Chapter 5

Hu San Dao, radiating killing intent, walked straight up to Jiang Xiaomu.

You just claimed to know salt‑making? If you're telling such a big lie just to stay alive, I'll make you learn what it means to seek life and not obtain it, seek death and not find it!

Jiang Xiaomu had not yet expressed his stance when Ge Heizi already recalled the pain from that kick just now.

This kid was brought here by him; if he gets played by the boss again, I'll surely suffer as well.

Boss, don't listen to his nonsense! Look at his ragged clothes and his age—he's clearly just trying to stay alive, spouting this big lie to deceive people. Let me kill him!

Jiang Xiaomu said coldly, "My salt‑making method isn't difficult; it only needs an iron pot, dry firewood, straw, etc., and can be verified within half a day!"

Whether true or false, Boss Hu, you won't lose anything? If it's false, my sister and I are in your hands; whatever you decide to do with us will naturally be up to you!

Hu San Dao then showed a faint smile: "That's more like it. Since you don't need any precious items, we'll give you a chance, kid."

Rather than saying Hu San Dao is willing to give Jiang Xiaomu a chance, it's more accurate to say he's giving the "salt" a chance.

Not to mention that the refugees are starving and haven't tasted salt for who knows how long; even in times of peace, mastering the salt‑making method would mean inexhaustible wealth.

Hu San Dao came from the border garrison and had seen the world; he naturally understood just how great the profit would be.

If this were true……

Jiang Xiaoyu widened her eyes and clutched her brother's arm even more nervously.

She had always been with her brother and had never seen him make salt; his earlier words must have been a lie to deceive those vicious bad guys, right?

Although she was young, she was very sensible; she understood that these worries must never be spoken aloud, and no matter what her brother planned, she could not hold him back.

Jiang Xiaomu sensed his sister's worry, lightly patted her shoulder, then confidently led Hu San Dao and his gang toward the outskirts of the refugee camp.

……

"What salt pond could there be here? What exactly are you using to make salt, kid?!"

Hu San Dao glanced around warily, saw that although the place was remote, there was no way to ambush anyone nearby, so he relaxed and loudly questioned Jiang Xiaomu.

Jiang Xiaomu pointed lightly at the ground: "If there really were a salt pond here, would the officials of Wangzhou City still be waiting for us to profit? I don't need a salt pond to make salt—I rely on this very soil!"

"What! You can get salt from dirt?!"

"Boss, I already said it—this brat is just trying to save his life by fooling us; don't listen to his nonsense."

"Shut up!"

Hu San Dao, however, eyed Jiang Xiaomu dubiously.

He had already wondered whether Jiang Xiaomu was deliberately leading everyone to the outskirts to find a chance to escape.

But just now he saw no sign that the kid intended to flee.

Although his tone was wild, he appeared to have sense; he realized that toying with him would only make his own fate worse.

Observing his demeanor, he was calm and composed from start to finish, showing no panic or guilt.

"Forget it—just as he said, I'll lose nothing in the end. Besides, we already promised him a chance, so let's do as he said!"

Everyone knew Hu San Dao valued his authority above all; once he spoke, no one could question him. Although they had already decided Jiang Xiaomu was stalling, they had no choice but to comply.

"First bring the straw and lay it on this wet soil! Be careful—don't ruin Boss Hu's big undertaking!"

"You few, set up the stove in advance and get the dry firewood ready…"

Although Hu San Dao stood silently to the side, he kept watching Jiang Xiaomu's expression.

Seeing him direct everyone in an orderly, systematic way, he inexplicably grew more convinced of his near‑fantastical salt‑making method.

If it were really a made‑up lie, he wouldn't be acting like this right now.

Does this kid actually have some skill?

Finally, Jiang Xiaomu personally took charge, carefully scraping the surrounding wet soil, spreading it evenly over the straw, then sprinkling water on it; after the water soaked in, he rolled the straw and leaned it against a nearby wooden tub.

Soon, "mud water" seeped in; while Jiang Xiaomu told the others to start a fire, he poured the clearer upper layer of the mud water from the tub into the iron pot and began heating it.

When the water had completely evaporated, Hu San Dao shoved the crowd aside, lunged to the center, stared fixedly at the residue left in the pot, scooped a bit with his hand, and shoved it straight into his mouth.

Although it was slightly bitter, ……

"It's salt! It really is salt!"

Hu San Dao could no longer maintain his boss's dignity; he shouted excitedly, his face flushing crimson.

Ge Heizi and the others found it hard to believe yet could not disbelieve; they all imitated Hu San Dao, scrambling to scoop some and stuff it into their mouths.

"It really is salt! We've struck it rich! Boss, we've made it big!"

These men, notorious among the refugees and unafraid of blood on their hands, were now so excited they lost themselves—until Jiang Xiaomu's voice brought them back.

"Boss Hu, you should now know I'm not just talking big; based solely on this salt‑making method, can you guarantee that my sister and I won't be harmed by anyone—including Shapozi?"

Only then did Hu San Dao react, turning his gaze to Jiang Xiaomu.

However, the wild joy in his eyes faded, first flashing a killing intent, then he burst into loud laughter and slapped Jiang Xiaomu's shoulder.

"Of course! Jiang Xiaomu, for offering the salt‑making method, you've rendered a great service. I, Hu San Dao, always put righteousness first; toward my brothers I have no reservations—whoever dares to hurt you is crossing me, Hu San Dao."

"But now that we're all brothers, Jiang Xiaomu, you can't keep secrets—that would be too unbrotherly!"

Although his fierce gaze had flashed by in an instant, how could it escape Jiang Xiaomu's notice?

Jiang Xiaomu had been watching his reaction closely, and couldn't help feeling both startled and angry.

He clearly saw that Hu San Dao's mind was now wholly occupied by greed; the profits from salt could not only bring him unimaginable wealth, but also give him a chance to ingratiate himself with the true magnates of Wangzhou City.

And such benefits, he must keep entirely under his own control.

To him, Jiang Xiaomu now represented both an immeasurable utilitarian value and the greatest threat.

But for now he could only stabilize Jiang Xiaomu, first figuring out how this kid could produce salt from dirt, then decide what to do with him.

Jiang Xiaomu, however, remained expressionless, and even agreed readily to Hu San Dao's probing words.

Either way, relying on his own knowledge of the "leached‑earth salt" folk method, he had finally secured Hu San Dao as a backer.

At that very moment, the system interface text flashed before his eyes again.

Finally, a positive change appeared on it.