Chapter 492: Calculation
Chapter 492: Chapter 492: Calculation
Xu Zitian felt truly exhausted. It was no wonder their master refused to officially take Wu Xingshun as a disciple—just look at his lack of comprehension. Still, Wu Xingshun had endured hardships to accompany him here, showing genuine dedication.
"I told you, that’s their capability. If you were in their shoes, what would you do?" Xu Zitian asked.
Wu Xingshun didn’t even think before blurting out, "Then I would also lower the prices a bit."
"What if people still think your prices are too high? Can you keep dropping them until you hit rock bottom?" Xu Zitian countered.
"I’d at least need to break even," Wu Xingshun replied.
"It’s the exact same logic," Xu Zitian said, pointing at the queue ahead. "There is only so much silver to go around. Yet, with all the patients in the world, not even His Majesty would dare make such a promise..."
Bai Suihe might be a legitimate daughter of the Bai Family, but even the Bai Family wouldn’t dare set such a precedent here. Who did Wu Xingshun think he was to speak so carelessly?
Wu Xingshun finally understood, his face instantly flushing red. "I didn’t think that far ahead. I just figured that with so few people, waiving the medicine fees..."
He didn’t have the courage to say the second half of his thought out loud—that it wouldn’t affect the Gu Family. If they waived the fees for these people, even more commoners would come begging at their door. He had been far too naive.
"Think before you speak from now on. It’s fine for us to discuss this privately, but saying such things elsewhere will not only offend people but also make you a laughingstock.
"Don’t underestimate this free clinic of theirs. It allows ordinary commoners to take preventative measures for their health and discover minor ailments so they can intervene early.
"Just doing this builds immense merit. We still fall short in many ways," Xu Zitian concluded.
With that, Xu Zitian turned and walked away. Even Bai Suihe, a woman of the inner chambers, could accomplish this and handle matters personally.
As the local magistrate, he felt he wasn’t doing enough. He needed to go back and think carefully about how to improve the lives of the people in this county.
Wu Xingshun hurried to catch up. "Zitian, I was wrong. You can’t tell the other disciples about this."
Although he hadn’t been officially accepted, he was still an honorary disciple. If the others found out, he would definitely be buried in extra coursework.
"Then focus on your work and your studies. I expect you to never make such baseless remarks again," Xu Zitian said.
"I promise," Wu Xingshun said, breathing a sigh of relief. "But there’s one more thing I haven’t told you, Zitian."
Xu Zitian stopped in his tracks. "What did you do this time?"
"I swear it wasn’t intentional," Wu Xingshun said, licking his lips. "Didn’t Gu Kaiyuan ask our clerks to go over and help out today?"
"That did happen, and I approved it." Xu Zitian stared sharply at him. "Did you cause trouble for them?"
"No, no," Wu Xingshun said, hastily waving his hands. "I just told the clerks that since they were going out of their way to provide a service, they should charge a little extra as a convenience fee."
Seeing Xu Zitian glare at him, he didn’t dare pause. "But I didn’t take a cut! I just thought the men work too hard and have too much to do. Charging a little extra could pay for a better meal for everyone.
"They really didn’t overcharge much—just a few extra taels of silver. I’ve already sent someone to buy more meat so we can have a feast tomorrow."
"However much extra they took, you will cover it out of your own pocket tomorrow. Since you want to treat the men to a better meal, you should do your part." Returning the money was out of the question, but Xu Zitian needed to teach Wu Xingshun a lesson so he wouldn’t act on his own authority again. "We still have to stay here for a few years, and I want to achieve some tangible political results. I have high hopes for Gu Kaiyuan, so don’t cause trouble for me."
Xu Zitian’s tone grew colder. "Who have you been associating with lately?"
Given Wu Xingshun’s personality and Xu Zitian’s own guidance, he shouldn’t have been this bold.
"Those few newly arrived families from the capital. They’ve invited me out for a few drinks, but I haven’t promised them anything." Wu Xingshun knew his limits. No matter how much those people flattered him, he had kept his head clear.
"During those gatherings, did you discuss the Gu Family’s affairs?"
"How did you know?" Wu Xingshun asked dismissively. "We just chatted about it casually. Everyone was envying Gu Kaiyuan’s good luck and wondering if the Bai Family had received some inside information beforehand."
He didn’t realize that as he spoke, his tone betrayed his own envy and even a hint of hostility.
Xu Zitian stared at him intently. "What does that have to do with you? Whether he relies on the Bai Family or his own abilities, that is the Gu Family’s business.
"Those families are eyeing Gu Kaiyuan right now. Why else do you think Gu Kaiyuan liquidated his properties?
"Ultimately, it’s because Gu Kaiyuan doesn’t trust us. He was afraid he wouldn’t be able to protect his businesses, so he reluctantly gave them up.
"They said those things in front of you, and you didn’t think twice about it?"
Wu Xingshun’s brain finally caught up. "Are you saying they want to use me to deal with Gu Kaiyuan?"
"You think too highly of yourself," Xu Zitian said, rolling his eyes. "Everyone knows our relationship. They’re likely coming after me.
"If you target Gu Kaiyuan, it reflects my stance. How do you think the merchants across all of Zhang County would perceive that?
"Then, those families could pull some strings, stir up trouble, and swoop in to pick up the pieces.
"If they’re lucky and play their cards right, they could even have their own people replace him. By then, you could pack your bags, go back with me, and beg for our master’s forgiveness."
The main issue was that this county’s location was far too strategic. It connected all of Lingnan. Anyone looking to sink their teeth into the lucrative market of Lingnan would inevitably have to go through Zhang County.
He had analyzed this with Wu Xingshun before, and the man had eagerly agreed at the time. To think that after just a few drinking sessions, his resolve had wavered again. It seemed he needed to be sent back to the drawing board for more discipline.
A cold sweat broke out on Wu Xingshun’s forehead. "It... it shouldn’t be that serious, right?"
Despite his words, he already believed it. After all, Zitian had never lied to him.
While he wasn’t as smart or talented as Xu Zitian, he wasn’t a fool either. Looking back at those tea sessions and banquets, they seemed like casual chats, but upon closer thought, the clues were all there.
Those people had been intentionally or unintentionally leading him on, with Gu Kaiyuan being a key part of their scheme. That explained why he had felt lately that Gu Kaiyuan shouldn’t monopolize such a massive market so soon after arriving...
Most importantly, Wu Xingshun himself had bought a few small shops. Lured by cheap prices, he hadn’t bothered to check their specific locations. He hadn’t managed to sell them yet, and no one had come asking to rent them.
Because of this, he harbored a grudge against Gu Kaiyuan and his wife.
"Think carefully about whether it’s that serious or not." Xu Zitian said no more and ignored him. For the past few years, he had worked diligently and finally earned a bit of trust from the people of Zhang County. Lingnan was currently in a prime stage of development, which was a golden opportunity for his career. He couldn’t let minor oversights ruin everything.
Before leaving, he added, "I think you need to stay in the manor and clear your head for a while. Stay away from the county office for now."
Wu Xingshun opened his mouth but couldn’t find the words. After a long pause, he took a deep breath and hurried after him.