, "Then the three of us, father and sons, will go and broaden our horizons."

Li Pingcan also felt that this was safer.

Even if Old Yang had bad intentions, the three of them—father and sons—would be fearless in the face of adversity.

"Big brother, how's your martial arts school doing now?"

At this point, Li Pingfu perked up and began to speak with great interest.

When people accomplish something great, they all have a desire to share it, not to show off, but to gain affirmation and recognition.

Li Pingcan occasionally responded with an "uh-huh," but suddenly paused with his chopsticks. "Brother, you've given Brother Yan all the bills for the martial arts school?"

"What's wrong? Is it not allowed? This is just for convenience."

Several members of the Li family looked at Li Pingcan with puzzled expressions, and Li Rongzhou, the head of the family, also looked bewildered.

Seeing this, Li Pingcan sighed inwardly. At their most prosperous time, his family were only small landlords. They had never done business in the town and didn't understand that a "cashier" and an "accountant" could not be the same person!

I suffered because of my lack of experience.

"Brother, think about it. All income and expenses are handled by one person. If someone falsifies the accounts to balance the books, you're not the accountant, so you won't be able to find out."

"Really?" Li Pingfu shook his head. "Yan Yufei isn't the kind of person who would be greedy for small gains."

"This is not a question of greed or not. If you let people have a mountain of silver but no one to control them, and they take a little bit today and a little bit tomorrow, their desires will grow."

"Don't you know what kind of person your brother Yan is?"

Seeing that the two brothers were about to argue, Li Rongzhou stopped them, saying, "No need to quarrel. We can find out by having an experienced accountant check the matter."

Li Pingfu frowned. To be fair, he always believed in his brother's character.

But since his father had spoken, and it was for the good of the martial arts school, he agreed.

The next day.

Li Pingfu asked someone to invite an old accountant surnamed Xu. This accountant was over fifty years old, with droopy eyelids but piercing eyes.

The martial arts school had been open for over a month, and there were hardly any accounts, just a few pages of paper. Accountant Xu glanced at them, then went to the weaving workshop to compare the fabrics, and quickly noticed something was wrong.

"Please take a look, Master Li."

Accountant Xu spread out the purchase order for the fabric from the martial arts school on the table, and then took out the price list he had obtained from several weaving workshops in the town.

"A bolt of ordinary linen costs seven hundred cash, while aged, stockpiled linen costs at most four hundred cash. But the account says seven hundred cash per bolt, which is a full forty percent overstatement."

Looking at this list again, it's for medicinal herbs. The ink is dark and dull, as if old ink was deliberately used to cover up a new contract. If I'm not mistaken, this list has probably been altered.

Judging from this ledger, this person must have already embezzled twenty or thirty taels of silver.

Li Pingfu's heart was churning, but his expression remained unchanged as he politely saw Accountant Xu off.

He sat quietly on the large chair in the martial arts school, reminiscing about the moments he shared with his brothers.

Time flies, and people's hearts are fickle?

When Yan Yufei returned to verify and submit the expense report, Li Pingfu, as always, was calm and said with a smile, "Little Six, you've been working hard lately. If you have any difficulties, you can tell your older brother."

“Brother Pingfu, I’m not tired.”

Yan Yufei said hurriedly. He looked at the ledger in his elder brother's hand, feeling somewhat uneasy, and just wanted to finish the verification process as soon as possible.

"Are you really alright?" Li Pingfu's deep voice came from above.

Yan Yufei suddenly sensed something was wrong and looked up in surprise. He saw Li Pingfu's eyes were like torches, bright and clear like the eyes of a tiger king, revealing no thought he might have!

He instantly realized he had been caught, and his face turned deathly pale!

The two chapters were posted in the wrong order. Just refresh the page; the prices are the same.
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(End of this chapter)