HE With the Cold Male Protagonist C30

Chapter 30: A Friend, Distributing Money to the Whole Village

Ever since the old patriarch Jiang fell ill, Jiang Baiye had, before the eyes of the entire village, pleaded with Wang Lizheng to lessen the punishment of forcing their household to reclaim twenty mu of barren wasteland. This move truly surprised everyone. They watched Jiang Baiye try to mask his sorrow as he smiled faintly.

“After all, he is still my grandfather.”

The crowd fell into utter silence. Each heart was deeply moved. Compared with how the old patriarch had poured out his heart, even to the point of harming his own health, for Jiang Yueming, while in the past always scolding and harshly chastising Jiang Baiye, and then seeing Jiang Baiye act this way… who could still dare say he was unfilial?

Had their brains been kicked by donkeys, siding with Jiang Yueming and calling Jiang Baiye merciless?

Some people, realizing belatedly, were furious. “Damn it, we let Jiang Yueming make fools of our good intentions!”

“If I ever again speak blindly on someone’s behalf without knowing the truth, then I’m no better than a pig, a dog!”

Turning back, those who had misunderstood Jiang Baiye’s family one after another came to apologize. “If you are called unfilial, then there is no such thing as filial piety under heaven!”

Jiang Dazhu only scratched his head and gave a foolish grin.

“Come to think of it, for him to just walk away and leave such a big mess at home—that’s what really chills the heart. Especially when the old patriarch treated him anything but poorly!”

This remark quickly reached the ears of the old patriarch. His spirits sank lower, his illness worsening, and he could not recover.

Meanwhile, Wang Lizheng feigned anger. “My order cannot be so easily rescinded. Those twenty mu of wasteland must still be opened up!”

Jiang Baiye was quick on the uptake. “I’ll reclaim them myself, as long as my grandfather can properly rest and recover in the meantime.”

The crowd only admired him more, seeing him so devoted. Once Wang Lizheng agreed to his request, Jiang Baiye immediately spent money to hire some villagers to help with the work.

After all, if they left it to the old patriarch’s family, who knew in what year or month it would be done? And even then, they wouldn’t do it properly. The delay would only harm his own gains.

Another round of wages to be earned—the villagers of Qingshui grew fonder of Jiang Baiye’s family, praising them every day.

In the blink of an eye, the wasteland was reclaimed, the medicinal seedlings Jiang Baiye had dug up from the mountains were planted, and after a month and a half, the workshop was finally complete.

Jiang Baiye had specially ordered a batch of medicinal-processing tools from the prefectural city. Once they were installed, the workshop could officially begin operation!

Passersby, whether from the village or outside, were struck with awe. For this was no ordinary workshop—it was far larger than the dyeing houses or sugar works they had seen, larger even than some of the government’s smithies or copper foundries.

With its black-tiled, blue-brick courtyard and its row upon row of houses, the complex stood more magnificent and handsome than the shops in the prefectural city itself.

When Lu Lizhi was dragged by Jiang Baiye to come see it, he gazed at the cluster of buildings beneath the green mountains and felt genuine happiness for him.

In such a short time, he had moved so swiftly to accomplish all this. No wonder he hadn’t had time to come to him every day.

Looking at the gleaming workshop under the clear blue sky, Lu Lizhi felt his chest broaden, recalling Jiang Baiye’s bold boasts from before, and suddenly felt that he had been petty to worry over trifles.

But still, he coldly pried away the hand Jiang Baiye had clasped around his own.

This man now, every time he saw him, instinctively reached out to grab him. He didn’t know when the habit had formed. If not for Jiang Baiye’s expression being nothing but perfectly natural, Lu Lizhi might have suspected ulterior motives.

Then he thought again—two grown men, what ulterior motives could there be? And he felt strange at himself for even having the thought.

Jiang Baiye only felt his hand empty, squeezed it once, then broke into a wide grin. “Once I’ve saved enough silver, I can take you to the capital to treat your muteness.”

He said it so softly, almost a murmur. Lu Lizhi did not catch it and tilted his head slightly in puzzlement.

Jiang Baiye drew back his gaze, only to see his questioning expression. Unable to help himself, he reached out and pinched that flawless, jade-like cheek that seemed to catch the light. “Lu Lizhi, you’re truly adorable!”

Lu Lizhi, slow to react, grew flustered and suddenly leaned forward, intending to pinch him in return. Jiang Baiye was startled but did not dodge. Instead, he leaned in closer, offering his right cheek. “Here, pinch this side!”

Now the man, who had grown even more handsome and tall, leaned close, his bright dark eyes heavy with determination and faint laughter. Lu Lizhi’s hand hung in the air, hesitated, and finally touched his burning, firm skin. The instant his fingertips brushed it, a jolt of tingling spread through him.

Before he could process the surge of feeling, a light cough suddenly sounded behind them.

Lu Lizhi had no time to react before Jiang Baiye jerked back as if shocked, retreating several steps. Seeing that it was Granny Li, whose scrutinizing eyes swept over the two of them as though she had discovered some great secret, he fled in haste.

“Ahem, you two chat, I have something to do.” And off he went, unable to stay a moment longer.

Lu Lizhi frowned slightly, not understanding.

“Lizhi, you’ve been smiling much more lately.” Granny Li pressed down the suspicion in her heart and smiled. “If your grandfather could see you from below, he would surely be glad!”

Thinking of what had just happened, Lu Lizhi couldn’t help but smile again.

“What do you think of that Jiang boy?” Granny Li probed cautiously. She was likely one of only two people in the world who knew of his special condition, for she had been the one to deliver him at birth.

Granny Li had never married. The older folk in Qingshui Village all knew she had once been devoted to Lu Lizhi’s grandfather.

Because back then, he had saved her, and she had fallen for him. But alas, he loved another woman. Proud, she had never disturbed their union, nor had she ever married herself. When Lu Lizhi’s grandparents passed, and then his parents died in an accident, she could no longer help but step forward to care for his descendant.

Knowing her past, Lu Lizhi could never accept her kindness without guilt. Yet the two had become somewhat dependent on each other.

So when she asked this, Lu Lizhi thought for a while, then nodded firmly. It was his acknowledgment.

Jiang Baiye had always said he wanted to be his friend. By now, Lu Lizhi felt they truly could be considered friends—if only Jiang Baiye didn’t suddenly change his mind.

“And you, have you ever thought of giving up the civil examinations?” Granny Li asked with great difficulty.

She feared that his reckless pursuit would lead him into danger, as had happened to his father. Especially with his body—a source of endless gossip—he could not imagine how hard the road would be.

But Lu Lizhi’s answer was the same as always. He shook his head with resolve. He must fulfill his father’s dying wish. He must follow this path and uncover the truth behind his father’s mysterious death!

No matter how hard, he would never give up.

Granny Li opened her mouth but said nothing in the end. In her heart, however, she had already made up her mind.

Yet before she could act, Lu Lizhi, as if reading her thoughts, caught her arm and shook his head forcefully, even his eyes carrying a hint of pleading.

He knew she must be thinking of asking Jiang Baiye to dissuade or protect him. But no. He would never use his friend to achieve his own goals, nor would he drag Jiang Baiye into danger!

“You child…” Granny Li sighed and reluctantly left. But she thought, perhaps Lu Lizhi was too naive. There were some people who would not withdraw as he imagined.

Jiang Baiye only stopped after running quite a distance. Remembering Granny Li’s gaze just now, his chest still burned, as though some deeply hidden secret had been pierced.

Clearly, he had lived these days in pure restraint, keeping himself so busy he had no time for stray thoughts. Each morning and night he even forced himself to recite the dry Compendium of Herbs to suppress his restless impulses. He had even tried pulling away from Lu Lizhi a little…

But it was no use!

Instead, the longer they went without seeing each other, the stronger the rebound became. Just now, for a fleeting instant, he had been seized by a wild longing to draw closer to Lu Lizhi, to press against him.

Jiang Baiye sighed. It seemed he could only cure it by taking the opposite approach. Perhaps once he knew Lu Lizhi well enough, he would discover he was just an ordinary, unkempt man, and the godlike pedestal he stood upon would collapse. Then all these distracting thoughts would vanish.

Just like how, in his past life, he and his roommates used to throw stinking socks at each other… No, wait, why did he suddenly feel like he was looking forward to it?

“Changshou!” Madam He waved vigorously before his eyes. “Check it again, will you? This is the wages for the villagers, and they must be paid out tomorrow.”

Jiang Baiye took the ledger in hand. With his reputation for learning to read at Lu Lizhi’s place, no one questioned his ability to handle accounts.

The next day, most of Qingshui Village gathered at the entrance. Their recent stir had even drawn idle folk from neighboring Lijia Village to watch.

“What are they doing?”

“Maybe something bad happened?” some speculated maliciously.

“They all look cheerful enough. Must not be anything bad,” others said. Compared with this, the people of Lijia Village felt only more unsettled.

For in their own village, chaos reigned. The headman was useless, the clan elder was useless, and a group of old men were fighting to be the new clan head—even though the clan was dirt poor, and there was no benefit to the role.

“They’re here, they’re here!” With delighted cries, Jiang Baiye arrived on time. He hadn’t expected everyone to gather at this spot, but it suited him perfectly.

Without another word, he pulled out a massive sack of coins—truly massive, weighing over ten jin of copper cash and accompanied by a smaller sack of silver. Boldly, he declared: “Payday!”

At once the villagers erupted in excitement. Jiang Baiye had said earlier that he had no money yet and would settle all wages at once later.

Before this, those who didn’t believe him or feared working in vain had withdrawn. By doing so, Jiang Baiye had weeded out those of poor character.

Now those same people could only look on enviously as he, ledger in hand, paid each worker in full.

Madam He and Jiang Dazhu stood by—one counting money, the other handing it out. Some had worked only a day or two, receiving only a few dozen to a hundred coppers.

Others had worked over a month, doing heavy labor like building houses. Because of the summer heat, Jiang Baiye had even given a daily five-copper “high-temperature allowance.” In the end, some received two or three taels of silver, the least still a tael or two.

Compared with the odd day of temporary work outside, the meager pay for back-breaking toil, this was riches beyond imagining.

Even with modest taxes, harvests were limited. To maintain just enough food to avoid hunger was considered good fortune.

Now, clutching handfuls of silver, many villagers found their eyes wet with tears.

Even many women, who had helped plant medicinal herbs, had earned a tidy wage. With money in their hands, their confidence grew, and at home, their husbands had to speak more gently to them.

The whole of Qingshui Village was filled with harmony and joy.

But not far away, the people of Lijia Village watching grew so angry they puffed up like pufferfish—angry that they weren’t Qingshui villagers, angrier still that Jiang Baiye wasn’t theirs. That money could have been theirs!

Yet at that very moment, an accident struck—

Jiang Baiye had only handed out half the money when a disheveled figure suddenly lunged out from the corner, crashing into the crowd, snatched the moneybags from Jiang Dazhu and Madam He, and fled.

The crowd: “!”