Transmigrated into a Grandpa, Embracing the Laid-Back Life-Chapter 61: This money is a hot potato

Zhao Dequan seemed to feel that a mere verbal "entrustment" was insufficient. He made another move that left the entire Su family utterly dumbfounded.

He pulled a heavy cloth bundle from his bosom and, without any room for refusal, stuffed it into Su Shan's hands.

"Shanzi, I know. Going to town to study, expenses for food, clothing, daily necessities, writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones—which one isn't a cost? Your family's situation has just started to ease up a bit, and this is precisely the time you need money."

Su Shan was startled by the heavy, solid feel in his hand, trembling slightly. The contents of the cloth bundle clinked together, producing a clear, pleasant metallic sound.

"This... this is..."

Zhao Dequan pressed down on Su Shan's hand, which was trying to push the bundle back. His voice lowered, yet filled with an irresistible force.

"This is twenty taels of silver."

"You take it. Consider it as me, Old Zhao, no, consider it as the workshop's profits advanced to your family! For Xiao Ming's travel expenses!"

"Twenty taels!"

Mrs. Chen gasped sharply, the needlework in her hands falling to the ground.

Wang Chuntao's eyes instantly widened into perfect circles.

Twenty taels of silver! For a farming family like the Su family, that was an unimaginable fortune! Even scrimping and saving for a lifetime, they might not necessarily save up that much!

Su Shan's hand jerked back as if scalded by a hot coal: "This won't do! Village Chief, sir, this absolutely won't do! It's too much! We cannot accept it!"

"Take it!" Zhao Dequan's grip tightened even more, his expression serious. "Shanzi, listen to me! This money isn't just for you, Su Shan! This is an investment in the future scholar of our Su Family Village!"

His voice suddenly rose, carrying the unique authority and persuasive power of a village chief.

"If Xiao Ming makes something of himself, if he passes the imperial examinations and earns a scholarly honor, that will be the face of our entire Su Family Village! The glory of our whole village! What does this bit of money count for?"

"If you don't accept it today, you're looking down on me, Zhao Dequan! You're thinking our village's workshop can't even earn back twenty taels of silver! You don't want Xiao Ming to study properly!"

One big accusation after another was heaped upon Su Shan, pressing down on him until he could barely breathe.

He was a simple, honest farmer. How could he be a match for a shrewd person like Zhao Dequan? He held that bag of silver, utterly at a loss, his face flushing red. He looked toward his youngest son as if seeking help.

Su Ming knew that this money had to be accepted today.

He stepped forward and bowed deeply to Zhao Dequan.

"Uncle Zhao's great kindness, this junior will remember in his heart. This sum of money, our family will accept it. Please rest assured. Once in town, I will definitely urge Zhao Rui to apply himself to his studies and will not fail to live up to your expectations. This money will certainly be used for proper purposes like writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. In the future, when the workshop distributes profits, our family's first share will be used to repay you."

His words were neither subservient nor arrogant. He accepted the money, clarified it as a "loan," and incidentally took on the responsibility of supervising Zhao Rui, giving Zhao Dequan a perfect way out.

"Hahaha! Good! Good lad!" Having achieved all his objectives, Zhao Dequan felt immensely pleased. He patted Su Ming's shoulder vigorously. "With your word, I am completely at ease! Alright, we won't delay you any longer. My son and I will head back first! Xiao Ming, come to my house and let me know the day before you depart!"

With that, he dragged Zhao Rui, who still wore a face full of displeasure, and walked away with his hands clasped behind his back, perfectly content.

In the courtyard, only the Su family remained, along with that heavy bag of silver that seemed to still carry warmth.

"Heavens above..." Mrs. Chen walked over, her hand trembling as she touched the cloth bundle. Tears streamed down her face again. "Twenty taels... our family has twenty taels of silver..."

Su Yang was also flushed with excitement. He threw an arm around Su Ming's neck. "Xiao Ming! Did you hear that! Twenty taels! Now, forget about going to town, even going to the prefectural city, the travel expenses would be more than enough!"

Only Su Shan did not smile.

He slowly walked to the stone stool in the courtyard and sat down. He placed the cloth bundle on his lap and untied the string.

With a clinking sound.

Twenty ingots of silver, emitting an alluring sheen, lay quietly on the coarse cloth, dazzling to the eyes.

Su Shan picked up one ingot, held it in his palm, and weighed it.

After a long while, he finally looked up at Su Ming, his voice hoarse as he asked, "Xiao Ming, tell your father the truth. This money... is it very hot to hold?"

A warm current flowed through Su Ming's heart.

His father, though not eloquent, possessed the simplest survival wisdom. He could see that accepting this money wasn't that straightforward.

Su Ming nodded and said, "Father, it is a bit hot to hold. But our family needs this money right now."

He squatted in front of his father, looking into those bloodshot eyes, and said earnestly, "With this money, when I go out to study, the family won't have to tighten its belt anymore. Mother and sister-in-law can add a new piece of clothing. My brothers can also catch their breath. More importantly, with Zhao Rui by our side, Village Chief Zhao will guard that workshop more preciously than his own eyeballs. In the short term, no one will dare to have designs on us."

Su Shan listened silently. After a long time, he finally let out a long sigh, rewrapped the silver, and handed it to Mrs. Chen.

"Put it away. Prepare Xiao Ming's... outfit for the journey."

...

At night, Su Ming lay in bed, utterly sleepless.

"Master."

"Hmm?" Lin Yu responded lazily.

"You said, has Zhao Dequan completely seen through my true situation?"

"Seen through? Not necessarily," Lin Yu's voice carried a hint of amusement. "At most, he's grown suspicious. He thinks this kid isn't as simple as he appears on the surface, that you're hiding some secret. His move today was testing the waters. Giving money, sending his son, tying you and him to the same boat. If the boat capsizes, no one can escape."

"This is called risk-sharing. From an investment perspective, his deal isn't a loss."

Su Ming fell silent. He felt like a fish caught in a net. Though temporarily safe, he had lost a measure of freedom.

"Disciple, don't overthink it." Lin Yu seemed to sense his mood.

"Remember, what is the first principle of the 'Survival' strategy I taught you?"

"Safety first, reduce risks?"

"Correct! Zhao Dequan's maneuver, while bringing you trouble, has indeed provided an insurance policy for your family and for yourself. The village chief of a village is the local emperor of this area spanning dozens of miles. With his protection, at least until you pass the imperial examinations, those local ruffians and petty scoundrels won't dare to easily cause trouble for your family."

"As for that troublemaker named Zhao Rui..." Lin Yu's voice paused for a moment, then he chuckled.

"He is a whetstone delivered right to your doorstep. A touchstone to test the results of your cultivation in the 'Way of Survival'."

"What you need to learn is how to keep him as far away from you as possible without angering him or offending his father. How to use him without being dragged down by him. How to let him cause trouble, yet have the blame ultimately not fall on your head."

"This area of study is far more useful than all those grand principles in your Four Books and Five Classics."

Listening to his master's "heretical theories," the knot of worry in Su Ming's heart actually dissipated quite a bit. He even felt somewhat torn between laughter and tears.

"This disciple... has received the teaching."

"Mmm, a teachable pupil." Lin Yu said with satisfaction, then added another sentence.