touchnovel Chapter 76 Everyone Around Me is a Good Person
Chapter 76 Everyone Around Me is a Good Person
Upon encountering the Ming Jin martial arts master, Zhou Ye was initially quite wary. However, as He Jing spoke, he gradually relaxed.
"Young friend Tian, I have a favor to ask. Since you were able to obtain the demon beast's pelt, you must have killed this demon bear, right? Could you provide us with some demon beast meat? Our He family will guarantee you a satisfactory price."
For a moment, Zhou Ye couldn't figure out He Jing's intentions, so he vaguely said, "Senior, I already have a fixed channel for purchasing demon beast meat. As for the specifics, it's not convenient to disclose them."
"It's alright. Is it just a temporary assignment?" He Jing chuckled.
"Exactly."
"Then you can also take up a temporary post here? Our He family doesn't mind if you take up a post elsewhere. Five taels of silver a month, 30 catties... Oh, you don't lack meat here, so I'll take the liberty of raising it to six taels?"
"..."
When Zhou Ye left He's fur shop, he still felt incredulous. He'd actually taken on another temporary position?
Furthermore, the conditions for joining the He family were very lenient—all that was required was to provide 200 catties of demon beast meat annually. This wasn't free; it was provided at market price. The He family didn't need to concern themselves with any other affairs, internal or external. If someone volunteered to help, they would receive additional compensation.
In other words, the He family only wants the monster meat; they don't care about anything else.
In addition, at Zhou Ye's request, the He family was willing to provide an annual order quota of two mid-grade Qi and Blood Pills. Of course, Zhou Ye would have to bear the cost himself.
Furthermore, the He family's purchase price isn't low. Even the lowest quality early-stage Qi Refining demon beast meat costs around 3 qian of silver. The price of the "heart meat" can basically be five times higher. Cured meat, bacon, or dried meat can also be counted as demon beast meat; the specific price will be discussed later. After all, it takes several jin of fresh meat to make one jin of salted meat, so the price will definitely be much higher.
To be honest, the He family might not care about having one more martial artist at the Core Formation level. There are many other mountain herders on temporary assignments. But are they really paying money just for the monster meat?
In that case, the monster meat should be even more sought after than expected. This delighted Zhou Ye. Anyway, this batch of monster meat weighs over 170 jin (approximately 85 kg), so he can just divide it up, and both families should be satisfied.
Thinking about earning an extra 6 taels every month, Zhou Ye couldn't help but sigh: As long as you are strong enough, everyone around you will be a good person!
After finishing all that, Zhou Ye made another trip to the woodcutter's charcoal shop, sold some charcoal, and completed his routine woodcutter's work.
Finding that there was still plenty of time, and remembering that he hadn't been to a teahouse in a while, Zhou Ye went to the teahouse at the street corner again.
As soon as he sat down in his familiar spot at the teahouse and ordered some tea and snacks, a regular customer at the next table greeted him, "Ah Ye, it's been a while! Have you gone into the mountains again?"
"Yes! We can't even have a peaceful New Year."
"Actually, you'd better leave. Even our county town isn't safe right now."
"Oh? How so?" Zhou Ye offered to order a plate of melon seeds for the next table.
"You didn't know? There's been a gang war going on lately. Our local Flower Snake Gang is fighting the Black-Clad Gang next door. They've been slashing each other in the streets several times, and there's been so much blood everywhere."
Why did they go to war?
"It's just a matter of fighting for territory, right? No matter who wins or loses, we still have to pay the night soil fee."
"That's true." Zhou Ye chuckled.
"So if you see thugs hanging out on the street lately, don't go and join them. It's better to stay far away."
"I understand. Thank you, buddy! Bring Master Feng another pot of good tea."
"..."
You know what, the teahouse is really well-informed. Before long, a group of tea drinkers were discussing their own Fenglei Martial Arts School?
"Did you know? The Fenglei Martial Arts School in the outer city is selling its disciples? Recently, their owner has become a laughing stock."
"Selling disciples?"
"Yes! It seems they used to have two top-tier disciples. Now one of them has been sold to a martial arts school in the inner city..."
"Wait a minute. How much should I sell the disciple for? The martial arts school isn't a human market, is it?"
"You wouldn't know this. If it's transferred to another martial arts school, they can get a bonus. Do you know what the Fenglei Martial Arts School got?"
"Is there even a need to guess? It's just money? At most, some precious cultivation resources?"
"You're mistaken. What they're getting in return is a scion of a prominent family in the county. The master's granddaughter will then be able to marry into that family."
"Huh? I have a feeling that the owner of that establishment made a good deal?"
"Yes! That's what I think too."
"And what about the reputation of the Fenglei Martial Arts School?"
"What good is reputation? If it meant becoming in-laws with a prestigious family, I'd agree to it too!"
"Wait, did you say something wrong? It's not like you're taking in a son-in-law, it's like she's marrying into the family! It feels like you sold off a genius student and then sold off your granddaughter too?"
"Then you're talking nonsense. Do you think scions of prominent families would marry into their wives' families? If someone could marry into such a family, it would be like their ancestors' graves were emitting auspicious smoke."
"..."
The group of tea drinkers immediately split into two factions, arguing fiercely. One side said it was a good deal, while the other said it wasn't...
Zhou Ye found it amusing. He learned from this that his junior brother Yuan Zhen should have been "sold off"... right?
The marriage between Du Juan and Song Zhongqi has actually circulated in so many versions.
It suddenly occurred to me that it's been a long time since I've been to the martial arts gym. I'll make time tomorrow and show my skills!
After soaking in the teahouse until dinner time, Zhou Ye strolled back to his home in the outer city.
However, as soon as he entered the courtyard, he heard a knock on the gate: "Ah Ye, are you home? It's Chief Gu."
Zhou Ye turned around and opened the courtyard gate: "Village chief, is there something you need?"
"I've been looking for you for a while, but you've never been home," Village Chief Gu said hesitantly. "The government has ordered a resettlement fee. Half a tael of silver per household. The standard fee is 100 copper coins. If it's paid in copper coins, there's an additional 30 copper coins for fire loss."
"A housing allowance?" Zhou Ye was taken aback. He seemed to have never heard of such a tax before.
Village Chief Gu smiled wryly and said, "Wasn't that because the army entered the city last time? They protected the peace and tranquility of the people's homes, so this extra fee has to be collected."
"Well?"
Zhou Ye was dumbfounded; he'd never seen anything like it. During the last war, where were the people's homes and houses protected? Now that they're collecting money, they finally remember?
"Alright, alright!" Perhaps knowing the reason was ridiculous, Village Chief Gu said, "Last time the army went out, the soldiers' rewards still haven't been paid. Those officials wouldn't dare to delay paying the soldiers again, would they? So... isn't it just our bad luck? Just consider it paying protection money. Anyway, it's only this once."
Fine! They've come up with new ways to collect exorbitant taxes and levies? In the end, it's always us ordinary people who suffer? All crows are black, so it's better not to bother with this.
However, the money still had to be paid. Zhou Ye paid the resettlement fee with a lot of frustration.