Chapter 32: Applying Pressure

“……”

In that instant, the widow Wang’s gaze shifted—harsh, desperate, and unwaveringly fixed on Lu Chuan.

Lu Chuan chuckled softly. “Looks like I guessed right.”

“What do you intend to do?” The widow’s voice deepened, tinged with caution.

“Nothing much. Just some things I need to clarify, otherwise it feels like there’s a thorn in my heart.” Lu Chuan glanced outside, then diverted the topic. “Does she know about this?”

“She knows nothing!” The widow said warily.

Lu Chuan smiled but remained silent.

After a deep breath, the widow spoke candidly, “Brother Lu, I’m truly sorry. We never meant to hide anything. If life weren’t unbearable, who would willingly leave their home and live like this?”

“We’re all just unfortunate souls.”

“Brother Lu, please give us a way out.”

At this moment, the widow’s tone was unexpectedly sincere.

Lu Chuan understood that he could do nothing. If he reported this to the authorities, it would be too late for them to escape—if escape were even possible.

Moreover, he hadn’t reported the matter immediately upon learning it. Instead, he came to find her. There must be another motive.

With this thought, the widow’s mind gradually calmed; her eyes flickered with a thoughtful light.

“Rest assured, I have no interest in your secrets.”

“I don’t intend to pry.”

“But when I entered the county town a few days ago, I bought a servant girl.”

“She’s registered as a lowly slave.”

“She bears a resemblance to Chen Qingqing.”

Lu Chuan smiled. “She cost me a full ten taels of silver!”

“Impossible!” The widow Wang shook her head bitterly. “Though I’m ill, I’m not foolish. No matter how beautiful a woman is, once registered as a slave, she’s not worth ten taels of silver.”

“You say that because you want to gain some advantage from me!”

“But look at me now—what advantage do I have that you’d find appealing?”

The widow’s words were laced with helplessness.

Lu Chuan smiled but said nothing, simply watching her quietly.

“There really isn’t anything.”

The widow, uncomfortable under his gaze, gave up and said bluntly, “Take whatever you want from our belongings. If anything catches your eye, just take it.”

***

Lu Chuan glanced around the sparsely furnished room and shook his head in resignation.

“So, you fancy Qingqing?” the widow asked again.

Lu Chuan hesitated, unsure how to answer.

Truth be told, he did want to take Chen Qingqing in, but the circumstances were clearly not yet right.

“Survive first. There’s no need to throw your life away.”

Lu Chuan’s words were simple.

The widow froze. “How… how do you know?”

“It’s simple. When I last saw you, though weak, you only seemed to suffer from a common cold. Days later, you shouldn’t be any weaker, even if still unwell.”

“And many of the complications don’t match.”

“You look more like you’ve been poisoned.”

Lu Chuan said.

“What have you guessed?” she asked.

“Zhou Zheng’s arrival made you feel threatened, didn’t it? And the county officials came yesterday?”

Lu Chuan muttered to himself.

“But right now, it’s best not to make any moves. You’re relatively safe as you are.” Lu Chuan advised. “Stay put and survive.”

“If something really happens, there will be time to choose then.”

Having said this, he turned and left.

In the courtyard, he met Chen Qingqing.

“I had to rush out today to handle some matters with the village chief. When you have time later, come by the house and bring some spare ribs back.”

“Thank you so much, Brother Lu!” Chen Qingqing said gratefully.

Lu Chuan said nothing.

Today, his main purpose was to visit Sun Zhi’s household to discuss the hunting team.

After returning yesterday, Sun Zhi went door to door notifying the villagers.

Today, they would formulate a set of regulations.

The matter was rather complicated.

Lu Chuan even heard that because only one person from each household could join, many once harmonious families were now splitting.

After all, every additional person in the mountains meant more meat to share.

When he arrived at Sun Zhi’s house, many villagers had already gathered in the courtyard, greeting Lu Chuan one by one.

“Chuan…”

“I told you, Chuan would make something of himself!”

“Quietly learned how to hunt…”

Lu Chuan greeted them all in turn.

At that moment, Sun Zhi came forward and grasped Lu Chuan’s hand.

“Thank heavens you’re here. The women in the village have already been quarrelling here!”

“I’m at my wit’s end.”

“I just told each household to leave one person in charge; the rest must stay home.”

Lu Chuan smiled wryly. “You’re doing the right thing.”

“All right, everyone, don’t linger in the yard. Come inside! Let’s sit down and discuss everything properly.”

Sun Zhi had some schooling, so his home was slightly larger.

It was the village’s only residence with one gate and two courtyards, and it had a hall for meetings.

Everyone took their seats in order.

“Everyone knows what this is about!” Sun Zhi began. “The village will form a hunting squad led by Lu Chuan! Every month, we’ll spend five days hunting in the mountains.”

“Sixty percent of the hunted game belongs to Lu Chuan; the remaining forty percent will be divided equally among all participating households.”

Sun Zhi cleared his throat twice. “No objections, I hope?”

Just then, a woman stood up.

She nodded apologetically at Lu Chuan. “Brother Lu, I’m straightforward, so please don’t take offense!”

“We work hard following you into the mountains, but you take the lion’s share of the meat. The rest of us get too little!”

“Why don’t you give up some? You keep forty percent, and the rest of us share sixty.”

The speaker was the wife of Wu Laokuai from the eastern end of the village. Because Laokuai was the fourth son in his family, the younger generation referred to his wife as Fourth Lady.

As soon as she spoke, the room erupted in chatter.

“Yes, Brother Chuan, we’re all struggling!”

“You can’t eat that much alone. Give us more!”

“…”

Lu Chuan sat quietly, smiling as he looked at Sun Zhi.

Sun Zhi lowered his head awkwardly, saying nothing.

By now, Lu Chuan understood clearly: Sun Zhi had made an eager promise yesterday, but today he was waiting here to see how things would unfold.

He didn’t want to pressure Lu Chuan directly.

Instead, he let the villagers do that for him.