Chapter 2: A slap for a hammer

Chang Ming is well aware that this is just the beginning

As soon as they left the village, the short man expressed his dissatisfaction, saying: "Second Manager, your style of doing things is really too dull. So what if that guy's master is a high-level mechanic? He hasn't even shown up yet, and we're already scared out of our wits"

That fellow had blood streaming down his face, and his head must have hurt more than Chang Ming's face. He protested unhappily, saying: "Second Shopkeeper, he has beaten me to this extent!"

As soon as those few individuals left, Chang Ming's expression grew even colder

Indeed, it must be so

The second shopkeeper pondered for a moment and instructed the person behind him, "Instruct the Fulin group to keep a close watch on this village and investigate the background of this young man thoroughly! If he truly has a master who is a senior mechanic, then that would be one thing. However, if he is merely pretending... then he must understand that the benefits of the Qi family are not so easily taken advantage of"

Such a gaze, he had encountered many times in the workplace before. When they are unable to discern your true nature, they will employ various methods to probe your strengths and weaknesses. Once they discover an area they can exploit, they will immediately seize the opportunity without hesitation

The slightly plump second shopkeeper scolded, "Shut up, can't you see what he is holding?"

Just now, they spoke to Chang Ming in a friendly manner, but at this moment, there was a clear hostility and disdain in their eyes

The village chief was taken aback and said, "The bamboo grove is just behind the mountain, but although the golden splinter bamboo is readily available, the production process for golden splinter silk is quite complex"

Chang Ming chuckled and said, "I just arrived and am casually wandering around, haha. May I ask what brings you both here?" Perhaps influenced by the surrounding environment, Chang Ming's speech became somewhat formal, which made him feel quite uncomfortable.

He paused for a moment and then said, "In addition to this kid, we also need to pay close attention to the matter we heard about earlier"

The attitude of the second shopkeeper has indeed become increasingly humble: "I truly apologize. How about this? We have ten silver coins here, let this be your medical expenses"

A powerful mechanic

The second shopkeeper grew increasingly serious and asked in a deep voice: "Who is your master?"

Chang Ming turned around and saw a peculiar mechanical vehicle

Setting aside other thoughts, in such a world, how can one survive without the ability to protect oneself

My master? What master do I have? Are you referring to my grandfather? He is not from this world

The thin little man behind nodded and said: "Yes, the broken gold threads from the Lian family are basically all collected here"

He cleared his throat and said, "Tsk, you think you can dismiss me with such a small amount for the illustrations... Fine, I'll take that thing along; fifty silver coins it is!"

Chang Ming stepped forward and said: "What use is there in having more bamboo if it cannot be processed and utilized..."

He was pondering in his mind when suddenly he heard the urgent and loud sound of footsteps coming from the other end of the mountain path

Chang Ming was somewhat puzzled. The village chief explained: "The Qi family and the Lian family are the two prominent families in Zihuaicheng. Their relationship is somewhat tense, with ongoing disputes behind the scenes, but it has never escalated into an open conflict. Our Jinzhucun has been doing business with the Lian family, and they come to collect the broken gold threads at the end of each month."

Chang Ming followed the village chief out the door, where several people had already entered the village, parking the machine vehicle in the center of the village at the drying pole area. This was a place specifically designated by the villagers for drying golden bamboo poles, where all the bamboo poles cut by the villagers in the morning were laid out. The Qi family carelessly parked their vehicle on top, crushing more than a dozen bamboo poles. The villagers frowned in distress, and a few of them wanted to confront them, but were held back by those nearby.

They have already inquired among the villagers about Chang Ming's background and learned that he is not the kind of important figure they had imagined. The round-faced middle-aged man remained quite calm, while the thin little fellow became enraged. Damn it, he is just an unknown country bumpkin who doesn't even know what a mechanic is, yet he managed to scare me! Fortunately, I had the presence of mind to ask a few more questions; otherwise, it would have been quite embarrassing to be frightened away by such a foolish kid.

Chang Ming inadvertently caught a glimpse of the villagers' expressions beside him; their eyes were wide open, and they seemed somewhat incredulous upon hearing about fifty silver coins. Hmm? Could it be that in this world, fifty silver coins is already a considerable amount of money?

He wiped his mouth, his hands covered in blood. He hadn't had time to clench his teeth when he was pulled up, and this time his teeth bit through his tongue, filling his mouth with the taste of blood. Including his life in modern times, Chang Ming had never suffered such a loss; he was furious and roared, "Damn it!" He turned around and charged forward, pulling out the heavy object from his pocket and smashing it towards that guy's head

Chang Ming tossed the ring in his hand and admonished, "I don't really want this broken ring; I just want to remind you all to be polite to strangers. Who knows when you might kick a piece of iron?"

At that time, the losses might have only been some financial interests. But now, with a single slap, it has made him see clearly that in this world of the survival of the fittest, he might even lose his life

The second shopkeeper said with a苦脸: "We came out in a hurry this time and didn't bring much with us... In total, we have only fifty silver coins, but our intention to make amends is sincere..."

His provocation only made the other party more apprehensive. The second shopkeeper pulled the small man behind him and, as if nothing had happened, smiled and said: "It’s a misunderstanding, it’s all a misunderstanding! I’m truly sorry, we mistook you for someone else... We accidentally hurt you, and you returned the favor. How about we just let it go like this?"

Even for the sake of survival, in order to no longer endure such humiliation, he must become a mechanic

Damn, it seems like it's going to be a disaster

The small person's face suddenly fell, filled with a look of deep pain.

Every morning, the villagers would go up the mountain to cut bamboo. It was during the process of cutting the bamboo that they discovered Changming hanging from the top of the bamboo, and that is how they brought him back.

The village chief is approximately sixty years old, with gray hair and beard, and holds a high reputation in the village. Recently, he has been feeling unwell; when Chang Ming visited, he was still lying in bed. Upon hearing Chang Ming's words, his expression changed dramatically, and he exclaimed, "Qi family! Why would someone from the Qi family come here? Has something happened in Zihua City?"

Chang Ming woke up after sleeping for a whole day and night, and now it is time to go up the mountain to cut bamboo

The second shopkeeper smiled; he discreetly pinched the little one and said, "Alright, we won't fight, let's consider this a friendship! This Wild Tiger Ring shall be our token of goodwill!"

Such good things do not exist in the world

As the gray light faded, Chang Ming was taken aback. This fellow had a layer of steel armor covering his right arm, with several sharp steel claws protruding between the four fingers, glinting with a sharp cold light, clearly a deadly weapon

He touched his face, which still throbbed with a burning pain

Chang Ming also casually clasped his hands, patted his backside, and pretended to stroll towards the village. As soon as he was out of sight of the two individuals, he sprinted towards the village chief's house, whispering, "Uncle Village Chief, it's bad news, someone is here to cause trouble!"

Now that they have suffered a loss, will it just be let go like this

Is it Wolverine

The second shopkeeper's expression darkened, his eyes filled with malice. He said, "Hmph, do I need you to tell me what style I have in my work? That brat is taking advantage of his power and acting like a tyrant, which is truly detestable! However, that wrench is indeed not simple. If it really belongs to a high-level mechanism master, spending fifty silver coins plus a Wild Tiger Ring to befriend such a master would not be a waste. If that brat is just bluffing..." He glanced at the short man and sneered, "Isn't it a matter of moments to get the Wild Tiger Ring back?"

However, he would not concede so easily. He let out a cold laugh and said, "Damn it, your head is quite hard!"

He let out a cold snort and said, "My master is not here right now. What, are you trying to take advantage of his absence to deal with me?"

The slightly plump middle-aged man clasped his hands and said, "Then I will trouble you, young man."

His slap came suddenly, striking as swiftly as lightning. Chang Ming's reaction was already quite fast; he abruptly darted to the side but still could not evade it. The fingertips grazed half of his face, causing a searing pain. Moments later, that half of his face predictably began to swell.

He pointed with his hand, and it was indeed the ring worn on the little person's hand

He sat at the top of the slope beside the mountain path, holding the wrench left by his grandfather, in silent contemplation

Chang Ming was momentarily taken aback, his mind racing rapidly.

Not good, they are here to cause trouble

I have heard that the status of a mechanism master in this world is very high. This wrench of my grandfather's is indeed professional-grade; they must have mistaken it for a tool belonging to an impressive mechanism master. However, since I don't look that impressive myself, I was mistaken for his apprentice.

The slender individual nodded and said: "I think so too... hee hee."

Chang Ming said: "I have only just arrived not long ago. When it comes to doing business, it is still necessary to have a chat with the village chief. Haha, I am just here as a guest. How about this, shall I help you greet the village chief?"

The village chief said: "Alas, we also wish to treat everyone equally, but the monthly production of broken gold threads is limited, just enough to supply the Lian family. If we take care of one side, we cannot attend to the other, so we can only rely on one family for now"

In this moment of underestimation, the assailant suffered a significant loss. What is it that Chang Ming is holding? It is, of course, the heirloom from his grandfather, that versatile wrench

He is well aware that he only frightened these two people just now by pretending to be powerful. However, he had no choice but to act this way; not to mention the humiliation contained in that slap, the round-faced middle-aged man's eyes were clearly probing.

That guy wiped his face, looking even more ferocious. He saw the wrench in Chang Ming's hand and gasped: "Mechanical tools?!"

"Ten silver coins?" Chang Ming said discontentedly, "Do you think I'm trying to send off a beggar?"

His parents had long been divorced, each having their own family, and he had no ties in that world. However, in this new world, a strange world, he must survive here, which requires him to start exploring anew and to adapt once again

As he spoke, he raised the wrench, ready to engage in a fight with the other party, when the round-faced middle-aged man suddenly pulled on "Wolverine," fixating intently on the wrench in Chang Ming's hand, and said: "Wait!"

The round-faced middle-aged person's expression slightly changed: "Do they only sell to the Lian family?"

When he traveled through, he was not wearing clothes from this world, but he changed shortly after waking up. Even so, his entire appearance was still completely different from that of the villagers. Not to mention, the villagers, who are exposed to wind, rain, and sun all day, how many of them can have skin as delicate and tender as this homebody?

The village chief shook his head and said, "In any case, since the other party has come to us, we can only go and take a look."

Before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by the middle-aged man: "Enough with the nonsense, where is the bamboo grove? Take us to see it!"

The Qi family members walk through Zihua City with an air of superiority, and no one has ever dared to provoke them. For a lowly scoundrel like this, a beating is just a beating; who would have thought that someone would actually dare to retaliate?

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However, knowing that Chang Ming likely has no background, the round-faced middle-aged man's expression turned cold, and he said bluntly: "Are you the village chief, old man? You have been supplying broken gold threads to the Lian family for several years now, don't you think you are being too dismissive of our Qi family?"

Chang Ming stood up, intending to go to the village to deliver a message. As soon as he made a move, someone over there looked over.

The vehicle strode to the entrance of the village and came to a stop. The door on the cylindrical exterior opened, and four individuals descended. The first two had ashen faces and took a moment before looking towards the village. One of them, a middle-aged man with a round, slightly plump face, asked, "Is this Jinzhucun?"

The wrench used by an eighth-level technician is not a counterfeit; it is made of genuine materials and feels heavy in hand. When this hammer struck the back of that guy's head, it caused him to stagger forward, his head buzzing, and blood immediately streamed down his face

Chang Ming knew that he absolutely could not back down at this moment; the more resolute he was, the less certain the other party would be. He let out a cold, mocking laugh and said, "Heh, with the way you are speaking, am I the one at fault if I take the initiative?"

In the eyes of these two individuals, his appearance sparked a different line of thought. They exchanged glances, and the round-faced middle-aged man approached with a smile, saying: "This young man is not a local, is he? What brings him to such a remote mountain and - picture - book to have some fun?"

The little one was truly convinced, smiling as he said: "Indeed, as expected of the second shopkeeper, your considerations are thorough!"

Everyone is waiting for the village chief to come and resolve the matter

His words were interrupted again: "Stop talking about this and that, hurry and take us there!"

Chang Ming followed the village chief over, and several pairs of eyes swept over him—no, their gazes were different from before!

Chang Ming scratched his head and said, "In that case, it is somewhat troublesome"

Is this world truly the place where his dreams come true

Chang Ming hurriedly poured a glass of water, and after patting for a long time, finally managed to stop the village head's cough

The village chief spoke a few words, his throat felt itchy, and he couldn't help but break into a violent cough

Under the stern gaze of the second shopkeeper, the petite individual reluctantly removed the ring from their finger and handed it to Chang Ming

This is a strange world; having just arrived, he has no foundation whatsoever

As for whether this misunderstanding was due to his own oversight or if Chang Ming intentionally deceived him, he has grown accustomed to wielding power and influence in Zihua City, yet he remains indifferent to the matter

At first glance, this machine resembles a cylinder, supported by eight slender metal legs. The eight large feet stride confidently along the mountain path, appearing quite comical yet stable and swift.

As soon as that fellow reacted, a surge of anger ignited within him. He slapped his left hand against his right arm, and a ring on his hand immediately emitted a bright light. Following that, a layer of grayish light enveloped his hand, spreading up to his arm, and before long, it covered his entire forearm

The opponents consist of only four individuals, and it is certainly impossible for them to contend with an entire village. However, the phrase "unite families and connect households" was indeed heard by Changming. With the background context, it is possible that the villagers may suffer losses

The round-faced middle-aged man exchanged a glance with the other person and said, "We are from the Qi family in Zihua Town, and we have come here to engage in trade with the villagers"

It is evident that this vehicle is specifically designed for mountain climbing, but it seems to be stable; however, sitting inside must be quite bumpy

Before his words had finished, the thin little man suddenly slapped him hard! Accompanying this slap was a scornful rebuke: "Is there a place for little bastards to interrupt when a man is speaking?"

The second shopkeeper nodded in agreement, smiling as he asked the village chief a few more questions about the fragmented golden bamboo. After learning that the yield was indeed limited, he did not linger on the matter and left with his companions.

The village chief cleared his throat and said: "This esteemed gentleman may not be aware that the production of gold filigree is quite difficult..."