novelden Chapter 55 This is an advance payment; I'll pay you back after I finish the job!
Chapter 55 This is an advance payment; I'll pay you back after I finish the job!
The Canaanite hermit?!
When the people heard this name, their faces showed longing and admiration.
Legend has it that the Canaanite hermit was the first person in hundreds of years to ascend to immortality!
Even the cultivators in blessed lands and grottoes regarded the Canaanite immortals as their role models.
The highest of the nine realms of cultivation is the Land Immortal Realm, but what lies beyond the Land Immortal Realm remains unknown.
Therefore, it is said that the Canaanite Immortal was a cultivator who broke through the terrestrial immortal realm.
He is the number one martial arts master in the Central Plains for hundreds of years!
The Canaanite sage was a skilled painter, and the original paintings he left behind are priceless, mostly kept in grotto-heavens and blessed lands.
So, after the people were amazed, they began to quietly question whether it was a genuine work.
Zhou Wei directly answered the question: "Everyone, this painting is naturally not an authentic work by the Canaanite sages! However..."
"This painting was copied by the famous artist Song Zhiwei, so it is worth ten thousand taels of silver!"
Ten thousand taels of silver!?
hiss--
The onlookers gasped in surprise, their expressions changing as they looked at the painting in Ziyu's hand.
There was envy, amazement, and greed, but mostly bewilderment.
Zhou Wei just gave away a painting worth 10,000 taels of silver to this mother and her three children?
Isn't that going a bit too far?
Upon hearing the price of ten thousand taels, Mei Xingyue's breathing became rapid.
She had seen money before. Back when she was with Prince Jiang Yueshan, what rare treasures hadn't she seen?
In order to cultivate her image as aloof and unconventional, Mei Xingyue refused to accept a single tael of silver from Jiang Yueshan, and even left behind the gifts given by the Crown Prince.
He left the capital alone, carrying the baby away!
This is why Jiang Yueshan couldn't forget it.
Five years of wandering away from home, life wasn't very good, especially with three children to raise.
This made Mei Xingyue even more eager for money!
Now that ten thousand taels of silver were right in front of her, she was so hungry that her mouth was practically watering.
Jiang Nianmei was only five years old, unlike the adults who had the Chen family.
When Jiang Nianmei saw that Zhou Wei was willing to compensate with a painting, and that the painting was quite valuable, she could no longer contain herself.
Kneeling on the ground, she couldn't help but reach out her hand: "Sister, do you really want to compensate us for this painting?"
Zhou Wei smiled at her and casually swung her arm, causing Zi Yu's hand holding the painting to immediately turn to the side.
Jiang Nianmei's outstretched hand missed its target, and she blushed.
Zhou Wei seemed not to notice, and said in a gentle tone, "Of course it's true! With this painting, not only can your brother be cured, but your family can even buy a large house in the capital and settle down."
"Ask these grandpas, grandmas, uncles, and aunts, have they worked hard all their lives, and do they even own a big house in the capital?"
Zhou Wei's words stirred up the people's sorrow.
They worked hard all their lives, toiling in the fields and working themselves to the bone, only to end up receiving less compensation than this family of four who were beaten up.
Is this...fair?
Even Wang Tiezhu, who had always stood up for Mei Xingyue and her son, looked embarrassed at this moment.
He looked down at his hands, which were covered in calluses from blacksmithing.
Sometimes, even when the skin on the tiger's mouth is broken and the flesh is torn, you can't stop.
Over time, this resulted in a series of horrific wounds.
He worked hard all day as a blacksmith and couldn't even earn two taels of silver.
But now... I can only watch helplessly as others get 10,000 taels for free.
When did money become so easy to make?
The people's thoughts were written on their faces. Many people looked at Mei Xingyue and her son with complex emotions, no longer with pity.
Those idlers even turned their greedy gazes toward Mei Xingyue.
That's ten thousand taels!
Earning ten thousand taels for free is faster than robbery or extortion.
Mei Xingyue seemed oblivious to the shift in public sentiment; her mind was entirely focused on the painting.
He kept urging Jiang Nianmei with his eyes to hurry up and get the painting!
Jiang Nianmei was also very anxious. Looking at the painting, she could hardly hide the greed in her eyes.
“Sister, although you beat my brother without cause and are a bad person, my mother said that it is a great thing to admit your mistakes and correct them.”
"Since you're willing to compensate us, then we'll reluctantly accept this painting."
As Jiang Nianmei spoke, she reached out to Ziyu for a painting.
Ziyu glanced at Zhou Wei, but received no response from Zhou Wei, so she could only hold the painting and remain motionless, thus creating a stalemate with Jiang Nianmei.
The people were also very nervous. Although the painting wasn't theirs, seeing someone else take it so easily made them feel as if they had lost money.
Just as Jiang Nianmei's patience was about to run out, Zhou Wei suddenly slapped her forehead.
Feigning annoyance, he said, "Oh dear! Look at me, I was in such a rush I completely forgot!"
"When I went out, I actually took one hundred taels of silver with me."
As Zhou Wei spoke, she took out a hundred-tael silver note from her bosom and gestured to Ziyu.
Ziyu immediately understood, quickly rolled up the painting, and put it into the box.
Jiang Nianmei's hand was still outstretched, and she was frozen in place.
Mei Xingyue also stared wide-eyed at Zhou Wei!
What does this bitch mean?
Zhou Wei addressed the onlookers, saying, "Gentlemen, I misremembered earlier. I thought I hadn't brought any money with me. I've found one hundred taels to compensate this mother and her three children. Is that alright?"
Before anyone else could react, Wang Tiezhu spoke up as if possessed: "Of course! One hundred taels is enough to see a doctor."
Upon hearing this, everyone echoed his sentiments.
"Yes, yes! One hundred taels is just right. Doctor Zhou only charges five taels for twenty doses of medicine."
"Indeed, that young man doesn't seem to be seriously injured. Five taels of silver for treatment, and the rest of the money is enough for this family of four to live in the capital for several months!"
"That's enough, that's enough!"
"It's not just enough, it's more than enough..."
For some reason, Zhou Wei took out one hundred taels of silver.
The eerie silence that had just been filled with an atmosphere suddenly changed.
Everyone became cheerful!
Even the common people don't understand why they are happy.
Looking at the people's expressions, Zhou Wei couldn't help but sneer.
This is a typical case of someone who is both afraid of their brother suffering and afraid of their brother driving a Land Rover.
When Mei Xingyue and her son were in a vulnerable position, these people did not mind showing kindness.
But when they saw that Mei Xingyue and her son could get 10,000 taels of silver for nothing, feelings of jealousy, resentment and envy took over!
Mei Xingyue and her son were bullied by Zhou Wei, and they looked very pitiful.
But it's far from enough to get ten thousand taels of silver in compensation for nothing!
Ziyu witnessed firsthand the change in the people's attitudes and felt immense admiration for Zhou Wei.
Sister Wei is absolutely amazing!
With just a few words, the whole situation was turned around.
If Zhou Wei had demanded one hundred taels of silver as compensation from the beginning, she would have been at a disadvantage.
If Mei Xingyue and her son continue to feign pitifulness, they will be able to manipulate these people and force Zhou Wei to give them even more!
But now, the situation has completely reversed.
Zhou Wei first presented an astronomical figure, shocking everyone and arousing their greed and jealousy.
If the compensation is reduced to one hundred taels, everyone except Mei Xingyue and her son will be satisfied!
Even their sympathy for Mei Xingyue had diminished somewhat.
Ziyu was overjoyed. This was wonderful! This was wonderful!
Hurry up and pay the money to return to the princess's residence; don't get entangled with this family any further.
Just as Ziyu was about to take the hundred taels of silver to compensate Mei Xingyue, Zhou Wei put the silver notes back into her bosom.
This action left not only Ziyu bewildered, but also the onlookers.
What do you mean?
Wasn't it supposed to be compensation?
Why did you take the money back again?
A cold smile appeared on Zhou Wei's face, and her expression turned indifferent, completely different from the gentle and yielding girl she had been just moments before.
Are you kidding me? You want me, Zhou Wei, to pay you money?
These four things are worthy of the title?
Mei Xingyue was also completely bewildered. She had traveled all over the country and met all sorts of people. She prided herself on being cunning and shrewd, and no one could rival her.
But this was the first time she had ever met someone like Zhou Wei who didn't play by the rules!
Mei Xingyue couldn't help but say, "Miss, what do you mean by this? If you don't compensate us for the painting, my four children and I will accept it."
"Now that we've agreed on one hundred taels, why aren't you giving it to us?"
Zhou Wei tightened her grip on Jiang Nianyue's collar, a bright smile spreading across her face.
"Sure, I'll give it to you! Who said I won't?"
"then you……"
“However, this hundred taels is an advance payment,” Zhou Wei clenched her right fist, poised to strike, “the slaps I gave your son just now were only worth ten taels of silver.”
"I'll pay you the remaining ninety taels as soon as I finish the transaction!"
Before anyone could react, Zhou Wei's right fist flew out of nowhere, heading straight for Jiang Nianyue's mouth.
boom!
After a powerful punch, all of Jiang Nianyue's teeth fell out!