Ch. 441..445: The Princess of Northern Land Chapter 441-445

Chapter 441: Chapter 441: Contest (4)_1

"Mr. Ma, I really can’t help you." Avoidance was no longer an option, so Lou Zheng had no choice but to steel himself and speak up first.

"Lou Zheng, you are the most warm-hearted and upright person in the village. I know that what the Ma Family did in the past was unjust. Haven’t I already apologized to the Lin Family multiple times? You see, we are all villagers, always coming across each other. Surely we can’t let our conflict with the Lin Family turn into a genuine feud, right?" Mr. Ma started pleading vehemently. "Zhou Family used to bully the Lin Family severely, yet the Lin Family forgave them. I assure you, if the Lin Family is willing to accept me as a worker, I will give it my all and will never have divided loyalties. My wife is a hand full, I will never let her cause trouble for the Lin Family."

In order to secure work at the Lin Family, Mr. Ma was willing to sell out the Yan Family.

"Ziyin is quite busy these days, I can’t find a chance to see her. If you are truly inclined, it would be better if you went to her yourself." Lou Zheng reluctantly declined.

"Before even that, I need to be able to enter the Lin Family’s front door. Lou Zheng, can you put in a good word for me, considering our village ties?" Mr. Ma pleaded, trying to appeal to his sense of familiarity.

"I have an entire family relying on me. The young master in the city has a gambling habit and sold off our shop. I am idle at home anyway. I could help the Lin family with their bookkeeping. I do have some experience."

"The Lin Family does not take kindly to the Ma Family. Even my father cannot help you." Lou Zheng was uncomfortable, but Wu Erli had no qualms in bluntly rejecting the request.

"I understand that. But still, I would like to ask Lou Zheng for a favor." Mr. Ma said with a smile.

Seeing his thick skin, Wu Erli and Lou Zheng did not know what to do. They reluctantly agreed to try and talk to Lin Ziyin for him.

"Thank you, Lou Zheng. I’ll wait to hear from you at home." Seeing Lou Zheng finally relent, Mr. Ma flattered him some more.

"Alright, you don’t need to thank me. I am only agreeing to relay a message for you. Whether it works or not, it’ll depend on Ziyin." Lou Zheng replied, a little annoyed.

"Of course. No matter what the result is, I’ll remember your kindness, Lou Zheng." Mr. Ma responded with a smile.

Wu Erli and others around him sneered at his words. With the Ma family’s character, they wouldn’t remember anyone’s kindness. They thought that once Mr. Ma was admitted to the Lin family’s workshop, he would soon forget about Lou Zheng’s help.

However, people didn’t bother to indulge him further in his petty demeanor, shaking their heads and walking away.

Mr. Ma, encouraged by Lou Zheng’s promise, cheerfully returned home. He was not particularly worried about not getting into the Lin Family’s factory. After all, with the expansion of the Lin family’s business, they were definitely in urgent need of shopkeepers and managers. Looking around Shili Village, he knew there were few people as literate and capable in accounting as he was. He scoffed at the thought of Lin Family’s servants surpassing him. In Daqin, there were clear social hierarchies, with the lowest rank given to those who were marked on the forehead as servants. He was certain the Lin Family wouldn’t trust their accounts to mere servants.

After mulling over it for some time, Mr. Ma returned home almost certain of his joyous fate.

"Zhicai, you must be feeling better now that you’ve been out for a few days?" As soon as he got home, he noticed his son Ma Zhicai was back as well.

Ma Zhicai’s face was dark, without a trace of a smile, looking as if everyone owed him money.

"Since you are back, you should concentrate on your studies. I refuse to believe that with your intelligence, you can’t become a Scholar." Mr. Ma’s smiling face turned grim.

"What good is intelligence?" Ma Zhicai retorted with a sneer, "As long as the Lin Family exists, don’t expect me to pass the Scholar examination."

Chapter 442: Chapter 442: Contest (5)_1

With that, he carried his bundle with a huff into his own house.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" He grumbled discontentedly at his house, "I have already asked someone to speak to the Lin Family on my behalf, and in a few days, I will be working as a manager in their workshop. You should simply stay at home and study. Why bother with other people’s nonsense? Also, when you come across people from the Lin Family in the future, don’t show me any attitude."

Inside the house, Ma Zhicai, lying on his bed and listening without response, his face was marked with anger. What was the point of studying hard? He saw right through the people of the Lin Family - a family that held grudges for even the smallest faults, particularly Lin Ziyin, who was petty-minded. With her around, he didn’t expect to turn his life around in this lifetime.

However, upon further thought, he felt that his father, Ma Dalang, was correct about one thing. To accomplish the task given by the Tatar, he still had to keep a low profile in Shili Village.

"Uncle Lou Zheng, did you really agree to speak on behalf of the Ma Family?" After Ma Zhicai left, someone came over to ask.

"What else can I do?" Wu Erli replied huffily, "He was persistent like a leech, refusing to let go. How could my father lose face?"

"Don’t get involved with the Ma Family. They are all troublemakers," somebody else advised with a laugh.

"I merely passed on the message. Whether it will succeed or not is not up to me. After all, Ziyin is not a fool." Lou Zheng took it in stride, with no real expectation that the Ma Family would remember his favor.

Everyone felt that Lou Zheng’s words were reasonable, and no one worried about him anymore.

True to his word, Lou Zheng took the opportunity to visit Lin Ziyin at the Lin’s residence at noon the next day.

"He wants to work as a manager in the workshop?" Lin Ziyin burst out laughing as soon as she heard. How face-worthy does Ma Dalang think he is, asking her for a manager’s position on the first request. He didn’t even bother to inquire properly. Even Lou Zheng is only a second-class minor manager now.

"Fine, if he wants to come, then I will give him a chance. It would save him from putting Uncle in a difficult position, and it would also prevent him from thinking that I am deliberately giving him a hard time."

"You really agreed?" Lou Zheng was taken aback by her readily agreeing, "Given Ma Dalang’s character, he is totally unsuitable to be a manager."

"Uncle just needs to tell him that if he wants to be a manager of the Lin Family, he must first compete with the managers of the workshop. If he wins, he can be a manager. If he loses, he should never step on the doorstep of the Lin Family again." Lin Ziyin stated her conditions indifferently. She wasn’t a saint. The villagers of Shili Village received her care mainly because they never really harmed the Lin Family, at most, they were a bit of a loudmouth. Secondly, due to the lack of manpower in the Northern Land, the workshop indeed needed a large number of workers. Purchased workers were usable, but the villagers were permanent residents of Shili Village. If these people are not properly placed, Lin Family’s running of the workshop always would inevitably encounter some troubles.

So rather than encountering troubles later, it is better to silence the people’s mouth now. Fortunately, her approach was feasible. Under the joint guidance of benefits and education, the villagers really managed to unite and work heartedly.

After all, they are working not just for the Lin Family, but also for their own considerable benefits. Everyone had an account in their hearts. Lin Ziyin was merely maximizing the utilization of benefits.

If Ma Dalang wanted a share of the pie, it depended on whether he had the ability or not.

Upon hearing Lin Ziyin’s words, Lou Zheng immediately laughed. Ma Dalang might not known about the strictness of the Lin Family’s account manager, but he did. In the school established by Lin Ziyin, not only could the village children go to study, but also adult villagers learned to read and calculate there.

Initially, everyone thought that learning to sum and read would be very difficult, but they didn’t expect Lin Ziyin’s method of teaching counting and account-keeping to be so simple and easy to understand. Now even the old ladies in the village could calculate some things, did Ma Dalang think his few days in the city could help him win? There was no chance.

Chapter 443: Chapter 443: Contest (6)_1

"Fine, I will tell him right away." Lou Zheng couldn’t wait to deliver the news to Ma Dalang, eager to see how upset he would be when he heard it.

When Ma Dalang got the news, he was so happy that his eyes were narrowed into slits. Assessment, heh, not boasting, but when it comes to accounting, even the Store Manager is not as good as him. Could the country bumpkins of the Lin Family stand a chance against him?

The news that Ma Dalang wants to apply for the manager position at Lin house through an assessment has quickly spread throughout the village.

"If Ma Dalang really becomes the manager of Lin Family, we are screwed." Zhou Dasheng said while frowning.

"He can win only in his dreams." Zhou Ming said disdainfully, "The Lin family’s accounting method is effective. Who does he think he is, this Ma Dalang?"

"Don’t underestimate Ma Dalang, he has been a second Shopkeeper in the city for over ten years. He does have some skills." Little Mrs. Pang was also somewhat worried. She had quarreled with Mrs. Yan twice and had become sworn enemies. If Ma Dalang became the manager, could the Zhou Family still have peaceful days?

"What are you all panicking for." Mrs. Pang glared coldly at her son and grandson, "The workshop belongs to the Lin surname, not the Ma, look at you, your lack of nerve."

Yes, no matter what, as long as they curry favour with the Lin Family, what have they to fear from the Ma Family doing anything? Little Mrs. Pang and Zhou Dasheng suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhou Ming and Zhou Fa, however, just shook their heads at their parents. This month, they worked as temporary workers at the Lin family house, and at night, they also secretly followed the young people in the village to learn. At first, they were just curious, and they found writing and arithmetic quite magical. After studying for a few nights, though, the two brothers actually started learning some things. At the very least, they easily picked up simple calculations.

Adults do learn more effectively than children. After tasting the sweetness of knowledge, Zhou Ming and Zhou Fa went to study every night, rain or shine. The villagers saw them being much more serious, and no one really bothered them. Thus, the two brothers openly became auditors.

"Lou Zheng, did Ma Dalang agree to it?" The villagers’ nature of loving excitement showed itself, and they all stared at him as he entered the gate of Ma’s house, waiting eagerly for Lou Zheng to come out.

To the villagers, Ma Dalang was a man of "ability" in the village. After all, he had been a second Shopkeeper in the city for many years, so it was impossible to do that without some skills. If Ma Dalang was willing to accept Lin Ziyin’s assessment, many people thought that they would like to see how capable Ma Dalang really was.

The villagers weren’t blind, and they understood some simple accounting. Ma Dalang’s real talent would be quite clear to them.

"Yes, he accepted." Seeing several people crowd around, Lou Zheng immediately responded with some annoyance, "I think the workshop isn’t giving you lot enough work, look at all of you, so idle you are restless, aren’t you?"

"No way." The crowd laughed in response, "We moved a lot of goods today, we were quite busy."

"We have tasks too."

...

As soon as you step out of the workshop, you don’t discuss what happened inside the workshop, that’s the unwritten rule of the village. The villagers talk only about output, and they never talk about the production process and technology.

"Can you tell us, how to get to the Lin Family?" Since Ma Dalang’s matter had delayed them, the villagers saw that it was getting late and they all made their way towards the workshop, laughing and joking. Just then, several dark-skinned people stopped them.

"What do you want from the Lin Family? Are you here to buy goods?" Wu Erli asked, scrutinizing the group. Not being snobbish, but looking at the group in front of him, with their dark complexions and shifty eyes, they didn’t seem to be up to any good. Especially the arrogant old lady in the middle, with her narrow, triangular eyes, she looked quite uncomfortable.

 

Chapter 444: Chapter 444: Contest (7)_1

"We are relatives of the Lin Family, here for a visit." A burly man looked at Wu Erli and the others impatiently, yet with a hint of satisfaction.

"We’re all from Shili Village and we haven’t seen you guys before. What sort of relatives are you supposed to be?" Most of the villagers who came to see what was going on at the Ma family’s place were young people. Since they didn’t recognize these self-proclaimed relatives of the Lin Family, one young man deliberately stepped up to provoke.

"We live far away, it’s not easy for us to visit." Among the visitors, a slightly flirtatious woman stepped forward as she swayed her waist.

"Does He Fuxing live here?" asked an old woman with triangular eyes abruptly.

"We don’t have a person by that name in our village." Wu Erli replied impatiently.

"Impossible." As soon as his words fell, a robust black-skinned woman stood up and retorted displeased, "How can He Fuxing not be in your village? Just yesterday in the city, I heard someone claiming that his whole family lives in Shili Village."

"Don’t believe it if you want, if you’re really capable, why don’t you try and find this person to show me." Wu Erli’s tone got even more intense. Nowadays, Shili Village is not what it used to be. When the surrounding villagers hear that they’re people from Shili Village, everyone treats them courteously. Even the visiting merchants, once they’re on Shili’s territory, all act polite. Who the hell these foolish ’black folks’ think they are, daring to be impolite to him?

"The person you’re looking for really isn’t in our village." Lou Zheng also explained seriously, "I’m the village chief here, how could I not know who’s in my village?"

Could it perhaps be true that He Fuxing isn’t living in Shili Village? Could his family have not sought support from the Lin Family? He Nian and the others didn’t believe that. The day before yesterday, that white-faced liar was very clear, He Fuxing’s family had joined the Lin Family and they even had their own workshop now.

That’s it, the villagers must be lying.

"You’re the village chief?" The skeptical old woman examined Lou Zheng thoroughly from head to toe with a scrutinous gaze. Even though Lou Zheng had seen a lot in his life, being stared at so brazenly by an old lady still made his face turn red.

"If you don’t believe it, go find it yourself." Lou Zheng also started losing his patience.

The villagers all chimed in, unanimously insisting that there was no such person in their village.

No one could blame the villagers for their staunch stance, since He Fuxing came to the Lin Family, the villagers mostly followed the Lins’ calling. The elder ones called He Fuxing ’uncle’, the ones of the same age called him ’brother’, and the younger ones, following Lin Changshu, called him ’uncle’. As for his real name, no one really knows it.

It could be said that the He family made a scene without even knowing it.

"Excuse me, everyone, where is the Lin Family’s house?" This time, the youngest black man stepped forward, his tone was comparatively polite.

With so many out-of-town merchants in Shili village, everyone has learned Lin Ziyin’s teaching of goodwill begets wealth, so when they encounter any situation, as long as the visitors are not troublemakers, the villagers are always welcoming.

Since the other party had become polite, even Lou Zheng’s tone was softened, "Follow the Green Stone Road, the largest courtyard up ahead is the Lin Family’s." Someone finally answered them courteously.

"The large courtyard is the Lin’s residence?" He Nian and the others’ eyes lit up.

"Who wants to cheat you?" The villagers no longer wanted to deal with these strange people.

"Thank you all." He Zhen thanked everyone with a smile.

Meanwhile, the old woman and the others couldn’t wait to get to the Lin Family’s place.

"Something seems off about those people, they don’t look good." Wu Erli said as he watched the figures disappear into the distance.

"Right, they don’t look like family visitors, but more like they came to take advantage of the Lins’ ter new wealth." Someone echoed Wu Erli’s sentiment.

"Go, hurry up and inform the Lins." Lou Zheng also felt something amiss, he promptly asked Wu Erli to take a shortcut and head to the Lins’ to deliver the news.

With Wu Erli’s military training and his faster pace, combined with the shortcut he took, when the He family members finally arrived at the Lins’gate, the Lin Family was already aware of their arrival.

Just as Lin Ziyin finished eating and was yet to retire to his backyard, he heard Wu Erli’s news and decided to stay around.

"Halt." Upon reaching the entrance of the large courtyard, everyone from the He Family began to plot and scheme silently. The Lin Family was actually living in such a grand courtyard, it seemed they had indeed prospered.

They were elders of the Lin Family. The Lins’ prosperity meant they would also share a piece of the pie. If they could live in such a property, the future generations wouldn’t have to worry anymore. Seeing servants waiting by the entrance only further stirred their excitement.

No matter what, during this visit, they had to at least take the Lin’s for all they were worth.

"Are you the servant of the Lin Family?" He Bang asked in a demeaning tone, "Tell your masters that their great uncles are here for a visit. They better come out and welcome us."

The old woman standing in the middle looked even more proud after listening to this. She felt she had the highest status among them, so she thought it necessary to act all high and mighty in front of these servants to get a hold on them in the future.

Chapter 445: Chapter 445 - Evil Will Grind Evil(1)_1

"What nonsense?" Unexpectedly, the man guarding the gate didn’t go into the courtyard to report when he heard He Bang’s words. Instead, he disdainfully glared at them for a while and rudely said, "Who doesn’t know that our Family Head has only the He family left in his maternal home. You folks old and young trying to deceive us, there’s no way."

"Insolence. Open your dog eyes and see clearly, this old lady right here is the maternal grandmother of the Lin Family. You all are spouting nonsense blindly, take care that you might get a beating later." He Bang intimidatingly lectured the gate guard like a fox pretending to be a tiger, pointing at him. As for getting beaten, he only knew about large households administering such punishment to servants who erred from seeing plays.

"Maternal grandmother?" The man guarding the gate burst out laughing when he heard it, "You are here to play tricks, but it seems you didn’t bring your brains with you. And now you’re asking for a beating?"

"Shameless creature, say more nonsense, and be prepared to face consequences you cannot bear." He Lian menacingly pointed her rough black finger at Bai Jincheng instructing him.

Bai Jincheng snickered watching the He family. In his prime, he was well-known within Capital City as a formidable Darts Master. Now confronted with the He family’s false air of arrogance, he truly didn’t care. Moreover, during his stay at the Lin Family, he became relatively familiar with He Dingyi and others and knew a thing or two about the He family.

Based on the words of the crowd in front of him, Bai Jincheng guessed that they might be the problematic relatives that He Dingyi had once spoken about.

People who practice martial arts often have straightforward characters and can’t stand even a slightest amount of deceit. The conduct of the He family members was entirely unacceptable to Bai Jincheng. If it wasn’t for the fact that he wasn’t sure about He Dingyi and Lin Ziyin’s attitudes, Bai Jincheng would want to teach these people a brutal lesson. So, would he be afraid of their empty threats and swagger?

"I, for one, love to wander freely. How would you even know about my preferences?" Bai Jincheng responded mockingly.

"Watchdog, despicable thing." Seeing the tattoo on Bai Jincheng’s forehead, He Bang instantly regained his confidence.

"Try cursing again?" Bai Jincheng’s face turned cold. He then lightly kicked a fist-sized rock up and caught it in his hand. With a squeeze, the stone was crushed into rubble instantly.

The He family, being commoners, had never seen such a display of raw power. Scared by Bai Jincheng’s show of might, they all retreated a good distance. It was too terrifying. If they irritated the gatekeeper, what if he twisted their heads off? They accepted that their heads were not tougher than stone.

Seeing their terrified faces, Bai Jincheng sneered and, without continuing to beat them, retreated back to his post and sat down, watching the He family.

"Mother, what do we do?" The drastically subdued He Bang asked the old lady in the middle, troubled.

Though the old lady appeared domineering usually, deep down, she was only a bully within her domain. Bai Jincheng’s display just now had terrified her to the point of shaky legs, barely able to stand. When her son asked her what to do, how would she know what to do at this point?

"You, you..." Before she could say the third ’you’, the old lady helplessly collapsed.

"Mother, what’s wrong with you?" He Lian’s high-pitched shriek almost shattered everyone’s eardrums.

"Mother." He Nian and the others acted with utter expressions of grief.

Putting on a performance had always been one of the methods of the He Family.

"What’s going on?" The old man came out amidst the commotion. He sternly asked Bai Jincheng and the other gatekeepers, his hands clasped behind his back.

"Old Master, a few people came to cause trouble at home. Somehow, that old lady just collapsed." Bai Jincheng answered in a low, respectful tone.