Unsheathed

A man who had disappeared from the small town for several years finally returned again. He was none other than Gatekeeper Zheng Dafeng, and apart from becoming hunchbacked, he didn't return with a wife or any additional riches. Even though Zheng Dafeng wasn't an attendant in the medicine shop, he frequently sat on a stool at the entrance of the store, not getting in anyone's way and simply watching on for fun. He was still as carefree and unserious as always, with his lecherous eyes blatantly staring at the chests and bottoms of the passing ladies. This further damaged his reputation among the women in the small town.

Apart from watching the trivial conflict after returning to the small town, Zheng Dafeng also saw the behavior of many people who had suddenly gained immense wealth overnight. Many of them gathered people together to gamble day and night, with some of them visiting the newly established brothels and striding in with heads raised and their chests puffed but walking out with their legs like jelly.

There were some people with too much silver to count, and this caused their spines to become even stiffer than the old locust tree from back then. In the past, these men and old bachelors didn't even dare to breathe too loudly when they walked along Fortune Street and Peach Leaf Alley, yet they were now brave enough to drink and discuss matters with the stewards in these areas. They asked whether or not it was possible to buy one or two decent-looking maidservants, ideally someone who was literate. It would be even better if they could read, and it would be best if they were young and beautiful.

A few years ago, these men hadn't even dared to dream about lying in bed with a well-read woman, but right now, they felt like it was necessary to do so if they wanted to have no regrets in life! In the past, having a pouch full of copper coins would make them a respected and revered individual, yet even silver coins were nothing more than an abundant resource now. Money? That wasn't an issue at all!

Money flowed like water, quickly moving around and changing hands.

The human heart also flowed like water.

After entering autumn, Zheng Dafeng started to feel a little troubled.

Basking in the warm autumn sun and glancing down at his crotch, Zheng Dafeng couldn't help but feel even more troubled. He always felt like he was letting down his little brother. Was he truly going to transform from a young and handsome bachelor into an old bachelor?

He involuntarily recalled the woman who had stood outside the Dust Medicinal Shop and said that her surname was Jiang. She most likely weighed two times as much as him, and the thought of this immediately caused Zheng Dafeng to shudder. She was a good-natured young woman, but there were some matters that couldn't be ignored simply by turning the lights off. Regardless of how good-natured and friendly such a big girl was, Zheng Dafeng couldn't mistreat himself even if he mistreated his little brother!

While Zheng Dafeng was feeling extremely guilty and apologetic toward Miss Jiang because of his distasteful thoughts, Ruan Qiong suddenly paid a visit to the backyard of the medicine shop. Old Man Yang surprisingly wasn't smoking today, and he was instead basking in the sun and taking a nap. He opened his eyes, glancing at Ruan Qiong and remarking, "What a rare guest."

Ruan Qiong had come with two pots of wine, and he raised a hand to offer one to Old Man Yao.