Chapter 101: Deep water produces big fish

Lady Ying looked at the flour pancakes on the table. Although they were freshly baked and had a bit of wheat fragrance, the pancakes were too thick, the edges were a bit burnt, but the center was a bit pale, obviously the hostess had no intention of making them well.

And these pancakes had nothing in them—no sesame, no scallions, not even oil.

It seems that uninvited guests are not welcome.

Lady Ying smiled and said to the host: "You haven't had dinner yet, right? We won't take up your food; just give us some hot water."

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

The water in the pot was hot, and the man was about to pour it into a cup, but the steward Old Mo stopped him: "Pour it out and re-boil it; wash the pot clean." After saying that, he took out a small string of copper coins. "Also, borrow your kitchen."

The man was stunned and had to comply. After all, a normal villager wouldn't go against money.

Old Mo followed immediately, scooping water from his vat, filling the pot, and sitting on the fire, monitoring the whole process without blinking.

Qian Ma, who was with the team, also came in holding a bag. "I asked the hostess; she gave some fruits and vegetables."

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

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

The man was stunned on the side: "Oh my, the official master is so particular about eating and drinking?" Corrupt official! "Isn't that so?" Qian Ma only replied with one sentence.

The man couldn't wait for the follow-up, so he had to ask: "Then where are you going?"

Qian Ma opened her mouth to speak, but Old Mo nudged her with his elbow, and the latter closed her mouth.

They couldn't intervene here, and the man returned to the main room with a heavy heart, only to be surprised to see that the guests were gone: "Where are they?"

The woman said tremblingly: "Out, they want to go out for a walk."

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

After the meal, He Yue walked to the lakeside and stretched: "We have never had such a wide expanse of water; it's really refreshing."

After being squeezed in the cramped carriage for most of the day, standing by the vast, boundless lake, his heart and chest felt opened up.

He Lingchuan picked up a stone on the ground and skipped it on the lake surface.

The stone skipped one, two, three... jumps.

He Yue also became playful, grabbed a stone, and blew on it.

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

He Yue looked at him, shook his hand, and threw it out.

The stone skipped four times close to the lake surface.

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

"This is not luck." He Yue picked up another stone, weighed it in his hand, and threw it out.

This time it was actually six skips.

Not to mention he himself was surprised, even He Lingchuan was dumbfounded. "When did you secretly practice this?"

"A petty trick; does it need practice?" He Yue's smile was two parts smug. "Just pick some flat stones and exert force close to the lake surface."

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

This brother, he gets anxious as soon as he loses. He Yue was about to retort, when the lake water made a sharp splashing sound, rippling out.

There is likely a big fish underneath.

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

He Lingchuan suddenly threw two stones at the bushes on the shore.

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

He Yue's smile faded: "What are you doing?"

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

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

"What's so good about what you say?" These people sneered a few times and walked past the He brothers leisurely.

The village chief agreed to steward Old Mo's request to let the village women prepare hot food for the army. Naturally, the village wouldn't have food for three or four hundred people, so the He family's personal guard volunteered to go to the warehouse to transport wheat out to grind into flour.

So, there were many people by the lake right now.

He Lingchuan looked at the figures of those people and said slowly: "These guys have flickering eyes and look like they have evil intentions."

He Yue laughed: "Just villagers; Brother, you don't think anyone looks like a good person."

"Who the hell pees by the lake where they fetch water and cook?" He Lingchuan sneered. "These people seem to have come around the lake from downstream; why pick the middle of the night to enter County Magistrate Village?"

"Maybe just returning late." He Yue frowned at the lake water. "After you said that, I don't want to drink water either."

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

Father is indeed cautious in a foreign land, never forgetting to protect himself. He Lingchuan greeted them: "Father, you two have such leisure?"

"The meal isn't ready yet, so we came out to get some air." There were no villagers nearby, so Lady Ying could finally speak freely. "The room smells strong; the bedding probably hasn't been washed or sunned for many days."

"Meal?" He Yue subconsciously looked at the lake surface. Are they using the water from this lake to cook? He didn't want to eat.

Under the bright moonlight, something black seemed to emerge from the lake surface.

He hadn't had time to look closely, and the object sank again.

Lady Ying also saw it and said in surprise: "What is that?"

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

He looked at his two sons: "Do you know that the High Ancestor of Yuan raised his army by the County Magistrate Lake, built his career step by step, and only then did he have the vast territory of the Yuan Nation today."

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

"By the lake, but not here." Someone answered from the side. The He family turned back to see that the village chief's nephew, Lu Han, had come.

This sturdy man was very enthusiastic: "If the official master is interested, I can lead the way. The scenery there is unique, with the spectacle of double moons, and scholars often come to visit."

"Double moons?" Lady Ying was a little interested. He Chunhua looked left and right. "Where is the village chief?"

"He caught a cold and is feeling unwell, so he ordered me to entertain everyone well." The sturdy man turned and gestured. "This way."

"No, the food in the house is almost ready, and it's late; it's 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 this chapter) ===== CHAPTER 102 =====