With these thoughts clear, Chen Xiaobei couldn't help but shake his head.
Alas, women, sometimes they are just willful.
It was evident that Chen Xiaobei had not fully anticipated what was about to happen.
He first went to the county town to deliver fish and apples to the various restaurants, and then delivered apples to Old Wu.
Seeing Chen Xiaobei bringing apples again, Old Wu clearly had no interest. He pointed to the distance and sighed, "Alas, these fruits are hard to sell now. Look, they're displayed fully, priced at three pounds for one wen. How am I supposed to sell them?"
Dumping.
This was definitely dumping. Chen Xiaobei sighed inwardly. Price wars were always fatal, no matter the time. If he carried the fruit up the mountain with so much effort and sold it at three pounds for one wen,
After deducting labor costs, he wouldn't have much left.
Chen Xiaobei consoled Old Wu a few words and turned towards the county yamen.
Hearing that Chen Xiaobei had arrived, Hu Fan smiled slightly.
"Quick, please come in."
After meeting, Hu Fan dismissed everyone and smiled as he took something out of his drawer. "Brother Xiaobei, congratulations. The land deed is ready, take a look."
Chen Xiaobei took it and glanced at it briefly, then cupped his fist towards Hu Fan. "Thank you, thank you."
Hu Fan nodded again. "I used some extraordinary means for this matter. When the prefect arrives someday, you can come over and meet him."
Chen Xiaobei understood perfectly that "meeting him" meant coming over to express his gratitude. He knew this much.
"Certainly, I'll follow the lord's arrangements when the time comes."
Leaving the county yamen, Chen Xiaobei felt as if his mood was about to take flight. With the land deed now in hand, he could confront Cui Dana.
Passing by the village, Chen Xiaobei turned and went to the sub-county office.
Geng Sheng appeared very respectful upon seeing Chen Xiaobei. "Lord Chen, why do you have time to visit today?"
Chen Xiaobei smiled slightly. "Ah, I have some free time today and happened to pass by. I just remembered something. Accompany me to Cui Family Village this afternoon, and we'll settle the matter with Cui Dana."
"Of course, of course. When shall we go?" Geng Sheng had long been eager to finish the matter so that he could gain favor with Cui Dana.
Chen Xiaobei smiled faintly. "After lunch, find me, and we'll go together."
Having arranged his work, Chen Xiaobei quickly headed home. He only went to the county town today, so he could make it back for lunch.
When he returned home, there was another sumptuous lunch. Huang Ying, Shen Ziyan, and Cui Hongyu were all laughing and chatting happily.
Seeing Chen Xiaobei arrive, Chen Ziyan and Huang Ying were no longer shy. Huang Ying even proactively served Chen Xiaobei a bowl of rice.
Cui Hongyu watched this scene with joy in her heart, a meaningful smile appearing on her face.
After the meal, Huang Ying still waved Chen Xiaobei away, leaving the three sisters to clear the dishes.
Chen Xiaobei had no choice but to turn and head towards the edge of the village to check on his fish pond.
Seeing him arrive at the fish pond, the three village guards stationed at the foot of Qingniu Mountain greeted him from afar.
"Village Chief, dozens of people went up the mountain this morning. What should we do?"
Chen Xiaobei smiled. "Qingniu Mountain isn't ours, whoever wants to go can go. But one thing you must watch for: if anyone brings down ginseng or lingzhi, intercept it."
Hearing his contradictory words, the three village guards couldn't help but laugh.
After strolling for a while, Chen Xiaobei hurried to the village entrance. According to their agreement, Geng Sheng should have arrived by now.
As expected, when he arrived at the village entrance, Geng Sheng was already waiting there with two constables.
Having been here a few times, he was already familiar with some of the village guards and was chatting animatedly with them.
Chen Xiaobei saw this and realized he needed some helpers.
"Let's go. You guys come with me to Cui Family Village as well."
The reason Chen Xiaobei called them all was because Liu Ziming and Liu Ziliang, brothers and confidantes of Liu Rumei, were among them. With their martial arts skills, Chen Xiaobei felt nothing to fear.
Chen Xiaobei instructed Geng Sheng to go ahead and report their arrival. He, on the other hand, led his men to walk slowly behind.
Upon hearing that the township head had arrived, Cui Dana quickly changed his clothes and, with Cui San and others, hurried to the village entrance to greet them.
As soon as they reached the village entrance, Cui San looked up and saw Chen Xiaobei not far away. Chen Xiaobei was not wearing official robes, but ordinary commoner clothes.
Cui San immediately jumped up and shouted, "Chen Xiaobei, what are you doing at Cui Family Village?"
Cui Dana's face also turned cold. "Chen Xiaobei, I'm telling you, Qingniu Mountain now belongs to the Cui family. If you dare step foot in here again, I'll break your legs."
Seeing them acting in concert, Geng Sheng was dumbfounded.
Chen Xiaobei was also speechless. Don't they know anything? Am I, the township head, that invisible?
After Cui Dana finished his outburst, he turned to Geng Sheng and chuckled, "My apologies, Brother, my younger brother made a fool of himself just now. This is a personal grievance between me and Hetou Village, a personal grievance."
Cui San also came to his senses. "Yes, Lord Geng, may I ask where the township head is?"
Geng Sheng hesitated and pointed to Chen Xiaobei.
"You two, this is the township head, Chen Xiaobei, Lord Chen?"
What?
Cui Dana and Cui San exchanged glances, staring at each other dumbfoundedly. After a long pause, Cui Dana turned to Geng Sheng again.
"Brother Geng, such jokes cannot be played."
Geng Sheng sighed. "My lords, how could I joke with you about such matters?"
As he spoke, he led the other two to Chen Xiaobei and bowed. "Lord Township Head, what do you think we should do?"
Chen Xiaobei took out the boundary map they had drawn from his sleeve. "Since that's the case, I don't think the land deed needs to be processed anymore."
With that, he threw it in front of Cui Dana and Cui San and turned to leave.
Cui Dana and Cui San exchanged a look. Cui Dana gave a nod, and Cui San, holding his nose, picked up the papers from the ground and chased after Chen Xiaobei. "Township Head Chen, I was blind and didn't recognize your eminence, I was blind and didn't recognize your eminence."
Chen Xiaobei sneered. "That's right. I came today to tell you that you should no longer go to Qingniu Mountain in the future. At that time, I will break your legs too."
As the saying goes, it is impolite not to return a visit. After saying this, Chen Xiaobei, accompanied by Geng Sheng and others, strode away, leaving Cui Dana and Cui San dumbfounded.
Cui San looked bewildered. "Master, when did this Chen Xiaobei become the township head?"
Cui Dana stomped his foot in anger. "You go to the township and county every day, and you don't even know that Chen Xiaobei is the township head. What use are you to me?"
Cui San spread his hands helplessly. "Master, I truly didn't know. But don't worry, Chen Xiaobei is just a small township head. If we find the county, find the prefecture, we're not afraid we can't deal with him."
Cui Dana pondered for a moment and nodded. "No need to go to the county. Go directly to the prefecture. And I'll go myself."