A few days ago, an old locust tree behind his house had died. The neighbors all shared the tree, and Adam Thompson's family got more than half of the main trunk—enough firewood to last them for a while.

Adam Thompson was chopping wood while thinking about ways to make money.

To make money, you need three things: channels, skills, and capital. He had none of them.

For example, he could try selling things from later generations in the Tang Dynasty, but first—who would he sell to? Who would buy them?

Secondly, anything you do requires capital. Where would his capital come from?

Of course, he could also look for a wealthy person to invest. But even if he managed to convince someone rich, the most likely outcome would be that the rich person would take all the results for themselves, and he’d just be making a wedding dress for someone else.

For instance, he could write a novel. That would require very little capital—just paper and ink. But first, people in this era didn’t recognize simplified characters, and secondly, publishing a book was simply impossible.

Adam Thompson remembered very clearly that the first woodblock-printed Diamond Sutra was printed in the ninth year of Xiantong, more than a hundred years from now. Right now, it was still the era of hand-copying books. Trying to make money this way was just wishful thinking.

After thinking it over, the only way he might be able to earn some money was with his own skills—like playing polo. He’d actually been paid fifty strings of cash for one match. Although it was just a fluke, it showed that his polo skills were worth that much. Otherwise, why would John Johnson choose him, a fourteen-year-old boy, instead of someone else?

At that moment, someone called from the doorway, “Is Adam Thompson home?”

It was Benjamin Johnson's voice. How did he find his house?

“I’m here!”

Adam Thompson hurried over to open the door, and sure enough, it was Benjamin Johnson.

Adam Thompson was a bit puzzled. According to their agreement, he was supposed to report to the Qiao residence the morning after tomorrow. Why had Benjamin Johnson come here?

Benjamin Johnson saw Granny Mu in the courtyard, scratched his head, and said, “Brother Li, there’s something I’d like to talk to you about. Let’s go outside.”

Adam Thompson nodded and led him to a quiet spot outside. “What is it?”

Benjamin Johnson took out a heavy little pouch and handed it to him. Adam Thompson opened it and was startled to see two shiny silver ingots inside—about twenty taels.

“What’s this...?”

“This is an advance payment from my father. If you play in the match, he’ll give you another thirty taels of silver.”

Adam Thompson asked in confusion, “Didn’t you say your father usually doesn’t give advances?”

Benjamin Johnson gave a wry smile. “I don’t know what he’s thinking either. Just take it!”

“Isn’t this a lot of money for your family? Will it be a problem...?”

Benjamin Johnson waved his hand and laughed. “Don’t worry, this is the prince’s money. All the expenses for this match are covered by the prince. My father couldn’t afford it himself.”

Since it was the prince’s money, Adam Thompson accepted it without guilt. He handed the silver back to Benjamin Johnson. “Let me return twenty taels to you for now. After the match, I’ll pay you back ten strings of cash.”

Benjamin Johnson looked at Adam Thompson in surprise. “Brother Li, don’t you know?”

“Know what?” Adam Thompson was completely in the dark.

“Someone has already paid off the thirty taels of silver you owed me.”

Adam Thompson's eyes widened in shock. “Who was it? When?”

“I don’t know who it was. He looked to be in his thirties, very tall, lean and strong—probably a relative of yours? He came to my house early this morning and gave my father thirty taels of silver.”

Adam Thompson was completely baffled. Someone had actually paid off his debt for him—who could it be?

Benjamin Johnson asked cautiously, “You really don’t know?”

Adam Thompson shook his head.

“So you’ll still come to play polo the morning after tomorrow as planned?”

Suddenly, Adam Thompson understood and laughed. “Your father was afraid I wouldn’t want to play, so he gave me an advance, right?”

Chapter 9: Shrouded in Mystery

Benjamin Johnson said a little awkwardly, “Brother Li, you’re very important to my father. If he can’t become the chief steward, that bastard surnamed Hu will kick him out of the residence, and our family will be finished.”

Adam Thompson patted him on the shoulder. “Without you, I wouldn’t have been able to buy the antidote. I’ll always remember this favor. Don’t worry! I’ll do my best to help your father.”

Benjamin Johnson left, full of gratitude. He insisted on giving the silver to Adam Thompson—it was meant for Adam Thompson anyway, so how could he take it back?

Adam Thompson was full of questions. Who had paid off his debt? Who was that tall man? In his thirties—could it be his Tang Dynasty father?

Adam Thompson returned to the courtyard. His mother had gone out to help deliver a baby and he didn’t know when she’d be back. Granny Mu was sitting by the well, doing laundry.

At that moment, Adam Thompson's stomach rumbled loudly. He was so hungry his chest was sticking to his back. It was mealtime, so he hurried into the kitchen, only to find the stove completely empty.

“Granny, isn’t there any lunch?”

“You silly child! Who eats lunch? Don’t most families just have two meals a day?”

Adam Thompson scratched his head. “But every day at noon I...”

“That’s because you were injured, and your mother wanted to give you extra meals to help you recover. Have you forgotten how many meals you usually eat a day?”

So in the Tang Dynasty, people only ate two meals a day—morning and evening. Adam Thompson thought for a moment and asked, “What about rich families?”

“Rich families don’t have rules. If they’re hungry, they eat. If they can afford it, no one cares if they eat ten meals a day.”

So it was all because of poverty.

Granny Mu got up, took a piece of dry flatbread from the cupboard, and handed it to him. “If you’re hungry, eat this!”