Chapter 22: Crude Villager

Facing Yuan Laoer's arrogant provocation, Chen Wuji said nothing, merely picking up the Knife.

This family heirloom tetanus blade can also be considered bringing glory to the ancestors today.

A python and a yellow weasel, letting its whole body be entwined with bloody smell and Blood Killing Aura.

Yuan Laoer suddenly recalled this morning's experience, and a chill shot up his back.

He felt a little timid.

That fool really seems daring enough to kill someone.

But with so many villagers watching, Yuan Laoer, as the esteemed Village Chief's brother, also had to save face, so he let out a heavy cold snort and flicked his sleeves away.

At first his steps were steady and firm, but after going a little farther his stride swung like he was practicing race walking; he was afraid Chen Wuji would again throw the Knife like a dart as he had that morning.

He failed to utter the harsh words, and the aura of being the Village Chief's elder brother didn't show either, making Yuan Laoer the more he thought, the angrier he became, his teeth itching with hatred.

He must soon put on the agenda the matter of bribing Chen Shazi's murderous concubine.

Let that ruthless woman quickly finish off that troublesome fool!

Chen Wuji watched Yuan Laoer hurry away and let out a mocking laugh.

Useless trash!

"Wuji, are you selling this Snake Meat? Give me some; my family's children haven't seen any meat in months." A woman came over and asked.

"For sale, but is it edible?" Chen Wuji asked.

The woman blinked, "You don't know?"

"I don't know." Chen Wuji shook his head.

The woman was amused, "Cut me a piece; it's just Snake Meat, surely edible, definitely not poisonous, at worst it'll just taste bad."

Chen Wuji untied the rope at his waist, cut a palm‑sized piece with the Knife, and handed it to the woman.

About a pound and a bit more.

"Three wen," Chen Wuji said.

He didn't even know if it was edible, so naturally he didn't know how much to charge for it.

He just asked for a random amount, so if it turned out truly awful, the villagers wouldn't feel cheated.

"That's too much; I'll just take a little to boil some meat porridge for the kids," the woman said, somewhat embarrassed.

"All right!"

Chen Wuji raised his hand and split the piece of meat into three.

The woman picked up all three pieces, weighed them, examined the meat closely, then took the largest piece and gave Chen Wuji one wen.

Chen Wuji didn't mind her penny‑pinching; with the tax‑payment day approaching, everyone was trying to make ends meet, and he could understand her doing that.

What really annoyed Chen Wuji was that the three pieces were visibly different in size, yet she insisted on using her dirty hands, just finished work, to weigh them.

It's not like the two taels of meat in front of her, where weighing could bring pleasure or satisfaction.

"Give me a piece too!" another woman said upon seeing this.

"Take it!" Chen Wuji handed over the meat.

The woman picked up the two pieces again, turned them over, looked them over, and displeased said, "Cut me a fresh piece; this is dirty, how can I eat it?"

"You two touched it, no sale, you'll have to pay for it," Chen Wuji said bluntly.

He's a fool; even if you spite him to death, you still have to endure it.

"No, Wuji, how can you do business like that? I have to look to know if the meat is good," the woman's voice suddenly rose.

"Then don't complain about dirt." Chen Wuji lifted the Knife a bit.

Damn it, you two are kneading these pieces of meat like the two taels in front of you, and still have the nerve to complain here? Where's your shame?!

The woman glanced at the Knife in Chen Wuji's hand, silently closed her mouth, reluctantly took one piece, tossed one wen into his hand, and the two quickly parted ways.

In the distance, Chen Wuji heard the two muttering behind his back.

Their cursing was a bit vulgar.

This indulges them.

"If you two curse me again, I'll dig up your ancestors' graves tomorrow!" Chen Wuji shouted loudly.

The two women's voices quickly faded as they hurried home.

Chen Wuji's mood lightened; the advantages of being a fool are now gradually becoming apparent.

It feels kinda good.

"Wuji, don't bother with those brainless women; give me five catties!" a middle‑aged man laughed, saying, "Take this meat home and eat it with confidence—it's delicious, and snake soup is a supreme delicacy."

This man is also a paternal uncle of Chen Wuji, though not as close as Chen Bushi's branch.

The embarrassing part is that Chen Wuji doesn't even remember what this man's name is.

All he recalls is that people seem to call him Chen Luozi.

He doesn't know where that nickname came from, but hearing it sounds like there's a story behind it—not the sort of nickname you'd shout to someone's face.

"Uncle, have you eaten it?" Chen Wuji asked while slicing the meat.

"I have, back when I was little—your grandfather was still alive, and that snake was the one he hunted. Back then the Court's taxes weren't so heavy, everyone's bellies were full every day, and your grandfather gave each of our relatives a share; I still remember that flavor vividly," Chen Luozi said with a laugh.

Chen Wuji cut off about six or seven catties of Snake Meat and handed it to Chen Luozi.

Estimating weight by hand is surely inaccurate, so Chen Wuji could only let the other party take a little advantage.

"Too much—at least an extra catty." Chen Luozi took it, weighed it, counted out eighteen wen and handed them to Chen Wuji, then laughed and scolded, "You little brat, you made me spend three extra wen out of nowhere."

"I'm selling it at five catties!" Chen Wuji said.

He hadn't intended to take advantage here.

"I know." Chen Luozi laughed, "In this world nobody has it easy, you have it harder, so don't do good deeds. There are hardly any conscientious people in this village—don't give them a chance to take advantage."

"Most of the villagers once benefited from your grandfather's kindness, but when your family fell on hard times, hardly anyone lifted a hand to help, while plenty kicked you when you were down."

"Luozi's words are stronger than when it cries at night; this is all the experience of those who have been through it—listen to your paternal uncle." The person beside laughed and scolded.

"Little Chen Wuji, give me five catties too, cut it into five-catty pieces, don't let the knife skew."

Chen Luozi glanced sideways, "Even if I call out softly and weakly, I'm still stronger than you who only cry out twice."

"I don't call out; I always let my wife call out for me." The man laughed, his voice coarse and heroic.

Chen Luozi's face darkened instantly, he made a move to lunge forward, "You confused-eyed fool, Laborers will smash your rotten face with one blow—stand there!"

That person turned and ran, without forgetting to shout at Chen Wuji: "Wuji, leave the meat for now, I'll come get it later; the donkey without a wife is in heat, humans and beasts are no longer distinguished."

Chen Wuji chuckled, a crude villager.

What's embarrassing is that he also can't remember that person's name.

Likewise, he only knows the person's nickname, which is elegantly called Xiong Paozi.

This lousy nickname is even uglier than Chen Luozi's.

If he were to shout it out, he'd probably get a beating.

Chen Wuji plucked a handful of grass by the road, skewered the cut meat, and hung it on the snake skeleton.

Afterwards, several more villagers wanted meat; Chen Wuji stayed busy at the village entrance until it was almost pitch dark before he rested.

He hadn't expected that, with the villagers buying one catty, two catties each, he would actually earn nearly a hundred cash in that moment.