Chapter 438: Confrontation with the villagers (2)

A Blessed Daughter

Translator : Virichime

This translation made by Moonlight Teatime.

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“Daqing Mountain is nice,” Wei Ruo replied calmly, “but you seem to have forgotten something. I picked Daqing Mountain because the conditions were similar to other places around here. If you ask too high a price, Daqing Mountain is no longer the best option for me. I can simply choose somewhere else. There are plenty of good mountains and springs near the prefectural city, not just Daqing Mountain.”

Upon hearing this, worried expressions appeared on the villagers’ faces. Some even looked regretful about their chief’s decision.

If the chief hadn’t interfered, every household could’ve received nearly one tael of silver and ten wen each year. Life would have been much easier!.

*one tael of silver is like 200–300 USD. Ten wen is like 1 USD or less.

But now—everything was ruined!

Some villagers began to panic. Wang Qi tugged on the chief’s arm and said, “Village Chief, maybe we should just forget it. Let's not create trouble.”

“Don’t talk nonsense! Don’t you want your son Erniu to get a wife? With one hundred taels in hand, your family can get four taels! You’ll even have enough silver left to add another room to the house!” the chief shouted angrily.

The previously timid Wang Qi immediately shut up at the mention of four taels and marrying off his son.

Another villager muttered, “Why don’t we just stick to the original price? Even if we get less, at least we get something.”

“You’re just a woman—what do you know? The price I suggested is perfectly fine. If we’re going to do this, we do it big!” the chief snapped, attitude unyielding.

Those who had wanted to speak fell silent at his words.

Everyone had been struggling these past two years. Harvests were low, and they had just come through a harsh winter. No household had much grain left. Better-off families could last two or three more months; worse-off ones might not even last one.

Either way, they would all run out of food before the next harvest. A gap was inevitable. So Master Xu’s money was extremely important to them.

Whether they agreed with the village chief’s methods or not, they had no choice but to follow him and find a way to secure the money.

After calming the villagers, the village chief turned to Wei Ruo with a stern expression. “Young Master Xu has no other choice. Daqing Mountain is your best and only option. As long as you are willing to buy the mountain valley land at the price I named, our entire village will help you complete the construction of your distillery smoothly.”

Wei Ruo replied, “If you think you can intimidate me into giving in, then let me tell you—you’ve miscalculated. Even if you beat me to death here today, I will not pay you a single coin.”

Her attitude made the village chief’s expression immediately turn unsightly.

“If Young Master Xu refuses to make this deal today, then I’ll simply have to keep you in our village for a few days—with good food and lodging, of course,” the chief said coldly.

Things had already reached this point—there was no way he would let it go now!

He didn’t dare rob money directly from Wei Ruo, but as long as he forced her to sign a contract, then taking the money would be perfectly “reasonable and legal.”

As he spoke, the chief ordered the strong young men of the village to “invite” Wei Ruo and the others into the ancestral hall.

Some villagers hesitated in fear, but there were also those bold and greedy enough to take the risk. The braver ones obeyed the chief’s command and picked up their farming tools—rakes, carrying poles, hoes—and surrounded Wei Ruo, Xiumei, and Steward Yu completely.

Just as they were about to make a move, a group of men riding tall horses suddenly appeared at the village entrance.

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