Chapter 129

"Which place needs this many pots?" Chen Wuji asked in surprise.

Chen Bushi wore a satisfied look, shoving the contract at Chen Wuji: "It's not about recognizing characters—just look."

Chen Wuji picked up the contract, glanced at it, and exclaimed, "Your connections are impressive, but does the county office really need that many pots?"

"There are also the provincial troops, and Magistrate Zhu also holds the post of commandant," Chen Bushi said.

"The convenience of a pot in ordinary households is just ordinary convenience, but for marching and warfare it is truly convenient. One pot, light and easy to sling on your back, you can cook wherever you go; setting up a pot is less trouble than setting up a cauldron, not to mention cooking food is faster, and it can even serve as makeshift armor for a while," Chen Bushi said leisurely.

Chen Wuji sighed in admiration.

Scholars really are different.

Even if Chen Qun and the others had thought of this method, they wouldn't dare to carry it out.

Chen Wuji set down the contract and then asked Chen Qun and the others, "How did your harvest go?"

"I ordered eight," Yuan Jinshi said first.

Licentiate Yuan felt a bit uneasy, "I... only have six. Many people said to wait until we have the pots before approaching them, but now I don't even know what the pots look like to order, and they just kicked me out."

"Not bad," Chen Wuji encouraged.

Chen Qun shrugged his shoulders, looked left and right, straightened his back slightly, and said, "Brother Wuji, I might have a bit more—sixty pots. I was worried Uncle Yang couldn't forge them quickly enough, so I agreed with the other party to deliver within a month and have already taken the deposit."

Saying that, he handed two taels of silver to Chen Wuji.

"You also found someone?" Chen Wuji asked, a little surprised.

Chen Qun shook his head, "No, it was someone else who approached me. I met a man who claimed to be the steward of the Yu Manor; he heard about the pots' benefits and wanted to order some for the villa. By the way, Brother Wuji, this is the contract!"

Chen Qun rummaged in his bosom for a moment, then produced a piece of silk and handed it to Chen Wuji.

"Fine, now the pressure is on Old Yang—nearly three hundred pots, he's really going to have a headache." Chen Wuji laughed, picking up the silk document to read.

Upon seeing it, Chen Wuji's expression changed instantly.

Only then did he see clearly written: Yangji Iron Workshop voluntarily donates six hundred iron pots to the Yu Manor, deadline five days, overdue to compensate silver four hundred eighty taels.

And it even has a fractional amount.

Is this based on how much silver the iron workshop is worth?

Chen Wuji patted his forehead and, without changing expression, collected the contract.

"You guys, in the future when you need to sign contracts like this, don't act on your own; come see me or San Shu first, and don't lightly agree to anything—always keep an eye out," Chen Wuji said, rubbing his brow with a headache.

Upon hearing that, Chen Qun immediately grew nervous, "Brother Wuji, does this contract have a problem?"

"There's no major problem, I'm just giving you a heads-up," Chen Wuji said. "Remember what I just said: from now on, if anyone acts privately and causes trouble, they bear the responsibility themselves."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Chen Qun glanced absentmindedly at the contract in Chen Wuji's hand, his expression twisted into a knot.

He guessed the contract must have a problem.

Chen Bushi reached out, took the contract from Chen Wuji's hand, glanced at it, said nothing, and merely waved for Chen Qun and the others to go home first.

"Brother Wuji, is my contract wrong?" Chen Qun asked again, unwilling to let it go.

"It's fine, you go back first!" Chen Wuji waved his hand.

He should have thought of that, but he just didn't remember.

For an illiterate person to be cheated on this is completely unsurprising.

This Chen Qun kid is also overly confident, trusting people too much.

But Chen Wuji does not intend to tell him the truth this time.

The amount involved is too large.

The other party's purpose is also obvious: they deliberately came to cause trouble, clearly not just to swindle.

Chen Qun might merely be the prey the other party has set its sights on.

Chen Bushi leaned back, narrowed his eyes at the rippling clouds above, and asked in a relaxed murmur, "What do you want to do?"

"What else can we do? Go find him!" Chen Wuji smiled faintly, "I have a knife in hand; to so brazenly swindle me, not killing his whole family but just him would already be merciful."

Chen Bushi gripped the edge of the table with both hands, used it to push himself up, brushed off his clothes, and tilted his head at Chen Wuji, "Then let's go."

The two were straightforward; after such a simple discussion, they decided to go door-to-door to talk properly with the head of the Yu Manor.

"Do you know about the Yu Manor?" Chen Wuji asked on the way.

"I know, they're in the timber trade; their business isn't huge, but in Yunan City they still count as a merchant of some standing." Chen Bushi said offhand.

Chen Wuji snorted, "Turns out they're also insignificant; I thought they were some big shot, yet they dare to extort people so openly."

"When I looked at the contract just now, I almost mistook the Yu Manor for the She Manor; I wondered what kind of people you've been associating with, one thing openly, another secretly."

"Your eyes are really sharp; Old She may have some petty cleverness, but he would certainly not do something like this." Chen Bushi said, then suddenly cursed.

"If you didn't bring up Old She, it'd be fine, but as soon as you mention him I get angry—wasn't it agreed that you'd let me find buyers for the game you hunted? And now you don't trust me?"

"It's not distrust; you see, now they're the ones coming to me, and I don't even get a chance to bring my hunted game into the city—this isn't my fault." Chen Wuji said.

Chen Bushi shook his head, "You kid, your luck is too good; your reputation has already spread."

Chen Wuji also noticed.

Like Han Chunshen, he had never dealt with them before and didn't know through which channel they found him.

Having a little fame also saves a lot of trouble.

Chen Bushi led Chen Wuji through a winding route to the southern part of the city.

In Yunan City, the northern part is most famous for the East Market, East Market Entrance, and the xianya.

In the southern part, what's most famous are the flowers.

There are many cultivated crape myrtles, affection trees, and vast expanses of azaleas planted by predecessors.

Among the lanes surrounded by flower trees, there are many women like fragrant curtains swaying in the wind, flowers drifting into chambers, their high-pitched zither melodies easing night's sorrow. The warbling swallows, their soft, coquettish humming and singing can last from noon until midnight.

And the residence of Old Master Yu is sandwiched between several brothels.

In the evening, precisely when the patrons of the pleasure quarters were out, the open windows revealed floating red silk, continual laughter, and the scent of rouge and powder permeating the whole street, suppressing the true fragrance of flowers.

Chen Bushi looked up at the splendid view of the second and third floors, then suddenly exclaimed with anguish, "How hateful it is to be penniless! I don't know when I'll ever be able to untie a silk robe and treasure belt for you, to have Yan songs and Zhao dances performed for you! This is truly the regret of my life!"