Chapter 51: The Unending Joy of Pitting Oneself Against Others!

Although Wang Cuihua was still deeply afraid of Xue the Philanthropist, it was clear that her fear of Li Yuanjing before her eyes was even greater...

Especially after her husband Liu Gang recounted to her the recent meteoric rise of Li Yuanjing.

During the time Wang Cuihua was imprisoned, she had constantly fantasized that Xue the Philanthropist would come to her rescue.

However—

In the end, all she received was the cold and ruthless threats and extortion from the constables.

If not for Li Yuanjing, she truly could not imagine what her fate would have been…

Now, faced with Li Yuanjing’s questioning, Wang Cuihua only hesitated for a moment before recounting everything in detail to him.

Li Yuanjing listened for a while, his expression unmoved, though inwardly he could not help but shake his head with a wry smile.

The ecosystem of Wang Cuihua and her kind was hardly any different from what it would be in later times…

The only thing lacking was the advanced communication tools of the future.

These matchmakers from the villages within a ten-mile radius had their own “little group,” and their daily exchanges revolved around such matters.

In some ways, it was even more commercialized than in the future.

After all—

In this era, women rarely left the village for work, most spending their lives in their hometowns, and naturally falling under the control of matchmakers such as Wang Cuihua.

With such a vast trove of resources at her disposal, Wang Cuihua naturally kept regular contact with matchmakers in Iron Ox Town, visiting each other every now and then.

Xue the Philanthropist had found Wang Cuihua through a matchmaker from Iron Ox Town, enlisting her to do his bidding.

But Wang Cuihua herself had never once met Xue the Philanthropist—all contact went through Xue An.

At this point—

How could Wang Cuihua dare keep anything hidden?

She hurriedly told Li Yuanjing everything from the beginning, including how Xue An, upon seeing Yuniang’s mark at the funeral of Li Yuanjing’s parents, had harbored malicious intentions.

Li Yuanjing’s teeth itched with hatred as he listened.

Had he known—

He would never have let that dog Xue An die so easily! Only by skinning him alive and pulling out his sinews could Li Yuanjing vent his hatred!

Still—

Clearly, Xue An hadn’t died an easy death either. Remembering the despair in his eyes while being beaten before his death, some of Li Yuanjing’s anger faded.

He sneered, “How much did Xue the Philanthropist give you? Enough to make a loose woman like you work so hard?”

“Eh?” Wang Cuihua started as if shocked awake and quickly replied, “Replying to Master Li, he—he gave this servant eight hundred coins…”

“Eight hundred coins?” Li Yuanjing could not help but let out a cold, derisive laugh. “No wonder I call you a fool! Just eight hundred coins and you go all out? Willing to risk your entire family for that?”

Wang Cuihua had nothing to say, and could only mutter under her breath, “Xue the Philanthropist was already being generous. That Master Dong from Big Gully Village only gives three hundred coins at a time…”

“Hm?” Li Yuanjing was instantly alert, fixing his gaze fiercely on Wang Cuihua. “You have dealings with Master Dong from Big Gully Village too?”

Seeing Li Yuanjing’s interest—almost as if he wanted to devour her—Wang Cuihua couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement.

She understood—

She was still useful to Li Yuanjing.

If she performed well, perhaps she could even do better than before.

She hastily began to tell Li Yuanjing everything she knew in detail.

When Wang Cuihua finished, Li Yuanjing fell into a deep silence.

Though her information was somewhat vague and obviously did not touch upon Master Dong’s core secrets, she had revealed to Li Yuanjing a crucial point—

Master Dong had sent women to Muddy Hollow, and not just one!

Clearly—

Li Yuanjing’s earlier suspicions were not unfounded!

Master Dong’s involvement with the remnants of the Fragrance Sect was even deeper than he had imagined!

And even now, while the Fragrance Sect was causing chaos in Yicheng County, the soldiers under Prince Qi were only guarding strategic points like the Chen Family Ferry, never moving directly to wipe out the group in Muddy Hollow!

Undoubtedly, the waters here were far deeper than Li Yuanjing had anticipated!

After pondering for a long while, Li Yuanjing’s voice was hoarse as he asked, “So, do you have any dealings with Wang Youdao from Big Gully Village—my Uncle Wang?”

Wang Cuihua started, thinking for a long time before nodding, then shaking her head.

“Are you nodding or shaking your head, damn you?” Li Yuanjing’s anger flared.

Wang Cuihua nearly tumbled off her chair in fright and quickly explained, “Master, this servant doesn’t know how to put it. I really did have dealings with Master Wang Youdao, but that was seven or eight years ago, right after I got married. He bought a maid from our Spring Village to take as a concubine.”

“But after that, he never sought me out again. However, I seem to recall people from Big Gully Village saying that the concubine he bought from our village died of a terrible illness just days later.”

“I was worried for a long time that he’d come after me for it, but all these years, he’s never sought me out…”

“Hm?” Li Yuanjing’s brows furrowed deeply as he slowly digested this information.

A long while passed.

Li Yuanjing finally let out a long breath, took out more than a tael of silver, and handed it to Wang Cuihua, saying in a low, stern voice, “Wang Cuihua, you foolish woman, you’d best behave yourself from now on! You know what you should and should not say, don’t you?”

Wang Cuihua stared in delight at the gleaming silver, quickly assuring him, “Master, this servant understands, truly. The matters you and I have discussed, I wouldn’t utter a word even if I were to die.”

“Hmph.” Li Yuanjing sneered, “So long as you know what’s good for you! Otherwise, if something really happens, not even the gods could save you!”

“This servant knows, truly knows…” Wang Cuihua quickly twisted her curvaceous waist in a fawning display.

Li Yuanjing thought for a moment, then suddenly gave her a firm slap on her ample hip and said:

“Get lost. Go home and rest for a few days. Listen for my summons in the future, understand?”

That slap almost brought tears to Wang Cuihua’s eyes. Blushing furiously, she hurried to curry favor, replying respectfully, “Yes, yes, Master. I understand, I truly do. From now on, I’ll only listen to you—no one else…”

…

After sending off the now jubilant Wang Cuihua—who seemed to have found a new lease on life—Li Yuanjing could not help but sigh deeply, gazing up at the boundless night sky.

His carrot-and-stick approach tonight had just barely managed to keep Wang Cuihua in line.

However—

Even Li Yuanjing would need more time to digest the wealth of information she had provided!

It made him realize even more:

Even in these backwater, poverty-stricken places like Iron Ox Town, Reed Village, and Big Gully Village, to untangle the threads was far from simple!

These local gentry and bullies—

Which of them hadn’t clawed their way up from the mud? Which of them wasn’t cunning and formidable?

It was no different from the future…

Still.

A slow smile appeared on the corner of Li Yuanjing’s mouth as he murmured, “To contend with others is the greatest joy.”

…

The next morning.

After a leisurely breakfast with Yuniang and setting the day’s affairs in order, Li Yuanjing went to the rear courtyard to inspect the progress of the shipbuilding.

Zhao Zengjin, Mao Fugui, and the others were progressing even faster than Li Yuanjing had anticipated.

By now—

The keel and framework of the boat were already nearly complete.

Li Yuanjing tested them several times in succession and was very satisfied with their strength, nodding approvingly.

But such things could not be judged by words alone—they needed to be tested on the rolling waters of the Yi River to be truly reliable!

Which meant—

The hull had to be nearly finished today, so it could be tested tonight.

That way—

There would still be time over the next two days to correct any errors.

After encouraging Zhao Zengjin and the others to work in shifts—promising rich rewards for completion—Li Yuanjing was about to have someone fetch Liu Gang to discuss matters, and then talk with Madam Wang Liu.

Outside—

Chen Chunyan’s respectful voice announced, “Master, Wang Youdao from Big Gully Village has arrived. He’s waiting for you in the reception hall by the warehouse…”

Li Yuanjing responded, a subtle smile curving his lips.

It seemed—

Wang Youdao was even more eager than he’d imagined!