Fang Zichen hid in a small alley. Seeing that the person had gone far, he rushed excitedly back to the bookstore.
Gu Daji was counting the silver.
"Thirty-eight taels, Brother Fang, you're going to make a fortune."
Gu Daji pushed the pile of silver over to Fang Zichen. Fang Zichen took out six taels, then untied the pouch from his waist.
Gu Daji watched him rummage around, then pour everything out onto the counter with a clatter.
A stream of copper coins.
Gu Daji: "..."
Gu Daji was dumbfounded.
Earlier, when Fang Zichen hefted his pouch, Gu Daji had taken a glance. Seeing it was so large and stuffed full, he had thought...
Now, with a quick scan, it was only sixteen taels of silver, the rest were all copper coins.
Gu Daji was really impressed by Fang Zichen.
With just this little bit of silver, how did he have the courage to challenge Sun Shangcheng earlier?
Sun Shangcheng had lost miserably. As the saying goes, 'injure the enemy a hundred, lose yourself three thousand.'
[伤敌一百，自损三千 (shāng dí yī bǎi, zì sǔn sān qiān): lit. injure the enemy a hundred, lose yourself three thousand; fig. a victory gained at an excessive and disproportionate cost to oneself.]
Sun Shangcheng, facing Fang Zichen, hadn't harmed him in the slightest. Fang Zichen just moved his lips and put on a convincing act, making Sun Shangcheng lose face and money, failing utterly.
So miserable.
Truly too miserable.
One of Yuanzhou's Top Ten Tragedies!
Fang Zichen counted out another ninety-eight coins, added them to the six taels, and pushed the whole lot over to Gu Daji's side. Then he leaned over the counter, encircling his own pile of silver, grinning so widely his eyes disappeared.
"Mine, mine, it's all mine."
Gu Daji: "...Right, it's all yours. No one's fighting you for it."
Fang Zichen's eyes shone. "Struck it rich." After this experience, he suddenly saw the bigger picture: "It's better to profit off the rich. If there were more idiots like Sun Shangcheng in this world, why would I even need to work in the future?"
Working himself to death at the Zuixiao Restaurant for a month only earned him a few taels of silver. With just this one deal today, he made over thirty taels. If he could pull off two such deals a month, he wouldn't have to worry about food and drink.
Gu Daji sighed. "Brother Fang, you're thinking too optimistically."
"True," Fang Zichen said, shaking his head. "There are, after all, very few idiots like Sun Shangcheng in this world. People should be more practical."
Gu Daji: "..."
Gu Daji felt he was telling a joke. "Brother Fang, you only had over ten taels of silver earlier. How did you have the courage to compete with him?"
Fang Zichen, while putting the silver back into his pouch, asked puzzledly, "Why wouldn't I?"
"Weren't you afraid that after you made a bid, he wouldn't counter, and would instead insist on you paying the silver?" Gu Daji said.
"Not afraid!" Fang Zichen shrugged. "If I couldn't pay the silver, I'd just slip away!"
Gu Daji was shocked. He understood what kind of person Fang Zichen was—someone who valued his pride and talked big.
He asked, full of surprise, "Not afraid of losing face?"
"Not afraid!" Fang Zichen said. "Face is just an external thing."
Gu Daji: "..."
Wealth is the external thing, right?
Though I haven't read many books, don't fool me.
Fang Zichen: "Here, one tael for you."
Gu Daji was overjoyed. "Thank you, Brother Fang."
"You're welcome." Fang Zichen patted his shoulder. "In this world, we emphasize loyalty. Without you cooperating with me, I couldn't have made this fortune."
Master Wu was at the second-floor staircase and witnessed the entire process. Watching the two below dividing their spoils with happy smiles, the veins on his forehead throbbed. Gu Daji's mother was the maidservant who accompanied Wu Huifang (Yang Mingyi's mother) when she married. Not long after arriving in Fu'an Town, Wu Huifang had her married off.
Gu Daji, who had always been known for his diligence and honesty, was now following Fang Zichen's lead to 'swindle' people. Master Wu was utterly astonished by this change.
He went down to the first floor. Seeing the two, having just earned extra money, were now leaning their heads together and chuckling, he coughed.
Gu Daji jolted, straightening up. Just as he was about to call out, Master Wu waved his hand. He looked at Fang Zichen, staring intently for a long moment.
Fang Zichen blinked, picked up the basket he had left on the counter earlier, and prepared to leave.
Master Wu said, "Young man, quite daring!"
Fang Zichen was baffled. "Ah? Not bad, not bad."
Master Wu stroked the tuft of beard on his chin and smiled. "Aren't you afraid of making enemies?" From what he knew, Fang Zichen had previously offended Hao Desheng. Also, his shout of "Eating a meal without paying!" at the entrance of Zuixiao Restaurant had not only made Hao Desheng but also Master Ji and the Anhe Academy 'lose face,' their reputations plummeting.
Master Ji, having somehow gotten wind of the news, had learned that Fang Zichen intended to take the imperial examinations. He then declared that anyone who dared to guarantee for Fang Zichen would be making an enemy of him.
Children's squabbles should be forgotten once they were over. Master Ji's actions truly revealed a lack of magnanimity.
Master Wu originally didn't want to get involved, but Yang Mingyi had spoken up. He only had this one grandson (from a daughter), and he was a ger, so he doted on him dearly and had no choice but to agree.
He had already provoked one before, and now he was provoking another.
This Fang Zichen really could stir up trouble wherever he went.
Master Wu must have seen what happened earlier. Fang Zichen shook his head. "Afraid of beating the son and bringing out the father? Not afraid. I've already found out clearly who his father is and if he has backing. His father is just a cloth seller, old as hell. If he really comes looking for me, I can take him down in minutes. I'm not someone who acts without thinking."
Master Wu: "..." Should I praise you for being smart then??!!
"Do you know who that person is?" Master Wu asked.
"I know," Fang Zichen said. "He's just scum, a good-for-nothing."
Master Wu: "...He's a Tongsheng!"
"So what if he's a Tongsheng? He's just a mere Tongsheng, it's no big deal. In a few days, I'll be one too," Fang Zichen said.
Master Wu: "..." Just a mere Tongsheng, no big deal!!!
Fang Zichen had just finished the county exam, right now he was still a commoner with no status, yet his tone was as big as a Juren's.
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