Chapter 52: Holding the Abacus and Controlling the Stakes

When Zhang Yunyi decided to head to Phoenix Manor to make things difficult for Yang Can, Yang Can was resting leisurely in the guest quarters.

Over the past few days, in order to develop the curved-shaft plow, he had been working industriously from dawn till dusk. Now that the mission was accomplished, treating himself a little was hardly unreasonable.

"Master... Steward, I heard that word has gotten out and people are coming to stealthily learn the design of your new plow. What should we do?"

Qingmei walked in briskly, carrying two plates of fruit. Ever since her trip back up the mountain and receiving the "imperial edict" from Su Chanzhi, the last bit of knot in Qingmei's heart had unraveled. Her attitude and feelings toward Yang Can had changed significantly.

The two plates of fruit consisted of fuzzy cherries on one and mulberries on the other. Both were seasonal fresh fruits, washed pristine with well water and placed before Yang Can on the table.

Qingmei felt deeply indignant toward those who had rushed here to copy the manufacturing of the new plow. That was her family's property!

Yang Can smiled and said, "This kind of farming tool is not mystical. It didn't exist before simply because no one had thought of it, not because it couldn't be made. Now that it is out there in the fields, any skilled craftsman who takes a careful look will figure out how to forge it. Naturally, it cannot be kept a secret."

Unreconciled, Qingmei asked, "Then what should we do? Are we just going to let these people take advantage of us for free?"

"Where in the world are there unearned benefits?" Yang Can chuckled. "Among the Eight Great Clans of Longshang, the Yu family holds the most arable land. Once everyone has the same farming advantage, the Yu family's superiority remains unchanged. As for the two great empires of the Central Plains, hehe..."

Yang Can raised an eyebrow. "Which of their two countries benefits more—what does that have to do with me?"

Qingmei pondered and realized there was indeed no way to stop it. Discouraged, she picked up a mulberry and popped it into her mouth. The sweet taste quickly permeated her heart, and her crystal-clear lips were stained a pale purple.

Yang Can continued, "Even if it spreads to the Central Plains, it will still be called the 'Yang Can Plow.' Although my person has not traveled to the Central Plains, my name is already known to everyone there. Is there not the slightest benefit in this for me?"

Hearing this, Qingmei brightened up again. Joyfully, she picked up a mulberry and rewarded Yang Can by feeding it to him. "Fine then... With this great achievement, you have enough to firmly establish yourself in the Yu family, right? That man surnamed Zhang—do we still need to deal with him?"

"That is a completely different matter." Yang Can waved his hand. "By utilizing the promotion of the new plow to spread my reputation, I will have even more confidence in dealing with Zhang Yunyi. As for how to go about it..."

Yang Can paused for a moment, then, mimicking the Old Stepmother of the Golden Horned King from *Journey to the West*, he drawled out in a long tone, "Where has our Accountant Li gotten with checking the accounts?"

***

Li Damu was still conscientiously "checking the accounts."

He had strictly forbidden anyone to disturb him while he audited the books, a rule everyone was already well aware of. Therefore, the area outside the accounting room was dead silent, as everyone feared angering this "Imperial Envoy."

On the wide desk inside the room, numerous ledger books were piled up in disorder. Nearby, tea, dried fruits, and candied preserves rested on a tall three-legged stand. Against the wall stood a wide armchair, its soft cushion already shoved up against the backrest.

The petite and exquisite maiden, Xiao Tan, was currently curled up naked in the large armchair. At this moment, she looked just like the ledgers on the desk—utterly scrambled and in disarray. Her broken, murmuring sounds flowed like the babbling water in the courtyard's running-water pond.

"Master Li, not here... If someone were to see us, I would truly die of shame..."

"Rest assured, this is the vital sanctuary where Li audits the accounts. Without being summoned, who would dare to enter?" Li Damu cast a sidelong glance, brimming with heroic spirit.

"Master Li, Steward Yang requests your presence."

A robust voice suddenly rang out from the courtyard, startling Li Damu out of his wits. Inside the accounting room, a flurry of absolute chaos immediately ensued...

***

Within the space of a cup of tea, Li Damu walked out looking impeccably dressed, though his face bore an unnatural flush.

"Ahem! Master... Steward, is there something you need me for?" Accountant Li asked breathlessly as he approached the Su family guard who had delivered the message. The rules he had set here simply did not apply in front of the trusted guard of the young mistress.

"Indeed, Master Li, please come with me." The guard glanced at Li Damu with a hint of oddity, though he did not suspect why auditing accounts could make someone both exhilarated and exhausted.

Li Damu licked his dry lips and glanced back. Xiao Tan, naked and clutching her clothes, poked her head out from behind the door to look at him before quickly shutting it. Only then did Li Damu follow the guard away with peace of mind.

When Li Damu hurried to Yang Can's quarters, he found Zhang Yunyi, Qingmei, and the eldest young master of the Zhang family all present.

As soon as Zhang Yunyi saw Li Damu arrive, he smiled and said, "Master Li is here too. I was just about to send someone to inform you."

Li Damu cast a swift glance at Yang Can and feigned composure. "I wonder what instructions the Manor Lord has?"

Zhang Yunyi smiled genially. "I was just telling Steward Yang that the spring plowing at Feng'an Manor is progressing very smoothly, especially now with the new plow developed by Master Yang. I plan to take a trip to Phoenix Manor to report the situation here to the Clan Head. This trip will delay me by at most two days. During the time I am away from the manor, if Steward Yang, Master Li, or Lady Qingmei require anything, you may have my unworthy son assist you."

The Young Master Zhang cupped his hands toward the three of them. "If the three of you need anything, please feel free to command."

Yang Can smiled. "These past few days, I have been busy developing the new plow and have grown somewhat fatigued. I am planning to rest for a couple of days now anyway. Manor Lord, if you have matters to attend to, please go ahead."

Zhang Yunyi smiled at Yang Can, cupped his hands, and said, "In that case, I will take my leave."

As Zhang Yunyi turned to leave, he cast a meaningful glance at Li Damu. Accountant Li knew this was Zhang Yunyi asking him to show extra care and discretion. Naturally, when a blooming young woman actively threw herself into the arms of an old man like him, he had to pay a price. He had known this from the very beginning; driven by lust, one's self-control easily faltered.

Now that Steward Yang had just invented the curved-shaft plow and was at the height of his pride and satisfaction, he presumably summoned him merely to inquire routinely about the auditing progress, right?

Li Damu comforted himself with this thought, figuring that when Steward Yang asked, he would simply fob him off with some minor, inconsequential discrepancies.

This was Zhang Yunyi's estate, and Yang Can and his companions were guests; naturally, there was no reason to escort the host all the way out to the main gate. Therefore, the three of them only walked the father and son to the courtyard entrance. As they watched the two leave, the smile on Yang Can's face instantly vanished.

"Let's go back. I have a few words for Master Li." With that, Yang Can turned and walked away first.

Seeing the sudden change in his expression, Li Damu felt a sense of trepidation in his heart.

Returning to the main hall, Li Damu cautiously took a seat and forced a smile. "Did the Steward call me here because you have instructions?"

Before Yang Can could reply, Qingmei impatiently chimed in, "Zhang Yunyi is about to leave the manor. Shall I make arrangements?"

Yang Can nodded. "Do not take his life, but make sure to bring him back in one piece."

"Don't worry, I'll handle it personally." Qingmei flashed Yang Can a proud, coquettish smile, her chin held high. In front of Yang Can, she had finally found something she was better at than him. Compared to this weakling of a scholar, this young lady was quite formidable indeed.

Qingmei fluttered out like a butterfly, while Accountant Li's expression changed drastically. Judging from the meaning of their conversation, were they planning to move against Zhang Yunyi?

Without giving him time to overthink, Yang Can smiled genially and said, "Master Li?"

"Ah? Your humble subordinate is here."

"Heh, men will be men. As long as it was consensual between the two of you, this petty matter of yours is not something this Steward cares to bicker over."

"Ah? What? The Steward means..." Li Damu stammered, his aged face flushing crimson.

Without lingering on the topic, Yang Can continued, "In checking the accounts of Feng'an Manor these past few days, have you had any findings?"

"Um..." Li Damu hesitated, wanting to blurt out the few minor discoveries he had prepared in advance to brush him off.

Fixating on Li Damu's somewhat evasive gaze, Yang Can enunciated clearly, word by word: "Just speak casually—for instance, that batch of 3,400 piculs of grain in Feng'an Manor last autumn that vanished into thin air compared to the actual harvest?"

"Thud!"

Accountant Li performed a "sliding kneel," instantly shifting from sitting in his chair to kneeling flat on the floor. With fluid, practiced grace, he fished a notebook out of his sleeve and presented it respectfully with both hands.

"Steward Yang, this is what your humble subordinate has uncovered during my audit over these past few days. Please examine it, my Lord!"

Are you kidding me? Yang Can had not only named the exact time but even stated the precise amount—if he didn't kneel now, when would he?

Manor Lord Zhang, it's not that your brother here didn't want to cover for you! This Steward Yang is as cunning as a ghost; when it comes to the two of us, it's every man for himself!

The lightning-fast speed of Li Damu's reaction startled even Yang Can. He had deliberately let Li Damu see Qingmei setting out to capture Zhang Yunyi, and intentionally dropped a hint about an accounting loophole, all to shatter any illusions remaining in Li Damu's mind.

Yet, Li Damu hadn't even put up the slightest struggle before kneeling so magnificently...

This... what a talent! Yang Can couldn't help but marvel.

In truth, the world had never lacked for talent. Among the civil and military officials under Liu Bang, how many had come from Pei County alone? And what were their humble origins back then?

Fan Kuai, a butcher.
Zhou Bo, a bamboo weaver and funeral piper.
Xiahou Ying, a groom.
Xiao He, a minor clerk.
Ren Ao, a jailer...

Did the supreme geomantic luck for emperors and generals all concentrate in Pei County?

Of course not. Given sufficient opportunity and room to grow, many ordinary people possessed the potential to become statesmen of a well-ordered age. It was simply that most people in this world never got that chance.

If Yang Can hadn't happened to encounter Yu Chengye, who was poisoned by an arrow, he would still be out herding cattle at this time—where could he possibly deploy any real talent? Playing the lute to a cow?

Given this context, Li Damu's decisive judgment was hardly surprising.

Yang Can carefully read through the notebook presented by Accountant Li, a smile dawning on his face. The accounts were laid out very clearly, and it looked as though it had been prepared well in advance.

Closing the notebook and pondering for a moment, Yang Can said, "Li Damu."

Accountant Li was still kneeling on the ground. Hearing this, he hurriedly kowtowed. "Your humble subordinate is here."

Yang Can stated, "The person who directly handled these accounts is not Zhang Yunyi himself." He handed the notebook back and continued, "Take this back and organize it properly."

Perplexed, Li Damu asked, "What does the Steward wish for me to... organize?"

Yang Can instructed, "Compile a list of everyone involved in these crimes. Order them according to their degree of closeness or distance to Zhang Yunyi, as well as their status and rank, and list them out one by one!"