The Hidden Immortal

Chapter 27 I'm Twice as Arrogant as Him

After touring the town, Chu Xun and Li Shoutian set their goals.

Some of the items were confiscated from the Lin family, while others were being sold off by people in a hurry.

Even Zhang Sanchun "borrowed" several dozen taels from Chu Xun to buy a small shop, planning to open a roasted nuts and seeds store in the future.

Each shop that was booked had a wooden sign hanging at the entrance with the name written on it.

This means it already belongs to someone, and no one else will come to see it.

All that's needed is to report to the county government, pay the silver, and sign and seal the document to complete the transaction.

After all the wooden signs were hung up, Lin Qiaoxi, who had been hesitant to speak, appeared sullen.

She couldn't help but look at the Lin family's residence, especially when she passed by it.

The once familiar vermilion gate is now crooked.

The door was covered with marks from being smashed, and someone had written many nasty things on it with charcoal.

Looking back, the Lin family's residence required repairs to the threshold every year.

Because so many people came to visit, even though Lin Guiwan was only a distant relative.

But now, "deserted" is not even an adequate description of its desolation.

Everyone kept their distance from the Lin family's possessions, and no one was willing to buy them no matter how cheap they were.

This house has been listed for a long time, and it only costs a mere thirty-seven taels of silver, yet it is harder to sell than a shop that used to cost thirty thousand taels.

At this moment, Zhang Sanchun suddenly walked over and took down the wooden sign hanging at the door.

Returning to Lin Qiaoxi's side, he whispered, "I can't write, you write for me."

Lin Qiaoxi was stunned. Writing?

What should I write?

Zhang Sanchun scratched his head and said, "A-Xun said he'd lend me another forty taels to buy this house. Then I can open a nut and nut shop and won't have to go back to the village."

Lin Qiaoxi was stunned. She had indeed considered buying this house, but her wallet was too empty.

She had already borrowed several dozen taels from Chu Xun to buy a shop, and she simply couldn't bring herself to ask for more.

But even without her saying a word, how could Chu Xun not know her thoughts?

So he gave Zhang Sanchun several dozen taels extra in advance, telling him to remove the sign and leave his name when he arrived at the house.

Lin Qiaoxi turned her head to look ahead and saw that the group had stopped.

Chu Xun looked over with a smile, his expression gentle and natural.

A warm feeling welled up in Lin Qiaoxi's heart, and she quickly walked over, about to kneel down in front of Chu Xun.

Chu Xun quickly helped her up, saying, "Sister-in-law, there's no need for this."

Lin Qiaoxi's eyes reddened as she said, "Uncle's kindness is something I could never repay, even if I were to work like a slave. I really don't know how to express my gratitude."

Chu Xun said, "Money is just an external thing. It only has value when it is spent on meaningful things. My elder brother and sister-in-law have gone through many hardships together. This is just a token of my appreciation."

He genuinely had no intention of making Zhang Sanchun repay the money; there was still a long road ahead.

I can live a long time, but what about Zhang Sanchun and the others?

One day, we will all grow old and gray, dust to dust, ashes to ashes.

Chu Xun cherishes his current life and hopes that those around him can do the same, so that they won't have too many regrets as they grow old.

However, while he thought this way, Lin Qiaoxi would never give up so easily.

Zhang Sanchun also came over and insisted that the money must be returned no matter what.

Knowing he wasn't very capable, he said, "If I can't pay it back in ten years, then I'll pay it back in twenty. If I still can't pay it back, then my son will pay it back, then my grandson will pay it back, and we'll eventually be able to pay it off."

Huan'er, with her pigtails, gnawed on her fingers, tugged at Zhang Anxiu's clothes, and looked left and right, as if curious about what the elders were saying.

Although Chu Xun was not short of money, he knew that the most precious thing for the poor, and the thing that no one cared about the most, was their dignity.

Without insisting further, he simply said, "Since my elder brother and sister-in-law have said so, I won't be coy. Let's do it this way."

Li Shoutian laughed from the side, "No wonder people say fools are lucky. Sanchun, you're quite fortunate."

He married a good wife and had a good brother like Chu Xun to help him.

Then he thought about himself. His whole family was a handful, and only his son, Li Guangmao, was somewhat like him and didn't cause him so much trouble.

Zhang Sanchun chuckled and scratched his head, saying nothing, yet everything was understood without being spoken.

Afterwards, Lin Qiaoxi found a pen and wrote Zhang Sanchun's name on the wooden plaque by hand, then solemnly hung it back on the door frame of the house.

Without reporting to the county government, no one is allowed to enter the residence at will.

Lin Qiaoxi stared at the crooked and dirty door for a moment before leaving with tears in her eyes.

The following day, Chu Xun, Li Shoutian, and Zhang Sanchun went to the county government office to report, paid the silver, and signed and sealed the documents.

Unexpectedly, yet logically, the county magistrate, Tang Shijun, personally handled the matter.

He wore a round-necked blue official robe with egret patterns embroidered on the front and back.

He wore a black gauze hat with two stripes on his head and wide wings on both sides.

Although he was only a seventh-rank official, he was already a "high-ranking official" whom ordinary people rarely saw.

A seventh-rank official stands beside you, handing you a pen, grinding ink, and dipping it in ink paste.

Such an honor made Li Shoutian tremble with excitement.

After signing the document, he knelt down and kowtowed several times to Tang Shijun.

Tang Shijun helped him up, smiling warmly: "Village Chief Li, there's no need for such formalities. I should thank you all for your generosity in contributing to the country."

As he spoke, Tang Shijun looked at Chu Xun, who had already completed the process.

After looking him up and down, he praised, "Chu Zhongbin has reclaimed thirty acres of wasteland with the help of his own family. He is young and promising. He should continue his efforts and will surely achieve great things in the future."

The guests at the village banquet were also divided into three classes, one above the other.

First-class distinguished guest, second-class VIP, and third-class general guest.

Tang Shijun's words were mostly polite, but they did not entirely lack praise for Chu Xun.

Chu Xun remained calm and composed, cupping his hands and saying, "Thank you for your kind words, sir. I am deeply grateful for your consideration for my fellow villagers and will do my utmost to help."

Zheng Xiuwen, a tall and thin registrar standing to the side, frowned upon seeing this.

Ordinary people, upon receiving praise from the county magistrate, would at least be moved to tears, if not kowtow in gratitude, to show their respect.

Chu Xun's humble yet assertive manner naturally displeased the officials.

Later, other people came to act as brokers, so Chu Xun and his two companions took the land deeds and bid farewell and left.

After they left, Zheng Xiuwen stepped forward and said, "Sir, this Chu Xun seems a bit arrogant. You praised him so highly, yet he remained unmoved. I'm afraid he might be a troublemaker."

Tang Shijun placed the brush in a basin of water and carefully washed it to prevent the ink from drying on the brush if the next person arrived late.

Zheng Xiuwen's words did not faze him. He simply said in a calm voice, "This man lost both his parents at a young age and grew up on the charity of many families. Now, at only twenty-five, he already owns a hundred acres of fertile land and hundreds of square feet of shops. A thousand taels of silver—let alone ordinary people, even you and I couldn't come up with that amount on our salaries alone."

"So what if someone so young and accomplished is a little arrogant?"

Wrap the cleaned brush in linen and let it dry.

After putting the pen back on the holder, Tang Shijun wiped his hands, and the wings of his hat fluttered slightly with the movement.

He looked at Zheng Xiuwen and said, "If we're talking about arrogance, I'm a hundred times more arrogant than him! All he wants is vast wealth and a life free from want. What I want is a peaceful and prosperous society, a strong and prosperous nation!"

"If he truly possesses great ability, no matter how arrogant he may be, I will treat him like a brother. If he lacks ability, even the most powerful background will be ignored!"

It's not unusual for young people to be impetuous.

He learned to read at the age of two, composed poems at the age of six, and could speak fluently and eloquently at the age of nine.

Having passed the imperial examinations with flying colors and achieved the second-highest rank in the new imperial examinations, he had every reason to be arrogant.

He never concealed his arrogance, ambition, and aspirations.

Therefore, Tang Shijun is not afraid of anyone being a troublemaker, nor will he feel displeasure because of others' arrogance.

In Zhangnan County, he only cares about the results.

As long as it helps him achieve his ambitions, what does it matter if he serves you tea or wine?

The more arrogant a person is, the more they admire capable people, and the less they adhere to conventional rules and regulations.