Chapter 258
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Chapter 258: Borrowing Grain
The death of Uncle Zhu’s family felt like a stone dropped into a deep pool.
Though it stirred some ripples in the alley, within a few days, it was scarcely mentioned. When neighbors occasionally brought it up, it was only with a sigh.
As for Hou Zheng, who rented a dilapidated house, his disappearance went entirely unnoticed.
Who would care about the fate of a second-rate cultivator with a penchant for gambling?
What truly concerned everyone now was the ever-rising price of grain.
The local aunties and older women often gathered, their conversations invariably revolving around the daily escalating prices of spiritual rice or tribute rice. Their faces bore a faint trace of worry, filled with apprehension about the approaching winter.
When the first snow fell, a new family moved into Uncle Zhu’s house.
The family consisted of five members. The husband, surnamed Duan, was a fifth-level Qi Trainer, with one wife, one concubine, and two children.
Such a cultivator family was a rare sight in the alleys, making them a frequent topic of conversation among the neighbors.
However, the Duan family patriarch had a pleasant demeanor, always greeting everyone with a warm smile and polite words.
His wife and concubine were both gentle and beautiful, skilled in cooking. Shortly after moving in, they prepared a variety of pastries to share with their neighbors.
Their two children also appeared well-mannered and polite.
Overall, they made a favorable impression and quickly integrated into the community.
Wang Chen, however, paid little attention to them.
He even altered his usual routine, retreating into seclusion and dedicating most of his time to cultivation.
The weather grew increasingly colder.
Several heavy snowfalls in succession transformed Dongwu Town into a world of silver.
The surrounding rolling mountains were blanketed in thick snow. At night, the dripping water froze into ice, and many cultivators entered a state of hibernation, rarely venturing out of town.
Hunting and gathering in winter became exceedingly difficult, and life grew increasingly harsh for many cultivators.
In particular, families without enough grain to get through the winter had to find ways to survive this most challenging season.
Tap tap!
“Someone’s here.”
Hearing the sounds from outside, Wang Chen, who had been drinking tea in the inner room, went out to open the courtyard gate.
“Brother Chen?”
Standing before him was his neighbor, Chen Qi, his head slightly bowed, his face etched with worry.
Seeing Wang Chen, he forced a smile and said, “Wang Chen, sorry to disturb you. Do you have a moment to talk?”
Wang Chen was polite and addressed him as “Brother Chen,” but Chen Qi didn’t dare to presume any superiority over Wang Chen.
After all, Wang Chen was not only a Qi Training seventh level cultivator but also a renowned talisman maker.
In every respect, he was far beyond Chen Qi’s reach.
Wang Chen smiled and said, “Come on in.”
Among the neighbors, he was most familiar with Chen Qi’s family, and they often exchanged words.
“Wang Chen, your home is truly splendid!”
Upon entering the main building, Chen Qi couldn’t help but express his heartfelt admiration at the arrangement and decor.
Though he was acquainted with Wang Chen, this was only his second visit to Wang Chen’s residence.
Yet, the scene before him was entirely different from what he had seen during his previous visit!
The main building was adorned with a thick carpet, and a fireplace had been built against the northern wall, its logs burning brightly, filling the room with a warmth reminiscent of spring.
In front of the fireplace stood a tea table, with a teapot placed beside the flames, bubbling and releasing steam.
The entire room was immaculate and orderly, with only a few pieces of furniture and no clutter. Several paintings hung on the walls, adding an air of refinement.
Chen Qi couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy as he compared it to his own home.
“This must have cost a fortune in spirit stones, didn’t it?”
He was particularly fond of the grand fireplace, something he had never seen before.
Wang Chen, a talisman maker, truly carried himself with a grace and presence that set him apart from ordinary loose cultivators.
Wang Chen gestured for his neighbor to take a seat and prepared a cup of spiritual tea for him. “I just made a few adjustments to make it more comfortable; it didn’t cost much in spirit stones.”
Chen Qi held the teacup with both hands and cautiously took a sip.
His previously furrowed brow instantly relaxed. “This is excellent tea!”
Though it was just ordinary spiritual tea, for Chen Qi, it felt like a rare indulgence.
Wang Chen smiled. “It’s nothing special. If you like it, I can let you take some home later.”
The spiritual tea hadn’t been purchased with spirit stones; it had come from a storage bag Wang Chen had seized, which surprisingly contained hundreds of pounds. He had no idea which unfortunate soul had been such a tea enthusiast.
In the end, it had all fallen into Wang Chen’s hands.
“Thank you.”
Chen Qi hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words.
Wang Chen, noticing his demeanor, asked, “Brother Chen, is there something you need to discuss with me?”
He knew Chen Qi wasn’t the type to visit without a reason; his sudden appearance must have been driven by necessity.
Chen Qi bit his lip and finally spoke. “Wang Chen, I don’t know if you have enough grain stored, but could you lend me some?”
He removed the storage bag hanging from his waist and placed it on the tea table. “I’ll leave this with you as collateral!”
The now-empty storage bag was the most valuable possession Chen Qi owned.
Borrowing grain?
Wang Chen was momentarily stunned; he hadn’t anticipated this to be Chen Qi’s request.
Chen Qi, misinterpreting Wang Chen’s reaction, flushed with embarrassment. “I know food is scarce these days, and everyone’s struggling. I truly have no other choice; my two boys are at that age where they eat so much.”
“I can cut back on my own meals, but it breaks my heart to see the children…”
As he spoke, he grew frustrated with himself. “Cough, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t trouble you like this. Let’s just forget it.”
He reached for his storage bag, his face filled with awkwardness.
But his hand grasped at empty air.
Wang Chen had already taken the storage bag. “Brother Chen, how much do you need?”
“Huh?”
Chen Qi was momentarily dazed, then replied instinctively, “Anything you can spare would be fine.”
“Wait here a moment.”
Wang Chen took the storage bag to his bedroom and returned shortly.
He handed the bag back to the anxious Chen Qi. “Brother Chen, take this spiritual grain for now. You can return it whenever you’re able.”
Wang Chen had filled the bag with three hundred pounds of spiritual grains—White Jade Rice he had cultivated during his time at the outer sect of the Yunyang Sect.
If used sparingly, it would be enough for Chen Qi’s family of four to get through the winter.
Though Wang Chen had ample supplies of spiritual rice, grains, spirit fruits, and beast meat stored in multiple storage bags, he knew better than to lend too much.
He understood the delicate balance of generosity and obligation.
Chen Qi was overwhelmed with gratitude, his eyes welling up. “Thank you, Wang Chen! I’ll repay you as soon as I can!”
His eyes turned red.
Though men are often reluctant to show tears, in this moment, Wang Chen’s willingness to lend him grain felt like an act of profound kindness.
After seeing off his deeply grateful neighbor, Wang Chen paused for a moment in thought, then left his home and made his way to the marketplace.
