Chapter 54: The Dragon's Pool and the Tiger's Den

Chen Jiaqi's eyes brimmed with tears.

"It was all my mom's idea back then. She didn't really want me to break up with you; she just wanted to get a bigger bride price… I still like you…"

"Stop. Don't say any more. We're history. It's been over for a long time. You can be with whoever you want. Goodbye!"

Chen Erbao couldn't be bothered to waste any more words on her. He walked right past her and strode away.

Watching Chen Erbao's retreating figure, Chen Jiaqi was sick with regret.

Chen Erbao was the most educated and handsome man in the entire village, yet she had driven this perfect man away.

...

As evening fell, Chen Erbao arrived at Chen Daniu's house.

He knocked, and once again, it was Qin Lan who opened the door.

"Qin Lan, I'm here to see the Village Chief."

Chen Erbao gazed at Qin Lan's flushed cheeks and, remembering her full, rounded thighs, couldn't help but feel a stir of desire.

Qin Lan could tell what he was thinking just by the look in his eyes. She shot him an exasperated look and turned sideways to let him pass.

"Come on in. He's home."

"Alright!"

Chen Erbao squeezed past her. The entryway was so narrow that he brushed against her, making her full bosom sway.

The two of them entered the house to find Chen Daniu lying on the sofa watching TV. When he saw Chen Erbao arrive, Chen Daniu's expression turned awkward.

"Er Bao, you're here! Have a seat."

Chen Erbao had caught him fooling around in the fields before and now had leverage over him. With Qin Lan present, Chen Daniu certainly didn't dare bring it up.

"Village Chief, about that thing from a while ago... Oh, right. Didn't you say the new village chief would be taking office soon? I came to find out about the situation."

Chen Erbao only changed the subject after seeing Chen Daniu shooting him a pointed look.

'He didn't want to expose the affair either, just give Chen Daniu a little reminder.'

Qin Lan closed the door, came back inside, and poured tea for the two men.

Chen Daniu sighed.

"Er Bao, it's not that I don't want to help you, but the new village chief takes office tomorrow. I really can't help you with the village doctor position. I can't just be assigning jobs on my way out the door. What would the new chief think? So, you're going to have to figure this one out on your own."

Chen Erbao nodded, not surprised.

"Village Chief, the new chief is a university graduate?"

"That's right. They were sent down from on high, so they must have powerful connections. Just graduated from university. They're probably just here to punch their ticket in the countryside to help with promotions later on."

"Which school?"

"I think it's Binhai University."

"Binhai University!"

Chen Erbao was stunned. 'Isn't that Lin Rui's school?'

Everyone in the village said he was the most educated, but in reality, Lin Rui was. She was just more low-key, and besides, the villagers didn't really understand the differences between universities and were prone to sexism, which diminished Lin Rui's accomplishments in their eyes.

In reality, Binhai University, where Lin Rui studied, was one of the top universities in the entire country, whereas the school he'd graduated from was merely a decent, well-known one.

"That's right. A top student from Binhai University."

Chen Erbao thought for a moment. 'They should be easy enough to talk to. We're both young, and they're just here temporarily. They probably won't make a fuss over local appointments.'

'After all, besides me, who else is more suited for the village doctor position?'

Now that he had the information he wanted, Chen Erbao brought up his other reason for coming.

"Village Chief, about that matter we discussed…"

Chen Daniu knew he was talking about the money and coughed loudly.

"AHEM, AHEM. Er Bao, let's go talk in the study. Come on."

'With Qin Lan here, he didn't dare bring up the fifty thousand yuan. If he did, she'd pester him with questions, and if she found out about him fooling around in the fields, all hell would break loose.'

'And if that happened, the whole village would know by morning!'

Qin Lan watched the two of them disappear into the study together, feeling a little curious. 'What could they possibly need to discuss that they have to hide from me?'

But she couldn't be bothered to eavesdrop, so she went to the kitchen to start on dinner.

Once they were in the study with the door closed, Chen Daniu's expression turned cold.

"Er Bao, things are a little tight for me lately. I can't come up with fifty thousand yuan right now!"

Chen Erbao chuckled.

"Uncle, are you kidding me? Everyone knows your family has been raking it in for years. You're telling me you can't come up with fifty thousand yuan?"

Hearing this, Chen Daniu's face darkened.

'He wanted to just refuse to pay, but with the video still in Chen Erbao's hands, he didn't dare make an enemy of him.'

"Er Bao, I really don't have the cash right now. I went out of town a while back and spent quite a bit. There's no liquid cash left… How about this? I've got an idea. Let's see what you think."

Chen Erbao raised an eyebrow.

"Let's hear it."

'He'd like to see what kind of trick Chen Daniu was trying to pull.'

Chen Daniu began to speak.

"Although I'm about to step down, I still have some connections in town. You know that public land on the back mountain? How about this: I'll pull some strings for you and get the contract for that mountain signed over to you. We'll call it even for the fifty thousand yuan. How does that sound?"

Chen Erbao's heart leaped with joy when he heard this.

'What an unexpected windfall!'

'That back mountain was the main area where wild Gastrodia grew. If he got the contract for it, he could use the Immortal Technique from his Joyful Technique to cultivate a limitless supply of Gastrodia. It would be like owning a gold mine!'

'However, he couldn't agree too quickly, or Chen Daniu might get suspicious.'

Chen Erbao put on a hesitant expression.

"Uncle, you know as well as I do that place is a godforsaken wasteland, full of wild animals. What could I possibly plant there to break even…?"

"Hey, you can't think that way. Aren't you a doctor? Our village is pretty good at growing local medicinal herbs. You could plant them yourself and then sell them. That's money right there! To be honest, a lot of people have wanted to contract that mountain, and I turned them all down. Since you're a young university man, it's only right that I look out for you first!"

To hear him talk, you'd think the two of them were the best of friends.

After a long moment of feigned hesitation, Chen Erbao reluctantly nodded.

"Alright then, Uncle. You better not be setting me up. Get it done as soon as you can. The new chief won't interfere, will he?"

"Of course not. Why would they meddle in something like this?"

"Good!"

Chen Erbao gritted his teeth and agreed.

Seeing Chen Erbao agree, Chen Daniu burst out laughing.

'What an idiot. That worthless mountain… he wouldn't want it even if I gave it to him for free. Who the hell still farms these days?'

'How much can you possibly make after a year of back-breaking work? Peanuts!'

"Er Bao, about that video…"

Chen Erbao immediately patted his chest.

"Don't worry, Uncle. As soon as the contract papers come through, I'll delete it right in front of you."

"…Alright then."

'Of course, Chen Erbao had no intention of deleting it yet. What if Chen Daniu was just full of hot air and couldn't actually get the contract approved?'

"Dinner's ready. What are you two talking about? Come out and eat."

Qin Lan's voice sounded from outside the door.

"We're coming!"

Chen Daniu stood up, slung a friendly arm around Chen Erbao's shoulders, and led him enthusiastically out of the room.

Chen Erbao was all smiles as well. After all, he and Chen Daniu were practically brothers in arms, having braved the dragon's pool and the tiger's den together!

A literal tiger's den!