Chapter 17: Cultivators
When it was their turn, the waiter led Lin Fan and Ho Ming to a table in the corner.
The waiter took the towel hanging from his shoulder, wiped the table, and then asked, "What would you two like to have today?"
"Give us two bowls of noodles and tea," Ho Ming said.
"That's all? It's getting cold. We are out of rabbits, but there are snakes or venison to warm yourselves if you're interested?" the waiter tried to introduce more dishes to Lin Fan and Ho Ming enthusiastically.
"Rabbits? If you need them, I could supply them for you, and if I'm lucky, even venison meat," Lin Fan asked.
It would be a great opportunity for Lin Fan to earn more money if he could supply Quan Wei Xuan rabbit meat.
After witnessing how much the Qi Concentration pills cost, Lin Fan was now aware of how important it was to make more money.
Lin Fan took a copper coin and stuffed it into the waiter's hand.
His past life as a successful businessman had provided more than enough experience to know about Guan Xi and greasing the wheels.
"Hmm..." the waiter thought for a while. "Let me check with the innkeeper."
"In the meantime, just wait for your noodles."
The waiter turned and shouted their order to the kitchen and walked over to the counter and chatted with the innkeeper.
The innkeeper lifted his head and checked out Lin Fan, giving an unsure look.
The waiter then kept at it in persuading the innkeeper.
A few minutes later, the innkeeper relented and nodded.
The waiter then came over to Lin Fan's table again.
"The innkeeper agreed. He is willing to pay one copper coin for each rabbit, ten copper coins for venison. Just bring them in as and when you have them," the waiter smiled and said.
"Deal," Lin Fan lifted his teacup and, with a toasting gesture, finished the tea.
After he put the teacup down on the table, Lin Fan took out another copper coin and stuffed it into the waiter's hand.
The waiter tried to refuse very ceremoniously initially.
He finally accepted the copper coin most apologetically after Lin Fan insisted for a few minutes.
The waiter was all smiles as he turned away.
"Waiter! Prepare the Wang Jiang Ge on the second floor. I want all the specialties served as soon as possible. If you make my guest unhappy, I will make you pay for it."
A loud voice boomed as a middle-aged man entered Quan Wei Xuan.
The man had thick, bushy eyebrows and a bushy beard.
He was wearing a red-colored constable uniform with a black-colored belt and shoes.
Behind this man were two young men and a woman.
They were wearing grey-colored cultivator's robes.
The woman, who looked to be the eldest among them, was good-looking with smooth skin and big round eyes.
The other two young men were most likely the woman's junior martial brothers, carrying all the belongings and swords.
When the guests saw them, all the noisy chatter suddenly died down.
Some even pulled their benches away from the path, scared to get in the way of the cultivators.
The waiter scrambled and got to the constable's side, bowed down, and apologized, "So sorry for the delay, Constable Cai. Please follow me to Wang Jiang Ge."
Constable Cai and the three cultivators then followed the waiter's lead.
These must be the team tasked to help clear the woods, Lin Fan thought to himself.
That would mean the village would be able to get through a safe winter if they were able to clear the woods.
Back in Lin Fan's mind, something was not adding up.
Housekeeper Lee and whoever was behind the disturbance of the wanderers and vagrants weren't done yet.
When Lin Fan and Ho Ming were done with the meal, it was time for them to meet up with Ho Fu.
Along the way, Ho Ming treated Lin Fan to the street food along the way.
Candied hawthorn skewers and onion pancakes were something Ho Ming liked and shared with Lin Fan.
Looking at Ho Ming happily with his candy skewers, it reminded Lin Fan that they were just teenagers.
But fate would have it that Ho Ming would need to shoulder the fate of his family at such a young age.
"What took you so long? Had too much fun and forgotten all about me?" Ho Fu said to Ho Ming and took a deep breath from his smoking pipe.
"It's because of me, village head. I asked Ho Ming to show me around. I need to sell off the sword for Uncle Liu's medical fees," Lin Fan said.
"Hmm..." Ho Fu puffed out a mouthful of smoke and motioned them to follow him. "The constable and the demonic beasts clearing team will be at our village a few days later. The constable will investigate Housekeeper Lee, while the team will go and clear the woods."
"That's good news," Lin Fan said.
"Hmph.... Good news? The tax officials will come with them to collect the autumn harvest tax. Let's hope no one is going to be sent to hard labor this year."
Ho Fu shook his head and sighed.
Three of them then hurried back to the village before nightfall.
...
"I'm back, Uncle Liu," Lin Fan said as he entered Uncle Liu's home.
Uncle Liu was lying on the bed and Mei Fong was making dinner.
When Mei Fong saw Lin Fan, she wiped the sweat off her forehead and poured a cup of water for Lin Fan.
She passed the cup to Lin Fan.
Lin Fan saw her bite her lips, hesitate for a moment but then keep quiet.
"Don't worry, Aunty Mei Fong. Here's eighteen copper coins, more than enough for Uncle Liu's sensei and medicine."
Lin Fan took out the copper coins and put them on the table.
"Lin Fan, thank you so much," Mei Fong's eyes watered up as she looked at all the copper coins on the table.
"No, Lin Fan. We can't take it all," Uncle Liu tried to get up but couldn't; his leg was now swollen and too painful to move.
"You'll have to. I have bad news..."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
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