Chapter 248: Village Tyrant

Chen Wuji's words left Chen Luozi stunned, "You want to use my house?"

"This grain is key to our survival going forward. The village lacks houses, and there is no granary. Now the clansmen all train beside the ancestral hall; choosing a grain storage site nearby and then assigning people to guard it day and night is the safest." Chen Wuji explained.

Chen Luozi was just beside the ancestral hall, with an alley separating it from the hall.

"Wuji has considered everything thoroughly," Xiong Paozi also said.

Chen Luozi chuckled, "Fine, then I'll vacate my house. Afterwards I'll squeeze in with Xiong Paozi; anyway, I alone eating enough keeps the whole family fed, so I can live anywhere."

"That's not necessary either," Chen Wuji said. "Once the village's fort wall is built, we'll have the branch family people build you another residence. Now we have plenty of manpower; building a residence is no trouble."

As several people were talking, Chen Qun suddenly came running over in a hurry.

"Brother Wuji, no, Family Head, something's happened!"

He appeared at the door, panting, quickly swallowed his saliva, and said: "Family Head, the Ruan brothers brought several young strongmen from the village and attacked us with knives. They said they must be given adequate compensation, otherwise they'll go to the county office to sue our Chen family for plotting rebellion."

Chen Wuji sprang up, and said to Chen Luozi and Xiong Paozi: "Trouble Ninth Uncle to quickly store the grain and weapons; I'll go with Wu Yin to have a look."

Chen Luozi nodded, then said meaningfully: "Wuji, when it's time to act, don't hesitate. These people are just eyeing the silver in your pocket, deliberately stirring trouble, hoping to feast on a big household."

Chen Wuji chuckled, "No need to worry, Ninth Uncle."

This horizontal blade in his hand seems never to have hesitated.

The first time he killed someone, it was when he encountered those bandits; that time Chen Wuji's hand shook violently, he was indeed nervous to death, but he also didn't hesitate about whether to strike.

Since he's decided to do it, nervousness is fine, but don't look back and forth.

Chen Wuji brought Xiong Paozi and Chen Qun out of the courtyard quickly and rushed to the scene of the disturbance.

At the northern foothills near the village entrance, two groups faced off, neither yielding, the atmosphere tense, blades drawn, about to clash any moment.

Chen Wuji walked into the crowd and looked toward the Ruan brothers leading the opposite side.

These two brothers look very much alike; though not blood brothers, they resemble each other closely—high foreheads, collapsed noses, and from afar you can see the nose hairs protruding from their nostrils.

In the village, the Ruan clan is a truly minor household, only these two families, and they have been single‑heir for two generations. In this generation, the two brothers remain unmarried, spending their days wandering Yunan City; no one knows exactly what they do, but every few days they have wine and meat.

"How much do you intend to take?" Chen Wuji asked.

The Ruan clan elder, Ruan Xiong, gave a strange laugh: "I've found this world truly strange—when someone has money, others' eyes go blind as well. The Chen family's bunch of grandsons actually let a fool like you be the head. Tell me secretly, how much silver did you earn from hunting to get them to agree to let you lead the family?"

"Our Chen family's affairs are none of your business—just say it, how much silver do you want?" Chen Wuji asked.

"Being the head makes a difference—your tone is so big." Ruan Xiong snorted contemptuously, raised a finger, "One hundred taels!"

"Give us one hundred taels, and you can build the wall wherever you like in the village—do as you please; even if you put the wall on my head, I'll agree."

Chen Wuji nodded, looked at the person beside Ruan Xiong, and said, "What about you?"

"We also want one hundred taels!"

"Exactly, exactly, one hundred taels—can't go lower. If you give it, you may build the wall as you wish; if not, don't even think about moving a clod of earth in the village."

"This village belongs to all of us, not just your Chen family—if we don't get the silver, it's not happening."

……

The crowd's emotions were high, they closely followed Ruan Xiong's steps.

However, not everyone was shouting angrily; some chose to stay silent, even quietly distancing themselves from Ruan Xiong and the others.

Only a few Yuan family members and the Wang uncle‑nephew pair were truly shouting fiercely while following Ruan Xiong.

The Yuan family jumping in to cause trouble came as no surprise to Chen Wuji.

He and the Yuan family have long been enemies, both sides already at a point of mortal enmity.

On the other hand, the Wang uncle‑nephew pair made Chen Wuji somewhat surprised.

His relationship with those two was still decent; they'd had quite a few dealings.

This person, looking at him, really can't be judged by his usual appearance.

When personal interests are involved, what is revealed is the true nature.

"I don't have that much silver right now; you should change your terms," Chen Wuji said.

Ruan Xiong snorted coldly: "No silver? That's none of our business. If you don't take this hundred taels, we'll go to the county office and sue your Chen family for preparing rebellion. Don't think we don't know what kind of scum the Chen family is—you were exiled here by the court precisely because you plotted rebellion!"

"Now you've suddenly gathered so many clansmen here—do we look blind, unable to see what you're up to? You may rebel, but don't drag us into it!"

"If you give the silver, we can overlook it out of years of neighborliness; if not, nobody will have an easy time."

Chen Wuji gave a faint smile: "I didn't expect you to know so much, but……"

Having said that, Chen Wuji suddenly paused, his face showing a troubled hesitation for a moment, then gestured to Ruan Xiong: "Some things are hard to say; let's talk privately."

"What do you want to talk about?" Ruan Xiong, unsuspecting, although his face full of contempt, already moved his feet.

Chen Wuji gestured again: "Come over first, and you'll know after hearing it."

"Hmph, kid, don't try to pull tricks on us workers; don't think we're fooling you. If we don't get the silver, I'll make good on my word. This Xishan Village isn't just yours Chen family—it's not up to one household to decide." Ruan Xiong uttered harsh words, yet he walked over cooperatively.

It looks like that hundred taels is quite tempting to him.

Chen Wuji's mysterious maneuver successfully caught his attention.

"What are you saying? Hurry up, don't waste our workers' time!" Ruan Xiong walked over, shouting impatiently.

Chen Wuji slightly lowered his body, taking advantage of Ruan Xiong being drawn by his motion, preparing to listen closely, he switched the knife from his left hand to his right and suddenly thrust it into Ruan Xiong's chest.

"You dare try to extort me?" Chen Wuji leaned in, saying grimly.

"Uh…… you……"

Ruan Xiong's face twisted in pain, he tremulously reached out, even trying to grab Chen Wuji's collar.

Chen Wuji pressed hard with his right hand, then stabbed fiercely deeper.

"You, you won't die a good death; even as a ghost I won't let you go……"

Ruan Xiong, expending his last breath, uttered a harsh remark that did no harm to Chen Wuji.

Chen Wuji kicked Ruan Xiong's not‑yet‑fully‑dead body aside, his gaze cold and contemptuous as he swept over the others: "Anyone else still want my silver?"