Chapter 263 (1/2)

Fang Zhengzhi found it difficult to tell Zhang Yangping the origins of these silver. After all, a significant amount had come from the sale of Ping Yang's Snow Jade stallion.

As such, he simply reiterated that these silvers were all earned legitimately.

Even though Zhang Yangping was not fully convinced, he ended up buying the story. After all, if Fang Zhengzhi could become a rank four official, what couldn't he do?

Then, Zhang Yangping had Zhang Li father all the villagers at the square. He wanted to formally welcome Fang Zhengzhi back and announce Fang Zhengzhi's plans to build the academy and highway.

After a whole afternoon, red silk hung from the top of the shrine. The shrine was cleaned and new cus.h.i.+ons were placed in front of it.

Fang Zhengzhi did not want to have the red silk. After all, the events of yesterday were still fresh in his mind.

However, Zhang Yangping insisted on it, all of the other villagers were also of the opinion that the events of yesterday should not dampen the festive spirit.

Furthermore, some of the villagers wanted to use this joyous occasion to rid the village of the 'bad omens'.

Fang Zhengzhi did not say anything else. He arranged for those injured villagers and their families to sit at the top table.

Ping Yang and Chi Guyan arrived on scene. The entire area seemed to brighten up, energizing all the villagers. Just as they were about to kneel, Fang Zhengzhi stopped them.

Then, Fang Zhengzhi placed Ping Yang on one of the tables next to the main table.

Ping Yang immediately pouted.

As the beloved princess of the empire, she had never been treated this way. However, just as she was about to flare up, she realized that Qin Xuelian and Fang Houde were also at this table.

Fang Zhengzhi also took his seat here.

Ping Yang's eyes glimmered when she saw this. She stopped pouting almost immediately.

Chi Guyan was calm and composed from start to finish.

After a round of prayers to the shrine, the rosewood tablet was placed next to the ancestral one. They were placed on the same level, representing similar status.

Once most of the ceremonial events were finished, Zhang Yangping cleared his throat and motioned for silence. Then, he glanced at Fang Zhengzhi, wanting him to announce the news.

Fang Zhengzhi shook his head and insisted on staying where he was.

Zhang Yangping had no other choice. He stood on stage and began announcing the plans for the renovation and rebuilding of the school. He also mentioned the building of the new road to Huai An County.

All of the villagers were stunned when they heard what Zhang Yangping proposed.

”Where would we get so much silver?”

”We barely have enough to feed ourselves.”

Zhang Yangping fully understood the thinking of the villagers. He motioned to Zhang Li and a few other youths. They began lugging the boxes of silver up on stage.

All of the villagers could not believe their eyes. They looked at each other in disbelief when they saw the boxes of silver, the ingots of gold, and the stack of cheques.

They had never seen such fortune in all their lives.

Zhang Yangping saw the suspicion in their eyes. He began to rea.s.sure everyone that this money was donated by Fang Zhengzhi. Zhengzhi had used purely legitimate means to get this money.

All of the villagers whooped and cheered Fang Zhengzhi's name when they heard this.

Ping Yang could not believe her ears.

”How is that legitimate? He got it from the sale of my Snow Jade stallion! He had gotten the rest of it by scamming me!” Ping Yang said in discontent.

However, she was surprised to hear that Fang Zhengzhi was going to use the money to build a school and roads.

All this while, she had thought that Fang Zhengzhi valued money as much as his life. She never expected him to invest his entire fortune in the future of his village.

He was actually doing something to better the society.

In that moment, she felt like she did not understand Fang Zhengzhi as well as she thought she did. Just as she was about to compliment him, she saw Fang Zhengzhi offer her a cup of tea.

”Erm... as a princess, would you like to make a donation? This school is for the betterment of the empire after all. How about 80,000 silvers?”

”Go to h.e.l.l!” Ping Yang rejected him unequivocally. This guy was just as greedy and shameless as before! 80,000?! That was daylight robbery!

”Are you really going to make the school that big?” Chi Guyan asked.

”Of course! If I want to do something, I'll make sure it is the best!” Fang Zhengzhi a.s.serted.

”However, the funds required to run this school will be immense. The Divine Constabulary can cover the expenses of the teachers. However, the empire simply cannot fund the maintenance of such a school. You need silver to maintain the library and hunting grounds. The Qingfeng Academy in Huai An County is funded by the empire and other large families. However, the Northern Mountain Village...”

Chi Guyan had made her point very clear.

With the Qingfeng Academy in Huai An County, the empire could not possibly build a second one here, and definitely not one on such a scale.

If it was just a small one, Chi Guyan may have some methods to keep it running. However, a school of such scale would require at least 100,000 silvers to run annually.

”I have my methods for finding the funds.” Fang Zhengzhi said confidently.

The best fields for money making were education, healthcare, property, food & beverages... basically, anything that was a necessity.

Of course, in this world, property, healthcare, and F&B were not too suitable.

As such...

Education was his best bet.

The families funding Qingfeng Academy were doing so in order to guarantee their sons a place in there. This was the same concept he was going to use here.

He would have 50 of the best sensei in all the North.

He had already solved the most pressing issue, quality of teachers. All roads lead to Rome. With a few ”little tricks”, all of the problems would be resolved in due time...

Inside a quiet residence in Huai An County.

Bai Xing looked extremely haggard. He was the commanding officer for this plot on Cang ling Mountain. However, he was the only demon who made it back.

More importantly, he had lost both The Vast World and the Heaven Dao Sage Tablet.

”Please punish me!”

”Domain Chief Bai, you said that The Vast World had already been taken when you returned?” A crisp voice could be heard from behind a curtain. There was a figure in a white dress sitting behind it.

It was Yun Qingwu.

”Yes, after The Vast World had absorbed Cang Ling Mountain, its weight was not something a normal person could move. One would need the power to move mountains and fill oceans. I believe that there are only two possibilities. One, the Four Sages had intervened. Two, our opponent had a treasure which countered The Vast World.”

”Which do you think is more likely?”

”The former. The chances of the latter happening are negligible.”

”Mm, I can't blame you entirely for this. I had forgotten to account for two people. I never expected Fang Zhengzhi and Chi Guyan to appear in The Vast World at the same time.”

”Master, what is our next course of action?”

”Xing Qingguo has seen Shan Jia. This may not be a bad thing. Shan Jia comes from the top family in the Southern Mountain Range. They are highly valued by the Great Xia Dynasty. Take this opportunity to take over the Southern Mountain Range. That will be your task!”

”But, master... Fang Zhengzhi, he...”

”Fang Zhengzhi? I received news that he killed nearly 100 soldiers in the Northern Mountain Village. Even with Chi Guyan supporting him, he will not have a good life in the capital. I think it is time for me to meet him as well. You don't have to worry about him!”

”Yes master!”

In the days after that, Fang Zhengzhi began his road of cultivation. Understanding the different Daos was the most difficult step, cultivating them was the easy part.

They were like s...o...b..a.l.l.s. One just needed to make a small one and roll it down a hill. When it reached the bottom, it would have naturally grown in size.

Fang Zhengzhi was basically trying to roll all two to three hundred of his s...o...b..a.l.l.s. His biggest question was whether he should roll them one at a time, or all at once.