NOVEL NEXT Chapter 631: Shiku Village
After some inquiry, Lin Yi learned that the small village they were passing through was called Shiku Village, a remote village of the great You Country.
Because of its remoteness, it has been impoverished and underdeveloped for years, with a population of less than 500. The county magistrate responsible for overseeing them didn't even bother to come down for an inspection in the past few years, and they weren't required to pay any taxes.
Compared to villages a hundred kilometers away, Shiku Village might as well be cut off from the rest of the world.
Therefore, when they saw Lin Yi driving up, they became more vigilant, fearing someone would come to disrupt their current lifestyle.
This road is the essential route to the Nan Zhao Country; bypassing it would require an additional detour of over 200 kilometers.
To gain the trust of the villagers of Shiku Village, Lin Yi did not hesitate to give a generous gift.
[Ding Ding Ding, the host has successfully purchased 20 bags of premium rice, paying a total of 20,000 Heavenly Bead Coins. The goods have been dispatched to the trunk of the off-road vehicle.]
"Folks, we are not bad people. We are just passing through on our way to Nan Zhao Country, and we ask for your kindness to let us pass."
"Of course, as a token of thanks, we will give you 20 bags of rice."
After saying that, Lin Yi asked the five stalwart men of the Southern Combat Team to take out the 20 bags of rice and display them before the villagers.
The villagers cautiously took a half step back, pointing at the twenty bags of rice with their shovels in a defensive posture.
"You must be bad people, what premium rice? It sounds like something to trap us with."
"That's right, you're obviously trying to poison us and then take over our village. Folks, let's drive them out!"
These villagers were highly resistant to outsiders, and they wanted to drive them out at the sight of strangers.
Lin Yi was somewhat helpless, clearly here to do good, yet now faced with being driven out. How could this be allowed to happen?
Looking at the map, Nan Zhao Country was only about 200 kilometers away. It was crucial to stabilize the villagers' emotions at this moment.
Since the villagers suspected the rice was poisoned, he decided to cook a few pots on the spot.
"This is pure, unpoisoned rice. We'll cook it right here for you to see. After all, we are hungry ourselves. Would any kind-hearted villager lend us a couple of pots? Here, take these 10 taels of silver as a gift."
The villagers here were severely isolated from the world, and nothing was considered better than actual silver.
Sure enough, upon hearing about the 10 taels of silver, the villagers ran back home to fetch pots for Lin Yi.
Lin Yi also took the opportunity to get acquainted with the villagers while cooking.
It turns out that not only was the village poor, but its geographical position was strategic. Many bandits and savages who passed through wanted to take some convenience and stay the night, but they almost invariably caused damage to the village.
They often ate and drank for free, intimidated the villagers, bullied the women, creating a sense of panic.
Therefore, for the peace of Shiku Village and the protection of the women and children, they spontaneously organized 200 young, strong men to always guard this fortress. Anyone passing by had to leave.
If they encountered any troublesome resistance, they would attack in a group. This time, they had encountered Lin Yi and his group.
After listening to the villagers' story, Lin Yi felt compassion and understood why these simple villagers were so resistant to them.
While talking, Nan Yi and the others had finished cooking the rice.
When the fragrant aroma began to spread through the air, everyone, except for Lin Yi, was shocked.
"What is this smell, it's making me hungrier the more I smell it, it's so enticing."
The villagers couldn't help but swallow their saliva; the aroma was fresh and tempting, utterly irresistible.
Lin Yi stood up, directly ladled himself a big bowl of rice, coupled with the specially brewed tea, and started to eat heartily.
After going hungry for a whole day, Nan Yi and his companions had an astonishing appetite. In Nanshan City, they had never tasted white rice like this.
Therefore, for them, today marked their first time savoring this delicacy.
"Mmm, nothing beats the taste of rice."
Lin Yi contentedly put down his chopsticks after the meal, feeling extremely satisfied. As night fell and stars lit up the sky, he felt as if he had returned to the life before his time travel, when he used to go camping. Regrettably, those days no longer belonged to him.
The villagers watched Lin Yi and his companions eat with relish, tempted and cautiously asked, "You're not deceiving us, eating this stuff, then having an antidote for poison ready yourselves, are you?"
It was clear that the villagers still didn't trust them. With lots of rice remaining in the pot, leaving it would be wasteful. Lin Yi invited them to eat, yet not a single one dared to step forward and try.
Their panicked little eyes seemed to suggest, "The rice is poisoned."
"If you all are not at ease, then let's get an animal to test it."
Having said that, Lin Yi bought several hens from the system and placed them in a small grove a hundred meters away.
"Nan Yi, go and catch a few chickens from the grove behind us."
Lin Yi gave a casual instruction, as he couldn't just pull out several chickens from his own car, for later they might accuse him of using chickens fed with antidote.
Nan Yi understood Lin Yi's intention in a second, hurried back, and brought several lively hens.
"No, how could there possibly be wild chickens around here?"
The villagers were dumbfounded once again. They knew the terrain of this area like the back of their hands, within a three-mile radius, and had never seen any wild chickens.
Lin Yi helplessly slapped his thigh; the villagers of this village were quite difficult to deal with.
But all of these did not stump Lin Yi. Pointing to his fragrant rice, he feigned surprise, "These chickens must have run down from the mountain top, probably lured over by the smell of my delicious rice."
"Don't believe it? Just watch."
After speaking, Lin Yi tossed a spoonful of rice onto the ground, the hens rushed over to peck at it fiercely, the scene of their scrambling for food was even more spectacular than a cockfight.
In just a short moment, a spoonful of rice was completely gobbled up, and smelling there was more rice inside the pot, they all jumped toward the pot, looking determined to overturn it.
"Now, look at this, the rice is not poisoned, right?" Lin Yi casually picked up a hen and instructed Nan Yi to start a fire and grill the chicken.
Having already traveled for a day, Lin Yi decided to stay here for the night.
The villagers glanced at each other; they too had not eaten anything all day. Seeing Lin Yi and his group dining so deliciously, even the hens were getting to eat yummy rice, some began to waver.
Some could not help their stomachs which betrayed them by growling loudly.
"Boss, I think the rice isn't poisoned. Should we give it a try?" an emaciated old farmer gazed at Lin Yi and his friends with envy.
Their "boss" was the oldest man there, the one who had witnessed the longest history of Shiku Village.
The old man shook his head and urged caution, "Don't hurry, we have them completely surrounded. Let's wait another four hours. If the poison doesn't take effect, it proves the rice is indeed not poisoned."
The villagers nodded, agreeing with the old man's words, for in their minds, the old man's word was law.
Lin Yi looked up at the high-hanging moon.
"Ah, wait another four hours? Well, you do that. Nan Yi, set up the tent and get ready to rest."
...End of chapter...