"Yes, Shopkeeper Li is very straightforward. I'll come back to you next time I find something good."
Since Li Youde was so straightforward and offered such a good price, Ye Ming was naturally willing to sell to him.
"Little brother, if you need to buy some cloth later, you can go to Zhang's Cloth Shop. I'm an old friend of the shopkeeper there. I can give you a little less money if you mention my name."
Ye Ming didn't have much good clothing on him, so he naturally wanted to buy some clothes now that he had some money.
It had to be said that Shopkeeper Li had a good eye. Ye Ming was planning to buy two pieces of clothing.
"Yes, thank you, Shopkeeper Li."
"Haha, what are you thanking me for? I'm just referring business for my friend. It's cold out. If you don't mind, could you stay here for a while before you leave?"
It was just a polite remark, and Ye Ming naturally didn't take it seriously.
"Thank you for your kindness, Shopkeeper. I have to get back home after I finish shopping. I'll take my leave now."
Li Youde didn't try to persuade him to stay, but simply walked Ye Ming a few steps. After Ye Ming left, his second brother asked in confusion.
"Shopkeeper, why are you so respectful to that peasant?"
"What do you know? Look at the wound on the bristly pig; it's clearly been pierced directly by an arrow. To penetrate a pig that size, you need strength."
Even the old hunter in Great King's Manor might not be able to pierce such a large bristly pig with a single arrow.
Ye Ming's abilities aside, if he hadn't arrived in time, he wouldn't have gotten the bristly pig. He'd have had to fawn over Huang Ji, which would have been embarrassing, and not certain he'd even get one.
If he couldn't get one, his position as shopkeeper would have been over. So, it made sense to be respectful to Ye Ming, his savior.
Around noon, Ye Ming finally finished his shopping. He bought some cloth, rice, and other daily necessities.
Finally, he came across a roast chicken shop and decided to buy two to bring back for Su Xiaorong.
"Boss, is that Ye Qingshan's silly brother?"
Chen Dalang followed his younger brother's gaze and saw Ye Ming selling roast chicken.
"Oh, it's true. This idiot actually has money for roast chicken! That bastard Ye Qingshan still owes me a tael of silver from his last visit to a brothel."
"He's been saying he has no money for so long, and yet his idiot brother actually has money for roast chicken."
Chen Dalang had studied with Ye Qingshan for a few years, though neither of them was particularly academically inclined.
So, they often used their family's money to fool around. Before the New Year, Ye Qingshan had visited a brothel with him. He even advanced Ye Qingshan some money, which he still hasn't asked for back.
"Come on, follow me and get the money!"
With that, the two men headed towards Ye Ming.
Ye Ming had just finished buying roast chicken and was about to leave when two men suddenly appeared before him.
One was dressed in brown silk, the other in gray linen. Both were thin, with dark circles under their eyes, the look of someone who had indulged in excessive sexual activity.
"Hey, are you Ye Qingshan's idiot brother?"
Ye Ming looked at the two men before him, his face full of nitpicking.
"I'm saying you've made a mistake."
The two men clearly had a grudge against Ye Qingshan. Ye Ming didn't want to argue with them any further.
"Hey, you still dare to deny it?"
"Your brother owes me a tael of silver, and it's been ages. Shouldn't you, as his younger brother, pay him back?"
It turned out to be Ye Qingshan's creditor.
"Boss, he's just a fool, he won't understand even if you tell him all this. Why not just rob him?"
Ye Ming sneered.
"Are you sure you want to rob? If you don't want to go back on your hands and knees, give it a try!"
It just so happened that Ye Ming hadn't really used this body's strength yet. He'd felt his stamina was good while hunting yesterday, but he'd never really used his full strength in a fight.
"Hey, hey, this idiot dares to threaten me."
"I'm telling you, you'd better hand over the money. My brother-in-law is the owner of Piaoxianglou. If you don't want to die, give him the money and the roast chicken you just bought!"
After hearing Chen Dalang's words, Ye Ming's face darkened even more. If the other party insists on picking a fight, then don't blame him.
"I repeat, I don't know any damn Ye Qingshan, and I'm not a fool. If you want to rob me, you'll have to see if you have the guts!"
Fortunately, there weren't many people here, so Ye Ming could slip away after teaching them a lesson.
"Fine, then you'll have to drink! Let's do it!"
With that, the two men moved to grab Ye Ming's belongings.
But in a split second, they were knocked to the ground by Ye Ming. Chen Daliang's eye socket was bruised.
"Ouch, you peasant, you dare to hit me!"
"You're all trying to rob me, why can't I hit you? If you don't agree, go find Ye Qingshan!"
Ye Ming glanced at the two men lying on the ground with a look of despair before walking away.
"Damn you, peasants! Wait a few days, when the snow stops, and then I'll gather some people and go find Ye Qingshan to ask him what he means!"
Once Ye Ming was out of the city, he stuffed his belongings into the system space. He only had two rolls of gray silk cloth and a bushel of fine rice in his hands.
"Xiaorong would be very happy if she saw these two pieces of cloth,"
Ye Ming thought, quickening his pace as he hurried home.
..
At the entrance of Qingshi Village, most of the villagers had gathered around a fire. As the weather grew colder, firewood became increasingly difficult to come by.
Liu Cunzhengjiu had gathered everyone around the fire to save on firewood.
Of course, Wang Dajiao and Ye Qingshan were also there. Sitting next to them was a plump woman. She was probably Ye Qingshan's wife.
"Wang Da Jiao, why haven't I seen your silly son today?"
"Did he go to town to sell bristle pigs?"
He Chunhua asked Wang Da Jiao when no one mentioned the matter.
"What bristle pig?"
Wang Da Jiao was obviously unaware, but the village women who had gone to the back hills to dig up grass roots and sweet potatoes yesterday knew.
"It was yesterday. Your silly son raised a huge bristle pig in the back hills. Huang Lao Si and the others saw it. Don't think you can have it all to yourself."
What!
That little bastard got prey?
"Indeed, I saw it too,"
Several of the ladies who were close to He Chunhua also said. Aunt Huang wanted to refute and cover up for Ye Ming, but it was too late.
"Wang Da Jiao, I heard that bristle pig could sell for six or seven taels of silver. I don't need more, just give me a bowl of porridge."
Wang Da Jiao was now certain that Ye Ming's little bastard had really gotten something. And it could sell for six or seven taels!
If she got it, it would last him two or three months!
"He Chunhua, that's what the fool risked his life for, and you're so shameless as to ask for favors. You're the only one who hasn't helped the fool before, and you're not ashamed!"