Chapter 534: Gao Family Village's Middle School Graduates
The two men crunched numbers until their heads swam, yet still found no solution, a hint of panic starting to creep in.
If they couldn't even calculate a proper selling price, how could this venture possibly get off the ground?
Liang Shixian chuckled. "Come, allow me to introduce you both to a young man."
He called out, "Chen Yuanbo, please come in."
The curtain parted, and a young man stepped inside.
The young man appeared to be seventeen or eighteen, at an age that often suggested a lack of experience for serious matters. He wore a padded scholar's gown, giving him the air of a learned individual. However, what set his gown apart from others was a small, embroidered image of Dao Xuan Tian Zun on the chest.
Embroidering the image of Dao Xuan Tian Zun on one's chest was a prevalent fashion in Gao Family Village; many had begun adorning their clothing with the Heavenly Lord's likeness.
It was both aesthetically pleasing and cutting-edge!
Moreover, the quality of the embroidery material varied with one's financial standing.
This young man's embroidery, fashioned from cotton thread, depicted a modest, thread-spun Heavenly Lord.
Shi Kefa asked, his brow furrowed with curiosity, "And this young man is?"
Liang Shixian smiled. "This is Chen Yuanbo, the top student from Gao Family Village's very first middle school graduating class! He's remarkably talented!"
Wu Shen and Shi Kefa exchanged a bewildered glance. "What exactly is 'middle school'?"
Liang Shixian elaborated, "Middle school signifies a level of education, currently the most advanced form of scholarship. To earn a middle school diploma means one possesses truly profound knowledge. He understands the heavens above and the earth below, capable of both writing and complex calculations—he's extraordinarily adept. Indeed, save for the Heavenly Lord himself, there is no one left to instruct him; he must now pursue his studies independently."
The moment those words were spoken, both Wu Shen and Shi Kefa wore peculiar expressions.
Who did he think they were, these officials? They were Jinshi!
Did he even comprehend the meaning of "Jinshi"?
They were the cream of the crop, scholars of profound erudition who had triumphed over untold multitudes in the Ming Dynasty's rigorous imperial examinations. Could this so-called "middle school graduate" even be fit to tie their shoes?
Both Wu Shen and Shi Kefa regarded Chen Yuanbo with an odd gaze.
Chen Yuanbo offered a polite smile. "Greetings, honored sirs. Magistrate Liang's commendation just now was indeed far too generous. I am not so formidable; I merely possess a rudimentary grasp of various subjects, a rudimentary grasp. A middle school diploma truly isn't much. I still need to diligently pursue further studies, striving to complete high school courses through self-study. Now *that* would be truly impressive."
Wu Shen retorted, "It sounds, then, as if your knowledge surpasses that of this official?"
Chen Yuanbo quickly demurred, "Oh no, not at all! Perhaps in subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, geography, and biology, I might possess a slight advantage over you two sirs, but when it comes to literature and language, I am most certainly not your equal."
Wu Shen bristled with indignation. The audacity! This fellow had just listed a litany of subjects where he supposedly excelled, only to grudgingly concede inferiority in one single area: literature? It was an insult, plain and simple.
Shi Kefa felt a similar surge of irritation, though his lesser official stature kept his temper somewhat in check, allowing him to speak normally. "So, then, Brother Chen, have you already achieved success in the imperial examinations and been placed on the golden roster?"
Chen Yuanbo shook his head. "Oh no, not at all. I haven't even taken the provincial examinations."
Wu Shen and Shi Kefa stared blankly.
So, after all that, a mere commoner who hadn't even participated in the provincial examinations had audaciously bestowed upon himself the title of "middle school graduate" and now dared to speak with such assuredness. It was utterly infuriating.
Liang Shixian, sensing their displeasure, stepped forward with a reassuring smile, positioning himself between the two officials. "Chen Yuanbo, please tell us: what would be an appropriate price per jin for this celestial fertilizer once it reaches Xi'an?"
Chen Yuanbo smiled. "This calculation must be made in conjunction with the prevailing grain prices in Xi'an and other related factors. May I be so bold as to inquire, honored sirs, what is the current price of grain in Xi'an Prefecture?"
Wu Shen replied, "400 wen per dou."
This was a considerable price, even higher than in Pingyang Prefecture, Shanxi. Pingyang had consistently benefited from Gao Family Village's aid, but Xi'an remained outside their direct influence, and thus hadn't yet received their unconditional support. Consequently, grain prices there were naturally elevated.
Chen Yuanbo jotted down "400 wen per dou," then swiftly covered the paper with a long row of algebraic formulas and figures that were utterly inscrutable to the two civil officials. He mumbled to himself, "Assuming the people of Xi'an aren't yet proficient in utilizing celestial fertilizer, the yield increase might not reach double, so let's calculate with 1.75 times... Right, they still have to pay taxes... A significant increase in grain production will likely cause a slight dip in prices, potentially falling to 300 or 350 wen per dou..."
"One mu of farmland will require X jin of celestial fertilizer," he continued, "and the price per jin of celestial fertilizer must be below Y in order to ensure..."
He continued to calculate rapidly for a while longer, then finally held up the paper, a single number starkly displayed. "Honored sirs," he declared, "this number represents the maximum acceptable price for celestial fertilizer when sold in Xi'an. Exceeding this price would render its use unprofitable for farmers. They would simply opt not to use it and reduce their grain yield, which is precisely what you wish to avoid. Therefore, I propose that the selling price of celestial fertilizer ideally be even slightly lower than this figure."
Wu Shen murmured, "Hmm?"
Shi Kefa echoed, "Oh?"
Both men stared intently at the paper, their eyes scanning the chaotic scrawl of algebraic formulas. They were utterly bewildered; not a single character made sense to them!
They had no way of knowing if the result was accurate or even sensible.
Chen Yuanbo then appended "multiplied by 3/4" after the number and turned to Liang Shixian. "Magistrate Liang," he explained, "let's set our wholesale price for celestial fertilizer at this figure. We must ensure these two sirs have a reasonable profit margin; that's what will incentivize them to actively transport the fertilizer to Xi'an. The healthiest economic chain is one where the producers earn, the middlemen earn, the retailers earn, and ultimately, the farmers also earn. When everyone benefits, the entire system becomes sustainable, and everyone will work collectively to elevate grain yields. Otherwise, if even a single link falters, the entire chain will inevitably collapse."
Liang Shixian smiled. "Excellent! We'll proceed precisely as you've outlined."
He then turned to Wu Shen and Shi Kefa. "What are your thoughts, honored sirs?"
Wu Shen hesitated. "Er, he's run through a vast amount of calculations, but this official cannot comprehend any of it. I have no idea if this price is indeed suitable."
Liang Shixian suggested, "Just give it a try! Once you begin selling the celestial fertilizer in Xi'an, observe whether the farmers who've tested it return to purchase more. The answer will become apparent immediately."
Wu Shen and Shi Kefa exchanged a look, then nodded in agreement.
And just like that, the matter was settled!
The two civil officials rose to depart, when suddenly, a thought struck them. They turned back to Chen Yuanbo, observing him from every angle, circling him with a long, appraising gaze. After a considerable pause, Wu Shen spoke. "While we cannot ascertain the accuracy of your calculations, you are undeniably adept at computation. His Excellency Wang Shunxing, the Governor of Shaanxi, is currently seeking advisors. Would you be interested in serving the Governor in such a capacity?"
This was an extraordinary invitation!
To serve as an advisor to the Governor was to achieve instant, soaring success.
Countless individuals would weep and plead for a chance to occupy such a coveted position.
However, Chen Yuanbo merely smiled and shook his head. "Thank you for your kind offer, sirs, but I believe I can achieve greater impact by remaining here. The Governor, I am certain, will find advisors far more suited to his needs than I."
Wu Shen gasped in astonishment.
This young man, astonishingly, was unwilling.
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