I Only Want to Lie Flat But Am Forced to Cultivate Immortality
Chapter 188 - 114 Li Er, Wuding Water_2

Chapter 188: Chapter 114 Li Er, Wuding Water_2

These days, human life is cheaper than grass, and a bought concubine is even less than grass!

According to the laws of Dayong, even if a husband accidentally kills his concubine, or blatantly murders her, he would only face exile or a fine. If he pays the fine in full, he might be exempt from punishment on the spot.

Butcher Zhang, due to his greed for pleasure, caused the death of his concubine, and was only fined twenty taels of silver in the end.

The Prefect took ten taels for Zhaodi’s funeral expenses, and the remaining ten taels were given to Li Er’s family.

As for Li Er, who injured someone, he was given a dozen lashes as a minor punishment.

After that day, when Li Er returned home, he once again saw his parents counting silver coins in the room with ugly expressions.

At night, sleeping on the big common bed, Li Er heard creaking sounds from the bed separated by a curtain.

There were faint sounds of the couple’s conversation.

"The third sister must be twelve or thirteen this year."

"Not so fast, the second one is only thirteen..."

"But she’s not too young. Next year, we can find someone for her, and save a lot of silver coins again."

"She’s still too young."

"You blockhead, we decide her age. Whatever we say, it will be."

Li Er remained silent. At first light the next morning, he found the old man who sold medicine in the alley and took two large packs of rat poison.

That day, Li Er made a big pot of meat. His father scolded him for wasting money but ate happily.

The younger siblings asked Li Er why he didn’t eat. He said he had already eaten and was going out for a walk, telling them to eat slowly.

After leaving the house, Li Er hadn’t walked far when he heard screams from the yard.

He didn’t look back. With a sharp knife hidden in his sleeve, he headed straight to the Vegetable Market.

Walking, he mumbled to himself.

Sometimes he said, "Third sister, don’t blame your brother. It’s better to free you early than to let you walk the same old path."

Other times he said, "Fourth and fifth brothers, don’t be afraid. After I finish my business, I’ll buy you new rattles. One for each of you, no more fighting."

"Little sister, you’re still young and don’t understand anything. I’m doing this for your own good..."

All along the way, Li Er did not mention his biological parents even once.

At Vegetable Market, Butcher Zhang was selling meat with a smile. Seeing Li Er, his face immediately darkened.

"Give me twenty pounds of greasy meat, chop it into mush, not a single piece."

As he spoke, Li Er took out all the stolen silver coins from his home and threw them on the chopping board.

"Alright, just wait a moment, little brother-in-law, the meat will be ready soon!"

Butcher Zhang, blinded by money, didn’t care about their past grievances. Under the scorching sun, he started chopping the meat energetically.

Li Er repeatedly asked Butcher Zhang to chop finer. Although annoyed, Butcher Zhang, with some evil thoughts, planned to cheat on the weight after the meat was chopped, so he didn’t argue back.

Seeing that the meat had been chopped for a tea period, with sweat pouring from Butcher Zhang, Li Er, anxious, wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

When the distant sound of a commotion reached them, Li Er hesitated no longer. Seizing the moment Butcher Zhang wiped his face, he took out the hidden short knife, swiftly approaching the butcher.

Then, as if rehearsed a thousand times in his mind, he slit the butcher’s throat.

As the knife fell, hot blood spurted from Butcher Zhang’s neck.

Li Er wasn’t satisfied. After stabbing over a dozen times into the butcher’s waist, trembling, he dropped the knife and fled in panic.

Passing through the noisy crowd, Li Er thought the commotion was from the alley incident spreading here, but he found it was an old wandering performer at the corner, performing ’Drinking River and Swallowing Sea.’

"Ladies and gentlemen, watch closely. This jar of water will be swallowed like a whale, tiger’s drink, dragon’s sip!"

"See how I drain this jar."

The water jar weighed over a hundred pounds, with half filled water it was about two to three hundred pounds, but the street performer lifted it with ease, using sturdy stance.

With a sharp inhale, the water in the jar got sucked up like a dragon drinking water, into his stomach.

Li Er, entranced, watched as the now dry jar was lowered.

"Drinking River and Swallowing Sea is not much. I have another simple trick called Auspicious Dragon Spitting Water..."

The performer, instead of spitting water, laid a white cloth on the ground and made a bow to the audience.

The routine understood by the crowd, they generously threw money onto the cloth.

"Hey boy, come here, I need your help..." Seeing Li Er standing by, the performer gestured for him to collect the scattered copper plates.

Li Er, as if possessed, agreed, gathering money while watching the performer refill the jar with water.

In no time, the jar was full.

Just then, officials tracked Li Er from Butcher Zhang’s stall.

Seeing them, Li Er panicked, hiding behind the performer.

Walking the streets, the performer, sharp-minded, quickly noticed the officials were after Li Er.

Pulling Li Er in front, a hand framed his head, stunned for a moment.

"Good boy, I’ll save you this time. Will you come with me?"

Li Er quickly nodded.