TBIP: Chapter 21

Lou Xingyao thought about how Wen Hanshan would rather take the risk to ask him about this and couldn’t help feeling a warm current in his heart. The corners of his mouth couldn’t help curling up.

“Thank you for your concern, Brother Wen. The cultivation method I practice is called the Myriad Celestial Stars Method. It was left by my mother and there is nothing missing.”

“Myriad Celestial Stars Method… no wonder.” Wen Hanshan repeated in a low voice with a hint of understanding in his eyes.

He felt that the sea of stars had moved differently when Lou Xingyao drew qi into his body, but the change was too subtle. Wen Hanshan couldn’t be sure whether it was a coincidence or not.

Now he heard the name of Lou Xingyao’s cultivation method and knew the whole story.

Lou Xingyao didn’t specify the level of the Myriad Celestial Stars Method but Wen Hanshan could tell a lot of information just from the name.

After hearing that the origin of this cultivation method was clear and there were no omissions, the expression on his face relaxed a bit. “In this case, you can practice this cultivation method in the future. I am a sword cultivator and the sword cultivation method I practice is called the Silence Sword Method.”

A trace of surprise flashed in Lou Xingyao’s eyes, but he soon understood what Wen Hanshan was thinking.

It was because he felt that since he knew Lou Xingyao’s cultivation method, he should return the favor and make his own cultivation method clear. This would be fair.

Perhaps it was due to the exchange of cultivation methods they practiced, but the relationship between the two people had become closer again.

At this time, Lou Xingyao finally couldn’t help bringing up an old matter. “Brother Wen, do you remember what I mentioned to you a few days ago?”

“You mean that you want to find something to do?” Wen Hanshan only briefly thought about it before finding an answer. He got a positive answer and continued to ask, “What are your plans?”

Since he took the initiative to mention it, Lou Xingyao had naturally thought about it in his heart. For him, the most ideal career should be an alchemist.

In particular, it could be seen by how the alchemist in the black market asked for ten spirit beads that this was an extremely profitable business. In the original novel, alchemists were one of the highest-income groups.

For Lou Xingyao, alchemists weren’t only professional counterparts, but even his spiritual roots were very compatible with it.

However, the first option he ruled out was an alchemist.

It was because the professionals in the cultivation world, no matter whether they were alchemists, weapon refiners, talisman masters or formation masters, they were all very xenophobic. They wouldn’t easily pass on their special skills.

The situation was the worst for alchemists.

Just a book introducing basic spiritual herbs costs a thousand gold coins, not to mention buying key items such as pill recipes.

Even the pill recipe for the cheapest fasting pill that was seen everywhere could be sold at a sky-high price.

Under such circumstances, the financial resources spent on successfully training an alchemist could be imagined.

For Lou Xingyao and Wen Hanshan, a small family that wasn’t wealthy, it was simply an unbearable burden.

Excluding an alchemist, the first thing that came to Lou Xingyao’s mind was the three acres of farmland at the back of the courtyard.

As a Chinese person who loved farming all his life, he had already thought of a development plan almost as soon as he saw the wasteland in the backyard.

The spiritual energy contained in the acres of farmland wasn’t high, and the broker also made it clear when they signed the contract that the farmland wasn’t of much use. At most, it could grow some spiritual rice and other crops that didn’t cost much.

Therefore, when he went to the black market with Wen Hanshan, Lou Xingyao focused on observing the price of spiritual rice.

Perhaps it was because most cultivators in Xilin County preferred to go to the Endless Forest to make money, so the price of things that needed to be planted, such as spiritual rice, wasn’t cheap.

According to the calculation of 600 catties of spiritual rice per mu and three crops a year, he would have a lot of surplus if he fully planted the three acres of land in the backyard, excluding their daily consumption.

The market price of Xilin County meant that even if he didn’t make a fortune, he could at least ensure that he didn’t have to worry about food and clothing.

Therefore, Lou Xingyao expressed all his thoughts. “I have only just drawn qi into my body. I’m afraid it will be difficult for me to protect myself in Xilin County if I go out to act. After thinking about it, only the three acres of farmland in the backyard can be used.”

“Since you have a plan, just do it.” If Lou Xingyao wanted to go out to work, Wen Hanshan might’ve tried to persuade him. However, it wasn’t impossible if Lou Xingyao just wanted to use the wasteland in the backyard.

“In that case, I will trouble Brother Wen to accompany me to buy rice seeds.” Lou Xingyao couldn’t help smiling after getting the agreement.

“Okay. “Given the situation in Xilin County, Wen Hanshan couldn’t let Lou Xingyao go out alone.

Both of them never procrastinated. They had a plan in mind so they didn’t delay. They packed up and went to the market.

The market of Xilin County was quite mature, and the items sold there were all types of things. This was very novel for Lou Xingyao, who was going shopping for the first time since coming to Tianming Continent.

Not long after he entered the market, he was dazzled by the wide array of things. For a moment, he even forgot the purpose of coming to the market and started to look around.

It was a pity that in Xilin County, every trading market had very distinct characteristics.

For example, the black market was a place where people sold stolen goods, and it wasn’t surprising to see anything being sold there. Meanwhile, the loose cultivators market was where most cultivators sold what they had gained from their training. The things there were also varied and strange.

Wen Hanshan and Lou Xingyao came for rice seeds, so they naturally went to the market selling daily necessities. The biggest feature of this market was that the items were complete, but they were all ordinary things.

Lou Xingyao strolled around for a while and found that there were no strange things. Then he gradually withdrew his curiosity and thought about the purpose for going out this time.

He looked at the tall figure beside him in a slightly embarrassed manner. “This is my first time seeing such a lively place. I was so absorbed in it that I made you laugh, Brother Wen.”

“No problem. If you are interested, you might as well walk around.” Wen Hanshan had learned about Lou Xingyao’s life during their previous chat. He naturally knew that this was Lou Xingyao’s first time going out for a while, and he didn’t show any impatience on his face.

“No, I can go to the loose cultivators market if I have a chance in the future.” Lou Xingyao shook his head.

Places like this that sold daily necessities were always similar, so there was no need to spend a long time here.

Wen Hanshan didn’t force it. He turned around and took Lou Xingyao to the seed store.

Corresponding to the high price of spiritual rice in Xilin County, the price of rice seeds was also expensive. Still, relatively speaking, it was within the acceptable range for the two of them.

After determining the number of rice seeds needed, Lou Xingyao suddenly seemed to realize something and held down Wen Hanshan’s hand that wanted to pay.

Before Wen Hanshan could ask, he smiled and said to the shopkeeper, “Shopkeeper, we are buying quite a lot of things here. Can we discuss the price?”

Perhaps due to his rich family background or his nature, but Lou Xingyao had discovered that Wen Hanshan didn’t have the habit of bargaining.

For Lou Xingyao, who was raised by his grandfather and had mastered the art of bargaining, this was a bad habit that needed to be corrected. Therefore, he attacked without thinking.

The shopkeeper obviously hadn’t expected that Lou Xingyao would do this when the deal was about to be made, and subconsciously looked at Wen Hanshan.

Before he could speak, Lou Xingyao smiled and stopped him from speaking. “Storekeeper, I make the decisions about our family affairs. My brother has no say.”

Wen Hanshan didn’t have the habit of bargaining, but he listened to advice.

At almost the same time that Lou Xingyao spoke, he silently withdrew his hand that was about to take out money as if letting Lou Xingyao make the decision.

It must be said that Wen Hanshan’s cold face was indeed very intimidating. The shopkeeper didn’t dare to entangle with them any further. In the end, he could only look at Lou Xingyao with a helpless smile. “Sir, we are a small business with little profit. This price is indeed the lowest. Please bear with it.”

“Is there really no way to negotiate?” Lou Xingyao raised an eyebrow, his face full of disbelief.

“There is really no way to negotiate!” The shopkeeper nodded repeatedly, his face full of sincerity and helplessness.

“Then forget it. It isn’t good to embarrass you.” Lou Xingyao nodded. Before the shopkeeper could feel happy, he continued, “My brother and I will go somewhere else. Perhaps other shopkeepers won’t feel embarrassed.”

Then he pulled Wen Hanshan and turned to walk out.

Just after taking two steps, the shopkeeper’s shout came from behind them. “Hey! Sir, what are you talking about? Of course, we can negotiate!”

“How can I embarrass you?” Lou Xingyao’s eyes were full of sincerity as he looked at the shopkeeper.

“No no, you see, the 100 catties of spiritual rice seeds you want together with these tools are 1,213 taels of gold. I will make the decision. Forget the 13 taels and I’ll count it as 1,200 taels for you. How about that?”

The shopkeeper was full of smiles. The transaction of more than 1,000 gold wasn’t very big, but it also wasn’t small. He didn’t want to lose this business for nothing.

“13 taels…” Lou Xingyao repeated in a low voice, seeming a bit dissatisfied.

But after seeing the shopkeeper’s slightly changed expression, he knew that there probably wasn’t much room for reduction. He looked around the store and immediately had an idea.

“How about this? The price will be as you said, but I see that you still have some first-level spiritual plant seeds in your store? How about giving me some as a gift?”

“This…” The shopkeeper obviously hadn’t expected Lou Xingyao to make such a request, and didn’t know how to reply for a moment.

“In any case, I just want to try it out and I don’t want much. Ten of each will be fine.” Lou Xingyao saw that the shopkeeper was hesitant and immediately took advantage of the situation.

“Okay!” There were only a dozen types of first-level spiritual plant seeds in the store. If he gave more than ten of each, it wouldn’t be that much when added together. It was really nothing when compared to the profit of this order. The shopkeeper nodded and agreed without thinking.

Even so, the shopkeeper didn’t forget to say a few polite words to Lou Xingyao. “Sir, you really know how to live. I can’t make a lot of money from this gift. If you need anything in the future, don’t forget to visit me often!”

This was also one of the reasons why the shopkeeper was willing to lower the price. Lou Xingyao bought rice seeds, which would probably be used for planting. The output of 100 catties of rice seeds was more than two people could eat. If there was a surplus, there would definitely be room for trading.

The shopkeeper didn’t waste time when speaking. He packed the gifts, rice seeds and tools together and placed them in front of the two people.

“Definitely,” Lou Xingyao agreed with a smile, but he didn’t mean it.

After all, who could say for sure what would happen after the harvest?

He signaled for Wen Hanshan to put the things away and giving him the money, Lou Xingyao took him away from the seed store.

After walking a long way, he started to give Wen Hanshan a private lesson. “See, this is how business works. Ask for a high price and pay for a low price. Next time, don’t give what other people ask for, understood?”

“Yes.” Wen Hanshan couldn’t quite understand Lou Xingyao’s bargaining for a few dozen gold, but he didn’t say anything to spoil the mood when seeing that Lou Xingyao looked happy.

“Now that the rice seeds have been bought, it is right to go back and tidy up the land while it is still early. It will be ready for sowing in a few days.” Lou Xingyao was thinking while pulling Wen Hanshan to go back.

However, after two steps, he was pulled back again. Before Lou Xingyao could wonder, he saw Wen Hanshan gesturing with his chin to the clothing store next to him. “It is rare to go out, and your clothes happen to be too small. Let’s buy them together.”

Lou Xingyao really didn’t care too much about clothes. If Wen Hanshan hadn’t mentioned it at this moment, he really would’ve forgotten it.

Lou Xingyao looked at the clothes on his body. Then he turned around and walked into the clothing store that Wen Hanshan had just pointed out.

Most of the clothes in this store were ordinary, but they were enough for Lou Xingyao, who had just introduced qi into his body.

Moreover, his requirements for clothes weren’t high. He quickly selected three pieces under the recommendation of the shopkeeper.

Once it was time to pay, Lou Xingyao winked at Wen Hanshan, reminding him of the private lesson he had just received and wanting to directly test the teaching results.

Wen Hanshan received the signal and was silent for a moment. Finally, he said under Lou Xingyao’s winking prompt, “Can we negotiate the price?”

“Oh, Sir, look. Our family is a small business, and this price is already the lowest. We can’t give in.” The shopkeeper waved her handkerchief with a smile. “I think you are extraordinary. How can you take this small amount of money to heart? Don’t make fun of me.”

It was clearly a rejection. The enchanting shopkeeper said it in a roundabout way with a charming air to it.

Wen Hanshan wasn’t moved by the shopkeeper’s charm, but he no longer insisted. “Okay.”

He nodded and paid the bill in one go without giving Lou Xingyao a chance to refute it.

By the time Lou Xingyao came to his senses, the two of them were already walking home.

Thinking about Wen Hanshan’s performance in the clothing store just now, Lou Xingyao’s expression couldn’t help changing several times.

Such obvious emotional changes naturally couldn’t escape Wen Hanshan’s perception. “What’s wrong with you?”

“I suddenly understand what it means by this is the worst class I have ever taught,” Lou Xingyao replied.

“What?” Wen Hanshan had never received the nine years of compulsory education and was full of question marks.

“Nothing. Just let me negotiate the price in the future.” It was still the same sentence. Nothing in the world was difficult as long as one was willing to give up.

Lou Xingyao only hesitated for a moment before directly giving up on the private bargaining class he opened for Wen Hanshan.

It wasn’t due to his poor bargaining skills, but that bargaining wasn’t in line with Wen Hanshan’s temperament.

Wen Hanshan was born in a big family. He might’ve suffered a lot of setbacks during this period, but it obviously didn’t affect him too much.

For such a noble son, being stained with vulgar things like money would be like blasphemy to him, let alone bargaining, which had a market atmosphere.

After all, he and Wen Hanshan were living together now. It was enough for one person to have such a skill.

“Okay.” Wen Hanshan nodded.

Those who got to know the two people in the future would probably never believe that the external financial power between them was determined in just a few words under such circumstances.