Chapter 47: Ordinary Genius

Chapter 47: Ordinary Genius

He left, he left, waving his sleeves, not taking a single cloud with him, leaving behind only a pale card.

Sun Shun covered his tearful left eye, the stinging sensation in his socket gradually numbing, and he couldn't help but scream in terror, "Ahh! I'm blind! I'm blind!"

As he wailed, he stumbled blindly towards Zhang Wenbo.

Zhang Wenbo hastily tucked the pale card into his chest, quickly maneuvering— even if your eyes were exploded, you wouldn't snatch my color card!

Sun Shun lunged into thin air, but like a headless fly, he was collectively muffled by several lackeys who covered his mouth, pressed his head down, and dragged him away to the clinic.

Beside the Wuxi River, the spring breeze started its journey from east to west anew.

The crowd, having recovered from their shock at "Qiao the Great Scholar" throwing punches, the merchant who had spoken up for Xianjin earlier led the praise, "…Able in both literature and martial arts, able in both! Young Master Qiao is truly a prodigy of Jing County!"

What a goddamn combination of literature and martial arts…

"Yes, yes! Didn't you notice how graceful Qiao the Scholar's punching stance was? His horse stance was solid, it's clear he has some child training under his belt."

What a goddamn graceful stance…

"That guy deserved it! Even if Qiao the Great Scholar hadn't acted, I was ready to step in!"

What a goddamn Monday morning quarterback…

Three black lines crossed Xianjin's forehead.

Sun Shun, the beaten one, ran west, while the scholar who beat him ran east, and the crowd gradually quieted down.

Xianjin cleared her throat, refocusing everyone's attention, and made an imperfect bow, saying loudly, "…I am deeply honored by all of your presence, closing your doors and windows to come and support our Chen Ji Paper Shop. I especially thank Uncle for stepping in to help. Little He is immensely grateful. If you come to Chen Ji to buy paper, everything will be at eighty percent of the actual price, the remaining twenty percent as a sincere token of my gratitude."

She then turned to face the front, defining the nature of this farce, "…Our Jing County has always been prosperous in commerce, and Nanzhili is even more splendidly thriving. Misunderstandings in business are common occurrences."

"It's just that this Sun scholar from Qingcheng Mountain Courtyard spoke too harshly, insulting my birth mother and defaming my stepfather. As a child, I must hold a grudge against him, a feud that cannot be reconciled, a sky we cannot share!"

Xianjin pointed three fingers to the sky, solemnly swearing, "From now on, our Chen Ji will no longer do any business with that Sun scholar. If I violate this, may Little He be punished by heaven!"

You're just a buyer, not my mother!

When someone insults you to your face, Xianjin clenched her fists in her sleeves, and if Qiao Hui hadn't suddenly rushed out, she would have swung a punch at his face— in this era, filial piety was paramount. If you publicly mocked someone's parents, they could hit you in the face lightly, and even if you took it to the magistrate's office, the county elder could only punish both sides equally.

At most, Sun Shun might carry a scholar's halo, and the county elder would order him to pay some compensation— still, they would have to consider the face of Chen Ji. Who didn't have scholars in their family? The hope star of the Chen family was much more promising than Sun Shun!

But Qiao Hui rushed out.

Xianjin subtly glanced to the east, where Qiao Hui's figure was no longer visible, leaving only a small arched bridge made of white bricks.

Xianjin pursed her lips, turning to look at Zhang Wenbo, who was listening intently, collected herself, and smiled, "However, after this farce, the first 'blind bag' five-color card collector of our Chen Ji Paper Industry has emerged— congratulations to our Qingcheng Mountain Courtyard's scholar Zhang Wenbo!"

The enthusiastic Wang Suo'er raised his hands above his head, leading everyone in applause.

Unrelated to themselves, the onlookers clapped half-heartedly.

Xianjin raised her voice, emphasizing, "After using the five-color card to exchange for the corresponding paper, he will also receive a sheet of exquisite six-zhang xuan paper, specially produced by Chen Ji!"

Six-zhang xuan paper!

Is it really six-zhang xuan paper?!

After the passing of Master Li Laozhang of Chen Ji, the dozens of paper workshops of various sizes in Jing County had not seen the emergence of six-zhang xuan paper for three or four years!

In the past two years, each workshop still had old stock, and when the imperial court sent people to collect tributes, they could still contribute one or two sheets. But in the last couple of years, the stockpiles of each workshop had been depleted, and the imperial court had gradually turned to Fujian and other places to purchase rare paper as tributes— Jing County itself relied on the paper industry to prosper, and this situation had a significant impact on Jing County.

Now hearing about the re-emergence of six-zhang xuan paper, the onlookers couldn't help but be invigorated!

"Has Chen Ji really made six-zhang xuan paper again?"

A paper workshop master, there to watch the commotion, asked loudly.

Xianjin smiled without speaking, turning to Zhang Wenbo, "Scholar Zhang, do you want to redeem the six-zhang xuan paper?"

Zhang Wenbo, his face flushed, nodded fiercely.

Yes, collecting cards was for happiness.

But if there was six-zhang xuan paper, wouldn't happiness double?

Receiving an affirmative answer, Xianjin raised her head and announced loudly, "Chen Ji will soon burn incense, bathe, and choose an auspicious day to deliver the six-zhang xuan paper to your door!"

Zhang Wenbo rubbed his little hands, indicating great anticipation.

Everyone dispersed with the sound of her voice.

Three days later, the old yellow calendar indicated it was suitable for "sacrifices, bathing, medical treatment, marriage, and contract establishment," in short, suitable for all matters.

After the rooster crowed, four young, strong lads emerged from Chen Ji's shop one after another. The lads wore uniform white linen vests, revealing their bronze-colored, muscular physiques. On their shoulders, they carried a pole connected to a twenty-meter-long wooden board, on which lay a brand new bamboo curtain, draped over with a layer of gold-dusted red gauze. Several pure red silk ribbons were tied into a large red flower knot.

Manager Dong got up extra early today, slicking back the few surviving strands of hair on his head with lard, donning the red silk robe he wore on his wedding day, holding a suona, and standing at the entrance of Chen Ji, he puffed up his cheeks and blew a long, loud note!

With the suona's sound, all other music faded into the background.

Following closely, two other muscular lads pounded the drums fiercely!

The entire Shuixi Street was filled with liveliness.

Merchants stood at their doorways, poking their heads out to observe Chen Ji.

Before long, they saw this bright red procession marching towards Qingcheng Mountain Courtyard, with Manager Dong standing at the front, shouting loudly, "Chen Ji respectfully invites Scholar Zhang Wenbo to unveil the announcement!"

Behind him, six strapping young men gathered their qi in their dantians, shouting with earth-shaking vigor, "Chen Ji Paper Shop respectfully invites Scholar Zhang Wenbo to unveil the proclamation!"

Just after the morning session at the mountain academy had ended, a crowd quickly gathered at the entrance, and when Zhang Wenbo poked his head out of curiosity, he was pushed to the very front!

Steward Dong, smiling, tucked his suona into his waistband and presented Zhang Wenbo with a long pole with both hands, respectfully inviting him, "Please unveil the proclamation!"

All eyes were fixed on him, burning with anticipation.

A flush of intense vanity spread across Zhang Wenbo's cheeks as his heart raced and his hands trembled. He fumbled to untie the red silk ribbon that held the knot, revealing a vast sheet of paper, smooth and warm, with clear veins and a faint yellow hue, almost the size of the average student dormitory at the mountain academy.

The onlookers spontaneously exclaimed in awe.

The joy from successfully collecting the cards, the pride of being lavishly pampered by Chen Ji's ceremonial treatment, all transformed into genuine, heartfelt admiration for this ancient craft that had been passed down through the centuries.

On the high platform of the mountain academy, Qiao Shanchang stroked his upturned beard and spoke softly, "In the era of Xia, Shang, Yin, Zhou, commerce began. In ancient times, people stood on copper coins, without which they could not function, but with which they gained profit. History shows us that when commerce thrives, so do the state and the nation; when it declines, so do they. This is the beginning of the way of commerce..."

Whenever his words were read aloud in his presence, Qiao Hui felt a sense of embarrassment...

Listening to his father recite the principles of commerce that he himself had written, Qiao Hui discreetly looked away.

Qiao Shanchang recited the opening lines, then pointed with one hand towards Zhang Wenbo, who was flushed with excitement at the foot of the steps. Recalling the origin of the last color card, he couldn't help but marvel, "The current owner of Chen Ji is indeed very clever."

Qiao Hui pursed his lips.

Very clever?

It was alright.

Let's just say she's averagely clever.