Chapter 234: with translation of chapter title

Xiao Yuji is a merchant who buys and sells furs; in this fur purchasing matter, she was actually outdone by Chen Wuji the hunter, which made Xiao Yuji very upset; she has traveled through nearly all villages in Yunan, yet never seen so many furs.

The most she ever bought in one go was the previous time, from Chen Wuji.

These furs are almost enough to cover her annual needs.

"Where did you get all these furs?" Xiao Yuji's eyes flashed with a hint of slyness; she bluntly began to probe Chen Wuji's business secrets.

Chen Wuji gave a light smile, "Tianchi Pass."

Xiao Yuji's face fell; in an instant she didn't want to say anything.

That place…

Better forget it.

Even if the mountain were piled high with furs, she wouldn't go there.

"You actually managed to do business with Tianchi Pass? How did you manage that?" Xiao Yuji pressed.

Chen Wuji smiled faintly and shook his head, "This matter can't be told."

"If you won't say it, I can't be bothered to ask." Xiao Yuji pursed her lips, twisted her graceful waist, and called the shop's assistant to help unload the cart.

She took an abacus and, while the assistants unloaded the cart, began calculating the prices item by item.

This process took a long time.

Chen Wuji and his companions slowly drank three whole pots of tea before Xiao Yuji finished her work.

"All together it's 5,321 taels; I'll round it up to 5,330 taels for you." Xiao Yuji, somewhat tired, fiddled with the abacus beads and said to Chen Wuji, "Any problem? If not, I need to go to the bank to get you the silver."

"No problem, the price is very fair." Chen Wuji silently exclaimed "holy shit" inside.

His estimate and the actual value differed by over two thousand taels.

This time, he got a huge bargain off Wu Bu Yong.

The price difference was a full 4,330 taels…

If Wu Bu Yong knew the actual situation, he would probably have him killed.

Xiao Yuji nodded, "Then I'll go get the money; you wait a bit."

Chen Luozi stretched his neck, watching Xiao Yuji leave the street, then lowered his voice to Chen Wuji: "Wuji, isn't this move a bit too ruthless? A difference of four thousand taels—if Wu Bu Yong finds out, he'll surely be furious!"

"I didn't expect the difference to be this big; later I'll prepare more grain, medicine, and weapons to compensate them." Chen Wuji said.

"We should make amends." Chen Luozi nodded.

"The grain on the mountain probably isn't scarce; they're self-sufficient, even ignoring the Xianya's requisition orders, so they certainly won't honestly pay taxes—their own consumption should be enough."

"Their weapons look rather shoddy—wooden spears, spearheads that don't seem like good iron, bows they made themselves; they might suffice for small skirmishes, but certainly not for large-scale slaughter."

Chen Wuji glanced at the assistant moving the furs to the backyard, then lowered his voice: "Once we have the silver in hand, you and Elder Brother Wu Yin need to make a trip to the nearby towns to first secure weapons."

Xiong Paozi's real name is Chen Wu Yin; he is his clansman.

Chen Wuji only learned this clansman's full name during the previous family grand sacrifice.

Everyone in the village calls him Xiong Paozi; Chen Wuji pretended to know everything, so he never asked. He previously didn't even know Xiong Paozi was his clansman, and had always thought he was someone else with a different surname.

"Okay!" Chen Luozi nodded, "Make a rough estimate of what we need and how many."

"The more the better." Chen Wuji said, "The blacksmith shops in the surrounding towns won't have much stock; buy whatever they have, focusing on swords, spears, and bows. If those three categories are too few, fill the rest with other items. By the way, does the branch lineage have any family-forged swords?"

"Yes, but not many."

Chen Wuji's expression turned somewhat solemn as he said, "Strike first; you two will spend this five thousand taels on grain, medicine, and weapons—everything must be procured."

"You're just going to wash your hands of it and leave everything to us?" Chen Luozi said, somewhat surprised.

"Yeah, I have other matters to attend to."

On the eve of the impending war, there are many things to prepare.

Although he became Family Head by being thrust into the role, now that he's in it, the work must be done.

Chen Luozi also understood the importance of this matter; he didn't waste words, just gave a firm nod.

Xiao Yuji went for about an hour before returning with a heavy chest.

"Here are 5,300 taels; count them." Xiao Yuji had someone place the chest before Chen Wuji, then produced another thirty taels and handed them over.

A month ago, those thirty taels in Xiao Yuji's hand already seemed like a huge sum to Chen Wuji.

Chen Wuji gave a glance; Chen Luozi and Xiong Paozi each counted the silver in the chest once, then nodded to Chen Wuji.

With the transaction complete, Chen Wuji lingered not a moment and immediately proposed his leave.

Only after Chen Wuji and his two companions had been gone for a long while did Xiao Yuji angrily stomp her foot, "Damn thing, you made me earn all this silver yet didn't even think to treat me to a meal—how hateful……"

Chen Wuji never thinks about such things when he's idle, let alone now; his mind is full of how to make more preparations for the coming war.

Yang Ji.

Yang Tiejiang now counts as having swapped bird guns for cannons; his shop, once a one-man operation, has become the largest workshop on the street, the clanging of his hammer drowning out all other hawking cries.

Fortunately, Lao Yang hasn't been working late nights lately; otherwise the neighbors would have blown up.

Under the old tree by the street, Yang Tiejiang lit his small tea stove again.

"The pots ordered from Hengtong Business Business Business have been taken away; now two more caravans are rushing production, should be ready in these two or three days—are you in a hurry?" Yang Tiejiang added firewood to the stove as he asked.

"Not in a hurry." Chen Wuji tore off a piece of Gu Louzi and stuffed it into his mouth.

He had originally wanted to suggest going for a meal, but Yang Tiejiang insisted on drinking some tea.

He now has this habit; if he doesn't have one or two servings a day, he feels uncomfortable.

Helplessly, Chen Wuji's meal could only be substituted with Gu Louzi and tea.

Gu Louzi is considered a relatively luxurious staple in Yunan City; ordinary commoners can't afford it.

Strictly speaking, this is roujiamo—a bun stuffed with mutton and pepper, baked; but this bun is made of unleavened dough, far lacking the crispness of Chen Wuji's sugar‑filled pastry.

"I didn't come today for the pots; do you have any weapons stockpiled here?" Chen Wuji patted his chest, set down the pastry, found dry eating a bit choking, and decided to wait for the tea instead.

"There are some; what do you need?" Yang Tiejiang said.

We want everything!

Yang Tiejiang looked up, "You want to rebel, huh? You want it all?"

Perhaps there will be war; prepare in advance. You also need to keep an eye on this—the Qiang people are about to attack. Chen Wuji said in a low voice, "Yesterday we captured several Qiang scouts on South Mountain."