Chapter 411

But it was already a vassal relationship.

With this, the extra quota was entirely waived; they only needed to contend with the previous default quota.

Moreover, Zhao Quan was very pleased and gave the Zhao family quite a few things again.

In the end, those few treasure chests given to Zhao Feng, Zhao Huang and the others could only be considered small desserts.

Apart from this.

With Zhao Quan's protection, this Stream Village would probably soon take the surname Zhao.

Unless the Xiao family and Qi family also went to find a noble for protection.

But this was not considered too easy.

After all, the Zuyebu Society would not casually accept vassal families.

So Zhao Chi still speculated that the Fragrant Food Street had been betrayed by the Zhao family.

This way it counted as having paid the pledge of allegiance.

Zhao Quan was also more willing to accept the Zhao family's dependence.

However, although there was now Zhao Quan's protection.

There were also correspondingly more powerful enemies.

First, there was the hostility of other nobles.

Zhao Quan certainly also had enemies.

From then on, Zhao Quan's enemies were the Zhao family's enemies.

And these enemies were still nobles.

Secondly, there was the hostility of the Resistance Army.

The Resistance Army appeared and disappeared unpredictably.

Although constantly suppressed, they had never been completely eradicated.

Having provoked them, there would probably be endless trouble in the future.

However, it could only be this way.

After all, the crisis was already at hand, so there was no time to consider too many consequences.

One must first be able to survive before considering how to live long.

It's just that this was not good news for Zhao Chi.

It might not be apparent in the short term, but after Zhao Chi developed, trouble might appear.

At that time… if necessary, he might have to break away from the Zhao family.

Now that they had joined Zhao Quan, various taxes would have to be paid to Zhao Quan.

Zhao Quan specially reduced the taxes by 10%.

Although it wasn't much, it was still less, and could be considered the most substantial benefit.

After the meeting ended, Zhao Shizhang deliberately kept Zhao Chi behind.

He expressed gratitude for his treatment of Gu Qing.

But Zhao Shizhang did not give Zhao Chi anything else.

Zhao Chi also did not mind.

He knew that this time Zhao Shizhang's expenditure was too great; all kinds of items had basically been used up.

Temporarily there was nothing to take out and give to Zhao Chi.

From the conversation, Zhao Chi could also sense that Zhao Shizhang was not happy.

But rather full of worry.

This worried look was not only because of his decline in strength, but more likely also because of the matter of becoming Zhao Quan's vassal.

But sometimes it was just such a dilemma.

Zhao Chi was also very dissatisfied with this decision, but he had no way to change it.

After all, he couldn't contend with high-rank magical beasts either, and didn't yet have the ability to share any burden for the Zhao family.

Then he could only accept this unavoidable solution.

After coming out of the clan leader's house, Zhao Chi found Zhao Hong waiting outside.

Zhao Chi thought he was looking for the clan leader, so he greeted him and was about to leave.

But Zhao Hong called him to stop.

"Hey, hey, hey, Zhao Chi, don't go. I'm waiting for you."

"Waiting for me?" Zhao Chi found it a bit strange.

Could it be because of the treasure chest matter?

But Zhao Hong only said: "Zhao Chi, I've been a bit short on cash recently. Can you pay back part of those previous loans to me first?"

So it was about this matter.

Zhao Chi directly clicked the transaction process, put up all 16.8 gold coins, then clicked the repayment option, and clicked confirm.

Zhao Hong exclaimed: "Damn, you gave it all? You're doing pretty well now."

Zhao Chi said: "Not really, mainly luck has been okay. How are things on your end, Fourth Brother?"

Zhao Hong smiled helplessly: "I came to ask you for money in advance, what do you think how I'm doing? This extra quota this time wasn't just a heavy burden on the uncles, it's also no small burden on us. Fortunately it's over now, but… we've become a noble's dogs again."

Zhao Chi said: "You can't put it that way. Didn't Uncle just say that we still have a considerable degree of autonomy?"

Zhao Hong nodded: "No choice, now we can only comfort ourselves this way. When all is said and done, we're still dogs."

Zhao Chi didn't know what to say.

After all, what he said was also correct.

But it really wasn't as exaggerated as a dog — more like he'd become the other party's little lackey.

Zhao Hong shook his head and slowly walked down the wooden ladder: "I really envy you, being noticed at such a young age. Keep it up, Zhao Chi, but don't get too close to those nobles. They're nice to you now, but they wouldn't hesitate a single second before dropping you."

Zhao Chi of course knew that.

He watched Zhao Hong leave, then returned to his own territory as well.

Finally back.

When Zhao Chi saw those busy female villagers one by one, his mood finally began to lift.

Gu Qing wasn't in the territory — no idea where she'd run off and hidden.

Tang Ruan and the others didn't know either.

Zhao Chi could only go soak in the hot spring first, to get a status boost.

But the moment he stepped out of the hot spring, he saw Gu Qing standing behind him with a smile.

She was also holding a white bath towel in her hands.

"My lord, is it safe now?"

Gu Qing draped the bath towel over Zhao Chi's head and gently wiped him down.

"Yes, it's safe. Those nobles weren't actually coming for us — it was something else. I'll tell you about it a little later."

"Oh, that's good then. I was worried for nothing for a while."

Gu Qing cheerfully helped Zhao Chi wipe down his body.

"You don't need to wipe so thoroughly — I'm going to Tang Ruan's place soon, we still have to keep making outfits."

"Almost done wiping."

Zhao Chi didn't really understand women's psychology.

He didn't know whether women, when it came to a man they liked, always wanted to reach out and touch.

But Gu Qing was exactly like that.

Given any chance, she'd get handsy.

Right now, using the chance of wiping water off him, she slipped her hand inside the bath towel and gave a gentle tug.

Zhao Chi didn't really mind.

After all, her hand was very soft, and the force she used was just right.

But this was troublesome.

He couldn't exactly drag Gu Qing back into the room to deal with it every single time, could he?

Gu Qing giggled and let go of Zhao Chi, then gently patted him.

Like soothing a child, she said softly: "Alright, alright, big sister is just teasing you. Keep sleeping, it'll be fine if you wake up tonight."

Zhao Chi helplessly: "Isn't it all because of you? I'm going to wake you up too."