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

Although he had lived two lives, Shen Chen had never seen so much money in person.

Zhuang Fu gave him 100,000 coins, and the recent rise in salt prices allowed him to earn another 10,000 coins. In just a few days, Shen Chen had amassed a fortune of nearly 150,000 coins.

"No wonder, according to the laws of the Great Yan Dynasty, those who smuggle salt should be executed by slow slicing." Shen Chen sighed deeply, the profits involved were simply too great!

After becoming rich overnight, Shen Chen quickly calmed down.

The most important thing now is to divide the money. Wei Xiong and Qin Pi need no further explanation. The most difficult person to deal with is the chieftain Hu Muzhi. How much should be given to him?

Shen Chen fell into deep thought. As the leader of a stronghold, money was just a number to Hu Muzhi. What he truly lacked was something else.

On a whim, he immediately drew a divination stick.

[Good fortune: You truthfully reported this month's income to Hu Muzhi and proactively suggested that the village chief distribute it. Auspicious.]

[Winning the lottery: You voluntarily offer Hu Muzhi 60,000 coins; a draw]

[Bad omen: You did not visit the chieftain. Hu Muzhi thinks you are a clueless and unreasonable person, and his expectations of you have dropped significantly. Ominous.]

A moment later, in the Hall of Gathering Righteousness.

Hu Muzhi flipped through the account book Shen Chen handed him and smiled, "I didn't expect your business to grow so big. I'm giving you the shop, so you're practically a half-shareholder. How much of your share are you going to give me?"

Shen Chen said respectfully, "This matter was made possible entirely by the support of the chieftain. It should be said that the chieftain should decide how much to give us."

"Hahaha." Hu Muzhi laughed heartily, very satisfied with Shen Chen's performance.

Hu Muzhi patted Shen Chen on the shoulder and said, "There are still two empty chairs in the village, so you should work harder."

He didn't mention money to Shen Chen again, and Shen Chen didn't bring it up either. After exchanging a few words, Shen Chen left.

Hu Muzhi stroked his chin with his right hand, looking thoughtfully at the account book Shen Chen handed him: "Is it genuine loyalty, or just a pretense of loyalty?"

On the way back, Shen Chen thought about Hu Muzhi's words, and a fire of ambition ignited in his heart.

"Compared to money, power and status are far more important. Even though I am now extremely wealthy, Hu Muzhi could easily take it all away with just a word."

"I want to climb higher, gain more power, and even sit in the top seat to command all the heroes."

A slightly childish voice rang out, and the content of its words was exactly the same as Shen Chen's inner thoughts!

Shen Chen abruptly stopped, his pupils contracting to the size of pinpoints as he stared in utter shock at a small girl beside him.

The girl was very small, only reaching Shen Chen's abdomen. Her young face was covered with freckles, and her dark eyes were very bright.

"What did you just say?" Shen Chen asked incredulously.

The girl repeated, "I want to climb higher, gain more power, and even sit in the top seat, commanding everyone."

She tilted her head: "Wasn't that what you were thinking just now? Oh, what you're thinking now is—it's a ghost!"

Shen Chen's Adam's apple bobbed, his mind went blank, and it took him a long time to come back to his senses.

The girl frowned, clearly displeased with Shen Chen's current thoughts: "I'm not a monster. My name is Bai Li, and I'm the chieftain's daughter."

"You want to take Father's position. You're not a good person. I'm going to tell Father." Bai Li said, and walked towards the Hall of Gathering Righteousness.

Faced with Bai Li's threat, what do you choose?

[Good fortune: Try bribing Bai Li to keep this a secret; auspicious outcome]

[Bad Luck: Attacking Bai Li is extremely unlucky]

Shen Chen quickly stepped in front of Bai Li: "Wait a minute!"

Bai Li looked up at Shen Chen and drawled, "What do you want to do?"

Shen Chen glanced at Bai Li's reaction and realized that this girl was only there to blackmail him!

Shen Chen sighed and said, "Keep this a secret, and I'll grant you anything you want."

Bai Li rubbed her face and thought for a moment: "Then... I want to eat something delicious."

"Okay, what do you want to eat?" Shen Chen asked.

Bai Li: "I don't know either, I just want something delicious."

Are you deliberately picking a fight?

Shen Chen cursed inwardly, but then he noticed Bai Li's face darken. He quickly composed himself and said, "Okay, come with me, I'll find you something good to eat."

Bai Li immediately followed Shen Chen eagerly.

Shen Chen brought Bai Li to the East Market and led her around the food stalls.

"Want some candied hawthorn?"

"No, I'm tired of it."

"What about soy milk?"

"It doesn't taste good."

"Fried dough sticks?"

"I won't eat it, it's too oily."

Shen Chen asked around, but Bai Li didn't want to eat any of them: "I'm already tired of these things, they're boring."

You fucking...

Shen Chen noticed a change in Bai Li's gaze, and immediately composed himself. He pondered for a moment and said, "Then I'll make it for you. You've definitely never eaten it before."

He bought some milk from the dairy farmer, as well as some tea and sugarcane.

A moment later, a cup of milk tea was placed in front of Bai Li.

"Enjoy your meal at your leisure," Shen Chen said.

Bai Li held the cup, looked down at the liquid inside, and carefully licked it with her tongue. Her eyes lit up immediately, and she then picked up the cup and drank it in big gulps.

Sure enough, no one would find sweet water unpleasant to drink...

After finishing her milk tea, Bai Li licked her lips and looked intently at Shen Chen: "Make me another one!"

Shen Chen looked at her: "Okay, but you have to answer one question first: how did you hear what I was thinking?"

Bai Li replied matter-of-factly, "I can hear it."

Shen Chen was stunned. Did such extraordinary people really exist in this world?

It must be some kind of special constitution... Could it be that she's bound to some kind of "eavesdropping" system? Shen Chen's thoughts wandered for a moment.

Just then, Bai Li asked, "System... what is that?"

Shen Chen sighed. Being with this girl made him feel like he was naked, unable to hide any of his thoughts.

"Okay, I'll make you another cup." Shen Chen helplessly poured Bai Li another cup of milk tea.

After drinking three full cups, Bai Li patted her belly with satisfaction and said, "Not bad, then as agreed beforehand, I will keep it a secret for you."

Shen Chen thought for a moment and said, "Actually, I can cook many other delicious things too."

One sentence immediately made Bai Li's eyes light up: "Then you cook it for me."

Shen Chen said, "But you have to promise me that if I ever need to know what other people are thinking, you have to help me."

Bai Li hesitated for a moment, looked at the cup in front of her, savored the taste of the milk tea, and finally nodded: "Deal."

Shen Chen looked at the seemingly harmless little girl in front of him and felt a chill run down his spine.

No wonder Hu Muzhi was able to hold the top position in the stronghold; heaven knows how many people's dirty secrets he knew!