Chapter 5

Reward

Shopkeeper Zhang took a look at the wild boar and nodded in relief. “Not bad, not bad. We’ll take this wild boar whole. There’s no need to weigh it. Go to the front and collect eight taels of silver from the accountant. The excess will be considered a reward from our boss.”

Mu Yangling’s eyes lit up, but Mu Shi shook his head and said, “Thank you, Shopkeeper Zhang. It’s just that this wild boar isn’t worth so much money.” Mu Shi took the roe deer from his daughter’s hand and asked, “I wonder if you would like to take this roe deer? I have other small prey here.”

Shopkeeper Zhang looked at Mu Yangling, who was covered in prey, and Mu Yangling flashed him a big smile. Merely feeling that this child was a little silly, Shopkeeper Zhang’s gaze quickly moved away from her face and landed on the prey on her body. He asked, “Are these all fresh?”

“They were only caught this morning.” Mu Shi looked at Shopkeeper Zhang with an honest smile.

Shopkeeper Zhang nodded slightly. “Then leave some behind and get the silver at the front. You don’t have to decline. My boss happens to be having a banquet these few days and the old masters like these wild game very much. If you catch any more fresh ones, send them to me tomorrow too.”

Mu Shi was silent for a moment before nodding. “Thank you, Shopkeeper.” He carried the tied-up wild boar and brought them into the patio. Then, he plucked some rabbits, pheasants, and roe deer from Mu Yangling and sent them in. Only then did he circle out and bring his daughter to the front to collect the silver.

Everyone was dumbfounded. Even Shopkeeper Zhang, who had interacted with Mu Shi many times, was speechless. “I didn’t expect Mu Shi to have such strength. No wonder he returns fruitful from the mountain every day, and did just fine even when they closed the hillsides to facilitate afforestation.”

“Shopkeeper, you must be joking. I haven’t heard of such a thing happening,” the assistant shopkeeper said with a smile.

Shopkeeper Zhang patted his head and said, “How long have you known Mu Shi? I’ve been dealing with him for more than 10 years. In the past, the Jin soldiers didn’t attack here, and this place wasn’t the border yet. At that time, the government passed a decree to seal the mountains to facilitate afforestation for half a year. No one dared to go hunting in the mountains, unlike now.” Shopkeeper Zhang shook his head and walked into the eatery with his hands behind his back.

As hunters relied on the mountain forests for a living, once the mountains were sealed off, their lives would not be easy. The government ruled that they had to seal off the mountain for half a year, from the beginning of winter to the beginning of summer. Unfortunately, it was a chaotic world now, and as things were, the civilians already didn’t have enough to eat. Moreover, since this place had become a border, the wars often spread to the mountain forests. As a result, the implementation of such a policy was highly ineffective.

Mu Shi led his daughter to the front and said to her, “Wait for me here first. I’ll go in and get the silver.”

“Father, I’ll go in with you,” Mu Yangling offered excitedly. Although she had been to town a few times, she had never entered the Wafting Fragrance Eatery. Every time, she would send the things to the side door and her father would go in to collect the money himself.

Mu Shi patted her head and said, “That won’t do because we still have a lot of prey. You stay here and look after the cart, while I’ll go in and get it. There are many guests inside. We can’t afford to offend them.”

Only then did Mu Yangling know why Mu Shi had never asked her to enter the Wafting Fragrance Eatery. Mu Yangling looked down at the prey in her hand and could only nod regretfully. “Then go ahead, Father. I’ll wait for you here.”

Mu Shi placed the cart by the roadside and strode towards the Wafting Fragrance Eatery.

Although Shopkeeper Zhang was in charge of the restaurant, the accountant was another person. Therefore, Mu Shi had to run to the front every time to sign his name before collecting the silver from the accountant.

Having already been notified, the accountant was very straightforward. After writing a note for Mu Shi to sign, he directly took out eight taels of silver for him. He smiled and said, “Brother, you’ve earned enough today, huh? Eight taels of silver should be enough for your family to live on for half a year, right? Now that you have some money, why don’t you acquire some assets? This way, you can leave some inheritance for your descendants.”

Other people didn’t know how much Mu Shi had earned, but as the accountant, he often paid out money to Mu Shi, so he naturally knew that this guy earned much more than he did. Since the accountant had already bought more than 10 acres of land, logically speaking, Mu Shi should have acquired even more assets.

Mu Shi smiled bitterly and said, “I’m not that capable and can only rely on my children to carve out a path on their own. My wife doesn’t stop taking medicine every year and is soon about to give birth. Furthermore, this silver is for paying the autumn tax. Without this, I won’t even be able to pay the autumn tax.”

The accountant frowned slightly. “The taxes this year have increased by another 10%. I heard that the labor imposed on the people has also increased?”

Mu Shi nodded solemnly. “I’m the only man at home. How can I be at ease letting the children and their mother stay at home alone? As such, I can only pay more silver as a substitute, on top of the existing taxes. My family is shouldering a heavy burden.”

Seven Mile Village was not a big place, and the accountant happened to be well-informed and was most interested in such matters. He had indeed never heard of Mu Shi acquiring assets, but word had it that he would go to the pharmacy every few days.

The accountant shook his head regretfully and felt a little better. So what if he was great at earning money? His wife was a hindrance. Not to mention leaving a fortune for his son, he might not even be able to earn his daughter’s dowry.

Thinking about how Mu Shi’s daughter had followed him to the market with prey on her back all year round, he felt even more sorry for them. Nimbly, he stuffed eight taels of silver into Mu Shi’s hands and said with a smile, “Here. If our boss likes it, you will definitely be rewarded when you send more prey over tomorrow. Don’t spend all your money. Keep some and buy some land. Slowly but surely, you will accumulate a fortune. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

Mu Shi took the money and nodded in agreement, feeling worried too. His Ah Ling was already nine years old, and would be of marriageable age in a few years. Yet, he hadn’t even saved a single piece of dowry for her. When she got married in the future, her in-laws would look down on her.

It seemed that he had to save something for Ah Ling.

Mu Shi left the Wafting Fragrance Eatery with a heavy heart. Shopkeeper Zhang had just finished distributing the wild boar between the parts to be left in the restaurant and those to be sent to the owner. At this moment, he came in and saw Mu Shi leave with his head lowered. Curious, he asked the accountant, “What’s going on? He should be thrilled to receive eight taels of silver.”

The accountant smiled and replied, “It’s nothing. It’s just that he didn’t save a single cent due to this year’s taxes. Also, he still doesn’t have any assets at all, so he’s a little sad.”

The shopkeeper frowned. “The taxes this year are indeed rather heavy. Most importantly, there’s that additional labor imposed.” Shopkeeper Zhang shook his head. “I wonder how many people are selling their children this year.”

The accountant glanced at Shopkeeper Zhang and said, “Shopkeeper, you only gave him eight taels of silver because of this, right? You have to know that the wild boar is worth five taels at most. Including those roe deer, rabbits, and pheasants, it’s only about six taels. You really have a kind heart.”

Shopkeeper Zhang snorted and said, “You’re thinking too much. I’m not that kind-hearted. This is a reward from the owner to Mu Shi. Mu Shi has been supplying our eatery for more than 10 years and has never taken advantage of us. Just wait and see. Having received eight taels of silver from me today, when he sends more prey over tomorrow, he definitely won’t charge us a cent for them.” Shopkeeper Zhang sighed and said, “The owner admires his magnanimous and just character, and that is why he’s rewarding him.”

At this moment, Mu Yangling was also asking Mu Shi, “Father, Shopkeeper Zhang clearly said that the wild boar was worth eight taels of silver just now. Why did you keep declining and leave so many small prey behind?”

While pushing the cart, Mu Shi looked at his daughter who had just reached his ribs. He patted her head and said, “Child, you have to remember that there are some benefits that you can’t take. Shopkeeper Zhang is tolerant of us, so that’s all the more reason to be grateful. He was the one who decided to give us the reward. It’s fine if Boss Liu likes the wild boar, but if he doesn’t, wouldn’t we be putting Shopkeeper Zhang in a difficult position for nothing? Tomorrow, bring a few hares to Shopkeeper Zhang’s family. I’ll send some prey to the eatery. Even if Boss Liu doesn’t like it, with the prey I send over later, he won’t blame Shopkeeper Zhang so much.”

Only then did Mu Yangling look at Mu Shi in surprise. The other party did not look like her rough father who only knew how to stand still while her mother lectured him.

Mu Yangling was secretly alarmed. Although she had lived for more than 20 years in her previous life, her living environment was actually simple. She had just graduated from university and joined the army for less than a year before she had to enter the cycle of reincarnation. In the past nine years, she had only lived in and traveled between Seven Mile Village, Nearhill Village, and the mountain forests. Naturally, she was nowhere as seasoned in the ways of the world as her father.

There were still many things in this world that she had to learn and do. She could not be content with what she already knew or take a short-sighted view.