Chapter 101: Deep Water Produces Big Fish

Lady Ying looked at the flatbread on the table. Although it had just been baked and still carried a hint of wheat fragrance, the bread was too thick, the edges slightly charred, while the center remained somewhat pale; clearly, the hostess had no heart to cook properly.

Furthermore, there was nothing in this bread—no sesame, no scallions, not even any oil.

It seemed uninvited guests were not welcome.

Lady Ying smiled and said to the homeowner, "You haven't had dinner yet, have you? We won't take your family's rations; just give us some hot water."

The man stood up and walked to the back kitchen: "I'll go get the water."

The water in the kettle was hot, and as the man was about to pour it into a cup, the steward, Old Mo, stopped him: "Pour it out and boil it again; wash the kettle clean." Having said that, he took out a small string of copper coins, "And we'll borrow your kitchen."

The man was startled, but had no choice but to comply. After all, a normal villager wouldn't turn away money.

Old Mo immediately followed, scooping water from his vat, filling the kettle, and setting it on the fire, monitoring the entire process without blinking for an instant.

Mother Qian, who was accompanying the group, also came in carrying a bag. "I asked the hostess; she gave us some fruits and vegetables."

She was an old servant Lady Ying had brought from her maiden home, having always managed the daily life of the He family. Although the title sounded elderly, she was actually only in her early forties.

She borrowed the man's kitchen to wash rice and cook, appearing to be preparing several dishes, a pot of hot soup, and even boiling sweet fermented rice balls! The rice, oil, dried fruits, and dried meat had all been brought from Heishuicheng. The fermented rice had been bought at a large restaurant in the previous city and was said to be very famous locally; once it started boiling, the whole room was filled with the sweet fragrance of rice wine.

The man watched from the side, dumbfounded: "Oh my, are you officials so particular about eating and drinking?" *Corrupt officials!* "Isn't that so?" Mother Qian only replied with one sentence.

The man waited for more, but had to ask: "Then where are you all going?"

Mother Qian opened her mouth to speak, but Old Mo nudged her lightly with his elbow, and the latter shut her mouth.

Unable to help here, the man returned to the main room, his mind heavy with worry, only to be startled upon seeing no guests there: "Where are they?"

The woman said with a trembling voice: "Out... they wanted to go out for a walk."

The cottage was too small, and the four members of the He family were all adults; they couldn't fit in one house, so the He brothers were assigned to another farmhouse.

It was only after dinner that they went over. He Yue strolled to the lakeside and stretched: "We have never had such a vast expanse of water where we are; it is truly refreshing."

After being squeezed in a cramped carriage for most of the day, standing by the vast, boundless lake, one's heart and mind felt broadened as well.

He Lingchuan picked up a pebble from the ground and skipped it across the lake surface.

The pebble bounced one, two, three... jumps.

He Yue also felt playful; he grabbed a pebble and blew on it.

He Lingchuan mocked him: "You can't do it!" This little bookworm had never played any outdoor skills.

He Yue glanced at him and flicked his hand, throwing it out.

The pebble clung to the surface of the lake, skipping four times in a row.

He Lingchuan's smile slightly stiffened: "You have good luck."

"This isn't luck." He Yue picked up another pebble, weighed it in his hand, and threw it.

This time, it actually skipped six times.

Not to mention his own surprise, even He Lingchuan was stunned. "When did you secretly practice this?"

"A mere trifle, does it need practice?" He Yue's smile held two parts of self-satisfaction, "Just choose some flat stones and apply force close to the water surface."

He Lingchuan shrugged: "You're right. Not fun, not playing anymore."

This brother of his, he got agitated as soon as he lost. He Yue was just about to retort, when the lake water splashed loudly, sending out a ripple.

There was likely a big fish underneath.

Both brothers were startled, then looked at each other and smiled.

He Lingchuan suddenly threw two pebbles toward the bushes on the shore.

With two "ouch" sounds, two or three people crawled out from behind them.

He Yue restrained his smile: "What are you doing?"

"Relieving ourselves." These three were all dressed as villagers, and one of them even pulled up his pants, "What are you doing here instead!"

He Lingchuan looked at them and said: "I thought you were hiding here listening to us talk."

"What's so good about what you're saying?" These few people sneered a few times and walked past the He brothers with an air of indifference.

The village chief agreed to the request of the steward, Old Mo, to let the village women prepare some hot food for the army. Of course, the village would not keep food for three or four hundred people on hand, so the He family's personal guard unit volunteered to go to the warehouse to move wheat out for grinding.

Therefore, there were many people by the lake at this moment.

He Lingchuan watched the figures of those few people and said slowly: "These guys' eyes were flickering; they look like they have ill intentions."

He Yue laughed: "They're just villagers, brother; you don't think anyone looks like a good person."

"Who the hell pisses by the lake where they get water to cook?" He Lingchuan sneered, "These people look like they came around the lake from downstream; why pick the middle of the night to enter County Magistrate Village?"

"Maybe they were just late returning." He Yue looked at the lake water and frowned, "Now that you mention it, I don't want to drink the water either."

At this time, He Chunhua and his wife strolled over from the opposite side, with several personal guards following closely behind.

Father was indeed cautious in a foreign land, never forgetting to protect himself at all times. He Lingchuan went up to meet them: "Father, you two have such leisure and elegance?"

"Dinner isn't ready yet, so we came out for some air." With no villagers nearby, Lady Ying could finally speak freely, "The room smells strong; those quilts probably haven't been washed or aired for many days."

"Dinner?" He Yue subconsciously looked at the lake surface. Was the food being cooked with water from this lake? He didn't want to eat it.

Under the bright moonlight, there seemed to be a dark object emerging on the lake surface.

Before he could look closely, the object sank again.

Lady Ying also saw it and asked in surprise: "What was that?"

"Deep water produces big fish." He Chunhua laughed, "County Magistrate Lake has existed for too long; it wouldn't be strange for it to have raised some large spiritual creature."

He looked at his two sons: "Do you know that the High Ancestor of Yuan started his army right here by the banks of County Magistrate Lake, building his achievements step by step, which is how we have the vast territory of the Yuan Kingdom today."

The two sons, one nodded to say he knew, and the other asked in surprise: "Oh, is this the place?"

"Right by the lake, but not here." Someone nearby chimed in. The He family turned to look; it was the village chief's nephew, Lu Han.

This burly man was very enthusiastic: "If the officials are interested, I can lead the way. The scenery there is unique, with the wonder of the twin moons; scholars and poets often come to visit."

"Twin moons?" Lady Ying was a bit interested. He Chunhua looked left and right, "Where did the village chief go?"

"He caught a cold and is feeling a bit unwell, so he instructed me to entertain you all well." The burly man turned and gestured, "This way."

"No, the food in the house is almost ready, and it's late; it will be the same to go see it tomorrow morning." He Chunhua shook his head, "I see Mr. Lu speaks well; you don't look like a villager."

(End of chapter)