In the evening, Cheng Duo went to Yong Ge's house and indeed saw a group of chirping little chicks in the courtyard.
These little chicks were the size of a child's palm, covered in fluffy feathers, following behind the hen that Yong Ge had brought back. The hen didn't chase them away, and it seemed quite fitting.
Cheng Duo raised an eyebrow. "How did you come up with the idea of raising chickens?"
Yong Ge chopped up some vegetable leaves, mixed in some bean residue, stirred it evenly, and sprinkled it on the ground. The big and small chickens rushed over to peck at it.
"You like to eat eggs, right? Raise a few more chickens, and you'll be able to pick eggs every day in the future." Yong Ge didn't dare to look at Cheng Duo and turned to the water tank to wash his hands. Then he went to the kitchen and brought out a pot of braised chicken that had been simmering for two hours.
This pot of braised chicken was steamed over water, preserving the original flavor of the chicken meat. The skin, meat, and bones were all tender and succulent, and when the lid was lifted, a fragrant aroma filled the air.
Afraid that Cheng Duo would find the chicken meat too greasy, Yong Ge also cooked a bowl of radishes in soy sauce, a plate of fresh wild vegetables blanched in hot water and seasoned with sesame oil, and a small dish of pickles.
"You haven't eaten yet?" Cheng Duo looked at the spread and knew that Yong Ge hadn't had dinner, so he was waiting for him.
"It's okay, I had a bun in the afternoon, so I didn't feel hungry till now." Yong Ge helplessly looked at Cheng Duo. "You left so much food for me, are you afraid I'll go hungry?"
Compared to before, Yong Ge's life was like night and day. Cheng Duo's buns and steamed buns were made from wheat flour that was processed very cleanly, resulting in white, soft, and chewy bread.
Yong Ge would already feel full after eating two, but because Cheng Duo had a big appetite, he always worried that Cheng Duo wouldn't have enough to eat.
While having dinner, Cheng Duo shared his plan with Yong Ge. At present, he only had two normal rooms, one for sleeping and one as a main hall that also served as a storage room for tools, hunted game, and processed skins.
If they were to get married, these two rooms would not be enough.
Cheng Duo planned to keep the current rooms as the front courtyard, used for receiving guests and dealing with hunted game. Yong Ge could pick vegetables and cook in the front courtyard.
In the backyard, besides the house they lived in and a guest room, he planned to build a clean flush toilet and, if it was big enough, a bathroom as well.
As for the yard, they could set up a trellis and plant climbing vines such as loofahs and cucumbers according to the different seasons, which would be both practical and beautiful.
Yong Ge was stunned by Cheng Duo's vision and couldn't help but show an eager expression. However, after thinking for a moment, he also had some concerns. "Do you have enough money for that?"
"It's enough. I still have around twenty taels, and selling the wolf skins will add another seven or eight taels." Cheng Duo was meticulous and accounted for every bit of money he had to Yong Ge.
After some calculations, Yong Ge realized that it was indeed sufficient. After all, he had witnessed Cheng Duo's capabilities. With the money they had, they would be able to complete the construction and still have a significant amount left.
At this moment, Yong Ge didn't know that Cheng Duo's plan was not as simple as building walls with straw and tamping the earth. He was also tired of thatched roofs made of wheat stalks that required him to pick them up again after every rain. He thought it would be better to go straight for a brick and tile house.
After discussing the construction plans, Yong Ge hesitated for a moment and decided to tell Cheng Duo about Sha Yang bothering him again.
Cheng Duo didn't mind if it was just a random comment, but taking the initiative to mention it was another matter. In case Cheng Duo heard about it from elsewhere, who knew if the story would be exaggerated.
When Cheng Duo heard about this Sha Yang guy bothering him, he frowned. "Has he tried anything with you?"
"No, he hasn't."
"You've made it clear to him, right? If he keeps bothering you, I'll find an opportunity to teach him a lesson."
"How would you teach him a lesson, like what you did to Wu Guihua?" Yong Ge was curious.
"Of course not. Wu Guihua is a woman, and it's not appropriate for me to lay hands on her. But he's a grown man, I'll just tie him up in a sack."
There was no need to make it so complicated.
"But, what if he… what if he guesses it's you?" Yong Ge didn't want to say the rest of the sentence and just mumbled, "Will he find out it's you?"
"If he guesses, he guesses. Would he dare to retaliate?" Cheng Duo wasn't being arrogant, but now that he had recovered most of his strength, even if all of Sha Yang's uncles and cousins joined forces, it wouldn't be enough for him to beat up.
Cheng Duo didn't think he was being domineering. It was only natural for any man to get angry if someone bothered his significant other. Moreover, Yong Ge had made his refusal very clear. If Sha Yang couldn't understand that and got beaten up, it would be his own fault.
He wanted Yong Ge to give birth to a big and chubby son for him. Why not aim high?
After finishing their meal, Cheng Duo insisted on washing the dishes together with Yong Ge.
By this time, it was completely dark outside. Yong Ge quickly herded the chickens back into their coop. Listening to the crisp chirping of the little chicks huddled together, Yong Ge's mood improved, and he smiled as he headed back inside.
Cheng Duo savored the moment, and before Yong Ge could get close, he pulled him into his arms. "Are you scared?"
Yong Ge shook his head, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded. He wanted to say that he wasn't afraid of Cheng Duo, but the intimate moment from earlier in the day had been too thrilling, and he still felt a bit frightened…
"In that case, what if I let you kiss me instead?" Cheng Duo whispered in Yong Ge's ear, teasing him affectionately.
Yong Ge, despite being a young man, was eager to learn. After hesitating for a moment, his cheeks blushed as he asked in return, "How… do I kiss?"
"However you want to kiss," Cheng Duo smiled and closed his eyes in a very generous manner, presenting his face to Yong Ge, as if to say, "Do as you please."
Yong Ge didn't disappoint him. Soon, he felt a tentative touch on his lips. Yong Ge first gently pressed his lips against Cheng Duo's face, and feeling that it wasn't enough, he followed Cheng Duo's example and slipped his tongue inside. With the initiative in his hands, his eyes showed a hint of excitement, and he kissed Cheng Duo earnestly.
Cheng Duo's hands tightened and then loosened. He had been trying hard not to disturb Yong Ge and only took the lead after a long time. He held Yong Ge tightly around the waist, quickly making him lose his senses with his passionate and dominant kiss…
It took Yong Ge a long time to come back to his senses. His lips felt hot and seemed slightly swollen.And he belatedly realized what Cheng Duo had done while he was lost in thought. He exclaimed and his cheeks instantly turned red.
He hurriedly straightened his clothes and grabbed his sleeves, burying his head as he helped Cheng Duo wipe his hands. "How… how could you do that…"
(T/N: This translator wanted more details… ( ͡﹏ ͡) but censorship does not allow the author. ಥ_ಥ)
His first concern was surprisingly that Cheng Duo's hands might get dirty. The sound of his voice wasn't entirely filled with grievance; instead, it was mostly embarrassment.
Cheng Duo's throat rolled, and his voice became low and hoarse. "If you feel like you've been taken advantage of, why don't you help me too?"
He affectionately buried his face in the crook of Yong Ge's neck and rubbed against it. Originally, it was just to alleviate his discomfort, but he found that Yong Ge was really going to reach out, so he quickly held him back. "No, I was just teasing you."
But Yong Ge was determined, his cheeks blushing as he nestled in Cheng Duo's embrace, feeling his increasingly hot breath against his ear. He only felt his heartbeat racing faster than climbing two mountains, and his mind was blank, unable to distinguish between dreaming and reality…
From that day on, their interactions became awkward yet intimate. If there was an accurate adjective to describe it, it would be reaching a state of bliss.
However, Cheng Duo no longer dared to embrace Yong Ge intimately. After all, everyone's boundaries gradually lowered step by step, and Yong Ge's guard against him was too weak, or rather, he had no guard at all.
He didn't want to engage in a relationship without proper consent while Li Wang hadn't returned yet.
Cheng Duo didn't care much for social norms, but he respected Yong Ge. Therefore, starting from that evening, he actively restrained himself.
(T/N: And made the translator's motivation to work further fly away (﹏))
After another ten days, with Yong Ge's careful care, Cheng Duo's body had recovered by more than half. Although he still appeared slightly thin, he had come a long way from being emaciated.
Now that he could show his face, he immediately went to Niujia Village to order a pot and arrowheads for Yong Ge. Taking advantage of these items not being ready yet, Cheng Duo planned to sell the wolf skins in the Twenty-Li Slope.
Because he was going out, during dinner that evening, Cheng Duo casually mentioned it to Yong Ge.
"I know, go ahead, don't worry about me." Yong Ge also knew that it wouldn't be convenient for him to accompany Cheng Duo. Fortunately, Cheng Duo was only going for one or two days, and there was nothing he couldn't bear to part with.
Cheng Duo nodded. What he didn't tell Yong Ge was that he planned to sell two of the glass jars containing the fruit preserves they had eaten. He hadn't mentioned it yet because he didn't know how much they could sell for. He wanted to surprise Yong Ge.
When Cheng Duo was preparing to leave, the famous matchmaker, Hua Meipo, took the initiative to visit Li Mancang's house.
"Oh, what wind blew Hua Meipo here?" Wu Guihua laughed heartily as soon as she saw her.
Why else would a matchmaker come knocking on the door? There must be someone interested in their Feng Ge, looking to propose!
Initially, she had thought of postponing the marriage proposal due to the previous incident of fake marriage. But if someone actively proposed at this time, regardless of whether the marriage would happen or not, it would still bring face to their Feng Ge!
"So, someone asked me to come and propose." Hua Meipo was a little hesitant to say. Although she wasn't from Yang Village, she had still heard about Li Wang cutting off ties with his brothers.
However, that Sha Yang guy was very anxious, saying that no matter how they quarreled, they were still family, and he insisted on her coming to Li Mancang's house to discuss the marriage.
"Who is it? Which village are they from, and what's their family background like?" Wu Guihua grew anxious when she saw Hua Meipo hesitating. "Just tell me, what's so difficult about speaking up? Could it be that the man is poor, or does he not look that good?"
"Neither. The proposer is Sha Yang from your village. You know their family background better than I do, so I won't say anything else."
"Sha Yang? No need, no need." Wu Guihua was both surprised and happy. "He has his eye on our Feng Ge? He has good taste. How much betrothal gifts is their family planning to give…"
Hua Meipo had to interrupt her, "It's not Feng Ge, it's Yong Ge."
If it weren't for Wu Guihua's aggressive nature, Hua Meipo would have rolled her eyes. Didn't she have any idea about the worth of their Feng Ge? Everyone knew about the fake marriage incident, and it was well known that he didn't have a dowry.
That would have been fine, but he also bragged about the fake hairpin and bracelet he got from the scammer, exposing his secret interactions with the scammer. Any man with some wealth wouldn't want to marry such a disreputable young man.
Oh, and Wu Guihua had even thought about marrying him off to the newcomer hunter… His reputation was almost as bad as being covered in mud, yet she still dreamed such dreams!
(T/N: The audacity of Wu Guihua…ᕙ( ︡'︡益'︠)ง. The superiority complex that this person has can make them climb mount everest…)
Although Hua Meipo didn't say it out loud, her expression had already angered Wu Guihua. Wu Guihua immediately adopted a sarcastic tone, "So it's Yong Ge, huh? I must say, that child's fortune doesn't seem favorable. His birth mother ran away shortly after he was born, and his stepmother raised him for over ten years, but what's the result? Both sons turned out to be failures, and his father even broke his leg…"
If it weren't for considering that Hua Meipo could still help her arrange marriages for her children, Wu Guihua would have chased her away with a broom. Wasn't it forbidden for her to say that Yong Ge was a monster? So she dared to say that his fortune wasn't good in front of third brother, right? Anyway, she was speaking the truth, and she dared to say it right in front of third brother!
Wu Guihua was full of thoughts about ruining Yong Ge's good fortune, but before long, Feng Ge suddenly opened the door and came out from inside the house, interrupting her. "Mother…"
"Mother, there's something I want to tell you, come over here for a moment." Feng Ge leaned against the door, beckoning and signaling to Wu Guihua urgently, as if he had something important to say.
Wu Guihua didn't care about Hua Meipo anymore and followed Feng Ge into the house. "What's the matter?"
Feng Ge leaned closer and whispered to Wu Guihua's ear for a while.
After listening, Wu Guihua hesitated. "Can this work?"
"If not, then what else can we do? Mother, can you find a better family for me right now?" Feng Ge felt this was his best choice. Sha Yang was young, came from a well-off family, and even lived in the same village.
Although Sha Yang's mother wasn't easy to get along with, she was not someone to be trifled with. Since they lived so close, wouldn't he go home to complain if he suffered any grievances?
As for Sha Yang, Feng Ge was confident that he could capture him. After all, weren't men all the same? Serve them well in bed, sweet-talk them during ordinary times, and it wouldn't be long before he could change his mind.
Feng Ge believed that he wasn't much worse-looking than Yong Ge, and he was even smarter and better at coaxing people than him. Besides his handsome face, what did Yong Ge have?
"But… if Sha Yang accidentally lets it slip and Yong Ge causes a scene, the whole plan will be ruined." Wu Guihua wasn't worried that Yong Ge wouldn't want to marry Sha Yang. She was concerned that Yong Ge would insist on waiting for his father to return to oversee the marriage. "And also, what about third brother…"
Feng Ge hurriedly said, "You and Father are Yong Ge's uncle and aunt. Sha Yang's family actively sought this marriage, and Sha Yang is an exceptional match. It's reasonable for you to take charge of the marriage, and third uncle can't be unreasonable, right?"
But thinking that it wouldn't be good if things escalated and it was better for the dead to not have Li's reputation stained, Feng Ge had a sudden idea. "Mother, didn't you just say that Yong Ge's fortune is not favorable? Just tell Sha Yang's family that before the marriage, the couple can't meet each other, and the news of the marriage shouldn't be spread. This way, it prevents Yong Ge from facing any setbacks due to his unfavorable fortune."
"Will Sha Yang's family agree to that?" Wu Guihua looked skeptical. After all, Sha Yang's family only had one child. Would his parents be willing to let him marry someone with unfavorable fortune?
Feng Ge winked at her, "We can spend some money to invite a shaman. We can say whatever we want. It's all up to us!"
Wu Guihua's mind turned, and she had a plan. "Alright, I understand. I'll go tell Hua Meipo that we agree to the marriage."
"Don't be so hasty!" Feng Ge held her back. "You should delay it for a couple of days."
"More delays? What if your third uncle comes back?"
At the mention of this, Feng Ge complained to his mother, "Who told you to badmouth Yong Ge just now? You agreed as soon as you went out, and Hua Meipo must have some thoughts now. Besides, we haven't discussed the other side yet. What if it doesn't work out?"
Actually, it wouldn't be a problem even if his third uncle returned. With Sha Yang's conditions, could he refuse? His third uncle was also easy to fool. They could simply find an excuse to keep him away.
As for his two cousins, Feng Ge thought they probably wouldn't come back. They disappeared for two or three months without reason, and with all the chaos outside, they most likely encountered bandits and were killed, or they were sold into slavery. It would be a miracle if his third uncle could find them!
Feng Ge had gone crazy with jealousy. He didn't want to become an old bachelor who couldn't find a spouse, nor did he want to marry a widower who could be his father. Since things had come to this, he might as well take a risk!
Wu Guihua also realized this. She felt uneasy when facing Hua Meipo, but she considered Feng Ge's words. "Feng Ge complained about me just now, saying that I am Yong Ge's aunt. We're all one family. His father isn't here, so we should consider this marriage for him… But you know, Hua Meipo, we had a small misunderstanding before. To avoid any resentment, I will go back and ask Yong Ge for his opinion and see how he responds."
"But I must say this in advance: if we discuss the marriage, the unmarried young man and the young man must not meet each other again. Otherwise, if it gets out, it will be our Li family's young man shamelessly seducing men."
Hua Meipo originally thought this matter wouldn't work out, but who would have expected such a twist? Wu Guihua's change of heart was reasonable and justified, and her demands were not excessive. After listening, Hua Meipo smiled, nodded vigorously, and said, "That's reasonable, that's reasonable. I will go back and inform the young man from Sha Yang's family."
"And also, before the marriage happens, they shouldn't mention it to anyone." As for when the marriage happens, they shouldn't mention it either, but that was a story for later…
In fact, Feng Ge's idea was simple. To avoid raising suspicion from Sha Yang's family, they needed to handle two marriage arrangements at the same time. At that time, wouldn't he be the one to gain instead of Yong Ge arranging his marriage, it was Yong Ge who snatched his!
Feng Ge had previously heard from Hong, the owner of the pork stall in twenty li slope, during a casual chat. His own family had a mentally challenged cousin in his twenties, and his family wanted to find a capable wife for him.
At that time, Hong had even asked his father if there were any slightly poor but good-looking young men in their village. Yes, they wanted young men because young men were stronger than girls and could manage the mentally challenged.
Because their son was mentally challenged and they looked down on young men who were impoverished and burdened with family troubles, they hadn't found a suitable match. And although the mentally challenged cousin wasn't bright, he knew about the pretty wives that people in the village had joked about, and he didn't want someone who wasn't good-looking!
The family indulged him because they were wealthy, had many brothers, and could be considered a prominent local family, except for the fact that their son was mentally challenged.
Feng Ge didn't want to marry a mentally challenged person, but that didn't prevent them from appearing equal in the eyes of outsiders. He was interested in the other person's wealth, and it wouldn't be strange if he was willing to marry into that family.
At that time, they could tell the villagers that it was Hong, the stall owner, who felt guilty and compensated them. They would introduce them to another prominent family, without mentioning any shortcomings. This way, they could say that Yong Ge was greedy for vanity and snatched his marriage, and it would be plausible.
Anyway, when they realized it, their village was close enough for the betrothal to be completed, and maybe they had even entered the bridal chamber. They couldn't possibly switch it back, right?
His parents couldn't be held responsible either. After all, the marriage arranged by Hong's family was his doing. Who asked Yong Ge to insist on snatching it? If he snatched it and wasn't satisfied, then it wouldn't be their family's concern.
But this matter had to be done quickly, or else he would become the one marrying the mentally challenged person. Feng Ge was anxious, so the next day, he urged his father to find Hong.
Li Changsheng didn't understand, and he advised him, "Feng Ge, why do you insist on marrying a mentally challenged person? Even if that family is wealthy, you don't have to subject yourself to such hardship. I'll work hard to earn money and save a dowry for you. Don't rush, okay?"
Feng Ge thought to himself that it would take forever for him to save up the dowry. But he had to say something nice on the surface, "Brother, you should also find a wife. The engagement gift from Hong's prominent cousin is generous. When I get married, Mom and Dad will have money to find a wife for you."
Li Changsheng became anxious, "Feng Ge, you don't have to subject yourself to such hardship just so I can get married. If it means you have to marry a mentally challenged person, then I would rather remain unmarried for the rest of my life!"
"Li Changsheng, why are you talking nonsense? What do you mean by 'remaining unmarried for the rest of your life'!" Wu Guihua, who was nearby, became angry and slapped her eldest son.
Feng Ge also reminded him, "Brother, don't call him a mentally challenged person. It won't be good if that spreads."
Wu Guihua understood immediately and slapped her eldest son again, "Feng Ge is right. If you say 'mentally challenged person' again, I'll hit you!"
"Mother…" Li Changsheng felt wronged. He was also doing this for Feng Ge's sake.
Li Mancang also spoke at this time, "Your mother is right. If you can't speak properly, keep your mouth shut! Your old man is still alive. It's not up to you to decide this matter!"
Everyone in the family didn't stand on his side, and his own parents even warned him repeatedly that if he let slip any information, they would use a burning stick on him. Li Changsheng could only lower his head in frustration.
Li Mancang quickly took Li Changsheng to Twenty li Slope. Although Hong, the owner, felt unlucky when he saw them, after understanding Li Mancang's background, he thought this plan could work.
The sixth household of the Hong family wanted someone who was good-looking and had no family burdens, and Feng Ge fit the requirements perfectly. Of course, if Feng Ge wasn't a virgin, Hong wouldn't be willing to introduce him to his relative, but Feng Ge clearly was.
Both Hong Liu and his wife agreed, feeling a bit overwhelmed. They simply agreed to the meeting. They were thinking that if their youngest son took a liking to him, they would reluctantly allow the marriage and do it quickly. Otherwise, this family would be torn apart by the constant turmoil!
(T/N: Well Changsheng can be considered a good brother… (っ))
When Li Man Cang and his son went to find Boss Hong in twenty-li slope, Cheng Duo also arrived. However, he wasn't in a hurry like Li Man Cang, so by the time he set off, it was already broad daylight, and they didn't cross paths.
Thirteen wolf pelts were as light as a feather to Cheng Duo. He walked the twenty li without breaking a sweat.
Before entering the city, Cheng Duo took out two glass jars and a bottle of white liquor, wrapped them in a cloth bag, and tucked them under the wolf pelts.
Shopkeeper Sun of the fur shop, still remembered Cheng Duo. When he saw that Cheng Duo had brought thirteen wolf pelts in such a short time, he was both surprised and grateful that his wife had made a good connection during the last price negotiation.
Otherwise, if Cheng Duo sold the items to another fur shop, he would have lost this formidable customer!
"Oh, why didn't the honorable lady come with you this time?" shopkeeper Sun greeted Cheng Duo with a smiling face.
Cheng Duo was taken aback for a moment before realizing that he was referring to Yong Ge. Shopkeeper Sun, had an exceptional memory. He remembered Cheng Duo even after two or three months since they last met!
Cheng Duo clenched his fist and cleared his throat. "He needs to take care of things at home. I'll bring him out next time to have some fun."
"I see…"
This time, shopkeeper Sun, offered an even greater discount. Cheng Duo initially estimated that he could get around seven or eight taels for the wolf pelts, but after shopkeeper Sun made his calculations, the offer was close to eight taels and five hundred wen.
Cheng Duo was pleased and sold them without haggling. As he was about to leave, shopkeeper Sun saw him off warmly, repeatedly saying that he should come back if they had more valuable items to sell.
Seeing shopkeeper Sun's enthusiastic demeanor, Cheng Duo hesitated for a moment and asked him, "Do you know anyone who might be interested? I want to sell two items."
"What items?" shopkeeper Sun couldn't imagine that Cheng Duo would pull out a cloth bag covered in wolf hair and dust from under his backpack, and from it, he took out two sparkling and translucent treasures, like exquisite glass made from the finest materials.
It was truly… an extraordinary sight!
"Oh, put it away quickly! Aren't you afraid of attracting the attention of thieves and bandits?" shopkeeper Sun looked as if he was facing a great enemy, repeatedly urging Cheng Duo to put the items away, but he himself didn't dare to touch them.
The workers in their shop heard the commotion and wanted to come over to see what was happening, but he scolded them and sent them away.
Shopkeeper Sun was very tactful and didn't inquire about the origin of the treasures. However, he also saw this as his opportunity and thought for a moment before saying to Cheng Duo, "If you sell these two glass bottles to Treasure Pavilion, you'll definitely be pressured to lower the price. It's better to sell them directly to wealthy collectors who appreciate such items."
"I happen to know a generous young master. If Brother Cheng trusts me, shall I take you to meet him?"
Cheng Duo had no reason not to trust him and quickly nodded. "Then I'll trouble shopkeeper Sun. If we sell them at a good price, I'll give you a one percent commission."
Upon hearing about this unexpected opportunity, shopkeeper Sun immediately abandoned his business and instructed his assistant to look after the shop. He personally led Cheng Duo out of the store.
Because Cheng Duo was carrying these "precious items," shopkeeper Sun was extremely cautious during the journey. He kept looking around, especially when they entered narrow alleys. Cheng Duo felt that shopkeeper Sun resembled someone doing underground work and almost burst out laughing.
Shopkeeper Sun didn't know what to say to him, as Cheng Duo was casually walking around with the bamboo basket. What if someone stole the items from behind him without him even noticing!
Fortunately, Cheng Duo was tall, and ordinary people didn't have such long arms. So after shopkeeper Sun reminded Cheng Duo once, and seeing that he refused to listen, he let it go.
When the two of them knocked on the door of an exquisite courtyard, shopkeeper Sun explained their purpose and was ushered in by the steward. Only then did shopkeeper Sun feel relieved.
"Come, Shopkeeper Sun, have some tea." Cheng Duo pushed the cup of fragrant tea brought by the steward towards Sun, in a relaxed and generous manner that didn't resemble a rustic farmer at all.
Of course, that was to be expected. Cheng Duo had seen many large and beautiful gardens before the apocalypse. Although this garden had an antique charm, the carefully crafted artificial hills and precious flowers and trees didn't impress him much. Moreover, the ornaments on the antique shelves in this place didn't seem much different from those found on street stalls selling antiques.
However, it was enough to surprise shopkeeper Sun. Many brave and generous individuals would become timid and apprehensive when they entered such a place. Cheng Duo, on the other hand, remained composed.
"Mr. Sun, what brings you here? Could it be that you have something good to introduce to this young master again…" Xie Yuan, holding a folding fan, entered with a smiling face but froze for a moment when he saw Cheng Duo. "Why is it you?"
"Uh… Mr. Xie recognizes Brother Cheng?" shopkeeper Sun looked at one and then the other.
Xie Yuan felt a little embarrassed. "Ahem, we had a brief encounter…"
It was because Cheng Duo's fierce appearance and timid demeanor left a deep impression on him. Moreover, this was the first time someone thought he was a swindler when he invited them to dinner…
Cheng Duo didn't remember at all, so Xie Yuan reminded him, saying, "I saw Brother Cheng and Honorable Lady on the street last time, and I wanted to invite you both for a meal… Ahem, my family really runs a restaurant business, I'm not deceiving anyone."
Speaking of "deceiving," Cheng Duo recalled, "Oh, it's you."
"Yes, it's me." Xie Yuan looked at him, then at shopkeeper Sun, and asked, "What brings you both here?"
He initially thought shopkeeper Sun had some nice fur to introduce to him, but now it seemed different?
Shopkeeper Sun helped explain, "Well, Brother Cheng has two precious glass bottles that he wants to sell…"
Cheng Duo then took out the two jars from the dirty cloth bag, and shopkeeper Sun successfully witnessed Xie Yuan's pained expression, instantly feeling much better.
So, it wasn't just him who thought they were extraordinary!
"My goodness, how can you put them in a cloth bag? And keeping them in the backpack, what if they get damaged?" Xie Yuan looked at the two treasures with a pained expression. He wanted to reach out and touch them but realized he was still holding the folding fan. He casually tucked the fan into his waistband and wiped it against his brocade robe before carefully studying the two glass bottles.
Cheng Duo had already noticed that the fan in Xie Yuan's hand seemed to be carved from ivory, with a fan surface as thin as a cicada's wing, embroidered with the pattern of bamboo for gentlemen. And his brocade robe was intricately embroidered with cloud patterns, exquisite in every detail.
And now, Xie Yuan treated these two objects as treasures while neglecting the fan and robe. It seemed like a case of misplaced priorities…
However, in this era, the technology for producing such clear and bubble-free glass probably hadn't been invented yet, so it wasn't a big deal. After all, although these items were made of glass, they would become antiques after a few hundred or even thousands of years.
With this thought, Cheng Duo instantly felt at ease.
"Can this lid be opened?"
"Yes, this jar… the glass bottle has excellent sealing, even if the lid is closed tight and filled with water, not a drop would leak." Cheng Duo said, as he casually opened the lid to demonstrate. To prove his point, he even wanted to pour the tea from his cup inside.
Having lived through the apocalypse, Cheng Duo was accustomed to valuing the practical utility of objects more than their intrinsic worth. Therefore, he wanted to find a purpose for these two glass bottles.
"Stop!" Xie Yuan exclaimed in shock and hurriedly said, "I'll have someone bring clean water."
A servant quickly brought in a bucket of water, and Cheng Duo poured half a jar of water into the glass bottle, then tightly closed the lid and took it out, saying, "This thing becomes a bit slippery when wet. It's best to hold it by the lid, otherwise, if it falls on the ground, it might break."
Hold on, you're still holding it while shaking it!
Xie Yuan saw Cheng Duo gripping the glass bottle, flipping it upside down and shaking it, and his heart nearly jumped out of his throat. Shopkeeper Sun even reached out with both hands beneath it, fearing that if Cheng Duo's hand slipped, he could save it.
"You'd better put it down quickly. I believe they won't leak anymore," Xie Yuan said with lingering fear.
Seeing that both of them were sweating profusely, Cheng Duo felt embarrassed to further test their cardiac strength. He held the jars in both hands and placed them on the table.
The two jars were placed side by side, one with water and one without, but both were so transparent that they revealed the details of the tabletop decorations behind them, astonishing the two ignorant people.
"This lid isn't made of glass, right?" Xie Yuan carefully tapped on one of the jars.
Cheng Duo paused for a moment, then said, "Right, it's not… it's made of a rare metal, coated with red paint. It needs to be carefully protected." Otherwise, it might rust.
Fortunately, the step of imprinting trademarks on jars was skipped in the post-apocalyptic era; otherwise, he would have had to explain the characters on the lid.
Xie Yuan studied them for a while and called two stewards from trading firms. Although Xie family primarily ran a restaurant business, they also used a considerable amount of exotic spices and ingredients. The stewards had accompanied the merchant caravans and had gained some knowledge and experience.
The three of them whispered and murmured while looking at the jars, while Cheng Duo had practically examined all the ornaments on the antique shelf. They continued to discuss among themselves.
Shopkeeper Sun, listened attentively from the side, his knowledge limited. Listening to the stewards casually talk about foreign lands, he felt his horizons expand.
"How do you feel, Young Master Xie? Are you willing to accept this pair of glass bottles?" After a while, Cheng Duo approached and asked.
Xie Yuan straightened up, clenched his fist, and cleared his throat. "I want them. I'll take the pair for one thousand six hundred taels!"
"Not acceptable. Two thousand six hundred taels," Cheng Duo countered directly, doubling the price.
"One thousand two hundred!" "One thousand eight hundred!"
They went back and forth, and in the end, they negotiated the price to one thousand six hundred taels, eight hundred taels for each jar. A good deal indeed.
Although Xie Yuan felt the pain in his wallet, he knew that if he brought these two treasures to the capital city, those extravagant and greedy nobles would surely fight over them. However, he couldn't sell them like Cheng Duo did. He would use the most precious camphor wood box, sprinkle them with fragrant spices, and double the price easily.
But with the long journey to the capital city and the fragility and value of these two treasures, he was actually taking a considerable risk.
When shopkeeper Sun heard one thousand six hundred taels, his eyes sparkled! With just a simple introduction, he had earned back the money spent on purchasing the wolf pelts and more!
Not only that, after visiting Young Master Xie, he would surely remember his favor, as would Cheng Duo… It was a perfect opportunity!
After the transaction was completed, Xie Yuan insisted on treating Cheng Duo and shopkeeper Sun, to a meal at his own restaurant. However, as they entered the restaurant, they encountered five or six burly men dressed as foreigners causing trouble inside. The restaurant staff were lying on the floor.
"What's going on?" Xie Yuan's face turned cold in an instant. Just when he finally had the chance to clear his name, this was like a slap in the face!
The restaurant manager wiped the sweat from his forehead and explained, "These foreigners insisted that our dishes have insects in them. Our staff saw them personally; they were the ones who planted the insects."
He initially wanted to compensate them a little to resolve the issue peacefully, but these foreigners made outrageous demands, so he naturally couldn't agree.
Many restaurant owners had encountered this kind of situation. If it were ordinary people, the restaurant staff, numbering over ten, would quickly throw them out. But these foreigners had formidable skills, so he sent someone to the Xie family to call for their household guards, but it would take some time for them to arrive.
After understanding the situation, Cheng Duo, who had deceived Xie Yuan, decided to help him deal with it.
"Brother Cheng—" Just as Xie Yuan was about to stop Cheng Duo, he saw him punch the ringleader who was causing the most trouble, causing him to kneel down.
Xie Yuan: "…"
The remaining men were effortlessly subdued, and in no time, the arrogant foreigners started crying out in strange accents, begging for mercy.
They tried to run away, but Cheng Duo kicked them back with a single kick. "You don't pay for the broken dishes, bowls, and furniture? If you don't have money, you can stay and work as laborers!"
Xie Yuan and the restaurant manager's eyes instantly shimmered: You can do that!
The author has something to say:
I don't know if any of you have seen "beer bottles" in museums?
(
Cheng Duo stood menacingly at the door. The customers who originally wanted to cause trouble and quietly slip away after ordering their food obediently sat back down.
Of course, they didn't think that the Xie Family Restaurant was taking advantage of its customers because there were many such groups of foreigners who frequently caused trouble at the border of Da Xia. Some of them came with merchant caravans, while others were simply unemployed, relying on extortion for a living.
At this moment, seeing these troublemakers get what they deserved, everyone had a delighted expression on their faces, and some even cheered loudly.
Cheng Duo was a bit speechless. He wasn't an entertainer, so why were these people cheering?
But that didn't stop him from demanding compensation from the leader of the burly men. Those foreign men, unable to win in a fight or with their insults, couldn't even incite the surrounding customers and could only accept their fate.
A group of bruised and battered men scraped together the money, almost taking off their belts. With the employees holding the silver, Cheng Duo turned to the restaurant manager and asked, "Is this enough?"
The manager nodded repeatedly, "It's enough, it's enough."
"Alright, you can leave now." Cheng Duo waved his hand and let them go.
The leader of the foreigners hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he didn't dare to make any threatening remarks before leaving. He was afraid of provoking this star of disaster, who might come back and beat them up again.
That guy's fists were too painful, and he seemed to target the less fleshy parts!
The group of foreigners left dejectedly. Xie Yuan looked at Cheng Duo and suddenly felt fortunate that he had been polite during their first meeting. Otherwise, he might have experienced the taste of Cheng Duo's iron fists as well.
In fact, Xie's family had been in business for generations, and Xie Yuan had been influenced by it since he was young. Coupled with a bit of intuition like a small animal… otherwise, he wouldn't have been so free, inviting someone he just met on the street for a meal.
The restaurant manager was also very surprised. Where did their young master find such an extraordinary person? If they kept him as a retainer in the house, perhaps no one would dare to cause trouble for the Xie Family Restaurant anymore.
Xie Yuan: That's what I want!
If it hadn't been for the previous transaction involving the glass bottles, Xie Yuan felt that he still had a chance, but now he didn't dare to rashly ask. Cheng Duo's background was obviously not simple, and it would be best not to offend him.
Xie Yuan clapped the restaurant manager on the shoulder and said, "What are you standing there for? Have someone clean up a private room to entertain our distinguished guest. Bring out the good wine and food. Brother Cheng is my esteemed guest, and we must treat him well!"
"Yes, yes, Young Master. I'll do that right away…"
Xie Yuan then turned to Cheng Duo and said, "Thank you for what happened earlier. Shall we go inside and talk?"
After saying that, he gestured with a "please" hand motion, showing a much warmer attitude than before. Xie Yuan was a businessman, and speaking and acting in a friendly and amiable manner came naturally to him. At this moment, it had a hint of genuine friendship.
Cheng Duo nodded and didn't insist on who should go first. He walked in without hesitation.
Of course, Xie Yuan didn't forget shopkeeper Sun. He politely said, "Mr. Sun, please."
"Please, please." shopkeeper Sun, wasn't as enthusiastic as Cheng Duo. He kept trying to decline, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
He never expected that the hunter he thought had a promising future was actually so formidable. Not only did he effortlessly earn over a thousand taels of silver, but he also took down a group of burly foreigners in the time it takes to finish a cup of tea. This person was probably not just a hunter but a reclusive expert?
In the private room, as the young master personally entertained his guest, the restaurant manager didn't waste any time and urged the kitchen to bring out the restaurant's signature dishes.
The three of them ate and chatted, creating a pleasant atmosphere.
While they were eating, Xie Yuan's father arrived at the restaurant with a group of people. The leader was a middle-aged scholar with a beard, accompanied by the owners of several other restaurants and a group of followers who appeared to be scholars.
Everyone was vying to please the middle-aged scholar, and Xie Yuan's father was no exception. As soon as he arrived, he asked the restaurant manager to prepare the best private room and wanted to entertain his distinguished guest.
The restaurant manager was in a dilemma and took the opportunity to come over and whisper, "Sir, the young master just arrived and is using the private room to entertain guests."
Upon hearing this, Xie Yuan's father immediately wore a relieved expression. "What guests? Are they more important than Mr. Guo?"
Mr. Guo is the legitimate youngest son of former Grand Tutor Guo. Although he currently holds no official position, he is renowned for his literary talent and has even published several collections of poetry and travelogues. If Xie's Restaurant could be mentioned in Mr. Guo's writings, it would be a great honor that would be remembered for generations!
Didn't you see that the owners of the neighboring Piaoxiang Restaurant and Yipinju are here too? It wasn't easy to bring Mr. Guo here, and they couldn't let him be disturbed by their own son.
"Sir, it's like this…" The restaurant manager quickly explained the situation to Xie's father, including the trouble that occurred earlier and how the young master's guest helped resolve it. Xie's father thought Cheng Duo was just a formidable thug and expressed some displeasure, saying, "Go and inform Xie Yuan about Mr. Guo's arrival. If they're almost done eating, quickly prepare a private room. If they haven't finished… let Xie Yuan find a reason, but try not to offend anyone."
Xie's father gave his instructions, unknowingly heard by Huang, the owner of Piaoxiang Restaurant, who immediately shouted, "So, Xie's private room is already occupied, huh? I'm curious to see who is so important that Xie Yuan personally invited them!"
He knew that Mr. Guo despised uncouth warriors, and to avoid tarnishing the impression of Xie's father and son in Mr. Guo's eyes, he walked past the employees and headed straight to the private room.
The other restaurant owners also encouraged Xie Yizhi, and the group of people marched up the stairs. Xie's father, unable to stop them and unable to go ahead to warn his son, could only follow behind with a somewhat embarrassed expression.
"Huang, what are you doing here?" Xie Yuan frowned involuntarily when someone barged in without knocking, and it turned out to be Huang, the owner of their neighboring restaurant. He couldn't help but furrow his brows.
"So, this is the esteemed guest you invited, Xie Yuan? May I know who this person is and what his name is?" Huang approached with a false smile, asking directly. If he had a bad temper, he would have already grabbed him by the collar and thrown him out.
But Cheng Duo hadn't finished eating yet, and since it wasn't his territory, he just glanced at Huang and left Xie Yuan to handle it himself.
"Huang, what do you mean? Why do I need your approval for the guests I invite…" Xie Yuan had just stood up when a group of people entered through the door, followed by his father. He was immediately taken aback. "Father?"
The owner of Yipinju said, "We heard that Young Master Xie is hosting guests, so we came out of curiosity to see who can make Young Master Xie turn down Mr. Guo and personally extend an invitation."
Xie's private room was spacious, but having so many people crammed into the same room made Cheng Duo a bit uncomfortable. He lost his appetite and quickly put down his chopsticks.
Xie Yuan hurriedly explained to his father, "Brother Cheng is my friend."
Xie Yuan also sensed that the situation was not good. No matter who they asked to leave, they would inevitably offend one side. He genuinely wanted to befriend Cheng Duo, but his father invited Mr. Guo… Xie Yuan was in a dilemma.
On the other hand, Mr. Guo seemed oblivious to the tension among the group of people. As soon as he entered, he glanced at the wine cups on the table and remarked, "Is this Xie's Pickled Flower Brew?"
He took an empty wine cup, poured some himself, and then held it up, examining and sniffing the wine before taking a sip to taste. In the end, he seemed somewhat disappointed, saying, "Sweet at the beginning, bitter at the end. It's indeed a good wine. However, compared to Huang Ye and Qiu Shuang Bai Lu, it falls short…"
He had heard about Xie's renowned Pickled Flower Brew in the local area, which was the reason he was willing to accompany Xie's father. The persuasion of the others was irrelevant.
"The gentleman speaks rightly. Xie's Pickled Flower Brew is just overhyped and can't compare to our Yuhuan Wine at Yipinju."
"Our Piaoxiang Restaurant's Bamboo Leaf Green is not bad either. Why don't you come over and give it a try, sir?"
As soon as Cheng Duo saw Mr. Guo's connoisseur-like appearance, he had a plan in mind. "I do have a bottle of excellent wine, but I'm afraid this… sir may not be able to afford it."
Previously, he thought that he shouldn't pluck all the wool from a sheep; after all, Xie Yuan had a hard time buying the glass jars. If he pushed the wine out now, it wouldn't fetch a good price.
Now, an opportunity presented itself. Seeing that the other party seemed knowledgeable and a nobleman, he must be wealthy, right?
"Ridiculous! How can Mr. Guo not afford any wine?"
"Don't spout nonsense here, you ignorant fool. This is not the place for you to speak. Offending Mr. Guo, Xie Yuan won't be able to protect you!"
The group of scholars also became excited. "Absurd! Do you think that by provoking, Mr. Guo will drink your wine? Everyone knows that Mr. Guo only drinks locally famous good wines. You casually bring out a bottle of unknown origin; don't tarnish Mr. Guo's reputation!"
"That's right, shameless…"
But as soon as they saw Cheng Duo take out the wine bottle, the people who had been mocking him before couldn't say a word. These scholars never expected that this seemingly ordinary warrior would produce an invaluable white jade wine bottle!
The bottle was lustrous, smooth, and perfectly carved. Using this bottle to contain good wine would indeed not tarnish Mr. Guo's reputation.
Cheng Duo placed the wine bottle on the table with a loud thud. "This bottle of wine is worth two thousand taels, and the Shao Guang Wine inside is priceless. If Mr. Guo doesn't believe it, I can let you taste it for one hundred taels per cup."
"One hundred taels per cup? Isn't that a rip-off!" A poor scholar who appeared to be financially strained jumped up.
Indeed, Cheng Duo was trying to deceive, and seeing Mr. Guo hesitate, he took back the wine bottle. "If you don't have the money, forget it."
Mr. Guo became angry when he heard this. "Fine, one hundred taels it is. If it's not good…"
"If it's not good, I won't take your money." Cheng Duo regained the upper hand. He didn't want Mr. Guo to accuse him of fraud. After all, whether it was good or not was a subjective concept. Although Mr. Guo appeared discerning, who knew if he would be unwilling to pay?
Xie's wine cups were not large, and Cheng Duo was stingy in pouring. He only filled them about eighty percent full. He understood that scarcity increases value. Even if the wine was good, it would leave a lesser impression if he poured it carelessly and filled the cups to the brim.
"Is… is this wine?" Huang, the restaurant owner, trembled when he saw Cheng Duo pour the wine, which was clear as water with no impurities. He suddenly felt his hands shaking.
Because he could smell the rich aroma of fermented wine in the air, indicating that it was a strong liquor, yet the liquid in the cup was even cleaner than spring water. What did this mean? It meant that they had all lost to the winemaking craftsmanship!
Mr. Guo couldn't wait and lifted the wine cup, savoring the aroma of the liquor. After a while, he took a gentle sip and then froze.
"Sir, how is it?"
"Is it a good wine?"
With just one sip, this one cup is worth thirty to forty taels! If calculated seriously, this one bottle of wine is more expensive than gold!
Once the tingling sensation from the strong liquor subsided, Mr. Guo reluctantly swallowed and sighed with satisfaction. "Indeed, it's a good wine! With just this one cup, it has surpassed countless worldly wines. Truly, only those who can afford the hundred-tael exorbitant price have the qualification to taste this sip!"
Xie's father and the other restaurant owners were extremely curious, but with Mr. Guo present, they couldn't bring themselves to say that they also wanted to spend money to buy a cup.
After all, they also realized that two thousand taels was indeed worth it. After all, the white jade bottle itself was already invaluable, not to mention the excellent wine that Mr. Guo praised.
In fact, one hundred taels per cup, plus the white jade wine bottle, Cheng Duo could have sold a lot. If they rushed to buy it, the only one offended would be Mr. Guo.
Of course, if Mr. Guo was unwilling to buy, then they would have an opportunity!
For a while, several restaurant owners stared at the white jade wine bottle in Cheng Duo's hand, their breathing becoming heavy.
They really wanted to know the taste of this exceptionally clear Shao Guang Wine!
(
Indeed, Mr. Guo was a wine enthusiast. After finishing the cup, his gaze towards Cheng Duo changed. He clenched his fist and coughed lightly, embarrassedly saying, "This Shao Guang Wine…"
"Two thousand taels, non-negotiable."
After Cheng Duo finished speaking, he saw the scholars behind Mr. Guo glaring at him as if he were a vulgar person. He sighed and decided to bluff, "I'm not intentionally selling it at a high price, sir. Just look at this white jade bottle. The exquisite wine inside remains fragrant and mellow even after ten years. Moreover, this wine requires a hundred times the ordinary ingredients to brew a single bottle."
"The master who brewed this Shao Guang Wine is already very old. This is his final masterpiece. Because we had a great connection, I went through all sorts of efforts to find a white jade bottle to preserve the beautiful wine, and he generously gave it to me. The master said that his lifelong wish was to let those who truly understand wine taste his creation, so he named it Shao Guang…"
Cheng Duo eloquently fabricated a detailed origin story for the wine, captivating Mr. Guo and the group of scholars, who listened with fascination and respect.
If what Cheng Duo said was true, and the master had spent his entire life to reach this level, and this was his final masterpiece, then the price was indeed reasonable…
"Where is the master now?" Mr. Guo asked eagerly.
"He is from a foreign tribe and has sold his winery beyond the borders. He is currently traveling west."
Mr. Guo's disappointment was evident, but when he saw the wine bottle next to Cheng Duo, he quickly regained his spirits. He ordered his attendant to go back to the inn and fetch the silver bills, promptly buying the bottle of wine on the spot.
After Mr. Guo lovingly embraced the wine bottle and left, the scholars also followed suit. Due to the crowd, Cheng Duo didn't notice that one of the poor scholars who accused him of deceiving had been glancing back at him several times.
However, the restaurant owners remained behind, clearly having some requests. Xie's father, seeing the situation, showed no mercy and gave a signal to his staff, instructing them to forcefully expel the individuals.
"Hey, what are you doing? Let me go! Mr. Xie, what are you doing? Let's talk it out!" The owner of the Piaoxianglou, Mr. Huang, was being carried away by two employees, still unwillingly shouting.
The owner of Yipinju also turned back desperately, saying, "Mr. Xie, this is unfair. We can all make money together. Why should you drive us away?! Cheng Brother, Cheng Brother, I'm willing to pay a high price for the recipe of Shao Guang Wine!"
"I don't want to have a recipe, but if you have the wine, I'm willing to buy it for two thousand taels!"
Just a moment ago, they were calling him a brute, but now they were calling him "Cheng Brother." Cheng Duo ignored them because he only had six bottles of white wine. He could sell one more bottle to the Xie family, but the rest couldn't be touched.
After all, in this era of scarce resources, fine liquor not only provided warmth but also had disinfectant properties. No matter how much money he had, he couldn't spend it all, but good liquor was a valuable asset. Once sold, he couldn't buy it back.
Xie's father rubbed his hands and approached Cheng Duo. "This… Cheng Brother, I apologize for the poor hospitality. It's embarrassing."
"Mr. Xie, there's no need for such courtesy." Cheng Duo couldn't let them stand there, so he invited, "I don't know if Mr. Xie has eaten. How about we sit down and have a meal together?"
"Good, good." Mr. Xie had such intentions, and he quickly sat beside Cheng Duo, giving his son a signal.
Xie Yuan felt a bit embarrassed, but since he had already become familiar with Cheng Duo during their previous conversation, he knew his character. So he didn't beat around the bush and directly asked, "Cheng Brother, earlier you mentioned that you had a great connection with the master. Did he teach you the craft of brewing?"
Cheng Duo shook his head, "He was willing to teach, but I'm a rough person…"
Upon hearing this, Xie's father, Xie Yuan, and Mr. Sun couldn't help but feel regretful. What a great opportunity it would have been if it were them!
If they could master this unique skill, their entire family, including future generations, would benefit greatly. It was such a pity!
Cheng Duo glanced at them and said, "I don't have the recipe, but I still have one bottle of wine."
"There's still one? Where is it?" Xie Yuan's spirits lifted, and he quickly looked at Cheng Duo's backpack, only to see a flat cloth bag inside, with nothing else.
Cheng Duo smiled, "It's not on me."
Fortunately, he had made arrangements for the overnight stay in advance and had booked a room at the inn. He could come up with a reason when explaining the situation.
Xie Yuan looked at him with a helpless expression, "Cheng Brother, with such a good thing, why didn't you mention it when you were selling the glass bottles?"
Cheng Duo shuddered involuntarily. Without realizing it, he moved a little further away from Xie Yuan. "You even haggled over the price for buying a glass bottle. Look at Mr. Guo. He's so generous! When he says two thousand taels, it's two thousand taels."
"What glass bottle?" Xie's father asked while secretly glaring at his incompetent son. He couldn't even handle such a big deal. How could he claim to have graduated!
If that bottle of wine had gone through their Xie family's hands, they could have done much more than they currently could!
After receiving a glare from his father, Xie Yuan felt a little guilty. But when it came to talking about the glass bottle, he became excited and proudly showed off the precious item he had purchased. Mr. Sun chimed in from time to time.
After Xie Yuan finished introducing the glass bottle, he complained to Cheng Duo with a dissatisfied tone, "I say, Cheng Brother, in business, it's natural to negotiate and compromise. How can you assume that I can't afford it just because I haggled over the price?"
If he didn't explain clearly, what if Cheng Duo still had something good and sold it to someone else?
"… Now I understand." Cheng Duo was a bit helpless. They were practically rushing to give him money, and if he didn't sell, it would become problematic.
Due to his previous negligence, for the rest of the time, Xie Yuan kept hinting and prying into Cheng Duo's ear, asking if he had any other treasures. Even when Xie's father signaled him to be more restrained, he ignored it.
Xie Yuan, of course, knew what his father was worried about. He didn't want Cheng Duo to suspect that they had ill intentions towards the several thousand taels of silver and the valuable items in his possession.
But Xie Yuan hadn't witnessed Cheng Duo's skills. He didn't need a second strike to knock someone out. With a single kick, he could send a two-hundred-pound man flying several meters away… Who would dare to rob him? He respected him as a man!
In fact, Xie Yuan genuinely wanted to establish a friendship. The more casual Cheng Duo spoke to him, the happier he felt. So he didn't hide anything and directly asked for what he wanted.
After three rounds of drinking, Cheng Duo remembered his other purpose for coming to twenty li slope. "By the way, I have something to ask for your help, Mr. Xie and Xie Yuan."
"What help do you need? Tell us," Xie Yuan took over the conversation, and Xie's father also looked at him curiously.
"It's like this. I plan to build my own house with bricks and tiles. I don't know if you know where I can find a master to hire, or perhaps I can buy the service outright." Yang Village is very remote, and transporting bricks and tiles would be a major undertaking. He had already surveyed it before, and the red clay in the mountain valleys was suitable for making bricks.
Since he had money now, once he finished building his house, he could even establish a brick and tile workshop. If the local villagers were willing to buy, he could hire more people and stimulate the economy of Yang Village.
Xie Yuan and his father exchanged glances. "This… might be a bit troublesome. You know that our family is in the restaurant business and not involved in this area… But my father knows many people. Perhaps he can help?"
Xie's father didn't deny it either and pondered for a moment. "Here's what we can do. Wait for two days, and I'll give you a reply as soon as possible."
Xie's father wasn't a clueless person. He had heard from the innkeeper that Cheng Duo had resolved the trouble they faced. Now, Cheng Duo was willing to sell them the wine…
When Mr. Huang and the others were being driven away earlier, they were shouting so loudly that he couldn't possibly not have heard. If Cheng Duo had been willing to wait for a higher price, it could have led to a competition among the restaurant owners. However, Cheng Duo didn't mention it at all, which was already a gesture of goodwill.
Two days. Cheng Duo nodded. He could use these two days to buy more supplies to put in his storage space. And he needed to exchange more precious metals for true gold and silver. Although silver bills were easy to obtain, gold and silver were the real hard currency.
The next day, Cheng Duo handed over a bottle of white wine to Xie Yuan. He had specifically instructed Xie Yuan to bring a medium-sized box, which contained not only two thousand taels of silver but also two hundred taels of gold.
Cheng Duo handed the two thousand taels of silver bills given by Mr. Guo to Xie Yuan, which meant that he now had only one thousand six hundred taels of silver bills left.
Xie Yuan looked at the box. "You have to be careful. There's a lot of money in there…"
Cheng Duo pretended to listen attentively but actually put the box away in his room. Without his consent, no one could take even a single tael of silver from his hands!
Xie's father acted quickly and privately found a brick-making craftsman who had signed a contract of indentured servitude. He bought the method of making bricks from him for four hundred taels.
He wasn't worried about being cheated by the craftsman. After all, the craftsman was secretly selling the method. If his master caught him, he would be in big trouble.
However, the price he offered was too tempting, and the craftsman took the risk to leave some silver for his family.
Xie's father was afraid that Cheng Duo would misunderstand, so he proactively explained that he kept a copy of the method and only needed to pay two hundred taels.
Cheng Duo knew that he had definitely used other means and nodded, noting this favor.
To avoid attracting attention, Cheng Duo left the city carrying the box and had also put many things he had bought in twenty-li slope in his backpack.
Being so open about it, there were indeed people who harbored ill intentions. However, the bandits who attempted to rob him were only a dozen or so in number. Even if they held iron rods and wooden sticks, they couldn't withstand a single blow from Cheng Duo's iron fists.
Not only did Cheng Duo overpower them, but he also forced them to reveal the person who had leaked the information. Based on the description, it was a poor scholar in a long robe whom Cheng Duo didn't recognize at all… But when he thought about the scholar who followed Mr. Guo that day, he immediately had a clue.
He slapped the face of the leader of the bandits. "Didn't that scholar tell you guys? Can't you believe that one punch from me can knock down a two-hundred-pound strong man? Does he have a grudge against you? He didn't even tell you this life-threatening information?"
"He wanted to use us as pawns, but I don't want to cooperate! So here's the deal: hand over the valuable things you have on you, and we'll call it even. Oh, by the way, the scholar probably didn't tell you guys that I love playing dirty tricks…"
The faces of the group of bandits turned pale. It turned out that they really had a grudge against the scholar. After all, they were street ruffians who often extorted protection fees in the area. When the scholar refused to pay, he told them that he knew someone who had two thousand taels of silver bills on them. If they agreed to stop robbing his money, he would tell them the person's whereabouts.
Cheng Duo couldn't be bothered to go back and deal with the scholar, so he set a trap for them and let them fight each other. To make the bandits angrier, he didn't leave them a single copper coin, let alone clothes.
Actually, he had thought about stripping them of their clothes, but then he remembered that there were other girls and boys on the street… so he let it go.
But that was enough to make the bandits seethe with anger. As for how they would deal with the scholar when they returned, it was their business…
Author's Note:
To make the calculations easier, the ratio used here is 1 gold = 10 silver. In reality, the price of gold in ancient times was very high, so when you time-travel, remember to bring gold…
As for the weight calculation, 16 taels = 1 jin, so 2,200 taels is actually a little over 100 jin.
(
