40: Too much bullying of snakes

“Alright, everyone stop arguing. Chunsheng, what do you think about this matter?”

Li Fu raised his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet, then looked up at Liu Chunsheng.

“Chunsheng, just speak your mind boldly! From now on, all major and minor affairs in our village will be up to you.”

Li Fu smiled, his tone relaxed.

Although his words seemed casual, the weight they carried was not light at all.

In small, remote villages like theirs, the power of the village chief was almost unimaginable.

The village chief was like a patriarch; all village affairs, whether marriages and funerals, property division, or land disputes, as long as the village chief stepped in, there was no problem that could not be resolved.

By the same token, if someone accidentally offended the village chief, the consequences would not just be difficulty moving around the village; they might not even be able to keep their own life.

However, Li Fu had recently come to understand that Lord Chuping’s reputation would surely grow larger and larger in the future, and more and more people would come to seek refuge with Lord Chuping.

With more people, various conflicts and disputes would naturally follow.

As the Temple Official personally chosen by Lord Chuping, even if these newcomers were not convinced by him, an old man, and unwilling to follow his command, they would still have to obey Liu Chunsheng.

It was precisely because of this consideration that Li Fu decided to retreat gracefully.

In any case, Liu Chunsheng was from Chang Sheng Village and would always look after Chang Sheng Village.

Hearing Li Fu say this, the other people present also expressed their agreement.

“Yes, yes, Chunsheng, you will be the pillar of our village from now on. With Chang Sheng Village in your hands, we have nothing to worry about.”

“Exactly, exactly. If anyone is unconvinced, they’ll have to get past us first.”

Facing everyone’s trusting eyes, a warm current suddenly flowed through Liu Chunsheng’s heart, and at the same time, he secretly vowed to protect the safety of Chang Sheng Village.

“Uncles and elders, this is what I think: our villagers are all Mortals, but among the people from Prefecture City, there are many Martial Artists. They are well-traveled and knowledgeable, and can completely help us scout out the situation in nearby villages.”

“However, this matter cannot be resolved in a short time. Unless there is something special, everyone should not go out recently.”

After Liu Chunsheng finished speaking, everyone looked at each other, then nodded in unison.

“It should be, it should be.”

“We all listen to you.”

...“Chunsheng, there’s one more thing. So many people have come to the village. We can grow our own grain, but we don’t have enough salt.”

“Before, we used to wait for peddlers to come and exchange grain for a bit of salt, but now... alas!”

Now that the Wanbao Merchant Guild had hidden in their village, they didn't know what would happen to the trade in the future.

“Why are you thinking so much? That’s something the Wanbao Merchant Guild should worry about. At worst, we still have emergency grain at home. Not eating salt for a few days won’t kill anyone.”

“Alright, I’ll go ask Shopkeeper Jin about this matter and see what their plans are for the future.”

Liu Chunsheng left the ancestral hall and walked briskly towards the Wanbao Merchant Guild.

Although the salt problem was tricky, the Wanbao Merchant Guild was no longer just small-time villagers like them; they would always find a way to solve it.

The situation couldn't possibly be worse than it was a few years ago.

However, the ambitious Liu Chunsheng did not know that a storm was brewing within the Wanbao Merchant Guild at that very moment.

In the backyard of the Wanbao Merchant Guild, Jin Er, clutching a communication talisman, stealthily ran towards the outside of the village.

He didn’t relax until he had run several hundred meters outside Chang Sheng Village.

“Damn it, what a useless piece of trash.”

“He’s incompetent himself, but he better not block my Jin Er’s path to success, hmph!”

“When headquarters sends someone to take over here, no matter what, they should promote me to a first-rank shopkeeper.”

“By then, I’ll make you kneel at my feet. Let’s see how arrogant you can be then.”

...Jin Er cursed more and more heatedly, as if he had already seen the amusing scene of himself riding on Jin Zihua’s head and defecating.

“Xiao Hua, tell me, you can’t even figure out these accounts. Tonight, you’re not allowed to eat until you finish them!”

“Aiya, I can’t, it’s too funny.”

As Jin Er laughed, he suddenly felt a stomach ache. Finding a large tree, Jin Er relieved himself on the spot, then patted the dust off his clothes, composed himself, and slowly walked back to Chang Sheng Village.

After Jin Er had walked far away, the Little Green Snake poked its head out from under a leaf, its two beady eyes staring directly in the direction Jin Er had left.

Its eyes held a strong murderous glint.

Looking closely, there was also some unknown liquid on the Little Green Snake’s body.

Ah ah ah ah!

This is simply bullying a snake too much!

The snake is dirty, the snake is going to kill you!

A few minutes later, at the temple.

“You mean, the Wanbao Merchant Guild wants to occupy Chang Sheng Village?”

Lin Chuping looked at the extremely agitated Little Green Snake, trying hard not to laugh.

The Little Green Snake nodded, then shook its head.

“Hiss hiss!”

It was a junior attendant from the Wanbao Merchant Guild, the one with the shifty eyes, who contacted the Wanbao Merchant Guild headquarters, wanting to occupy Chang Sheng Village, not the foolishly rich Shopkeeper Jin.

“Jin Er?”

“Hiss hiss!”

Yes, it’s him! That bad guy even threw excrement on me, the snake is all dirty.

Seeing the Little Green Snake’s angry and wronged expression, Lin Chuping smiled and wanted to reach out to comfort it.

His hand reached halfway, then he thought of something, and very naturally made a detour, pretending to scratch his hair.

The Little Green Snake... felt wronged! Immensely wronged!

Please, Heaven, discern the loyal from the treacherous!

Unable to hold back, the Little Green Snake angrily spun in circles on the ground.

“Alright, alright, for this matter, this deity will make the decision for you. This Jin Er has already found his path to death.”

Lin Chuping smiled, condensed a bit of incense Qi, and sent it to the top of the Little Green Snake’s head.

His words also made the Little Green Snake’s heart feel warm, and its agitated emotions were instantly soothed.

Lin Chuping, of course, wasn’t just trying to comfort the Little Green Snake; he truly had such a thought.

There’s nothing wrong with vying for power and profit. Everyone has their own pursuits; some seek fame, some seek gain, some seek wealth.

He could understand and tolerate all of it.

But there was one point: if it blocked his Dao of incense, then he could only say sorry.

If Jin Er truly succeeded, and this area was monopolized by Mortals, then how could he widely recruit followers from all over the world?

Ridiculous!

What he needed were followers, not someone to act like his father!

“Hiss hiss!”

Lord Deity, you are so kind.

“Hiss hiss!”

There’s one more thing, a village nearby called Bao Shan Village had an incident; everyone in the village disappeared. Should I go and take a look again?

Bao Shan Village wasn’t far, and a trip would earn incense Qi, so the Little Green Snake’s calculations were clattering loudly.

“No need. I have a premonition that investigating this matter in Bao Shan Village won’t yield any results either.”

“Do you have any scoundrel friends who you could also introduce to work here for me?”