Chapter 276: with translation of chapter title

Yeniao Shan Zhuang is an evil cult, no doubt.

Their brainwashing method is crude, yet surprisingly effective.

Seeing Ji Qinghuan's reaction, one can roughly guess what the other people of Yeniao Shan Zhuang are like.

The gu poison has already taken deep hold.

Even someone as well-informed as Mr. Xu doesn't know the details of Yeniao Shan Zhuang, so Chen Wuji could only turn his attention to Yunan City.

"Mr. Xu, there is one more matter," Chen Wuji said.

"Speak freely; you weren't like this before. How did you learn of my former useless status and become polite? I don't like this—treat me merely as the keeper of the coffin shop; I came today so that even enemies can afford my coffins," Mr. Xu said.

Chen Wuji smiled and said, "Then I won't stand on ceremony."

"Following the guest's lead is also a kind of courtesy, isn't it?"

"Yunan City is a mix of fish and dragons, and I may soon take the post of Yunan Commandant; I want to know what other forces like yours exist in Yunan City," Chen Wuji asked.

Mr. Xu picked up the teapot, poured himself a cup of tea, then suddenly eyed the jerky drying under the eaves, stood, took a piece, and ate it with his tea while saying, "Many."

"In the Lingnan Six Commanderies, Yunan, which leans against Shenxian Ling, is a good place—fertile land, dense waterways, and those fleeing refugees all favor this land."

"Let me briefly mention the main figures; you've probably seen some of them. The backer of the money shop, Li Si Fencha, Hengtong Business Business Business, Kai Shan Escort Bureau, See Mountain—which mainly deals in fur—and Cao PoPo Meat Pie—these are the people I know, and each can easily muster a force of a thousand."

Chen Wuji went numb in an instant and said, "That many?"

Moreover, several of them are indeed people he knows.

He has eaten Cao PoPo Meat Pie, and See Mountain is currently in a cooperative relationship with him; Li Si Fencha has also benefited from his kindness, but the relationship is now somewhat strained; Hengtong Business Business Business is a customer.

The only two with no dealings at all are the money shop and Kai Shan Escort Bureau.

"They are all forces capable of mobilizing a thousand people, so why do they all like opening shops?" Chen Wuji truly didn't know how to describe it; it was somewhat eerie.

Mr. Xu chewed the tough jerky vigorously, then said calmly, "There's nothing surprising about it; when one person does this, others don't care, but when a second person follows suit, they start to think."

"If a third person joins in, they won't even think twice—they'll act, first seizing that pit."

"We people were exiled here for various reasons; above us the Court watches, below us wolves and tigers keep company—we must conceal our aims and constantly control our strength to preserve ourselves, even to make a comeback."

"Moreover, opening a shop lets some people participate while others scatter to do other things; to the Court, does that make us look honest?"

Chen Wuji nodded.

Mr. Xu continued, "Besides that, opening a shop can earn silver, and it provides a reasonable excuse to send people out to gather information, exchange with like-minded folks, trade my knives for your arrows or armor. A shop is not just a shop—it offers many conveniences."

"But not everyone opens a shop—aren't you Chens just reclaiming land and farming? You merely extend your influence to Yunan City, and even people in Hezhou and Nan Jun will first choose to open a shop, paying tribute to the powerful above and making connections with the riffraff below, for everyone's convenience."

Chen Wuji understood, and his mind suddenly cleared.

But he also felt more melancholy.

With so many forces, it's not easy to handle.

These people carry many secrets and stories; their conduct is more troublesome than that of the Zhang family, a clan that cares about face and status, for they set no standards for themselves—how low their bottom line can go depends entirely on how low they can imagine.

"In Mr. Xu's view, if the Qiang people attack the city, how many of these forces would be willing to help, and who would stab us in the back?" Chen Wuji asked about the matter he cared most about.

Mr. Xu shook his head. "This is hard to say, but I intend to discuss it with you; tomorrow I'll go up the mountain with you, then I'll visit them one by one to sound out their intentions."

"The waters of Yunan City run deep; with only the forces you hold, you cannot budge them at all. The best outcome would naturally be peaceful coexistence, but some won't let us have our way, so we still need allies."

Chen Wuji's face lit up; he put down the spatula, clasped his hands, and said, "Thank you, Mr. Xu."

"Cut it out; if you keep this up, I'll finish this meal and leave," Mr. Xu said impatiently.

Chen Wuji gave a helpless smile. "As long as you're not angry about my lack of courtesy in welcoming talent, I'll certainly be at ease."

Since ancient times, talented people seem to have some quirks.

Mr. Xu's dislike of pleasantries and his easygoing, natural habit is relatively mild.

Chen Wuji felt that losing propriety wasn't good, but if Mr. Xu insisted, he could go along with it and continue treating him as usual.

"What's there to talk about in welcoming talent? Pointless." Mr. Xu stood up, tiptoed to peek into the pot, and asked, "When will this dish be ready?"

"Right away."

Chen Wuji's "right away" was truly right away; soon the first plate of signature fried river crabs came out of the pot.

Recently too many things have happened, causing many changes in Xishan Village and Chen Wuji's household, but the two Yuan Jinshi brothers still find time to go up the mountain to catch river crabs, fetch mountain crabs, and set traps.

These rare mountain delicacies are now abundant in Chen Wuji's home—so much so that they can't even finish eating them.

"This thing looks weird and ugly; it doesn't look edible at all—more like poison!" Mr. Xu muttered, grabbed a whole one, and tossed it into his mouth.

A moment later he changed his tune: "It's ugly, but it's indeed delicious, fresh and delicious!"

He summed up his intense, almost explosive feeling with the two words "fresh and delicious".

The taste in his mouth completely shattered his previous notions of food, yet the habitually unexpressive Mr. Xu remained sparing with words, turning his head to seek wine.

"Wuji, wine? Do you have any? With such deliciousness, if it can't be paired with fine wine, it's simply a waste of heaven's bounty." He shouted urgently.

Chen Wuji called out to Licentiate Yuan, asking him to bring over a jug of wine for Mr. Xu.

With a bite of river crab and a sip of wine, Mr. Xu ate with brows dancing and color flushed, shouting delightedly.

"With such skill, why don't you open your own tavern instead of cheaply selling your recipes, letting that rascal Li Si take advantage?" Mr. Xu asked doubtfully.

Chen Wuji said, "I had indeed planned to open a tavern originally, but now I can't free myself; I've also been pondering this for a long time, yet even to this day I haven't settled on a location for the tavern."