Chapter 417: Return Migration

In Chen Wuji's view, Gu Wenjie was not like a woman; he was outright a petty person.

But Qin Zhanhong's words still struck him.

Perhaps Lu Ping'an really wasn't that formidable in Gu Wenjie's eyes; he couldn't fix his train of thought, constantly wondering whether Gu Wenjie would obey Lu Ping'an's orders or what would happen if he didn't.

Given Gu Wenjie's viciousness, he might really seize an opportunity to bite back at Lu Ping'an.

So this time Lu Ping'an launching an attack on him—does that count as an opportunity for Gu Wenjie?

Chen Wuji instantly thought of countless possibilities.

But each answer was not very realistic.

After thinking it over and finding no answer, Chen Wuji decided to toss the problem to Xu Zengyi, letting him have a headache—his own head already hurt enough, and he didn't want to continue.

In the afternoon, Chen Bushi came over, bringing Chen Wuji a person and also some news that surprised him quite a bit.

"Wuji, this is Chen Anmin, the younger brother of Chen Baojia!" Chen Bushi introduced him to Chen Wuji, saying, "The Bitter River Branch wants to move back to Xishan Village, to return to their ancestral roots, and has sent him to ask your opinion."

Chen Anmin bore no resemblance to Chen Baojia; if not for Chen Bushi's introduction, just looking at their faces, Chen Wuji would never have linked the two.

Chen Baojia was dark and sturdy, exuding a sense of cold competence.

Chen Anmin had a round, full face; his eyes betrayed a cleverness that couldn't be hidden, making it obvious he was the sort who had plenty of devious ideas.

"How did you suddenly think of moving back to Xishan Village out of the blue?" Chen Wuji asked.

Chen Anmin clasped his hands and said, "In response to the family head, the elder clan chief said our Chen clan has reached the time to retwist into a single rope; the people are too scattered, which is not good for the future."

"Especially this time we barely escaped military disaster; the elder clan chief said if our clansmen gathered together, even if the military disaster surged, we could still fight them, unlike now, scattered everywhere, easily picked off one by one."

Chen Wuji considered it and said, "The elder clan chief is quite right, but Xishan Village has little arable land, making it hard to allocate extra fields; we can only settle them near Xishan Village."

To the common people, farmland is heaven; without it, nothing is possible.

Chen Wuji could not possibly seize others' land to give to the branch clansmen.

"Family head, the elder clan chief also mentioned this; everything depends on your arrangement," Chen Anmin said.

Chen Wuji nodded, then turned to Chen Bushi and said, "Uncle San, that place in the Zhao clan looks good to me—there are ready-made houses, just fix them up and you can live there. It's just that everyone's dead, so it might be a bit eerie; do you have any better place?"

"I think the Zhao clan place is fine," Chen Bushi said. "After Gu Wenjie's uproar, Yunan has plenty of villages where the populace died out—what's there to fear about being spooky?"

"After people move in, they can stay temporarily while slowly fixing up their new homes."

Chen Anmin also quickly added, "Family head, these days people are dying everywhere; there's nothing scary about it."

"Then let's do that—let them send word when they want to move." Seeing this, Chen Wuji immediately settled the matter; since they themselves had no objections, there was no need for further thought.

"Yes."

Chen Anmin answered, then a bit embarrassed asked, "Family head, I haven't seen my elder brother in several days; could I swing by to check on him?"

"What's the problem with that? Go yourself. Tell Chen Baojia I'm giving him two days off so he can take you around nearby." Chen Wuji laughed.

Chen Anmin replied happily.

"Presented Scholar, take him over," Chen Wuji ordered.

Yuan Jinshi hurried over, answered, and led Chen Anmin out of the courtyard.

"Once the Bitter River Branch moves in, the other branches will likely start thinking too; I'll surely be tied up with war coming up, so Uncle San, you handle these matters." Chen Wuji said.

In the bustling market, the poor are ignored; in the remote mountains, the rich have distant relatives.

The Chen clan's main vein is no longer what it once was.

A couple of months ago, Chen Bushi still had to go door to door asking them to send reinforcements.

Now, no request is needed; each branch should consider stuffing people inside.

Chen Baojia, Chen Lang, and the like are living billboards.

Although the two sides previously had considerable conflict, without the branches' assistance, Chen Wuji and the Chen clan could not have reached where they are today. Chen Wuji will take care of what needs caring for, but this still requires considerable balancing.

Chen Bushi glanced at Chen Wuji, annoyed, and said, "Don't think you can just dump your headaches on me; I can handle matters, but tell me how to handle them—first give me a boundary."

"Uncle San, for all these years the clan's affairs have been handled by you and Uncle Jiu; what boundary do I need to draw? Just look and act." Chen Wuji said.

"No way!" Chen Bushi's refusal was blunt and direct.

"I brought all the villagers of Xishan Village up into the mountains, gave them houses and fields, and someone complained endlessly—I won't do that again."

"Uncle San, look at you, still throwing a childish tantrum!" Chen Wuji chuckled.

"Can the villagers of Xishan Village be the same as the branch clansmen? That's two different matters. As for mountain affairs, I never said you did them completely wrong—I just don't want to waste the ancestors' efforts."

"Such rugged, inconvenient mountain paths—yet the ancestors built such a great enterprise in the mountains; the perseverance and effort required are beyond my imagination."

"We of this generation are the ones who enjoy; having enjoyed, we must not forget the ancestors' sacrifices. Uncle San, you guard that place so tightly—before, I didn't even want to reveal it—how could you not understand what I'm saying?"

"Enough, that's enough!" Chen Bushi interrupted Chen Wuji's words sharply.

"Damn it, who did you learn that trick from? Are you trying to annoy me to death?"

Chen Wuji rattled on and on, almost making his brain explode.

"What I'm saying is all practical!" Chen Wuji laughed.

Chen Bushi shook his head hard and said, "Got it, you go about your business—I'll take care of this dirty, tiring work. I originally wanted to join the army this time, to gain some military prestige, but now it looks like I'm stuck at home raising the family."

His tone was full of resentment; looking at Chen Wuji, his eyes weren't eyes, his nose wasn't a nose.

Chen Wuji really hadn't expected Chen Bushi to have such thoughts; he laughed and advised, "Uncle San, nowadays there are plenty of opportunities to fight—don't worry about lacking a battle."

"By the way, if you call Uncle Jiu down from the mountain, couldn't you just free yourself?"

Chen Bushi gave a light sigh, his expression instantly brightening: "Exactly, I'll send someone to fetch him later—this old fellow has too much leisure now; he really needs something to do."