Seeing that Cheng Minglang did not deny it, the owner of the small shop continued, "To tell you the truth, Xiao Cheng."
"I can't guarantee other places, but in our Ge Village, things like crude guns and crude bombs are never sold to outsiders by the villagers!"
"So, you'd better try your luck in the neighboring villages!"
Just as Cheng Minglang was feeling a bit disheartened by the shop owner's words, I suddenly flashed out from behind him.
Looking at the shop owner with a sly glint in her eyes, I leaned in close and whispered, "Auntie, as long as you can help me get crude guns and crude bombs, I'll pay you double the market price!"
Cheng Minglang was still the same old Cheng Minglang, a hot-blooded, brainless, and impulsive young man of the martial world, still lacking the ability to read people.
He hadn't even realized that this wasn't about whether it was possible, but whether the shop owner was willing to take the risk for us!
Seeing that the shop owner remained silent, I gritted my teeth and held up three fingers, saying, "Triple!"
Hearing me say this, the shop owner finally couldn't hold back and asked, "Can you tell me what you want to do with such a high price for crude guns and crude bombs? Are you planning some underground operation?"
"No!" I shook my head decisively and replied in a deep voice, "Auntie, take a good look, take a good look if you have any weapons on you or in your hands!"
"If we were really doing underground work, how could we come here empty-handed without any tools? And only asking you for crude guns and crude bombs?"
Before the other party could ask further questions, I preemptively blocked them, saying, "I can only tell you this much, Auntie! I can't say any more about the purpose of buying these things, as it would only implicate you!"
"You just need to help us get the items, and excluding the cost, I'll hand over triple the reward with both hands!"
"If you really don't have those things, then we'll have to try our luck in the neighboring villages."
I had said it all to this extent. If the shop owner still intended to play dumb, then she was truly unappreciative.
After all, crude guns and crude bombs were not exactly rare and sought-after items in the entire Tongwei County.
It was just that without a familiar intermediary, the villagers were unwilling to make the transaction due to fear of responsibility and risk.
"Uh."
With an involuntary acknowledgment, the shop owner put on a "I finally understand what you're talking about" expression.
After a slight pause, she said with a troubled look, "We do have them, what... what do you want to buy?"
Upon hearing this, after a brief moment of thought, I replied, "It would be best to get four or five crude guns, and as much gunpowder as possible. As for crude bombs..."
"Same as gunpowder, the more the merrier!"
Hearing me say this, a sharp glint instantly flashed in the shop owner's eyes, but it quickly disappeared.
"Young man, you also know that dealing with these things is actually illegal!"
"I can help you buy them, that's fine, but if this matter leaks out later, I have old people above and young children below..."
"I understand, Auntie! I understand."
As soon as the shop owner stammered, I immediately showed a knowing expression and nodded to her, saying, "Name your price!"
"Uh... the items themselves will be at our local market price, and as for me..."
At the crucial point, the shop owner held up one finger and said shyly, "I'll just charge... I'll just charge you ten thousand yuan as a reward, how about that?"
After speaking, the shop owner lowered her head slightly, not daring to look me in the eye.
To be honest, when I first saw her hesitant and money-grubbing demeanor, I thought I was going to be severely ripped off.
But I never expected that in the end, she only asked for an extra ten thousand yuan as a reward.
This... this was far beyond my expectations!
In my original understanding, even if the shop owner had asked for eighty or ninety thousand yuan in benefits, it would have been within my acceptable range.
Now it was only one-tenth of a hundred thousand yuan, what reason did I have to refuse?
After regaining my senses, I agreed without hesitation.
"Okay! No problem! Ten thousand it is!"
Just as the shop owner was about to respond, a young maiden walked out from behind a curtain at the back.
The young maiden was very beautiful and had a tall figure. At first glance, I even suspected that she might not be from Ge Village, until...
As she walked out, she called out to the shop owner, "Mom, what ten thousand yuan?"
After a slight pause, the shop owner quickly recovered and replied, "Nothing! Where is there any ten thousand yuan? You must have misheard, girl!"
"Hmph!" With a slight snort, the young maiden, undeterred, pointed at me and pressed the shop owner, "I didn't mishear, this person just told you ten thousand, and you said ten thousand! What ten thousand yuan is it?"
"Ah, this... no, no! This, this, this, there's no such thing as ten thousand, you little girl must have misheard!"
The shop owner's tongue was starting to tie itself in knots in her haste.
Pity the hearts of parents everywhere!
Parents never show their bad sides in front of their children.
Seeing her mother almost stomping her feet in anxiety, the young maiden's eyes immediately showed a hint of self-doubt.
Seeing this, the shop owner quickly signaled me with her eyes, asking me to help her cover up the lie.
"Yes, yes, yes! There was no such thing as ten thousand, I was talking about staying here! One night, just one night!"
After secretly giving me a thumbs-up, the shop owner immediately chimed in, "Yes, that's right! It's just lodging!"
"There's no man in the house, so it's agreed, just one night! You have to leave tomorrow!"
I thought I could cooperate with the shop owner and muddle through the situation.
But what I didn't expect was that the young maiden's face instantly turned grim.
Without another word, the young maiden walked out of the shop.
Naturally assuming that her daughter had been sent away, the shop owner immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
After she had recovered, she immediately asked for my phone number, saying she would go out and inquire for me right away and asked me to watch the shop for her.
With that, she rushed out.
As soon as the shop owner left, the young maiden turned and appeared before me again.
"Handsome, is there something that absolutely needs to be done by my mom? I can do it for you too!"
I remained silent, offering an awkward smile.
Seeing this, the young maiden continued, "It's just about getting crude guns and crude bombs for you, I can do that too!"
"As for the reward... I only need half of the ten thousand yuan!"
"........."
Good heavens! I was utterly speechless.
It was the first time I had ever seen a daughter intercept her mother's business halfway!