Chapter 216

Chen Wuji listened to what Huo Sanniang and Shen Youwei said.

Entities: Huo Sanniang, Shen Youwei, Chen Wuji.

It's not poverty that one worries about, but inequality; this is just like human greed, and it's an ironclad principle.

No named entities.

From now on, we really need to pay attention to this matter.

No.

In the afternoon, there was nothing much happening in the village, so Chen Wuji went into the mountains.

Entities: Chen Wuji. Also maybe village not in glossary.

Although Zhang Lao's plan to make a fortune fell through, Chen Wuji still couldn't forget about this.

Entities: Zhang Lao, Chen Wuji.

After wandering in the mountains for most of the day, Chen Wuji's luck was decent; he found a piece of mountain ginseng about twenty years old in a rock crevice, and besides that he only had a little fo-ti and Solomon's seal.

Entities: Chen Wuji, Mountain Ginseng. Also maybe fo-ti and Solomon's seal not in glossary.

Although there wasn't much medicinal material, Chen Wuji managed to catch several pheasants and a lone wild boar along the way, and the haul of game was actually quite good.

Entities: Chen Wuji. No others.

The next morning, Chen Wuji got out of his cozy bed, washed up, personally cooked two dishes in the kitchen, and made an egg drop soup for breakfast.

Entities: Chen Wuji.

Last night everyone was exhausted; even the usually diligent Huo Sanniang hadn't woken up yet.

Entities: Huo Sanniang.

To prevent everyone from becoming jealous, Chen Wuji last night could be said to have pulled out all the stops.

Entities: Chen Wuji.

Not having enough to eat at home is bound to cause trouble.

No.

Especially after Huo Sanniang and the others already knew of Qin Zhanhong's existence, the risk factor rose sharply.

After the food was ready, Chen Wuji boiled a pot of tea, ate the vegetables with pancakes and drank clear tea; although he had made egg-flower soup, he actually didn't like drinking it, but the light, refreshing tea complemented the flavor quite well.

By the time Huo Sanniang and the three of them got up one after another, Chen Wuji and Yuan Jinshi, the two brothers, had already finished their breakfast.

"The dishes are in the pot, still hot; eat slowly, I'm going into town for a bit," Chen Wuji said.

On the faces of the three women, to varying degrees, lingered a faint, charming allure; though they wore no makeup, their moist brows and eyes were more endearingly shy than ever.

"Why didn't you call me and just tinker around by yourself?" Huo Sanniang softly complained.

"It's not that I can't cook; no rule says breakfast must be made by you," Chen Wuji laughed.

Huo Sanniang gave Chen Wuji a look and said, "You're the master; when the family business grows bigger, are you really going to keep acting like this? The rites of seniority cannot be discarded; doing it once in a while is fine, but don't truly make it a habit."

"Okay, okay, I got it, wife, I'm off," Chen Wuji chuckled, laughing in agreement.

Calling Yuan Jinshi along, Chen Wuji took the herbs he had gathered yesterday on the mountain, as well as the hard‑won produce of those few little flying squirrels from this period, and headed into the city.

Outside the city, large‑scale construction was underway; the workers were the refugees who had been wandering nearby, the worksite buzzed with voices, and logs were being hauled back and forth nonstop.

Chen Wuji looked closely and realized they seemed to be building a Weng City.

This Qin County magistrate sure has a big hand—just arrived in Yunan, and he's already undertaking such a huge project.

Acting so hastily, isn't he afraid of tripping himself up?

Although the Zhang family's downfall had brought in considerable revenue for the Imperial City Department and the Xianya, constructing such a huge Weng City involves extremely complex facets, and settling those funds probably won't be easy.

Chen Wuji harbored some doubts: although the Qin County magistrate was a bit rash and unscrupulous about drinking, he appeared steady enough—how could he launch construction so hastily without even figuring out what's going on in Yunan?

Could it be…

Has he heard some news?

The construction of a Weng City has two obvious benefits.

First, it thoroughly resolves the refugee problem outside the city, giving them homes and also a livelihood.

Second, it serves to defend against enemies.

"Later I'll go to the Xianya to feel things out; if it's really come to this, the Chen clan should also start preparing," Chen Wuji muttered to himself as he brought Yuan Jinshi into the city.

He first went to the Charitable Relief Hall; the Xianya had just opened its doors, so showing up this early wasn't appropriate.

"Senior brother, you're here!" Xiaoyu's sly smiling face peeked out from the doorway.

Chen Wuji blinked, saying, "You… just woke up?"

Although he entered late, Xiaoyu hurried to address him as senior brother, and he could only smile and accept.

Xiaoyu rubbed his drooping eyelids twice and muttered, "Mmm, the old man's been getting up earlier and earlier; just now he put on a stern face and told me to get up at chou time tomorrow to train—ah, I'm really beat."

"If you don't strive in youth, you'll only regret in old age; the young must endure some hardship," Chen Wuji laughed, "I don't understand training, but I've heard that childhood skill requires diligent, bitter practice, right?"

"Senior brother, I was counting on you to say a few good words to the old man for me—how come you're joining in too?" Xiaoyu's face fell instantly, as if he owed someone several thousand taels.

Chen Wuji laughed and patted his shoulder, saying, "Poor scholars, rich warriors—when I was young I never had the chance to practice, so you kid should be content!"

Saying that, Chen Wuji pulled fifty taels of silver from his bosom and shoved them into Xiaoyu's hand, saying, "Take this, get some food and drink, and put together your outfit."

"Senior brother, are you crazy?" Xiaoyu stared at the silver in his hand, dazed for a good while.

Fifty taels—you just say you'll give it and you do?

"Senior brother, you suddenly giving me silver—there ought to be an explanation; without one, I won't take it." Xiaoyu shoved the silver back.

"Hold onto it," Zhang Lao strolled out with his hands behind his back.

Xiaoyu turned back, saying, "Old man, senior brother… what's the explanation?"

"What you earned," Zhang Lao said calmly, "go to Li Si Fencha, order two dishes and a serving of meat broth, and I'll hold onto the rest of the silver for you later."

Xiaoyu quickly clenched the silver, saying, "Old man, are you trying to rob me again?"

"I'm holding onto it for you—can't you speak? Once the silver's in your hand, it's like it grew wings and disappears in less than two days; you spend all day soaking in herbal baths, buying swords and spears, not needing silver at all?" Zhang Lao shouted, stroking his beard and glaring.

Xiaoyu stammered, "Then leave me… half!"

"Huh?"

"Ten taels! Ten taels will do, right? I also want some silver."

"At most five taels."

"Old man, you you you… you're truly crafty!"

Xiaoyu burst out in anger and dashed off.

"You little bastard!"

Zhang Lao, fuming, jumped up, snatched off his right shoe, and hurled it, shouting, "You treacherous wretch who betrays teacher and ancestors—you don't even have five taels!"

Although he didn't hit anyone, the old man's slick shoe‑throwing move was truly agile.

Chen Wuji hurried to soothe him, laughing, "Old man, calm down; Xiaoyu's nature is pretty good, he's just a bit mischievous—being mischievous at ten or eleven is quite normal."

"Hmph, even when I was in my teens, my name was already known in the Rivers and Lakes!" Zhang Lao angrily said, furrowing his brows, he lifted his eyes and glanced at Chen Wuji, "You came by so early today, little Zi, do you have something going on?"

"What he meant by 'something' is clearly not good."

"It's nothing else, I brought a few medicinal herbs I picked yesterday from the mountain for you, old sir." Chen Wuji said.

Zhang Lao nodded, "You almost gave me a start."