Chapter 140: Lake

"Miss Qi." Seeing Pei Ye walked up and greeted her.

The woman turned her head. Her face was no longer as pale as that day, but there was still some fatigue between her brows and eyes. She looked at Seeing Pei Ye and was stunned for a while before revealing a surprised expression.

"Ah, sorry, my spirit hasn't been very good these past few days, and I didn't recognize the young hero for a moment," the woman's brows and eyes unfolded, and she bowed hurriedly. "My mind was not on things that day, and I forgot to ask the young hero's name."

"No matter, my name is Seeing Pei Ye," Seeing Pei Ye returned the bow and asked, "Was the one who just sent you out the Bai Sibing?"

"It was Lord Bai," the woman nodded. "My name is Qi Zhaohua. Thank you for saving me that day, young hero."

"It was just a small matter. Miss Qi, are you looking for Lord Bai to inquire about the case of Brother Cheng?" Seeing Pei Ye asked with concern. He remembered the cold attitude of that Zhao Canjun and guessed that the woman had hit a wall there.

However, Qi Zhaohua was stunned. "No, I am ashamed to say, I haven't paid much attention to his affairs these past few days."

The youth's words seemed to have touched the memory that had been temporarily cast aside. Qi Zhaohua looked at this large lake under her feet and was silent for a while.

"The flood season is about to pass. If we want to start construction, we must hurry. I haven't been able to spare time these past two days," the woman said softly.

Seeing Pei Ye looked at her blankly. "Start what construction?"

Qi Zhaohua leaned her body forward slightly and placed her arm on the railing.

"Of course, it's the Moon-Catching Lake—sorry, I'm really dizzy, I forgot the young hero is from out of town. How does the young hero find the Moon-Catching Lake?"

"Very big, very flat, very quiet, very good-looking," Seeing Pei Ye tried hard to think. "Sorry, I'm not very good at speaking."

"You said it very correctly. This is indeed a good lake," Qi Zhaohua nodded and suddenly smiled. "There was a street-washing the night before last after the rain. I wonder if the young hero saw it?"

"Ah, I saw it!" Seeing Pei Ye remembered that scene. "It was truly wonderful. I haven't seen it in Fenghuai."

"Actually, you can't see it in most other prefecture cities. This is a special scene of our Bowang Prefecture City," Qi Zhaohua's mouth hooked up. "Where did the young hero see it?"

"I saw it at the intersection after leaving the Changdao Martial Arts Hall."

"Oh, at the Small Yang Building. That place is also considered good-looking, but actually, it is already the 'waste water' after being used," Qi Zhaohua said. "If the young hero wants to see the true wonder of this action, you have to go further south. Not long after passing the Bowang Garden, you will be there."

Seeing Pei Ye looked south with curiosity.

Qi Zhaohua continued to look down at the lake water, her mind seeming to have gone to that picture: "From the Wave-Watching Stone to the south, the street surface is paved with deep black large stones, the stone surface is as smooth as jade, and the seams are hard for a hair to enter. The slope of that section of the street is extremely gentle. When the water flows down, it is clear, slow, smooth, and quiet, without the slightest ripple, just like a layer of transparent oil."

"The most rare thing is the night after the rain. At that time, the sky is clear, looking out for ten thousand miles, and the stars and the bright moon are projected onto the quiet and smooth water street. The Milky Way pours down, like walking on a heavenly street," the lake breeze lightly lifted her long hair, and Qi Zhaohua's voice grew lighter. "Between heaven and earth, it seems that only the silver brilliance, the night curtain, and the cold jade remain."

"..." Seeing Pei Ye constructed that picture in his mind, his breathing unconsciously lightened, and he was fascinated.

"It is truly very good-looking," Qi Zhaohua sighed lightly and suddenly changed the topic. "But do you know where this water for washing the street comes from?"

"Rainwater accumulation? —Ah, is it the Moon-Catching Lake?" Although the rain the day before yesterday was continuous, it was not too heavy.

"Yes, it is the Moon-Catching Lake. The lake water accumulates above. Once it rains, in order to prevent the water from overflowing, it generally has to wash the street once," Qi Zhaohua said.

"Hmm, so that's the reason." Seeing Pei Ye felt it was quite ingenious. "This is indeed killing three birds with one stone."

Draining water, washing streets, viewing scenery.

Qi Zhaohua smiled. "The price of these three gains is to place fifty million jun of water in a high place."

"..."

"The Bowang City is a trend of high and low from south to north," Qi Zhaohua looked to the north. Here the view was excellent. Looking from afar, the entire Beicheng seemed to be a painting within reach. "Six years ago, it rained heavily for three days, and the Moon-Catching Lake overflowed. A dam break destroyed one-fifth of the Beicheng, and the casualties of people and livestock were countless."

"..." Seeing Pei Ye was speechless.

It was not to blame the youth for not having this knowledge. Since he was born, the "serious business" in his mind was only cultivation and fighting, and he had never thought about these things.

"Is there no way to solve this?"

"Yes, reinforce the dam, reorganize the waterway," Qi Zhaohua said. "But these all cost money. The essence of this matter is that the Bowang Prefecture City simply cannot easily support such a large lake."

"Support?" Seeing Pei Ye didn't quite understand. "Repair the dam, just let it stay there, isn't that fine? Does it cost money every year?"

Qi Zhaohua looked like she was facing a child's question. She smiled gently. "To constrain so much water in a high place, how can it be easy? Last year, the prefecture city's tax revenue was over nine thousand taels, and one-tenth was used on this lake."

"Then, what Miss Qi said about starting construction is..."

Qi Zhaohua looked at the north silently. When talking about this matter, the gentle temperament brewed by books on her body seemed to harden.

She lifted her arm lightly and extended an arm in front of her, using it as a ruler. With this ruler as the boundary, the Moon-Catching Lake was divided into two halves, north and south.

"With this as the boundary, remove the south and keep the north," Qi Zhaohua said in a calm voice.

Seeing Pei Ye was speechless.

"This lake indeed has many benefits, but the biggest benefit is just viewing the scenery. It cannot provide much fish, and it is difficult to irrigate farmland. Even for washing streets—you should live in the Beicheng—do you see the people in the Beicheng being more happy or more troubled? Just two wide water channels occupy too much space," Qi Zhaohua said. "The only benefit is that it is convenient to use water in the city, but it doesn't need to be such a large piece."

"So, you want to remove half of it?"

"Yes, guide the water on the south side out and transport it back to the Lu River. In this way, the annual expenditure on this lake will be at least three-quarters less, and the land freed up will have great potential no matter what it is used for, which is always better than being flooded by water."

Seeing Pei Ye nodded slowly, quite shocked—although he had always known that many things were planned by those in power, this was the first time he had so intuitively felt that someone was really designing things that people were accustomed to in a better direction.

"Then, will construction start this year?" Seeing Pei Ye asked with some expectation.

Qi Zhaohua sighed lightly. "I hope so, but this requires the prefecture government to make the final decision."

"... Does the prefecture government disagree? Why?" Seeing Pei Ye remembered those corrupt officials in the storybooks who only knew how to chant poems and look at the moon, ignoring the suffering of the people. He frowned. "Are they reluctant to part with this scenery?"

Qi Zhaohua smiled slightly. "That's not it. It's because... removing half of the Moon-Catching Lake is a more expensive and dangerous action. Even if there is this money, there are too many places to consider. The first one to solve is the problem of insufficient corvée labor during the autumn harvest."

"..."

"Forget it! I've vented so much to you, sorry," Qi Zhaohua closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead, smiling faintly. "I have already persuaded Bai Sibing and Sun Sihu. I will visit Qian Sicang again, and the judgment division will be almost persuaded. Before that, can I ask the young hero for a favor?"

"Please speak."

Qi Zhaohua handed him a tape measure. "It just so happens that this section of the embankment has not been measured. From... here, to under that tree, the young hero has good skills, can you go down and help me measure it?"

"A small effort." Seeing Pei Ye supported the railing, flipped over and jumped down, measured the size, and came back.

"Good." Qi Zhaohua had no paper or pen in her hand, and no cultivation in her body. At this time, her mental state was indeed not very good. She muttered several times before remembering it in her heart.

Then the woman smiled. "Thank you, Young Hero Pei."

Seeing Pei Ye waved his hand. He suddenly remembered the sentence "What official position do you hold?" from Zhao Canjun in front of the casino.

Thinking in his heart, he had already asked it out loud: "Miss Qi, may I ask what official position you hold?"

Qi Zhaohua was stunned for a moment. "I have no official position. I might go to the capital to take the exam next year, but before that, I must solve the matter of the Moon-Catching Lake."

"What's wrong, Young Hero Pei? If you want to visit any official, I can recommend you."

"No, I just came to visit Bai Sibing—I have a letter of recommendation from him."

"Hmm, then you go. I won't disturb you."

"Miss Qi, take care of yourself."

Qi Zhaohua nodded and parted ways. Seeing Pei Ye watched her leave and knew how the mud on the skirt came from—this skirt style was quite good, but the hem was not high from the ground, only suitable for walking on flat roads. Once going uphill or downhill, the front and back hems would touch the ground.

And the heavier mud marks on the shoes perhaps came from the "measurement" work she just mentioned.

The woman walked away. Seeing Pei Ye turned and walked over to knock on the gate of the Bai residence.

Not long after, footsteps came from inside, and the door was pulled open.

It was actually Bai Sibing himself.

Seeing Pei Ye had not expected such a caught-off-guard meeting at all. He had thought there would be a servant to lead the way. He hurriedly straightened his clothes and bowed. "Lord Bai, I am Seeing Pei Ye from Fenghuai. Thanks to your recommendation to the Longmen Class, I have come to visit."

"Oh!! Young Hero Pei! Too polite, too polite," Bai Sibing smiled and hurriedly held his hand, his posture excessively low. "Young hero, please come in quickly."

Seeing Pei Ye hurriedly lowered his waist and entered the courtyard with the old man.

"Are you used to practicing in the martial arts hall?" The old man held his arm gently.

"Very good, the masters are very dedicated, and the classmates are also very friendly," Seeing Pei Ye cupped his fists again. "Thanks to your recommendation."

"Hey, is it worth a special trip?" Bai Sibing laughed repeatedly. "Just take this time to work hard."

"Not only that, they said the quota was full and there was no place to live. It was your face that accepted me."

"Listen to his nonsense! Last year, Zheng Shou and Xu Gu added up to only thirty or so people in the winter competition. Those who couldn't live there stayed in inns outside. Isn't it the same learning?" Bai Sibing patted his hand. "You are new to the world and love to be deceived. If he has money, can he not earn it?"

The two sat at the stone table, and Seeing Pei Ye sent the small gift he had prepared. Bai Sibing naturally frowned repeatedly again.

"Too polite," the old man took it and put it down casually, sighing. "You don't know my relationship with Chang Zhiyuan."

"Ah? You and Uncle Chang..."

"When we were taking the imperial examination, we knew each other, and later we served in the prefecture government together," Bai Sibing said. "Until twelve years ago, later Zhiyuan brother transferred to be the Fenghuai County Magistrate."

"Oh..." Seeing Pei Ye didn't understand whether this was a promotion or a demotion for a moment, but the old man's next sentence answered him.

"His ability is far stronger than mine, but he is a person who would rather break than bend," Bai Sibing sighed. "We have a very good friendship. Otherwise, why do you think my old bones, whose position is not very related, are in such a hurry to run to Fenghuai."

The two chatted for a while, and Seeing Pei Ye asked: "Lord Bai, you said before that Zheng Shou and Xu Gu were both in the Longmen Class in the winter competition last year, but from what I have seen these few days, they seem to have some grudges."

"Ah, outsiders actually don't know much about this matter," Bai Sibing recalled. "According to what I roughly know, Zheng Shou and Xu Gu were almost like a family during the winter competition last year. Except for the quota not being mixed, everything else was together—Xu Gu's expenses for the Longmen Class, staying in the shop, and even eating were all paid by Zheng Shou."

"... Why is this?"

"This, although both sides have not revealed it to outsiders, according to me, it can still be seen—they should want to join forces to fight against the sect."

Seeing Pei Ye opened his mouth slightly, his brain running fast.

That's right, he had thought before that if both sides wanted more quotas, other counties didn't have many to begin with, and only from the other side could they bite off enough fresh meat.

But if the pattern was larger, the one who truly occupied a huge amount of quotas was actually the sect.

Although the total quota of the sect and each county was similar, the monopoly of the sect on the quota was far greater than that of the county.

The county was limited by geography, and there might be people with good aptitude who could not contact famous teachers and could not become talents. In order to give these people a chance, they always had to give some quotas. The sect was different. It was joined because of aptitude, and there was absolutely no saying that "although this sect is full of people who are not talents, it must be given a quota."

The sect's quota was not allocated, but confirmed by the joint competition. If you couldn't fight for it, you couldn't get it.

Therefore, the sixty or so quotas shared by the seven counties, the sect divided almost all of them among three factions.

—Then, could these quotas occupied by the sect be moved to the county side?

Of course, but it had to be spoken with the results of the martial arts competition.

From this, one could imagine the atmosphere of Zheng Shou's move, paying out of his own pocket to improve the strength of Xu Gu's candidates, just to fight for one more top-eight or top-four position from the sect.

"And more importantly, Xu Gu really had a candidate with the potential to win the championship in that session," Bai Sibing stroked his beard. "Zheng Shou also almost devoted all his efforts to cultivating her—at least I remember, Zheng Shou bought a very good sword technique at the beginning of last year, but by the winter competition, it was used by that Zhang Junyu."

Seeing Pei Ye nodded slowly: "But, she didn't win the championship, so the two families had a grudge?"

Bai Sibing shook his head: "Then I don't know, but I remember she didn't even make it to the final competition, and was defeated by Shang Huaitong in the top four."

Seeing Pei Ye nodded: "Thank you, Lord Bai, for solving the puzzle."

The two chatted for a while until Bai Sibing took the initiative to send the guest away, saying that he could not delay his cultivation.

As soon as the two stood up, they heard a knock on the door again.

"Bai Sibing's place is truly... a bustling market."

"Actually, you are already the third one to come, and there are at least three more behind," Bai Sibing smiled. "Today is a day off. Some were scheduled by me in advance, and some were aimed at coming today."

The two walked to the door. Before pulling the door open, Seeing Pei Ye had already heard the panting of the person outside.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 141 =====