Chapter 137

Hu Xiaotian felt somewhat moved by his words, nodded, and his gaze fell on Liu Kuohai: "Shopkeeper Liu, I've just arrived in Qingyun and am unfamiliar with everything. This time they nominated me to repair Qingyun Qiao, and for handling affairs locally it's best to find a native local to help me—first, he knows the area well; second, it's easier to communicate with the locals. So I'd like to ask Kuohai for help."

Liu Dangui, hearing that Hu Xiaotian was actually talking about this, was overjoyed. His son had always been mischievous and hot-tempered, constantly causing trouble outside; if it weren't for Hu Xiaotian's help last time, he'd probably have ended up in jail. Having Hu Xiaotian let him help is practically putting one foot into officialdom—even if he can't make a career in the bureaucracy later, at least there'd be someone to discipline him. Liu Dangui nodded repeatedly, saying: "Good, good! Having Sir guide him is exactly what I wish for, exactly what I wish for!"

Liu Kuohai also widened his eyes, his big mouth almost splitting to his ears—he was thrilled beyond words. His father had always wanted to groom him as the successor of Huichun Hall, but Liu Kuohai had zero interest in studying medicine, and father and son had argued over this many times. Now Hu Xiaotian wants to bring him into the government office, and Liu Kuohai has dreamed of becoming a mighty constable. He stepped forward and dropped to his knees with a thud: "Kuohai pays his respects, Sir!"

Hu Xiaotian laughed heartily, patted Liu Kuohai's sturdy shoulder, and said: "From now on you'll stay by my side. At first your salary won't be much, but once you achieve merit and establish yourself, I will certainly reward you."

Thank you, Sir!

Murong Feiyan's lovely eyes quietly watched Hu Xiaotian—this guy isn't clueless, he's seizing the opportunity to gather followers. Speaking of Liu Kuohai, he's indeed a rare talent, capable of fighting and enduring, and being a local, he'll surely be of great help to them in the future.

That evening the conversation was lively, lasting until deep night when a few raindrops began to fall. Su Guangju's party then thought to take their leave, and Hu Xiaotian saw them out the door. When he returned, the rain had poured down. He hurried back to his room, saw the custom-made clothes laid on the bed, took off his long robe, changed into a round-collared shirt and loose trousers, and slipped on cloth shoes. At that moment thunder and lightning flashed outside as a torrential downpour poured from the sky. Hu Xiaotian flung open his door and stepped out again.

Murong Feiyan was standing under the corridor when she saw Hu Xiaotian emerge in that strange outfit, and she couldn't help but let out a shriek.

Hu Xiaotian continued to swagger toward her, a flash of lightning slicing across the sky and illuminating Murong Feiyan's pretty face with a deathly pallor. She pointed at Hu Xiaotian and said: "Stop right there, don't come over!"

Hu Xiaotian momentarily didn't know what was wrong with him: "What's the matter?"

Murong Feiyan said: "You're utterly shameless—how could you walk out dressed like that?"

Only then did Hu Xiaotian understand why she was so panicked, and he laughed loudly: "Making a mountain out of a molehill—I'm not naked. In my hometown, people dress like this in summer."

Murong Feiyan dubiously asked: "Really?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded.

Murong Feiyan shook her head: "I don't believe you at all—you're a liar! Not a word of truth comes out of your mouth."

Hu Xiaotian laughed as he pulled over a stool and sat down in the corridor, gazing at the torrential rain outside. In his previous life he never dreamed he would one day sit in such an elegant ancient courtyard enjoying the night rain, with a strong-willed, beautiful woman beside him to chat.

Murong Feiyan asked: "Where is your hometown?"

Hu Xiaotian crossed his arms, fell into thought, and after a while replied: "The People's Republic of China!"

Never heard of it!

Hu Xiaotian turned to Murong Feiyan: "How ignorant and ill-informed!"

Murong Feiyan certainly wasn't ignorant—she'd never heard of it before. She bit her cherry lip and said: "You must have made up that name to deceive me. Looking at your appearance and listening to your speech, there's absolutely no difference from mine. Yet you lie and claim to be from the People's Republic of China."

Hu Xiaotian said: "The wonders of this world far exceed your imagination."

Murong Feiyan's interest piqued, she also pulled over a stool and sat beside him, gazing at him and asking: "Do people in your hometown all dress like this?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Only in summer."

Do women dress like that too?

Hu Xiaotian turned and gave Murong Feiyan an up-and-down glance, making her feel a sudden flutter of panic and disorder. To say someone's gaze could be so lewd, so lascivious, so ill-intentioned—if it weren't for the fact that he is her superior, and if it weren't for the hardships they've shared along the way, this young lady would punch his eyes out.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Women wear even less!"

Murong Feiyan's pretty face flushed: "You're lying, you shameless wretch!"

Hu Xiaotian sighed: "Everything I said is true. In summer, when the weather is so scorching, who dresses like you Dakang folks, wrapping themselves up in three layers inside and three outside like zongzi, utterly feudal! In my homeland we advocate gender equality and women's liberation; when summer arrives, girls dress cool and sexy, freely showing off their alluring figures."

Murong Feiyan bit her lip and whispered: "Do they really wear very little?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "Skirts get shorter and shorter, thighs can be exposed right down to the root, and the more revealing ones even show half of each buttock..."

"You lecher!" Murong Feiyan's willow brows shot up, she tried to look angry, but deep down she couldn't muster any anger.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I'm speaking the truth; if you interrupt again I'll stop."

This time Murong Feiyan actually submitted before him, immediately closing her mouth in honest silence.

Hu Xiaotian said: "As for the upper body, there are styles that expose the shoulders, the back, the belly and even the navel—anything daring enough to show can be shown."

Murong Feiyan, somewhat astonished, opened her mouth into an O shape, thinking Hu Xiaotian was lying, yet she felt a tiny bit of belief.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Actually, with a figure like yours, wearing those clothes is truly a waste."

Upon hearing Hu Xiaotian steer the topic toward her, Murong Feiyan instantly became sensitive, glaring at him and demanding: "What do you mean?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I mean you're wasting such a fine figure—if you wore an ultra-short skirt with a belly-baring top, showing off those long legs and slender waist, you'd surely draw the eyes of every man on the street." He was speaking enthusiastically when he met Murong Feiyan's icy, frost-like gaze, sharp as a razor, aimed at his throat.

Hu Xiaotian hastily called a halt.

Murong Feiyan gritted her teeth: "What do you think I am? You shameless lecher, actually treating me so contemptuously!" As she spoke she raised her finger, poised to poke Hu Xiaotian's eyes.

Hu Xiaotian startled, jerked back, accidentally overturned the stool, and plopped onto the ground. Seeing his sorry state, Murong Feiyan couldn't help but laugh, spitting: "Cowardly as a mouse!"

Hu Xiaotian brushed the dust from his backside: "I was just teasing you, you actually believed me." He lifted the stool and sat down again.

Murong Feiyan said: "If I ever get the chance, I'll go to your hometown to see for myself; if you're lying to me, I'll never forgive you."

Hu Xiaotian said: "You'd better not go—if you did, you'd surely be detained by the relevant experts as an antique."

Tch, you're the antique! Murong Feiyan suddenly recalled Hu Xiaotian's earlier mention of a happy matter, and softly said: "You seem quite pleased today—what happy event have you encountered?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled narrowly: "You just said you didn't want to share with me, didn't you?"

Murong Feiyan said: "I just can't stand seeing a petty person full of himself—come on, tell me, let's see how shallow you really are." She spoke with conviction, but in fact Hu Xiaotian had indeed piqued her curiosity; when it comes to wit, how could Murong Feiyan possibly match someone as seasoned as him?

Hu Xiaotian chuckled and said: "You still want to hear it!"

Pah!

Want to share with me!

If you're going to say it, say it; if not, forget it—I'm going back to rest!

Hu Xiaotian said: "Speak, of course I must speak—I'll bear the pain myself, and I will certainly share any joy with you." Thus this fellow related how Wan Boping had agreed to step forward and organize a charity auction, and he also told Murong Feiyan that today, using nine silver taels he had bought a censer with, he had literally squeezed three hundred taels of gold out of Wan Boping—a feat that left Murong Feiyan stunned and awestruck. This Hu Xiaotian is truly crafty to the core, though considering Wan Boping is also an unkind, wealthy local bully, swindling such a person could be seen as doing heaven's work.

Murong Feiyan asked: "Can a charity auction really solve the funding problem for repairing Qingyun Qiao?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Repairing Qingyun Qiao isn't something that can be done in a day; that old fogey Xu Qinglian is simply throwing up obstacles, trying to embarrass me. I drafted a notice today that he's suppressing and refusing to release, just to keep the common folk misunderstanding me."

Murong Feiyan said: "Actually, solving this is quite simple."

Hu Xiaotian blinked, thinking Murong Feiyan couldn't possibly have a better idea than his own.

Murong Feiyan said: "You just need to announce your father's name; these Qingyun officials won't even have time to fawn over you, let alone band together to oppose you."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Feiyan, Feiyan, even if my father is mighty, that's his own ability—do I lose face by acting under his banner? It seems you still don't understand me; I've relied on myself since childhood, never leaning on others. Am I not exceptionally striving, self-reliant and unyielding? Am I not a model and paragon for today's youth?"

Murong Feiyan's next sentence nearly killed Hu Xiaotian with anger: "Weren't you a complete idiot before sixteen? Without anyone looking after you, you basically wouldn't have survived to now, would you?"

They call me "great wisdom appearing foolish," they say I'm stupid, but I know in my heart!

Today chapter eight, for the Tieba fans, two alliance leaders, two extra chapters—hope everyone continues to support Zhangyu!