NOVEL NEXT Chapter 32: Reward
Chapter 32: Reward
“Brother Xu, please wait.”
Pei Heng caught up with Xu Lian and bowed slightly with an apologetic expression. “My younger sister has been spoiled since childhood and doesn’t know her place. Please forgive her. I apologize on her behalf.”
“Young Master Pei, you are too kind. I’m partly to blame as well – I shouldn’t have bickered with a young girl,” Xu Lian replied, cupping his hands in return.
The Pei family, one of the three major families of Green Bamboo Town, controlled approximately 30% of the town’s farmland and ruled over tens of thousands of tenant farmers. They were practically the “landed emperors” of Green Bamboo Town.
Growing up in such a family, Pei Zhaoxi had always been spoiled. Everyone had to yield to her whims, and everything had to go her way. Naturally, this upbringing had shaped her overbearing personality.
If Xu Lian had encountered Pei Zhaoxi during his earlier days, when he lacked strength, status, or identity, he would have avoided her entirely. And if he couldn’t avoid her, he would have submissively flattered her.
But now, Xu Lian had become someone of standing in Green Bamboo Town. With the strength of a Muscle Refining Stage martial artist and the backing of the Quarry Patrol Inspector, he didn’t need to cater to the whims of the Pei family. If anything, the Pei family would have to tread carefully around him now.
As the saying went, “Respect is mutual.” Pei Zhaoxi had shown no respect earlier, so Xu Lian saw no reason to show her any.
Still, he didn’t want a minor quarrel to sour his relationship with the Pei family. Since Pei Heng had apologized, Xu Lian chose to let the matter slide and gracefully acknowledged his own “faults” while giving due respect to the Pei family.
“You’re too polite, Brother Xu,” Pei Heng said with a smile and an inviting gesture. “This is not the best place to talk. Let’s continue in the guest hall.”
Xu Lian followed him to the guest hall.
As soon as they were seated, two beautiful maids brought over hot tea without any instructions from Pei Heng.
Not one to waste time, Xu Lian spoke directly, “Yesterday, I spoke with the Quarry Patrol Inspector about the matter Young Master Pei entrusted to me.”
Pei Heng immediately asked, “Did the Inspector agree to a meeting?”
“The Quarry Patrol Inspector mentioned that the higher-ups have already decided to appoint your family patriarch as the next town mayor. It’s just that your family hasn’t been informed yet,” Xu Lian replied honestly.
He didn’t embellish the truth in order to claim credit for himself. Xu Lian believed in taking only what he had earned. Misrepresenting the situation might win gratitude for now, but it could lead to resentment if the truth ever came to light.
“It’s already decided?”
Pei Heng froze for a moment before bursting with joy and standing up excitedly. “Brother Xu, are you sure?”
“The quarry patrol inspector told me personally. Of course it’s true,” Xu Lian said calmly while sipping his tea.
Pei Heng gradually regained his composure and sat down again. As a seasoned young master of a prominent family, he quickly masked his excitement and extended his hands to Xu Lian. “Thank you, Brother Xu, for bringing this wonderful news to my family. I’m deeply grateful.”
“I only asked on your behalf. It wasn’t much trouble,” Xu Lian replied. “The decision to appoint your family head as the next mayor shows the immense trust the higher-ups have in your family. Congratulations.”
Pei Heng’s gaze lingered on Xu Lian for a moment before he smiled and said, “For the Quarry Patrol Inspector to share such important news with you, it shows how highly he values you. I hope we can continue to count on your guidance in the future.”
Xu Lian mentally rejected the idea. For the quarry patrol inspector, the mayor’s appointment probably wasn’t important. Sharing such news with Xu Lian was a trivial act.
Pei Heng clapped his hands twice, summoning an elderly steward into the room.
“What are your orders, young master?” the steward asked respectfully.
“Fetch three hundred taels of gold from the storeroom. I want to thank Brother Xu,” Pei Heng instructed.
The steward looked at Xu Lian, nodded, and quickly left.
“Young Master Pei, that won’t be necessary,” Xu Lian said humbly. “I haven’t done much to deserve such a reward.”
Pei Heng replied earnestly, “Brother Xu, please don’t refuse. Gathering information from the quarry patrol inspector is something that money can’t normally buy. Three hundred taels of gold is just a modest token of gratitude. Please accept it.”
Seeing Pei Heng’s insistence, Xu Lian no longer refused. From what he had observed of the Quarry Patrol Inspector’s status within the Yi Sect, Xu Lian knew that the gold and the earlier gift of a house were fair compensation for his efforts. He could accept them with a clear conscience.
Soon, the steward returned with a small box. He placed it on the table beside Xu Lian, opening it slightly to reveal the gleaming gold ingots inside before bowing and retreating.
Xu Lian merely glanced at the box without dwelling on it-he didn’t want to appear overly impressed.
Pei Heng tactfully moved away from the topic of gold and instead engaged Xu Lian in pleasant conversation over tea.
When it felt like the right moment, Xu Lian rose to take his leave. “Young Master Pei, it’s getting late. I won’t stay too long.”
“Brother Xu, visit us often,” Pei Heng said as he stood up to see him off. He handed Xu Lian the gold box, which Xu Lian accepted with natural ease.
Pei Heng escorted Xu Lian to the front gate.
A short while later, Han Du emerged from the archery field, and the two of them departed together.
On the way, Han Du chuckled and remarked, “I heard that the Pei family’s little miss gave you some trouble, Brother Xu?”
Xu Lian shook his head. “It’s hardly a conflict. It was just a small argument that caused some unpleasantness, but Young Master Pei has already cleared things up. There shouldn’t be any lasting problems.”
Han Du chuckled. “The young lady from the Pei family has that kind of temperament. Brother Xu, don’t take it to heart.”
“How could I?” Xu Lian replied.
The two of them reached a fork in the road and parted ways, each heading to their respective mining sites.
Suddenly, Xu Lian felt a chill spread across his body, his hair standing on end.
He recognized the sensation – it was a warning, a sharp instinct honed over time, similar to the feeling he’d had when rocks had fallen in the mine.
“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!” The sound of sharp whistles cut through the air as several cold arrows shot out of the trees!
Xu Lian quickly pressed down on his horse’s back and leapt into the air, narrowly avoiding the incoming arrows.
Unfortunately, his horse wasn’t quite as swift. It was struck by a few arrows, letting out a painful cry as it collapsed to the ground, tumbling forward a short distance before coming to a stop. The poor creature would not survive.
“Who’s there, attacking me?” Xu Lian’s voice was cold as ice. With his physique honed through both skin refining and muscle refining, these arrows posed no real threat to him. However, it was clear that whoever had shot them had intended to kill him.
In one fluid motion, he leaped into the thicket. There he spotted Pei Zhaoxi and several other young men and women, each holding a bow with a quiver of arrows on their backs. The culprits were obvious.
Seeing how skilled Xu Lian was, the faces of the young men and women turned pale with fear, and they turned to flee in panic.
Although Pei Zhaoxi was startled, she didn’t run away. Instead, she mustered her courage and defiantly said, “I was just out hunting with my older brothers and sisters, and we happened to pass by. If it’s a problem, I’ll pay the price with one of my horses”.
Xu Lian sneered coldly. “So you just happened to be hunting along the road I take back to the mine? How convenient.”