Wang Fang saw him mocking his physique, and in his anger, he retrieved a steel fork from the side of the wall and raised it, threatening to chase them away.
"Get out, quickly. Our Gangshang Village doesn't welcome you. If you dare take another step forward, be careful with my fork!"
Fan Zehao, looking at the sharp fork tip, stepped back a few paces, shielding his wife. He smiled and said, "Don't be angry. You don't need a fork to be impolite to us. Your physique alone is enough to win!"
The Special Commissioner also chuckled, a rare sight, and echoed Fan Zehao, "Who says not? One of his legs is heavier than both of us combined. If he were to lean on us, we'd be flattened into meat patties!"
The two big men were chatting idly, oblivious to the annoyance it caused Zhao Jiaqi.
She whispered behind them, "We're outsiders. Be careful not to anger him, or he might summon the whole village to deal with you!"
Villagers might quarrel amongst themselves, but they were united against outsiders. If they angered the villagers, they could easily be attacked by the entire community.
Who knows if you're a prince or not? Most common folk are uneducated, and with a single word, you could be accused of impersonation, and they'd still beat you up!
After having their fun, Fan Zehao and the Special Commissioner quickly changed their demeanor.
"Young man, don't get agitated. We are merchants from out of town. We heard you have gold mines here and thought we'd do some business with your village. Kindly fetch your village chief!"
Hearing that they were there for business, Wang Fang put away his steel fork. Although he no longer threatened them, he still gave them a cold look and scrutinized them carefully.
Fan Zehao raised an eyebrow and took out a pouch from his chest, pulling out several banknotes worth ten thousand taels. He held them up for Wang Fang to see clearly.
"This is just a small portion of my money. The rest is in my pouch. You can see if I have the means to do business with you!"
Wang Fang glanced at the banknotes; they were genuine. His expression immediately softened. He put down his weapon and said, "Wait here. I'll go find the village chief. If you trespass without my permission and get killed by mistake, don't blame me for not warning you!"
This statement surprised all three of them. After Wang Fang entered the village, Zhao Jiaqi couldn't help but ask, "Are there assassins in this village?"
What kind of existence was Gangshang Village?
The Special Commissioner, relying on his years of experience, shook his head at the Princess. "This village doesn't seem to have assassins. It's likely a self-formed team of villagers specialized in fighting. They might be dealing with local troublemakers or robbers and thieves!"
These words sparked endless speculation in Zhao Jiaqi and Fan Zehao.
It seemed this village was incredibly wealthy, or else why would anyone covet it?
Fan Zehao held his wife's hand and said, "Once we go in, stay close to me and don't wander around or look at things carelessly!"
She gave a wry smile, "Do you think this village looks like a place where I should be wandering around carelessly?"
Getting into the village was difficult enough, let alone moving freely within it!
It was almost impossible. However, it did confirm one thing: this village truly had some secrets, otherwise, they wouldn't be so guarded against outsiders.
After a short while, a lean man with a smiling face walked out. A person who smiled before speaking was usually shrewd, often called a smiling tiger.
As he approached, he smiled, but his eyes scrutinized them. He thought he was being discreet, but Zhao Jiaqi noticed everything.
"Haha, I heard from Little Fang that you're here to discuss business?" Wang Yuanzhi asked the three of them with a chuckle, his gaze sweeping over their faces.
Fan Zehao nodded to the approaching man. "It's me!"
With just those two words, Wang Yuanzhi understood his identity.
"This is my wife, and this is my guard. We heard you have gold mines here and came to visit!"
Wang Yuanzhi was no fool. His gaze was filled with suspicion. "Oh~ Heard? Who did you hear it from?"
A flicker of light crossed Fan Zehao's eyes. He smiled and said, "Zhang Quan from Gangxia Village told me!"
Hearing the name Zhang Quan, Wang Yuanzhi's heart skipped a beat. He continued to ask, "Zhang Quan? Is that the one who sells small toys in town?"
"He sells ceramics. His father is a bit lame, and his mother is... their family is in a difficult situation!"
Wang Zhiyuan no longer doubted them. Zhang Quan's family was indeed in such a state. But who was to blame?
Living a good life and not appreciating it...
He stepped aside, enthusiastically ushering them in. "My home is not far from here. Let's go inside and talk. This isn't a place for conversation!"
Fan Zehao smiled and nodded, walking ahead with him. Zhao Jiaqi followed behind, with the Special Commissioner behind her. As they entered the village, the three of them discreetly surveyed their surroundings.
Upon entering the village and turning a corner, they saw the true appearance of the settlement.
Every household had blue brick and tile roofs, lined up neatly. The construction was quite good. It didn't look like a village at all, but rather like a wealthy neighborhood.
Walking down the road, Fan Zehao was amazed by the houses. "I've traveled to many places for business, but I've never seen a village like this. Your village houses are better than those in town. If you said this was a small county town, some people would believe you!"
Wang Yuanzhi waved his hand modestly, but a look of pride crossed his face. He chuckled, "You flatter me, I'm unworthy. It's just that our villagers are skilled workers. If it weren't for their diligence and hard work, our village wouldn't be like this, would it!"
How could they know if it was praise or not!
Fan Zehao replied, "It's not flattery, the facts are right before us. I'm telling the truth. If you, as the leader, hadn't led them well, they wouldn't have developed so much, would you!"
Fan Zehao turned his words back to him, subtly complimenting him.
The two engaged in polite banter, and soon they arrived at the village chief's house.
The village chief's house was a three-courtyard residence, one more courtyard than the villagers' homes, and its interior decoration was even more elaborate than that of wealthy households.
The local emperor, it would not be an exaggeration to describe him as such. The spacious and bright front hall had a tea table laden with fruit platters and pastries.
Incense burned in the room, a faint floral scent that was refreshing.
Soon, tea was served. Fan Zehao looked up and saw a young woman who bore some resemblance to the village chief.
He lowered his gaze and then looked at the village chief beside him. "My name is Fan Da, I am a jeweler. I heard you have good things here and came to visit!"
Upon hearing his introduction, Wang Yuanzhi narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled, asking, "Is it the Fan from 'Fan', and the 'Da' from 'Da Xiao'?"
Fan Zehao waved his hand. "I am Fan Yin Fan, the second oldest at home. I have an elder brother!"
This eased Wang Yuanzhi's mind. Not long ago, a prince from the inner city had used the alias Fan Da and caused trouble in Nanlan Village, which ultimately led to the replacement of several local officials in the inner city.
However, Wang Yuanzhi then thought that they were under the jurisdiction of the Guiyun Kingdom. Even if a prince came, they wouldn't be afraid; it would just be a little more troublesome.