Chapter 475

Chen Wuji couldn't help laughing.

This guy can't handle pressure at all—just moments ago he was so sure, claiming he'd die if investigated, yet he immediately started upping the ante. With such limited skill, it's pathetic that he's still gambling on his abilities there. Tsk.

"Stop kowtowing, doesn't your forehead hurt? Tell me, let me hear how much you plan to add."

Actually, this merchant appears very honest-looking, naturally giving off a friendly vibe.

But this guy is really a bastard.

"I really am at fault; I'm willing to donate all my family wealth, leaving only enough money and grain for my family's food and drink—about fifty thousand taels of silver and thirty thousand piculs of grain, maybe a bit more." The merchant didn't stop kowtowing; as he kowtowed, he poured his heart out to Chen Wuji.

Chen Wuji nodded, looked around at the crowd, and asked, "Is that all his family assets?"

Zhao Fuman shuddered, hurriedly saying: "He... he's about, about."

"What does 'about' mean?" Chen Wuji really didn't like that answer.

Ten and ninety-nine can also be called about, right?

It depends on who says it.

To the wealthy, ten taels and a hundred taels are about the same, not much difference.

But for a poor person, ten taels and a hundred taels are the difference between Heavenly Harmony and earth.

Anyway, Chen Wuji, right after crossing over, was thinking about how to earn a hundred taels; he truly struggled with his Half a Life to achieve this small goal, and luck still made up most of it.

It's really because Shenxian Ling place is prosperous for him that he managed it; if he had done something else, maybe he'd still be struggling to figure out how to earn enough a hundred taels.

Zhao Fuman's face was sweaty with nervousness, "Specifically, we aren't very clear either; Guo Fan has indeed earned quite a bit these years, his business is doing well, but we can only roughly estimate how much family wealth he actually has."

"Alright, I understand." Chen Wuji nodded.

"Then let's give him a chance; he's already kowtowed to this extent, if we don't give him a chance, you lot will go out and say I, Chen someone, am cruel and heartless, insatiably greedy."

"Let's not mention the person just spoken of earlier; the one after that, what was his name again? Guo Fan, right? Guo Fan just gave you a new amount; according to that, no objections, right?"

The few merchants who hadn't spoken yet were instantly dumbfounded.

They stared blankly for a moment, then all gave Guo Fan a look as if to kill him.

One little clever trick made them have to cough up an extra twenty thousand taels, plus twenty thousand shi of grain; that little trick is really damn valuable.

Chen Wuji, like nothing was wrong, warmly patted Guo Fan's back, soothingly saying: "It's fine, it's fine, why so nervous? I won't kill you. You just played a little trick on me; I understand your feelings, but then again, you need to understand mine too."

Guo Fan's whole body went stiff, he didn't dare move at all.

He suddenly thought of an idiom—human face, beast heart.

And he quickly linked that idiom to Chen Wuji.

Chen Wuji let out a soft hiss, then suddenly said to everyone: "Besides, I must remind you all, I never asked you to donate money or grain; this is your voluntary donation, and the amount is what you yourselves raised, right?"

"What I've been telling you all along is that the people of Hezhou suffer, are in dire straits, living miserably; I want you local wise folks to join me in brainstorming ideas to improve the people's lives."

"For example, we could discuss setting a fair price for grain, or you could hire more locals to work in your shops and estates, giving them a livelihood. You all started off wailing about donating money and grain, which moved me, but now you're all acting like you've lost your mothers."

"All of you, laugh! Damn it, your own words make me feel like I'm holding a knife to your throats! Tell you, I won't take the blame for this pot!"

Everyone: ……

At this moment, these merchants' hearts truly feel like they've lost their mothers.

Moreover, they can't speak, can't think of any rebuttal.

Because what Chen Wuji said is not wrong at all; the fact really is exactly that.

The head of the money and grain donation was Zhao Fuman; Chen Wuji just played a little trick, setting Zhao Fuman's amount as everyone's standard, then backhandedly made Guo Fan the target of public criticism, turning the amount he used to exchange for his life into others' standard again.

The merchants felt bitter in their hearts, but could only grit their teeth and swallow it.

They couldn't even think of blaming Zhao Fuman.

Because they've dealt with the Court for so many years, every disaster year they've done this—just one word: donate.

Who could have thought there were other ways?

They suspected Chen Wuji was again playing yin-yang tricks, tossing and turning, but upon careful thought, fair-priced grain, hiring more locals, giving the people a livelihood—these are indeed genuine methods…

Besides cursing in their hearts, the merchants could only voice their positions one by one.

And they also took on Chen Wuji's earlier suggestions of fair-priced grain and hiring more locals.

Having already spent the big money, there's no need to make things unpleasant with Chen Wuji, this wicked troublemaker, over these small matters; if anything else comes up, they can't stand the trouble.

After this incident, these merchants developed a huge psychological shadow toward the three words "Mud Leg".

They're about at the point where if anyone later mentions Mud Leg to them, they get angry.

At high noon, the meeting ended, Chen Wuji was in a great mood.

He really hadn't expected such a big windfall.

Eleven merchants contributed a full 470,000 taels of silver and 250,000 shi of grain.

Moreover, if nothing unexpected happens, when the money and grain arrive, the total should be even larger.

Zhao Fuman is a sensible person; he shouldn't have ended up with as much as the later people, but he still gave according to the original amount.

Chen Wuji stood in the courtyard, rubbed his waist, and this inadvertent motion made his waist seem thicker again.

He still underestimated the depth of Hezhou City.

After all, it's the seat of the prefecture; there really are many wealthy people.

When he first entered the city, he actually still thought this city was completely ruined.

Looking back now, this matter still needs to be examined from upper and lower layers.

The upper layer has its own way of life; only the lower-layer ordinary commoners have suffered greatly from the disaster.

"Family Head, those people went out and beat Guo Fan half to death, then the Guo family's servants carried him back." Chen Li walked over, smiling at the corners of his mouth, and said to Chen Wuji.

Chen Wuji wasn't surprised at all: "His beating is just light; he'll suffer later, just wait. He's still playing that little trick with me—we're all adults, really treating others like fools!"

"Take some people to Young Master Shi's mansion and ransack it! This time remember to bring more manpower, don't get beaten again while huffing and puffing."

Chen Li gave an embarrassed laugh, "Family Head, there's still one merchant; does he need his home ransacked?"

"No need, we can't offend these Hezhou rich merchants too much." Chen Wuji said.