Chapter 144: A Ten Percent Rebate for You
I was just typing when my cat suddenly leaped across the keyboard, sending two cat hairs flying. They landed on my keyboard, crossed, and formed a plus sign. This is a heavenly omen, so I'll add another chapter.
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Dusty and disheveled, Gao Chuwu was quickly helped aside by Zheng Daniu. He slumped his head, settling under a large tree.
Watching Xing Honglang happily conducting business with other villagers, everyone was cheerful except for him.
Gao Chuwu hung his head. "Daniu, I'm so weak."
Zheng Daniu clapped him on the shoulder. "We're pretty much the same, brother. If you're weak, then I am too."
Gao Chuwu sighed. "I always thought I was the best fighter in Gao Family Village, a really formidable person. I never expected that women outside the village would be so strong..."
Zheng Daniu spread his hands. "Well, I... I never would have guessed either."
Just then, Cheng Xu stood before him. "Do you know why you lost?"
Cheng Xu explained, "The boxing style that woman uses is called Hong Fist. It originated in the Zhou and Qin dynasties, gained fame during the Tang and Song, and is widespread in this dynasty, divided into many branches. The branch she uses is called Jin Hong Fist, from Shanxi, and it's extremely powerful. Your crude countryside moves aren't even fit to polish Jin Hong Fist's shoes, so it's only natural you couldn't beat her."
Gao Chuwu looked up at Cheng Xu, a hint of grievance in his eyes. "Instructor He, you promised to teach me martial arts last time, but these past few days, you've only been teaching me to stand in formation, never even a single move."
"Feeling wronged, are we?" Cheng Xu chuckled. "Heh heh, that's right, a little resentment makes you learn faster. Do you want to defeat that woman?"
Gao Chuwu declared, "Yes!"
"Good that you do." Cheng Xu grinned. "While Hong Fist is formidable, Jin Hong isn't its most powerful branch. The truly formidable one is our Shaanxi Guanzhong Hong Fist. Heh heh, as it happens, I know Guanzhong Hong Fist. Do you want to learn it?"
Gao Chuwu was overjoyed. "I want to learn!"
Zheng Daniu was overjoyed. "I want to learn too!"
Cheng Xu then stated, "Then let's go. We'll take the militia to Zhengjia Village. We'll hide from everyone here and secretly practice Hong Fist. Everyone will secretly grow stronger, and then we'll surprise them all."
The militia moved once more, forming a single-file long snake formation, and ran towards Zhengjia Village.
Li Daoxuan chuckled inwardly. *Excellent! They've got drive now. That's how they'll grow stronger and protect my villagers.*
Oh?
He suddenly noticed that in the distance, among the road construction team, the new refugee, the one who called himself Padi Tu, had stopped working. He was staring into the distance at the spot where Xing Honglang and Gao Chuwu had fought, unable to tear his gaze away.
Zooming in with the camera, Li Daoxuan could see Padi Tu's face filled with longing, brimming with envy. "Those who've trained are truly different. If only I could be as strong as them."
"Thwack!"
The road team leader cuffed him on the head. "New guy, don't slack off, or you won't get paid."
Padi Tu cried, "Ouch!" He turned his head. "I'll get right to it, right to it."
The boisterous crowd gradually quieted. The villagers who had been gossiping about the "love story" began to disperse, leaving only those wishing to sell goods to Xing Honglang, still gathered around the salt smugglers.
Xing Honglang retrieved her waist saber, re-clipping it to her belt. She glanced into the distance at the disheveled Gao Chuwu running off with the militia and snorted. Her left hand subtly rubbed the knuckles of her right fist.
Her right fist ached a little. That damnable giant, so powerfully muscled. After beating him up, her own hand was throbbing. The fellow only knew crude countryside moves, but if he were to learn a proper martial art, this old lady might just...
Xing Honglang felt immense pressure. *Damn it! Men truly have a natural advantage over women. I've trained relentlessly, but in a direct clash of physiques, I'm still far outmatched by a truly strong man.*
She was deep in thought when she saw Gao Yiye walk up to her, smiling.
Xing Honglang's spirits lifted. "Are you the leader of this village?"
Gao Yiye shook her head. "Oh, no, I'm certainly not the leader. I'm just an ordinary girl."
Just as she finished her humble reply, a villager approached. "Saintess, my family is making braised pork tonight. We'll make an extra bowl and bring it to you at dinner time."
Gao Yiye demurred, "Oh? How could I impose?"
The villager laughed. "Oh, these good days are all bestowed by the Heavenly Lord, and you are the Heavenly Lord's Saintess. Showing respect to you is showing respect to the Heavenly Lord."
Unable to refuse, Gao Yiye watched the villager cheerfully walk away. She then turned back to Xing Honglang, a slightly awkward expression on her face. "Ahem... well..."
Xing Honglang pressed, "Is the Heavenly Lord the leader of this village? Are you his woman?"
At her words, Gao Yiye's face flushed scarlet all the way to her ears. *What? She just comes out and says I'm the Heavenly Lord's woman? This woman really speaks... so... so, so, so... so flattering... it actually makes me quite happy.*
Seeing her expression, Xing Honglang thought to herself: *I guessed right. This Heavenly Lord must be a charlatan, and this young woman is his 'woman.' It seems this village isn't exactly an upright place; they're probably involved in shady business, just like me, a salt smuggler.*
Xing Honglang said, "Saintess, how may I help you?"
Gao Yiye replied, "The Heavenly Lord sent me to discuss something with you, Miss Xing."
Xing Honglang nodded. "Please speak, I'm all ears."
Gao Yiye relayed, "The Heavenly Lord says there's a great drought across the land, and the people are destitute. This has led to wandering bandits rising everywhere, and trade routes have been mostly destroyed. Various goods cannot circulate, which is a very unfortunate state of affairs. Miss Xing, you have the ability to travel north and south, continuing your business in these chaotic times. You are truly a remarkable person."
Xing Honglang smiled. *Praising me, eh? Looks like they want something from me. I'll listen to what he asks.*
Gao Yiye continued, "The Heavenly Lord says that every time you come, Miss Xing, you invigorate Gao Family Village. Therefore, he hopes you can visit frequently and take more goods from here."
Now she understood. *This Heavenly Lord simply wants merchants to visit often. That's not unusual. The salt merchant I used to buy from also wanted me to get supplies frequently. But...*
*Why?*
*Why should *this old lady* come to you for goods every time? There has to be a reason.*
Just as she was thinking this, she heard Gao Yiye say with a faint smile, "The Heavenly Lord said that for every amount of goods you purchase from the villagers in the future, he will secretly give you an additional ten percent rebate."
Xing Honglang's mind went blank for a moment. "Rebate?"
Gao Yiye nodded. "That is to say, if you buy a hundred jin of sugar from the villagers, the Heavenly Lord will privately give you an extra ten jin."
The words sank in, and Xing Honglang couldn't help but be overjoyed.
The goods she bought from Gao Family Village were already cheap, but she never expected to get an additional ten percent of goods for free. By the heavens, this was like pies falling from the sky!
But...
Why?
Why would this Heavenly Lord do such a thing? What connection does my buying goods from these villagers have to him? Just to make me come again, he's taking such a big loss. What benefit does this bring him?
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