Cooperation

Chen Daniu and Chen Fangfang went to Xu Chuan's home again, arriving just in time for lunch.

Bai Jing naturally welcomed them.

Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingyuan had not gone to school; they studied whenever they found time at home.

Sometimes, the Chen siblings brought textbooks and homework from school for the two brothers to reference.

It had to be said that both Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingyuan were clever.

Their learning was no worse than the others', while their knowledge of the world was even broader.

Tempered by the grindstone of real life, they had been polished into something even more outstanding.

Three evenings later.

Chen Ergou stepped into Xu Chuan's courtyard beneath the sunset, carrying a bottle of fine Yellow Millet Wine.

"Sister-in-law, is Brother Chuan back yet?"

Seeing Bai Jing supervising Xu Mingyuan's calligraphy practice in the corridor before the main hall, Chen Ergou called out with a smile.

"My husband should be back shortly. If you need him for something, sit and wait a while. You can have dinner with us too."

"Thank you, Sister-in-law. This is good wine I stole from my father. He's kept it hidden for more than ten years, and there isn't much left."

Bai Jing smiled in surprise, took the wine inside, and brought out a stool for him.

Chen Ergou looked at Xu Mingyuan's writing and nodded. "It's much better than my Daniu's. Sister-in-law, you really know how to teach."

"How could I have such skill? Brother Chuan taught them hand in hand. I merely supervise them and make sure they finish the homework my husband assigns every day."

"With Brother Chuan's level of learning, he could be a teacher at the school."

Bai Jing giggled. Hearing someone praise her husband naturally filled her heart with joy.

"What are you talking about that has you so happy? Ergou, you're here."

Chen Ergou turned around to see Xu Chuan and Xu Mingwei approaching with hoes over their shoulders and their trouser legs rolled up.

Xu Mingwei also carried a wooden bucket in one hand.

"Brother Chuan, you're back."

Xu Mingwei handed the bucket to Bai Jing and grinned honestly. "Mother, Father and I found quite a few field snails today."

"Tut, that is quite a lot." Bai Jing smiled faintly. "But the field snails need to sit for a day or two first. Otherwise, they'd make perfect drinking snacks for your father and Uncle Ergou."

"You have something to tell me? Let's talk inside. Dinner will probably take a while yet."

Chen Ergou nodded.

Just then, seeing Xu Chuan return, Xu Mingxuan came running over with a patter of footsteps, asking Xu Chuan to play with him.

Xu Mingwei scooped Xu Mingxuan up. "Tantou, Big Brother will play with you. Big Brother will show you some boxing."

"Okay, okay! I want to watch you box." Xu Mingxuan clapped happily.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

As Xu Mingwei practiced his punches, the air burst with booming explosions.

Even Chen Ergou was startled. He stared at Xu Mingwei in the courtyard for quite some time.

"Brother Chuan, Shitou is incredible. He feels like a Martial Artist. In just a few years, he'll probably become a real Martial Artist, won't he?"

Chen Ergou's horizons were ultimately too limited.

If his Big Brother had been here, he would have seen at a glance that Xu Mingwei was already a Martial Artist who had developed Internal Force.

Once he opened thirty-six Acupoints, he would be a Third-rate Martial Artist.

Years had passed, yet the thirty-six-year-old Chen Daming was still only a Second-rate Martial Artist.

Though he had talent for martial arts, it was merely average. He would probably remain at the level of a Second-rate Martial Artist for his entire life.

"My brother even said you couldn't cultivate that Lesser Dragon Elephant Technique. I think it's his own talent that's lacking."

Chen Ergou laughed twice. "Next time I see him, I'll definitely mock him properly. I wonder how his Green Jade Pear Tree is growing."

"Enough. Let's get down to business. What did you come to see me about today?"

Chen Ergou said, "It's what A Yuan told the two boys in my family a couple of days ago. I think it's very suitable."

"Now that the Xu Family has grown to a certain scale under your hand, you definitely won't be able to manage if you want to expand further by yourself. You know I'm rather free, so I can handle the things you don't have time for."

"That way, everyone will be happy."

"Uncle Chen agreed?"

"My father thinks very highly of you. The moment I mentioned it, he agreed. He even said my brain had finally started working."

Xu Chuan smiled slightly. "Then how do you plan to cooperate?"

"Let's choose the second option. I'll sell the goods for both our families. Your family keeps all its profits, while my family's profits will be split seventy-thirty."

"Thirty percent of the profits is no small sum. Are you really willing?"

Chen Ergou patted his chest. "Even forty percent would be fine."

"I appreciate your goodwill."

"Brother Chuan, you're not agreeing?" Chen Ergou grew a little flustered.

"No. I mean twenty percent is enough. Your family can handle the planting yourselves; the amount doesn't matter. I'll only provide guidance. Your family will handle the selling, but my family will send someone too."

"It isn't that I don't trust you. This is the only fair way."

"Brother Chuan, are you going to do it yourself? Can you manage with everything else?"

"Of course not me. It'll be A Yuan." Xu Chuan smiled. "He has considerable talent in business. Letting him follow you around in his spare time and broaden his horizons will be excellent training."

"A Yuan truly is impressive. If he hadn't suggested this, I never would have thought of it."

Xu Chuan nodded. "Also, I suggest you speak with your brother. When it comes time to sell, hire a few honest, dependable Martial Artists to prevent any accidents."

"Brother Chuan, you really have thought of everything." After considering it carefully, Chen Ergou said, "Not long ago, I heard my father say that a disaster had struck in the west, and many refugees are heading toward our area."

"Is that so?"

Xu Chuan narrowed his eyes, feeling that he should divine whether this matter boded well or ill when he had the time.

Recently, it had been the busy farming season, so he had only used it to calculate things like the day's weather.

Once the cooperation between the two families had been settled, the weight hanging over Chen Ergou's heart finally lifted. He thought that when he returned tonight, he could finally sleep soundly.

That night.

Chen Ergou drank himself senseless, and Xu Mingwei had to support him on the way home.

But on the road, a figure suddenly sprang out and struck Xu Mingwei on the head with a muffled blow, leaving him dizzy and disoriented.

His hand loosened, and Chen Ergou fell straight to the ground with a cry of pain.

Xu Mingwei clutched his head and turned to look closely.

Though the night was dim, his eyes were anything but ordinary.

In a dark corner stood a ragged beggar clutching a wooden stick. His body trembled slightly, and his green-glinting eyes stared at Xu Mingwei like those of a vicious wolf.

Seeing that his full-strength blow had done little to the other party, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"Who are you?" Xu Mingwei shouted.

The instant his words fell, the disheveled beggar turned and ran.

Xu Mingwei had wanted to chase after him, but Chen Ergou clung to his leg and refused to let go, crying, "Wife, Wife."

Xu Mingwei could not leave Chen Ergou here alone, so he helped him up and sent him home.

Afterward, he did not forget to warn Xu Yan not to go out casually at night, saying that even he had been struck by a sneak attack.

If his physical condition had not been so good, the valuables on both of them would likely have been robbed clean, and they might even have lost their lives.

"I see. Then Shitou, be careful on your way back too."

After Xu Mingwei returned home, he told Xu Chuan about what had happened.

"A beggar?"

"Looks like things are going to be chaotic for a while."

"Don't go out at night unless you have to lately."

"Understood, Father."