Chapter 135

Wan Boerping secretly smiled, Hu Xiaotian although shrewd and cunning, but after all young, from the situation currently grasped he already knew, Hu Xiaotian upon arriving in Qingyun hit a snag, a strong dragon does not overwhelm the local serpent, you Sir Hu even if you have some talent may not be able to contend with those officials who have long been entrenched in Qingyun, Xu Qinglian's lot are all old slickers, Wan Boerping deliberately said: "Sir Hu, have you run into trouble?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "Overnight, all the townsfolk regard me as an enemy. You say I've only been in Qingyun a few days, what exactly did I do to provoke heaven and resentment, causing everyone to shout for my beating—am I wronged or not?"

Wan Boerping couldn't help but smile; his smile wasn't schadenfreude, but because he discovered in Hu Xiaotian a naivety unique to the young. He shook his head and said: "I heard Sir Hu, in order to repair Qingyun Qiao, wants each household to donate five taels of silver?"

Hu Xiaotian snapped: "Which bastard is spouting nonsense? This is clearly a scheme against me!"

Although these words weren't spoken by Wan Boerping, hearing Hu Xiaotian's vulgar tirade made even his old face flush; this lad's lack of decorum is really worrying. Though you're a low-ranking official, after all you're an official—how can an official speak without restraint?

Hu Xiaotian indignantly said: "Wan Da Ge, do you think I look like an idiot?"

Wan Boerping hearing him repeatedly call him Wan Da Ge affectionately, feeling inclined to rely on him, showed a wry smile: "Impossible, Sir Hu bears an impressive appearance, young and promising; only a blind person would say that."

"That's right, I just came to Qingyun, naturally knowing the principle that water can carry a boat as well as capsize it; demanding five taels of silver per household—only a pigbrain could devise such a scheme to antagonize the populace."

Wan Boerping found his words amusing, wanted to laugh but feared angering Hu Xiaotian, so he suppressed it and nodded: "I also think this matter is too absurd, and the government hasn't issued an official notice."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Someone is clearly scheming against me. They want to ruin my reputation, making the entire populace of Qingyun Xian my enemy."

Wan Boerping deliberately said: "Could it be that Sir Hu has some enemies in Qingyun?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I've always been kind to others; how could I have enemies?"

Wan Boerping said: "Being kind doesn't guarantee no enemies; sometimes, without even realizing it, you infringe on others' interests."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I've just entered officialdom; I'd heard that in official circles there's scheming and deceit, officials vie for power and profit, sparing no means—now I see it's indeed so!"

Wan Boerping nodded in deep agreement: "I'm not clear on officialdom affairs; I'm willing but powerless." He is a thorough Lao hulí, already seeing that Hu Xiaotian came today to seek his support. He wouldn't lightly get involved in Hu Xiaotian's muddy waters, Wan Boerping believes Hu Xiaotian must have inquired about his background and learned that his brother-in-law Yang Daoquan is the prefect of Xiezhou.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I want Wan Da Ge to help me with a small favor."

Wan Boerping said: "As long as it's within my ability, I'll spare no effort to assist." One must always leave oneself some leeway in speech; if the situation turns sour, quickly make an excuse—your officialdom troubles are none of my business. Although you saved my son, I also paid a large consultation fee; you want to use my official connections to suppress your rivals? I don't have that leisure.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I originally didn't want to bother Wan Da Ge, but when it comes to prestige and virtue in Qingyun Xian, you are foremost."

Although Wan Boerping knew this guy was just flattering him, he still felt pleased. As the saying goes, no amount of flattery can be worn out; even though Wan Boerping is immensely wealthy, being praised by local officials still makes him feel honored, and though he tries to restrain himself, a hint of joy still shows at the corners of his eyes. He humbly said: "Sir, you flatter me."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I've always liked speaking frankly, Wan Da Ge; you are not only venerable and esteemed, but also the leading figure of Qingyun Xian's business world, your influence in commerce unmatched."

If the four words "virtuous and esteemed" still make Wan Boerping feel unworthy, the four words "business titan" truly fit him; looking across Qingyun Xian, who could be wealthier than him?

The higher the praise, the harder the fall; although Wan Boerping felt pleased inside, his vigilance didn't relax. He shook his head and said: "I dare not accept it… Sir Hu, just speak plainly about any matter."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I want Wan Da Ge to preside over a charity auction event."

Wan Boerping blinked slightly: "What?" What is a charity auction? That's a novel term.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Everyone takes out some of their unused belongings and puts them up for auction; all proceeds go to repairing Qingyun Qiao—on one hand promoting good deeds, on the other solving the bridge's funding shortage—isn't that killing two birds with one stone?"

Wan Boerping thought, going around in circles just to get me to spend money? He declined: "Sir Hu, what merit do I have? I'm afraid I can't shoulder such an important matter!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I've just arrived in Qingyun, unfamiliar with people and places; if I issued the call myself, few would respond, so I want to borrow Wan Da Ge's influence—just a gesture from you, and all merchants in Qingyun Xian would dare not refuse you face, wouldn't you agree?"

Wan Boerping was still hesitating, Hu Xiaotian added: "Regarding the feng shui of your manor, I won't charge a penny—consider it my repayment for this charitable act of yours."

Upon hearing this, Wan Boerping's heart skipped a beat; after weighing the pros and cons in his mind, he finally nodded slowly: "Then I'll grit my teeth and do it once!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "This matter is a joint effort between you and me, Wan Da Ge, do you understand?"

Wan Boerping naturally understood his little tricks; this kid doesn't want Xu Qinglian's gang to get a share, wanting to steal his limelight, he smiled: "Sir Hu, rest assured, I'll handle this well."

Wan Boerping offered peaches, Hu Xiaotian naturally had to return plums; this fellow immediately began arranging a feng shui layout in the Wan manor—actually he knows nothing about feng shui, but he's a smooth talker; aren't most feng shui masters just big charlatans? Hu Xiaotian first gave Wan Boerping several rectification suggestions: first, the pond in the Wan manor's Back Garden is too large, with excessive yin energy, and being square, he asked Wan Boerping to change it into a crescent shape, the two tips of the crescent respectively facing the front and rear gates; he said this is "breaking the sha."

Wan Boerping believed it, had the steward Wan Changshu immediately note it down; Hu Xiaotian also said that Wan Tingchang and the Wan family don't get along, so he must be moved out of the Wan manor—anyway, spouting nonsense incurs no legal liability; for that lazy, shameless Wan Tingchang, he'd step on him with both feet without hesitation.

Finally Hu Xiaotian had the accompanying Liang Da Zhuang take out nine incense burners from the parcel; this is called the Nine Tripods Suppressing Evil, a name Hu Xiaotian invented himself. The incense burners were secondhand goods he scavenged from the market, costing him one tael of silver. Hu Xiaotian realized everyone has flaws; don't look at Wan Boerping's old craftiness, but he's extremely superstitious about feng shui—my one deception always works. Hu Xiaotian said: "Wan Da Ge, I must make this clear: although I helped you break this feng shui layout for free, the incense money is necessary; otherwise it wouldn't show your sincerity."

Wan Boerping knew Hu Xiaotian was scheming him again, but to break his own feng shui layout, even if his heart bled he had to accept; he nodded and said: "How much?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Three hundred gold, perhaps."

Wan Boerping felt as if his chest had been stabbed twice; just these broken, tattered incense burners demanding three hundred gold—could their combined worth be worth one tael of silver? Yet once the incense burners are given the title of ritual implements, they instantly become priceless treasures. Wan Boerping could only grit his teeth and nod; Hu Xiaotian is a pragmatic person—once agreed, he must pay, handling money and affairs simultaneously, no slack in feng shui matters. Actually today he hadn't originally planned to ask Wan Boerping for money; the incense burners were meant as a gift for his sworn brother, but Wan Boerping, giving face yet taking none, actually refused his sworn brother's request—if not to swindle you, who then?

Liang Da Zhuang standing aside felt both amused and impressed; the young master's talent for deception is beyond my ability to match—just a few simple words and he gets Wan Boerping to obediently produce gold; roughly calculated, he's already extorted six hundred gold from Wan Boerping, an astronomical sum for ordinary folk. Thinking about my decision to stay by the young master's side, it's truly the height of wisdom—not to mention the fine food and spicy dishes, I can also learn many skills from him; studying feng shui isn't difficult either—just follow along once and you've learned it, nothing more than deception.

Hu Xiaotian's idea of the Nine Tripods Suppressing Evil was certainly not to help Wan Boerping break some feng shui layout; rather, taking advantage of setting up the tripods and burners, he could get closer to the young widow Le Yao. This fellow pretended solemnly while arranging the tripods in the Wan manor, burning incense and talismans with great seriousness; during these activities, no bystanders were allowed.

The eighth incense burner was placed in Le Yao's room; the steward Wan Changqing still waited outside, because Hu Xiaotian's actions were covert, and so far the Wan family haven't noticed any flaw.

Upon seeing Hu Xiaotian appear before her, Le Yao felt an unexplained racing of her heart; since Hu Xiaotian last left, his voice and smile occasionally surfaced in her mind, and she herself couldn't fathom why she remembered him so vividly.

Hu Xiaotian smiled at her, then began setting up the incense burner; while placing it he kept glancing outward, being cautious—for if the Wan family learned of his intentions, he might never again be able to come and go freely.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Have they been giving you trouble?"

Le Yao shook her head and whispered: "Young Master Hu, are you alright?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Of course not." He stuck three incense sticks in the burner, then affixed a yellow paper he'd randomly drawn symbols onto on the door and window. After finishing, he whispered: "For seven consecutive days I'll come by to replace the talismans; you needn't fear, I have my own way to help you escape."

Sixth update, Extra chapter for the alliance chief of the Diagram Shaman; old chief, old brother, many years together, never parting, I won't say more—this chapter represents Zhangyu's feelings; if we ever get the chance to meet, we'll definitely drink heartily together.