Procuring Provisions

That would be wonderful!

Zhong Guang Ming nodded frantically with joy. He had been worried about how to get Qiu Qi to willingly go on a blind date. This joy came too unexpectedly, like a whirlwind. With Pei San Jia’s looks and conditions, as long as he didn’t lose his temper, Qiu Qi would definitely be pleased.

After the negotiations were settled, Zhong Guang Ming couldn't wait another moment and immediately ran out of town to make preparations.

Qiu Qi ate his fill, yawned, and ordered the remaining Zhong family members to wash dishes and boil water. After bathing, he collapsed onto the bed to sleep. Although he could directly adjust his body data to dispel fatigue, his spirit still needed proper rest.

Waking up early the next morning, Zhong Guang Ming had already set the blind date for five days later. The other party also seemed very satisfied with Qiu Qi’s conditions.

“Alright.”

Qiu Qi nodded in agreement, then told the Zhong family to go to the neighboring village to pick up Wang Xiu E. The house had been tidied up, and Wang Xiu E couldn't stay at her maternal home forever. As far as he knew, life at his sister-in-law’s maternal home wasn’t easy either. Although Wang Xiu E was a bit timid, she wasn’t a bad person, and he had no reason to make things difficult for her.

After sending these troublesome people away, Qiu Qi went to Zhong Fu Shu to collect the silver from selling the fields. Zhou Xiao An would handle the hunted beasts; he didn't need to worry about it.

The Zhong family had a total of ten mu of land. After deducting two mu of sandy fields that were kept, the remaining average fields were all sold. After deducting the procedural fees at the yamen, they finally received 45 taels of silver.

Adding the silver previously taken from the Zhong family, the Zhong family now had nearly eighty taels of silver.

Calculated by the number of able-bodied men in the Zhong family, this fortune could be considered quite well-off in the village. But now it was all gone, making Zhong Fu Shu feel very uncomfortable. He was a close relative of the Zhong family, and coupled with Old Master Zhong’s life-saving grace from years ago, the relationship between the two families was very different.

“Yu Ge Er, there are still 20 taels here. Your uncle and aunt pooled it together for you. Your aunt has also agreed. How much more do you think is missing? Let’s find a way to gather it and pay it all off at once. The casino’s silver accrues interest upon interest; we can’t afford it. As for the future, just try to get by…”

It must be said that the Zhong family truly had good relatives. Without Zhong Fu Shu’s protection, how could people like the Zhong family live peacefully in the village?

Of course, Zhong Fu Shu’s existence was also a kind of catalyst for the plot.

If Zhong Fu Shu hadn’t favored the Zhong family, how could the female protagonist’s father later have the opportunity to become the new Village Head of Dong Bai Village?

How could the female protagonist legitimately take in the male protagonist of unknown origin?

One must know that ancient villages were very exclusive of outsiders.

But currently, Qiu Qi naturally wouldn’t give the other party a chance.

The more stable Zhong Fu Shu’s position as Village Head was, the more beneficial it would be for him.

Qiu Qi only took the silver from selling the fields, pushing the rest back: “Elder Uncle, please take this silver back. I’ve gathered enough silver to pay off Eldest Brother’s debt.”

“Gathered enough silver? Where did you get it?”

Zhong Fu Shu’s eyes widened. He didn’t even know about Qiu Qi going up the mountain. In just a few days, where did Yu Ge Er get so much silver?

“Xiao An and I went up the mountain. We originally only intended to hunt some pheasants and rabbits. As a result, we were lucky enough to encounter a black bear and a tiger fighting. After they fought until they were severely injured, Xiao An and I picked up the windfall…”

Qiu Qi explained vaguely, not mentioning the wild boars, mountain goats… or his extraordinary hunting abilities. Everything should have some trump cards kept hidden; he knew it himself. The silver from selling the black bear and tiger was enough to support the current superficial economy.

But this was enough to make Zhong Fu Shu listen in horror, his heart soaring and plummeting like a roller coaster. Was such a windfall from fighting beasts so easy to pick up? Qiu Qi made it sound easy, but anyone with a little knowledge could imagine how dangerous it was at that time.

To say it was a windfall, it was probably aimed at hunting the tiger and black bear.

Zhong Fu Shu was both horrified and angry, lecturing him: “You child, do you want to die?! If there’s anything, our Zhong family has so many relatives, can’t we discuss it? Why do you need to risk your life going up the mountain to fight tigers and black bears? Even if someone had to go, it should have been your eldest brother, that good-for-nothing, it would be best if he died on the road!”

Even tigers and black bears dared to be targeted; Yu Ge Er’s guts were truly enormous! Most importantly, he actually succeeded?

Zhong Fu Shu was terrified.

Qiu Qi could understand the other party’s feelings. Without superb martial arts, he certainly wouldn’t dare to go. Black bears and tigers were both lords of the mountains; ordinary people who provoked them were fools seeking death.

Therefore, after Zhong Fu Shu finished his lecture, he spoke about the main matter: “The silver from selling the black bear and tiger is enough to pay off the debt, and there’s quite a bit left over. I plan to use this money to start a small business and would like to ask for Elder Uncle’s help.”

“Help is fine, but what kind of business do you want to do? You must let Elder Uncle look it over first.”

“No problem. I want to ask Elder Uncle to step forward and help me procure grains in the village. I plan to open a grain store.”

Qiu Qi took a sip of water and laid out his plan.