Chapter 238: Buy Someone's Heart

Chen Wuji was made socially withdrawn by this group of people from the plateau's branch veins.

It was also this incident today that let him realize that the Chen family's backbone is not common to everyone.

This backbone currently applies only to the main vein.

Chen Wuji accepts people's differences, but still feels powerless.

Expecting such people to go to the battlefield, the biggest possibility might be that they lead the enemy to their homes.

Over the next two days, aside from going to Tianchi Pass once, Chen Wuji repeatedly tormented these people from the plateau's branch veins, humiliating them in various ways to stimulate them.

But it was of little use; these people became increasingly honest.

"Family Head, some people have come to the village gate, claiming to be provincial troops from Tianchi Pass, looking for you."

A young strongman from the clan hurriedly found Chen Wuji, who was sitting by the riverbank drinking tea.

The Chen family head had just finished scolding and was now resting and recuperating.

"Come on, let's go greet them." Chen Wuji patted his buttocks and stood up.

Wu Bu Yong was quite punctual; yesterday he brought some medicinal herbs up the mountain and, in passing, treated the mountain households, and the two discussed entering the village at dusk today.

With so many people coming in such a mighty show, it would be somewhat conspicuous in daylight, so we need to conceal it a little.

Village gate.

Wu Bu Yong crossed his arms and surveyed the houses in Xishan Village, then said lowly to the man beside him: "Jiu Lou, you say this Xishan Village doesn't even have a wealthy residence; the Chen family head must be living tightly, so why is he so generous to us?"

He previously gave away so much medicine and salt for free, and yesterday he brought up even more; this must cost a lot of silver, right? Do we have over a hundred taels?

The man called Jiu Lou was somewhat sturdy, with dark skin, and a pair of eyes especially bright, making one think at a glance that his vision must be very good.

He gave a simple, honest smile and said, "Brother Shan, I heard the brigade commander mention a word before, something like 'buy someone's heart'; Chen family head... must be spending money to buy your heart, Brother Shan, he wants to consume you."

Wu Bu Yong:?

He frowned, stared at Jiu Lou for a while, then suddenly raised his hand and slapped him: "You idiot, when you have free time learn a few more characters—'buy someone's heart' means selling my heart to be eaten!"

"No, isn't it?"

Wu Bu Yong raised his hand and gave a series of slaps, saying, "I told you to be, yes, yes, yes yes yes..."

As Chen Wuji walked over, he saw Wu Bu Yong violently beating a dark-skinned fat man.

The slaps came like firecrackers.

"Why is the leader so angry?" Chen Wuji said with a clasped-fist salute and a smile.

Wu Bu Yong pointed at Jiu Lou and said, "The brigade commander Chen arrives just in time; this brat says you want to buy my heart to eat it? You say whether he should be beaten? A perfectly good matter, once it reaches his mouth, you become a cannibal."

Chen Wuji: …

The dark fat man has good eyesight; he really deserved to be beaten!

What nonsense is he saying.

Where has he bought anyone's heart?

This is pure slander!

"What this brother says is actually quite right, though it's a bit scary; this beating he took is truly not unjust." Chen Wuji said with a smile.

He pondered for a while and decided to be a bit more frank.

Although Wu Bu Yong is a little simple-minded, he still has people behind him; doing something so obvious, the other side couldn't fail to notice.

Wu Bu Yong feigned surprise and said, "You really want to buy my heart?"

Chen Wuji nodded, "I do, I really want to."

"Brigade Commander Chen sending all those supplies up the mountain—is that his way of buying my heart?" Wu Bu Yong asked, narrowing his eyes.

Chen Wuji shook his head, "That doesn't count."

This statement, he really isn't just talking nonsense; indeed it can't be counted.

He hasn't even started exerting himself yet.

Sending supplies up the mountain is just because he feels he's made too much money, a little extra.

"This doesn't count?!" Wu Bu Yong asked in surprise.

Chen Wuji put on a stern face, "How could this count? Leader Wu, your expectations couldn't possibly be this low, could they? If you say that, I'll just start laughing."

Wu Bu Yong was stunned.

A few words from Chen Wuji left him dazed again, almost unable to figure out what this guy was actually saying.

"Then... what else do you want to do?" Wu Bu Yong asked Chen Wuji, looking puzzled.

Chen Wuji gave a carefree, light smile, "Leader Wu, why ask so clearly what to do? First enter the village, first enter the village."

"I want to know how you'll buy my heart." Wu Bu Yong said solemnly.

Chen Wuji chuckled, "Leader Wu, how could that be said outright? First look, first look."

"Why can't it be said directly?" Wu Bu Yong asked.

Chen Wuji silently rubbed his forehead.

This guy's brain really isn't very good.

That day, when he first went up the mountain, he almost really was bluffed by this kid.

Though his brain isn't good, his acting is surprisingly convincing.

As we say, for such matters, who would break a sandpot to ask to the bottom?

Anyone with even a bit of sense wouldn't keep pestering with questions on this matter.

This isn't deliberately making things difficult for people, is it?

"If you ask, I'll find it hard to do." Chen Wuji said with a laugh.

"Oh... oh, I see." Wu Bu Yong suddenly had an enlightened expression, then grabbed Chen Wuji's shoulders and laughed heartily: "Brigade Commander Chen, seriously, I'm truly curious what you'll do next. These years on the mountain we've never been affluent; the things you previously sent up the mountain made us feel like we were celebrating the New Year."

"Those are just a little of my goodwill." Chen Wuji said sincerely.

Wu Bu Yong slapped Chen Wuji's shoulder twice, "Brigade Commander Chen, you are truly the most magnanimous person I have ever seen."

Chen Wuji thought, "No, no, no, you're the most magnanimous!"

Fur worth over five thousand taels, he agreed to a thousand just by opening his mouth—how could I not be a bit more magnanimous?

"Leader Wu, don't flatter me—let's go into the village first," Chen Wuji called out.

"Let's drop this topic quickly; if we keep going, his old face won't be able to take it."

Chen Wuji led Wu Bu Yong and the others into the village.

Yesterday he had ordered people to vacate the two rooms outside the Ancestral Hall used for storing some implements, to serve as temporary lodging for Wu Bu Yong and the others.

Just two rooms, it's still somewhat difficult to accommodate so many people.

The rest could only pitch tents outside.

Fortunately the weather is scorching, so staying in tents isn't too unpleasant.

Actually, distributing a few people per household among the eighty-odd people is no big deal; they settled in simply.

But Chen Wuji still harbored a hint of wariness toward these people.

"No fear of ten thousand, just fear the one chance."

Before everyone has truly established trust, a bit more vigilance is necessary.

After bringing Wu Bu Yong and the others over, Chen Li led people to help pitch tents, while Chen Wuji set up a big pot, preparing to give these brothers coming down from the mountains a hearty meal to welcome and cleanse them.

When the aroma of the food spread across the open space in front of the Ancestral Hall, the people around stared, their eyes fixed, and their throats began to churn one after another.

Whether it was the Provincial Troops of Tianchi Pass or the people from the mountain ridges, their lives were actually quite hard; the ordinary folk usually ate rice with nothing but salt, and the only other seasonings were Sichuan pepper and some wild vegetables—how could they withstand Chen Wuji dumping handfuls of spices into the stewed meat?

That smell—just smelling it makes people unable to control themselves.