Chapter 48: Every Gate Is a Money Gate

Even if Shopkeeper She were telling the truth, Chen Wuji would not take this matter to heart.

In trade, once the purchase is set, the deal is done; regardless of high or low, noble or cheap, once sold it's sold.

Moreover, Chen Wuji believes that Chen Bushi shouldn't be the kind to cheat him in such matters.

Even though this person is not exactly a respectable man.

While Chen Bushi and Shopkeeper She were exchanging barbs, Chen Wuji snatched the peacock from its pen, tied its legs with a hemp rope, then also restrained a wild boar, and hauled them together.

"Little friend, I heard Old Chen say you once caught a python?" Shopkeeper She suddenly asked.

"That is indeed the case."

"Selling the skin? One hundred fifty wen."

"Sell," Chen Wuji thought for a moment and decided to sell it.

Actually, he had originally planned to keep the skin to make a few pairs of shoes, but after much study he awkwardly realized he couldn't do it. Moreover, the snake skin is rather thin and doesn't seem very wear‑resistant.

As for making anything else, it didn't seem worthwhile, so he decided to exchange it for money.

If he can later catch something like a rock goat, he'll keep the skin then.

He learned to make sheepskin shoes from his grandfather when he was young, so he knows a bit.

Before he turned ten, almost every winter he spent wearing sheepskin shoes; though crudely made and a bit ugly, they were truly warm.

"Here, little friend, you name your price, total is 1,210 wen," Shopkeeper She counted out one liang of Silver and added an extra 210 wen.

Chen Wuji did a quick count, confirmed there was no problem, went to the courtyard, fetched the drying python skin, and handed it to Shopkeeper She.

"Good fellow, that python is truly huge," Shopkeeper She exclaimed.

He tucked away the skin, bowed to Chen Wuji, and said, "Little friend, if you find any good stuff later, remember to point me to it. My surname is She; She Ji in Yunan City is my shop."

"I will," Chen Wuji replied politely, though he didn't take it seriously in his heart.

He didn't quite agree with the fellow's way of doing things; there was a middleman standing there, yet he spoke so directly, which was rather ungracious.

"Then farewell!" Shopkeeper She lifted the peacock and wild boar and left cheerfully.

"Let's go, San Shu, have a cup of my rough tea!" Chen Wuji called out to Chen Bushi.

Chen Bushi glanced at Chen Wuji, "You kid not planning to put on the act?"

"From time to time I still go crazy, but my condition is slowly improving," Chen Wuji said with a smile.

Chen Wuji cursed, "Damned, you really are something, kid."

The two entered the courtyard together; Chen Wuji called Huo Sanniang to brew two bowls of tea, and they sat in the courtyard.

It was near dusk, and the courtyard was the most comfortable place, with a gentle breeze and pleasant scenery.

Chen Wuji handed over one hundred wen to Chen Bushi, "San Shu, yours."

"No need, that She fellow already paid," Chen Bushi pushed the money back, "That bastard may not be good, but paying is quick and rather generous."

Chen Wuji laughed, "But most of the time you can only introduce him to a buyer once, right? Here, take it, San Shu, I happen to have some matters I'd like to ask you about."

"Speak!" Chen Bushi, upon hearing, immediately took the money back.

Chen Wuji smiled, "San Shu, do you have any connections in the Xianya?"

"Hiss, this money feels a bit hot in my hand," Chen Bushi examined Chen Wuji, "First tell me what you want to do, then I'll consider whether to tell you."

"It's nothing much, I just want to find a way to strip Yuan Jinbao, the Village Chief, and send him to forced labor," Chen Wuji said calmly.

Yuan Laoer relies only on his older brother who serves as Village Chief.

First knock that broken umbrella off his head, then slowly waste him.

In any era, reckless bravery is undesirable; one must attack the two characters of power.

Liu Bei's subordinate Xu Shu, who once had to watch Liu cut a bamboo forest, was also hunted by the Court in his youth for impulsive murder, even forced to change his name.

That Gao Di was Liu Bei's first strategist.

Chen Bushi's eyes showed a hint of admiration, he nodded, "Your idea is sound; if you're not prepared to become an outlaw, you'll need to find some connections."

"San Shu, you're a man who casually stabs people with a Knife, so don't tell me that," Chen Wuji chuckled.

That fellow even taught him, his Knife moves faster than anyone's.

Chen Bushi snorted lightly, "Do you think Laborers are everyone you stab? I'm literally robbing the rich to aid the poor, stabbing only the wandering scoundrels. Even if I stab them, it's unlikely anything will go wrong."

Chen Wuji understood naturally; it was just a teasing remark.

"If you want to handle this, I can find you a connection, but without ten liang of Silver it's impossible," Chen Bushi glanced at Chen Wuji, "Do you have that money?"

"No!" Chen Wuji shook his head, feeling a bit melancholy.

Today, after two windfalls, he earned six liang of Silver; such good fortune isn't always common, and he doesn't know when he'll gather the remaining four liang.

"Then you can just talk nonsense," Chen Bushi waved his hand, lifted a coarse sea bowl, took a sip, and spat out the tea leaves on his tongue, "Your tea is really rough, the earthy taste is so strong."

"Just having some is fine, I see you're also someone who doesn't know quality; this is a proper, aged tea I've stored for many years," Chen Wuji said.

Chen Bushi: …

If it's gone bad, just say it, you damn aged tea.

"How much money can you produce right now?" Chen Bushi asked.

Chen Wuji took out all the money he had, three liang and 200 wen.

It was a mix of coins and notes, not even a single extra copper coin.

In substance he still had two liang, but he had already given it to Huo Sanniang.

He could retrieve the money when needed; if not necessary, it's better not to bring it up for now.

"Give me two liang of Silver, and wait for my word," Chen Bushi said.

"I should be able to figure out a way to strip Yuan Jinbao, the Village Chief, but sending him to forced labor seems unlikely. Moreover, you probably still want to keep Yuan Jinbao there forever, right? This money requires extra preparation; it's cheap, three to five liang should suffice."

"So you need to gather at least thirteen liang within a month; are you confident? If not, don't attempt this for now, think of other ways."

Chen Wuji asked, "A month's time?"

"I can get you a month's time to prepare the money," Chen Bushi said.

"What if we can't raise the money?"

"Then you'd better hurry and run away; those people are far more troublesome than the Yuan Jinbao brothers. For just a dozen or so taels of hardship fee, they can still have you do the work first and pay later—this is practically unheard of. Do you understand what I mean?"

Chen Wuji nodded.

How could this not be understood?

This is the only service industry that doesn't guarantee success of the business, yet requires payment upfront before doing the work.