Seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune: Starting with death row inmates

Chen Tie sneered again, "I heard that the guy surnamed Sun took bribes and tampered with Boss Qin's prescription. Heh, he's really tired of living."

Shen Chen knew that Qin Pi had truly taken his advice to heart yesterday, and therefore Qin Pi acted decisively and ruthlessly, living up to his reputation as the fearsome "Skinning Knife" in the martial arts world.

"Indeed, there have been frequent rumors about Boss Qin in the village lately, and someone must be stirring things up behind the scenes," Shen Chen said.

Chen Tie snorted coldly: "Hmph, wasn't it all that guy surnamed Mo's doing?"

There is only one famous person with the surname Mo in Dog Tooth Mountain: Mo Yuancai, the eighth leader. He is only twenty-six years old. Although he joined the group the latest, his martial arts cultivation is extremely high. A year ago, he was already a Qi and Blood Sixth Level Innate Realm martial artist. He has made great contributions to the village. Therefore, he has always wanted to replace Qin Pi as the seventh leader and climb up the ranks.

Some time ago, Qin Pi ignored the chief's advice and broke into the execution ground, which led to his arrest and a significant loss of prestige. Since Qin Pi returned to the village, Mo Yuancai has been making various moves against him.

"That guy surnamed Mo accused you of being a government spy in the Hall of Righteousness a while ago, claiming you were working with government officials to fool Qin Pi into infiltrating our stronghold," Chen Tie said. "Boss Qin had a huge argument with him, and he said that Boss Qin had already been recruited by the government, which made Boss Qin so angry that he drew his knife on the spot..."

"I think the money that Simon gave to that Physician Sun was most likely from Mo Yuancai," Chen Tie said.

The two chatted for a while longer. Just as Shen Chen was about to say goodbye, Chen Tie slapped his forehead: "Wait, I almost forgot."

He took a letter from his pocket and handed it to Shen Chen: "This is a letter that someone from down the mountain sent to you."

The letter sent to me?

Shen Chen was somewhat surprised. The original owner was an orphan, and his adoptive parents had died of depression because of his imprisonment some time ago. He had no more ties in this world, so who would send him a letter?

Shen Chen took the envelope and thanked Chen Tie, saying, "Thank you very much, Brother Chen."

"Brother Shen, you're too kind," Chen Tie replied.

He stared at Shen Chen's retreating figure, his brows furrowing slightly. "His breathing is deep and his skin is like jade. Could he have already entered the late stage of the Bone and Tendon Realm? Such a rapid cultivation speed... Could it be that I misjudged his aptitude?"

Shen Chen returned to his room, opened the envelope, and immediately noticed that the letter was signed by Wei Xiong.

"Wei Xiong... He went to the Northern Barbarians before he left. I wonder how he is now?" Shen Chen browsed through the contents of the letter. When he saw that Wei Xiong had been cheated out of half of his goods by the barbarians and had lost everything, he almost burst out laughing.

He remembered clearly telling Wei Xiong that barbarians are untrustworthy, but the latter obviously didn't listen to him.

"Now I regret not heeding Brother Shen's advice. Could we invite Brother Shen to have a drink or two again soon?" Wei Xiong nodded eagerly.

After considering it carefully, Shen Chen drew a fortune stick to confirm that there were no problems, and then immediately decided to keep the appointment.

Although he couldn't borrow money from Qin Pi for the time being, he could borrow money from Wei Xiong instead. The infamous bandit in the straw hat wouldn't be swindled out of his entire fortune by a single business deal.

Some time later, at the inn.

"Brother Shen, you want to borrow money from me?"

Wei Xiong and Shen Chen clinked glasses, the drinks splashing in the air in a pretty spray. "To be honest," Wei Xiong said, "I don't have much money left."

Shen Chen laughed and said, "Brother Wei must be joking..."

"This is all my savings." Before Shen Chen could finish speaking, Wei Xiong pulled out a stack of Great Yan banknotes from his pocket and slapped them on the table. "Here, that should be enough to treat you to half a roast chicken."

"Don't doubt me, I, Wei Xiong, am a man of steel. If I didn't want to lend you money, I would have said so directly. There's no need to use 'I don't have money' as an excuse," Wei Xiong said.

Shen Chen was stunned. He couldn't help but recall the scene when he last met Wei Xiong. The other man only drank fifty-year-old fine wine and was so wealthy that he could casually throw out two pieces of gold to buy two top-quality horses for himself and Qin Pi.

How come we can't even afford a roast chicken now?

"Brother Wei, how much did those barbarians in the north cheat you out of?" Shen Chen asked cautiously.

If word got out that the Yan people could be swindled out of their underwear by the barbarians, Wei Xiong would be too ashamed to face anyone in the future.

Wei Xiong sighed: "This has little to do with the barbarians in the north; the problem mainly lies with those devils of the Great Yan."

He gritted his teeth and said, "I usually keep my savings in the Da Yan Money Exchange to earn interest, but recently those bloodsuckers in Da Yan have been printing money like crazy, and the Da Yan Money Exchange is saying that the old currency is invalid and issuing new currency..."

He suddenly slammed his fist on the table: "All my money is gone! Damn it, those corrupt officials who got bitten off their balls by dogs don't care about ordinary people's money at all... Waiter, why is there only half a roast chicken? Are you really afraid I can't afford it?"

After scolding the clueless waiter, Wei Xiong toasted Shen Chen again: "Thank you again, Brother Shen. Last time, thanks to your advice not to go to the Northern Desert, otherwise I'm afraid I would be dead by now."

"Are you really a god? How did you predict that the Great Qin and the Great Yan would make peace?" Wei Xiong asked.

Shen Chen thought for a moment and came up with a reason: "In the past, Great Qin was an uncivilized state, just like the Northern Barbarians. It was only after the Yan School spread westward that Great Qin became increasingly powerful. In the end, the majority of officials in the Great Qin court were close to Great Yan. Based on this, it can be inferred that Yan and Qin will eventually make peace."

Wei Xiong said admiringly, "It's true that scholars know a lot. You should read more books when you have time."

He added, "Although I don't have any money on hand, I'm fortunate that Brother Shen reminded me that barbarians are untrustworthy. I managed to save a batch of goods, which should be worth three thousand."

He paused, then lowered his voice: "Qin Dynasty Knife Coins."

Shen Chen's eyes lit up. This number was definitely not small; it was enough for him to buy a salt well.

He sensed something was wrong: "What kind of goods could be so valuable?"

Wei Xiong made a trigger-pulling motion with his finger: "These things are often scrapped in the military camp. Those with brains in there pick out the good parts and sell them to outsiders to assemble. The assembled ones are exactly the same as the ones in the military, and the profits are huge."

"I'll lend you the money as soon as I sell this batch of goods," Wei Xiong said generously. "But Brother Shen, what do you want to do with so much money?"

Shen Chen said, "We'll keep the specifics of this business a secret for now. Brother Wei, would you like to join us?"

Wei Xiong replied without hesitation: "Enter, of course we'll enter."

He was certain that any business Shen Chen set his sights on would be profitable.

"Then why don't you sell that batch of goods to Dogtooth Mountain Stronghold now? You can stay in the stronghold for a while, which will make it easier to cooperate," Shen Chen said.

Wei Xiong readily agreed: "Alright, we'll do as Brother Shen says. Waiter, the bill!"

After Wei Xiong handed over the money, the waiter counted it and called out, "Sir, you still owe money for half a roast chicken."

Wei Xiong said, "I'll owe you for now; I can't pay you right now."