IDWBE -Chapter 128 Butcher Ding Dismembers an Ox

Even if he rubbed his hands bald, these things probably still wouldn’t develop any patina, right?

Hong Ying smiled and said, “Your Highness, these were sent by the Liang family.”

“They’re so hard. I don’t have that kind of strength,” Lin Yi said.

After rolling the ivory beads in his palm twice, he tossed them to Hong Ying. “You take them and play with them. Maybe you can use them as concealed weapons someday. Getting hit by this would hurt. Probably stronger than your throwing needles.”

“Thank you, Your Highness!”

Hong Ying beamed as he caught them. “Your Highness is truly wise. If I used this to smash someone, petty thieves would surely submit at once.”

“Of course.”

Lin Yi then turned his attention to a pair of aged amber beads. After fiddling with them for a while, he lost interest and tossed them aside.

Walnuts felt much better in the hand.

He had been polishing them for two years already. He believed they would soon become jade-like.

The sudden influx of tens of thousands of refugees into Baiyun City even stirred curiosity in Lin Yi, who was used to being a hands-off manager.

How much could these people possibly eat?

They had consumed so much grain that his bright silver coins were flowing out like water!

Most refugees were resettled by the Provincial Administration along both banks of the West River and its tributaries. They were given prime farmland, but the households were scattered, stretching dozens of li.

After crossing West River Bridge, Lin Yi saw rows of wooden shacks erected along the road leading to Fangniao Island.

Although the administration could loan money and help build houses, most refugees refused to borrow. After all, loans had to be repaid.

Only when starving beyond endurance would they reluctantly borrow some grain.

Based on past experience, they firmly believed that borrowing was easy—but repayment was hard.

Many had been ruined by usury.

Even though the government had already allotted them land, they still did not easily trust it.

The most important thing was that their children were cared for by the schools—fed, clothed, and housed.

As for adults, if they could find work, they would eat their fill. If not, Sanhe was rich in resources. Up the mountains or down the rivers, there was always something to eat.

They wouldn’t starve.

And those with courage? Seeing large ships recruiting sailors, they boarded without hesitation. It was said they could earn one tael of silver per month!

Originally, Baiyun City had white walls and black tiles.

Now, with all the shanties added, it had once again turned into a massive slum.

Most of the provincial funds went to settling refugee children, building bridges and roads at new resettlement sites, and occasionally setting up mobile porridge stations.

Not every refugee could work.

Even spending sparingly like this wasn’t enough. Lin Yi had already poured over twenty thousand taels of silver into it.

These refugees were like gold-devouring beasts!

If there was anyone to blame, it was himself—for opening the road to Yuezhou and Nanzhou. Human nature being what it is, people follow the easier path. They could practically walk here with their eyes closed.

Still, many refugees hadn’t even made it to Baiyun City. They were scattered throughout Sanhe—settling wherever they found mountains or land to cultivate.

According to Shan Qi, there were at least seventy to eighty thousand more.

Some places had already formed settlements. Conflicts with original mountain residents were frequent, sometimes even fatal.

The provincial constables wanted to intervene, but by the time they got news, the victim’s grave grass was already three feet high.

To Lin Yi, the situation boiled down to one word:

Chaos.

The territory he could effectively control was still only within a hundred-li radius.

At most, Fangniao Island.

“Whether my words carry weight depends on how far the roads extend,” Lin Yi said through clenched teeth. “So many refugees sitting idle—have them build roads.”

“Your Highness…”

Shan Qi forced a bitter smile.

The provincial treasury was truly empty.

With Bianjing squandering funds like that, how could they live well?

Lin Yi snapped, “Stop crying poverty! At worst, I’ll give you the navy’s funds too! But don’t think about digging into my pocket again!”

Unwilling to look at Shan Qi’s smug face any longer, he turned and left.

By evening, a light drizzle began and continued intermittently into the next morning.

“Damn it!”

Early in the morning, Butcher Jiang stood at his stall cursing loudly.

His daughter winning the championship and earning twenty taels hadn’t kept him happy for long.

Because, without his knowledge, a new butcher shop had opened directly across from him!

Wasn’t this setting up a ring to steal his business?

The street was only so big.

If others sold more, he’d sell less.

If others sold less, he’d still sell less.

Either way, he lost.

Suddenly he saw Ma Gui, deputy commander of Prince He’s guards, approaching in a bamboo hat, leading a horse.

Just as he was about to greet him, Ma Gui walked straight into the rival butcher shop and greeted the burly man inside.

“Zhu Ruorong! Wasn’t it good enough in the capital? Why come here to stir things up?”

Hearing that tone, Butcher Jiang’s heart tightened.

This wasn’t good.

They were clearly old acquaintances.

Was his position as the Prince’s “meat supplier” about to be lost?

He edged closer to his counter and strained to listen.

But the rain was too loud, and the two men had already gone inside.

“First day open and it rains. Not auspicious,” Zhu Ruorong sighed.

Ma Gui laughed. “I almost didn’t recognize you earlier. If you wanted to open a butcher stall, fine—but why right across from someone? That Butcher Jiang isn’t easy to deal with. Be careful.”

“Afraid of him?” Zhu Ruorong sneered. “I’m Third Rank now too! Let him try me! Besides, I’m helping him. I was instructed by Prince He himself. He said it’s called the ‘agglomeration effect.’ Silk sellers, restaurants, vegetable vendors—cluster together and business thrives.”

Ma Gui sighed.

Anyone who had received “instruction” from the Prince…

He hadn’t seen many normal ones.

Just look—a butcher spouting incomprehensible terms like “agglomeration effect”!

Ma Gui now followed the Prince daily, nervous that one day he might become like them.

“This place has its rules,” Ma Gui said seriously. “If you break them, even if we’re friends, I won’t be able to protect you.”

“Of course,” Zhu Ruorong thumped his chest. “Wouldn’t dare disgrace the Prince. Commander Ma, if you’re willing, I’ll host dinner tonight?”

“Who else?”

“Brother Sun Yi, and Physician Hu and his son. Just us old folks from the capital.”

As for Shen Chu, he had always looked down on him. He didn’t have the face to invite him.

Ma Gui thought for a moment. “Alright. That pig’s head looks good—prepare it for tonight.”

“Certainly.”

Then Zhu Ruorong lowered his voice. “I heard you can slaughter cattle in Sanhe?”

“Of course. The Prince approved it.”

“That’s excellent!” Zhu Ruorong beamed. “I can finally practice Butcher Ding Dismembers an Ox openly!”

“Stories are just stories. Don’t take them seriously,” Ma Gui sighed.

Actually believing in that tale the Prince told about Butcher Ding—where in the world could there truly be such a skilled butcher?

That wouldn’t be a man, but a god.

Fiction really misleads people.

Just last night, Fang Pi was standing on the roof shouting at thunder, claiming he was practicing some ‘Thunder Emperor Finger.’

Unexpectedly, the Chief Steward didn’t beat him—he even looked… pleased.

Ma Gui truly couldn’t understand.

“Fortunately, Prince He’s residence still has someone clear-headed and rational like me.”

He didn’t realize the words “clear-headed” and “rational” were ones he had learned from the Prince.

The rain continued without pause until nightfall.

The girls at Chunxiang Pavilion were listless.

Because of the rain, not a single customer had come.