Chapter 137 - 120: Starting Work
"Lord Liu, may I ask why you’ve summoned me today?"
In the rear hall of the Government Office, Huang Yuangu faced Liu Zheng, asking nervously.
It had been five days since the conflict at the Tea Garden. During that time, County Magistrate Liu had seemed utterly unconcerned with the matter and hadn’t responded to Huang Yuangu’s embellished report.
Later, he even heard that County Magistrate Liu had met with Fang Yue.
He had no idea what the two had discussed, nor did he know what the County Magistrate’s attitude was now.
After a long wait, he cautiously raised his head to look at County Magistrate Liu.
Just then, Liu Zheng lifted his teacup and took a sip. "This Biyou Spring Tea really is the finest there is. So fresh and crisp... exquisite, simply exquisite!"
With that, Liu Zheng looked at Huang Yuangu. "Such fine tea shouldn’t go to waste. Yuangu, regarding that matter you mentioned, I’ve decided to back you."
"Ah, County Magistrate Liu."
Huang Yuangu was stunned for a moment, then an unconcealable look of joy spread across his face. There had been no movement for three days, and he’d thought the matter was a lost cause.
During that time, he’d even heard that County Magistrate Liu had met with Fang Yue.
That news had made him all the more anxious; he never expected such a sudden, favorable turn of events.
"For you to back me, County Magistrate... I am truly moved." Huang Yuangu’s nose began to sting, and he couldn’t stop tears from welling up.
This was a genuine display of emotion. He had thought that a sum of over a hundred thousand taels of silver had just slipped through his fingers. How could he not be thrilled at the thought of getting some of it back?
Who would ever turn their nose up at silver? If he did, he wouldn’t be skimming funds from the Government Office every year.
To get his hands on several ten thousand taels of silver—and as an annual income, no less—would take him who-knows-how-many years of graft.
"Oh, right. At the entrance to the Tea Garden that day, didn’t someone violently resist the law and attack the government constables? In two days, take the three shifts of government constables and go arrest that person. How can we let such a thug remain at large?"
In two days, the new Captain of the Guard Army for Xiahe County would be arriving to assume his post.
’I hear this new Captain is also a local from Xiahe County, a man named Fang Hu. And if I’m not mistaken, this Fang Hu seems to have some connection to Fang Yue. It appears the two share a master-disciple relationship.’
’When he arrives to take his post in two days, Fang Yue will certainly be there to greet him. That’s when I’ll send men to arrest that chubby fellow. I imagine things will get very interesting then.’
’This Fang Yue has decent Talent. He might even have a chance to advance to Qi Sensing in the future and progress further on the Martial Dao.’
’It’s a pity the boy doesn’t know when to advance and when to retreat. The future is the future, and the present is the present.’
’I was a genius in my day, too. Otherwise, I never would have achieved Qi Sensing, let alone attained this position.’
’That’s why I’m not particularly impressed by genius.’
’What is too rigid is easily broken. There’s no shortage of geniuses who perish before their time.’
’This is the perfect opportunity to teach him just how treacherous the world can be.’
’Sometimes, the Martial Dao alone isn’t enough to solve your problems.’
"Yes, yes, of course! I will follow your orders to the letter, Lord Liu." Having received his confirmation, Huang Yuangu was ready to do whatever the County Magistrate said, as long as it wasn’t an order to go and die.
He didn’t understand why they weren’t arresting the man immediately, but he wouldn’t dare to question it. Naturally, whatever Liu Zheng said, went.
~~~~~~
Meanwhile, Fang Yue had already started looking for people to clean up his house in the county seat.
After all, he might have to live in the county seat for an extended period.
With the recent incident at the Tea Garden, there was no guarantee it wouldn’t happen again. If he wasn’t here when something did, he’d be too far away to help.
Especially after his dealings with Liu Zheng, he knew this situation was not simple. He would really have to stay here and keep watch for the time being.
"This house of yours is so stingy. The front yard is too small, the backyard isn’t very big, and there isn’t even a proper training ground. Just a bunch of flowers and grass, trying to look all cultured. It’s just not right."
With nothing better to do, Bai Xingqiu was naturally tagging along with Fang Yue.
As Fang Yue hired people to clean the house, Bai Xingqiu naturally followed along to "give pointers."
Fang Yue, however, paid him no mind.
Soon enough, Fang Yue was explaining his desired renovations to the hired craftsmen.
"Young Master, Young Master, I’ve finally found you!"
Just then, a man dressed as a household servant ran into the courtyard. He was panting, completely out of breath, as he rushed to Bai Xingqiu’s side.
"What are you doing here?" Bai Xingqiu frowned, asking with a hint of impatience.
"The master sent me to find you and bring you home. He said it’s urgent," the household servant replied quickly.
"I know, I know. You go back first and just say you couldn’t find me. I’ll come home in a few days." Bai Xingqiu waved his hand dismissively, about to send the man away.
Seeing his young master acting this way, however, the servant immediately put on a woeful expression. "Young Master, if... if I go back like this, the master will beat me to death."
"Bai, maybe your father really does have something urgent to discuss with you," Fang Yue spoke up.
Bai Xingqiu knew it himself. Since they’d already found him here, there was no getting out of it. With Fang Yue’s added persuasion, he said:
"Go on, get out of here! Stop your whining. Fine, two days. I’ll go back in two days."
"A promise is a promise, Young Master. You can’t trick me."
The household servant’s face immediately broke into a smile. Clearly, he’d never planned on making Chubby go back with him right away.
There was definitely some leeway in his orders.
Seeing this, how could Chubby not realize he’d been tricked?
Still, he felt too awkward to give his personal servant a hard time.
He shot the servant a fierce glare, huffed in annoyance, and ignored him.
~~~~~~
"This is the house? The thief came here?"
Just then, on the street outside the house, in the old alley.
Wei He looked at the house ahead and asked Wang Quan, who was beside him.
"This is the place. After the man came here, he seems to have fled the city. I have been incompetent and have yet to find him."
Wang Quan replied subserviently.
He couldn’t find the silver now either, so his only choice was to rely on the Wei Family’s power to handle the matter.
In any case, he was certain the silver had been hidden in this courtyard. He just didn’t know who had taken it.
There was no harm in telling Wei He about this place. In fact, he needed the Wei Family to get involved.
It might even lead to finding the silver sooner.
"Hm? By the way, whose place is this?" Wei He asked, his attention drawn to the neighboring house. "It sounds like they’re doing construction. Was someone living here before?"
"This house supposedly belonged to the Scholar Liu’s family from Da Liushu Village. Later, Scholar Liu sold it to Fang Yue, who’s from the same village."
"I suppose that must be Fang Yue, hiring people to clean the place up so he can move in," Wang Quan replied.
He had already investigated the sales of all the houses in this alley, naturally, to search for clues. Unfortunately, he had come up empty.
"Then let’s go in and have a look."
For whatever reason, Wei He didn’t go to check the other house for clues. Instead, he led Wang Quan and the others into Fang Yue’s home.