Granny Yan's Unwillingness! Chief Constable Zheng Kecheng!

"Heh heh heh, that old butcher Li Laocai must be collapsing by now, right? A double blow? No, it should be a fivefold blow!"

"First, his feet and backside were pierced by nails, then he lost his Money Pouch, his beloved youngest son wasn't his blood, his wife had an affair with Guard Li Ligang, and then tetanus struck, leaving him to wait for death."

"I want him to know he was cuckolded before he dies, so he can't rest in peace!"

At that moment, Qin Wang was in an excellent mood.

According to the intelligence, after another round of maneuvering, he had finally brought Li Laocai to the brink of death.

"Not enough intelligence triggered?"

Qin Wang looked at the Intelligence Panel, his eyes thoughtful as he muttered, "Looks like I still need to go out and wander around. Otherwise, there's too little intelligence, and I won't be able to trigger intelligence that benefits me!"

After spreading the news yesterday morning,

Qin Wang had hidden at home to practice Ancestor's Long Fist. The Intelligence Panel's function needed to be triggered; only by coming into contact with more people and things could he fill all ten intelligence slots. If he stayed home without going out, there would not be enough intelligence triggers.

"Actually, if I want to make the best possible use of the Intelligence Panel, I'll still have to go to the county town in the future!"

Qin Wang thought to himself.

Qingniu Town was a small place. Comparatively speaking, the county town had more opportunities to make money.

However,

Qin Wang wanted to wait until his entry-level mastery of Ancestor's Long Fist appeared on the panel, and until Li Laocai's household fell apart, before heading to the county town. If he could get the 850 taels of silver beneath Li Laocai's bed, that would be even better.

That was the ill-gotten wealth Li Laocai had amassed over many years.

"This morning, I need to visit Hundred Herbs Hall and ask around!"

Qin Wang thought to himself.

Now that he had begun practicing martial arts, it was essential for a martial artist to understand the many acupoints.

Mastery of medicine would allow him to understand the acupoints of the human body, which would be of immense help in cultivating martial arts.

It would naturally be wonderful if Doctor Bai took a liking to him. If not, then even becoming an unpaid medicine apprentice would be fine, so long as he got meals. Then surely it would not be too much to ask Doctor Bai to lend him a few medical books?

"That vicious Li Laocai intended to sell me off as a catamite. He has five days left to live. I'll only be satisfied if I make him watch helplessly as his family fortune collapses!"

Coldness filled Qin Wang's eyes.

If his older sister Qin Xuemei had not sold herself to the Chen Family in exchange for 600 coins, he would have starved to death already!!

At present, his sister was still with the Chen Family in Yan Yun County!

When Granny Yan had taken his sister away, she said it would take 30 taels of silver to redeem her.

Those 30 taels had to come from Li Laocai!

Having made up his mind, Qin Wang lay down and went to sleep.

He had spent the entire day practicing Ancestor's Long Fist and was indeed rather tired. He could not train nonstop all day long. His body was weak and thin, so he needed to balance work and rest. After training for a while, he could go out for a walk and trigger intelligence as well.

The next day.

Early in the morning, the rising sun dyed the horizon red.

After Qin Wang finished breakfast, he went out to pour away the water he had used to wash his face. He happened to run into Li Yunhai heading out, so he casually greeted him. "Morning, Uncle Yunhai!"

"Little Qin, I have some good news for you!"

Seeing Qin Wang, Li Yunhai seemed to recall something and spoke.

"What good news?"

Qin Wang pretended not to know, looking curious.

He had already guessed that it was probably about Li Laocai.

"Did you know? Li Laocai, the one who forced down the price when buying your family's fields and tiled house—wasn't he pierced by nails while inspecting his fields the day before yesterday? I heard he's come down with tetanus. He's been drooling and convulsing nonstop. Doctor Bai said they should prepare for his funeral!"

"Some people also say Li Laocai fell ill because someone posted a notice at the market yesterday, saying that his youngest son, Li Tianxin, was Guard Li Ligang's seed, and that he was the greatest fool under heaven."

"That Li Laocai spent his whole life doing evil and scheming against others. This is what he deserves!"

As Li Yunhai spoke, delight showed in his eyes. Clearly, he too deeply hated Li Laocai.

"Yeah, he really brought this upon himself!"

Qin Wang nodded in agreement.

"Little Qin, I won't talk to you anymore. I have to get going."

After telling Qin Wang the news, Li Yunhai slung a fishing net and fish basket over his back and headed toward the market. He fished every day, selling his catch to the fishmonger. After deducting the boat rental, the rest was his, so he had to seize the time and catch more fish to support his family.

"About time. I'll go to Hundred Herbs Hall!"

After Qin Wang finished tidying up, he locked the door and headed toward Qingniu Town.

"The sky is falling! What are we supposed to do about Master?"

"Father!"

Li Family Manor.

From within an elegant side room came bursts of crying and wailing.

Five or six maidservants stood at the doorway with their heads lowered, not daring even to breathe loudly.

"W-Wife, have you informed your sister-in-law?"

Li Laocai's lips trembled as saliva flowed from his mouth. His breathing was weak, and a maidservant hurried forward to wipe him clean.

"Master, we informed her yesterday. She should arrive this afternoon."

First Madam was around forty years old. Her voice choked with sobs as she repeatedly wiped away tears with an embroidered mandarin-duck handkerchief.

Her sister-in-law was Master's younger sister, married to Zheng Kecheng, the Chief Constable of Yan Yun County. It was precisely because of this connection that Master had managed to build such a vast family fortune in Qingniu Town. Moreover, during holidays and festivals, he had greased palms above and below and smoothed over connections. Even if trouble arose, it could be suppressed.

If her sister-in-law came, her husband would certainly come as well. With him presiding over matters, that wild man Li Ligang would not escape.

"Mhm."

Li Laocai's lips trembled again. "That slut's brother is now a p-protector of the Goldfish Gang. I... I can't do anything to him. But... but Li Ligang and that bastard... absolutely cannot be spared..."

Yesterday, Doctor Bai Mingliang had come by and said that Li Laocai had been pierced by filthy rusted iron nails. Tetanus had set in, there was no cure, and his days were numbered.

He had to arrange his final affairs.

"Master, don't worry. Your sister and brother-in-law will handle everything!"

First Madam kept wiping away her tears.

"The Money Pouch... has it... been found?"

After listening for a while, Li Laocai asked in fits and starts.

"Master, at a time like this, you're still worrying about that."

First Madam began crying again.

Qingniu Town.

Inside a private residence.

"Li Laocai is really too unlucky. He got stabbed by nails, lost his silver, and even caught tetanus. He's barely hanging on."

"Then someone exposed Second Madam's affair with the guard, and that his youngest son isn't even his blood. How could he possibly take that? I remember he loved that youngest son most and took him everywhere with him."

"Once he dies, I'll lose a way to make money..."

Granny Yan, dressed in brown clothes with two yellow cloth flowers pinned in her hair, looked toward Li Family Manor and sighed heavily, utterly vexed.

Originally,

she and Li Laocai had divided their duties clearly. Li Laocai was responsible for driving people into desperate straits until they sold their fields and land. Once they had nowhere left to turn, she would step in and introduce them to work in the county town, profiting from the difference. When she encountered a promising specimen like Qin Wang, she could sell him to officials and wealthy households with special tastes and make a huge profit.

Now,

Li Laocai had contracted tetanus, and even Doctor Bai had told them to prepare for his funeral. Her plan to make a profit by selling Qin Wang as a catamite had come to nothing.

Actually,

she could find someone else to force that little Qin brat into a corner. But after selling him, if the matter came to light, who would cover for her?

Doing this sort of thing was like walking a tightrope!

Once something went wrong, without Li Laocai's connections to protect her, she would surely be unable to escape prison!

She had sought out Li Laocai because his brother-in-law, Zheng Kecheng, was the Chief Constable of the Yan Yun County yamen!