Success or Failure Hinges on This

"What is wrong with him? Speak up."

Li Chengwen felt even more suspicious seeing him act this way.

Old Wu looked left and right before lowering his voice: "Young Master, during the time you were away, Steward Zhao... went missing. Everyone says he stole money from the safe and ran off. The authorities even came to investigate and found two corpses in the burnt-out house, but there was no sign of Steward Zhao himself, neither alive nor dead..."

Perhaps because the floodgates had been opened, Old Wu grew more animated as he spoke, detailing every single incident Zhao Dezhu had stirred up after Li Chengwen's departure.

Li Chengwen's expression darkened bit by bit.

The more he heard, the angrier he became. By the end, his chubby face had flushed a deep red:

"Damn it, that Zhao Dezhu! To think he dared to pull so many stunts while I was away! And stealing from the family?! He's truly grown bold enough to defy the heavens!"

He could no longer be bothered with his inspection. He turned around and marched angrily toward Master Li's study, cursing under his breath the entire way:

"Father must not know about these things yet. I have to tell him immediately! This is outrageous! To think they've bullied their way onto our doorstep!"

Li Chengwen rushed to the entrance of the study. Ignoring the need to announce himself, he shoved the door open and barged in: "Father! Do you know what that bastard Zhao Dezhu has done?"

Master Li was sitting behind his desk drinking tea and was startled by the sudden commotion.

He set down his teacup and glared at his eldest son with annoyance: "So reckless and impulsive, what kind of decorum is this! Is there nothing you can discuss calmly?"

Li Chengwen didn't bother to apologize. He strode to the desk in two steps and poured everything out in a rapid-fire burst.

He grew more agitated as he spoke, finally slamming his hand on the table: "Father! A person like that is a disaster if kept in the manor! It's fortunate he ran off; otherwise, I would have skinned him alive!"

Master Li listened in silence for a moment, then picked up his teacup and took a slow sip.

The expression on his face was not the anger Li Chengwen had expected.

He set the cup down and said slowly: "Your second brother has already reported this matter to me."

Li Chengwen was stunned: "He reported it? And what did he say?"

"He said it was his oversight in personnel management and has already asked for my forgiveness."

Master Li waved his hand.

"Let this matter end here. The authorities will handle their side; let them investigate and close the case as they see fit. Let's not stir up any more trouble for the time being. The manor has finally had a few days of peace; let's not turn it upside down again."

Li Chengwen's eyes widened: "Father! We're just letting it go?! He stole our family's money! Three hundred taels of silver!"

Master Li picked up his teacup and took another sip, his tone flat: "Three hundred taels is not a small sum, but it is only three hundred taels. Zhao Dezhu is already gone, and the money is likely unrecoverable. Pushing the matter further would be a waste of effort. The most important thing right now is to stabilize the situation and complete the order for the Qingyang Prefecture government. That is the real priority!"

Li Chengwen stood frozen in place upon hearing this.

He opened his mouth, looking at Master Li in utter disbelief:

"Father... do you remember? One winter when I was a child, we couldn't even scrape together enough money for coal. You took me out into the wind and snow to buy two baskets of coal scraps on credit, which only cost three qian of silver in total. On the way back, you told me that when life got better, you would never let me suffer like that again."

"Back then, we had to save for a long time just to scrape together three qian of silver. Now that three hundred taels have been stolen, you say it is 'only three hundred taels'?"

These words were like a needle, piercing deeply into Master Li's heart.

Looking at his chubby eldest son, he felt both irritation and guilt.

After a long silence, Master Li finally set down his teacup and sighed:

"Eldest, as the saying goes, times change. Our family business has grown large now. While three hundred taels is not a small amount, it is not enough to break our bones or tendons. You have performed meritorious service this time, and I am aware of it. But when it comes to family affairs, one cannot only calculate the silver; one must also calculate the hearts of men. Do you understand?"

Master Li was well aware of what Li Jiwu was plotting,

but there were simply some things he was unwilling to dwell upon,

and so, he could only let the eldest son suffer the loss.

Li Chengwen stood where he was, looking at Master Li's face, which was etched with exhaustion and helplessness. He suddenly felt a sense of estrangement.

He remained silent for a long time. In the end, he did not say another word; he simply cupped his hands in a salute, turned, and walked out of the study.

Standing under the veranda, the cold wind blew against Li Chengwen, but the fire in his heart did not extinguish—it burned even brighter.

He clenched his fists, staring toward the distant Sword-Forging Courtyard, and made a silent, fierce vow to himself.

Fine, so you all don't think it's a big deal? Then I will take this matter upon myself!

I will make sure the order for the Qingyang Prefecture government is done perfectly, so Father can see who is truly looking out for the family!

Besides, I cannot let my younger sister down!

She had helped him a great deal on this business trip; if not for her, he would never have been able to shine in front of his father!

Thinking of his sister, the stifled feeling in his chest eased slightly.

Li Chengwen took a deep breath and strode toward the Sword-Forging Courtyard.

Rather than sulking here, it was better to keep a close eye on the progress of the order. Getting the work done well was better than anything else!

After receiving the piece of Silver-Veined Meteorite Iron, Shen Chu did not rush to begin.

He kept the Silver-Veined Meteorite Iron close to his body, and every day after finishing his work, he would hold the metal in his hands, examining and stroking it repeatedly to feel its texture and density. At the same time, he would mentally rehearse his forging plan over and over again.

When the day of rest for the Sword-Forging Courtyard arrived,

the entire courtyard was empty.

The furnace fires were extinguished, the sound of hammers had ceased, and even the few people who usually loved to loiter in the courtyard had gone out to the markets.

Shen Chu closed the courtyard gate.

He stood alone in the center of the yard, clenching his fists.

Success or failure hinges on this!

Shen Chu lit the fire and added coal. The orange flames licked the furnace, crackling and heating the surrounding air until it felt slightly scorching, and the temperature in the courtyard began to rise once more.

He took the Silver-Veined Meteorite Iron from his robes, examined it carefully one last time, and then placed it steadily into the furnace fire.

He did not rush to strike; instead, he waited quietly for the metal to slowly heat up in the furnace. Only when the material had burned to a uniform, glowing red did he retrieve it and place it upon the anvil.

The first hammer fell.

Clang!

The crisp sound of metal striking metal echoed through the empty courtyard!

Shen Chu held nothing back, pouring his entire heart and soul into the forging hammer in his hand.

Every strike was steady and precise. Under his hammer, the metal gradually stretched, and those natural silver veins became increasingly distinct with each repeated blow, winding and flowing across the surface of the iron.

Time slipped away quietly amidst the rhythm of the hammer.

Gradually, the forging reached its final stages, and the blade blank had essentially taken shape.

Shen Chu could not help but feel a surge of excitement.

With just a few final rounds of tempering and quenching to set the form, this blade would be complete!