Chapter 82: The Scapegoat Appears, Running Away Overnight

Liang Qu knew the earthen house was still there; he could see it at a glance, hidden within the frame of the main house, like a house within a house.

He didn't care much; there was nothing good inside, just a mattress and a few pieces of coarse linen clothing.

The only valuable things were perhaps the pair of treasure fish horns under the rice jar that could be used for medicine; he could take them back and let the craftsmen tear everything down.

He hadn't expected the villagers to send rice and flour, and he didn't know how to use them, as he didn't cook at home.

"How is it, Master Liang, take a look. I expanded it according to a two-entry courtyard. There are two side rooms on both sides of the main house.

On the four empty spaces separated by that cross-shaped path, I don't intend to pave them with stone bricks; I'll just make them yellow mud ground and plant four trees inside.

Generally speaking, there are two jujube trees in front of the gate, and two ginkgo, persimmon, or pomegranate trees inside, so you can enjoy the cool in the courtyard in summer. Of course, what to plant is up to you, Master Liang."

"Uncle Fu, don't call me Master Liang. You are older than me; there's no such way of addressing me. Just call me A-Shui, like before."

Liang Qu knew the leading craftsman in front of him; his name was Liu Quanfu, over fifty years old, with top-notch woodworking skills. He was a famous figure in the town, and the courtyards of several village elders had been built by him.

For such an elder, he didn't dare let the other party call him 'Master'; it wasn't appropriate.

It showed how much the River God Festival had influenced the villagers.

At first, when he was taken as a disciple, the villagers mostly admired him, but now it had turned into awe; some old people didn't even dare to call him by his nickname casually.

Liu Quanfu naturally didn't dare, and after some refusal, under Liang Qu's insistence, he could only reluctantly change his address back.

Liang Qu returned to the old house, took the treasure fish horns from under the rice jar, left the rice and flour in the jar, along with some miscellaneous items, and prepared to temporarily put them at Uncle Chen's house, letting the old house be torn down directly.

Chen Zhaoan, having been notified, also rushed over upon hearing the news.

Liang Qu jumped down from the roof and greeted him: "Elder Chen."

"How does the courtyard look?"

"It's built too well; I'm embarrassed. This must take several months, right?"

"Hey, you saved everyone's lives and even invited a martial arts master to help us. Who wouldn't be willing to spare a few days to repair the house? My grandsons will have to come another day!

Also, I heard you were back, so I hurriedly brought you the money we said we would pool together for you, Tongmin."

Chen Tongmin, who was beside Chen Zhaoan, took out a large money bag, but Liang Qu pressed down on his forearm.

Chen Tongmin struggled subconsciously, but he didn't move at all; instead, he took a step back himself.

"Elder Chen, I didn't originally intend to let everyone build such a large courtyard for me. This wood and stone bricks must cost a lot of money, right? Who paid for this?"

"Our village elders each paid a portion, and Magistrate Xue in the town and Lin Di from the fishing guild also sent a lot of things over after hearing about it."

Liang Qu was silent for a moment and then nodded: "Don't give the money for now; keep it as wages for everyone. Also, provide two meals, and they must be solid food. Use the rice and flour sent by the villagers first, and then add ten coins a day. For those with elderly at home, fifteen coins a day.

It's not much money, just a token of my appreciation. After the house is built, if there's any left, return it to me."

The few men moving wood inside couldn't help but swallow their saliva upon hearing this!

Is there rice to eat?

Liang Qu was talking to the village elders, so they naturally didn't dare to interrupt, but they hoped for it in their hearts.

Chen Tongmin leaned closer and lowered his voice: "You can't do that. With daily wages, there's no guarantee they won't be lazy and slack off."

Liang Qu smiled: "Doesn't that mean I have to trouble Brother Tongmin to help me keep an eye on things?"

"Ah... this..."

Chen Zhaoan was happy that his grandson could interact more with Liang Qu and urged: "If you insist, then Tongmin, you should help out more. It's the middle of winter, and you don't have anything to do, right?"

Chen Tongmin had no choice but to agree.

Liang Qu's status in Yixing City was very special now, completely on par with the village elders, which was very rare within a radius of a thousand miles.

Before the River God Festival, Liang Qu's status was higher than the villagers, but still inferior to the village elders.

It had nothing to do with status, identity, or strength; there was only one reason—morality.

The elderly, especially those with strength and background, naturally occupied the moral high ground.

Every year, the monarch would go to the school to feast the three elders and five elders, and personally cut meat, dip it in sauce, and hand it to the elders to show respect.

Unless Liang Qu was strong enough to overturn the entire Great Shun Dynasty or become a savage, he could only operate on the basis of following social rules.

This set of behaviors had both pros and cons.

The benefits were obvious; Liang Qu being taken as a disciple was proof, and the equipment for fighting above his level was all the result of this behavior.

The disadvantages were also obvious; if the village elders wanted to suppress him, they just had to say his morality was not good, which was very simple.

But after the River God Festival, Liang Qu, who had saved everyone, suddenly reached the moral high ground!

If the village elders wanted to frame him without reason, they had to weigh who was more qualified!

It felt great!

There were benefits to doing this.

If nothing else, if any mountain bandits wanted to attack in the future, Liang Qu could gather the crowd with one call, and the villagers would definitely listen to him.

Or like today, without a single coin of wages, there were still plenty of people willing to help him build the house.

After hurriedly looking at the house, Liang Qu left amidst the compliments of the crowd and rowed back to Pingyang Town.

Having been away for two hours, he didn't know if the two senior brothers had found any additional clues.

He had to hurry over to make up the numbers; perhaps, just like searching the mountains and subduing demons, he could steadily reap a great benefit without doing anything.

Zhao Prefecture.

"Envoy, it's bad, it's really bad. My stronghold for raising mountain ghosts in Pingyang Town has been destroyed! What should I do?"

Outside, the infinitely glorious Master Zhao, looking distressed, rushed into the room and crawled to hug the thigh of the man inside.

Zhao Hongyuan was over sixty, but he was very fat, and conversely, he couldn't see any wrinkles; his complexion was as ruddy as an infant's. At this moment, he was complaining to a man in black.

"What are you doing, what are you doing, your snot, your snot!" Huang Zejun retreated in disgust, kicked Zhao Hongyuan away, and asked, "What stronghold was destroyed? Speak clearly! You're over sixty, why are you so unsteady!?"

Zhao Hongyuan sobbed and intermittently told the story of the disciples of the Yang Martial Arts Hall attacking Huafa Temple and killing more than a hundred mountain ghosts.

Huang Zejun was stunned: "How could it be exposed? The blood sacrifice is about to begin, and you're causing this kind of trouble for me?"

"I didn't expect it either." Zhao Hongyuan looked anxious, "That's why I invited the Envoy. Why don't we start the blood sacrifice early?"

Influenced by Zhao Hongyuan, Huang Zejun was also very anxious.

"This is different from the time previously set."

"The longer we drag it out, the more strongholds will be dug up. Will we still be able to refine the elixir then?"

Huang Zejun was equally anxious, and with Zhao Hongyuan constantly inciting him on the side, feeling guilty and restless, he agreed in a daze.

Zhao Hongyuan was happy in his heart, but on the surface, he was tearful: "It's all my fault for not handling things well and causing a great disaster, delaying the important affairs of the sect."

"It's already come to this; blaming you is useless. You've worked hard for the sect for so many years; even if you have no merit, you have hard work. At least the foundation has been laid; starting two days early won't have much impact."

"Now there's no use for my old and disabled body. With you here, everything will be foolproof. I really want to admire the Mother's divine appearance early and serve her day and night. Is it possible..."

"Hmm, I know you are pious. I will arrange a boat later so you can return to our sect early." ===== CHAPTER 83 =====