Chapter Seventy-Nine: The Salt Seller

Many people were just as bewildered as Wu Yi. After leaving the shooting range, most of them gathered together, chattering endlessly. Some commented on how strange the questions were, others remarked on the beauty of the woman who had asked them.

"This young master of the Xu family is really something. How does he always manage to attract such beautiful women? If only I were a young master from a landowning family…"

"Keep your voice down! This is Xu family territory—do you have a death wish?"

Wu Yi had no interest in their idle gossip; all he cared about was whether he had passed the test.

Lei Laohu also emerged, and Wu Yi immediately went over to ask, "How did it go?"

Lei Laohu shrugged. "No one knows."

"What did you answer?"

"I just gave my honest answer. There wasn’t time to think," Lei Laohu said.

Wu Yi frowned. "I find it strange."

"What’s strange about it?"

"When forming an army, surely they want people who are strong and robust—so why did the Xu family’s young master recruit without even looking at our abilities? Can asking a question really find strong people?"

Lei Laohu shrugged. "Who knows?"

"Maybe the young master doesn’t understand warfare."

As they spoke, a commotion broke out nearby. After inquiring, they learned that the salt sellers from Fengshi Village had arrived.

Within a hundred miles, only Fengshi Village had a salt mine. Several surrounding villages relied on its salt. The salt sellers would drive their donkeys, laden with large white sacks of salt, over mountains to sell it in every village. Only they knew the shortcuts, and only they could avoid the bandits’ checkpoints.

As a result, the salt sellers were always welcomed wherever they went, drawing attention in every village.

But today, their arrival lacked its usual fanfare.

Wu Yi and Lei Laohu drew near and saw a crowd of villagers gathered around the salt seller, all speaking at once.

"Can’t sell! Can’t sell! Those were the old prices! I just can’t do it. My price is set—less than twenty cash per jin, and I won’t even discuss it!"

This pronouncement caused an uproar. The crowd grew agitated—some shouted in anger, others sat on the ground and wept. Chaos reigned.

In truth, they could not be blamed. At twenty cash per jin, the price would crush any ordinary family in Luhè Gully.

Salt prices had already risen, and now, another hike was a blow to their very survival.

"You can’t do this! How can the price just go up like that?"

"You’re trying to kill us!"

The salt seller, exasperated, pointed at the wailing villagers. "You say I’m killing you, but who cares about my life? I risk my neck to bring you salt. Have any of you ever thanked me? Our chief has long since looked down on your village—too little money, too far to come. If I hadn’t insisted, would you even have salt to eat? And if you don’t eat salt, how can you work? If you don’t work, how will you eat? Well? Speak up! Have you all gone mute?"

As the villagers fell silent, the salt seller grew smug. "Honestly, you should thank me. We’ve opened up new trade routes. There’s more profit elsewhere, so less salt for you. They were going to cut your supply off, but I pleaded with the chief, so he let me bring a bit more. I’ve only got thirty jin left. Next time won’t be until the second half of the year. You’d better hurry and buy! If you don’t, there’ll be no salt at all!"

The villagers responded immediately. Those who could still afford it cried out, "I’ll take a sack!" "Me too!"

Wu Yi, an old hand, knew the salt seller was just using sales tactics. But the villagers, fearful of losing their salt supply, scrambled to buy. There was nothing he could do.

No one dared not to buy. For a hunter like him, it was even truer.

He’d once known what it was like to go without salt—drinking raw deer blood, eating dirt—he’d done it all.

Living without salt was too painful. He would not endure it again.

He could still manage twenty cash. Raising his hand to buy a bag, he was interrupted by a rider galloping in, his clear voice ringing out, "What’s this? Has the selection ended?"

Wu Yi looked up and saw that it was none other than Xu Wenshan and his little maid.

"The young master of the Xu family is here… The young master is here…"

The whispers rippled through the crowd. People parted to make way for Xu Wenshan.

"What’s going on here? Why is everyone gathered? Who are you? You’re not from Luhè Gully, are you?" Xu Wenshan pointed at the salt seller.

The salt seller snorted. "I’m a salt vendor."

Xu Wenshan dismounted. "Ah, so you’re selling salt. What’s going on? Why is everyone so upset? Who’s bullying you?"

Xu Wenshan seemed especially approachable at that moment, so the villagers explained about the salt price hike. When he heard it, his gaze turned cold.

He turned to the salt seller. "Why did you raise the price?"

The salt seller, stung by Xu Wenshan’s lack of respect, bristled. "We produce the salt ourselves. We can raise the price if we want—why do we need a reason?"

"Salt is a necessity for life. How can you raise the price so much at once? How is anyone supposed to bear it?" Xu Wenshan pressed.

"Not my concern. I only sell my salt. Buy it or not, up to you. If you think it’s too expensive, move along—don’t interfere with my business." The salt seller pushed past Xu Wenshan, hawking his salt to the crowd.

Suddenly, Xu Wenshan barked, "None of you are to buy his salt!"

The villagers stopped, looking at Xu Wenshan. He continued, "I promise, if you buy it, you’ll regret it later!"

"Oh? Who are you trying to scare?" came a light, mocking voice—not from the salt seller, but from Guo Decai, the third son of the Guo family, who strolled in from behind.

Xu Wenshan suppressed his irritation. "What do you mean?"

Guo Decai handed money to the salt seller and took a sack. "In business, one’s willing to sell, another to buy—there’s no such thing as forbidding a sale. Young Master Xu, aren’t you being unreasonable?"

The salt seller chimed in, "See, now there’s a young master with spirit and style! Not like someone else, who can’t afford to buy and won’t let others buy!"

Xu Wenshan replied evenly, "I’m only advising everyone not to buy—you’ll regret it if you do. You, especially, should think before you buy."

Guo Decai thought to himself, my family buys meat from yours, must we buy salt from you too? He hugged his salt sack. "I’m buying—so what?"

"Are you sure?"

"I’m sure. What of it?"

"No regrets?"

"Why would I regret it?" Guo Decai laughed.

"Wu Yi, Old Lei," Xu Wenshan suddenly called, "You’re here too? Help me keep the salt sacks here and drive the salt seller away!"