Chapter 33

On the way back, Chen Wuji saw not a trace of a smile on Huo Sanniang's face.

But she wasn't angry with him; she was taking it out on her own set of two garments.

She kept muttering that if she hadn't sold that set of two garments, today she could have raised enough substitute service money.

The copper coins they had left, once again coincidentally, were exactly fifteen wen short of the substitute service money.

Seeing her like this, Chen Wuji helplessly said, "Wife, actually you shouldn't have sold medicine for me; we originally had a surplus of over three hundred fifty wen, and your inner clothing cost little— the real expense is my medicinal ointment."

That bit of ointment was worth a full seventy wen.

If it weren't truly needed, Chen Wuji would also feel the pain keenly.

The medicine's cost almost matches what he earned in his previous life.

"What nonsense— I can go without inner clothing, but can you do without the ointment?" Huo Sanniang rolled her eyes, "Everything else can be endured, but treating illness cannot be delayed."

"But the money's already spent, wife— what's the use of your worried frown? Do you want to suffer to death yourself, then make me suffer too?" Chen Wuji said, "Anyway, no matter what you say, I think your inner clothing is more useful than my ointment; not wearing it makes you too conspicuous."

Huo Sanniang, annoyed and embarrassed, punched Chen Wuji lightly and asked nervously, "Is it really that obvious?"

"Anyway, if you look closely you can tell!" Chen Wuji said.

Huo Sanniang looked over and over, even secretly testing with her hand, and finally gave up her regretful muttering.

It really did seem a bit noticeable.

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Finally, some oil appeared in the bowl, not having gone elsewhere; it seemed to have gathered here first.

Outside the city, Chen Wuji and Huo Sanniang met up with Chen Bushi and Chen Luozi.

Chen Bùshì, Chen Luózǐ

These two bold and unrestrained types lit a fire right in the woods and roasted a chicken on the spot.

Chen Wújì

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"You've finally come, hurry over— eat something first before we hit the road!" Chen Bushi called out.

Chen Wuji showed no hesitation, sat down, tore off the remaining chicken leg, and handed it to Huo Sanniang, "Wife, here, a big chicken leg!"

Huò Sānniáng, Sānshū, Jiǔshū

"Go ahead and eat; I saved it just for you two." Chen Bushi laughed.

Only then did Huo Sanniang stop being modest, taking a tiny bite of the chicken meat.

Chen Wuji had no qualms and dug in with big bites.

"Kid, how's the taste? This is a chicken from the County Taiye's household!" Chen Luozi asked with a laugh.

The chicken meat Huo Sanniang had just put in her mouth but not yet swallowed froze instantly.

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"Does the County Taiye also raise chickens?" Chen Wuji asked.

"He does, to prove his incorruptibility, self-sufficiency, and not living off the people's food and drink." Chen Bushi snorted, "Tell me, how does it taste? I and your Ninth Uncle both think this chicken has a rather strong odor."

Chen Wuji shook his head, "I don't notice any odor; it's just that this chicken seems underfed, scrawny, the meat a bit dry and unpleasant. The County Taiye raises chickens carelessly— such a high official doesn't even let a chicken eat its fill."

"If the chicken eats its fill, what would the County Taiye eat? You little brat, you're a bit foolish!" Chen Bushi laughed.

Chen Wuji retorted, "Third Uncle, if you keep calling me stupid I'll get angry—I'm not stupid. If the chicken eats its fill, the County Taiye would eat chicken— isn't chicken meat better than grain?"

Chen Bushi and Chen Luozi exchanged a glance and both couldn't help laughing.

Whether the County Taiye prefers eating chicken or grain really warrants study.

A chicken leg gave Huo Sanniang a fright; she cautiously asked, "Third Uncle, how did you get this chicken?"

"I brought it along when paying taxes; the County Taiye's chickens are indeed poorly kept, they even ran from the rear quarters to the front, wandering about clucking, so I just took one." Chen Bushi said calmly, "Go ahead and eat; no one noticed."

Huo Sanniang dared not relax; the meat got stuck in her throat.

"Wife, we're eating our own; what are you afraid of? Even if we lose our heads, it'd be Third Uncle and Ninth Uncle's fault, and we didn't know this chicken was the County Taiye's." Chen Wuji said bluntly.

Chen Luozi drooped his eyelids and snorted, "That brat makes sense— if the County Taiye were to chop over a chicken, it'd be us who get chopped, so go ahead and eat yours."

"Eating this meat is truly deadly!" Huo Sanniang gazed up speechlessly and muttered softly.

Chen Wuji ate heartily and truly filled his belly.

However, after eating that chicken leg, Huo Sanniang refused to eat anything else.

The meat was tasty, but it almost choked her to death.

Even though she isn't as nervous now, she still doesn't want to eat it again.

Having married into Xishan Village for two years, only today did she realize she knew nothing about these Chen family people; today counts as her first day getting to know these two paternal uncles.

Having eaten and drunk their fill, Chen Wuji and Huo Sanniang rode in Chen Luozi's donkey cart and accompanied Chen Bushi and Chen Luozi back to the village.

This time, Chen Luozi's donkey didn't run off elsewhere; it walked steadily toward the village.

On the road, as they talked about taxes, Huo Sanniang casually asked about conscription labor.

Not asking meant ignorance, but asking made even her flare up in anger.

As it turned out, Xishan Village had no conscription labor this year; the nearest village due for it was their neighboring Dongshan Village.

Chen Wújì

"This is probably the Village Chief's doing." Chen Luozi said.

"What's there to doubt? It's definitely him! Wuji only has grudges with these two brothers, and has no dealings with the county officials— how could he offend them?" Chen Bushi, sitting backwards on the donkey, held up his wine jar, said that, then tipped his head back to gulp a mouthful and wiped his wine‑stained mouth.

Huo Sanniang trembled with anger, then after a moment suddenly said, "Third Uncle, Ninth Uncle, could I ask you for a favor? Help us kill the Village Chief and Yuan Laoer— any amount of money is fine."

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Chen Bushi and Chen LuoZi refused one after another, very firmly.

"Why?" Huo Sanniang asked.

"Wife, the Village Chief, big or small, is also an official; even eating the County Taiye's chicken carries the risk of beheading, killing the County Taiye's dog definitely warrants execution." Chen Wuji said.

Huo Sanniang's sudden remark scared him badly.

When this little lass gets fierce, she's really fierce— she even dares to contemplate killing someone.

"The foolish lad suddenly got smart— what he said is actually correct." Chen Bushi said.

"Moreover, killing the Village Chief, the Xianya will first investigate those who have grudges against him, and will quickly pin the blame on this foolish lad; framing someone is something they do very easily."