Chapter 36: The Strange Matchbox
Chen Shun’an’s monthly wages are only four taels of silver, five hundred taels—he’d have to save for over ten years without eating or drinking!
Chen Shun’an never imagined that the Pounding House would keep such a large sum of gold and silver in the warehouse.
Judging by Yang Lu and the others’ demeanor, this money seemed to have another purpose.
Unfortunately, in the end, it all went cheaply to Chen Shun’an.
“No, I didn’t rob it! The treasure belongs to the virtuous. I’m just redistributing wealth to those in need. Like me.”
Chen Shun’an sat at the table, slowly exhaling turbid qi.
Besides this gold and silver, Chen Shun’an also found a strange item.
A palm-sized matchbox carved from boxwood, with a “Crane and Deer” auspicious pattern engraved on the lid…
Matchbox?
For the current Changbai Sacred Dynasty, a matchbox is undoubtedly an imported item, known as matches, and not common.
But no matter how rare it was, this matchbox wasn’t worth such elaborate efforts, locked in a small box with all this gold and silver.
It was even specially placed in the purple floral compartment of the box.
Purple floral cloth is top-grade cloth; it’s no exaggeration to say it’s more precious than gold.
Yet now it was just used to wrap and separate this matchbox.
Chen Shun’an played with and examined it, discovering that the matchbox couldn’t be slid open—it wouldn’t budge, and even using full strength, he couldn’t dent a single corner.
Chen Shun’an immediately realized that this matchbox was probably the most precious thing among this pile of gold and silver.
“Braving the heavy rain to rush through the night to the Heavenly Rice Barn—it can’t be just about escorting a batch of hibiscus paste fire. What Zhuang Kun was escorting wouldn’t be this thing, would it?”
A thought suddenly emerged from the depths of Chen Shun’an’s heart.
With no conclusion from his pondering, Chen Shun’an carefully hid the matchbox.
Only then did he touch his right hand, feeling stinging pain in his fingers. Rolling up his sleeve, he saw his entire arm bruised and swollen red.
Indeed, after Qing Ji’s advancement, Chen Shun’an had tiger tendon leopard vein, his legs like cloud movement armor horse—even Yang Lu, a first-rate martial artist, couldn’t keep up with his speed.
But while his lower body strength and speed had improved, his upper body muscles and bones cultivation had lagged behind relatively.
Every “cloud movement,” due to the extreme speed, made his hands interact with the environment and objects no less than clashing with refined iron—pummeling flesh and blood against knife edges.
So it wasn’t that Chen Shun’an didn’t want to kill Yang Lu on the spot.
It was that his heart was willing, but his strength fell short.
A first-rate martial artist gradually slays the six thieves, with transparent intent—they can enter fire and water, foresee danger, and begin to become inhuman.
Though Chen Shun’an could rely on speed to bully the opponent, once he revealed killing intent, or even used a dagger to stab…
He would most likely be met with a desperate speed control, legs broken, and on-the-spot combat.
Unless he also cultivated some hardening technique, finger techniques, or palm techniques.
The world’s heroes were as numerous as carp crossing the river.
Relying solely on one divine speed ability to rampage invincible was nothing but a pipe dream.
Thinking of this, Chen Shun’an put away his inner arrogance and complacency.
He was already a fifty-year-old man; better to fight and kill less.
It was better to instigate and encourage young lads like Ah Hua to dare to fight and kill, while hiding behind reckless men like Instructor Lin to pick up bargains.
That was most suitable for Chen Shun’an’s old man physique.
……
Carrying two jugs of Lao Bai Gan, Chen Shun’an returned to the Second Meat Shop in Chaodou Hutong.
Tonight seemed long, but from Chen Shun’an’s excuse to leave until seizing the treasure and returning home, it was just over an hour in total.
In the Second Meat Shop, a crowd of water carriers were drinking enthusiastically.
Chen Shun’an quietly lifted a thin gauze curtain and entered the shop; apart from a few people, no one noticed.
Some water carrier had invited two blind musicians from the Imperial Stable Department, who were playing and singing little tunes, adding to everyone’s merriment.
“Yo, Brother Chen’s back? You were gone quite a while.”
San Dezi, drunk with a flushed face, saw Chen Shun’an return and immediately stood up, grabbing his sleeve.
Chen Shun’an placed a jug of the freshly bought liquor on each table, then smiled,
“It was too late, no donkey cart came. By the time I walked to Mentou Street, the Shaomai Restaurant was almost closed…”
Not far away,
Scarred Liu was crouching shrinkingly on his stool, chatting with a nearby water carrier about gossip.
Tonight he had coaxed his wife to rest early, then sneaked out to drink.
Anyway, no business during the day, no birds at night.
Better to drink and joke with the brothers!
Scarred Liu saw Chen Shun’an, set down his chopsticks, and cupped his hands.
Chen Shun’an also smiled.
The two shared a tacit understanding that needed no words.
Wan Niang had been waiting by the stove, dozing while keeping an eye on the tables.
Seeing Chen Shun’an return, she hurried out.
“Brother, are you alright?”
Chen Shun’an, calm as ever, said: “What could happen to me? I just went to buy liquor. Did some fierce person kidnap Chen Mou?!”
Wan Niang relaxed upon hearing this.
Outside, the heavy rain was gradually stopping, though still drizzling sporadically, no longer the torrential downpour from before.
The water channel in front rushed with murky water, carrying various broken branches and leaves.
Suddenly,
Two sets of footprints, one after the other, stepped through the pooled water at the door.
Lin Shou Zhuo’s triangular eyes and toad face squeezed into the Second Meat Shop, rainwater sliding off his broad shoulders, his qi and blood still surging, killing aura just dissipating.
Just like a small furnace, instantly raising the temperature in the Second Meat Shop.
Sun Xiao’s face was pale, following behind Lin Shou Zhuo.
But Sun Xiao’s face was never ruddy, so it was hard to tell if he was injured; since he could still walk upright, he wasn’t dead!
Lin Shou Zhuo said: “Lin Mou didn’t arrive late, did he?”
His voice was loud and resounding.
The Second Meat Shop instantly fell quiet.
Scarred Liu, San Dezi, and the others exchanged stunned looks.
Instructor Lin had to burn the rice barn tomorrow night—shouldn’t he be resting and conserving energy? Why this appearance…
Could it be?!
Suddenly, a guess emerged in Scarred Liu and the others’ minds, startling them.
“Instructor Lin’s here?”
“Brother Sun, you’re here too?”
“Quick quick, sit here, Wan Niang, add two more sets of bowls and chopsticks—bring out the good liquor and dishes!”
Chen Shun’an wore a surprised expression and immediately came forward to greet them.
He was genuinely a bit unexpected.
After Instructor Lin and the others returned from burning the barn, having seized hibiscus paste fire and a batch of polished rice, shouldn’t they report to the landlord as soon as possible?
Why come here instead?
But Chen Shun’an didn’t know that since Instructor Lin had monopolized the hibiscus paste fire, Tang Jie and the others didn’t know its dangers and thought it some treasure—they insisted on waiting for both landlords to arrive before reporting together on the spot.
So with some waiting time, Instructor Lin and his companion simply stopped by on the way.
“Old Chen, you invited me to the Second Meat Shop for drinks—if I eat you poor, don’t blame me.”
Instructor Lin looked at Chen Shun’an and rarely joked.
Chen Shun’an shook his head with a smile: “To be eaten poor by Instructor Lin is our fortune—please, sit…”
Instructor Lin took off his straw cloak, hung it at the door, then sat boldly at the table, picked up a jug of Lao Bai Gan, and drained it in one go.
Instructor Lin’s alcohol tolerance wasn’t great; after this jug, he immediately felt it, a bit tipsy.
Thus, his usually stern face finally gained some lively expression.
Refreshing!
Yes, tonight had frequent mishaps, but in the end, they achieved their goal: burning the barn and seizing grain.
And he even clashed with a first-rate expert like Yang Lu!
It hurt, but it felt good!
Instructor Lin grabbed a white flour steamed bun in one hand and a bowl of mutton offal soup in the other, slurping and swallowing huge mouthfuls without chewing—cheeks bulging, throat bobbing, food vanishing into his stomach.
His stomach churned, quickly converting the food into qi and blood, circulating through his body.
Tonight’s night raid had consumed too much, leaving Instructor Lin starving—not surprising he came to freeload a meal from Chen Shun’an.
