The Great Song Dynasty: You were put in charge of teaching, and you produced a whole bunch of prime

Jiang Lin's actions caused an uproar on the third floor of Wanghu Tower.

Tear up the complaint in public!

This is no longer just arrogance; this is a blatant slap in the face to the canal gang and the salt gang!

"You...you're asking for it!"

The head of the canal gang, Master Qian, was furious. He had been a tyrant in Hangzhou for so many years, and he had never suffered such humiliation. He roared and his large, fan-like hand reached for Jiang Lin's collar.

The gang members following behind him also surrounded him instantly, each one looking fierce and menacing, ready to attack.

The guests in the hall were so frightened that they quickly backed away, fearing they would be caught in the crossfire.

A hint of joy flashed in the eyes of Lord Wang and the Lin family head.

They were hoping Jiang Lin would make the first move, because once he did, things would escalate. Then, they could pin a charge of "allowing his servants to beat innocent people" on Su Shi.

However, just as Master Qian's hand was about to touch Jiang Lin, a dark shadow flashed by.

"Bang!"

A muffled thud.

Master Qian's burly, bull-like body was sent flying backward as if he had been struck by a raging bull. He crashed into two tables before finally falling to the ground with a loud thud, unable to get up for a long time.

It was Niu Aihua who made the move.

She had somehow appeared behind Su Shi and was now standing in front of Jiang Lin, slowly withdrawing her fist. Her petite figure and the terrifying explosive power she had just displayed created a stark contrast.

"If anyone dares to move again, I'll snap their neck."

Niu Aihua's voice was icy cold and devoid of any emotion. Her gaze swept over the remaining gang members, and those usually fierce men were so frightened by her single look that they retreated repeatedly, not daring to step forward.

The entire venue fell silent once again.

Everyone was stunned by this sudden turn of events.

How could a seemingly delicate young maidservant send the leader of the Grand Canal Gang flying with a single punch?

What the hell is this monster?

Jiang Lin seemed oblivious to what had just happened. He straightened his collar, slowly walked to Su Shi's side, and whispered, "Have you forgotten everything your teacher taught you?"

Su Shi was taken aback for a moment, then realized what he meant.

As the master said, when you encounter unreasonable people, fight back with an account book!

He took a deep breath, suppressing his shock and regaining his composure. He stepped forward and said loudly, "Lord Wang, you keep saying we forcibly conscript laborers and disrupt the labor order. Then I'd like to ask you, how much do your canal gangs and salt gangs pay their men?"

Upon hearing this, Li, the leader of the Salt Gang, froze, stammering and unable to utter a word.

The money they give to their gang members is pitifully small; most of it is used to collect protection money and extort money under the gang's name. They hardly get any real wages. If they said this in public, wouldn't they lose all face?

Seeing this, Su Shi felt even more confident.

He mimicked Jiang Lin's treatment of Wu Chong in Bianjing, and sneered, "What? Can't say it? Then let me ask you another question: Do you have a detailed payroll list? Dare to produce it and compare it with my ledger?"

As he spoke, he called out towards the door, "Qian Duoduo!"

Qian Duoduo, who had been waiting downstairs, immediately ran upstairs carrying a large stack of thick account books.

"Sir, Lord Su, the roster and wage payment records for all 3,121 workers at the West Lake construction site are all here! Every single entry is crystal clear; who received the money and how much they received are all documented with their signatures!"

Qian Duoduo slammed the ledger heavily on the table with a loud "bang," making a startling sound.

Pointing to the pile of account books, Su Shi declared loudly to the assembled guests, "My Jingshi Academy's 'work-for-relief' program pays ordinary laborers twenty cash a day, plus two meals of steamed white flour buns! Skilled workers receive thirty cash a day! Wages are paid daily, without delay! May I ask you all, in Hangzhou, which place pays higher wages than mine? Which place offers better food than mine?"

He looked around, his voice strong and clear.

"We give starving refugees a way to survive, give them dignity, and let them earn their own living. Is that called 'forced labor'? They come voluntarily, and we offer them high wages. Is that called 'disrupting the labor market'?"

Su Shi grew increasingly angry as he spoke, pointing at the salt and grain transport gangs and rebuking them, "I think it's not that we've disrupted the order, but rather that we've blocked some people's path to exploitation, oppression, and making dirty money!"

These words, spoken with resounding force, directly branded the canal gang and the salt gang as unscrupulous merchants with shame.

In the hall, the businessmen who had previously won the land bids all nodded in agreement.

They were all business people, so they naturally understood the logic. Su Shi offered good treatment, so the workers were naturally willing to go. This is the simplest market law. Instead of causing trouble here, the grain transport and salt guilds should go back and reflect on why they couldn't retain their workers.

More importantly, the tough stance and formidable strength (both military and financial) displayed by Jiang Lin and Su Shi reassured them.

You can't go wrong working for someone like that!

Seeing that things were not going well, the head of the Lin family quickly gave the white paper fan a wink, signaling him to change the topic to "blocking the waterway".

Just as the white paper fan was about to speak, Jiang Lin spoke first.

He yawned lazily and said to Su Shi, "Zizhan, why waste your breath on these people? Principles are for those who can understand them."

After saying that, he turned to Li, the leader of the Salt Gang, and slowly asked, "You said our people beat your people, right?"

Leader Li, his neck stiff, retorted, "That's right! In full view of everyone, you can't deny it!"

"Okay, I admit it." Jiang Lin nodded, then changed the subject, "However, my people also said that it was your people who attacked first, trying to arrest me, and she only acted in self-defense. That's called self-defense."

"You're talking nonsense!" Chief Li exclaimed in exasperation.

"Don't rush to curse," Jiang Lin waved his hand and said with a smile, "How about this, let's not argue anymore. You say you have more people, right? The Canal Gang and the Salt Gang, you claim to have over a thousand brothers, you're very powerful."

He paused, and the smile on his face became somewhat amused.

"I have exactly three thousand people on my construction site. How about tomorrow morning, you call all your thousand brothers, and I'll call my three thousand workers. We can meet by West Lake, in front of all the people of Hangzhou, and have a little competition?"

"Do you think my three thousand starving workers, who get to eat white flour buns every day and earn thirty coins a day, are more capable, or your so-called 'brothers' who barely have enough to eat and survive by cheating and swindling?"

Jiang Lin's voice wasn't loud, but every word struck the hearts of the members of the Canal Gang and Salt Gang like a heavy hammer.

This is a blatant threat!

You think you have more people? I have three times as many people as you!

Comparing fighting strength? I'm barefoot and fearless, I'm fighting tooth and nail for my livelihood. What about your side?

Chief Li and the newly risen Master Qian turned deathly pale instantly.

They had no doubt that if a fight broke out, their so-called "brothers" would be torn to shreds by these three thousand ferocious workers!

Jiang Lin looked at their pale faces, and his smile deepened.

"You think you can outnumber me? You're not qualified."