Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Mischievous Child of the God of Wealth!

After the agreement was reached, White Bun, White Day Mouse, and the others were sent to rest in the side rooms for the time being, while Li Zhao stood up from his desk and, led by a servant, headed to the rear courtyard to discipline that troublesome child.

In the main hall, only Wang Yuanbao and the old steward remained.

“Master, there’s something this old servant wishes to say, though I’m not sure if I should.”

“Heh, are you wondering why I’ve entrusted the rise and fall of the Wang family to a mere boy?”

“Exactly!”

Wang Yuanbao was already past sixty, and his health was growing worse by the day. At any moment, he might close his eyes and never see the next sunrise. His grandson Changshou was only eleven, ignorant and mischievous, wholly unfit to sustain such a vast family estate.

Because of this, Wang Yuanbao had long been searching for someone loyal and capable to become the Wang family’s guardian, lest the family fortune be lost after his passing—a fact the old steward knew well.

Yet what the steward could not understand was why, after considering so many outstanding candidates, his master chose a sixteen-year-old youth they’d only known for two days. Could a mere boy bear such a heavy burden? Was he truly trustworthy?

“Haha! I started from nothing and became the richest man in the land by relying on two things: my shrewd business sense and my unfailing judgment of character. My eyes have never deceived me.

Don’t let Li Zhao’s age fool you—his mind is mature, he knows his limits, understands when to advance or retreat, values loyalty, and possesses a quality of treating wealth as mere dirt. With someone like him guarding the Wang family, I could rest easy even in my coffin!

As for his abilities, there’s even less doubt. This boy is a dragon among men—give him a few years, and he’ll soar to the heavens. He’s more than capable of protecting our family. What a shame I have no granddaughter to marry to him; that would be ideal.

Large fortunes, vast estates, and eventually, descendants will bring great trouble. Why is this so? Because wealth breeds courage, and with enough courage, nothing seems impossible. They won’t stop until disaster befalls them… How true these words are! Only men of great wisdom can see the truth within. Bring me brush, ink, paper, and inkstone! I’ll write these words and hang them in the main hall as our family precept. All descendants must remember them!”

“Yes, sir!”

…

“Bite him… bite! Harder, harder!”

“Haha! I won again, I won again! My invincible general is truly unmatched!”

“Young master is incredible! Young master is always victorious!”

In the octagonal pavilion of the Li family’s inner courtyard, Wang Changshou led a group of young servants, all crowded around a black clay jar, shouting and playing cricket-fights. Several maids stood by with fruit trays, ready to serve.

Seeing this, the servant quickly stepped forward, pulled Wang Changshou out from the crowd, and said, “Young master, this is Young Lord Li Zhao, whom your grandfather specially invited to instruct you. Hurry and pay your respects!”

“What? Him? What gives him the right to teach me? Has Grandfather gone senile?”

Wang Changshou glanced at Li Zhao, his eyes full of contempt.

His grandfather had invited many famous teachers before: renowned scholars, Imperial Academy doctors, even seasoned officials who had retired from turbulent careers—each one an old fox with a white beard.

And yet, none lasted more than fifteen days before being driven away by his mischief.

Now, this fellow looked barely older than himself—what right did he have to teach him?

“Young Lord Li, please forgive our young master. He’s always been this unruly—no teacher has ever managed to handle him.”

“No harm done. This child is fine, just needs a bit of discipline.”

Li Zhao was not at all angry. Dealing with spoiled children like this, gentle persuasion would be useless—only a firmer hand would do.

But this discipline was not physical punishment; it was a blow to the spirit. In other words, he would crush the boy’s self-confidence through skill, until the child was convinced and obedient.

…

“Good question—why do I have the right to teach you? Because in every way, I outclass you a hundredfold, while you’re nothing but a useless waste!”

“What? Did you just call me useless?”

“That’s right, you are—an utterly useless waste, the worst of the worst. Besides eating, drinking, and playing, what else can you do?”

“You… you… I’m not useless! I have many talents. I’ll show you what real skill is—Wen San, toss the coin!”

“Yes, young master!”

Wang Changshou, spoiled from birth, had never been so insulted. His little face flushed with anger as he drew a slingshot from his belt and loaded it with a golden pellet.

At the same time, one of the young servants produced a copper coin, tossing it high into the air, over ten meters up…

“Whoosh—crack!”

“Well done! A hundred paces through the willow leaf—unparalleled skill!”

Wang Changshou drew his slingshot and fired. The golden pellet shot out and struck the coin midair with a crisp clang.

The servants and maids clapped and cheered, flattering him to the utmost, while Wang Changshou wore a look of smug pride.

“Hehe, such petty tricks, and you dare show off? Your face must be as thick as the city walls of Chang’an! Never mind, let me show you real skill. Watch carefully…”

As he spoke, Li Zhao threw a coin of his own, sending it soaring more than twenty meters high. With a flick of his left hand, he sent a dart flying, hitting the coin squarely in midair.

As the coin fell, a second dart struck it again.

A third—hit!

A fourth—hit!

For the fifth, Li Zhao used more force. The dart struck the coin and sent it flying over thirty meters, pinning it deep into a willow tree, sinking more than three inches into the wood!

Five darts, five hits—his skill was beyond compare. Next to this, Wang Changshou’s display was child’s play.

“Well? Convinced yet, you little waste?”

“No! If you’ve got guts, let’s play chess!”

“Very well, as you wish. I won’t even bully you—have the first move and ten extra stones.”

As for chess, Li Zhao cared even less. Even with a ten-piece handicap, it took only a hundred moves to force Wang Changshou to admit defeat.

…

“Well? Ready to surrender, little waste?”

“No! If you dare, let’s play cuju!”

“Alright!”

…

“Little waste?”

“No! If you dare, let’s climb trees!”

“Fine!”

…

To make a long story short, they competed at cuju, tree climbing, music, cockfighting, cricket fighting, quail fighting… in every contest, Li Zhao won by a landslide.

As for our Young Master Changshou, his tender little heart was battered again and again, brought to the brink of collapse. He began to doubt deeply—was he truly a useless waste?

“Boy, calling you a waste earlier was a mistake. You’re not just a waste—you’re the worst of all wastes. You can’t do anything, you’re hopeless at everything. Keeping someone like you alive is just a waste of rice!

Ordinarily, I’d leave you to your own devices. But since your grandfather pleaded so earnestly, I’ll reluctantly take on the task of saving you. Listen carefully: starting tomorrow, you’ll follow me everywhere and do exactly as I say. If you dare disobey, this will be your fate!”

Li Zhao picked up two hard walnuts from a fruit tray and crushed them in his hand, the fragments falling through his fingers. Wang Changshou was so stunned he could only nod, not daring to utter a word of protest.

And so, from that day on, a new, obedient little follower appeared by Li Zhao’s side.

Meanwhile, word spread rapidly throughout Chang’an that Li Zhao had recovered the Wang family’s lost treasures—gold, silver, and glazed wares—in just two days.

Praise was universal and resounding. At the mere mention of Young Lord Zhao, everyone gave a thumbs-up. Even the Notorious Men organization’s reputation soared.

Of course, as some rejoiced, others were displeased.

…

“Damn it! Damn it! Bang, bang!”

In the back hall of the Jingzhao Prefecture, Ji Wen smashed four teacups and two teapots, unable to vent his frustration.

Most of the Notorious Men were former soldiers or street ruffians, wild and unruly, resisting all authority. Ji Wen had appointed Li Zhao as their leader, hoping he’d make a mistake and provide an excuse for punishment.

He only needed the smallest pretext—a beating of forty strokes would send Li Zhao straight to the underworld for tea with the King of Hell!

Yet to his surprise, Li Zhao had taken charge of the organization with flawless order. Not a single mistake had occurred.

Even more astonishing, in just two days, Li Zhao had solved a case that the prefectural yamen had been stumped by for half a month, recovering twenty chests of gold and jewels, eighty-one pieces of glazed ware, and winning the favor of the wealthiest man in the land.

Rumor had it, even the rich man’s little grandson had become Li Zhao’s devoted follower, trailing after him every day, calling him “big brother” with the greatest affection.

Now, everyone in Chang’an was talking about this, praising Li Zhao’s genius and predicting he would become a pillar of the state.

By contrast, Ji Wen and his subordinates had become the city’s laughingstock—bywords for incompetence and uselessness.

How could this be?

Evidently, he had underestimated the boy—a sixteen-year-old with such talent? Who knew what he’d become when grown?

No, he couldn’t be allowed to rise any higher. Otherwise, there would be no place left for Ji Wen in this world. He needed to act: “Where is Wang Biao?”

“Here, sir. What are your orders?”

A burly man with a full beard strode in—the head constable of the prefecture and Ji Wen’s loyal henchman.

“Here’s what you’ll do… and then this… Do you understand? Go quickly, and there’ll be a heavy reward if you succeed!”

“Rest assured, sir. I understand. I’ll make sure to teach those Notorious Men a good lesson!”