Zhongshan Shenzhu Chi

The new village, the village chief's house.

More than 20 guards with steel knives surrounded the village chief's house, and the villagers who were watching the commotion, including Yang Er, dared not approach.

In the main hall, Zhong Yan brought out hot tea and placed it beside the guests:

"Mr. Wen, you're used to drinking fine tea, please try the light tea from our little village."

The guest was Wen Shuyan, the short, pot-bellied manager of Wen Shu Shan Hai Ge in Xia'an City.

"Village Chief Zhong, let's get straight to the point." Wen Shuyan looked down on the leaves soaked in boiling water, and politely picked up the glass and took a sip.

"Although I can't figure out anything special about that ancient book, it's definitely not an ordinary object. That's why I bought it at a high price. The written agreement is very clear, and there are other people who can corroborate it."

"Yang Er accepted my deposit for the pearl-shaped pills, which are worth three hundred taels of silver on the market. According to the contract, he is liable for three times the amount if he breaches the contract."

"Since he can't produce that ancient book now, he has to compensate me with nine hundred taels of silver."

"This..." Zhong Yan, the old village chief of Xincun, had a bitter expression on his face.

One or two taels of silver might not be much in the city, but in the new village, it's enough to feed a family of three for half a month.

Now there are a full nine hundred taels...

Besides wanting to hang Yang Er up and whip him, Zhong Yan also wanted to pin him to the ground and beat him.

He actually dared to steal the books that were offered as tribute to the mountain god and sell them in the city!

"But judging from the state of your village, you couldn't possibly have that much silver." The clerk tapped his short, stubby index finger on the table repeatedly. "Give me the book, or settle the debt in kind."

"Boss Wen, let's settle the debt with goods," Zhong Yan replied.

Yang Ercheng had been trying to conceive for twelve years without success, and as the village head, he was also very anxious.

But the ancient books have already been sent up the mountain, and Yang Er has already taken the pearl pills; neither of them can be taken out now.

Besides, even if the ancient books are still in the village, they are still offerings to the mountain god.

He changed his name from Yang Yanshi to Zhong Yan to clarify his intentions; unless the mountain god gave the order, he would not hand over the ancient books.

"Take whatever you want from my house," Zhong Yan said, rising to bow deeply before Wen Shuyan. "But I beg you, please spare the 213 people in the new village a way to survive."

"I'm not a robber!" Wen Shuyan slammed his fist on the table.

The scalding tea splashed onto his hand, burning his brow and causing him to furrow his brow.

However, the clerk could not accept such a generous gift from a retired military officer nearing sixty.

He stood up without even rubbing himself, and stood to Zhong Yan's side: "I'm a merchant; buying and selling is only natural!"

"Yes." Zhong Yan bent over, his eyes looking at the ground.

"I don't steal or rob, prices are clearly marked, and all transactions are conducted according to contracts. The entire city of Xia'an knows the good reputation of Wenshu Shanhai Pavilion!"

"The Wen family's long-established business is built on integrity, as everyone knows," Zhong Yan said with certainty.

"Give me the ancient books, and I'll give your village rice, flour, oil, and salt as an extra gift!" The clerk's words were full of suppressed frustration.

His emotions were so suppressed that his facial muscles twitched twice when he spoke.

"No." Zhong Yan said, emphasizing the two words.

"People of Xincun... Village Chief Zhong, does your entire village have absolutely no business integrity?!"

"have."

"Then give me the book!"

"No."

"You!" Wen Shuyan was so angry that his eyes went black.

The anger in his words drew in two of the Wen family guards who were stationed around the perimeter.

A burly man, eight feet tall, with bronze skin.

Under the bright sun, their eyes were as cold as the three-foot steel knives they held, sending chills down Zhong Yan's spine.

"Boss Wen..."

"What are you doing in here!" Before Zhong Yan could finish speaking, Wen Shuyan shouted angrily, "Go back!"

Upon hearing this, the two guards gave Zhong Yan a deep look before stepping back.

Wen Shuyan plopped down in the chair next to him, his tone resentful: "Village Chief Zhong, since you won't give me the book, don't blame me for tearing down your house, and that Yang Er's house too!"

"As long as it can pay off the debt." Zhong Yan felt a pang of bitterness in his heart.

He had never complained about hardship in his life, but now, because of his own negligence, his own storefront had been demolished...

"Boss Wen, please begin."

"you--!"

"Thump."

Just as Wen Shuyan was about to shout, a piece of cloth that seemed to have flown from nowhere hit his leg.

The sound stopped abruptly.

Before he could even get up, another clod of dirt flew over and rolled to his feet.

"This..." Wen Shuyan looked at Zhong Yan with a surprised expression, "Village Chief Zhong?"

Zhong Yan quickly stepped forward, turned over the clod of earth, and found a ginseng root inside with neat roots and no damage whatsoever.

After turning over the soil, the fresh fragrance of old herbs wafted out.

Wen Shuyan could tell it was good stuff just by smelling it.

"This thing—" Zhong Yan's eyes flickered as he continued to ponder.

"Village Chief Zhong, that ginseng can be used to pay off the debt." Wen Shuyan handed over the wad of cloth from his leg, "if it belongs to your village."

"This..." Zhong Yan took the bundle of cloth and carefully lifted a corner to take a look.

A tuft of pure white hair, gleaming with the light of snow.

"It must be something from our village..."

"Then let's talk." A glint of light appeared in Wen Shuyan's eyes. "This ginseng looks to weigh at least nine taels. Village Chief Zhong, you name your price."

"The matter of the ancient books was indeed our village's fault." Zhong Yan placed a ginseng root on the table and respectfully cupped his hands in greeting.

"This ginseng is worth nine hundred taels of silver, as our apology to Wenshu Shanhai Pavilion."

"Hmph." The clerk remained noncommittal, then called out towards the door, "Flying Cat!"

"I'm here!" A tall, thin man rushed into the hall.

His limbs were particularly slender, like willow branches.

"You're quick on your feet, so take this ginseng back to the city first, find a doctor to prescribe a medicine to make it for my father."

As soon as the document was written, Flying Cat stepped forward, grabbed the ginseng, and chanted an incantation before his figure vanished like the wind.

"The deal is done, we'll be going now."

If it weren't for the ancient book, the chubby merchant would never have come to this mountain village.

Wenshu Yan stood up, cupped his hands in return, and said, "I won't take advantage of your village. In a few days, Wenshu Shanhai Pavilion will send someone to deliver wound medicine, rice, flour, oil, salt, and some cotton clothes as a return gift for Baoshen."

"No need to see me off, old village chief."

After saying that, he strode out the door and left with his steel-bladed guards.

Yang Er hid in the crowd and saw the guards of the Wen family's old shop leave without doing anything.

Relieved, he hurried inside: "Village Chief..."

"Wait for me," Zhong Yan said in a deep voice.

He carefully put away the wad of cloth with white fox fur. Then he went outside and told the villagers who had come to watch to go home and close the gate.

Zhong Yan had Yang Er follow him, and the two went to a small room facing Zhongshan Mountain.

There was only a wooden table in the room, on which were placed two snake statues.

One of them appears to have been carved just a few days ago.

"Kneel down." Zhong Yan offered incense to the Zhongshan Snake God and his son, then kowtowed.

"what?"

"oh oh……"

Although Yang Er didn't know what had happened, the village chief suddenly told him to kneel before the two snake gods, and the Wen family's old shopkeeper left without causing any trouble, so he had some guesses in his mind.

He immediately knelt on the ground with a "plop" and kowtowed repeatedly.

Zhong Yan walked out of the small room, raised his hands high above his head, and said respectfully to the air:

"Today's events were all thanks to the fox spirit's help. If you don't mind, there are a few free-range chickens in the backyard, each weighing about six pounds..."

Before he could finish speaking, the door to the small room behind him was suddenly pushed open by the "wind".

Yang Er, who was still kowtowing, felt several extremely sharp objects rubbing against the back of his head.

He was so frightened that he pressed his forehead firmly against the ground, not daring to move an inch.

For a long time, until his body trembled from the pressure and his bones cracked.

Yang Er clenched his teeth and endured the pain, almost drawing blood.

The chill had just subsided.

Yang Er let out a long sigh of relief, not daring to get up, and cautiously glanced at the village chief.

"Get up. This is a warning. If it happens again, you'll pay with your life."

Zhong Yan looked at the word "No need" drawn on the soil in front of him and said in a deep voice.