Although this small mountain village wasn't very developed, the air was fresh once you entered it, carrying a scent of wheat.
It would be quite nice to live here for a lifetime, to adapt to this slow-paced life.
Qin Hui looked up, seeing golden wheat everywhere, along with rows of willows. The pastoral life was truly pleasant.
"Dazhuang, do all the people in your village make a living by selling herbs?" Qin Hui asked curiously as he sat on the donkey cart. It was said that people live off the mountains and waters near them.
"They did for the first few years, but there are fewer now. After all, some herbs take time to grow, and some villagers were bitten by venomous snakes while picking them, so there are fewer now," Li Dazhuang said with a sigh. The village could be self-sufficient, but it was difficult to earn a lot of money.
Qin Hui nodded upon hearing this and didn't ask further.
Soon, the two arrived at the small village. As Qin Hui was a stranger, his arrival immediately drew many curious glances.
After paying for the donkey, Li Dazhuang led Qin Hui towards his home. They walked for a short while before Qin Hui arrived at Li Dazhuang's doorstep. It was a small, three-story building that looked quite substantial.
"Er Tuzi, let go of me! If you dare to come any closer, my brother will never forgive you when he returns." A delicate young girl hid behind the door, her eyes filled with panic.
"Heh heh, Li Dazhuang went to the city to sell herbs and hasn't been back for three days. Who knows when he'll return?" Er Tuzi said with a lecherous grin, his single eye full of malice. "By the time he gets back, the day will be long gone. Qingqing, just be with me. Follow me, Er Tuzi, and I guarantee you'll eat well and live comfortably."
He then lunged towards Li Qingqing with a laugh. Li Qingqing was considered the most beautiful woman in the village, and more importantly, she was a university student with a unique temperament. It wouldn't be a loss to win her over.
However, just as Er Tuzi was about to succeed, the door of the house was pried open by Li Dazhuang with his bare hands. The sudden noise startled Er Tuzi.
"Er Tuzi, how dare you bully my sister! I'll gouge out your other eye too!" Li Dazhuang's eyes blazed with anger. If he had returned a moment later, his sister might have been violated.
"Brother." Li Qingqing, curled up in the corner, began to cry, deeply distressed. The scene just now had truly terrified her.
"Dazhuang, Dazhuang, it's a misunderstanding." As Er Tuzi spoke, he threw a handful of lime powder. Li Dazhuang immediately covered his eyes, but at this moment, Er Tuzi made a dash for it and fled. Once he escaped, Li Dazhuang would have no way to catch him.
However, just as Er Tuzi thought he was about to escape, Qin Hui blocked him at the doorway with one hand.
"Who the hell are you? Get lost!" Er Tuzi pushed towards Qin Hui with one hand. But the next moment, a silver needle shot from Qin Hui's hand into Er Tuzi's knee. Er Tuzi immediately knelt before Qin Hui with a thud, gritting his teeth in pain.
Before Er Tuzi could cry out again, Li Dazhuang ran out, a carrying pole now in his hand. He began to beat Er Tuzi with it. Soon, Er Tuzi's screams echoed in the yard. No matter how much Er Tuzi begged for mercy, Li Dazhuang showed no signs of stopping. The beating lasted for nearly half an hour, after which Er Tuzi lay on the ground, unable to utter another sound, his body too wracked with pain to do so.
Seeing that Li Dazhuang still intended to strike, Qin Hui quickly intervened. "Dazhuang, stop! You'll kill him if you keep going." Hearing this, Li Dazhuang finally dropped the carrying pole and sternly warned, "Get lost! If I see you again, I'll beat you up again."
Er Tuzi, who was almost exhausted, immediately found strength upon hearing this and scrambled towards the door to escape. He feared Li Dazhuang would kill him with the carrying pole if he stayed any longer.
"Brother, don't be angry." Li Qingqing patted her brother's clothes, showing concern.
"Hmph, that Er Tuzi is no good." Li Dazhuang let out a few deep breaths before finally relaxing.
"By the way, Qingqing, this is Qin Hui, my main client. If it weren't for Qin Hui just now, that Er Tuzi would have gotten away," Li Dazhuang said gratefully.
"Thank you, Brother Qin Hui," Li Qingqing also said gratefully.
"It's nothing, just a small matter," Qin Hui nodded slightly, giving Li Qingqing an appreciative glance. She was indeed quite delicate.
"Qingqing, it's almost noon. Hurry up and cook, and kill a free-range chicken. Your Brother Qin Hui and I have something to discuss," Li Dazhuang instructed. Li Qingqing nodded obediently and looked at Qin Hui with curiosity, wondering how someone close to her brother's age could be his main client.
The two went to the main hall. Li Dazhuang poured Qin Hui a cup of tea and expressed his gratitude again. If it weren't for Qin Hui, Li Dazhuang would truly have been helpless against Er Tuzi. Er Tuzi was very cunning and often fled to the back mountains after doing bad deeds, making him impossible to catch.
"Dazhuang, how about we go to the mountain after we eat? I want to see if I can find the herbs I'm looking for," Qin Hui said.
"Don't worry, Brother Hui, that's my job," Li Dazhuang replied enthusiastically. Qin Hui smiled faintly. He had called him Qin Hui earlier, but now he was calling him Brother Hui. Qin Hui didn't dwell on these minor details and instead inquired about the routes up the mountain and some uncommon herbs. Knowing this in advance could save a lot of effort.
After the two had finalized their plans, delicious dishes began to come out of the kitchen. As the saying goes, good news makes one feel energetic. There were many herbs Qin Hui wanted in the back mountain, so his mood naturally improved. Moreover, Qin Hui planned to stay in the village for a few days to collect all the herbs there. As for Jiang Yanxi, Qin Hui wasn't worried. Sun Mu wouldn't recover in less than ten days to half a month. By the time he finished collecting the herbs in the village, he would have time to deal with Sun Mu.
"Mmm, I didn't expect Qingqing's cooking to be so good. Not only does this dish smell good, but it tastes delicious too," Qin Hui said as he picked up a piece of chicken to taste.
"Heh heh, my sister's cooking is top-notch. I'm reluctant to marry off such a good sister," Li Dazhuang chuckled beside him.
"Brother, what are you talking about?" Li Qingqing blushed, looking a little embarrassed. Li Qingqing's culinary skills were indeed excellent, and a large table of food was quickly finished by the three of them. Qin Hui ate the most. After all, it was a rare visit, and Qin Hui felt it would be a waste if he didn't eat his fill. Most importantly, after his breakthrough, Qin Hui's appetite had increased significantly. Only with sufficient energy could his physical strength be maintained.