Drought: I Have A Spirit Spring And A Farm In My Personal Space - Chapter 37

Chapter 37 The Fake Shopkeeper Meets the Real Li Gui

In the main tent of the central army, the lights were still bright.

“Brother Xiahou, because of our arrival, the time for the bandits to go down the mountain to buy grain has been delayed a lot. The grains they have must be running out. At this time, I will pretend to be the shopkeeper of the grain merchant and sell the potatoes as grain to them. I will use the teaching method as an excuse to go up the mountain to find out the truth and take the opportunity to send a signal. Then, you will lead your troops to attack the mountain. What do you think of this plan?”

Chen Zhiyuan told him his plan.

Since the bandits on the mountain were a bunch of ignorant fools, it would be advantageous for him, and he could also verify his suspicions.

“The plan is feasible, but as the commander-in-chief of the army, it is taboo for you to personally take risks. If you need bait, I will do it. You will be in charge of holding the fort and leading the troops up the mountain.”

Xiahou Yong agreed to the plan, but he did not agree to Chen Zhiyuan being the bait himself.

“Brother Xiahou, we’re brothers, and you trained the local soldiers. It doesn’t matter who leads the troops. It’s just that the bandits have never seen this potato before. They might even bring us up to personally make it for them. Do you know how to make this potato taste good?”

Chen Zhiyuan smiled. He casually picked up a baked potato on the table as supper and looked at Xiahou Yong.

Xiahou Yong was slightly stunned and embarrassed.

When it came to marching and fighting, he was good at it, but when it came to cooking, he had never entered the kitchen ever since he grew up. He had always eaten ready-made food.

If he were to cook this potato, other than boiling the potato in water, he would have to put the potato into the ashes and roast it.

“Since that’s the case, it’s decided. I’ll be the bait, and you’ll be in charge of leading the troops. You know my kung fu. Even if there’s an accident, it won’t be a problem for me to protect myself.”

After Chen Zhiyuan insisted again, Xiahou Yong finally agreed, and the plan was set.

The next day, Xiahou Yong ordered the villagers to get ready and prepare to go up the mountain at any time.

The local soldiers rubbed their fists and were eager to give it a try. Finally, they didn’t need to idle in the military camp every day. The morale was unprecedentedly high.

Meanwhile, Chen Zhiyuan led a few bailiffs and filled two carts full of potatoes. They walked on the dirt road for the third time. This time, they walked particularly slowly.

“Slow down, slow down. These are fresh food prepared for the county magistrate. No one else has eaten it yet. If it’s crushed, can you bear the responsibility? Slow down, all of you. The officers are already here. The mountain bandits definitely won’t dare to go down the mountain. Don’t be anxious!”

Chen Zhiyuan took off the sweat towel on his neck and walked in front of the two bailiffs who were escorting the back carriage. He raised the sweat towel and shouted.

“Shopkeeper, we have been cautious. This thing will not spoil even if it is kept in the cellar for a month. Is there a need to be so careful…”

The two bailiffs, who were acting as the assistants, also followed the script and retorted.

On this quiet valley road, the sound was enough to travel for half a mile.

On the slope between the mountains and forests, a big man was holding a podao, and a few lackeys were lying beside him, looking at Chen Zhiyuan and the others who were driving the carriage.

“Brother Li, this merchant is delivering food to that dog county magistrate of Qingshui County. Let’s do it. The water on the mountain has been dirtied for a few days. We can buy these two carts of food and let that dog county magistrate go hungry.”

“Isn’t that right, Brother Li? Did you hear what that fellow said? The things on this cart can last for a month. Let’s buy it.”

“We can buy it, but there’s something wrong with this merchant. Other people don’t dare to speak when they walk this way. Why do they dare to make such a ruckus? Brother Li, what do you think?”

The gazes of the few lackeys finally converged on the big man holding the podao.

“Hehe, they’re just a few foreign merchants. They don’t know how powerful Black Wind Mountain is, so they naturally have nothing to fear. Didn’t you guys hear it? They said that no one else had eaten this before and that it was a gift for that dog county magistrate. Just based on these words, let’s do it! Let’s taste what it is first, and then let that dog county magistrate go hungry!”

The big man holding the podao laughed, looked at the few lackeys, and decided.

“Alright, Brother Li, it’s them!”

The men agreed in unison and followed the big man down the mountain.

They were running out of food a few days ago when the officers had just arrived. However, they did not know how strong the officers were and did not dare to go down the mountain, so they could only save their food.

However, after being nervous for a few days, they still did not see the officers attack the mountain. There was indeed no food left in the mountain stronghold, so they could only brace themselves and go down the mountain to buy food.

“Merchants, stop right there. What’s on this carriage? If it’s food, leave it for your grandpas. You can name the price!”

The big man carried the podao on his shoulder and led his lackeys towards Chen Zhiyuan’s carriage. His hand was already reaching for the carriage that was filled with bags.

“Who are you? This is food that we are giving to the county magistrate. How dare you snatch it?”

Chen Zhiyuan pretended to be calm and questioned the person loudly.

The two bailiffs acting as employees had already squatted down with their hands on their heads. Seeing that Chen Zhiyuan was still standing and debating with these people, they hurriedly squatted down and ran in front of Chen Zhiyuan. They pulled on his sleeve, and said in a low voice, “Shopkeeper, lower your voice and squat down quickly. Can’t you see that this is a strong person on the mountain? Quickly cover your head and squat down!”

The big man and his lackeys couldn’t help but laugh when they saw Chen Zhiyuan and his lackeys’ actions.

“Hey! What kind of shopkeeper are you? You don’t even have the knowledge of your lackeys. We are indeed strong men from Black Wind Mountain. However, you guys are lucky. Our master said that now that we have money, they want us to pay with it since the common people aren’t having it easy. If we want to take something, we have to pay. Tell me, how much is this cart of yours worth?”

The big man touched the things on the cart, weighed them, and asked Chen Zhiyuan.

“You guys are the strong men on Black Wind Mountain? Aiyo, it was mentioned that when the officers are here, you people wouldn’t be coming down from the mountain…”

Chen Zhiyuan directly pretended to be stunned, and his face began to show fear as he said nervously.

Hearing this, the group of lackeys laughed even more wantonly.

This person’s inconsistent appearance looked really funny.

“Haha, a group of cowardly officers and soldiers. They don’t even dare to go up the mountain after hearing about our reputation. This golden hairpin should be enough for these two carriages of things, right? Brothers, take the things away.”

The big man laughed twice and took out an exquisite golden hairpin from his body and threw it to Chen Zhiyuan. After instructing the lackeys to start moving the things, he then reminded them. “But I have to warn you, don’t take this hairpin directly to the pawnshop. Melt it into gold and pawn it. Otherwise, if you lose your life, don’t blame me for not warning you!”

“Brother Li! Quick, look at this thing. It looks like a fruit, but I’ve never eaten it before. I don’t know how to eat it…”

A lackey dropped a few potatoes when he was carrying the bag. After looking at it a few times, he still couldn’t figure out what it was, so he hurriedly called the big man.

The big man walked up to take a look, frowned, and then said to Chen Zhiyuan, “Shopkeeper, I heard you say that this is fresh food for the county magistrate, so how do you eat this thing?”

“Sir, I see that you are not unreasonable people. This thing is called a potato, and we collected it from the villagers in the mountain. We are preparing to give it to the county magistrate. Since you want to take it and have paid for it, then this deal is done. I’ll tell you the truth. This thing does taste good after it’s cooked. But if it’s not kept properly, this thing will become poisonous.”

Chen Zhiyuan looked at the big man and said honestly.

“What? This thing is poisonous?”

“Brother Li, what should we do? Do you still want it!”

The moment the lackeys heard that this thing was poisonous, they immediately put down the bags in their hands and looked at the big man nervously.

“Sirs, don’t panic. I asked the villager about the cooking method of this thing. Why don’t you let me follow you up the mountain and hand this method over to you, then you can let me go down the mountain? My men will take the gold hairpin back to my wife and tell her that we’re safe. What do you think?”

Chen Zhiyuan looked into the big man’s eyes and said calmly.

The big man looked deeply into Chen Zhiyuan’s eyes, cupped his fists, and grinned. “Shopkeeper, you’re a straightforward person. I underestimated you just now. I’m Li Gui. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Shopkeeper. Let’s do it!”