My Home's Ancient Well Connects to the Martial Arts World

Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Ten Thousand Treasures Tower

Aside from the 2,056 Silver Coins from counter number seven and the 2,078 from counter number four, the results from the dozen or so other counters were all consistent: 2,033 Silver Coins. The answer was obvious—it had to be 2,033 Silver Coins. It was possible for one or two people to be careless and make a mistake, but for over a dozen accountants to do so was simply impossible. Thus, it was certain that 2,033 Silver Coins was the correct answer.

”Young man, you are truly a prodigy!” The Bank Manager of Jincai Money Shop had an expression of both joy and conflict. He put on a fawning smile and said, ”You’re practically a modern-day Divine Calculator. I wonder, would you be interested in joining my Jincai Money Shop as the head accountant?”

The Bank Manager was a bundle of nerves and anticipation. He was nervous about whether this young man with his astonishing arithmetic skills would actually join his Jincai Money Shop. If he didn’t, and was instead poached by another money shop, it would be a huge loss. As for his anticipation, it stemmed from the fact that this young man had come to Jincai Money Shop for a ”challenge,” after all. His goal was likely to show off his god-like calculation abilities and then gracefully accept an invitation to join. Many accountants in the past had used this method to apply for a position.

”Haha, you misunderstand, Manager. I didn’t come here to apply for a job. I came because I have a big business proposition for you!” Ye Xing said with a faint smile.

”A big proposition?” the Bank Manager asked doubtfully. ”What kind of proposition?”

”It’s this object in my hand. It’s called a ’calculator’,” Ye Xing said, his eyes glinting. ”I’m sure you all noticed just now that I didn’t use an abacus for my calculations. I just pressed a few keys on this calculator to get the answer.”

At Ye Xing’s words, many people immediately crowded around, their curiosity piqued.

”This calculator is designed specifically for arithmetic. No matter how complex or difficult the calculation, you just need to press a few keys on it to get the answer instantly,” Ye Xing explained.

”This... is it really that magical?” the Bank Manager asked, his voice filled with doubt and astonishment. His gaze was fervent and full of expectation. The surrounding crowd also pressed in, looking at the calculator in Ye Xing’s hand with extreme curiosity.

The calculator was square, about the size of a palm, with a long, rectangular screen and about ten keys.

If Ye Xing had simply pulled out such a strange object before, no one would have believed him. But now that he had demonstrated his superior arithmetic skills, many people were suddenly incredibly curious.

”Real or not, you’ll know once you try it,” Ye Xing said with a smile, beginning his explanation. ”Here, let me teach you how to use it first, then you can try it yourselves. See this key? This ’1’ means ’one,’ ’2’ means ’two’... and ’9’ means ’nine.’ This ’+’ symbol means ’plus’...”

As Ye Xing explained, the eyes of the Bank Manager and the dozen or so accountants grew brighter and brighter, their expressions eager to give it a try.

The calculator was the most common arithmetic Divine Artifact of the modern city, while the abacus was the most powerful arithmetic Divine Artifact of ancient times. It wasn’t that the abacus was bad, but that times were changing and technology was advancing. The calculator’s simplicity and ease of learning made it easy to master, allowing for widespread adoption and use by the vast majority of people.

”Alright, that’s the general method of use. Go ahead and try it,” Ye Xing said with a smile.

The words had barely left his mouth when the Bank Manager quickly took the calculator from Ye Xing’s hand and began pressing the keys rapidly. TAP TAP TAP! He started with single-digit arithmetic, then moved to double-digit, and finally to hundred-digit level calculations, testing each one. The Bank Manager’s expression changed repeatedly, from curiosity to amazement, then to astonishment, until his face was a mask of utter shock.

”Incredible! Truly incredible! This thing is practically a Divine Artifact of arithmetic!” The Bank Manager’s gaze was filled with wonder. His hands trembled slightly as he held the calculator like a rare treasure. ”If I may ask, young man, did you create this calculator yourself?”

”Mm, yes!” Ye Xing said with a smile. He didn’t blush or falter in the slightest. ’To be a businessman, you need a thick skin. If I don’t say I made it, am I supposed to say I brought it from Earth?’

”Young man, you are truly extraordinary! I wonder, how much does this calculator cost? Would you be willing to sell it to me?” the Bank Manager asked hurriedly, his gaze pleading.

”Of course. I came here specifically to do business with you. Hehe, as for the price—” Ye Xing, smiling, held up three fingers.

”Three hundred Gold Coins? In that case... I...” The Bank Manager was both nervous and conflicted. Clearly, the high price of three hundred Gold Coins was at the very edge of what he could afford, making him hesitate. He wanted to buy it, but the cost was painful.

Ye Xing shook his head.

”Three thousand Gold Coins?” The Bank Manager completely deflated, his whole body slumping in dejection. Three thousand Gold Coins was completely beyond his purchasing power. No matter how much he liked it, he couldn’t afford it.

”No, thirty Gold Coins!” A smile touched the corners of Ye Xing’s lips. ”From your expression, Manager, don’t tell me you can’t afford that?”

”What? Only thirty Gold Coins? I can afford that! I can afford that! Of course I can afford that!” the Bank Manager exclaimed in delighted surprise. For a moment, he thought he had misheard.

”This is too magical!”

”Indeed, it’s simply unbelievable!”

”A result that would take us half the day to calculate, this calculator gets with just a few presses.”

A sudden burst of amazed shouts erupted from the side. It was the dozen or so accountants, who were now using the calculator to verify the ledgers, their expressions a mix of excitement and agitation.

By the time Ye Xing left the Jincai Money Shop, his coin pouch was heavier by three hundred ninety Gold Coins. That’s right—the Bank Manager had bought all thirteen of Ye Xing’s calculators in one go.

Of course, Ye Xing could have actually sold the calculators for two or three hundred Gold Coins each, but he was aiming for a long-term, steady stream of income. The Jincai Money Shop had branches all over the Tang Country. As long as he established this connection, the wealth would come rolling in. If he had sold them for three hundred Gold Coins a piece, the Jincai Money Shop probably couldn’t have afforded many, as thirty Gold Coins was already quite expensive. At thirty Gold Coins per calculator, he could also earn a favor from the Bank Manager. It was a worthwhile trade.

To put it another way: selling at two or three hundred Gold Coins, he might only sell one. But by selling at thirty Gold Coins, he could appeal to a much broader market, potentially selling a hundred, a thousand, or even ten thousand units in the future. It was obvious which option was more profitable.

’I made almost four hundred Gold Coins in one go! Haha, I’ve made a small fortune! The money for building a mansion and buying a Martial Arts Manual is all sorted out.’ Ye Xing was in high spirits.

Walking down the street toward the market stalls, Ye Xing was strolling along when his gaze suddenly shifted. To the left side of the street stood a massive, three-story pavilion. Its decorations were simple and elegant, and on the plaque above the main entrance were the large, gilded characters for ”Ten Thousand Treasures Tower,” which seemed to radiate a precious light.

The Ten Thousand Treasures Tower collected all sorts of treasures from across the land. It sold weapons, Elixirs and Spirit Herbs, Martial Arts Manuals, and more. It also regularly held grand auctions that drew crowds of Martial Artists, making it an extremely powerful organization.

’Anyway, even if construction starts right away, the mansion will take some time to build. Since I’m already here at the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower, I might as well buy a Martial Arts Manual and start my Cultivation!’ Ye Xing’s gaze was scorching hot, his heart already pounding with excitement. He dashed into the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower.