Cheng Duo didn't want to meddle in their affairs, so he returned the identity token to Meng Ji and took out the jade pendant from his pouch. He asked the two people in front of him, "Do you want this jade pendant? It seems to be of good quality. If either of you wants it, I'll sell it to him."
Cheng Duo asked casually, but he felt somewhat embarrassed, as if he was taking advantage of saving their lives. Although he had already told Meng Ji that they were even, it seemed that Meng Ji didn't think so…
To Cheng Duo's surprise, Meng Ji's expression changed immediately when he saw the jade pendant. "Where did you get this jade pendant?"
Cheng Duo was puzzled, "I took it when I saved you that day, from the leader of the Rong tribe! What's wrong with this jade pendant?"
Wei Ling looked incredulous and immediately turned to glare at Meng Ji.
Meng Ji wanted to cover his face with his hand. He should have thought of it earlier. Cheng Duo had taken the identity jade pendant of Wu Gu. He had speculated about it when he went to find the mysterious person, but unfortunately, he couldn't find it…
He was seriously injured that day, and didn't dare to approach the body when he was searching it. So he didn't expect that Cheng Duo not only took away the silver but also took this important jade pendant.
With this thing, they could completely impersonate Wu Gu's subordinates… Although Wu Gu was already dead, the Rong tribe wouldn't know!
"We'll take this jade pendant. Name your price," Wei Ling said decisively.
"Well…" Cheng Duo instinctively looked at Yong-ge. He was not concerned about such details and was not sensitive to numbers. After being in ancient times for so long and buying things, he still had a vague understanding of prices.
Moreover, he had never been to a jade shop, so he had no point of reference.
Yong-ge didn't know either! As a village ger, he was already envious when he saw others wearing silver jewelry, let alone treasures like gold and jade.
But since Cheng Duo earnestly sought his opinion, he couldn't just stand by and not help… In a moment of impulse, Yong-ge bit his lip and uttered a sky-high price in his mind, "Fifty taels!"
"Deal," Wei Ling immediately agreed.
"…" Yong-ge regretted it. They agreed so readily, they must have suffered a loss!
Seeing his pained expression, Meng Ji quickly comforted him, "Actually, this jade pendant is worth at most forty to fifty taels. We have other uses for it, which is why the young general agreed so readily."
Of course, even if they claimed it was worth forty to fifty taels, they wouldn't get such a high price at the jewelry store or pawnshop. So they still made a profit.
But Yong-ge didn't feel like they made a profit. He had a hunch that if he raised the price by another ten… no, twenty taels, that so-called young general would still agree!
Cheng Duo knew Yong-ge's character well and chuckled, rubbing his head. "Alright, you should be satisfied with what you've got."
Yong-ge gave him an annoyed look. Who was he doing all this for?
Then he angrily pulled his big hand away, returning the words Cheng Duo had said to him, "Just speak with your mouth, don't use your hands and feet!"
After saying that, he saw a flicker of surprise and embarrassment on Cheng Duo's face, and he instantly felt refreshed!
But when he turned his head and saw Meng Ji and Wei Ling, he suddenly became shy again – he forgot that there were other people here! He had learned from Cheng Duo and even said such things!
Cheng Duo also felt a bit embarrassed, he clenched his fist and cleared his throat, saying, "Then let's settle it at fifty taels."
Fifty taels wasn't a small amount, and Wei Ling couldn't possibly carry that much silver on him. As for silver notes, the amount was also quite large. As soldiers, they wielded their weapons every day, and if they wore them out, it would result in significant losses.
So Wei Ling went back to the camp to retrieve the silver notes, and Meng Ji stayed behind to accompany them. Taking this opportunity, Cheng Duo entrusted him with the task of finding Li Da and Li Er.
Meng Ji initially wanted to guarantee that he would do his best, but Cheng Duo saw through his intentions and held his hand, saying, "You can just pay attention to it when you have time. It would be too much trouble for you to go out of your way to find them, and that would be embarrassing."
After saying that, he pressed his hand again, heavily implying something.
Meng Ji, seeing his gaze shift to the direction of Yong-ge, thought that Li Da and Li Er were "rivals" of Cheng Duo. However, due to Little ger's face, he had to help…
So he blinked at Cheng Duo and said, "No trouble, no trouble. It's just that we soldiers have a ten-day rest once a month, so it might take a while…"
At least a few months, to let Cheng Duo and this Little ger become in-laws… In fact, based on the way these two were flirting and bantering, it was clear that Little ger's heart was set on Cheng Duo. Meng Ji didn't need to be so petty.
When Wei Ling came out, both sides exchanged the jade pendant and the silver notes, completing the transaction smoothly.
Cheng Duo was very satisfied with the gains from this trip to the Xiling camp. He left the address of Yang Village for Meng Ji and planned to bid farewell with Yong-ge.
Wei Ling saw an opportunity and quickly said, "You have such excellent skills, have you ever considered joining the military camp to achieve great success?"
Yong-ge was stunned for a moment, then became nervous. Cheng Duo wouldn't agree, right?
Of course, Cheng Duo wouldn't agree and directly refused, saying, "No, I just want to be a hunter."
…
What's wrong with this guy? He has trained his killing skills so well but doesn't want to go to the battlefield to kill enemies? Meng Ji looked at the backs of the two as they walked away, finding it difficult to understand.
Wei Ling was also puzzled, but he furrowed his brow, his expression becoming somewhat solemn.
Meng Ji thought Wei Ling failed to recruit him and felt uncomfortable, so he quickly changed the subject and said, "Let's hurry back and inform the general about the jade pendant!"
Wei Ling nodded and decided to let it go. Cheng Duo and Yong-ge returned to the Twenty-Li Slope, and it was already approaching noon. Cheng Duo had unexpectedly acquired fifty taels of silver, so he waved his hand, intending to treat Yong-ge to a meal at the largest restaurant in Twenty-Li Slope.
But Yong-ge disagreed, "Money shouldn't be spent like this. Whatever you want to eat, I'll make it for you when we get back. I heard from others that the food in restaurants costs several dozen wen for a small portion. With that money, I could buy several jin of pork! I can cook a large amount at home, and it'll be filling… You don't even have your own place yet, so even if you earn money, you can't waste it like this!"
Cheng Duo was getting a headache from his nagging, "Alright, alright, I won't go. Let's go buy rice and meat instead. When we get back, you can cook for me!"
A passerby who was dressed as a young master overheard their conversation and suddenly burst into laughter. After laughing, he noticed that the couple across from him were both staring at him… especially the big man, who had a fierce look on his face.
Xie Yuan couldn't laugh anymore and awkwardly said, "Don't misunderstand, I just envy the good relationship between the two of you… How about this, why don't you come to my family's restaurant to eat? I'll have the kitchen serve you generous portions for each dish, and I'll even give you a discount after you finish. What do you think?"
Originally, he wanted to say that he would treat them at his family's restaurant as an apology. However, seeing that Cheng Duo and the others were dressed plainly, he was afraid that they would take offense, so he changed his wording.
Actually, Xie Yuan overthought the situation. If he had offered to treat them, Yong-ge would have gladly accepted. But when he mentioned the discount, Yong-ge thought he was a "scammer" trying to lure them into the restaurant and take advantage of them.
He cautiously pulled Cheng Duo's arm and said, "No need, we won't eat."
After saying that, as if afraid that Cheng Duo would agree, he hurriedly dragged him away, while lecturing him, "I've seen many people like him before. They dress nicely and claim to own a restaurant, offering discounts to others, but they're all scammers!"
Cheng Duo nodded in agreement and praised him, "You're smart, knowing that seeking small advantages can lead to big losses."
Xie Yuan, the young master who really owned a restaurant, was at a loss for words.
As expected, Cheng Duo took Yong-ge to buy pork. They didn't encounter those people who give out meat bones and scraps to time travelers. Raising a pig these days required feeding it not only with pig grass but also with bran, beans, corn, and other grains. These grains might not be favored by modern people, but in ancient times, they were staple food for people.
Therefore, every piece of meat on a pig could be sold for money. Why would they dream of getting something for free?
In addition to buying pork, Cheng Duo also bought a piece of lard. This time, Yong-ge didn't say anything. With a piece of lard, they could use it for cooking throughout the year, and even adding a little to vegetable dishes would make them more fragrant.
Although Cheng Duo bought a lot, he had money now. Besides, he had previously stopped Cheng Duo from going to the restaurant, so opposing him now might make him angry. So it was fine to buy a lot. After all, everything would be eaten, so it wasn't a waste.
After buying the meat, Cheng Duo went to buy rice and flour. Previously, they had been eating coarse flour that still had the husks in it, but now they finally saw fine flour and wanted to buy it.
The rice was the same. Although it didn't look as white or plump as modern rice, it was free of husks and guaranteed to be natural and pollution-free.
Cheng Duo bought a hundred catties of rice. If it wasn't too heavy for the bamboo basket to bear, he would have bought twice as much.
Yong-ge had nothing more to say. He didn't know where Cheng Duo developed this habit of being extravagant and reckless.
He couldn't stop him, so he could only find an excuse to urge him after he finished buying rice and flour, "It's about time, let's hurry and meet up with Shanzi."
Cheng Duo looked up and saw that the sun was high, but since Yong-ge said it was about time, then it must be.
Upon Cheng Duo's insistence, the two of them bought buns for lunch and hurriedly arrived at the outskirts of the city.
When Yong-ge saw Shanzi waiting for them, he heaved a sigh of relief. He was afraid that Cheng Duo would discover his lie, and he would definitely be unhappy.
When they returned to the village, it was already completely dark. Yong-ge quietly returned home, originally planning to go straight into his room and sleep. However, his father was still awake…
"Where have you been these past two days? You didn't come home to sleep last night?"
"I… I was helping someone in Yangshu Village. The lady there was kind-hearted. Not only did she provide meals, but she also provided accommodation…"
"You're lying!"
Li Wang's voice suddenly grew louder, startling Yong-ge. "No one in Yangshu Village has been hiring workers recently. Be honest, where did you really go?"
In fact, Li Wang was trying to deceive Yong-ge. Since he didn't come home, he couldn't go around asking people. That would blatantly reveal that their ger was out all night.
However, Li Wang did go to Yangshu Village to check. If Yong-ge had been working there, the villagers would have told him. But they didn't, which meant that Yong-ge most likely wasn't there…
Yong-ge was indeed fooled by his father, "I… I'm sorry, Father. I didn't go to Yangshu Village. I went with Shanzi to… to Twenty-Li Slope."
"Didn't I tell you not to go there anymore? Twenty-Li Slope is crowded and full of trouble. What if you encounter bad people? You're still unmarried, yet you're running around all day and not coming home at night. Look at what you've become!"
Yong-ge hung his head dejectedly, "Father, please don't be angry. I won't go there anymore."
"You said the same thing last time! You tell me honestly, did you go to find those two rascals?"
Yong-ge doesn't dare to say yes or no… His father had made it clear before, even saying words of not acknowledging him. How could he dare to admit it? But if he doesn't admit it, he would have to lie to his dad again. Yong-ge was caught in a dilemma.
Li Wang saw his hesitant appearance and couldn't help but get agitated, covering his chest: "Didn't I say you're not allowed to go find him? Why don't you listen?"
No sooner had he finished speaking than he coughed violently.
Yong-ge was obedient and quickly poured water for his dad, then knelt down with a thud: "Father, have some water… I know I was wrong, please don't be angry."
Yong-ge had thought beforehand, even before reaching Twenty-Li Slope, that his father, although strict with his words, would loosen up once he showed some weakness.
Sure enough, Li Wang calmed down the irritation in his throat, leaned on his cane, and stood up. Just like many times before, he pointed at the nameless memorial tablet on the main table: "Don't kneel to me, kneel to the tablet. When you realize your mistake, then you can get up."
These one or two incidents are all debts! Yong-ge honestly faced the memorial tablet, but his eyes secretly glanced in his father's direction: "Father, I know I was wrong."
"… " Li Wang paused: "Even if you know you were wrong, keep kneeling!"
Yong-ge stuck out his tongue and knelt for a while, twisting around as if there were bugs on his body. He occasionally pounded his waist, massaged his legs, appearing uncomfortable.
Li Wang was about to reprimand him when he suddenly remembered that Twenty-Li Slope was quite far away, and he must have walked on the mountain road for most of the day… And he had been roughing it outside for two days, so he must be tired as well.
Li Wang shook his head and said with dissatisfaction, "Get up. It's getting late today, we'll continue tomorrow!"
After speaking, he coughed twice.
"Okay." Yong-ge chuckled and quickly got up from the ground. His dad always says "tomorrow," but he doesn't really get angry the next day. If he acts spoiled and tries to please him, everything will be fine.
"Wait." Just as Yong-ge was about to return to his room, Li Wang called him again, "The outsider who stayed in our village, is he the one you saved before? I heard from others that you even grew vegetables for him?"
Yong-ge was startled, but he plucked up the courage and said, "It's him… Father, he gave me money."
Li Wang frowned, "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"It's not a big deal." Yong-ge's eyes flickered, "Father, Cheng Duo never mentioned the tiger bone whistle. He doesn't know about it."
Li Wang quietly observed Yong-ge's expression and noticed that when he mentioned that outsider, there was no fear on his face. On the contrary, his words carried a sense of familiarity.
Li Wang had a feeling: "The chicken leg and bamboo rat meat you brought back before, he gave them to you too, right?"
"Yes." Yong-ge nodded nervously, unsure of what his father would say next. But Li Wang didn't say anything. He remained silent for a while, then just urged him to go back to sleep: "Alright, go to sleep early."
However, just as Yong-ge was about to close the door, his father casually added, "You don't need to use the medicine on your face after a while."
"Father?"
Li Wang sighed, as if talking to himself, then turned around. "You're not young anymore. Feng-ge, who is half a year younger than you, is already engaged…"
Those two unfilial sons are missing, and he doesn't want to think about what happened to them. For now, he can only focus on Yong-ge. And the most important thing for Yong-ge now is to find a good family…
Actually, if it weren't for Village Head Li's mention of Cheng Duo, he would definitely oppose Yong-ge associating with him. But according to him, Cheng Duo is a young and strong man with great strength. He can support himself just by hunting.
Li Wang had also seen the house in the mountain hollow. The roof was covered with thick wheat straw, and the beams and pillars were brand new. Although the surrounding walls were too high for him to see inside, he knew that the person who built the house put a lot of effort into it.
Cheng Duo is also grateful. He gave Yong-ge money before, and when Yong-ge went to work, he even provided him with food and other things. One could say he was very generous.
Village Head Li also said that he is reasonable and has good character.
Li Wang compared several unmarried men from the surrounding villages and found that besides not having any land, Cheng Duo is actually a very good match…
Of course, Li Wang didn't know that it was Village Head Li who made the decision, and he would definitely speak well of Cheng Duo to others. Moreover, Li Wang didn't specifically ask about it. He only heard it in passing during idle chats. Village Head Li wouldn't randomly bring up Cheng Duo's missing marriage without reason.
How could Li Wang possibly ask? They are a family, and if others haven't spoken up, he can't go prying and ruin his own ger's reputation.
The next day, Yong-ge got up early and went into the kitchen, wanting to make a hearty breakfast for his father to please him and make him forget about his secret trip to Twenty-Li Slope.
But to his surprise, his father was up even earlier. Not only that, he had already made corn porridge and boiled a bowl of wild vegetables.
The pickled vegetables had been prepared in advance, chopped and mixed with a few drops of soybean oil, ready to be served with the corn porridge.
Li Wang saw Yong-ge peeking his head into the kitchen but not daring to come in. He glanced at him and said, "You're up? Hurry up and freshen up, it's time to eat." It seemed no different from usual.
"Okay!" Yong-ge felt relieved and replied loudly. He took a basin and went to the broken water tank in the yard to freshen up.
They had breakfast together. After Li Wang left with a bamboo basket on his back, Yong-ge followed him.
Little did he know that after he left, Li Wang, who had already left, turned back and stood at the empty courtyard gate for a long time, sighed, and limped away.
When Yong-ge arrived at Cheng Duo's house, Cheng Duo had just woken up. When he saw Yong-ge, he yawned without any grace. "You came at the right time. Help me make a few pancakes for breakfast. I want pure meat filling!"
He had bought pork and flour yesterday, and he had already considered what to eat this morning while lying in bed.
Yong-ge was already happy with the corn porridge he had with his father, but Cheng Duo wanted to eat oily pancakes early in the morning, and he even specifically mentioned pure meat filling… It was really extravagant!
He stuck his tongue out at Cheng Duo's back and obediently went into the kitchen. Making pancakes was very simple. Yong-ge kneaded the dough and cut a piece of pork to make the meat filling.
Cheng Duo's kitchen had plenty of seasonings that he had bought from the traveling hawker earlier. Yong-ge had used them to cook before, so he was already skilled. He brought a basket of vegetables with him, including green onions. He chopped some green onions and quickly seasoned the meat filling.
He fried nine meat pancakes in one go, brought them out and served them to Cheng Duo, then turned around and started boiling lard.
Boiling lard was simple. He washed the pork fat, cut it into small pieces, put it in a pot with some water, and slowly simmered it. This process required patience. The heat couldn't be too high or too low, and during the boiling of the lard, he also had to skim off the foam from time to time.
Only when all the water in the pot had evaporated, and the pork fat had turned golden and crispy, filling the room with the fragrance of lard, he added a little salt to the clay pot, and the scooped lard was fragrant and translucent.
Cheng Duo had been in this ancient era for quite some time, but this was the first time he had such a hearty meal. He inadvertently ate five meat pancakes and still felt unsatisfied.
He glanced at the four left for Yong-ge but didn't touch them. Following the aroma, he ran to the kitchen. Seeing the hot and crispy pork fat scraps just scooped up, he couldn't help but mix them with salt in a bowl.
"How is it? Is it delicious?" It was Yong-ge's first time making so much lard, and he was a little worried about his cooking skills.
Cheng Duo casually handed a piece to his mouth. "Try it for yourself."
Yong-ge paused for a moment, slowly chewing the piece of pork fat scraps. He thought Cheng Duo had forgotten his identity as a ger and didn't pay much attention to it. He turned his head and continued to scoop the lard in the pot.
Little did he know that behind him, Cheng Duo was rubbing the fingertips that had touched the soft lips of the little ger, feeling a little strange in his heart…
Now that Cheng Duo was full and had unintentionally taken advantage of the situation, his long-lost conscience finally came back. Seeing Yong Ge busy and sweating, without hesitation, he stepped forward and snatched the spatula from his hand, then handed him the bowl of freshly mixed pork fat scraps that hadn't been touched much. "Let me scoop, you go sit and eat."
Yong-ge was caught off guard as his spatula was snatched away, and he was handed a bowl of pork fat scraps. He said worriedly, "Are you sure you can handle it? Don't spill it…"
Before he could finish speaking, he saw Cheng Duo confidently scoop a large ladleful, but when he poured it into the earthenware jar, a lot of it spilled onto the stove.
Yong-ge's brow furrowed. "Slow down! You spilled it outside!"
"It's okay, just a little bit." Cheng Duo didn't mind. Yong-ge couldn't bear watching anymore. "Forget it, let me do it myself. Give me back the spatula!"
As he said that, he put down the bowl of pork fat scraps and tried to snatch the spatula from Cheng Duo.
Cheng Duo was taller and stronger, so he slightly raised the spatula, making it out of Yong-ge's reach. He could only helplessly jump up and down. "Give me back the spatula!"
Cheng Duo used his hand to block him and said confidently, "It was my first time, I didn't control the strength well… I'll scoop a bit less next time, it won't spill anymore!"
"I'm almost done scooping!" This person wasn't here to help, he was simply causing trouble.
Although Cheng Duo repeatedly urged Yong-ge to eat his own food, Yong-ge still stared at the oil jar, not even tasting the pork fat scraps in his mouth.
Because he was worried that Li Wang would return home early, Yong-ge quickly went back after finishing the lard.
At noon, he cooked corn porridge again and reheated the meat pancakes he had brought back from Cheng Duo.
Li Wang didn't even ask about it, but Yong-ge himself felt guilty and explained with his head down, "These meat pancakes were given to me by the inn I stayed at in Twenty-Li Slope yesterday morning. I didn't want to eat them, so I brought them back…"
He wasn't exactly lying. The inn did give him corn and pork scraps pancakes, but they were all eaten by him and Cheng Duo.
Li Wang glanced at the clearly freshly made food and once again affirmed that Cheng Duo was a good person. When he saw that the pancakes were filled entirely with meat, he was shocked again. Why didn't Yong-ge advise against it?
If Yong-ge couldn't persuade him, how would they live together in the future?
Although Li Wang turned a blind eye to it, he was still worried about Yong-ge's innocence, so he let him go out once but started restricting him afterwards.
At this time, the spring seedlings had been planted for some time, and the weeds in the fields were growing wildly. It was the time when the village was busy with farming. Some households couldn't keep up with the work, so they hired Li Wang and his son to remove the weeds. After removing the weeds, they also had to water and fertilize, which kept them busy for a long time.
Meanwhile, the Li family was getting anxious and frustrated. Under the repeated urging of Young Master Yan, they lowered the price of each mu of land from fourteen or fifteen taels to twelve taels.
But there was still no interest from the villagers. It wasn't that they didn't want to buy, but they couldn't afford it. Twelve taels was not a small amount for them, and Li Mancang's four mu of land was contiguous. If they wanted to sell it separately, they would have to remeasure the land.
Remeasuring the land would require breaking apart the land deed, and that would cost a substantial amount of silver when taken to the yamen for processing.
If they didn't have the land deed, would Wu Guihua cause trouble and reclaim the land after three to five years? Even if there was an elder of the clan overseeing it, Wu Guihua wouldn't do such a thing. However, in these times, everyone valued security, and not having a land deed was always uncomfortable.
There were few families who could afford to pay, and due to various reasons, the Li family had been unable to conclude the land sale.
Cheng Duo, on the other hand, thought that he could buy it. Firstly, he wasn't afraid of Wu Guihua causing trouble. Secondly, he had enough money to buy all four mu of land and then exchange it for a land deed at the yamen.
What's even better was that all four mu of land had already been cultivated, so he didn't need to do the farming himself. He could just learn from others when it came to weeding and fertilizing. As for next year… either hire someone to farm or rent it out, they could decide later.
However, Cheng Duo felt that he could still negotiate the price. After all, Wu Guihua had previously accused him of killing their cow and then insulted him behind his back. Why should he be polite to her?
But Li Mancang was still Yong-ge's uncle…
After thinking about it, Cheng Duo felt that he should inform him. He was a very proactive person, so when he thought of something, he would go ahead and do it.
He learned from Shanzi that Li Wang had taken Yong-ge to help a family remove weeds in their field, so Cheng Duo went home and brought something before making his way there.
Yong-ge was busy removing weeds when he suddenly felt something touch his head. He looked up and quickly saw Cheng Duo gesturing for him to come over from behind the bushes.
"…" Yong-ge didn't want to acknowledge him. Going into the woods with a man in broad daylight would be seen by others, and he wouldn't be able to live anymore!
But Cheng Duo seemed to have something important to say, and it wouldn't be good if he didn't go…
Knowing Cheng Duo's personality, Yong-ge knew that he must have something to say, so he wiped the sweat off his forehead and shouted to his father, "Father, I'm going to rest over there for a while."
Li Wang didn't even lift his head but reminded him, "Don't go deep into the grass, be careful of snakes."
"Understood, Father."
Yong-ge knew that even if his father saw him entering the small forest, he would assume he went to relieve himself, so he boldly went in.
Cheng Duo was sitting on a fallen tree trunk, with one leg propped up and absentmindedly chewing on a dogtail grass, swaying back and forth… Yong-ge didn't know where he learned that from.
"I brought this for you." Seeing him approach, Cheng Duo raised his hand and handed him a dumpling wrapped in a vegetable leaf.
"What is it?" Yong-ge felt that it was warm inside. Curiously, he opened one corner and smelled a mixture of rice and the fragrant aroma of lard.
"Grilled rice dumpling, I made it myself."
Yong-ge's expression was a bit complex. Going into the woods was one thing, but Cheng Duo also brought him food. This was getting more and more like a secret meeting…
But Yong-ge didn't refuse. Cheng Duo was the type of person who didn't like to beat around the bush. He had some free time, so he planned to dig a basket of spring bamboo shoots for Yong-ge. The mountain mustard was also sprouting, so he could pick some and make scrambled eggs for Yong-ge…
As Yong-ge silently contemplated, he sat down next to Cheng Duo, leaving a person's distance between them. "Do you need something from me?" he asked.
"Yes." Cheng Duo nodded, gesturing with his chin towards the rice ball. "Don't hesitate to eat it. If you take it back, your father will find out."
Yong-ge thought it through and agreed. He slowly unwrapped the rice ball and saw the crispy and golden-brown outer layer, with rice grains containing diced meat inside. Besides, Cheng Duo must have brushed it with soy sauce, making it incredibly fragrant.
Yong-ge took a small bite. The outer layer of the rice was crispy and fragrant, while the inside was soft, sticky, and oily. He had never known that rice balls could be so delicious when grilled!
Of course, Cheng Duo's rice ball was so tasty because he was willing to add various seasonings like pork, lard, and soy sauce. If he had simply grilled the rice ball, it would have been much less flavorful.
"Is it delicious?" Cheng Duo turned his head, still chewing on the dogtail grass.
Yong-ge nodded involuntarily. "It's delicious!"
Cheng Duo felt a bit proud. Indeed, he had picked out the best one from a pot of undercooked rice, and Yong-ge couldn't tell!
"What do you need from me?" Yong-ge asked again.
Cheng Duo explained his plan to buy the land.
"You want to buy the land from my uncle's family?" Yong-ge was a bit surprised. Cheng Duo had even helped with the vegetable garden, so how would he manage the land if he bought it?
Could it be that Cheng Duo thought he didn't even have land and he kept advising him to be frugal, so he decided to buy his uncle's land?
Some men cared about their reputation, but Cheng Duo seemed to bring up whatever was on his mind. Had he been annoyed by his constant nagging and felt humiliated?
Feeling a bit guilty, Yong-ge blinked his eyelashes and cautiously looked at Cheng Duo. "If it's convenient for you, buying the land is actually not a bad idea…"
"I know buying land is a good idea. You didn't understand what I meant… The point is not just buying the land. The point is that your uncle's family seems to need money urgently, and I plan to lower the price even further," Cheng Duo clarified.
Yong-ge understood. Cheng Duo was afraid of pushing too hard and making Yong-ge side with his uncle's family, refusing to help him.
Yong-ge had self-awareness. Cheng Duo didn't really need to ask him, but he did anyway…
Yong-ge felt moved and spoke frankly, "Because of the issues with my two brothers, my aunt often comes to our house to cause trouble. If I get involved in their land sale, she might even scold me."
Cheng Duo furrowed his brow. He thought Wu Guihua would be a bit more restrained when it came to relatives, but it seemed she had gone even further?
"Then your uncle…"
"My uncle doesn't really have a say. He listens to my aunt," Yong-ge replied, hanging his head. He felt a bit guilty, thinking that he had shared too much. He could have avoided telling Cheng Duo all of this, but he did anyway.
"I see." Cheng Duo's face darkened. He no longer had any favorable impression of that family.
With confirmation from Yong-ge, Cheng Duo immediately went to find Village Head Li and asked for his help as a middleman. He managed to negotiate the price down to ten taels per mu.
"Ten taels? Isn't that a bit too low?" Village Head Li exclaimed. After all, the land was still cultivated with crops. Just the seeds and wheat seedlings alone would be worth half a tael of silver.
"It's not low. I bought their four mu of land in one go, didn't I? And considering the additional fees for transferring the ownership at the government office, ten taels per mu is already quite generous."
"Do we need to transfer the ownership? It should be enough to receive the land deed. There's really no need for the transfer…" Village Head Li couldn't help but advise. The clerks at the government office always demanded bribes, and the county officials would also levy taxes. Cheng Duo was buying so much land, and the amount of bribes would be exorbitant.
Cheng Duo shook his head. "I'm an outsider, so I'd rather have the ownership transferred to my name for peace of mind."
To avoid any complications, he preferred to have the land deed under his own name. He didn't mind spending a little more money on it.
Third Uncle Li saw Cheng Duo's persistence and couldn't persuade him anymore because Wu Guihua's person really couldn't be figured out!
Li Mancang, the head of the household, is the same. He appears weak, but behind every time Wu Guihua causes trouble, isn't he involved?
As the village head for decades, Third Uncle Li knows what tricks the villagers are up to in secret.
Third Uncle Li went to Li Mancang's house and relayed the news that someone wanted to buy their land. The Li family was initially happy, but when they heard the price the other party offered, Wu Guihua immediately jumped up and exclaimed, "Ten taels? Is he dreaming? The crops from our few mu of land are always among the best in the village. If it weren't for Feng-ge's wedding that requires money, I wouldn't even consider selling it cheaply!"
"These sons of bitches act like they're broke, but then they come to rob us when the time is right. Do they really think I'm easy to bully? Village Head Li, honestly tell me who this heartless bastard is. I'll go and confront him. What did I do to him? Why do people from our own village have to make things difficult for us now?"
Village Head Li silently smoked his pipe, his eyes lowered. Hearing Wu Guihua's cursing, his expression didn't change at all. "Fine, I'll tell them you won't sell," he said.
Afterward, he knocked his pipe on the ground, slowly stood up, and prepared to leave. Li Mancang hurriedly held him back, saying, "Village Head Li, we didn't say we won't sell. We haven't discussed it yet. Please don't leave!"
Village Head Li coolly glanced at him. "When the head of the household says he won't sell, what's there to discuss? Fine, I'll mind my own business."
"Village Head, please don't say that." Li Mancang looked embarrassed. Although he was the head of the household, he was saying that his wife, Changsheng's mother, was the one in charge. It was like pointing at him and saying he couldn't control his wife.
He knew Village Head Li was dissatisfied with him, but he couldn't let him leave at this moment. He could only force a smile and say, "Village Head Li, you know that Changsheng's mother has a sharp tongue. When she curses the heartless bastard, she's not cursing you, but the person who wants to buy the land. Why are you in such a hurry…"
Village Head Li narrowed his eyes and said, "I'm here to mediate. When she curses the heartless bastard who wants to buy the land, isn't she cursing me? Let me tell you honestly, that person has nothing to do with you. There's no need for you to curse them. In any transaction, it's all about demanding a high price and paying the money. If you don't want to sell, then don't!"
Li Mancang, seeing that he was truly angry, quickly agreed, "Yes, you're right. Changsheng's mother did go too far. I'll talk to her. I'll talk to her. Please don't be angry…"
He then asked Wu Guihua to apologize, who reluctantly complied. In the end, she couldn't help but say resentfully, "Village Head, we're all surnamed Li, and we're not even past the fifth degree of separation. You can't help an outsider against us!"
Since Village Head Li said that person had nothing to do with them, they weren't relatives of the Li family. Was it necessary to treat them like this for the sake of an outsider?
Li Mancang pretended to scold her and turned back with a pleasing expression. "Village Head Li, can you tell us the truth? Can the price still be negotiated?"
"The person said this is the price. Once the contract is signed, they still need to go to the government office for the transfer. There won't be a single extra tael."
"They need to go through the transfer?" Wu Guihua and Li Mancang exclaimed at the same time.
Village Head Li glanced at Wu Guihua. "Yes, if you don't want to transfer, they won't believe you!"
After saying that, he stood up. "You think it over yourselves. Come find me when you've made up your minds." This time, Li Mancang didn't try to stop him.
After Village Head Li left, Feng-ge emerged from behind the hall. He had been eavesdropping all along, and when Uncle Li was nearly driven away by his mother's anger, he was anxiously stomping his feet behind, barely stopping himself from coming out…
Feng-ge looked at Li Mancang and Wu Guihua with shining eyes. "Father, mother, let's sell, alright? Ten taels is enough! After I get married, I will definitely come back to see you often."
He remembered that the Yan family was in the south, and it might not be convenient for him to return to his parents' home. He quickly added, "Even if I can't come back myself, I will send someone back. Just sell it, ten taels of silver is already quite good…"
In ancient times, when gers visited their parents' home, they had to bring gifts. When he said he would come back more often, he was actually hinting that he would bring back more things from his parents' home.
"Ten taels is too low…" Wu Guihua still felt a pang of pain. Even the smaller plots of land in the village could fetch eleven or twelve taels. Their land was good!
This spring, when they started planting, his father specially brought Changsheng to dig and fertilize the soil. It was such a cheap sale, and she couldn't accept it.
Feng-ge pouted his lips. "It's not like we can't make up for it. Just deduct a bit from the bride price, and it'll be fine…"
"You don't understand the ways of the world, child!" Wu Guihua pressed his head impatiently. "Who would complain about having more money?"
Li Mancang clearly thought the same way and nodded in agreement. "That's right."
Feng-ge actually looked down on his parents' small-mindedness, but he obediently kept quiet when he thought about them saving money for his dowry.
Feng-ge was a smart person. He knew there was no point in causing a fuss. His parents would surely find a solution.
Sure enough, the next day, Li Mancang went to talk to Village Head Li, and although he couldn't make the final decision, he asked for Cheng Duo's opinion and arranged a meeting between the two sides.
When Wu Guihua learned that it was Cheng Duo, this disaster, who wanted to buy their land, her face immediately darkened.
She felt that Cheng Duo was not compatible with their family. Why did their cows die as soon as this disaster arrived in the village? He even assaulted someone, causing them to almost be targeted by the two ruffians Li Da and Li Er…
But despite Wu Guihua's aggressive nature, she understood that the situation was stronger than individuals. In the interest of money, on the day of the meeting, she not only put on a smiling face for Cheng Duo but also said many good things, breaking her usual pattern.
At this moment, she was thinking in her heart that once Feng-ge got married, she would definitely ask Young Master Yan to help drive this disaster out of the village!
Once this disaster was gone, their land would no longer be at stake. Otherwise, Cheng Duo might take the land along with him.
…
Cheng Duo was unaware of Wu Guihua's thoughts. Thanks to Village Head Li's mediation, he didn't go too far and agreed to offer an additional 250 wen per mu of land, totaling 41 taels for the four mu.
Even though it was just one tael, and they couldn't make Young Master Yan wait any longer, and Li Mancang finally made the decision to sell.
The Li family was anxious, so Village Head Li proposed to Cheng Duo that they call Liu Shusheng from the village. They would write the contract of sale today.
Although Village Head Li could write, his handwriting was not pretty, and Cheng Duo needed to bring it to the county office for the transfer. To avoid being criticized by the county officials and to seize the opportunity to ask for money, it was best to find someone with good handwriting.
Cheng Duo had no objections and called a child from outside the courtyard to run an errand for one wen. The child happily went to find the person.
Cheng Duo had heard of Liu Shusheng from Yong-ge. He knew that Liu Shusheng had sporadically studied for several years, exhausting the family's resources, and only managed to pass the provincial examination for children.
Moreover, his academic achievements were not outstanding, but he had fully embraced the traditional mindset of scholars. He was initially disdainful of selling his calligraphy for money, but his parents, who were as stubborn as old oxen, died after years of unsuccessful attempts. He had no choice but to start selling his calligraphy to earn money.
However, since the villagers were illiterate, there were few opportunities for him to write letters. He could only go to Twenty-Li Slope, to find some copying work. Ink, brushes, paper, and inkstones all cost money and were quite expensive. Moreover, he enjoyed reading books and copied slowly, so he was as poor as a church mouse.
Cheng Duo was amazed by Liu Shusheng's sunken cheeks, thinking how admirable he was. Even in such poverty, couldn't he just open an enlightenment class in the village?
Village Head Li clearly knew his character and didn't waste any words. He directly explained the terms of the deal and asked Liu Shusheng to prepare the contract.
Even if the villagers are generally poor, he doesn't ask for money. He would accept some food and vegetables at least, so he wouldn't starve like this…
Liu Shusheng, after all, was someone who had passed the provincial examination for children. His handwriting might not be excellent, but the arrangement and sizing were fine. Cheng Duo could tell, but he couldn't write. After Liu Shusheng finished writing, Cheng Duo took a look and nodded, saying, "It's good."
Liu Shusheng had encountered many people who pretended to be knowledgeable but didn't understand a thing. He thought Cheng Duo was a brute who couldn't possibly read. When he saw Cheng Duo pretending to understand, he gave him a sideways glance and said, "You understand what it says just by looking at it? You say it's good?"
"…" At the very least, Cheng Duo had received twelve years of compulsory education. Although he had forgotten much of his knowledge due to the long apocalypse, insulting him for not being able to read was too much!
Cheng Duo picked up the contract and read it aloud, then asked Liu Shusheng, "Did I make any mistakes?"
Liu Shusheng's face turned red and green. He really wanted to say that Cheng Duo could read, so why did he spend money to hire him to write? He was originally the most knowledgeable person in the village and took pride in it, but now that Cheng Duo could read too, he inexplicably felt a bit threatened…
Liu Shusheng had the intention to show off his knowledge in front of Cheng Duo, but Cheng Duo ignored him after asking the question and turned to Li Mancang and Wu Guihua, saying, "Is there anything else you want to add?"
In truth, the written text that Liu Shusheng wrote was too obscure. Cheng Duo read it once, and Li Mancang and Wu Guihua only understood the general idea. But to avoid showing weakness, they pretended to understand and shook their heads together.
Their eldest son, Li Changsheng, sneakily glanced at Cheng Duo and felt that Cheng Duo was truly amazing. He could even read, and he had even shut down Liu Shusheng!
Cheng Duo only had eight taels of silver on him. He hadn't exchanged the silver notes given by Wei Ling because it was more convenient to keep them. So, he decided to go to the county office to exchange them for a new land contract. After asking Village Head Li about the existence of a wealthy bank in the county, he simply asked Li Mancang to accompany him with the land contract.
Of course, as a middleman and the village chief of Yang Village, Third Uncle Li also had to go along.
Wu Guihua was impatient and urged them to set off that day. Since they would have to stay overnight in the county, it wasn't too late for them to leave at this time.
Cheng Duo was initially worried that Village Head Li, being old and frail, might have difficulty walking later on, but he underestimated the old man's physical strength. This farmer, who had worked in the fields all year round, was still vigorous even in his seventies and eighties, much more spirited than those young people who sat in front of computers in the pre-apocalyptic era.
However, even so, walking for several hours on the mountain road made Village Head Li exhausted. The three of them stopped to rest in a wooded area by the roadside. Village Head Li lit a pipe and happily said that they were only a dozen miles away.
Cheng Duo: It still takes over an hour to walk a dozen miles!
With a grim face, he walked up and took the pipe from Village Head Li's hand, shaking out the tobacco and extinguishing it, then handed the pipe back to him.
Village Head Li was stunned. Cheng Duo said, "Smoke it when we go back." How could he smoke immediately without catching his breath? What if he smoked it all at once and felt dizzy later?
Village Head Li was about to ask why when three bandits holding large knives and wooden clubs rushed out of the forest, saying, "Robbery! Hand over your valuables!"
Village Head Li was shocked. Did Cheng Duo know in advance that lighting the pipe would attract bandits? But he had only lit one pipe. He didn't set the entire mountain on fire, and why did these bandits arrive so quickly?
Contrary to him, Li Mancang saw the bandits and instantly turned pale as a sheet. He still had the land contract with him. If he had known, he wouldn't have sold the land to Cheng Duo. Otherwise, they wouldn't have encountered bandits on the way!
He tightly pressed his waist with both hands, and his legs couldn't help but tremble.
The leader of the bandits saw his actions and knew that he had something valuable on him. He brandished his big knife and pointed at him, saying, "What good stuff do you have hidden on you? If you don't want to die, take it out quickly!"
In fact, these bandits on the road were also selective. Cheng Duo's group consisted of three people. Village Head Li was an old man with gray hair, Li Mancang was thin and short, and the only sturdy one was Cheng Duo, who had empty hands.
On the other hand, they had knives in their hands, even though they only had one!
In this era, ordinary people were already frightened when they saw bandits, not to mention when the bandits were holding a sharpened black iron knife.
This kind of knife was similar to the official knife carried by yamen officers. Although the bandits and yamen officers had different identities, they had the same deterrent effect on the villagers.
Village Head Li and Li Mancang both knew that Cheng Duo could fight, but that was when everyone was unarmed. No matter how powerful Cheng Duo was, he was still flesh and blood. If he got slashed, he would still bleed. So they didn't have much hope.
Li Mancang, with a mournful face, took out the land contract, while Village Head Li tremblingly fumbled for his money pouch, advising Cheng Duo, "Don't resist. You can earn more silver, but if you lose your life…"
Before he could finish speaking, Cheng Duo had already rushed forward. Village head Li saw the big knife brandished by the leader of the bandits and silently exclaimed in his heart. Thinking of the scene where Cheng Duo would soon be covered in blood, he turned away his old face and couldn't bear to watch…
But soon he realized that he was wrong. Cheng Duo rushed over, kicked away the leader of the bandits, and then grabbed the wooden club from the second bandit's hand. With a single blow, he knocked down the burly bandit, who was as tall as a horse, causing him to fall to the ground with stars in his eyes.
The last bandit, a thin and wily one, got scared and turned to run, but Cheng Duo kicked him in the knee pit. The sight of him falling face-first into the ground made both Village Head Li and Li Man Cang frown in unison.
After a few months of leisure, Cheng Duo had become much calmer than when he first arrived. He incapacitated the three bandits without causing them any serious harm and stopped there. He didn't intend to kill them.
He picked up the knife of the bandit leader and turned around to hand it to Village Head Li. "Take this, Third Uncle."
Village Head Li was dazed. "Oh, oh…"
Cheng Duo then went to the three bandits and took off their belts one by one.
The three of them were on the verge of tears. What was this bloodthirsty guy doing by taking off their belts? Did he want to spare no one, leaving them defenseless?
The three men on the ground struggled hard while clutching their pants. Especially the thin monkey-faced bandit who had broken his nose when he fell, blood was now streaming from his nose, making him look quite comical.
Cheng Duo lifted each of them and bound them with their belts, stringing them together.
"What are you going to do?" The three bandits struggled vigorously.
Village Head Li mustered up his courage and asked, "What do you plan to do with them?"
Cheng Duo thought for a moment. "Should we take them to the county yamen?"
Leaving them behind would only bring disaster. Although this road led to the county town, it was mostly traveled by poor peasants. These three guys robbed them of their money, which was tantamount to taking their lives.
Cheng Duo deliberately said this in front of them. If these bandits had any trump cards, they would definitely reveal them now.
Sure enough, the leader of the bandits' face changed when he heard Cheng Duo's words. His eyes flickered, seemingly thinking of something. He suddenly frowned and threatened, "You better let us go!"
"Oh, why should I?" Cheng Duo raised an eyebrow.
"We are from Black Tiger Gang. If you don't let us go, our leader Black Tiger will definitely not spare you!"
The other two men showed surprise on their faces upon hearing his words, especially the tall and burly fool. If it weren't for the monkey-faced bandit's prompt action, twisting his waist, he would have shouted out.
The monkey-faced bandit quickly chimed in, "That's right! You're from the nearby village, right? If our leader comes looking for you, it won't just be your problem. The whole village will suffer!"
Village Head Li and Li Man Cang both turned pale at the same time. Li Man Cang trembled his voice and said, "Cheng Duo, you'd better let them go. We can't afford to provoke these bandits…"
Village Head Li also advised, "Cheng Duo, let it go."
"It's fine, Uncle Li. Just wait a moment," Cheng Duo turned around and reassured him. With his strong abilities and an air of having everything under control, Village Head Li looked at him and inexplicably felt less panicked. His gaze steadied, and he quietly stepped aside. Li Man Cang had no choice but to follow suit.
Cheng Duo sneered in his heart. If he couldn't see through these guys' bluff, then he would have wasted his ten years in the apocalypse!
He glanced at the leader of the bandits and then at the skinny monkey-faced one, suddenly revealing a ferocious smile. "So, you guys have a stronghold, huh? Fine, take me there. I'll kill everyone in your entire stronghold so that you won't have to worry about retaliation."
The leader of the bandits, Zeng Datou, upon hearing Cheng Duo's words, seemed to remember something and turned pale with fear. Trembling all over, he stammered, "You, you're joking. You're just one person, and our boss has over a hundred subordinates…"
The monkey-faced bandit also had a pale and conflicted expression, as if he was about to vomit. Only the big and foolish one seemed unaffected.
Cheng Duo didn't understand why they were reacting like this. He hadn't even used his threatening methods yet, and these guys were already so frightened. Were they really that useless? Regardless, he still needed to intimidate them.
Cheng Duo took the large iron knife from Uncle Li and looked at Zeng Datou and the monkey-faced bandit with a menacing smile. Together, they awkwardly dragged the big and foolish one backward. "Don't… don't kill us!"
Little did they know, Cheng Duo was just holding the knife in his hand, gripping the handle with one hand and pinching the blade with the other. With a loud "bang," the knife snapped into two pieces.
"…" Cheng Duo felt a bit embarrassed. He had intended to break the iron knife and fold it into a ball, but he didn't expect ancient iron tools to be so brittle. It broke as soon as he applied force…
But since it was broken, there was nothing he could do. He threw away the handle and folded the broken blade layer by layer. Finally, he pressed it hard, turning the once sharp knife into a flat piece of iron. He used the iron piece to knock against Zeng Datou's face. "Based on my skills and strength, do you think I have the ability to kill everyone in your stronghold?"
Zeng Datou's face was stinging from the sharp blade, but the pain on his face was far less terrifying than Cheng Duo's words. Was this guy even human?
He had enough strength to casually twist iron, as he had just demonstrated, and when they came to attack him earlier, he didn't even know how he was knocked down. He only felt a sharp pain in his stomach, and then he fell to the ground.
The feeling of blacking out from the intense pain was still haunting him. What scared him even more was the killing intent emanating from Cheng Duo. Even their former leader, Black Tiger, wasn't as terrifying as him! Black Tiger had killed people before, and they had witnessed him personally deal with several people!
Cheng Duo continued, "I know you guys probably don't want to lead the way, but it doesn't matter. I'll kill one of you first, and the remaining two will definitely be willing… It doesn't require so many people to lead the way. It's troublesome!"
As the executioner tossed the iron piece in his hand to the old man behind him and turned his head as if contemplating whose neck to twist first… The timid monkey-faced bandit couldn't bear it anymore and shouted, "Stop! I'll tell the truth! Black Tiger's stronghold has already been wiped out. Only the three of us managed to escape. There's no one else left! Take us to the county yamen. We're willing to go to the county yamen!"
The big and foolish one looked at him in surprise, seemingly feeling a bit wronged. "Just a moment ago, I wanted to say that, but you didn't let me. And now you're saying it…"
Zeng Datou lowered his head in frustration but didn't think there was anything wrong with what the monkey-faced bandit did. Rather than letting this executioner run in vain and end up killing them out of frustration, it was better to go to the county yamen for safety. Once they reached the county yamen, they would at least have a way out.
Cheng Duo: "…"
He had underestimated them. He thought they were so pitiful and had no background. It turns out they had an "organization" after all, and the Black Tiger stronghold really existed! However, their former leader must have been too arrogant and offended someone in the same line of work or a merchant caravan. So, accidentally, the entire stronghold was wiped out.
Zeng Datou and the other two were coincidentally sent out to find targets and thus escaped the disaster. When they returned the next day and saw the corpses scattered throughout the stronghold, they were scared out of their wits! Thanks to the sharp eyes of the monkey-faced bandit, they found this black iron knife in a crevice, allowing them to escape to this prosperous place and continue their promising career as bandits.
Unfortunately, their luck wasn't too good as they encountered Cheng Duo on their first solo operation…
Upon hearing their words, Cheng Duo felt relieved and calmly dragged the three bandits to the county yamen… Well, even if they couldn't claim a reward, considering his efforts in rooting out the strong and aiding the weak in his county, they should at least grant him a reduction in oppressive taxes, right?
Cheng Duo saw the dilapidated city walls and streets and understood why the people of Yang Village didn't like coming to the county town. Not only was it far away, but the commercial scale was also far inferior to Twenty-Li Slope. Other than the presence of the West Capital County Yamen, there was nothing else to attract people here.
Of course, there were still scattered shops open on the street, although the storefronts looked shabby, they had everything.
Cheng Duo dragged the three "bundles" with one hand, and people passing by were scared and moved aside. Village Head Li and Li Man Cang had never experienced such "attention from the masses" before. They were shrinking their hands and feet, almost forgetting how to walk.
Cheng Duo was about to ask Village Head Li whether they should go to the bank to exchange for silver or go to the county yamen first when he heard a voice from behind, "Who are you people?"
He turned his head and saw two patrolling yamen officials. These officials were dressed in drab uniforms and looked rather unimposing, but the official knives at their waists were real.
Now the two officials were gripping their knife handles, looking as if they were facing a great enemy.
Village Head Li and Li Man Cang didn't know what to do, and they looked at Cheng Duo with panic on their faces. What should they do? Would they end up in the jail later?
Cheng Duo remained calm and pulled the three of them forward. "Officers, you've come at the right time. These are the bandits I caught, and I was just planning to bring them to the county yamen."
In order to save trouble, Cheng Duo had dislocated the shoulders of the three men along the way. Zeng Datou and the others were in pain from being dragged all the way, and now they saw the yamen officials, it was no different from seeing their own family members!
They hurriedly said, "Yes, we're bandits, and we've come to turn ourselves in…"
Hurry up and take them away. They really didn't want to stay in the hands of this executioner any longer!
"What do you mean by turning yourselves in? You were clearly caught by me and forced to come to the county yamen," Cheng Duo said dissatisfied.
"Yes, yes, we were blind and tried to rob this hero, so we were forced to come and turn ourselves in…" Zeng Datou and the monkey-faced bandit changed their expressions and cried. As for the big and foolish one, he still couldn't figure out the situation and nodded foolishly, "That's right, we've come to turn ourselves in."
The two patrol yamen officials: Who really looks like bandits?
The two officials brought Cheng Duo and the others back to the county yamen. Before they even entered, they encountered Chief Catcher Wang Meng. After listening to the account of the two officials, Wang Meng frowned and said, "You're saying they are bandits from Black Tiger Stronghold, do you have any evidence?"
He had heard of the reputation of Black Tiger Stronghold. Such a big den of bandits had been destroyed like this?
"I don't know if this knife counts as evidence." Cheng Duo was well-prepared and took out the flattened iron blade and handle.
Chief Catcher Wang was shocked, "How did the knife end up like this?"
Although the knife was completely disfigured, Wang Meng could tell that the thickness of the blade was no worse than his own official knife.
Cheng Duo didn't explain, he directly pried open the compressed gap and restored the knife a bit. Although he couldn't make it as straight as before, at least it looked like a knife.
Wang Meng couldn't believe it as he took the knife and chopped it on a nearby stone. The blade didn't break, and it was indeed made of black iron and so thick!
Wang Meng looked at Cheng Duo, his face full of astonishment and suspicion. "How did you acquire such strength?"
"It's natural." Cheng Duo intentionally intimidated him and then slapped his hand on the stone. The stone immediately cracked and caved in, forming a spiderweb-like pattern.
Only now did Cheng Duo realize that it wasn't just any stone, it was the stone lion at the entrance of the county yamen… Fortunately, when he slapped his hand, he held back his strength, otherwise, if he shattered the county yamen's stone lion, he didn't know if the county magistrate would consider it damaging public property and arrest him.
The county magistrate probably wouldn't dare. The front of their county yamen's jail was made of wooden boards, and the back was a mud wall. If someone like Cheng Duo was put in, it was possible to tear down the jail!
Now Chief Catcher Wang had such thoughts, so he pretended not to see and became more polite when talking to Cheng Duo.
The county yamen's gatekeeper happened to pass by and saw this scene. He exclaimed in admiration, "Such a powerful person exists in this world!"
With a look of admiration, he approached to inquire about Cheng Duo's background, knowing that he was a hunter from a small mountain village. He asked if he would be willing to come to the county yamen and work as an official. If he agreed, he could recommend him to the county magistrate…
Chief Catcher Wang turned pale as he listened from the side. If Cheng Duo were to become an official, would his position as a chief catcher be secure? Furthermore, even if Cheng Duo didn't vie for his position, having such a remarkable person under his command would diminish his own reputation as a chief catcher!
Fortunately, Cheng Duo had no interest in becoming an official. He glanced at the cunning chief steward and then at the dilapidated county yamen. Suddenly, an idea struck him. Taking advantage of the introduction of Zeng Datou and the others, he redirected the conversation to the matter of Black Tiger Stronghold being destroyed.
"What did you say? Black Tiger Stronghold was annihilated?"
"Yes, that's what they said…"
Although the chief catcher directed the question at Cheng Duo, his eyes were fixed on Zeng Datou and the others. He saw them nod in confirmation, and his eyes instantly lit up.
"Since you brought them to surrender, hand them over to me," the chief catcher promptly said.
"Sure."
Cheng Duo handed over one end of his belt to the chief catcher, and Zeng Datou and the others obediently followed him. They seemed eager to leave, almost on the verge of tears.
As the chief Catcher was leaving, he remembered their earlier conversation. He couldn't afford to offend Cheng Duo either, so he tactfully said, "The prisoners have been handed over. I don't know about…"
Cheng Duo had been waiting for this. He immediately mentioned that he had purchased several mu of land and needed to exchange his old land deed at the county yamen.
Chief Catcher Wang's eyes flickered. "That's easy. Leave it to me."
He personally escorted Cheng Duo into the county yamen. During the process of copying the new land deed, he didn't ask him any questions and urged him to hurry.
Normally, copying a land deed required paying a fee with a brush pen, but with Chief Catcher Wang standing by, none of the excuses Cheng Duo had prepared were necessary.
Not only that, after the land deed was copied, it needed to be presented to the county magistrate for verification and sealing.
Chief Catcher Wang only asked Cheng Duo for two taels of silver and quickly completed the matter for him. He personally escorted them out of the county yamen, his level of enthusiasm astonishing Village Head Li and Li Man Cang.
Li Man Cang only realized after they left the county yamen's gate and were greeted by the cold wind that he had forgotten his land deed. He turned to Cheng Duo and stuttered, "Y-you haven't given me the silver…"
Village Head Li added, "Your name hasn't even been registered."
Despite bringing a pile of documents to prove his identity as the village head, the clerk hadn't even asked about them. Something that used to be troublesome had been completed in less than half an hour…
Cheng Duo smiled inwardly. He had heard that the county yamen was notorious for extorting money, so he had used those three bandits to display his strength. Well, as someone aspiring to be an upstanding citizen, it wouldn't be appropriate to openly show off his power.
As a result, Chief Catcher Wang, fearing that Cheng Duo would take his position, hastily helped him complete the matter. The two taels of silver as a bribe weren't too much, making it an unexpected delight.
Satisfied, Cheng Duo tucked the land deed into his pocket. "It's alright, let's wait until the end of the year to register the name." Then he turned to Li Man Cang and said, "Shall we go to the bank now to exchange for silver?"
Li Man Cang seemed quite uneasy, but Cheng Duo didn't want to owe anyone money for selling the land, lest Wu Guihua start grumbling in the village again. Although Cheng Duo wasn't afraid, he found it bothersome…
So, while it was still daylight, the three of them hurriedly made their way to the bank.
As for what happened to Li Man Cang after he obtained the silver and spent a sleepless night in fear… that was no longer Cheng Duo's concern.
As long as Village Head Li could vouch for him, it meant that he had indeed given the silver.
The three of them returned to Yang Village by noon the next day. Li Man Cang hurriedly rushed home with the silver, where he was met with his wife and son eagerly looking towards him.
"So, did you get the silver?" his wife asked with anticipation.
"I got it. It's all here," Li Man Cang patted the bundle.
Wu Guihua's face lit up with joy. She quickly asked her eldest son, Chang Sheng, to close the door and instructed her other son, Feng, to pour water for his father.
She herself entered the house and took out a small scale with a weight from inside. She carefully weighed the silver from the bundle.
"How is it? Is it enough?" Feng-ge anxiously asked.
Wu Guihua pursed her lips. "Our scale is naturally light, but surprisingly, the weight of the silver is just right."
Li Man Cang had already witnessed Cheng Duo's terrifying abilities during this trip. Now, hearing his wife complain about the silver being too little, he quickly explained, "We weighed this silver at the bank. Whether it's more or less, it has nothing to do with Cheng Duo. Don't go spreading rumors outside."
"What's the matter? If he gave less, can't I say it?" Wu Guihua said inexplicably.
Li Man Cang held her back. "I'll explain it to you tonight…"
After hearing about Cheng Duo, Wu Guihua didn't dare to provoke him anymore. Even the bandits were afraid of him, and the catchers and stewards of the county yamen were speaking well of him. If they offended him, how would they be able to handle the consequences?
Since Young Master Yan said that the dowry was all about the price of goods, they didn't need to buy too many things. So Wu Guihua only bought some daily necessities for Feng-ge, and the rest of the silver was kept hidden away.
By the time Wu Guihua finished her preparations, three days had passed since the sale of the land. When they heard that the Li family was ready to send the dowry, Young Master Yan and his group breathed a sigh of relief.
You see, they had rented another courtyard in advance and spent over ten taels of silver on gifts. If the marriage with the Li family didn't happen, they would have suffered a big loss.
Young Master Yan and his companions had been traveling around, and their vision was sharp. Not only did they choose girls or gers who were favored in their families, but they also carefully calculated the family background of the other party.
Of course, they wouldn't dare to deceive truly wealthy families. The grand gestures and gifts they presented could only intimidate the ignorant villagers and couldn't deceive the eyes of wealthy people.
Moreover, no wealthy family would have a separate courtyard. By asking around, they would easily be exposed.
When the Li family didn't show any signs of loosening their grip, they thought it might not work out. They were even considering lowering the price and negotiating again, but they didn't expect the Li family to sell the land.
The Li family was overjoyed, and the group led by Young Master Yan was ecstatic. They deliberately chose an auspicious day and first sent the dowry. They agreed to come for the formal betrothal in a few days and discuss the wedding date.
Before leaving, Young Master Yan gave Feng-ge a heavy silver hairpin and a silver bracelet to please him. Although the craftsmanship of these two items wasn't great, their size was enough to surprise Feng-ge.
"Is this for me?"
"Yes, they're all yours. Keep them," Young Master Yan coaxed him. "Be good at home. I'll come to pick you up in a few days."
Feng-ge's face turned red. "Okay."
Young Master Yan and his group arrived early in the morning, even before dawn. When the villagers saw them carrying things out of the Li family's house, they thought they had come for the formal betrothal, but they didn't know why they left.
Those who were curious went to the Li family to ask. Li Man Cang and Li Chang Sheng had accompanied Young Master Yan and the others, while Wu Guihua, who had a quick temper, couldn't help but boast when a few women flattered her.
One woman surnamed Qian couldn't stand Wu Guihua's smug look and sneered, "How could you send the dowry before the formal betrothal? Are you sure you're not being deceived?"
"Who's being deceived? You're the one being deceived! Our Feng-ge has exchanged engagement cards with Young Master Yan!" Wu Guihua was already anxious, and Qian's provocation made her explode. She stood up and said, "Both the head of the family and Chang Sheng have gone. If it were a scam, would Young Master Yan let people know where they live?"
Aunt Qian had a shallow understanding and didn't know that separate courtyards could be rented. After thinking for a moment, she found another flaw and pointed it out, "Who knows? Moreover, your Feng-ge isn't particularly good-looking, and he's just a ger. Young Master Yan is handsome and wealthy. Why would he be interested in him?"
Wu Guihua sneered, "Our Feng-ge isn't good enough? Take a look at your Yu-ge. With those high cheekbones and a face that looks like a fox, not even widowers in the village are interested in him, let alone a young master from a wealthy family!"
"Wu Guihua, I knew it was you spreading these rumors! How dare you!" Aunt Qian, as if confirming something, rushed forward and started tearing at Wu Guihua.
The elder sister-in-law and the aunt present exchanged glances, realizing they were in for some entertainment. They didn't intervene, but instead casually advised, "Stop fighting."
"Why are you two saying so much? What's the point of fighting?" Wu Guihua refused to back down. "Qian, do you really think I'm easy to bully? Coming to my house on such a good day and saying such depressing words. Not only can your Yu-ge not find a husband, I doubt he can even get married!"
Aunt Qian screamed, "Wu Guihua, I'm not backing down! It's because of your interference that our Yu-ge's previous marriage arrangement fell through. And yet, you have the audacity to speak!"
As mentioned before, Wu Guihua had a strong build, while Aunt Qian, despite being older, was small and thin, making her no match for Wu Guihua.
Just as the commotion escalated, Feng-ge, who had just received the silver hairpin, entered from outside. Seeing his mother fighting with someone on such an auspicious day, he hurriedly stepped forward to intervene. "Mother, stop fighting. Young Master Yan and his group haven't left yet. What if someone sees this?"
Feng-ge's words had a great effect. Wu Guihua immediately stopped. If she didn't fight, Aunt Qian wouldn't gain anything, and by now, she had calmed down as well.
Aunt Qian tidied up her clothes in a sorry state and covered the patch of hair torn from her scalp. With red eyes, she glared at Wu Guihua and said in a resentful tone, "I'll make it clear today, Wu Guihua. It's your son, Feng-ge, who can't even attract a widower!"
Wu Guihua wanted to rush forward and tear at her again, but her own son held her back. She caught sight of the silver bracelet on Feng-ge's hand and the silver hairpin in his hair. Immediately, her anger dissipated, and she pretended, "Oh, where did these silver bracelet and hairpin come from? They weren't there before we left."
Feng-ge knew his mother wanted to provoke Aunt Qian, so he awkwardly touched his head. "Mother, please don't ask about it~"
Though he said not to ask, his bashful expression gave it away to everyone. The hairpin and bracelet were undoubtedly gifts from Young Master Yan.
Aunt Wang was always skilled at flattery and sycophancy. Seeing the situation, she complimented, "Young Master Yan is truly generous! Feng-ge, you've fallen into a pit of good fortune. Don't forget your parents, brothers, and us, your village aunts, in the future."
"Aunt Wang I won't forget," Feng-ge replied.
Aunt Wang then went to persuade Aunt Qian, "Don't cause any more trouble. You might need to rely on Feng-ge in the future when it comes to Yu-ge's marriage!"
"I won't beg him!" Aunt Qian shrugged off Aunt Wang and walked toward the door, but before leaving, she turned back to glare at Wu Guihua. "Wu Guihua, I hope you have a stroke of bad luck soon!"
Even Aunt Qian didn't expect her words to be so prophetic!
