122 "Lili "(Part 1)
As the man stepped back, the atmosphere on the scene eased.
Zhai Le clasped his fists. "May I inquire your name, sir?"
The man curled his lip, disliking Zhai Le's somewhat affected demeanor, and turned to the tattered straw mat by the roadside, where he sat down with a thud. Even sitting, his tall stature made him loom large, his shoulders towering above the heads of the "wares" nearby.
"You have remarkable skill and physique, sir. I would like to make friends with you." Zhai Le, of good temper, remained unruffled by the blatant disregard, revealing a smile devoid of shadow.
Just as he approached, the man lay down with his back to him, chuckling derisively and closing his eyes.
Rebuffed so completely, even the affable Zhai Le couldn't help but blush with embarrassment, his cheeks reddening unconsciously.
Self-doubt crept in. Was he really so unlikable?
Zhai Le deflated like a punctured ball, his brows furrowing and his mouth slightly pouting, a look of dismay upon him. The man, like a stone carving, remained unmoved, and before long, the gradually rising sound of his snoring could be heard—how could he possibly sleep amidst such noise???
Zhai Le, failing to make friends, could only rise disheartened.
Nearly colliding with Shen Tang, who had somehow approached, he inquired, "Brother Shen, did you fall just now?"
Shen Tang replied, "Yes, I did. I'm going to stew that pig when I get back!"
Zhai Le couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret.
"That pig is quite intelligent; it's a pity to slaughter it."
Wild boars can be caught again, but a boar as clever (or shameless) as this, capable of reading the situation and taking advantage of it, would be hard to come by. Seeing that he couldn't overpower the burly man and being quick to back off, it immediately sought refuge with Brother Shen.
This display of agility seemed to border on cunning.
Shen Tang gritted her teeth. "Who let it nuzzle me?"
Her calves hurt, her buttocks hurt, and she couldn't bear this humiliation!
Zhai Le, knowing that Shen Tang was currently in a bad mood, knew that she might not do anything to the pig when she returned, but in order to give Brother Shen a way out, he dutifully spoke up for the black-faced boar.
For example, killing the black-faced boar—what would Brother Shen ride when she herded pigs tomorrow?
For example, keeping the pig around could still provide Brother Shen with some amusement.
As the pain in her buttocks slowly subsided, Shen Tang's anger also dissipated, but just thinking about how the pig had ambushed her, she still felt somewhat aggrieved and kicked it a few more times in childish frustration before giving up. The black-faced boar seemed to sense its own "guilt" and whimpered pitifully.
Shen Tang exclaimed, "...Darn, now you're feeling wronged too?"
At these words, Zhai Le's eyes widened suddenly, and he coughed twice to remind Shen Tang to mind her language outdoors—such coarse language didn't befit the refined and elegant young gentleman. Shen Tang choked back her retort, glaring at the pig with ill humor, shaking her fist threateningly. "Just wait! I'll settle the score with you later!"
The score with the black-faced boar could be settled later, but the grudge against the man who pushed her couldn't go unavenged.
Shen Tang was very petty.
She didn't try to communicate with the man like Zhai Le did, instead heading straight to the nearby vendors watching the show and pointing at the man.
"How much for him?"
The man, with straw binding his hair, dressed similarly to the nearby "wares," was evidently brought here to be sold.
Given this, why couldn't Shen Tang purchase him?
With such physique and qualities, he was far superior to the other villagers. Buying him and handing him over to Gong Shuwu would surely please him.
But why would a fully capable, incredibly strong adult man end up being put up for sale?
As Zhai Le met with disappointment, and Shen Tang had no intention of communicating with him to see if he would be willing to be bought back by her, she simply asked his boss directly.
The merchant, upon being questioned, was taken aback.
His eyes widened. "You want to... buy him?"
The man, upon hearing this, immediately sat up.
His gaze bore into Shen Tang like nails, a fierceness in his dark eyes that ordinary people lacked!
Shen Tang stood with her hands on her hips. "Yes, I want to buy him!"
Zhai Le intervened, "Brother Shen, this isn't quite appropriate."
He could tell that this man didn't possess martial courage, but to have such physique and strength as an ordinary person was quite remarkable. With the right guidance, he could progress rapidly in qi cultivation and martial arts, a talented individual indeed!
Such a person needed to be recruited, not bought.
Shen Tang retorted, "What's not appropriate about it? Am I exploiting him for free?"
Despite often claiming poverty, she still had some silver in her pockets. Part of it was saved by herself, and part was given by Yuan Liang and Wu Hui, allowing her to afford what she wanted when she went out.
Zhai Le hesitated, was that the main issue?
The man's expression changed, gritting his teeth. "I won't sell!"
But Shen Tang persisted, "Whether you sell or not depends on your master."
The man shifted his gaze to the merchant, who hesitated for a moment before confirming with Shen Tang, "Miss, do you really want to buy him?"
With that, the nearby onlookers displayed subtle expressions.
Glancing at Shen Tang and then at the man, Shen Tang declared, "Yes, I want to buy him."
Interrupting Zhai Le, who was about to remind the merchant that it was "sir" and not "miss," since Shen Tang didn't mind being mistaken for a woman, he decided not to spoil the mood and went along with it. The man, however, noticed the translucent patterned flower ornament around Shen Tang's waist.
He couldn't help but clench his fists silently.
The merchant asked again, "Are you really buying him?"
Shen Tang, impatient, replied, "To sell or not to sell, it's a simple matter! Are you being so slow because you're worried I won't be able to pay?"
The merchant had a shifty look about him, and his face gave off a sleazy vibe, but his gaze remained clear.
Shen Tang, impatient, wasn't angry; instead, she gave him the same subtle look as the others. Leaning in close, she said mysteriously, "In the business of setting up shop, there's no reason not to sell. But, dear, this man isn't easy to subdue. Be careful when you bring him back."
Shen Tang raised an eyebrow and asked, "What is his past?"
The merchant replied, "He has killed someone."
Shen Tang shrugged indifferently, "I have killed too."
The merchant choked, realizing that Shen Tang didn't grasp his warning. He tried to convey it more tactfully, "The person he killed... was his wife."
Shen Tang was immediately puzzled.
She asked loudly, "Killed his wife? He's one of those abusive husbands who beats their wives to death?"
Shen Tang looked down on domestic violence, especially men who beat their wives to death. Buying such a man back and having him in front of her would only make her uncomfortable. She immediately began to have second thoughts—even though the village was short of manpower, it wasn't to the extent of accepting anyone. She preferred to have quality over quantity.
The merchant choked again.
The man's face grew even darker.
"It's not like that," the merchant explained. "As a poor man, where could he find a wife? If he had a wife willing to follow him, why would he resort to violence?" The merchant's response surprised Shen Tang. From his words, it seemed that the merchant had a good impression of the man and was subtly defending him.
Shen Tang then asked, "Then why?"
At this question, the merchant choked for the third time.
Other onlookers couldn't help but chime in.
It was like a large-scale gossip gathering of men!
Shen Tang endured her headache and listened until she finally understood what was going on.