Chapter 41: "Erecting the Golden Beam"!

Amidst this bustling, fiery atmosphere, it took just a little over four days to complete a project that would have taken an ordinary household at least ten days. Thanks to Li Yuanjing’s ‘supernatural abilities,’ the grand task was finished smoothly.

As the factory buildings and other basic facilities were successively completed and dried with fire, six weaving looms were also ready. The first batch of female textile workers from Quanzi Village, led by Xiugu, moved in and began their official work.

During this agricultural slack season, the news ignited the villagers’ enthusiasm once again—especially among the women. After all, working for Li Yuanjing not only meant three meals a day but also three copper coins paid daily and in cash. What kind of fortune was this if not a windfall from the heavens?

At noon, seeing Xiugu and the other five women—the first to start work—being served fish soup and even some tender fish meat for lunch, the onlooking women could hardly contain themselves. They rushed to find Yuniang, crying and begging for a chance to work there too.

Yuniang, never having seen such a commotion, instinctively wanted to seek help from her brother. Unfortunately, Li Yuanjing was away at the time, taking Zhang Kun and several strong young men to Tieniu Town to purchase goods, leaving Yuniang to hold the fort herself.

Fortunately, with the help of Chen Chunyan, Yuniang soon steadied herself and assured the crowd that she would report the matter to her brother as soon as possible.

This instantly raised Yuniang’s standing among the women, who praised her fortune and called her ‘Yuniang, so blessed!’ Among them were some who had seen a bit more of the world, and they soon began to shout, ‘Madam is kind and virtuous!’

This sparked a new wave of excitement as many started addressing Yuniang as ‘Madam.’ Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment and pride.

She had never imagined that one day—she, Yuniang—would be called ‘Madam’ by so many familiar faces from her own village.

Despite her nervousness, excitement, and the flutter in her heart, Yuniang quickly composed herself, straightened her back, and set her face in a serious expression. She was, after all, her brother’s representative now—how could she let him lose face?

…

While Li Yuanjing’s household in Quanzi Village was alive with activity, Li Yuanjing himself was in Tieniu Town with Zhang Kun and seven or eight men he’d selected after careful consideration, purchasing all manner of goods.

They had bought not only large quantities of grain, meat, and brown sugar but also raw hemp for weaving, some secondhand clothes, oilcloth, and paper—filling six handcarts to the brim.

Li Yuanjing was generous with his men; for lunch, he ordered a large table full of dishes and several jugs of wine at a local restaurant. The men, faces flushed with excitement, felt so grateful they could have sold their very souls to Li Yuanjing.

And yet, even as he joked and laughed with his men, Li Yuanjing’s eyes kept darting toward the door. He was waiting for news from Zhang Kun.

It had been five or six days since he dealt with ‘One Blade’ Feng Er, and though the Murong family had left Feng County and the autumn taxes at Quanzi Village were settled, Tieniu Town remained eerily quiet. The lack of any movement left Li Yuanjing uneasy, so he’d come in person to investigate.

His caution was not unwarranted. In the past few days, he had learned more about ‘Bridge of Gold’ Feng Da, and his vigilance had reached its peak.

The nickname ‘Bridge of Gold’ might sound a bit foolish, but in the underworld, it was a mark of great respect—much like ‘Timely Rain’ Song Jiang in the classic tale Water Margin. To earn such a moniker, one had to be not just formidable, but also capable of helping others at critical moments, earning the recognition of those who mattered.

Simply put, with a nickname like ‘Bridge of Gold’ in the underworld, even the bigwigs in the county seat would have to show some respect—because the connections behind Feng Da might well surpass their own.

Having killed the younger brother of such a person, how could Li Yuanjing not be on his guard?

Just as he was growing impatient and most of the food was already gone, Zhang Kun finally returned.

Everyone stood up at once to greet Zhang Kun respectfully. He was held in high regard, not only because he had returned from the battlefields of Liaodong and had blood on his hands, but also because he was Li Yuanjing’s first hired man and enjoyed his deep trust.

As Zhang Kun exchanged pleasantries with the men, he subtly shook his head at Li Yuanjing.

Li Yuanjing’s hopes were instantly dashed, as if doused with cold water.

After Zhang Kun had eaten a few bites, Li Yuanjing smiled and said, “I need to use the privy. You all eat and drink to your heart’s content.”

The men responded respectfully. Li Yuanjing signaled Zhang Kun with his eyes, settled the bill, and made his way to the privy.

Zhang Kun quickly followed, closed the door behind them, and whispered, “Master, I’ve asked seven or eight acquaintances here—nothing from the Xue family these past days. It seems that after Xue the Benevolent returned from Quanzi Village, he went straight to the county town. No idea what for…”

Hearing this, Li Yuanjing’s frown deepened. This old fox Xue the Benevolent really knew how to play his cards. Now, almost all the pressure had shifted to him!

Seeing Li Yuanjing’s sour expression, Zhang Kun quickly offered comfort in a low voice: “Master, you needn’t worry too much. Perhaps Xue the Benevolent had other matters in town… Besides, the man was thrown out just days ago—his brother might be too busy to care.”

Li Yuanjing let out a long breath, forced a smile, and replied, “Brother Zhang, don’t worry—I know what’s at stake. But we must be doubly cautious!”

“Understood!” Zhang Kun nodded firmly, his respect for Li Yuanjing growing even deeper. Now that he knew both the Murong family and Zhao Bingchun held Li Yuanjing in high regard, he swore to himself: Even if things take a turn for the worse, he, Zhang Kun, would risk his life to protect his master.

…

Li Yuanjing already had a plan to deal with Xue the Benevolent and Feng Da—he hoped to muddy the waters and set them against each other. But Xue the Benevolent’s decision to ‘withdraw’ so cleanly left Li Yuanjing feeling as though he’d punched nothing but air—his strength had nowhere to land.

Yet this also made him more composed. The ancients might not have had his breadth of experience, but their understanding of human nature, the rules of the game, and their mastery of intrigue were likely no less than his own.

All Li Yuanjing could do now was comfort himself, hold his patience, and adopt a ‘if the enemy moves not, I move not’ approach.

Leaving the restaurant, Li Yuanjing was about to call everyone back to Quanzi Village when a commotion broke out ahead. Mixed with the laughter of men and the curses of women, it was not the kind of spectacle Li Yuanjing liked to join. He was about to tell Zhang Kun to leave when, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a sign revealed through a gap in the crowd caused by the commotion.

The sign read: “Selling Myself to Bury My Father.”

Li Yuanjing’s eyes narrowed. He called out, “Zhuzi, you lot watch over our things. Brother Zhang, come with me.”

“Alright!” they replied.

A few of the men pushed the carts to the side of the road to keep watch, while Zhang Kun followed Li Yuanjing to the edge of the crowd.