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

Old Master Lu sat in his armchair, his old face trembling like a sieve.

He stared intently at Jiang Lin, his knuckles cracking from the excessive force on the marble armrest, veins bulging like green snakes.

"Jiang Lin! Don't push your luck!"

Old Master Lu let out a hoarse roar: "I've even betrothed my most beloved granddaughter to Su Shi, that's my way of proving my loyalty to your academy! And now you're still bringing up that three million strings of cash? Do you really think I'm a pushover, someone you can bully at will?"

The smile on Jiang Lin's face receded like the tide, and his eyes instantly turned icy cold.

"Grandpa, we need to broaden our perspective."

Jiang Lin leaned forward, his tone sounding like a heart-to-heart talk, yet carrying an undeniable air of dominance: "Su Zizhan and your granddaughter are like turtles eyeing green beans—they've hit it off, that's a private affair, a happy occasion. But the contract our Great Song Grain Contract Trading Center signed with the Lin family is official business, stamped with the official seal, and has reached the ears of the emperor!"

He sneered, pressing on relentlessly: "In all your life, when have you ever heard of using your granddaughter's marriage to pay off the imperial debts? What, is your Lu family's influence stronger than the laws of the Song Dynasty? Or do you think Miss Lu is only worth three million strings of cash?"

Old Master Lu was nearly choked by this twisted logic, pointing at Jiang Lin: "You...you're blatantly robbing us! That contract was clearly a trap you set for us! You emptied our grain reserves and cut off our water supply, is that what you call a legitimate business transaction?"

"So what if they figure it out?"

Jiang Lin slammed his hand on the table, his aura overwhelming: "Business is about accepting the consequences. The Lin family tried to steal my deposit and settle scores later; that was their own greed. The contract is in black and white, and they stamped it themselves. Now that they can't deliver the goods, they have to pay up!"

He leaned closer to Old Master Lu, his voice low but filled with murderous intent: "If you're short even a single coin, I'll have the Imperial City Guard dig up the Lin family's ancestral graves. Do you believe me?"

Zhao Lingjun, listening nearby, was filled with fervor. He held his long sword horizontally in front of him, adding with imposing swagger, "That's right! Three days. If the silver isn't there, we'll confiscate your property. The Imperial City Guard's blade shows no mercy!"

Grandpa Lu looked to Su Shi for help, hoping that his future "grandson-in-law" would say something fair.

"Lord Su, you are the prefect, are you just going to stand by and watch them run rampant like this?"

Su Shi touched his nose somewhat awkwardly.

Although the headmaster's methods were indeed somewhat "inhuman," when Su Shi thought of the despicable things that the Jiangnan aristocratic families had done over the years, the little bit of literati pity in his heart instantly vanished.

He straightened his chest, adopting an air of selfless impartiality: "Grandfather, although Zizhan admires Miss Lu, private matters cannot supersede the law. This rule was set by the headmaster, and the seal was personally affixed by me. If the Lin family violates the agreement without punishment, how can the court maintain its authority in Jiangnan?"

Looking at Su Shi's face, brimming with righteous indignation, from behind the screen, Lu Mingyue's eyes almost sparkled. This was the true man of her dreams—unmoved by wealth or power!

Old Master Lu was in despair.

He looked at the "master-apprentice duo," one playing the good cop, exploiting the other, the good cop, righteous and awe-inspiring, with a female demon ready to draw her sword at any moment. Then he looked at his granddaughter, whose soul had been bewitched, and he knew that the Lu family had lost everything this time.

"Fine... you win."

Old Master Lu seemed to have all his energy drained away, slumping into his chair and uttering four words with resentment in his eyes: "Three million strings of cash... I'll pay it."

Jiang Lin heard the delightful sound of the money bag hitting the ground, and his expression changed faster than turning the pages of a book, instantly transforming into a warm and welcoming smile.

He pulled out a pre-prepared payment agreement from his sleeve and handed over a box of premium cinnabar.

"Old Master is indeed generous! Let's sign and put our fingerprints on it. Before dark tomorrow, three million strings of cash or banknotes must be deposited into the prefectural treasury. If we're short even a penny, our in-law relationship will probably end up in the Imperial City Guard's jail."

Old Master Lu signed the document with trembling hands, feeling as if each stroke was cutting off a piece of his own flesh.

Having received the agreement, Jiang Lin carefully blew on the ink stains and tucked it into his pocket like a precious treasure.

"Zizhan, why don't you quickly thank the old man? And tell him that when we return to Hangzhou, I will personally choose an auspicious date to make this wedding the grandest event in Jiangnan!"

Su Shi quickly cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you so much, sir, for your kindness!"

"Get out...all of you get out of here!" Old Master Lu closed his eyes, feeling that every extra glance at Jiang Lin would shorten his life by ten years.

The three of them strode out of the Lu family's old house.

Walking along the corridor back to the dock, Zhao Lingjun finally broke down, punching Jiang Lin on the shoulder and laughing so hard he couldn't stand up straight.

"Jiang Lin, you're really too mean! Three million strings of cash! Old Man Lu's face turned green with envy!"

Jiang Lin rubbed his shoulders, curled his lip, and sneered, "This is nothing. These old foxes have been sucking the blood of the people for so many years, three million strings of cash is just interest at most. I'm teaching them a lesson."

Su Shi followed behind, still clutching the small handkerchief Lu Mingyue had slipped to him before leaving, and he felt as if he were floating.

"Headmaster, if we really get this money, our academy could probably build a mountain of gold."

Jiang Lin stopped and looked back at the vast Taihu Lake under the setting sun, his eyes so deep they inspired awe.

"Jinshan? Zizhan, do you think I'm only after this little bit of money?"

Facing the evening breeze, his tone carried an arrogant air of absolute control: "These three million strings of cash are merely the catalyst. I will use this money to seize control of the entire Song Dynasty's food supply. From this day forward, anyone who dares to gamble with the people's stomachs will be reduced to ashes!"

Looking at Jiang Lin's profile in the sidelight, Zhao Lingjun's heart skipped a beat because of his arrogant sharpness.

She quickly turned her face away, deliberately complaining, "Alright, stop posing. Hurry back to Hangzhou to collect the money, or things might get complicated!"

The three embarked on their journey home, while the winds of Jiangnan had been completely stirred up by Jiang Lin.