The Shining Star Above The Heaven-Chapter 1021: The Village Head’s Story

Aldrian looked at the sadness in the village head’s eyes and understood how powerless the man must have felt, knowing that he had been taken advantage of yet being unable to do anything about it.

There was no way a normal commoner like the village head, who struggled just to provide for his family, could go against someone like Renfil, who had status and was also someone he depended on.

"The Beruin family actually strictly prohibited me from selling the Crimson Flame mushrooms anywhere else," the village head said.

"However, at one time, I sold one box of Crimson Flame mushrooms in another territory, and I actually received two peak level energy stones. With that, I was able to invite a physician to check one of my son’s condition. I really could not help it. At that time, I desperately needed energy stones so I could have my son examined, as his pain intensified."

"Crimson Flame mushrooms only grow in rare places. In this world, it is said that there are only two places where they grow. One is far away on the other side of the world, and the other one is on the mountain near the village. So once they discovered that the mushrooms had appeared in another nearby territory, they knew that I was the one who sold them."

"Because of that, the Beruin family punished me by imposing higher taxes and lowering the price even further."

"They never bought the mushrooms at their real value. Because of the punishment, they bought them at an even cheaper price than the already low price they paid before. That is why they could toy with me, and I could not do anything about it. I still needed them, because they were the only ones who bought the mushrooms." The village head then fell silent.

"I see. However, there is still something I do not understand. Why did they not simply seize the opportunity to take the job from you and send their own people to harvest the mushrooms themselves? Instead of always depending on you to harvest them," Aldrian asked.

"I know that Crimson Flame mushrooms cannot be harvested through normal means, but I think they could have just kept trying."

The village head smiled when he heard that. "Although it is true that they could try, that would be impossible, considering the place where the mushrooms grow. The place where they grow is dangerous, and I am the only one who can enter it. The mushrooms grow on a high mountain that has become the nest of the Silver Wings Eagle, and the one guarding that area is a low pseudo-immortal stage eagle."

Hearing that, Aldrian was surprised, and the village head, seeing his reaction, understood why.

"Young master must be wondering why I am still alive despite harvesting mushrooms from such a place," the village head said with a smile.

"Well, my late father was a great gardener with deep knowledge. He worked for a noble family in the past before arriving in the village. He was the one who first discovered the mushrooms there, as he accidentally entered the eagle’s territory when the eagle was not there, and he successfully harvested them. He then made an agreement with the eagle when the eagle came back."

"Crimson Flame mushrooms actually brought benefits to the Silver Wings Eagle. However, because the place where they grow is tricky and can only be reached by humans with much smaller bodies than even the eagle’s human form, my father offered to split the harvest between himself and the eagle."

"Since then, they have created a win-win solution that has held until this moment. The Silver Wings Eagle guards the place where the mushrooms grow, and I bring the beast its share of the mushrooms. The Beruin family could not do anything about it, as they would not recklessly fight the Silver Wings Eagle just for the mushrooms."

"The risk is too great, from the manpower required to the place itself, which could be destroyed by the eagle, causing the mushroom’s place of growth to disappear entirely. Because of this, a status quo was created between all parties."

Aldrian nodded in understanding. He finally understood the entire picture of the village head’s situation.

In the end, the Beruin family did not have a choice but to depend on the village head. They did not have anyone who could harvest the mushrooms besides him.

The same applied to the Silver Wings Eagle, which also depended on him, making the situation advantageous for the village head.

However, the village head himself could not process the mushrooms, so he and his father had no choice but to sell them outside in order to gain benefits.

The only one the village head could sell them to was the Beruin family, and he needed energy stones for his daily necessities.

Because he needed energy stones, he accepted the unfair treatment he received from Renfil. As long as he obtained any energy stones at all, he accepted it. Aldrian knew that the village head endured this kind of treatment because of his family. He had no choice but to hold on for their sake.

Renfil must have known this, which was why he could do whatever he wanted with the price, as long as he gave something to the village head.

Basically, the village head was trapped because of his family’s situation, and the Beruin family took advantage of it. However, at the same time, the village head also used the Crimson Flame mushrooms as bargaining chips to make the Beruin family depend on him.

This was a delicate situation between the village head, the Silver Wings Eagle, and the Beruin family.

"Village head, may I know what your son’s sickness is? I suppose his condition is also one of the biggest reasons you decided to stay in your current situation," Aldrian asked.

The village head nodded. "Yes, young master. My son was born with a premature meridians, which cause him to feel sick and in pain almost all the time. I have to buy elixirs to reduce his pain whenever I have enough energy stones."

Aldrian raised his eyebrows. He could only imagine how much pain his son must have endured all this time with a premature meridians.

That condition was rare, but once someone was born with it, they would feel pain throughout their body, as their meridians disturbed their muscles. They also could not cultivate.

To lessen the pain, they had to drink elixirs that functioned as painkillers, which were not cheap.

To truly fix the problem, only a few physicians were capable of doing so. Even if the village head found one, the price would be so high that there was no way the village head could afford their services.

Because of this, Aldrian’s amazement and respect for the village head grew. The village head had not given up on his son despite his condition and continued to take care of him no matter how difficult it was.

This kind of man was one of the kinds Aldrian respected the most.

As they conversed, they finally reached the market. The village head first bought rice for his family. Usually, he would spend five low level energy stones just to buy a small pack of rice, which could only last for three meals for his family. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

The price truly ridiculous to Aldrian, but it appeared to be because of the war, which had caused prices to spike, as the seller explained that he had no choice. Aldrian knew the seller was not lying, so he did not make trouble for him.

They bought the rice for one peak level energy stone, which left the seller truly shocked. In the end, they bought the seller’s entire stock of rice, and it still gave the seller a great profit.

However, Aldrian did not care, as they now had plenty of energy stones. After that, they bought meat and vegetables as well. They purchased the entire merchandise from every seller they visited, which attracted quite a bit of attention from others.

The village head also felt surreal, as he had just bought so much that he had never dared to imagine before.

Aldrian then bought a storage ring for the village head so he could have one of his own.

When the village head wanted to buy elixirs for his son, Aldrian stopped him.

"You do not have to buy elixirs. Fortunately, I am something of a physician myself. I can check your son and try to fix his condition, as I have already tried to fix something more severe."

Hearing that, the village head was stunned, and his expression turned as if he was about to cry. His eyes watered as he bowed deeply to Aldrian.

"Thank you, young master. If you can truly fix my son’s condition, I am deeply grateful. I will do everything I can to repay you."

Aldrian smiled as he helped the village head straighten up.

"It is alright. You do not need to think about repayment. I do not expect anything. The most important thing is that your son can be healed and live normally," he replied.

The village head nodded as he wiped away his tears.

"Is there anything else you wish to do here?" Aldrian asked.

"No, everything is done, young master. We can return to the village," the village head replied.

"Alright, then—" Before Aldrian could finish speaking, several people suddenly blocked their path.

One of them was a burly man with a scar on his face. He grinned at them.

"Hello. Would you please let us check your permit papers?" he asked.

Even from his grin, Aldrian could sense that these men were looking for trouble.