Chapter 21: 021 I Wonder If This Can Work (Part 1)

The headquarters of the Wang Family Trading House was still quite far from where he met this "Wu Dalang," and the other party led him through the county town for more than half an hour before reaching the gate.

Actually it was mainly because Wang Wu helped carry the shoulder pole, which attracted many people to buy steamed cakes along the way, mostly female customers. It delayed him a bit.

On the road, Wang Wu also asked "Wu Dalang" about the county town and inquired about his surname; it turned out the other party was not surnamed Wu but Sun.

Sun Da, that was his name. He indeed had a younger brother, who was not short like him but tall, with a handsome appearance.

Because he killed a man‑eating demon tiger in Wang Gu Lin last year, he also obtained a County Chief position in the county.

Although the title sounds like a leader, the job is actually just a low‑rank officer, below the County Officer.

A demon tiger is not a tiger spirit; it is a beast that has awakened sentient intelligence, far from a true monster, yet indeed stronger than an ordinary tiger.

Sun Da's brother being able to kill a demon tiger is considered quite capable.

And the County Chief position, compared with ordinary folk like Sun Da's brother, is actually pretty good. A monthly salary of fifty guan, which is not low.

Ten wen equals one coin, a thousand wen equals a hundred coins. Fifty guan is a monthly salary of five thousand coins.

Whether in this world or in Wang Wu's hometown, five thousand coins in a small county town is definitely solidly high‑income.

Sun Da's brother is named Sun Fei, who just got married earlier this year, taking as wife a maid from a wealthy household in the county.

The maid was beautiful and clever, originally doing well in the wealthy family, but because she refused to submit to her master, the master retaliated by marrying her off to the short‑statured dumpling seller Sun Da.

However, at that time Sun Da already had a beloved, and the two had reached the stage of discussing marriage.

But he couldn't afford to offend that wealthy family, and also couldn't bear to see the girl being married off to someone else by them.

So he and his current wife conspired, and on a sudden idea, pretended to marry the girl, yet did not harm her in the slightest.

When his brother returned for the New Year, Sun Da hurriedly pulled his brother, told him the story, and introduced the girl to Sun Fei.

Then the two, like a turtle seeing a green bean, made eye contact.

Sun Da immediately divorced his wife, Sun Fei immediately married his wife, all in one go; the couple lived lovingly, and less than half a year after marriage, the girl was already pregnant.

And Sun Fei, thanks to his hero status for killing the tiger, also obtained a County Chief position, so the wealthy family could not cause trouble for them; thus the matter naturally concluded.

While walking, after hearing Sun Da's story, Wang Wu's expression was somewhat strange.

Because… damn it, isn't this exactly a perfect…

And the girl married by Sun Da's brother Sun Fei, although not surnamed Pan, was surnamed Wu and named Wu Lian.

"This is the headquarters of the Wang Family Trading House, Young Hero Wang," Sun Da said cheerfully as he led Wang Wu to the gate.

Then Wang Wu set down the shoulder pole he had been carrying for him, and took out some broken silver from his clothing to give to the other, thanking him:

"Thanks for your trouble, Brother Sun, here you go."

"Ah! This can't be! No, no!!" Seeing the money Wang Wu handed over, Sun Da immediately pushed it back, saying, "You helped me carry the pole all the way, and even listened to my family gossip; how could I possibly accept your money!"

"Ha! Well said! Your story is really great!" Wang Wu laughed, saying:

"Sun elder brother, you did such a great deed, not only saved the girl, but also found her a good husband; hearing that makes me feel very satisfied!" Then he pushed his hand forward again:

"You must accept this money, otherwise I won't be happy, Brother Sun. Don't think I'm after your money; I'm not short of cash. But you, why not earn more to support your family?"

"My brother is rich! My brother is a County Chief! What do I need to support my family?" Sun Da's attitude was clearly resolute as he pushed Wang Wu's hand back again, saying:

"Young Hero Wang, you needn't say more; I'll pack a few more cakes for you. The rest of the cakes I'll give you all."

"Please don't decline; I know Young Hero Wang isn't short of money, but this is a token of my goodwill. However, if you insist, then I'll keep the money, but you must also take my cakes."

"Fine," Wang Wu said with a smile, nodding, "Consider it that I'm buying the cakes you made."

One person took the money, the other took the cakes. Sun Da lifted the now‑empty two cake boxes again and walked toward his home. After a few dozen steps, he turned back and waved to Wang Wu:

"Young Hero Wang! Thank you for today! If you don't mind, you're welcome to visit my home later! My wife and I will treat you well! We live in Tianluo Alley west of the city; just ask anyone on the road where Sun Da, the dumpling seller, lives, and you'll find my house!"

"Definitely!"

Wang Wu also waved his hand to say goodbye, shouting loudly.

Sun Da not only told him a happy‑ending version of the Wu Song and Pan Jinlian story, but also taught Wang Wu a lot of common knowledge about this world, essentially giving Wang Wu a solid crash course.

After parting with Sun Da, Wang Wu withdrew his gaze from Sun Da's back and turned forward.

He was standing in front of an imposing building, and the plaque over the main gate bore the four bold characters "Wang Family Trading House".

Of course, Wang Wu could not read the characters, so he didn't understand. After glancing twice, he stopped paying attention and immediately stepped toward the gate of the Wang Family Trading House.

"Young hero, my trading house's headquarters isn't receiving guests these days, sorry." As he arrived at the gate, two people stepped forward to block Wang Wu's path; one of them, with an apologetic expression, said to Wang Wu:

"I'm not here to buy anything," Wang Wu said, looking at the person. "I'm here for a matter with you."

"May I ask whether the young hero has an appointment with anyone from my household?" the person asked.

"No," Wang Wu shook his head, and before the other could speak, he first removed his backpack and said:

"Earlier I found something in Wang Gu Lin; I heard that three years ago the Wang family's caravan went missing outside Wang Gu Lin. I think this must be what you lost, right?"

Speaking, he opened his pack and revealed the white silver ingots inside.

In an instant, the two people in front of him all changed expression.

This is Wang Wu's plan: since these silver pieces all bear the Wang family's mark, he might as well return them all to the Wang family and wait for them to give him a reward.

Compared to a pile of silver, perhaps connections in the human world are more important to him now, because they imply sustainable development.

Moreover, although he knows the silver bears a mark, he doesn't know where the mark is; after turning it over repeatedly without finding it, he gave up the idea of melting the silver or grinding it down for slow use.

This plan wasn't the result of any deep deliberation; Wang Wu's mind just clicked, and then, after a quick thought, he decided to act on it.

As for what consequences this might bring—whether the Wang family will be immensely grateful and give him abundant rewards, or become suspicious and even plot against him—he doesn't know.

Or rather, he didn't consider it at all.

(End of Chapter)