The villagers turned their heads to look. Chen Xiaobei couldn't help but be stunned. It was the village elder who had arrived.
Chen Xiaobei quickly stepped forward, "Elder, why have you come?"
The elder tapped his cane on the ground and looked at Chen Xiaobei earnestly, saying, "Killing people in the village is bad luck. It can't be done like this. If you must kill, then take them outside the village."
Upon hearing this, Ma Xiaoyi cupped his fists towards the elder, then towards Chen Xiaobei, and said with a hint of apology.
"It was my oversight. Please forgive me, everyone."
After speaking, he signaled his men to untie Da Lao Hei and dragged him out of the village.
Watching them leave, the elder shook his head and said to Chen Xiaobei euphemistically, "Xiaobei, you're leading everyone to make money, and everyone is very motivated. This is a good thing. There are some words I must tell you."
"We don't know the background of these people who have come to the village. Today they capture someone, tomorrow they kill someone. Ordinary folk like us can't endure such a life of fighting and killing."
Chen Xiaobei understood the elder's meaning and quickly said, "Elder, you are right. They are only staying here temporarily and will leave soon."
"That's good, that's good. Having so many outsiders staying here is ultimately not a good thing."
After speaking, the elder turned and left.
At this moment, Chen Ermao's wails could be heard again from outside the village. Chen Xiaobei knew that Da Lao Hei was completely finished this time.
But Chen Xiaobei didn't cry. Da Lao Hei had brought this upon himself. Such a person was not to be pitied. The truly pitiable were the henchmen on the mountain, forced to go up the mountain just to earn a living, only to lose their lives in vain due to the greed of their chieftain.
Back home, Chen Xiaobei began to get busy. He had bought so much gunpowder, and he needed to make the explosives as soon as possible.
Watching him busy himself, Cui Hongyu suddenly spoke and advised, "Husband, why don't you wait until tonight to make these? Let's go fishing first."
Chen Xiaobei found it a little strange. Cui Hongyu had never interfered with his work before.
"There are enough people to go fishing. Our fish pond is almost full, so we don't need to go, do we?"
Cui Hongyu smiled sweetly, stepped forward, and took his hand, "Then let's go to the mountain to pick apples. We don't have many apples left." Su Dan Novel Network
He didn't quite understand, but Chen Xiaobei still accepted Cui Hongyu's suggestion. He gathered a group of village guards and went into the mountain with them to pick apples.
Watching Chen Xiaobei leave, Cui Hongyu revealed a knowing smile at the corner of her mouth, and then went to the outskirts of the village. The green leafy vegetables would be harvested in two days, and they needed to be watered again.
When Chen Xiaobei came down from the mountain with his men, it was already dark. Dinner was as plentiful as usual: a fish, two dishes of vegetables, stir-fried with fatty meat, filling the air with a tantalizing aroma.
Huang Ying was still very attentive, helping Chen Xiaobei serve rice and soup.
Seeing this, Cui Hongyu was overjoyed and frequently smiled.
Chen Xiaobei, however, was oblivious. But Shen Ziyan saw through it and frowned slightly.
After dinner, Huang Ying impatiently said, "Brother Xiaobei, let's start making the explosives!"
Fine, if you want to call them explosives, then call them explosives.
Chen Xiaobei nodded, stood up, and said, "Alright, then follow me."
Chen Xiaobei led Huang Ying into the room. Sulfur, saltpeter, charcoal.
He made a small amount first, following the original ratio.
Then he gently pinched a tiny pinch and placed it on the oil lamp.
This action startled Huang Ying greatly. With a cry of "Aiya," she covered her eyes.
The usually boisterous Huang Ying suddenly acted like a delicate young woman, which surprised Chen Xiaobei. But this also showed that deep down, Huang Ying was still a girl.
The gunpowder fell onto the flame, making a sizzling sound. Then, came the familiar smell.
Excellent.
Chen Xiaobei then wrapped some more in paper. This time, he didn't dare to do it indoors; he had to go outside.
He went to the riverbank, lit a pile of firewood with a tinderbox, and threw the small packet of gunpowder into it.
Hiss, hiss. With a faint sound, the scene was illuminated by a dazzling fire, and a puff of white smoke rose.
"Great, great! It's done, it's done!" Huang Ying jumped for joy.
Watching the two return excitedly, Shen Ziyan's frown deepened.
"Huang Ying, it's time for us to go back."
Huang Ying shook her head, "Don't rush, don't rush. I'll make a bit more explosives with Brother Xiaobei."
Chen Xiaobei suddenly realized something. He stopped and turned to Huang Ying, saying, "It's getting late. You should go back and rest. I'll write down the recipe for these explosives for you later!"
"Alright then, thank you, Brother Xiaobei." Huang Ying bowed respectfully to Chen Xiaobei before leaving the courtyard with Shen Ziyan.
Not far away, Shen Ziyan said in a low voice, "Huang Ying, what's gotten into you these past two days? You're completely smitten with Chen Xiaobei. He's Sister Hongyu's man."
Huang Ying looked surprised, "No, Ziyan sister. I just want to learn how to make explosives from him. You know, my master studied many books, and his greatest wish was to create this. He said with this, no matter how skilled a martial artist is, they don't need to be afraid."
Shen Ziyan looked at her and couldn't help but laugh, "You! You're just talking nonsense. What's so scary about this stuff?"
Huang Ying nodded, "Yes, I didn't see anything scary either. But that's what my master said. That's why when I saw Chen Xiaobei could make explosives, I..."
"Okay, I believe you. But please, don't have any romantic feelings for him. Chen Xiaobei is not worthy of you. Besides, Sister Hongyu already feels wronged by marrying him. Can you really be a concubine?"
Huang Ying stomped her foot angrily, "Aiya, Ziyan sister, where are you going with this? I don't have that idea. I just want to learn his recipe."
Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Cui Hongyu was also trying to persuade Chen Xiaobei. "Husband, I notice that little sister Huang Ying's attitude towards you has changed quite a bit these past few days. My sister, apart from her temper, is otherwise quite good..."
Chen Xiaobei instantly understood Cui Hongyu's meaning. No wonder she had stopped him from making explosives in the afternoon; it was for this reason.
This was truly baffling. A newlywed wife was already trying to arrange a second wife for her husband.
And she wanted to marry her good sister. How was that possible?
Then again, even if he wanted to, they wouldn't fancy him.
So, he should just focus on his work.
Chen Xiaobei still cautiously wetted the gunpowder and began to roll it.
However, this time Chen Xiaobei made it quite thick, almost as thick as Chen Qiao'er's arm.
According to his plan, if it was this thick, it should be visible from the foot of the mountain if ignited at the Mountain God Temple.
The next morning, Chen Xiaobei still drove the donkey cart to the county town to deliver apples.
Upon entering the county town, he turned into the market. This time, he would deliver to Old Wu first.