"Maybe we should postpone the tree - cutting for another day?"
A villager in the crowd tentatively spoke up.
Lian Ji never expected that after all her elaborate scheming to make the villagers live in fear, Li Ying could defuse the situation with just a few words. She couldn't help but feel extremely unwilling.
"Lady Li, you're deliberately obstructing this despite the Celestial Master's warning. What if something really goes wrong?"
She was aggressive. Li Ying sneered and retorted, "Celestial Master? In my opinion, he's just a quack!"
As soon as these words were spoken, Lian Ji's face instantly turned ugly.
Li Ying walked unhurriedly up to the banyan tree, bent down, and casually picked up the green "ghost fire" on the ground.
"Using phosphorus powder to play tricks. Such a shoddy street - performer's stunt, yet you dare to show it in front of the master?"
She gracefully raised her hand and unhesitatingly tore off the yellow talisman nailed to the tree.
"Grind saltpeter into powder, dissolve it in water, and draw the outline of a 'female ghost' on the talisman paper in advance. Saltpeter is flammable. When the incense is lit, the pattern will easily appear on the yellow paper. If I'm not wrong, this is the so - called appearance of the ghostly figure, right?"
Her sharp eyes were fixed on the "Celestial Master".
The man obviously didn't expect that Li Ying, who looked like an inexperienced young girl, had such a discerning eye and street - smart skills.
"Quickly tell us who sent you! You deliberately played these tricks to sow discord between the master and our fishing village, trying to cut off our business. What's your motive?"
Seeing the master's face turn gloomy, the "Celestial Master" quickly knelt on the ground, shaking like a leaf.
"I... I..."
Before he could defend himself, Lian Ji angrily stood up, raised her delicate hand, and slapped him hard across the face!
"You ungrateful wretch! I've trusted you for so many years and entrusted you with my husband's health, but you've been harboring evil intentions! Guards, beat him severely!"
Two servants got her signal and immediately dragged the "Celestial Master" away. Before long, his wailing gradually faded.
Lian Ji looked at the master in awe and softly said, "My husband, I really didn't expect this man to be a fraud! I was negligent for a moment and got you involved. Please punish me!"
The master held the yellow talisman with the "ghostly figure" on it, and a complex look flashed across his eyes.
He waved his hand and calmly said, "Lian Ji, you were also deceived by that scoundrel. Your intentions were good. How could I blame you? But after today's commotion, I'm tired. Let this matter end here. Don't mention it again."
Lian Ji lowered her head obediently and said, "Yes, my husband."
The matter was thus dropped. Li Ying promised the villagers that she would use the banyan tree seeds to breed the local "Wenchang Chicken" and naturally didn't slack off.
The results of the first round of the martial arts tournament had just been announced. A Man took the lead without any suspense. The second round of the selection was still a few days away. With nothing to worry about, Li Ying prepared the base sauce for the "Spicy Red Oil Chicken in a Bowl" and then devoted herself to preparing the farms for the "Wenchang Chicken" and the "Northern Goat".
The chicken farm was set up on the beach beside the village. Each chicken could move freely, eat banyan tree seeds, small fish, and shrimps, and take a "sand bath" in the natural sea sand to get rid of the excess oil and odor on their feathers. Only in this way could the chicken meat reach its maximum aroma and be crispy - skinned and tender.
The chicken manure was also collected by special personnel. Vegetable leaves, fish intestines, and other kitchen waste were added to it, and the mixture was composted in a shady place rarely visited by people. Time would decompose these stinky things into fertile nutrients, which would later be used to improve the saline - alkaline soil by the sea.
Old Zheng personally selected dozens of young lambs. They were allowed to run and jump freely on the Medicine Mountain north of the town every day and eat medicinal herbs. The scattered medicinal dregs from Deji Hall were also added to their feed. The "Northern Goats" raised in this way had delicious and tender meat, making them a top - notch delicacy.
Li Ying also selected a few smart villagers to learn from Shi Hu for a few days. After they recognized all the medicinal materials, they were tasked with preparing the seasoning packets for the Chicken in a Bowl.
Unlike fish cans, these seasoning packets were dry powder, which was easy to transport. As long as they were kept dry, they wouldn't go bad even if stored for a month. They were perfect for taking on fishing boats and selling to more distant towns.
The idle fishermen were overjoyed to get this job. Everyone in the village, regardless of age or gender, had filled their pockets a lot, and everyone had a big smile on their face.
Lian Ji, however, couldn't smile at all. She tightly clenched her fists, and her ten long fingernails dug deeply into her palms, leaving several crescent - shaped marks.
"What a capable little minx!"
Lian Ji gritted her teeth. After a long time, she finally loosened her pale - knuckled fingers and ordered the servant beside her, "What's going on with these Northern Goats? Go and call that old Zheng over! He must give me an explanation for this!"
The servant rushed off at once, but Lian Ji couldn't calm down anymore. She frowned.
Who on earth was this Li girl? In just a few months, she had spread her influence far and wide. This situation... really needed to be guarded against.
It seemed that she couldn't be allowed to do as she pleased anymore!
Li Ying had no idea that she was being targeted again. She had been extremely busy for days. This made Su Buchi admire her even more.
At first, he thought that the female fishermen in the canning factory had earned a lot of silver and had outshone the men in their families. On the surface, it seemed that they were very proud and happy.
However, a family was a place where emotions mattered. As time passed, the men who couldn't earn money might not be able to bear such humiliation and would surely cause trouble sooner or later. This was not a long - term solution.
Unexpectedly, Li Ying's words "distribution according to work and equal pay for equal work" easily convinced everyone and resolved the hidden concern with ease.
"Miss Li's extraordinary talent, ability to turn the tide, unpredictable strategies, and lofty ambitions really make me admire!"
He praised her unreservedly. His eyes sparkled with admiration when he looked at Li Ying. He even offered to play the zither to help A Man during the second round of the martial arts tournament.
Li Ying was, of course, extremely grateful. She spent all her rare free time with Su Buchi. The two of them devoted themselves to studying the music score, determined to help A Man become a star. From afar, they really looked like a perfect couple.
It was not until the moon rose above the willow trees that Li Ying got up to say goodbye. After walking a few steps, she was stopped by a figure.
She looked up and saw Lu Xunguang, staring at her with a gloomy face.
"A Ying, you're angry with me."
He looked at her with certainty in his tone, and there was obvious guilt in his eyes.