72: A solution that solves the problem once and for all

"This..."

Su Ming's eyes flashed with understanding, but then were covered by worry. "But what if his appetite is too big, and he's not satisfied with one-tenth, and instead demands more directly..."

"That's why it's 'dry shares'!" Lin Yu interrupted him. "Only dividends, no interference in operations. And, it must be delivered through Zhao Chunlan. Zhou Kang values Face and prides himself on his status, so he won't haggle directly with his wife. He'll only hint, and Village Head only needs to play dumb and deliver the money on time. This is called feeding meat to the wolf, but not letting it near the sheepfold."

"As for Advisor Sun, that's 'customary money' for the government. Let him know that we are sensible. In the future, if there's any news, he might, for the sake of the silver, leak some information in advance. This is called spending money to buy a spy."

Su Ming remained silent for a moment, his eyes flickering, clearly rapidly processing Lin Yu's words. Finally, he nodded heavily, no longer hesitating with his pen, and meticulously wrote down this strategy.

"Third, technical confidentiality. Have him completely separate the core processes of papermaking, such as pulping, ingredient mixing, and paper paper scooping. Let the most reliable families in the village, such as your Su Family and the Zhao Family elders, each Master one step. Make a blood oath that no one is allowed to peek into other steps. This way, even if someone is caught, they won't be able to reveal the complete formula."

"Finally, prepare an escape route. Have Village Head secretly exchange the silver earned by the Workshop for grain and ready cash, and hide them in several places. This is for unforeseen circumstances."

Su Ming wrote furiously, recording every word of Lin Yu's. Every word in this letter was weighty, concerning the lives of everyone in the village.

After finishing the official letter, he changed to a new sheet of paper.

"Master, what about the private letter?"

"The private letter is simple," Lin Yu's tone softened. "Tell your second brother, in case... I mean, in the worst-case scenario, tell him not to worry about anything. The Workshop, the silver, the fields, he can give them all up."

"The first thing is to take your whole Family, and those few core notebooks about papermaking from our Family, and run immediately! Go to the place I designated for you in the letter and wait for me to find you."

"Tell him that as long as the people are there, and the technique is there, making a comeback will be as easy as flipping a hand. If the Workshop is gone, it can be rebuilt. If the village is gone... as long as the Family is there, anywhere is home."

Su Ming's pen tip trembled slightly.

He could imagine how shocked and heavy his second brother Su Yang would be when he saw this letter.

He wrote very slowly, pouring complex emotions into every word. He even drew a small mark at the end of the letter, using a pre-arranged secret code. It was a symbol he and his second brother had agreed upon as children, representing a 'highest alert'.

After finishing the two letters, Su Ming felt completely drained, with fine beads of sweat seeping from his forehead.

He carefully folded the letters and sealed them in an envelope. He then folded the private letter into a very small square and tucked it into a hidden layer of the official letter.

After all this, he let out a long breath.

Everything that could be done, had been done.

The rest depended on fate, and on Village Head's decision.

The next morning, Su Ming found the familiar porter.

He gave him an extra ten copper coins and earnestly instructed, "Uncle, this letter is extremely urgent. You must deliver it personally to my second brother, Su Yang."

The porter weighed the money, grinned, and said, "Don't worry, Su Family kid, I guarantee it'll be delivered."

After sending the letter, Su Ming felt as if a great stone had been lifted from his heart, yet another hung there.

The next few days were a long and anxious wait.

After the initial despair, Zhao Rui reverted to his usual carefree self. His greatest pleasure each day was dragging Su Ming to the liveliest teahouse in town to listen to storytellers, ostensibly to 'relax his mind,' but actually because he couldn't stand the bland food at the inn.

Su Ming did not refuse.

He needed to go to crowded places to listen for outside news.

In the teahouse, the storyteller was just reaching the climax of his tale, slamming his gavel, to a round of applause.

Zhao Rui, stuffing a crab roe bun into his mouth, spoke indistinctly with oil dripping down his chin, "Su Ming, do you think... my father will really break my legs?"

Su Ming's ears, however, caught the whispers of several silk-robed merchants at the next table.

"Have you heard? The County Lieutenant has been a bit tight on money recently and is looking for sources of wealth everywhere."

"Who doesn't know that the Wei Family Cloth Store is the County Lieutenant's money bag? That Young Master Wei has been getting more and more arrogant lately."

Su Ming's gaze sharpened slightly.

Young Master Wei... the young man who had mocked them in the teahouse.

It seemed the waters of Qingshi Town were murkier than he had imagined.

Just then, a person dressed in the uniform of a Zhou Family Servant quickly entered the teahouse and walked straight to Su Ming's table.

"Is this Young Master Su Ming?"

Su Ming put down his teacup, "It is I."

The Servant bowed, "My Eldest Young Master requests your presence."

Zhou Yulin?

Su Ming and Zhao Rui exchanged glances, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes.

The study in the Zhou Residence still carried that elegant scent of ink.

Zhou Yulin, dressed in a moon-white long gown, seemed even more composed than before. He personally brewed a cup of tea for Su Ming, the curling tea mist blurring his gentle brows and eyes.

"Brother Su, I trust you've been well."

"Brother Zhou is too polite," Su Ming picked up the teacup but did not drink.

Zhou Yulin smiled, getting straight to the point, "Tomorrow, the results of the County School will be announced."

Su Ming's heart skipped a beat.

"My father and Professor Liu jointly graded this year's policy essay," Zhou Yulin looked at Su Ming, a strange light in his eyes. "My father said he hadn't seen... an essay so pertinent to current affairs, yet so bold and practical, in many years."

He paused, then said word by word, "Brother Su, congratulations. For this County School assessment, you will be... the top scholar."

top scholar!

First place!

Even with Su Ming's steady Heart-Nature, hearing these two words caused his mind to 'buzz' and go blank.

"Master..."

"Calm down, calm down! Standard procedure, all within my calculations as your Master!" Lin Yu's voice rang in his mind, with barely suppressed triumph. "See? This is the power of knowledge! Your policy essay is a dimensionality reduction strike against those blockheads who only know classical rhetoric!"

Lin Yu was both happy and worried: "top scholar! This gives us more leverage in negotiations! Alas! Will it be too conspicuous and draw too much attention?"

Su Ming forcibly suppressed his surging emotions, cupping his hands to Zhou Yulin, "Thank you, Brother Zhou, for the information. This is merely a stroke of luck, all thanks to Professor Liu and Prefectural Instructor Zhou's favor."

His calmness and humility deepened the appreciation in Zhou Yulin's eyes.

"Brother Su is too modest. A good essay is naturally formed, a masterpiece attained by chance. Brother Su's talent deserves this praise." Zhou Yulin waved his hand, his expression turning serious. "I invited Brother Su here today, besides offering congratulations in advance, for another matter. My father... wishes to see you."

Su Ming's heart tightened, but his expression remained calm. "May I ask what the School Supervisor wishes to summon me for?"

Zhou Yulin smiled faintly, his smile somewhat meaningful. "Brother Su need not be nervous. My father merely read your essay, felt moved, and wishes to chat with you."

"Chat"?

Su Ming's fingertips felt slightly cold. Zhou Wenhai wanting to see him was definitely not just to discuss academics!

Was it because he had scored top scholar? Or was it because... Zhou Kang had already noticed something, or Zhou Wenhai had heard rumors about the Su Family Village papermaking Workshop?

Lin Yu's voice rapidly rang in his mind: "Disciple! The main event is here! Remember, speak less and listen more. Before figuring out Zhou Wenhai's intentions, do not easily reveal our trump cards! Especially the details of the Workshop and our plans, not a single word!"

Inwardly: "This is going to be deadly. Just dealt with the young one, now the old one is personally getting involved? Is this pace a bit too fast?!"

Su Ming took a deep breath and drained the slightly cool tea in his cup.

He looked up, his gaze having returned to clarity and calmness.

"Since that is the case, I dare not keep the School Supervisor waiting. Please lead the way, Brother Zhou."

Su Ming followed behind Zhou Yulin, his steps steady as he walked down the corridor leading to Zhou Wenhai's study. The bluestone path was cold, but his heart was even calmer than the stone.

"Disciple, listen carefully, there isn't much time. Zhou Wenhai is ten times more difficult to deal with than his son. His meeting with you is definitely not just to praise your essay." Lin Yu's voice echoed rapidly in his mind, carrying an unprecedented seriousness.

"He must have heard rumors, about Su Family Village, about papermaking. It's even possible that Zhou Kang has already prejudiced him. Even if he only reads sagely books and hasn't heard anything, this meeting is our chance to break the deadlock!"

Su Ming looked straight ahead, silently responding in his heart, "Master, how should we respond?"

"Remember the strategy we analyzed? Now, use the first stratagem — Driving the Tiger to Devour the Wolf! This is the best strategy, and also the riskiest but most rewarding move." Lin Yu spoke quickly. "But you must never directly mention profit; that's too vulgar and will make him look down on you. You need to package it, package it into something he cannot refuse!"

"How exactly do we do that?"

"Offer a plan, not a profit!" Lin Yu stated decisively. "As the 'top scholar,' and under the guise of 'gratitude for cultivation, willing to offer advice for the benefit of the hometown.' Present papermaking as a 'benevolent policy that enriches the county and benefits the people'!"

"Benevolent policy?" Su Ming's heart stirred slightly.

"Exactly!" Lin Yu's voice carried a hint of excitement from a successful calculation. "Suggest that the County School or the government take the lead, with Zhou Wenhai's name attached, to establish a 'government-supervised, civilian-run' Workshop in Su Family Village. As for the profits, a portion will subsidize the County School, another portion will be used for local public welfare, and the rest will go to the villagers. As for his Zhou Family's 'management fees' and 'sponsorship fees,' just find any pretext; he'll naturally get a share, and a large one at that! The key is that the core technology must remain firmly in our own hands; he only collects money and takes the credit!"

"Will this... really work?" Su Ming found this move quite bold.

"Hmph, for Zhou Wenhai, this is a windfall from heaven! He gains a good reputation, gets tangible benefits, and can genuinely achieve a political accomplishment, shutting up fools like Zhou Kang who only know how to make money! Once his name is attached, if the Wei Family, the County Lieutenant, or even Zhou Kang tries to interfere, it would be slapping Zhou Wenhai's Face! This is called leveraging influence!" Lin Yu analyzed thoroughly. "Of course, this is the most ideal scenario. If this old fox is too greedy or overly proud, we have a backup plan."

"Backup plan?"

"Bluffing! Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell!" Lin Yu sneered. "If he hesitates or wants to swallow it whole, you should appropriately show a bit of 'helplessness': that foreign merchants have heard rumors and are willing to pay a high price for the technology, or invite Su Family Village to relocate and set up a factory elsewhere. Explain that the villagers' affection for their homeland makes it difficult to choose, and so on... put some pressure on him!"

"What if he remains unmoved, or even tries to use force?" Su Ming considered the worst possible outcome.

"Then immediately activate the fourth stratagem, Secretly Crossing the Chencang!" Lin Yu's tone turned cold. "Hint that the technology is by no means easily replicable; without the unique water and soil of Su Family Village and the people's Heart-Nature, it's just waste paper. We can simply halt production temporarily and secretly relocate. Zhou Wenhai would gain nothing and would unjustly bear the infamous reputation of driving away talent and destroying good governance! He's a smart man; he'll calculate this cost."

"I understand, Master." Su Ming took a deep breath, mentally reviewing Lin Yu's words over and over. How to speak each step, how to act, Lin Yu added several key details and possible responses.

"Remember, disciple," Lin Yu finally instructed, "No matter how he probes, do not reveal the core technology or specific profit percentages! Just paint a grand picture, talk about the big picture, and emphasize the benefits!"

At this moment, Zhou Yulin stopped in front of a carved wooden door and whispered, "Brother Su, my father is waiting inside."

Su Ming looked up, his gaze as calm as water, and nodded slightly to Zhou Yulin, "Thank you, Brother Zhou."

He tidied his robes, deeply concealing the slight excitement from hearing he was top scholar and all his strategic calculations beneath the calmness cultivated by the Breath Concealment Art.

"Brother Su need not be reserved; my father is merely a bit serious by nature, but he has always respected truly learned people," he turned his head and gently reassured.

Su Ming nodded, saying nothing.

His heart was beating a little fast, not from nervousness, but from a mix of excitement and vigilance.

"Master, will this speech of mine really work?" he murmured in his heart.

"What are you afraid of!" Lin Yu's voice rang in his mind, with a tone of exasperation. "You are now the top scholar, a potential stock! A high-quality asset that Zhou Wenhai loves to invest in! We are not going to beg him; we are delivering political achievements and silver to him! You must show the Aura of a project manager!"

Lin Yu's inner thoughts, however, were wailing: "Heavens, this is the County School Supervisor, a genuine official. Su Ming is only fourteen. What if this kid says the wrong thing and gets dragged out for a beating? My remnant soul can't handle such a fright!"

Su Ming took a deep breath, suppressing the chaotic thoughts in his mind.

He could feel that although Zhou Yulin's words were polite, there was an inherent composure and sense of detachment, characteristic of a scion of a prominent Family, in his demeanor as he walked.

The study door was ajar.

Zhou Yulin stepped forward and gently knocked three times.

"Father, Su Ming has arrived."

"Come in."

A steady voice came from inside the door, not loud, but seemingly carrying weight, striking one's heart.

Zhou Yulin pushed open the door and made a 'please' gesture.

Su Ming stepped inside.

A strong scent of ink mixed with the aroma of aged wood assailed him.

This study was simpler than he had imagined. There were no luxurious furnishings; the four walls were lined with bookshelves reaching the beams, packed with countless scrolls and volumes. The only light source came from a carved wooden window, through which the afternoon sun slanted, casting a column of light in the air, where tiny dust motes could be seen swirling.

Behind the desk sat a middle-aged man in a dark scholar's robe.

He was Zhou Wenhai.