Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 253 Wang Chenyu's Enlightenment at the Teahouse?
These two sentences are from the Diamond Sutra.

This gave Wang Heng a sudden moment of clarity.

His eyes widened, and he suddenly realized that the group of people who had been shouting and killing all along, emptying their bodies, committing verbal sins, and risking their lives for short-term gains and personal gain, were no different from demons and monsters.

He felt he had an epiphany, but he didn't know what he had realized. In the past, Yangming Gong had an epiphany in Longchang, founded the "School of Mind" and used it to educate the world.

But what could Wang Heng possibly do?

After much deliberation, he decided to stop arguing with his companions and to stop participating in futures market trading.

"Sir, please help me sell all 30,000 taels of cotton cloth futures."

The trader paused for a moment, then asked Wang Heng incredulously.

"Young master, cotton futures are bullish. If you close your accounts so early, you'll likely lose a lot of money."

But Wang Heng seemed completely unconcerned, shaking his head as he spoke.

"That's enough. I've made enough money in the futures market. Now it's time to get out and see a wider world."

"Huh? Capital? Are you sure, young master?" Seeing his rambling appearance, the trader thought the young man must have lost his mind.

However, the merchants who were still thinking about making a deal were not happy, and some of them complained from time to time.

"This guy's got a screw loose. Ignore him and get the order done quickly."

"He broke even? Then I'll just buy some!"

"Hurry, hurry! I want to buy another ten thousand taels of silver worth of silk and bankrupt Zhang Shiyuan!"

Amidst the chaotic commotion of merchants and gentry, the trader eventually retrieved the warrants.

The cotton cloth futures contract worth 30,000 taels of silver was immediately bought up as soon as it was listed.

The transaction was completed very quickly; within half an incense stick's time, Wang Heng received 35,000 taels of silver.

In just two days, he turned 30,000 taels of silver into 5,000 taels.

"Thank you."

Wang Heng merely glanced at the silver note before putting it into his pocket, ignoring the strange looks from those around him.

He left the trading market without looking back.

Away from the hustle and bustle of the teahouse, Wang Heng strolled along the street and suddenly felt refreshed.

It was dusk, and people were hurrying along the streets of the capital.

Unlike the restless atmosphere in the teahouse, walking on the street, despite the various people passing by and the cacophony of sounds, gave Wang Heng a sense of tranquility.

Newsboys selling their last dozen newspapers as dusk approached, vendors pushing wooden carts to sell briquettes, and the wonton stalls at the alley entrance were packed with people, all filling their stomachs in the last moments before curfew.

As usual, after nearly an hour, when the drum sounds, the patrol soldiers in the city will check the streets and prohibit pedestrians and vehicles from passing.

Aside from major festivals like the Lantern Festival, there are almost no exceptions.

Of course, this was the system during the Hongwu period.

By the Wanli era, the curfew had been much more relaxed, and many night markets and wards in the capital were open until the third watch of the night, meaning that officials would not intervene unless the people complained.

Standing at the street corner, Wang Heng was filled with emotion upon seeing the magnificent scene of blooming flowers.

Since Zhang Shiyuan established the Renmin Medical Clinic and the Xishan Workshop, astonishing changes have taken place throughout the capital. The price of glass has risen, the price of silk has risen, and even the most sought-after courtesans in brothels have commanded higher prices.

However, coal prices fell, cloth prices fell, and the emergence of Renmin Medical Clinic reduced medical consultation fees in the capital, not to mention the chain reaction brought about by these price drops.

Before this exchange, the nobles were constantly gritting their teeth, but the common people seemed to have more smiles on their faces.

As the sun approached sunset, Wang Heng's shadow stretched long, resembling a menacing demon, while the shadows of the hurried passersby were short, like cheerful little mountain spirits.

As Wang Heng looked ahead, he saw the direction of the Western Mountains, and the road was incredibly wide.

Heading north, you'll find yourself in the direction of the Imperial Music Bureau and the market town, a scene of dazzling lights and vibrant colors.

Heading south, you'll find yourself in a dimly lit alleyway leading home.

Behind him was the teahouse futures trading market, the direction he had come from.

Wang Heng glanced at the Western Hills, wanting to take a step but hesitating again and again, the stern face of his father, Wang Xijue, appearing in his mind.

He shook his head; the enthusiasm he had felt when he left the teahouse had vanished completely.

He hesitated, unsure of where to go.

In a daze, he unconsciously walked into the darkness and headed home.

At that moment, the gates of the family mansion opened, as if some guests had arrived.

Wang Heng frowned tightly, and was about to step forward to question a servant when the steward Wang Jiu suddenly appeared out of nowhere and grabbed him.

"Oh dear~ Young master, you absolutely mustn't go in! We should find somewhere to lay low for a while."

Wang Heng said with some displeasure, "Why can't I go into my own home?"

Wang Jiu quickly lowered his voice and explained, "Young master, you may not know this, but this afternoon an old gentleman came from Nanzhili. He said he was Young Master Jiongbo's uncle and came to question us."

“Uncle,” Wang Heng said with a hint of surprise after a brief recollection. “Could it be Mr. Wang Jingmei (Shi Mao), who once served as the Vice Envoy of Shaanxi?”
He had just retired and returned to his hometown a few months ago, but unexpectedly, he's back in the capital today.

After thinking about it, Wang Heng couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

"Mr. Jingmei was a man of both virtue and talent. He made many achievements as an official in the court, and it was a pity that he had to retire due to illness."
"Come, come, quickly take me to pay my respects."

Wang Jiu couldn't help but get anxious: "Young Master, you mustn't! Mr. Jingmei has come here specifically for matters concerning the futures market!"

Wang Heng immediately interrupted, saying, "Excellent timing! Brother Jiongbo is obsessed with 'futures trading,' and he just needs someone to scold him awake. Mr. Jingmei is certainly the perfect choice."

Wang Jiu suspected that his young master was a little dim-witted, and he said with a strange look in his eyes.

"Young master, you probably don't know this, but after the master received your letter, that was..."

Wang Heng's eyes lit up immediately: "What did my father say?"

Just then, a rather authoritative voice rang out.

"Your father directly berated you as a spendthrift son who has disgraced the family, and for being misled by Zhang Shiyuan, even attempting to use this method of getting yourself involved!"

Wang Heng was startled and looked back sharply. Who else could it be but Wang Shimao, the former deputy envoy of Shaanxi, the younger brother of Wang Shizhen, and the uncle of Wang Shiqi?
At this moment, Wang Shimao, looking travel-worn, frowned deeply and questioned again.

"Wang Chenyu! How dare you! You've colluded with Wang Jiongbo! Your father sent me to lock you up. Go home and reflect on your actions."

Before that, tell me where that so-called Thirty-Ninth Teahouse is; I want to personally clean house!

(End of this chapter)