"Mr. Yang," Li Yao stepped forward and said, "I have heard that you are quite wealthy. Might you be willing to show some goodwill and make a donation to Yangming Academy?"
"Ha ha, I was thinking of donating more," Mr. Yang said with a laugh. "But alas, as the saying goes, the hen crows and the woman rules the house. My wife holds the purse strings, so I myself am quite tight on cash."
He didn't refuse outright, but effectively turned them down all the same.
This old guy chose his words carefully to avoid commitment.
But Li Yao wanted him to refuse, so his response played right into her plans. She simply smiled without pressing him further.
"That's fine, donations are meant to be voluntary," Liu Yun knew it was his turn to step in. "Speaking of which, I was thinking of inviting you all to the Prince's Mansion in a few days to discuss investing in a cement plant. No time like the present, and everyone happens to be here today, so let me bring it up now."
Build a cement plant?
The crowd exchanged puzzled glances, wondering why he was raising this now.
As Yi Prefecture's major businessmen, they naturally knew about and understood the uses of cement. If mass production became feasible, it would be wildly profitable, even more so than selling tea or medicinal ingredients.
So unsurprisingly, someone couldn't resist asking:
"Prince of Yizhou, will this cement really be mass produced?"
"Anything can be mass produced if we have the will," Liu Yun replied.
"Then...what does this have to do with us?"
"Well, it doesn't relate much to you all," said Liu Yun. "But as you know, I have only just arrived in Yi Prefecture, so tax revenues haven't come in yet. However, the cement plant is too important to delay. Therefore, I plan to sell off some shares and let you all subscribe to them."
The businessmen's eyes lit up at the prospect of money dropping into their laps.
"Prince of Yizhou, what requirements must be met to subscribe?"
"That's what I wanted to explain," said Liu Yun. "Frankly, I don't have much spare cash on hand, so not just anyone can subscribe. I hope to find some upright and benevolent businessmen willing to fund poor scholars or build bridges and roads for the common people."
His meaning was now clear to them.
So much for integrity and benevolence - that was just talk. The key issue was whether they would support Yangming Academy!
Those who did would get shares. Those who didn't would be excluded.
And it was very likely that the shares allotted would correlate to the donations made today.
"I, Qin Geng, will donate 8,000 taels of silver to Yangming Academy!"
"I, Xu Chengming, will donate 10,000 taels!"
"I'll donate 12,000 taels!"
...
Watching these men who had just been deferring to him now falling over themselves to donate more and more money, Mr. Yang's face darkened to an extreme degree.
What a bunch of unscrupulous snobs!
What happened to unity and working together?
What happened to presenting a united front?
With just a hint of potential benefit, they had forgotten why they even came!
Where was their integrity?
Soon, every businessman of even modest means had opened his coffers.
Du Xiao Hui did a quick mental estimate - in just this short time Yangming Academy had received about 200,000 taels in donations!
That was 200,000 taels! She had thought raising even tens of thousands would be impressive.
"Quick, engrave all their names on the Donor Wall."
"Also, you students," Liu Yun added, turning to the 300 scholars. "Remember that you are able to study and eat here not only due to Schoolmaster Du's efforts, but because of the generosity of these uncles as well. When you achieve success in the future, do not forget where you came from."
Seeing this, Du Xiao Hui quickly instructed, "Bow and thank the uncles!"
The 300 young students, still with a hint of childishness about them, bowed to the businessmen in imitation of adults.
"Thank you uncles!"
"Ha ha! I can't believe that I, Qin Geng, would have a day like this," Qin Geng said, stroking his long beard and feeling extremely gratified. "Hundreds of scholars bowing to me - I'll boast about this for the rest of my life!"
They had spent some money, but it would quickly be earned back dozens or hundreds of times over. Plus they could enjoy this moment of vanity. For donations like these, the businessmen felt it was money well spent.
"Let's end the donation ceremony here," said Liu Yun. "Gentlemen, shall we head to my manor for a chat?"
"Splendid idea, Prince of Yizhou, please lead the way!"
...
Liu Yun led the businessmen away in an impressive procession.
Left behind were about ten academy heads and the ashen-faced Mr. Yang.
He knew that he had been completely excluded by Liu Yun and those spineless businessmen. No matter how profitable a business opportunity arose in Yi Prefecture City in the future, there would be no chance for him to get a piece.
That wouldn't do. Watching others reap enormous profits while he earned nothing - how could he stand it?
But he felt there was still a thread of hope.
So he hurried forward and walked up to Li Yao. "Miss Li, may I have a word?"
"Speak here if you have something to say, Elder," she replied.
"Well...alright," said Mr. Yang. "Actually I'm not unwilling to donate to the academy. I was just afraid of my tigress at home. But I do have some private savings I've tucked away. Please don't take offense at the meager amount, Miss Li."
"No need to be coy, Elder," said Li Yao. "Whether you donate or not has nothing to do with me."
Having said her piece, she turned and walked into the house without waiting for his reply.
Mr. Yang knew this last thread of hope was now severed!
"Just you wait!" he angrily muttered under his breath as he left with the others.
Naturally, the other heads who had come to make trouble also realized they couldn't make any more of a fuss.
If they kept causing trouble, they would be opposing all the rich businessmen in Yi Prefecture City - and those men held the key to their livelihoods.
"Actually, I'm starting to think Schoolmaster Du has a point," some began looking for a way to back down gracefully. "There are countless students in our prefecture, while Yangming Academy only admitted 300. Its impact on the rest of us is negligible."
"Right. And Schoolmaster Du is obviously eloquent and wise, fully qualified to serve as headmaster. "
"Well, if that's the case, let's head back and stop disturbing the students."
In a flash, the other academy heads had dispersed as well, and calm was restored at Yangming Academy, leaving Du Xiao Hui with mixed emotions.
She knew everything that happened today - fending off those men and raising so much money for the academy - was due to Auntie Li's ingenious schemes.
Without her tactics and her invented cement, Yangming Academy would have truly struggled to gain a foothold in this city.
Could Du Xiao Hui ever hope to become someone like Auntie Li...
"What's wrong?" Wang Er asked gently. "You should be happy."
"It's nothing," Du Xiao Hui replied. "What are you doing out here?"
"This is our academy," said Wang Er. "Even if I can't help for the moment, I want to come take a look."
"If you've seen enough, go review for the county exam tomorrow."
"Alright, I'll go study," Wang Er said. "Mother said she has a message for you."
...
Du Xiao Hui went inside. Li Yao was looking over the books lined up on the shelves.
These were all hand-copied, still emitting the smell of ink.
"Why not use movable type printing?" asked Li Yao.
"We didn't consider it when we set this up," replied Du Xiao Hui. "And now it's too late, plus we have nowhere to do it."
Li Yao looked at her and said, "That's because your planning was inadequate."