Chapter 50 The Courageous Maid Wife

“Other than that, are there any other methods?”

Li Chen asked, gesturing for Zhao the Blacksmith to flip over the long saber they were hammering.

“Other than that, we can collect damaged weapons and tools, heat them up again, and reforge them. But it’s extremely difficult. To remelt them into molten iron like you did takes too much time and may not even succeed. And removing rust is troublesome as well.”

Zhao the Blacksmith replied.

“I see.”

Li Chen nodded, committing it to memory.

“If we bought iron ore and smelted it ourselves, would that work?”

Li Chen asked while continuing to hammer the blade with Zhao the Blacksmith.

The iron from the government mines was of poor quality. To further improve weapon performance, he would need to address the issue at its source by refining the smelting process.

“It’s possible, but we don’t know how to smelt iron ore. Even those who do can’t produce iron as good as the government mine’s output. That’s why few people attempt it.”

Zhao the Blacksmith shook his head with a smile.

Li Chen nodded and stored the information away.

Just as he was about to ask more, the sound of hooves rose from the foot of the mountain, along with voices.

He turned to look and frowned.

Several officials had arrived, riding tall horses. Behind them followed more than ten armed militia soldiers carrying spears and sabers. Beside them rode several middle-aged men. They were heading straight up the mountain.

“Hmm? Why are there officials? It’s not even time to collect the annual tax.”

Zhao the Blacksmith shaded his eyes and muttered in confusion.

“They seem to be coming to my place. I’ll go see. Uncle Zhao, keep working. I’ll settle the forging payment with Dashi.”

Li Chen stood and walked forward.

“What payment? You taught me this method. I’m already deeply grateful. If you mention money again, I’ll get angry.”

Zhao the Blacksmith glared at him in displeasure.

“Actually, I was thinking that from now on, Uncle Zhao could forge exclusively for me. I’ll pay you monthly. One tael of silver per month, and when business expands, I’ll increase it.”

Li Chen turned back with a smile.

“What?”

Zhao the Blacksmith was stunned.

One tael per month? That meant twelve taels a year?

What craftsman could earn that much?

By the time he recovered, Li Chen had already walked far ahead.

“This Chen’er is so generous and righteous. I would gladly give my life for him.”

Zhao the Blacksmith struck the glowing blade hard, his heart firm with resolve.

Meanwhile, Li Chen had returned to the courtyard. When he saw the officials outside, especially Wu Changqing standing among them, his expression turned cold.

If nothing unexpected had occurred, it had been Wu Changqing’s group following him yesterday.

As for the second follower, there was an eighty percent chance it had been someone sent by Lin Ling’er.

He had not expected Wu Changqing to bring officials today.

However, he did not see Ma Wu, the village head of Baisha Village. Clearly, there must be friction between Ma Wu and the Wu family.

“Who is Li Chen?”

The leading official was about forty, lean and sharp-eyed. Mounted on horseback, he scanned the crowd coldly and shouted.

Everyone in the courtyard stopped working and looked nervously at the officials and the armed soldiers behind them. Fear was evident on their faces.

In any era, commoners were weak before armed authority.

“I am Li Chen.”

Li Chen stepped forward and stood before the horse calmly.

“I am Wu Chuang, County Lieutenant of Pingyang County. What are you doing here?”

Wu Chuang’s gaze swept the courtyard before settling on Li Chen as he barked the question.

“Refining salt.”

Li Chen’s tone remained steady.

He had already guessed that Wu Chuang was likely a member of the Wu family holding office in the county.

The County Lieutenant ranked just below the Magistrate and Deputy Magistrate, responsible for law enforcement and bandit suppression. He was a significant official.

At the doorway, his young maid wife clutched the doorframe, her face pale, her nails digging into the wood.

A sudden realization struck her. Refining private salt was a serious crime.

If her husband were arrested for it, what would happen?

The other villagers seemed to realize it too. Their faces turned pale with fear, not for themselves, but for Li Chen.

“Xiuer, go find your father!”

Liu Jincui whispered urgently to Xu Xiuer.

Xu Xiuer nodded nervously, climbed over the courtyard wall, and ran swiftly toward the mountains to find Xu Jiang, who was organizing villagers gathering firewood.

“Refining private salt is a capital crime. Li Chen, you’re finished this time.”

Wu Changqing laughed wildly, staring at Li Chen.

After thorough investigation, he was now certain that Li Chen was the one who had killed seven of his clan’s younger men.

That was why he had followed Li Chen yesterday, intending to kill him secretly. Without evidence, reporting him would be useless.

But they had been shocked to see Li Chen purchase so much coarse salt.

Where had he gotten the money? What did he intend to do?

Thus Wu Changqing had suppressed his urge and continued observing.

To his delight, Li Chen had openly organized people to refine salt at home. Wu Changqing now had tangible evidence.

He had hurried to find his nephew Wu Chuang to catch Li Chen in the act.

If they could force him to reveal the refining method, they would make a fortune.

Seeing Wu Changqing’s smug face, Li Chen sneered. “Finished? That remains to be seen.”

“How arrogant. Caught refining private salt and still speaking boldly. Today I shall fulfill my duty as County Lieutenant and arrest you for this brazen crime. Seize him!”

Wu Chuang shouted.

Li Chen narrowed his eyes, about to act, when a cry rang out in the distance.

“Wait! My husband is not illegally refining private salt. He purchased coarse salt in the city, refined it, and sold it back. All channels are legitimate. This is not illegal production, merely secondary purification. What crime is there?”

He turned and saw his young maid wife running toward him, lifting her skirt as she stumbled forward, spreading her arms to shield him.

Though trembling in fear before the cold weapons, she bravely placed her slender body between Li Chen and the officials.

Her beauty caught Wu Chuang’s eye. A flash of greed flickered in his gaze.

This Li Chen had married a remarkably beautiful wife.

If he eliminated Li Chen, seized his wealth, and took his wife, it would be a fitting revenge for the clan.

Li Chen saw that look, and killing intent surged in his eyes.

This man had to die.