Chapter 372: Chapter 370: No One Can Refuse Qin Le Yin
A vast Radiance, with the exception of the Dongyang District, merchants in other areas are nearly all of low social status and at the bottom of society. Although merchants are quite capable of making money, unless they own production materials like factory owners, they have little armed protection for their property.
Most people in Radiance would rather call merchants the ’property managers’ of officials and the nobility, as merchants must seek the protection of rulers to survive. It is extremely rare for merchants like those in Dongyang District, who control production materials and overturn the ruling class, to rise from the bottom to the top, making everyone believe that the current rulers in Dongyang are the worst in history.
Therefore, few students at the Imperial Academy think of becoming merchants. If they want money, why not just become officials or generals? Having power inevitably leads to wealth, doesn’t it?
For ordinary people, becoming a merchant might be a choice made out of necessity, but this is not the case for students at the Imperial Academy. When they can obviously switch to higher-ranked gold elite professions like "Official/General," why choose the blue-level good profession of "Merchant"?
"I don’t study well, nor am I good at combat techniques." Li Ying knew Le Yu’s doubts and explained simply, "I only have a bit of interest in managing trade, and I’ve managed to make some money over the past six months, so I want to train at your chamber of commerce to see if I really have a talent for it... If this line of work suits me, then my plan is to latch onto someone else’s coattails and set a small goal to become a little wealthy woman in Yanjing."
Le Yu immediately understood—although merchants are easily taken as fat sheep to be slaughtered, someone like Li Ying, who has the aura of an elite school and classmates to look after her, will definitely be the last batch to be slaughtered, if at all, so there’s not much to worry about.
If her classmates rise to fame, for instance, if Ming Shuiyun really becomes the emperor, she could just lie back and count money; who would dare to slaughter the classmate who helped the emperor cheat back in the day?
This mindset is understandable, with Ming Shuiyun becoming the emperor, Qian Yuya going for revolution, and Li Ying becoming a merchant, everyone has a bright future.
With a free female student willingly stepping forward to be exploited, Le Yu had no reason to refuse: "Approved, little sister, just tell my second brother and let him make arrangements."
"Hmm."
Qin Yueshi nodded, looked at Le Yu, and said nothing. Le Yu raised her eyebrows, "What, do you want a reward too? No way, no way, my sister is actually acting cute and begging me? My sister is actually so cute?"
Qin Yueshi, whose face was already quite uncomfortable, immediately turned crimson with embarrassment at his words, especially with Li Ying and the newly acquainted Ming Yueyan nearby, she simply wished to find a hole to hide in. Yet she didn’t turn away but stubbornly looked at Qin Leyin: "I helped you, you owe me a thank you!"
Le Yu thoughtfully glanced at her and then turned to Li Ying: "What happened just now?"
Li Ying spoke honestly: "Shi Wen said some strange things, he said..."
"Alright, alright, one must have a sense of public virtue, don’t spread others’ nonsense." Le Yu waved his hand, "Let me think, based on his bullshitting rhythm, he probably started with your admission without an exam and having a brother who’s a teacher, and then you got sulky, feeling that you are being scolded because you owe your brother a favor, so you want clarity between siblings, no dragging each other down, I walk the single-plank bridge, you take the wide road... so you decided to demand a reward from me in such a cute way?"
Qin Yueshi’s face turned red and white. She suddenly could understand how Shi Wen felt when Qin Leyin analyzed his mental journey in class—his beautifully hidden ideas of self-reliance and strength were laid bare with teasing words, treating him like a child, leaving him so embarrassed he wished to disappear.
"No, not at all!" she gritted her teeth, which was her last stand.
"So you’re saying you’re not seeking to owe or pay, but simply want to act spoiled towards me!?" Le Yu looked astonished, spreading his arms wide: "Come, brother rewards you with a hug, don’t be shy!"
The string of rationality in Qin Yueshi’s mind snapped.
She was clearly trying to gather the courage to repay Qin Leyin’s kindness by cheating this time, then study hard, strive to become independent of the Qin Family, and no longer need Qin Leyin’s help, walking tall and proud... She had clearly come to show her determination to Qin Leyin, perhaps even to break ties, how did it come to this!? Why can’t I just gracefully play it cool for once!
"Qin! Le! Yin!"
Li Ying hastily held back the about-to-punch Qin Yueshi, "Sister Shi, sister Shi, don’t rush, talk with Teacher Qin tonight, causing a scene now will affect the plan... and people are watching too!"
"Huh?" The onlooker Ming Yueyan was taken aback: "I promise I won’t say anything, really, you can ask Shuiyun, I keep secrets tightly."
Interrupted in this way, Qin Yueshi lost the inclination to fight with Le Yu, instead glaring at her viciously, her eyes full of unshed tears, like a kitten that can’t win a fight but refuses to back down.
"Daily Task: Blacken Blue and Flames (1/1) (Completed); Lower Sister’s Favorability (1/2) (Remaining 50%)"
Le Yu also felt it was enough, after all, she couldn’t risk angering her sister into becoming Uchiha Sasuke on the spot, so she softened her tone and lightly tapped Qin Yueshi on the forehead.
"Thank you."
"Is just saying thank you enough?" Qin Yueshi murmured, but her expression softened considerably, taking Li Ying by the arm and leaving. Li Ying winked at Le Yu and mouthed ’Boss, I’ll soothe her for you’.
Before her job even started, Li Ying knew to protect her boss’s interests. Good, Le Yu liked such employees who bring blessings!
Watching them disappear into the distance, Le Yu turned to Ming Yueyan: "Alright, the obstacles have left, time to do serious business."
The fierce Leopard-Cat moved, carrying Ming Yueyan into the depths of the grove. She asked, "Where are we going?"
"To a place where no one will hear you even if you shout," Le Yu laughed, "What, scared?"
"Hey, actually, I think you should stop this, okay? You’re not scaring me with such suggestive jokes, I even feel like saying something more suggestive to scare you." Ming Yueyan shrugged, "I’m not scared—it’s not like you can kill me, and to be honest, last time I just used Teacher Qin as a side dish, if you’re really willing... you name the price, I’ve made quite a bit of money writing books."
Le Yu’s face darkened, and he sighed helplessly: "I’m just heading to a meeting, you can come as a witness, and act as my bounty. Remember, no speaking out of turn."
"No problem, I’m the most well-behaved." Ming Yueyan said, "What kind of meeting?"
"It’s a gathering of the sword sheaths."
"You can summon other sword sheaths?" Ming Yueyan was surprised.
"Of course."
Le Yu took out the signal flare given by Niruo and fired it towards the sky. The flare exploded in the sky with a trail of red smoke, clearly visible even on a sunny afternoon.
"No one can refuse the call of Qin Leyin."