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At that moment, Qi Rong stepped out holding a Hunting Knife, which Qi Chong took and posed as if to throw it like a flying dagger. Yang Zhengshan crouched down behind the village chief, wondering why he had said he wouldn’t use a knife.
Qi Chong aimed at a Cedar tree by the roadside and threw the Hunting Knife. The blade struck the Cedar perfectly, quivering for a long time before finally coming to a stop. Yang Zhengshan lowered his head and fell silent.
Qi Chong gestured with his Hunting Knife and said, "If you have something to say, go tell my father's Hunting Knife." Yang Zhengshan felt guilty; he bore some responsibility for Qi Yunzhen's death. Without any witnesses, he had escaped punishment, or else he would have at least faced three months of labor.
Gao Changfa reproached Qi Chong, saying, "Qi Chong, let’s talk things over properly. There’s no need to resort to knives and guns. The sun is blazing outside, and I can smell your family’s Xian Cao Tea. Why don’t we go inside to talk?"
Qi Yuan couldn’t hold back his anger and exclaimed, "Xian Cao is everywhere! If you want some, just brew it yourself. We didn’t ask you to stand at our door!"
Gao Changfa was momentarily speechless, "I’m the village chief; is it not okay for me to visit your home?"
Qi Rong returned with a kettle and a bowl, pouring a cup of Xian Cao Tea. Qian Duo Duo had been fed by Qi Rong these past few days and followed him wherever he went. Its gaze was always fixed on Qi Rong—a loyal little dog.
Gao Changfa was about to take the cup when unexpectedly it was handed to Yu Chunmiao instead. "Sister-in-law, drink some Xian Cao Tea. You've been outside for quite a while; don’t get heatstroke."
His hand froze in mid-air as Gao Changfa awkwardly cleared his throat twice. Everyone in the village gave him face—except for the Qi family, who had held a grudge against him for two years and offered him no respect.
Yu Chunmiao took the tea bowl and drank deeply, savoring it with a satisfied sigh. She ruffled her hair and said, "Qi Rong is so good; pour one for your brother too."
Gao Changfa adopted an elder's tone and said, "Qi Chong's Wife, since you’re in charge here, I’ll speak with you directly. To be honest, we know what you’re making—Xian Cao Mi."
"What do you want?" Yu Chunmiao interjected.
Gao Changfa continued, "This Xian Cao Mi has spread across all eighteen counties of Zhoufu; stores are running out of stock. I thought I’d ask you for a recipe so we can all work together—it won’t hinder your profits."
Yu Chunmiao laughed in disbelief; she had never seen someone so shamelessly brazen before. "Are you serious? Xian Ke Lai can’t keep up with demand; they’re not anxious about it—why are you? The recipe is in my head; unless you capture me and torture me, there’s no way I’ll give it up."
"I’m just trying to negotiate here," Gao Changfa insisted.
"There’s nothing to negotiate!" Qi Chong's face darkened. "I don’t trust you; just leave."
Beishan Village had not collected the population tax for three consecutive months. If it wasn't made up soon, the village chief would be in serious trouble. The last time the population tax was collected was when Qi Yunzhen led the villagers to hunt wild boars.
He felt helpless; how did the Qi Family always manage to make money? He had to find a way to deal with Fang Zi.
Gao Changfa softened his tone, pleading, "I'm asking you as a favor. In another two months, the villagers will have to pay the population tax again. Those who can't pay will have to serve labor duty. We are all from the same village; how can you bear to let this happen?"
Yu Chunmiao replied, "Why don't you ask the person hiding behind you how he could bear to abandon my father-in-law? You can bear to sacrifice a life; isn't it just labor duty? What do we have to lose?"
Gao Changfa asked, "What do we need to do for you to agree to help?"
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