Chapter 42: The Corpse‑Stitcher Who Picks Up Bodies at the Execution Ground

"I can understand that person beating the county magistrate's sedan to resist tax, but why kill his chicken?" Chen Wuji asked.

He wanted to verify his guess.

Shopkeeper Xu suddenly laughed, "Because our county magistrate is honest. His sleeves are clean, he never profits from the people; when he eats meat, he raises it himself. Every year he raises many livestock—chickens, ducks, geese, and even pigs last year."

"But there are just too many troublemakers in Yunan County; they always like to harm the magistrate's livestock. He raises many animals each year, yet few end up in his own mouth."

"The county magistrate is furious about this; each year he makes an example of a few people, yet his livestock still die mysteriously, year after year."

Chen Wuji was silent for a long moment.

This county magistrate truly deserves death by a thousand cuts.

His greed knows no bottom.

He even goes to great trouble over such a trivial matter, and in other aspects he only does things to an even greater extreme.

Shopkeeper Xu glanced into Chen Wuji's basket, "Let's not talk about the magistrate's livestock; knowing too much about this isn't good. What livestock are you selling today?"

"A monkey that sought its own death, and python meat." Chen Wuji said.

"They're both rare delicacies; save some snake meat for me—I'd like to try it." Shopkeeper Xu raised his somewhat withered hand, picked up a piece of snake meat, examined it, and said.

Chen Wuji picked out a larger piece and handed it to Shopkeeper Xu, "No charge, Shopkeeper Xu, have a taste."

"It's not easy either; I won't take advantage of you." Shopkeeper Xu waved his hand.

"From now on I'll buy coffins at a discount." Chen Wuji laughed.

Shopkeeper Xu glanced at him, his expression slightly solemn, "Speak less of ill omens; some words can become self-fulfilling."

"Buy it for someone else." Chen Wuji added.

With a lovely wife and concubines, his life in this world has just begun; only a fool would prepare a coffin for himself.

"Why buy a coffin for someone else? Just dig a hole and bury them—no need to waste money." Shopkeeper Xu shook his head.

"I want that person to depart with dignity." Chen Wuji said.

This deal won't lose if we settle it early.

Chen Bushi and Chen Luozi might one day end up among those kneeling on the execution ground.

Shopkeeper Xu said, "This way I won't be taking your goods for nothing. Don't go to East Market today; go down this street ahead, there's a pharmacy called Merciful Relief Hall—take a look. Nobody eats monkeys, and their pelts aren't useful; they're only good for medicine, so I'm recommending you."

"Your python meat should also interest the people at Merciful Relief Hall—take some over and try it."

Chen Wuji bowed his hands in thanks.

Though he looks gloomy, he's a rare straightforward person.

The two have dealt with each other three times; he pays generously and never takes advantage.

Such a merchant truly qualifies as a real businessman.

Merciful Relief Hall isn't far from East Market Entrance; walk east along the long street, bypass the ill‑favored stretch that Yunan City locals call the "ill‑fated road," and you'll see its sign in the distance.

"Wuji, do you want to watch an execution? After we're done, let's go have a look." Huo Sanniang suddenly asked.

Chen Wuji jumped in fright, "What's fun about beheading? It's just one chop and the head falls off. Wife, looking at this won't give you nightmares, will it?"

Yesterday I just saw Chen Bushi and Chen Luozi stab a monk with two puff‑puchi thrusts; today his eyes really don't want to see meat again.

Seeing too much of this harms one's spirit and energy.

In traditional Chinese medicine terms, a weak‑bodied person who sees this has an eighty‑to‑ninety percent chance of losing a drop of blood from the heart, becoming dazed, utterly fatigued, and suffering various aftereffects.

However, Huo Sanniang's courage is surprisingly good—she can even be curious about such things.

Huo Sanniang felt a little embarrassed, "I've never seen it; I'm just curious what goes on at the execution ground."

"Wife, you're not also wanting to be a fool like me, are you?" Chen Wuji shook his head.

"Even a fool known by others knows not to join this bustle, but you, wife, so clever and virtuous, actually dare to be curious about this—you can't go."

Huo Sanniang broke into a light smile, her tone tinged with indulgence, and lightly scolded, "You rascal, once your mind clears a bit your mouth gets surprisingly sweet—say more, say plenty, I like it."

As she spoke, she gently tugged Chen Wuji's arm, "We've arrived—let's go inside."

Chen Wuji grunted in acknowledgment.

Merciful Relief Hall is quite large—it has three floors.

But its size shows no luxury; instead the gate is low, and everywhere bears the marks of time.

The two porch columns before the door have been rubbed to a shine; the wooden door looks pieced together, the upper part out of reach is dark and grimy, while the lower part has been rubbed into a large area of bright yellow wood grain.

All of Merciful Relief Hall, only the sign looks somewhat new.

The pharmacy had hardly any patients; a young apprentice was loading herbs into the medicine cabinet, and in the shadow opposite the counter an old man with a long beard lay reclining, dozing off with loud snores.

"Are you here for a consultation or to pick up medicine?"

The boy tidying the medicine cabinet casually asked while busy with his work.

"I have a monkey; the coffin‑shop owner Xu said you might need it, so I came to try my luck." Chen Wuji said.

The apprentice shoved the medicine cabinet shut with a palm, sprang nimbly from behind the counter, grabbed the sleeping old man's beard, leaned close to his ear and shouted, "Master, wake up! Guests are here—there's a monkey!"

"Ugh..." the old man groaned and sat up straight from the recliner.

Chen Wuji suddenly realized why the old man's beard was so sparse—he must be suffering from filial devotion!

"Xiaoyu, you ungrateful wretch who betrays master and ancestors, I'll beat you to death!" The old man snapped to, leapt up, snatched a feather duster, and laid into Xiaoyu with a flurry of blows.

The old and young staged a classic cat‑and‑mouse chase in the pharmacy.

Xiaoyu moved with agile grace, flipping up and down.

Though old, the man anticipated extraordinarily well; he always could precisely catch Xiaoyu's next move, then bring the feather duster down on his head, making Xiaoyu yelp in pain.

Until Xiaoyu suddenly scrambled to the top of the pillar, the old man could only helplessly cease his scolding.

Amid the ruckus, Chen Wuji found it merely noisy, yet he eyed Xiaoyu's technique with envy.

The pillar was about five meters tall, yet he scrambled to the top in just a few moves—clearly a trained practitioner, perhaps even possessing the legendary lightness skill.

If he learns this, his future hunting will surely be like a tiger gaining wings.

"Do you want to sell this dead monkey Zi?" the old man, who had arrived beside him at some unknown time, suddenly asked.

"Yes."

"One hundred wen."