Chapter 474: and translation of title

I, Zhao Fumin, am the proprietor of the Lai Xi Trading House.

He is of medium build, with a reddish complexion, small eyes and a big nose; Zhao Fumin's appearance matches his name extremely well, giving off an air of wealth—his face practically writes 'rich'.

Chen Wuji walked over to Zhao Fumin and patted his shoulder.

Those two slaps almost made Zhao Fumin kneel directly on the ground, his knees going soft.

It wasn't that Chen Wuji used much force, but this guy was guilty to a frightening degree, his face full of panic.

After Young Master Shi was dragged out by Chen Wuji without hesitation and chopped, Zhao Fumin realized that in Deputy Commander Chen's eyes he was merely an insignificant little fry.

If you're useful you can live; if you're useless, there's only death.

These people have been ruined by the rumors.

This deputy commander who came from a mud-leg background is far more troublesome than Gu Wenjie's madman.

The madman at least knows not to offend Lu Ping'an and treats them politely, but the mud-leg doesn't care about that.

"You are all the wealthy elite of Hezhou City, truly the rich." Chen Wuji said loudly.

"Gu Wenjie even seized the pots, pans, bowls and basins ordinary families use for meals, smashed them and melted them into iron and copper ingots to forge weapons. But I heard your fortunes remain intact, and even Gu Wenjie is willing to yield three points—unbelievable, truly unbelievable."

Zhao Fumin hastily said: "Ashamed, ashamed; we all owe our status to Young Master Shi's patronage—this is not our ability, but Gu Wenjie selling Young Master Shi's face."

"That too is your ability!" Chen Wuji considered this the most important kind of ability.

Following the right person is far more useful than reading the right books; it can save countless detours.

Chen Wuji walked slowly among them, sometimes looking at this one, sometimes at that, while saying: "You should all know the situation in Hezhou City—families have no surplus grain, it's dire, everyone is about to be reduced to skin and bone from hunger."

"You are all the great wealthy and wise of Hezhou City; do you have any good strategies for me? Speaking of which, I have something to clarify: today I sent people to invite you, intending to treat you courteously, not to bring you here in this manner."

"But there's no choice; since you won't give me face, I have no option but to resort to this."

Someone in the crowd suddenly shouted: "Since Deputy Commander Chen has a request of us, why bind us here? This hardly seems like a way to discuss important matters; please, Deputy Commander, give us some dignity."

Chen Wuji turned to look at the speaker: "Really sorry, I forgot this bit, letting you all feel wronged—quick, quick, quick, take him down and give this brother some dignity."

The two personal guards escorting that person immediately sprang into action, dragging the young man out of the courtyard.

Not long after, a miserable cry came from outside.

Chen Wuji cocked his ear, displeased, saying: "How could you just chop someone outside? Drag them farther away, or cleaning up later will be a hassle."

The remaining people instantly fell silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to breathe.

Nobody wants such 'dignity'.

Chen Wuji chuckled: "Don't be nervous, I'm not Gu Wenjie's kind of madman; I won't slaughter the innocent. But I've treated you courteously time and again, yet you regard me as dirt—you want dignity, don't I want it too?"

"So I'll have you kneel here and think hard until you come up with a good plan for me; nobody mention dignity, lest I recall unpleasant things."

The group instantly became as obedient as a child who has listened to the extreme, their expressions tense and solemn.

Zhao Fumin spoke first: "Deputy Commander Chen, I am willing to contribute my family wealth to help the people!"

"Shopkeeper Zhao, what a good person, a really good person—how much will you donate?" Chen Wuji immediately broke into a smile.

He likes people who readily talk about donating money—straightforward.

"Thirty thousand taels of silver, ten thousand shi of grain—would that work? My family's grain stores in the city aren't large; they were already looted once by Gu Wenjie, and now this is all we can scrape together..." Zhao Fumin said tremblingly.

To save his own life, he gritted his teeth and produced a full third of his savings.

Recall that Gu Wenjie had entertained them several times before he reluctantly produced three thousand taels and the same ten thousand shi of grain; compared to that, this Chen surname is far harsher, just opening his mouth and scraping this much from him—these are his savings of many years.

Chen Wuji furrowed his brow slightly: "As the head of Hezhou's grain merchants, Shopkeeper Zhao, you have only this little wealth? You seem to be trying to fool me as if I were a fool."

"But since this is your donation, I won't quibble—thirty thousand it is; I can barely accept the standard you set. What about the others—any opinions on the amount Shopkeeper Zhao set?"

At this moment Zhao Fumin's feelings were like soaring to heaven then plunging to earth—dramatic and splendid—just as he was about to relax, he suddenly noticed the two words 'standard' that Chen Wuji had uttered.

Standard?

When did he set a standard?!

Chen Wuji looked around at the crowd: "What's wrong with you lot? Why isn't anyone speaking up? Are you dissatisfied with Shopkeeper Zhao's amount, or with me, Chen?"

"If you're dissatisfied, speak up—I allow free speech here, giving you a chance to talk!"

Everyone inwardly cursed.

"Free speech, then you die after speaking, right?"

This bastard who doesn't behave like a human!

"I... I have no opinion." Under Chen Wuji's tiger‑wolf glare, someone finally expressed agreement, accepting Zhao Fumin's standard.

"Me too, I have no opinion."

After two or three expressed agreement, someone shouted a different opinion: "Deputy Commander, I really can't come up with that much money and grain; I'm just a small grain merchant, my usual business is buying grain from the countryside and selling it in the city. Please, Deputy Commander, show mercy and spare my life—I have a wife and children to support, I'm no different from ordinary folk."

"Ordinary people can't get mixed up with a bunch like you." Deputy Commander Chen said lightly.

That person, sniveling and tearful, shouted: "If you don't believe me, Deputy Commander, you can search my home; if you find that much money and grain there, I'll die on the spot!"

Chen Wuji looked embarrassed: "Your words make me seem like a bad person! Don't give me this stigma—everyone in Hezhou knows I, Chen, am the most benevolent; how can you act like this?"

He walked over slowly, stood beside that person, slightly bent down and asked: "I'll investigate your relatives, your left and right neighbors—are you really so sure I'll find nothing? If I really do find something, I won't have you die; I'll execute your whole clan—what do you think?"

That person's body stiffened suddenly, then he knocked his head on the ground with a few thuds, "Deputy Commander, I was wrong, I was wrong; give me another chance, I'm willing to donate more, more!"