Chapter 163
If audio player doesn't work, press Stop then Play button again
Chapter 163 The Hidden Secrets
"Lin San, is this true? Is this really true?" The Eldest Miss looked at her delicate hand in disbelief. It remained as fair and smooth as before, as if her previous washing was just a simple act. It was truly miraculous.
"You don't believe it? You can wash your hands again. But I can't guarantee that this time you won't end up as pig trotters after being deep-fried in oil," Lin Wanrong chuckled.
The bubbles in the oil had disappeared, and the oil in the pot was truly boiling. Now, when ten small hands were dipped into it, what would be fished out were ten fried pig trotters.
"It's impossible, this can't be." However, Tao Dongcheng seemed to have gone mad. He suddenly lunged forward, reaching his hand towards the oil pot.
"Brother—" Wanying, who was standing beside him, had been paying close attention to his actions. Seeing him go crazy, she immediately reached out and grabbed him, but she was still a step too late. Tao Dongcheng's fingers had already gone halfway in.
"Ah!" A miserable scream echoed, startling everyone. Although Tao Dongcheng's five fingers had only gone halfway in, the scorching hot oil pot was not to be underestimated. After the scream, he swiftly pulled back his palm, which was now red and swollen, with large blisters forming in no time.
"You, how is this possible—" Tao Dongcheng's face turned pale, the excruciating pain in his fingers made him point at Lin Wanrong, "This is sorcery."
However, Tao Wanying hurriedly brought sesame oil and started bandaging her brother's hand. The excruciating pain from his fingers caused Tao Dongcheng to scream again.
Wanying looked at her brother's injuries. Although his fingers had only gone halfway in, the power of boiling oil was not insignificant. Even if his palm healed, it would probably not be as agile as before.
"Lin San, you used sorcery to harm my brother. I won't let you get away with it," Tao Wanying stared at Lin Wanrong, her eyes filled with angry flames.
The people in the hall were all puzzled. Could Lin San really know sorcery? Earlier, the Eldest Miss easily took the coin with her hand, but why did it look different when it was Young Master Tao's turn?
"Sorcery?" Lin Wanrong sneered. "Miss Tao, during today's competition, everyone present in the hall, including Minister Xu as the witness, saw with their own eyes that I didn't use sorcery. If we talk about fairness, it was Young Master Tao who suddenly proposed this competition, and he was already well-prepared while my Xiao family hastily responded. It was quite unfair to the Xiao family. He bullies the Xiao family because they are all women, and he uses his position and power in the Jinling Chamber of Commerce to force a weak woman to compete with him. Everyone can see the injustice in this. If Young Master Tao had won, would you accuse your brother of using sorcery? Would you defend the Xiao family then?"
Tao Wanying glared at him with anger, although she hated Lin Wanrong, she had to admit that what he said made sense.
"People in this world all have their own selfish motives. That can be understood. But someone like you, who doesn't distinguish between right and wrong, who confuses right and wrong, you can only win, but you can't lose. Are you really claiming that your Tao family is the best in the world? What a great joke," Lin Wanrong disdainfully glanced at Tao Wanying.
"Why is it that the hand-washing in the oil pot had different outcomes for Miss Yuruo and my brother? Why did she come out unharmed, while my brother suffered such a serious injury?" Tao Wanying angrily questioned.
"All things in the world have their physical properties; it is the science of nature," Lin Wanrong replied. "Moreover, I had given Young Master Tao the opportunity earlier to take the coins before Eldest Miss. However, he hesitated and missed the chance himself. On the other hand, Eldest Miss, even if she had to sacrifice her hand, would have still retrieved the item from the oil pot. Such spirit and determination are not something your brother can compare to. Besides, it was your brother who proposed this competition. He brought this upon himself, so how can he blame others?"
This statement was both reasonable and logical, and everyone in the hall nodded in agreement. They had all witnessed the alliance between the Jiangnan and Zhejiang Chambers of Commerce, pressuring the Xiao family. And it was Tao Dongcheng who initiated the competition, so it was not fair to blame others.
"Young Master Tao, you proposed this competition, and there was fairness with Minister Xu as the witness. Are you willing to accept the outcome?" Xu Wei asked Tao Dongcheng.
Since it was a best-of-three competition, and the Xiao family had already won two rounds, there was no need for the third round.
Tao Dongcheng's gaze dimmed. This time, he had truly been defeated. The Tao family had lost two rounds in front of everyone, which could be described as a fruitless attempt. The Tao family lost not only in skill but also in character. Lin San seemed like an extraordinary person. In these two rounds, he had lost without understanding how. How did Lin San recognize the diamond, and why were the results so different in the hand-washing challenge? The mysteries within were unknown to anyone but Lin Wanrong.
"I'm willing to accept the outcome of the competition. I will step down as the Chairman of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce. I request the brothers and sisters in the chamber to choose a capable successor," Tao Dongcheng reluctantly said. "I will transfer our Tao family's textile workshop to the Xiao family without compensation. I'll write up the agreement."
Under the watchful eye of the cunning Xu Wei, Tao Dongcheng couldn't play any tricks. He obediently instructed Tao Wanying to prepare the agreement. With his left hand, Tao Dongcheng pressed his handprint on the document, officially transferring the Tao family's textile workshop to the Xiao family.
Eldest Miss watched the scene before her with a dazed expression. Everything felt like a dream. She glanced at Lin San and sighed, "Today's events are truly peculiar. I still can't quite understand."
Lin Wanrong smiled and replied, "That's how life is. Unexpected changes always occur in an instant. By the time you comprehend them, everything has already become reality."
Eldest Miss nodded, putting aside her contemplation and carefully considering how to handle the acquisition of the Tao family's textile workshop.
Xu Wei swept his gaze across the people in the hall and said, "Today, Chairman Tao of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce has resigned. In my opinion, it would be a good opportunity, with both Chambers of Commerce gathered here, to elect a new chairman to ensure the proper functioning of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce. What do you all think?"
There was no objection to this suggestion, and Liu Yue'e was the first to stand up and propose, "I suggest that Miss Xiao be appointed as the new chairman of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce."
As soon as Liu Yue'e made her proposal, it received an immediate response from the crowd. Xiao Yuruo became the new chairman of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce without any suspense. The position was not unfamiliar to her. When she was young, Madam Xiao held the position of the Chamber's Chairman. Now, she was passing on the torch to her daughter, making it a heartwarming story.
Tao Dongcheng had already left with the support of Tao Wanying to seek medical treatment. Xu Wei glanced at the pale-faced Pudgy Yu and asked, "Chairman Yu, what is the situation with your Hangzhou Chamber of Commerce now?"
Pudgy Yu, who had been suppressing the Xiao family together with Tao Dongcheng just an hour ago, now found himself in a situation where the Xiao family had become the leader of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce, equal to his own position. It was impossible to bring up the issue of suppression. He could only say, "Congratulations to Miss Xiao for taking the reins of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce. The colleagues from our Zhejiang Chamber of Commerce will surely support Miss Xiao and contribute to the prosperity of business in both regions."
"That's good to hear," Xu Wei scanned the people in the hall and spoke slowly, "I have been in Hangzhou for a few months now, and I've heard rumors of a White Lotus gathering taking place recently. Those wicked people are using some tricks to grow Buddha statues from soil using seeds, deceiving the common people, recruiting followers, but in reality, they are causing turmoil and shaking the foundation of our Great Hua."
Confusion filled the faces of everyone in the hall. It was a Chamber of Commerce, so why was Xu Wei suddenly mentioning this religious gathering?
With a snort, Xu Wei continued, "Yesterday, I personally attended that White Lotus gathering and exposed their deceptive sorcery. After a night of investigation, it was confirmed that these people are evil followers of the White Lotus cult. Their actions are meant to deceive ordinary people into joining the White Lotus cult. Their deeds are despicable, and their hearts deserve to be condemned."
At the mention of the White Lotus cult, silence fell upon the hall. Everyone knew the nature of the White Lotus cult—committing all sorts of atrocities such as arson, killing, and looting. Especially those in the Jinling Chamber of Commerce, they knew that the Xiao family had been targeted by the White Lotus cult in the past. With a rabbit's death comes a fox's sorrow, so no one in the chamber had any favorable opinion of the White Lotus cult.
"This time, during my visit to Jiangnan, His Majesty authorized me to act as I see fit. Yesterday, I broke up that White Lotus gathering, and this morning, those incorrigible White Lotus followers were beheaded on the spot as a warning to others. That's why I arrived a bit late today, because I stepped on the blood of those evildoers," Xu Wei's body emitted a chilling aura as he swept his gaze across the crowd. Many people lowered their heads, afraid to meet his eyes.
"According to the confessions of the criminals, there are many merchants within this Hangzhou Chamber of Commerce who are their followers. They have provided considerable financial support to them. Chairman Yu, are you aware of this?" Xu Wei casually mentioned.
Pudgy Yu turned pale with fright and quickly fell to his knees, loudly exclaiming, "Minister, I had no knowledge of this!"
With a cold snort, Xu Wei said, "I have already ordered the registration of those merchants confessed by the criminals. I have all the information in my possession. They will be thoroughly investigated and dealt with in the coming days. There will be no tolerance."
The Zhejiang merchants in the hall felt uneasy. They had heard of Xu Wei's methods before. Half of the Emperor's strategies originated from him, and dealing with a few merchants was an easy task for him.
Upon seeing Xu Wei diverting the topic to the White Lotus cult, Lin Wanrong suddenly understood. Damn, this old man came fully prepared. He must have known about the connection between the Tao family and the White Lotus cult and secretly assisted the Xiao family today to bring down Tao Dongcheng. Xu Wei played this move beautifully. He actually thought this old man appreciated his talent, but it turned out he used him as a pawn. This Xu Wenchang was even more cunning than Luo Min, a sly old fox.
Seeing the expressions of the people, Xu Wei smiled slightly and spoke slowly, "However, no one is without faults. Considering that some colleagues were momentarily confused and made mistakes, I will give you all a chance. It doesn't matter who you are or how deep your involvement with the White Lotus cult is. As long as you, at the specified time and location, confess clearly to me the amount of money you have provided to the White Lotus cult, you shall pay double to the national treasury as redemption funds. I guarantee that there will be no blame for the past, and I will keep it confidential for all of you. You can continue to focus on your business without worry."
Lin Wanrong broke into a cold sweat. This old man truly had some tricks up his sleeve. Combining bluffs, deception, and coercion, these businessmen might be clever, but they were no match for Xu Wei, a seasoned player in the political arena. Lin Wanrong was certain that Xu Wei did not possess a list as he claimed. Those small fry captured yesterday would never have confessed such crucial information. This old man was playing mind games.
"Within three days, I will be waiting for all of you at the Hangzhou Prefectural Yamen," Xu Wei continued calmly. "But if anyone dares to harbor illusions of luck..." A stern look flashed in his eyes. "When the time comes, don't blame me for being merciless."
The Chambers of Commerce in both regions concluded amidst a commotion, competition, and intimidation. This year's gathering was livelier than any previous annual meeting, and the level of fear surpassed any previous year as well, especially for those businessmen with guilty consciences.
The others had already left, leaving only Lin San, Eldest Miss, and Xu Wei. Xu Wei smiled and said, "Little brother Lin, don't be in such a hurry to leave. Quickly tell me the secret of washing hands in the oil pan. I'm quite curious."
The one who held the power of life and death in the imperial court moments ago now appeared as a curious old man. Xu Wei was truly a peculiar individual. Eldest Miss was also filled with curiosity and said, "Lin San, please tell me."
Lin Wanrong smiled and replied, "The secret is actually worthless, but you must promise to keep it confidential. I might need to use it again in the future."
Xu Wei chuckled and said, "Washing hands in the oil pan must be similar to the growth of the stone statue, a clever manipulation. But how exactly it is done, I can't figure it out."
Lin Wanrong nodded and said, "Actually, it's a simple application of common knowledge. The trick is that I added vinegar to the oil in the pot."
"Vinegar?" Eldest Miss exclaimed. "No wonder I smelled a sour odor. I thought it was coming from the restaurant below, but it turns out it was you, you wicked person, playing tricks."
Xu Wei was eager and said, "Why vinegar? Little brother Lin, please continue."
Lin Wanrong smiled and continued, "When I went down to find the oil, I mixed vinegar with the oil in the pot. Since vinegar has a higher density than oil, it sinks to the bottom of the pot while the oil floats on top. So what everyone sees and what Mr. Xu scooped up is all oil, but they can't see the vinegar."
Xu Wei laughed and said, "I didn't expect there to be a trick like this. I fell for it. What comes next?"
"After heating, the vinegar quickly vaporizes and passes through the oil layer in the form of gas, causing the surface of the oil to appear to boil vigorously, accompanied by bursts of blue smoke, which is quite intimidating. But in fact, due to the presence of vinegar between the oil and the fire, the temperature of the oil only rises through the transfer of heat from the vinegar. So it doesn't boil that quickly. What we see is just the effect of the bubbles, and the oil itself is not hot at all. Therefore, when Eldest Miss reached into the oil pot to retrieve the copper coins, everyone believed what they saw with their own eyes and thought that Eldest Miss would get hurt. But it was actually an optical illusion. The oil above the vinegar layer was just lukewarm."
"I see now," Xu Wei said. "But what about the limescale you added? What was that for?"
This old Xu was quite observant, even noticing the limescale. Lin Wanrong couldn't explain to them that it was a chemical reaction between calcium carbonate and acetic acid, producing carbon dioxide. He could only give a brief explanation, "The limescale settles at the bottom and reacts with the vinegar, causing bubbles to form. This makes the boiling oil pot appear more realistic."
Eldest Miss asked, "But why was I able to retrieve the coins safely while Tao Dongcheng suffered serious injuries?" This was also a question that puzzled Xu Wei.
Lin Wanrong explained, "That's a matter of timing. The amount of vinegar in the oil pot needs to be appropriate, not too little, to ensure that it vaporizes and evaporates slightly when heated. When the oil in the pot is bubbling and emitting blue smoke, there is actually very little vinegar left at the bottom of the pot, and the oil is not yet very hot. So when you reach in, it feels comfortable in temperature, allowing you to easily retrieve the copper coins. Of course, there can't be too much vinegar either, as too much vinegar won't vaporize easily and the temperature after vaporization would be high, which could easily cause burns. It's a matter of finding the right balance."
"Lin San, based on what you're saying, you must have tricked many people with this technique before. Otherwise, how could you be so precise?" Eldest Miss pouted.
Lin Wanrong smiled and said, "I didn't deceive anyone. There's another trick to it, and it's actually the simplest method. The amount of limescale is small, and after it produces a burst of bubbles, it's already used up. The remaining bubbles are formed by the vaporization of vinegar. So, I had to keep a close eye on the oil pan to see if there were still bubbles rising from the bottom. If there were no more bubbles, it meant that the vinegar had completely vaporized, and at that point, the temperature of the oil would quickly rise, and that's when the oil would truly boil."
Eldest Miss clapped her hands and exclaimed, "I understand now. When I retrieved the coins, it was when the bubbles were the most concentrated, indicating that the vinegar had just started to vaporize, so the temperature was still low, allowing me to quickly take them out. But when Tao Dongcheng reached in later, there were no more bubbles, indicating that the vinegar had completely evaporated, and the oil pot was really hot, which caused him to get injured."
Lin Wanrong raised his thumb and said, "Eldest Miss is truly clever."
"Stop it," Eldest Miss blushed and whispered softly.
"Little brother Lin, you intentionally let Tao Dongcheng catch the coins first, using a strategy of enticing the enemy to reveal themselves. You were certain that he wouldn't dare to go first," Xu Wei sighed, "You're young, but you have a deep understanding of human nature."
"Not at all," Lin Wanrong shamelessly smiled, "How could I be as cunning as you, Mr. Xu? If he had really put his hand in, then he would have taken the coins. I would have urged Eldest Miss to seize the opportunity before the bubbles disappeared, and we could have settled for a tie."
Eldest Miss chuckled softly, "You, if you joined that evil White Lotus cult, you could be a charlatan. Why did you choose to learn that trick instead of something else?"
As she mentioned the charlatan, she glanced lightly at Lin Wanrong, her face blushing, her expression incredibly captivating.
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Chapter 163 The Hidden Secrets
"Lin San, is this true? Is this really true?" The Eldest Miss looked at her delicate hand in disbelief. It remained as fair and smooth as before, as if her previous washing was just a simple act. It was truly miraculous.
"You don't believe it? You can wash your hands again. But I can't guarantee that this time you won't end up as pig trotters after being deep-fried in oil," Lin Wanrong chuckled.
The bubbles in the oil had disappeared, and the oil in the pot was truly boiling. Now, when ten small hands were dipped into it, what would be fished out were ten fried pig trotters.
"It's impossible, this can't be." However, Tao Dongcheng seemed to have gone mad. He suddenly lunged forward, reaching his hand towards the oil pot.
"Brother—" Wanying, who was standing beside him, had been paying close attention to his actions. Seeing him go crazy, she immediately reached out and grabbed him, but she was still a step too late. Tao Dongcheng's fingers had already gone halfway in.
"Ah!" A miserable scream echoed, startling everyone. Although Tao Dongcheng's five fingers had only gone halfway in, the scorching hot oil pot was not to be underestimated. After the scream, he swiftly pulled back his palm, which was now red and swollen, with large blisters forming in no time.
"You, how is this possible—" Tao Dongcheng's face turned pale, the excruciating pain in his fingers made him point at Lin Wanrong, "This is sorcery."
However, Tao Wanying hurriedly brought sesame oil and started bandaging her brother's hand. The excruciating pain from his fingers caused Tao Dongcheng to scream again.
Wanying looked at her brother's injuries. Although his fingers had only gone halfway in, the power of boiling oil was not insignificant. Even if his palm healed, it would probably not be as agile as before.
"Lin San, you used sorcery to harm my brother. I won't let you get away with it," Tao Wanying stared at Lin Wanrong, her eyes filled with angry flames.
The people in the hall were all puzzled. Could Lin San really know sorcery? Earlier, the Eldest Miss easily took the coin with her hand, but why did it look different when it was Young Master Tao's turn?
"Sorcery?" Lin Wanrong sneered. "Miss Tao, during today's competition, everyone present in the hall, including Minister Xu as the witness, saw with their own eyes that I didn't use sorcery. If we talk about fairness, it was Young Master Tao who suddenly proposed this competition, and he was already well-prepared while my Xiao family hastily responded. It was quite unfair to the Xiao family. He bullies the Xiao family because they are all women, and he uses his position and power in the Jinling Chamber of Commerce to force a weak woman to compete with him. Everyone can see the injustice in this. If Young Master Tao had won, would you accuse your brother of using sorcery? Would you defend the Xiao family then?"
Tao Wanying glared at him with anger, although she hated Lin Wanrong, she had to admit that what he said made sense.
"People in this world all have their own selfish motives. That can be understood. But someone like you, who doesn't distinguish between right and wrong, who confuses right and wrong, you can only win, but you can't lose. Are you really claiming that your Tao family is the best in the world? What a great joke," Lin Wanrong disdainfully glanced at Tao Wanying.
"Why is it that the hand-washing in the oil pot had different outcomes for Miss Yuruo and my brother? Why did she come out unharmed, while my brother suffered such a serious injury?" Tao Wanying angrily questioned.
"All things in the world have their physical properties; it is the science of nature," Lin Wanrong replied. "Moreover, I had given Young Master Tao the opportunity earlier to take the coins before Eldest Miss. However, he hesitated and missed the chance himself. On the other hand, Eldest Miss, even if she had to sacrifice her hand, would have still retrieved the item from the oil pot. Such spirit and determination are not something your brother can compare to. Besides, it was your brother who proposed this competition. He brought this upon himself, so how can he blame others?"
This statement was both reasonable and logical, and everyone in the hall nodded in agreement. They had all witnessed the alliance between the Jiangnan and Zhejiang Chambers of Commerce, pressuring the Xiao family. And it was Tao Dongcheng who initiated the competition, so it was not fair to blame others.
"Young Master Tao, you proposed this competition, and there was fairness with Minister Xu as the witness. Are you willing to accept the outcome?" Xu Wei asked Tao Dongcheng.
Since it was a best-of-three competition, and the Xiao family had already won two rounds, there was no need for the third round.
Tao Dongcheng's gaze dimmed. This time, he had truly been defeated. The Tao family had lost two rounds in front of everyone, which could be described as a fruitless attempt. The Tao family lost not only in skill but also in character. Lin San seemed like an extraordinary person. In these two rounds, he had lost without understanding how. How did Lin San recognize the diamond, and why were the results so different in the hand-washing challenge? The mysteries within were unknown to anyone but Lin Wanrong.
"I'm willing to accept the outcome of the competition. I will step down as the Chairman of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce. I request the brothers and sisters in the chamber to choose a capable successor," Tao Dongcheng reluctantly said. "I will transfer our Tao family's textile workshop to the Xiao family without compensation. I'll write up the agreement."
Under the watchful eye of the cunning Xu Wei, Tao Dongcheng couldn't play any tricks. He obediently instructed Tao Wanying to prepare the agreement. With his left hand, Tao Dongcheng pressed his handprint on the document, officially transferring the Tao family's textile workshop to the Xiao family.
Eldest Miss watched the scene before her with a dazed expression. Everything felt like a dream. She glanced at Lin San and sighed, "Today's events are truly peculiar. I still can't quite understand."
Lin Wanrong smiled and replied, "That's how life is. Unexpected changes always occur in an instant. By the time you comprehend them, everything has already become reality."
Eldest Miss nodded, putting aside her contemplation and carefully considering how to handle the acquisition of the Tao family's textile workshop.
Xu Wei swept his gaze across the people in the hall and said, "Today, Chairman Tao of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce has resigned. In my opinion, it would be a good opportunity, with both Chambers of Commerce gathered here, to elect a new chairman to ensure the proper functioning of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce. What do you all think?"
There was no objection to this suggestion, and Liu Yue'e was the first to stand up and propose, "I suggest that Miss Xiao be appointed as the new chairman of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce."
As soon as Liu Yue'e made her proposal, it received an immediate response from the crowd. Xiao Yuruo became the new chairman of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce without any suspense. The position was not unfamiliar to her. When she was young, Madam Xiao held the position of the Chamber's Chairman. Now, she was passing on the torch to her daughter, making it a heartwarming story.
Tao Dongcheng had already left with the support of Tao Wanying to seek medical treatment. Xu Wei glanced at the pale-faced Pudgy Yu and asked, "Chairman Yu, what is the situation with your Hangzhou Chamber of Commerce now?"
Pudgy Yu, who had been suppressing the Xiao family together with Tao Dongcheng just an hour ago, now found himself in a situation where the Xiao family had become the leader of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce, equal to his own position. It was impossible to bring up the issue of suppression. He could only say, "Congratulations to Miss Xiao for taking the reins of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce. The colleagues from our Zhejiang Chamber of Commerce will surely support Miss Xiao and contribute to the prosperity of business in both regions."
"That's good to hear," Xu Wei scanned the people in the hall and spoke slowly, "I have been in Hangzhou for a few months now, and I've heard rumors of a White Lotus gathering taking place recently. Those wicked people are using some tricks to grow Buddha statues from soil using seeds, deceiving the common people, recruiting followers, but in reality, they are causing turmoil and shaking the foundation of our Great Hua."
Confusion filled the faces of everyone in the hall. It was a Chamber of Commerce, so why was Xu Wei suddenly mentioning this religious gathering?
With a snort, Xu Wei continued, "Yesterday, I personally attended that White Lotus gathering and exposed their deceptive sorcery. After a night of investigation, it was confirmed that these people are evil followers of the White Lotus cult. Their actions are meant to deceive ordinary people into joining the White Lotus cult. Their deeds are despicable, and their hearts deserve to be condemned."
At the mention of the White Lotus cult, silence fell upon the hall. Everyone knew the nature of the White Lotus cult—committing all sorts of atrocities such as arson, killing, and looting. Especially those in the Jinling Chamber of Commerce, they knew that the Xiao family had been targeted by the White Lotus cult in the past. With a rabbit's death comes a fox's sorrow, so no one in the chamber had any favorable opinion of the White Lotus cult.
"This time, during my visit to Jiangnan, His Majesty authorized me to act as I see fit. Yesterday, I broke up that White Lotus gathering, and this morning, those incorrigible White Lotus followers were beheaded on the spot as a warning to others. That's why I arrived a bit late today, because I stepped on the blood of those evildoers," Xu Wei's body emitted a chilling aura as he swept his gaze across the crowd. Many people lowered their heads, afraid to meet his eyes.
"According to the confessions of the criminals, there are many merchants within this Hangzhou Chamber of Commerce who are their followers. They have provided considerable financial support to them. Chairman Yu, are you aware of this?" Xu Wei casually mentioned.
Pudgy Yu turned pale with fright and quickly fell to his knees, loudly exclaiming, "Minister, I had no knowledge of this!"
With a cold snort, Xu Wei said, "I have already ordered the registration of those merchants confessed by the criminals. I have all the information in my possession. They will be thoroughly investigated and dealt with in the coming days. There will be no tolerance."
The Zhejiang merchants in the hall felt uneasy. They had heard of Xu Wei's methods before. Half of the Emperor's strategies originated from him, and dealing with a few merchants was an easy task for him.
Upon seeing Xu Wei diverting the topic to the White Lotus cult, Lin Wanrong suddenly understood. Damn, this old man came fully prepared. He must have known about the connection between the Tao family and the White Lotus cult and secretly assisted the Xiao family today to bring down Tao Dongcheng. Xu Wei played this move beautifully. He actually thought this old man appreciated his talent, but it turned out he used him as a pawn. This Xu Wenchang was even more cunning than Luo Min, a sly old fox.
Seeing the expressions of the people, Xu Wei smiled slightly and spoke slowly, "However, no one is without faults. Considering that some colleagues were momentarily confused and made mistakes, I will give you all a chance. It doesn't matter who you are or how deep your involvement with the White Lotus cult is. As long as you, at the specified time and location, confess clearly to me the amount of money you have provided to the White Lotus cult, you shall pay double to the national treasury as redemption funds. I guarantee that there will be no blame for the past, and I will keep it confidential for all of you. You can continue to focus on your business without worry."
Lin Wanrong broke into a cold sweat. This old man truly had some tricks up his sleeve. Combining bluffs, deception, and coercion, these businessmen might be clever, but they were no match for Xu Wei, a seasoned player in the political arena. Lin Wanrong was certain that Xu Wei did not possess a list as he claimed. Those small fry captured yesterday would never have confessed such crucial information. This old man was playing mind games.
"Within three days, I will be waiting for all of you at the Hangzhou Prefectural Yamen," Xu Wei continued calmly. "But if anyone dares to harbor illusions of luck..." A stern look flashed in his eyes. "When the time comes, don't blame me for being merciless."
The Chambers of Commerce in both regions concluded amidst a commotion, competition, and intimidation. This year's gathering was livelier than any previous annual meeting, and the level of fear surpassed any previous year as well, especially for those businessmen with guilty consciences.
The others had already left, leaving only Lin San, Eldest Miss, and Xu Wei. Xu Wei smiled and said, "Little brother Lin, don't be in such a hurry to leave. Quickly tell me the secret of washing hands in the oil pan. I'm quite curious."
The one who held the power of life and death in the imperial court moments ago now appeared as a curious old man. Xu Wei was truly a peculiar individual. Eldest Miss was also filled with curiosity and said, "Lin San, please tell me."
Lin Wanrong smiled and replied, "The secret is actually worthless, but you must promise to keep it confidential. I might need to use it again in the future."
Xu Wei chuckled and said, "Washing hands in the oil pan must be similar to the growth of the stone statue, a clever manipulation. But how exactly it is done, I can't figure it out."
Lin Wanrong nodded and said, "Actually, it's a simple application of common knowledge. The trick is that I added vinegar to the oil in the pot."
"Vinegar?" Eldest Miss exclaimed. "No wonder I smelled a sour odor. I thought it was coming from the restaurant below, but it turns out it was you, you wicked person, playing tricks."
Xu Wei was eager and said, "Why vinegar? Little brother Lin, please continue."
Lin Wanrong smiled and continued, "When I went down to find the oil, I mixed vinegar with the oil in the pot. Since vinegar has a higher density than oil, it sinks to the bottom of the pot while the oil floats on top. So what everyone sees and what Mr. Xu scooped up is all oil, but they can't see the vinegar."
Xu Wei laughed and said, "I didn't expect there to be a trick like this. I fell for it. What comes next?"
"After heating, the vinegar quickly vaporizes and passes through the oil layer in the form of gas, causing the surface of the oil to appear to boil vigorously, accompanied by bursts of blue smoke, which is quite intimidating. But in fact, due to the presence of vinegar between the oil and the fire, the temperature of the oil only rises through the transfer of heat from the vinegar. So it doesn't boil that quickly. What we see is just the effect of the bubbles, and the oil itself is not hot at all. Therefore, when Eldest Miss reached into the oil pot to retrieve the copper coins, everyone believed what they saw with their own eyes and thought that Eldest Miss would get hurt. But it was actually an optical illusion. The oil above the vinegar layer was just lukewarm."
"I see now," Xu Wei said. "But what about the limescale you added? What was that for?"
This old Xu was quite observant, even noticing the limescale. Lin Wanrong couldn't explain to them that it was a chemical reaction between calcium carbonate and acetic acid, producing carbon dioxide. He could only give a brief explanation, "The limescale settles at the bottom and reacts with the vinegar, causing bubbles to form. This makes the boiling oil pot appear more realistic."
Eldest Miss asked, "But why was I able to retrieve the coins safely while Tao Dongcheng suffered serious injuries?" This was also a question that puzzled Xu Wei.
Lin Wanrong explained, "That's a matter of timing. The amount of vinegar in the oil pot needs to be appropriate, not too little, to ensure that it vaporizes and evaporates slightly when heated. When the oil in the pot is bubbling and emitting blue smoke, there is actually very little vinegar left at the bottom of the pot, and the oil is not yet very hot. So when you reach in, it feels comfortable in temperature, allowing you to easily retrieve the copper coins. Of course, there can't be too much vinegar either, as too much vinegar won't vaporize easily and the temperature after vaporization would be high, which could easily cause burns. It's a matter of finding the right balance."
"Lin San, based on what you're saying, you must have tricked many people with this technique before. Otherwise, how could you be so precise?" Eldest Miss pouted.
Lin Wanrong smiled and said, "I didn't deceive anyone. There's another trick to it, and it's actually the simplest method. The amount of limescale is small, and after it produces a burst of bubbles, it's already used up. The remaining bubbles are formed by the vaporization of vinegar. So, I had to keep a close eye on the oil pan to see if there were still bubbles rising from the bottom. If there were no more bubbles, it meant that the vinegar had completely vaporized, and at that point, the temperature of the oil would quickly rise, and that's when the oil would truly boil."
Eldest Miss clapped her hands and exclaimed, "I understand now. When I retrieved the coins, it was when the bubbles were the most concentrated, indicating that the vinegar had just started to vaporize, so the temperature was still low, allowing me to quickly take them out. But when Tao Dongcheng reached in later, there were no more bubbles, indicating that the vinegar had completely evaporated, and the oil pot was really hot, which caused him to get injured."
Lin Wanrong raised his thumb and said, "Eldest Miss is truly clever."
"Stop it," Eldest Miss blushed and whispered softly.
"Little brother Lin, you intentionally let Tao Dongcheng catch the coins first, using a strategy of enticing the enemy to reveal themselves. You were certain that he wouldn't dare to go first," Xu Wei sighed, "You're young, but you have a deep understanding of human nature."
"Not at all," Lin Wanrong shamelessly smiled, "How could I be as cunning as you, Mr. Xu? If he had really put his hand in, then he would have taken the coins. I would have urged Eldest Miss to seize the opportunity before the bubbles disappeared, and we could have settled for a tie."
Eldest Miss chuckled softly, "You, if you joined that evil White Lotus cult, you could be a charlatan. Why did you choose to learn that trick instead of something else?"
As she mentioned the charlatan, she glanced lightly at Lin Wanrong, her face blushing, her expression incredibly captivating.
Chapter 163 The Hidden Secrets"Lin San, is this true? Is this really true?" The Eldest Miss looked at her delicate hand in disbelief. It remained as fair and smooth as before, as if her previous washing was just a simple act. It was truly miraculous."You don't believe it? You can wash your hands again. But I can't guarantee that this time you won't end up as pig trotters after being deep-fried in oil," Lin Wanrong chuckled.The bubbles in the oil had disappeared, and the oil in the pot was truly boiling. Now, when ten small hands were dipped into it, what would be fished out were ten fried pig trotters."It's impossible, this can't be." However, Tao Dongcheng seemed to have gone mad. He suddenly lunged forward, reaching his hand towards the oil pot."Brother" Wanying, who was standing beside him, had been paying close attention to his actions. Seeing him go crazy, she immediately reached out and grabbed him, but she was still a step too late. Tao Dongcheng's fingers had already gone halfway in."Ah!" A miserable scream echoed, startling everyone. Although Tao Dongcheng's five fingers had only gone halfway in, the scorching hot oil pot was not to be underestimated. After the scream, he swiftly pulled back his palm, which was now red and swollen, with large blisters forming in no time."You, how is this possible" Tao Dongcheng's face turned pale, the excruciating pain in his fingers made him point at Lin Wanrong, "This is sorcery."However, Tao Wanying hurriedly brought sesame oil and started bandaging her brother's hand. The excruciating pain from his fingers caused Tao Dongcheng to scream again.Wanying looked at her brother's injuries. Although his fingers had only gone halfway in, the power of boiling oil was not insignificant. Even if his palm healed, it would probably not be as agile as before."Lin San, you used sorcery to harm my brother. I won't let you get away with it," Tao Wanying stared at Lin Wanrong, her eyes filled with angry flames.The people in the hall were all puzzled. Could Lin San really know sorcery? Earlier, the Eldest Miss easily took the coin with her hand, but why did it look different when it was Young Master Tao's turn?"Sorcery?" Lin Wanrong sneered. "Miss Tao, during today's competition, everyone present in the hall, including Minister Xu as the witness, saw with their own eyes that I didn't use sorcery. If we talk about fairness, it was Young Master Tao who suddenly proposed this competition, and he was already well-prepared while my Xiao family hastily responded. It was quite unfair to the Xiao family. He bullies the Xiao family because they are all women, and he uses his position and power in the Jinling Chamber of Commerce to force a weak woman to compete with him. Everyone can see the injustice in this. If Young Master Tao had won, would you accuse your brother of using sorcery? Would you defend the Xiao family then?"Tao Wanying glared at him with anger, although she hated Lin Wanrong, she had to admit that what he said made sense."People in this world all have their own selfish motives. That can be understood. But someone like you, who doesn't distinguish between right and wrong, who confuses right and wrong, you can only win, but you can't lose. Are you really claiming that your Tao family is the best in the world? What a great joke," Lin Wanrong disdainfully glanced at Tao Wanying."Why is it that the hand-washing in the oil pot had different outcomes for Miss Yuruo and my brother? Why did she come out unharmed, while my brother suffered such a serious injury?" Tao Wanying angrily questioned."All things in the world have their physical properties; it is the science of nature," Lin Wanrong replied. "Moreover, I had given Young Master Tao the opportunity earlier to take the coins before Eldest Miss. However, he hesitated and missed the chance himself. On the other hand, Eldest Miss, even if she had to sacrifice her hand, would have still retrieved the item from the oil pot. Such spirit and determination are not something your brother can compare to. Besides, it was your brother who proposed this competition. He brought this upon himself, so how can he blame others?"This statement was both reasonable and logical, and everyone in the hall nodded in agreement. They had all witnessed the alliance between the Jiangnan and Zhejiang Chambers of Commerce, pressuring the Xiao family. And it was Tao Dongcheng who initiated the competition, so it was not fair to blame others."Young Master Tao, you proposed this competition, and there was fairness with Minister Xu as the witness. Are you willing to accept the outcome?" Xu Wei asked Tao Dongcheng.Since it was a best-of-three competition, and the Xiao family had already won two rounds, there was no need for the third round.Tao Dongcheng's gaze dimmed. This time, he had truly been defeated. The Tao family had lost two rounds in front of everyone, which could be described as a fruitless attempt. The Tao family lost not only in skill but also in character. Lin San seemed like an extraordinary person. In these two rounds, he had lost without understanding how. How did Lin San recognize the diamond, and why were the results so different in the hand-washing challenge? The mysteries within were unknown to anyone but Lin Wanrong."I'm willing to accept the outcome of the competition. I will step down as the Chairman of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce. I request the brothers and sisters in the chamber to choose a capable successor," Tao Dongcheng reluctantly said. "I will transfer our Tao family's textile workshop to the Xiao family without compensation. I'll write up the agreement."Under the watchful eye of the cunning Xu Wei, Tao Dongcheng couldn't play any tricks. He obediently instructed Tao Wanying to prepare the agreement. With his left hand, Tao Dongcheng pressed his handprint on the document, officially transferring the Tao family's textile workshop to the Xiao family.Eldest Miss watched the scene before her with a dazed expression. Everything felt like a dream. She glanced at Lin San and sighed, "Today's events are truly peculiar. I still can't quite understand."Lin Wanrong smiled and replied, "That's how life is. Unexpected changes always occur in an instant. By the time you comprehend them, everything has already become reality."Eldest Miss nodded, putting aside her contemplation and carefully considering how to handle the acquisition of the Tao family's textile workshop.Xu Wei swept his gaze across the people in the hall and said, "Today, Chairman Tao of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce has resigned. In my opinion, it would be a good opportunity, with both Chambers of Commerce gathered here, to elect a new chairman to ensure the proper functioning of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce. What do you all think?"There was no objection to this suggestion, and Liu Yue'e was the first to stand up and propose, "I suggest that Miss Xiao be appointed as the new chairman of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce."As soon as Liu Yue'e made her proposal, it received an immediate response from the crowd. Xiao Yuruo became the new chairman of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce without any suspense. The position was not unfamiliar to her. When she was young, Madam Xiao held the position of the Chamber's Chairman. Now, she was passing on the torch to her daughter, making it a heartwarming story.Tao Dongcheng had already left with the support of Tao Wanying to seek medical treatment. Xu Wei glanced at the pale-faced Pudgy Yu and asked, "Chairman Yu, what is the situation with your Hangzhou Chamber of Commerce now?"Pudgy Yu, who had been suppressing the Xiao family together with Tao Dongcheng just an hour ago, now found himself in a situation where the Xiao family had become the leader of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce, equal to his own position. It was impossible to bring up the issue of suppression. He could only say, "Congratulations to Miss Xiao for taking the reins of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce. The colleagues from our Zhejiang Chamber of Commerce will surely support Miss Xiao and contribute to the prosperity of business in both regions.""That's good to hear," Xu Wei scanned the people in the hall and spoke slowly, "I have been in Hangzhou for a few months now, and I've heard rumors of a White Lotus gathering taking place recently. Those wicked people are using some tricks to grow Buddha statues from soil using seeds, deceiving the common people, recruiting followers, but in reality, they are causing turmoil and shaking the foundation of our Great Hua."Confusion filled the faces of everyone in the hall. It was a Chamber of Commerce, so why was Xu Wei suddenly mentioning this religious gathering?With a snort, Xu Wei continued, "Yesterday, I personally attended that White Lotus gathering and exposed their deceptive sorcery. After a night of investigation, it was confirmed that these people are evil followers of the White Lotus cult. Their actions are meant to deceive ordinary people into joining the White Lotus cult. Their deeds are despicable, and their hearts deserve to be condemned."At the mention of the White Lotus cult, silence fell upon the hall. Everyone knew the nature of the White Lotus cultcommitting all sorts of atrocities such as arson, killing, and looting. Especially those in the Jinling Chamber of Commerce, they knew that the Xiao family had been targeted by the White Lotus cult in the past. With a rabbit's death comes a fox's sorrow, so no one in the chamber had any favorable opinion of the White Lotus cult."This time, during my visit to Jiangnan, His Majesty authorized me to act as I see fit. Yesterday, I broke up that White Lotus gathering, and this morning, those incorrigible White Lotus followers were beheaded on the spot as a warning to others. That's why I arrived a bit late today, because I stepped on the blood of those evildoers," Xu Wei's body emitted a chilling aura as he swept his gaze across the crowd. Many people lowered their heads, afraid to meet his eyes."According to the confessions of the criminals, there are many merchants within this Hangzhou Chamber of Commerce who are their followers. They have provided considerable financial support to them. Chairman Yu, are you aware of this?" Xu Wei casually mentioned.Pudgy Yu turned pale with fright and quickly fell to his knees, loudly exclaiming, "Minister, I had no knowledge of this!"With a cold snort, Xu Wei said, "I have already ordered the registration of those merchants confessed by the criminals. I have all the information in my possession. They will be thoroughly investigated and dealt with in the coming days. There will be no tolerance."The Zhejiang merchants in the hall felt uneasy. They had heard of Xu Wei's methods before. Half of the Emperor's strategies originated from him, and dealing with a few merchants was an easy task for him.Upon seeing Xu Wei diverting the topic to the White Lotus cult, Lin Wanrong suddenly understood. Damn, this old man came fully prepared. He must have known about the connection between the Tao family and the White Lotus cult and secretly assisted the Xiao family today to bring down Tao Dongcheng. Xu Wei played this move beautifully. He actually thought this old man appreciated his talent, but it turned out he used him as a pawn. This Xu Wenchang was even more cunning than Luo Min, a sly old fox.Seeing the expressions of the people, Xu Wei smiled slightly and spoke slowly, "However, no one is without faults. Considering that some colleagues were momentarily confused and made mistakes, I will give you all a chance. It doesn't matter who you are or how deep your involvement with the White Lotus cult is. As long as you, at the specified time and location, confess clearly to me the amount of money you have provided to the White Lotus cult, you shall pay double to the national treasury as redemption funds. I guarantee that there will be no blame for the past, and I will keep it confidential for all of you. You can continue to focus on your business without worry."Lin Wanrong broke into a cold sweat. This old man truly had some tricks up his sleeve. Combining bluffs, deception, and coercion, these businessmen might be clever, but they were no match for Xu Wei, a seasoned player in the political arena. Lin Wanrong was certain that Xu Wei did not possess a list as he claimed. Those small fry captured yesterday would never have confessed such crucial information. This old man was playing mind games."Within three days, I will be waiting for all of you at the Hangzhou Prefectural Yamen," Xu Wei continued calmly. "But if anyone dares to harbor illusions of luck..." A stern look flashed in his eyes. "When the time comes, don't blame me for being merciless."The Chambers of Commerce in both regions concluded amidst a commotion, competition, and intimidation. This year's gathering was livelier than any previous annual meeting, and the level of fear surpassed any previous year as well, especially for those businessmen with guilty consciences.The others had already left, leaving only Lin San, Eldest Miss, and Xu Wei. Xu Wei smiled and said, "Little brother Lin, don't be in such a hurry to leave. Quickly tell me the secret of washing hands in the oil pan. I'm quite curious."The one who held the power of life and death in the imperial court moments ago now appeared as a curious old man. Xu Wei was truly a peculiar individual. Eldest Miss was also filled with curiosity and said, "Lin San, please tell me."Lin Wanrong smiled and replied, "The secret is actually worthless, but you must promise to keep it confidential. I might need to use it again in the future."Xu Wei chuckled and said, "Washing hands in the oil pan must be similar to the growth of the stone statue, a clever manipulation. But how exactly it is done, I can't figure it out."Lin Wanrong nodded and said, "Actually, it's a simple application of common knowledge. The trick is that I added vinegar to the oil in the pot.""Vinegar?" Eldest Miss exclaimed. "No wonder I smelled a sour odor. I thought it was coming from the restaurant below, but it turns out it was you, you wicked person, playing tricks."Xu Wei was eager and said, "Why vinegar? Little brother Lin, please continue."Lin Wanrong smiled and continued, "When I went down to find the oil, I mixed vinegar with the oil in the pot. Since vinegar has a higher density than oil, it sinks to the bottom of the pot while the oil floats on top. So what everyone sees and what Mr. Xu scooped up is all oil, but they can't see the vinegar."Xu Wei laughed and said, "I didn't expect there to be a trick like this. I fell for it. What comes next?""After heating, the vinegar quickly vaporizes and passes through the oil layer in the form of gas, causing the surface of the oil to appear to boil vigorously, accompanied by bursts of blue smoke, which is quite intimidating. But in fact, due to the presence of vinegar between the oil and the fire, the temperature of the oil only rises through the transfer of heat from the vinegar. So it doesn't boil that quickly. What we see is just the effect of the bubbles, and the oil itself is not hot at all. Therefore, when Eldest Miss reached into the oil pot to retrieve the copper coins, everyone believed what they saw with their own eyes and thought that Eldest Miss would get hurt. But it was actually an optical illusion. The oil above the vinegar layer was just lukewarm.""I see now," Xu Wei said. "But what about the limescale you added? What was that for?"This old Xu was quite observant, even noticing the limescale. Lin Wanrong couldn't explain to them that it was a chemical reaction between calcium carbonate and acetic acid, producing carbon dioxide. He could only give a brief explanation, "The limescale settles at the bottom and reacts with the vinegar, causing bubbles to form. This makes the boiling oil pot appear more realistic."Eldest Miss asked, "But why was I able to retrieve the coins safely while Tao Dongcheng suffered serious injuries?" This was also a question that puzzled Xu Wei.Lin Wanrong explained, "That's a matter of timing. The amount of vinegar in the oil pot needs to be appropriate, not too little, to ensure that it vaporizes and evaporates slightly when heated. When the oil in the pot is bubbling and emitting blue smoke, there is actually very little vinegar left at the bottom of the pot, and the oil is not yet very hot. So when you reach in, it feels comfortable in temperature, allowing you to easily retrieve the copper coins. Of course, there can't be too much vinegar either, as too much vinegar won't vaporize easily and the temperature after vaporization would be high, which could easily cause burns. It's a matter of finding the right balance.""Lin San, based on what you're saying, you must have tricked many people with this technique before. Otherwise, how could you be so precise?" Eldest Miss pouted.Lin Wanrong smiled and said, "I didn't deceive anyone. There's another trick to it, and it's actually the simplest method. The amount of limescale is small, and after it produces a burst of bubbles, it's already used up. The remaining bubbles are formed by the vaporization of vinegar. So, I had to keep a close eye on the oil pan to see if there were still bubbles rising from the bottom. If there were no more bubbles, it meant that the vinegar had completely vaporized, and at that point, the temperature of the oil would quickly rise, and that's when the oil would truly boil."Eldest Miss clapped her hands and exclaimed, "I understand now. When I retrieved the coins, it was when the bubbles were the most concentrated, indicating that the vinegar had just started to vaporize, so the temperature was still low, allowing me to quickly take them out. But when Tao Dongcheng reached in later, there were no more bubbles, indicating that the vinegar had completely evaporated, and the oil pot was really hot, which caused him to get injured."Lin Wanrong raised his thumb and said, "Eldest Miss is truly clever.""Stop it," Eldest Miss blushed and whispered softly."Little brother Lin, you intentionally let Tao Dongcheng catch the coins first, using a strategy of enticing the enemy to reveal themselves. You were certain that he wouldn't dare to go first," Xu Wei sighed, "You're young, but you have a deep understanding of human nature.""Not at all," Lin Wanrong shamelessly smiled, "How could I be as cunning as you, Mr. Xu? If he had really put his hand in, then he would have taken the coins. I would have urged Eldest Miss to seize the opportunity before the bubbles disappeared, and we could have settled for a tie."Eldest Miss chuckled softly, "You, if you joined that evil White Lotus cult, you could be a charlatan. Why did you choose to learn that trick instead of something else?"As she mentioned the charlatan, she glanced lightly at Lin Wanrong, her face blushing, her expression incredibly captivating.
