Chapter 37: Is That All?

"If this storybook becomes required reading for the imperial examinations, Magistrate Zhao, do you still think it is appropriate to label these works as filthy, miscellaneous books?"

"Are you intending to set yourself against the Imperial Academy?"

Sub-Director Liu looked at Zhao Da with icy eyes.

These words broke Zhao Da out in a cold sweat. If that were truly the case, he would not only be opposing the Imperial Academy but also scholars across the entire realm. Zhao Da instinctively looked toward Zhao Hongwei, but even he could not come up with a solution now.

"Sub-Director, it was a lapse in my judgment. I mistook this book for a vulgar one. I shall return these books immediately." Zhao Da admitted his fault directly. "From now on, these books may be sold freely in Dongyang County; I would never dare to obstruct them again."

"Is returning the books all that is required?" Chen Fan spoke up just as Zhao Da finished his sentence.

Hearing this, Zhao Da narrowed his eyes, casting a cold glare at Chen Fan. "What else do you want?" he asked, feeling disgruntled. As a magistrate, he had already admitted his mistake—what more could this penniless youth possibly want?

Facing Zhao Da’s threatening gaze, Chen Fan merely offered a calm smile, completely unfazed.

"Magistrate Zhao, these books earn me quite a bit of money every day! By seizing them, you have caused me a significant loss today. Is a mere apology enough? Who is to be held responsible for my losses?" Chen Fan asked with a smile.

"The books are being returned to you so you can continue selling them. What possible loss could you have?" Zhao Hongwei interjected angrily before Zhao Da could speak.

Chen Fan remained calm, a faint smile still playing on his lips. For some reason, seeing that smile gave Zhao Hongwei an immediate sense of foreboding.

"The sages once said, 'An inch of time is worth an inch of gold.' You have wasted an entire day of my time—that represents a vast amount of gold! Don't you think you should compensate me? Or perhaps you believe the words of the sages are wrong?" Chen Fan said with a grin.

These words left Zhao Hongwei momentarily dumbfounded. He wanted to retort but dared not, for if he were branded with the accusation of questioning the sages, his career would be finished.

Sub-Director Liu, standing to the side, also revealed a smile. "Chen Fan is correct. Magistrate Zhao, you ought to provide compensation," he remarked.

Even with ten thousand objections in their hearts, Zhao Da and Zhao Hongwei could only nod in agreement.

"How much money do you want?" Zhao Da glared at Chen Fan, his eyes wide with a threat to not push his luck.

Chen Fan held up three fingers.

"Thirty taels, is it? I’ll give it to you," Zhao Da said dismissively, signaling for someone to bring over thirty taels of silver.

"Magistrate, you misunderstand; it is not thirty taels," Chen Fan replied with a smile.

"You want three hundred taels?" Zhao Da’s brow furrowed. While three hundred taels might be a fortune to an ordinary person, to a magistrate like Zhao Da, it was a drop in the bucket. However, he did not want to hand over even that much to Chen Fan for free.

"I want three thousand taels," Chen Fan said calmly.

Zhao Da’s expression changed instantly, his brows knitting tightly. Even the surrounding scholars felt that Chen Fan was being somewhat greedy.

"Chen Fan, do not push your luck! You have the nerve to ask for three thousand taels? I doubt you could earn that much in a lifetime of selling books!" Zhao Hongwei scolded him immediately, unaware of the actual profit margins of the book sales.

"This money is not just for me; it is for them as well," Chen Fan said, gesturing to the surrounding scholars. The crowd looked at him in confusion.

"You didn't just waste my time; you wasted the time of all these people. Do you not intend to compensate them as well?" Chen Fan asked with a smile.

Hearing this, the scholars looked at Chen Fan with gratitude, moved that he was still thinking of them.

"If you give me these three thousand taels, I will add some of my own money, and all books sold today will be half-price. This will serve as compensation for these scholars," Chen Fan said earnestly.

Moved, the scholars looked at Chen Fan with fervent admiration.

"Master Chen has a noble heart, but we cannot let you lose money. This should be paid by the Zhao family!"
"Exactly! The Zhao family wasted our time; what does that have to do with Master Chen? They should cover all our losses!"
"The Zhao family must compensate us and Master Chen for all our losses!"

The scholars began to cry out, addressing Chen Fan as "Master." Now, it was Zhao Hongwei and Zhao Da’s turn to panic. If everyone demanded compensation, even selling the magistrate’s office wouldn't be enough to cover it.

"Chen Fan, you said earlier that three thousand taels would cover everyone's losses. I will give you the three thousand now!" Zhao Da whispered urgently, preparing to have his men fetch the money.

"Magistrate Zhao, that was the price a moment ago. Now, I want six thousand," Chen Fan smiled.

Zhao Da’s face shifted. "Chen Fan, don't you dare—"

"If you are unwilling, then so be it. I wonder if these scholars might storm the magistrate's office to seize the money themselves. If they find out just how much wealth you have, Magistrate Zhao, who knows what the outcome will be?" Chen Fan chuckled.

Hearing this, Zhao Da looked at the increasingly agitated crowd and felt a surge of fear. His secret treasury was hidden within the magistrate's office; if those scholars discovered it, the matter could never be hushed up. Spending the rest of his life in prison would be the least of his worries—he would likely be executed.

Chen Fan sneered inwardly, realizing he had guessed correctly: Zhao Da was far from clean.

"Fine! I will give you six thousand taels. Just take these scholars away at once!" Zhao Da pulled six thousand taels in silver notes from his robes and shoved them at Chen Fan.

Chen Fan glanced at the thickness of the notes, his smile widening.

"Fellow students, please listen to me," Chen Fan said, turning to the crowd. The noisy scholars immediately quieted down. Sub-Director Liu watched with appreciation, surprised that such proud scholars would listen so intently to Chen Fan.

"Magistrate Zhao has already admitted his fault, so let us not be too harsh on him. Let us not waste any more time here. Since the Magistrate has returned the books, let us line up and make our purchases!"

"My promise remains unchanged: all books sold today will be half-price. Consider it my gratitude for your kindness toward this book," Chen Fan said with a smile.

The scholars were even more moved by Chen Fan’s willingness to compensate them personally, and their respect for him grew deeper.

Chen Fan watched them with satisfaction; he had achieved his goal. Even at half-price, the books remained profitable. He hadn't lost a cent; with the six thousand taels from the Zhao family, he had earned even more than before.

Watching the scholars look at Chen Fan with such gratitude, the Zhao father and son felt a bitter taste in their mouths—knowing full well that the money had come from their own pockets.