Waiting for a Rabbit by the Tree Stump

The existence of rest days truly had meaning. Yesterday, I attended a family banquet at the Song Family's residence and spent most of the day playing with Song Mu'er. A large portion of Li Nuo's accumulated fatigue from the past few days disappeared, and he felt much more relaxed.

If only he had learned "the art of balancing work and rest" earlier, he wouldn't have pushed himself so hard in his previous life and wouldn't have ended up here.

For the entire day, Li Nuo, as usual, adjudicated cases at the Chang'an County Office.

It wasn't until the end of the workday today that his lifespan increased by three days.

The number of cases he handled each day was gradually decreasing. After all, this was the capital; there weren't that many cases. The frenzy of the past few days was merely a backlog. Li Nuo estimated that in a while, it would be good if he could gain two days of lifespan for each case he resolved.

Therefore, he had to find a way to create more achievements for himself.

For him, achievements were life.

After work, Li Nuo walked out of the Court Hall and waved at a figure in the courtyard.

Lieutenant Wang scurried over, a smile plastered on his face, and asked, "Young Master, do you have any instructions?"

Li Nuo said, "Gather some men and come with me somewhere."

"As you command!"

Lieutenant Wang immediately went to assemble his men without asking any questions.

Steward Wu, still thinking about dinner at home, asked Li Nuo doubtfully, "Young Master, aren't we going home?"

Li Nuo replied, "We're going to Yunmeng Academy first."

Steward Wu didn't ask Li Nuo what he was going to Yunmeng Academy for; he was already accustomed to his Young Master's unfathomable [and inexplicable] way of doing things.

When his Young Master left the house this morning, he had also asked him to arrange for some rolling pins to be prepared. He still didn't know their purpose.

If his Young Master were going somewhere else, he might have had to make prior arrangements to ensure his safety. Yunmeng Academy was within Chang'an City, not far from the bustling market. If there were any danger, all he had to do was signal, and the patrolling Imperial Guards in the city would arrive quickly.

Nowadays in Great Xia, the Imperial examination was the only path to officialdom.

This rule was established by the founding Emperor when he established the nation and had remained unchanged for hundreds of years.

Whether they were royalty, nobles, or the sons of officials, anyone who wished to secure a position had to pass the selection process of the Imperial examination. This also led to the proliferation of academies of all sizes throughout Great Xia. Chang'an, being the capital, was even more densely packed with academies.

The content of the Imperial examination was based on Confucianism, covering the six arts: Propriety, music, Archery, Charioteering, writing, and Calculation. It was impossible to master these skills through self-study. Major academies hired esteemed teachers who were experts in each field. Students within the academies could receive the most comprehensive instruction.

It was precisely because of this monopoly on resources that even the cost of studying at small academies was extremely high. Students at these academies were either wealthy or noble. Academies were the source of officials, and naturally, all officials in the court came from powerful and aristocratic families.

Yunmeng Academy, as one of the four major academies in Chang'an, was not as renowned as the other three, but it could not be underestimated. Few civil officials in Great Xia came from Yunmeng Academy, but more than half of the military generals did.

This was not the cradle of civil officials, but it was the cradle of military generals.

If the powerful and influential families of Great Xia hoped for their descendants to achieve something in the military in the future, they would generally send them to Yunmeng Academy for advanced studies.

The main gate of Yunmeng Academy faced the lively Chang'an Street. Behind the academy was a serene forest. Winding paths crisscrossed the woods, with occasional tea houses, bookshops, and music halls hidden within.

Although it was not as bustling as Chang'an Street, due to its tranquil environment, it was frequently visited by students from the academy, and business was quite good.

At this moment, in a private room on the second floor of a tea house in the forest.

Li Nuo sat by the window, gently sipping his tea, his gaze fixed on the outside. From here, he could see the back entrance of the academy.

The academy's dismissal time was half an hour later than the office's closing time. Only sparse figures could be seen there.

Li Nuo prayed that Song Yu and the others wouldn't stand him up.

Lieutenant Wang, along with over a dozen constables and runners, was drinking tea in another private room. He was paying for the tea himself, and since they were working overtime, he also had to pay them extra overtime pay. He didn't want this money to be wasted.

"Dong, dong, dong..."

As several muffled bell tolls sounded, figures began to emerge from the academy's back gate one after another.

Most of them were young people, walking in twos and threes, heading to tea houses, restaurants, bookshops, or music halls. At one point, over ten figures emerged from the academy in a grand procession. Upon seeing them, the other people quickly made way.

"Aren't those the Zhou brothers? What are they gathering so many people for?"

"They don't look happy..."

"I wonder who's going to be unlucky this time."

Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, a group, led by two young men, walked towards an open space in the forest.

Just then, a few loud shouts, full of energy, suddenly came from under a tree ahead.

"Selling rolling pins! Top-quality rolling pins!"

"Top-quality Huali wood rolling pins! If they're not sturdy, you don't pay!"

"Rolling pins sold cheap! Only ten copper coins each!"

A middle-aged man in coarse cloth, with a simple and honest face, had set up a straw mat under a tree. Dozens of rolling pins were neatly arranged on the mat.

Seeing this scene, many people secretly shook their heads. This fellow clearly didn't know how to do business. Who would sell rolling pins at the entrance of an academy?

Even if he were to sell them, it should be in a busy commercial area or a residential neighborhood.

The people who passed by here the most were students from Yunmeng Academy. Selling erotic banned books would be profitable, but students didn't need this kind of item.

They thought that even if he shouted himself hoarse today, he wouldn't sell a single one.

Just as they were thinking this, a figure suddenly walked up to the man, bent down, picked up a rolling pin, and swung it a few times in the air, producing a "whoosh" sound. Judging by the sound alone, this rolling pin was definitely made of solid material.

Then, he threw down a silver ingot and said, "Give me ten, the rest is for you."

This silver ingot was worth a tael, enough to buy a hundred rolling pins. The man was overjoyed, picked up the silver, and repeatedly said, "Thank you, Young Master, thank you, Young Master!"

The figure waved his hand, and the group of people walked over one after another. Each of them took a rolling pin from the man and walked towards the clearing in the woods.

Seeing this, the other scholars couldn't help but sigh, truly, the foolish have their blessings. This man was selling rolling pins here, and coincidentally, the Zhou brothers needed to cause trouble for someone. These Huali wood rolling pins were not only suitable for rolling dough but also for fighting. They would surely hurt when hitting someone.

Not long after, another group of people came out from the back door of the academy.

"Selling rolling pins, top-quality rolling pins."

"Top-quality Huali wood rolling pins, free if they're not sturdy!"

Song Yu heard the strong man's cries and paused. He walked up to him, picked up a rolling pin, and weighed it. He found it very sturdy and a thought immediately struck him. He turned to someone and said, "Brother-in-law, do you have any silver on you? This thing might be useful later."

The thin, refined young man shook his head and said, "It's best not to use it."

Song Yu was confused and asked, "Why?"

The refined young man explained, "According to the Great Xia Codex, unarmed brawling is punishable by forty strokes of the cane; armed brawling is punishable by sixty strokes of the beating. Once this is used, it becomes armed brawling, and the nature of the offense is completely different..."

Song Yu said, "Could the Zhou fellow report us to the authorities?"

Conflicts between the sons of military families were always resolved among themselves. Anyone who reported to the authorities would be ridiculed by everyone. Moreover, the Chang'an County Office wouldn't dare to interfere in the affairs of military families.

Chen Ling shook his head and said, "It's best to consider everything thoroughly."

Song Yu waved his hand and said, "Forget it, I'll listen to brother-in-law. It's also to avoid the Zhou fellow saying we're bullying them."

Then, he said to Chen Ling, "Brother-in-law, you're frail. Just watch from here. Don't get hurt in the process. With Wang Hua here today, there won't be any mistakes."

"Alright. The Imperial Guards are patrolling not far from here. If you get into trouble, I'll lead them here," Chen Ling nodded. He knew his own condition; even if he went up, he wouldn't be of much help and would only become a burden. It was better to watch from here. If the situation got out of control, he could call for help immediately.

Song Yu led a group of people, swaggering towards the clearing deep in the woods.

At this moment, no one knew that in the teahouse behind them, a figure stood by the window of a private room on the second floor, quietly watching them.

Steward Wu stood behind Li Nuo, his expression stunned.

He finally understood why the Young Master had asked him to prepare rolling pins that morning.

So this was what they were for.

The speed of cultivation for the Legalist school was related to the severity of the punishments imposed. Cane, beating, imprisonment, exile, death. For every level of punishment increased, the cultivation speed increased by one level. Therefore, within the scope permitted by law, the Legalist school always imposed the heaviest sentences.

These people fighting unarmed would only receive a caning.

But holding a stick, changing from unarmed to armed, the nature of the offense was completely different.

Steward Wu looked at Li Nuo with satisfaction. What is a biological father and son? This is it. This move by the Young Master inherited at least a third of the Master's true teachings.

Li Nuo turned his head and saw Steward Wu's strange gaze. He asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Steward Wu looked at Li Nuo with admiration and said, "This move by the Young Master is brilliant, truly brilliant!"

Li Nuo glanced at him and said irritably, "Brilliant what? I'm just a rolling pin seller. Selling rolling pins isn't illegal..."

After speaking, he added, "Go and keep an eye on them. Don't let them cause too much trouble."

Watching Steward Wu leap out the window, Li Nuo picked up his teacup again.

Although the rolling pins were made of ordinary wood and had no sharp edges, they could still be life-threatening if they hit a vital spot.

If these rich idlers got carried away, something might truly happen.

Then his sin would be great.

Although the law couldn't do anything to him, his conscience wouldn't allow it.

With Steward Wu, who was in the Fourth Realm of martial arts, there was no need to worry about this matter.

Strictly speaking, this act of adding fuel to the fire was a bit unethical, but he had to survive. Only by living could he output, promote the Legalist school, and uphold justice. He wondered if the Codex could understand. He might as well use this opportunity to test it