The secret

"Lin San, is this true? Is this really true?" Miss gazed in disbelief at her delicate hand, still as fair and smooth as before. It seemed as if the previous ordeal was merely a simple hand wash – truly miraculous.

"Do you doubt it? You can try again. However, I can't guarantee you won't turn into a pig's trotter this time," Lin Wanrong chuckled.

The bubbles in the oil had ceased, and the pot was genuinely boiling. Now, if ten small hands were dipped, what would be retrieved would be ten fried pig's trotters.

"Impossible, this can't be." However, Tao Dongcheng seemed to have gone mad, rushing forward, attempting to thrust his hand into the oil.

"Brother—" Wanying, who was beside him, had been observing his actions closely. Seeing him go berserk, she immediately reached out to grab him. However, she was slightly late; Tao Dongcheng's fingers were already halfway in.

A miserable scream echoed, startling everyone. Although Tao Dongcheng's right hand had only entered halfway, the scalding power of the boiling oil was not to be underestimated. After the scream, his palm quickly retracted, but his five fingers were now red and blistered, forming large water bubbles in no time.

"You, how is this possible?" Tao Dongcheng's face turned ashen, his fingers experiencing piercing pain. Pointing at Lin Wanrong, he exclaimed, "This is sorcery."

Tao Wanying hurriedly brought sesame oil to bandage her brother's hand. Though his fingers had only gone halfway in, the potency of boiling oil was considerable. Even though his hand had healed, it wouldn't be as nimble as before.

"Lin San, using sorcery to harm my brother. I won't let you off." Tao Wanying looked at Lin Wanrong, flames of anger in her eyes.

The hall was filled with bewilderment. Could Lin San truly perform sorcery? While Miss effortlessly retrieved money earlier, why did Tao Gongzi's attempt result in a different outcome?

"Sorcery?" Lin Wanrong sneered, "Miss Tao, in today's competition, witnessed by everyone in the hall and verified by Sir Xu, where did you see me use sorcery? In fact, this competition was proposed suddenly by Tao Gongzi, well-prepared in advance. We from the Xiao family, on the other hand, hastily responded, making it unfair to us. He bullies the Xiao family, especially women. Exploiting his position and power in the Jinling Chamber of Commerce, he coerced a weak woman to compete with him. It's evident. If Tao Gongzi had won, would you claim my brother used sorcery? Would you defend the Xiao family? "

Tao Wanying glared at him angrily, reluctantly admitting the logic in Lin San's words.

"People always have their own interests. That can be understood. But someone like you, who blurs right and wrong and confuses the truth, can only win and never lose. Do you really think your Tao family is the best in the world? It's a big joke." Lin Wanrong disdainfully glanced at Tao Wanying.

"So, what about washing hands in the oil pot? Why is it that Sister Yuruo suffered no harm, but my brother got injured so severely?" Tao Wanying questioned angrily.

"All things in the world have their physics; this is the science of nature," Lin Wanrong explained, "Moreover, I had already given Tao Gongzi a chance earlier, letting him retrieve the money before Miss. But he hesitated and missed the opportunity. On the other hand, faced with a dead-end situation created by your Tao family, even if Miss refused the hand, she would still retrieve the money from the oil pot. Such spirit and willpower cannot be compared to your brother. Returning to the competition, your brother proposed it, and the lesson he received was self-inflicted. How can he blame others?"

These words made sense both logically and morally, with everyone in the hall nodding in agreement. The incident involving the joint pressure on the Xiao family by the Jiangsu and Zhejiang chambers of commerce was witnessed by all. Tao Gongzi proposed the competition, and he was taught a lesson; it was fair.

"Tao Gongzi, this competition was proposed by you, and with Sir's fair judgment, it's time to admit defeat. Do you have anything else to say?" Xu Wei looked at Tao Dongcheng.

Since it was a three-round, two-win system, the Xiao family had already won two rounds, rendering the third round unnecessary.

Tao Dongcheng's eyes dimmed. This time, he was thoroughly defeated. In front of everyone, the Tao family lost two rounds consecutively, akin to gaining nothing while losing much. Lin San seemed like a freak; in these two rounds, he inexplicably lost. How could Lin San recognize this diamond, and how did he understand it so well? The handwashing in the oil pot resulted in completely different outcomes for the two. The mysteries within were not revealed by Lin Wanrong, and it seemed that no one in the world would know.

"I admit defeat in the competition. I will resign as the president of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce. Brothers and sisters present, please select a capable successor," Tao Dongcheng said helplessly. "The cloth mill of our Tao family will be transferred to the Xiao family for free, and I will draw up a written agreement."

Under the supervision of Xu Wei, Tao Dongcheng had no room for tricks. He honestly instructed Tao Wanying to draw up the document. Pressing his left hand, Tao Dongcheng left an imprint, and the cloth mill of the Tao family became the property of the Xiao family.

Miss stared at the scene before her in a daze. Everything seemed like a dream. She looked at Lin San and sighed, "Today's events are truly peculiar; I still can't fully comprehend."

Lin Wanrong smiled, "Such is life; anomalies always occur in an instant. When you understand it, everything has become a reality."

Miss nodded, putting away her emotions, contemplating how to handle the acquisition of the Tao family's cloth mill.

Xu Wei, with a sweep of the room, said, "Today, President Tao of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce has resigned. In my opinion, it might be better to take advantage of the gathering of the two chambers of commerce today and select a new president to ensure the normal operation of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce. What are your thoughts?"

There was no objection to this proposal. Liu Yue'e was the first to stand up and suggest, "I propose that Miss Xiao be appointed as the new president of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce."

Today, the Xiao family's performance was evident. In terms of knowledge, demeanor, and determination, they surpassed the Tao family. Moreover, the Xiao family had been in business for generations, leading the previous chambers of commerce. The experience was rich. Most importantly, judging by the attitude of Sir Xu Wei, it seemed to be in favor of the Xiao family. With Liu Yue'e's proposal, Miss Xiao undoubtedly became the new president of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce. This position was not unfamiliar to her. When she was young, Mrs. Xiao was the leader of this chamber of commerce. Now, it was a story of a daughter following in her mother's footsteps.

Tao Dongcheng,

 supported by Tao Wanying, had already left for medical attention. Xu Wei looked at the pale-faced Yu Paozi and asked, "President Yu, what is the situation with your Hangzhou Chamber of Commerce now?"

Seeing that a few hours ago, the Xiao family, which he had jointly suppressed with Tao Dongcheng, had now become the head of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce, Yu Paozi felt at a loss, and the matter of suppression couldn't be brought up again. Helplessly, he said, "Congratulations to Miss Xiao for taking over the Jinling Chamber of Commerce. Our colleagues from the Zhejiang Chamber of Commerce will surely support Miss Xiao and make more contributions to the prosperity of business between the two regions."

"That's good then," Xu Wei glanced at everyone in the hall and said slowly, "I've been in Hangzhou for a few months now and heard that Hangzhou has recently been troubled by some White Lotus rituals. Those charlatans are using seeds to sprout small Buddha statues, deceiving the people, gathering followers, and causing havoc among the populace, shaking the foundation of our Great Huaxia."

In the hall, the expressions of the people were all bewildered. Clearly, it was a business meeting, but Lord Xu suddenly brought up something related to a religious gathering.

Lord Xu snorted, "Yesterday, I personally attended the White Lotus ritual, exposing their deceitful practices. After a night of investigation, these people are all sinister followers of the White Lotus cult. Their actions are aimed at deceiving ordinary people to join the cult. Their deeds are abominable, and their hearts deserve condemnation."

Speaking of the White Lotus cult, the hall fell silent. Everyone knew the nature of the White Lotus cult – engaging in arson, murder, and plunder. Especially the members of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce, who knew that the Xiao family had once been plundered by the White Lotus cult. Under the influence of this bitter experience, they held no goodwill towards the cult.

"During my visit to the Jiangnan region, the emperor authorized me to act freely. After breaking up the White Lotus ritual yesterday, this morning, I executed those unrepentant White Lotus followers on the spot as a deterrent. That's why I arrived a bit late today, but I stepped on the blood of those demons to get here," Lord Xu emitted an aura of killing intent, his sharp gaze sweeping across the crowd. Many lowered their heads, avoiding eye contact with him.

"According to the confessions of the criminals, many merchants in the Hangzhou Chamber of Commerce are their followers, providing them with considerable financial support. President Yu, are you aware of this?" Lord Xu casually inquired.

The chubby Yu turned pale with fear, hastily kneeling down, and exclaimed, "Lord, I had no knowledge of this."

Lord Xu coldly snorted, "I have already ordered the registration of the merchants confessed by the criminals. All the information is in my possession. In the coming days, I will thoroughly investigate and deal with them, showing no leniency."

The Zhejiang merchants in the hall felt uneasy. They had heard about Lord Xu's methods. Although he was dealing with a few businessmen, it was a simple matter for him.

Seeing Lord Xu bringing up the topic of the White Lotus cult, Lin Wanrong suddenly realized that this old man had come prepared. He must have known about the connection between the Tao family and the White Lotus cult and secretly assisted the Xiao family today to overthrow Tao Dongcheng. This move was indeed brilliant, and Lin Wanrong thought that the old man appreciated his talent. Little did he know that Lord Xu was using him as a pawn. This Xu Wei was a cunning old fox, even more crafty than Luo Min.

Observing the expressions of the crowd, Lord Xu smiled slightly and said slowly, "However, no one is infallible. Considering that some colleagues may have acted foolishly for a moment, I will give everyone a chance. Regardless of who you are or how deep your involvement with the White Lotus is, as long as you confess at the designated time and place, revealing how much money you have supported the White Lotus with, you will double the amount to be handed over to the national treasury as atonement. I guarantee that there will be no blame for the past, and I will keep it confidential. You can continue to do business with peace of mind."

Lin Wanrong, sweating, realized that this old man had some skills. Playing both intimidation and enticement, these business-minded people were no match for Lord Xu, who was well-versed in political tactics. Lord Xu claimed to have a list in his hands; Lin Wanrong didn't believe it. The information obtained from those captured criminals yesterday was unlikely to include such crucial intelligence. This old man was playing psychological warfare.

"Within three days, I will be waiting for you at the Hangzhou Prefectural Yamen. But if anyone dares to harbor illusions..." A sharp light flashed in Lord Xu's eyes, "At the time of execution, don't blame me for being heartless."

The chambers of commerce in both places concluded in a tumultuous manner, involving a brawl, a competition, and intimidation. To say it was lively would be an understatement. To describe the fear, it surpassed anything in previous years, especially for those businessmen with guilty consciences.

Most of the other people had left, leaving only Lin San, Miss, and Lord Xu. Lord Xu smiled and said, "Lin, my dear, don't be in such a hurry to leave. Quickly share with me the method of washing hands in the oil pot. I'm curious."

The same official who wielded the power of life and death earlier was now a curious old man. Lord Xu was indeed an interesting character. Miss, full of curiosity, added, "Lin San, please share the method with us."

Lin Wanrong chuckled, "This method of washing hands in the oil pot is similar to the creation of that stone statue. It involves a bit of cleverness. The trick lies in adding vinegar to the oil in the pot."

"Vinegar?" Miss exclaimed, "No wonder I smelled a bit of acidity. I thought it was wafting up from the restaurant below, but it turns out you were playing tricks, you rascal."

Lord Xu impatiently said, "What's the use of vinegar? Lin, please continue."

Lin Wanrong smiled, "When I went down to find oil, I mixed aged vinegar with oil and put it in the pot. Due to the greater density of vinegar compared to oil, the vinegar sank to the bottom of the pot, while the oil floated on top. So, when everyone saw us scooping out what seemed like oil, they couldn't see the vinegar."

Lord Xu laughed, "I didn't expect there to be a trick in this. I fell for it. What happened next?"

"After heating, the vinegar quickly vaporizes as a gas and rises through the layer of oil, creating a boiling effect on the surface of the oil, accompanied by bursts of green smoke, which looks very intimidating. In reality, due to the separation of vinegar between the oil and the fire, the temperature of the oil rises slowly, and what we see is just the effect of bubbles; the oil hasn't actually heated up yet."

"Indeed," Lord Xu said, "I never thought there would be a trick to it. I was completely fooled. What about adding the limescale? What was the purpose of that?"

This old man Xu was quite observant, not letting even the lime scale slip through. Lin Wanrong could not explain the chemical reaction of calcium carbonate with acetic acid forming carbon dioxide, so he simplified, "The limescale settles at the bottom. When it encounters vinegar, it reacts, producing bubbles. This makes the oil pot appear to be boiling fiercely, making it more realistic."

Miss asked, "Then why was I unharmed when I reached in for the coins, but Tao Gongzi suffered severe injuries later?" This was a matter that puzzled Lord Xu as well.

Lin Wanrong explained, "It's a matter of timing. The amount of vinegar added to the oil pot needs to be appropriate to ensure that the vinegar vaporizes and evaporates slightly when heated. When the oil layer in the pot is bubbling and green smoke is rising, the vinegar at the bottom of the pot is already minimal. At that time, the oil is not too hot. So when Miss reached in, it felt warm, allowing her to easily take out the copper coins. However, Tao Gongzi reached in

 later, after the vinegar had completely evaporated, making the oil pot genuinely hot. That's when he got injured."

Lord Xu raised his thumb, "Miss is truly intelligent."

"Annoying," Miss blushed, whispering softly.

"Lin, you deliberately let Tao Dongcheng make the first move, a strategy of allowing the enemy to advance and retreating when necessary. You assessed that he wouldn't dare to strike first," Lord Xu sighed, "For someone so young, your understanding of human nature is profound."

"Where, where," Lin Wanrong shamelessly laughed, "I'm not as cunning as the lord. If he really arrested me, I would have urged Miss to grab some coins while the bubbles were still present. In any case, we'd be even."

Miss chuckled softly, "You, if you joined that White Lotus cult, you would surely make a great trickster. Why choose to learn the ways of a charlatan?"

Talking about trickery, she gave Lin San a sideways glance, her face blushing, a charming and captivating expression.