Chapter 146: The Tide Has Turned?
“You’re here? Old Chen.”
The late-night thin fog had not yet dispersed, and the courtyard was filled with a bitter and fishy-sweet medicinal smell.
Golden Needle Li was hunched over, holding his one-legged glasses, preparing several medicinal herbs.
Hearing the footsteps, he didn’t lift his head, waved his skinny hand, and directed Sun Xiao and the others to pour a large bucket of Eight Treasures Mercury into the bubbling pond.
The pond water immediately surged like boiling, rising with bursts of strange colorful mist.
Golden Needle Li said: “This batch of pills added with demon blood can ward off evil and transform demons, unaffected by demonic energy.”
He paused, pointing to the several medicine jars bubbling on the stove in the corner,
“In addition, there are some plasters for dispelling cold and detoxifying, which will probably need half a day more to come out of the furnace. They should be ready by noon tomorrow. After rushing all night on the road, Old Chen, you all go rest first.”
Chen Shun’an set down the water bucket and walked over, his gaze falling on Golden Needle Li’s sallow and swollen face with deep bags under his eyes that could almost pinch a fly to death, and he raised an eyebrow,
“Golden Needle Li, how many hours do you sleep each day?”
“I’ve already slept three hours.”
“That’s not bad.”
“I mean I’ve already slept three hours this month.”
“What?”
Chen Shun’an was slightly stunned. Twenty days had already passed this month!
Only three hours of sleep in total?
Chen Shun’an thought himself diligent in practicing martial arts, working to support the family, and with Ran Yi Calming Water, he only needed one hour of sleep per day, which he already considered hardworking and diligent.
But he hadn’t expected Golden Needle Li to be on the path to immortality!
“Refining pills and preparing medicine is truly hard work.” Chen Shun’an shook his head.
“Not hard, not hard, it’s truly wonderful!”
Who would have thought Golden Needle Li’s face suddenly burst with fanatical fervor, his withered hands gesturing in the air,
“So many demons, bear dans, tiger claws, fish dans, I’ve never fought such a rich battle!”
“I’ve already found treatments for several difficult and complicated diseases, including the method of treatment for tuberculosis. Some expensive medicinal herbs can even be replaced with scales from demonic fish! In the future, poor folks might only need to spend five coppers to treat illness!”
At this point, Golden Needle Li said somewhat annoyedly: “It’s just that time is too tight, and I keep getting sleepy. If only there were a miraculous pill that, taken in one dose, allows sleeping half an hour and then being energetic for several days without sleep…”
Hearing this, Chen Shun’an’s expression became somewhat strange.
What a pill-refining madman!
The two talked in low voices for a moment more.
Suddenly, Golden Needle Li seemed to remember something, his hand movements paused, and he let out a heavy sigh,
“Right, that unfortunate couple you met in the shantytown area by the riverside when you came to me to identify medicine last time, they died a few days ago.”
“Died?” Chen Shun’an’s brows tightened.
“Yes, died at the hands of demons. Such a pity. They had finally endured until their son came of age…”
Golden Needle Li shook his head.
He roughly recounted the matter of the water demon’s night attack on the three forked road that night.
With a healer’s compassionate heart, though Golden Needle Li had seen much life and death, such a case of a child wanting to support their parents but the parents not waiting still couldn’t help but evoke sighs.
Chen Shun’an’s eyes narrowed slightly, recalling that enthusiastic and honest, vibrant face.
He vaguely felt something was off.
“I hope I’m overthinking it, otherwise… demons are fierce, but humans are more poisonous.”
……
As dawn broke, carriages and horses were ready outside Ding Fu Village.
Old Wellhead Ding Zhang was setting off today, heading to Tongzhou to take up his post.
The nine landlords of the water stations in Wuqing County, along with the river earl’s envoy, warehouse clerk, and other important figures in charge of Wuqing County’s water transport, had all come here to see him off respectfully.
Ding Zhang was traveling lightly today, with ordinary carriages and horses, bringing his butler and a few trusted aides.
Ding Zhang couldn’t be considered promoted; he was leaving behind a pile of debts and had also incurred displeasure from above.
Even with his deep background, upon returning to Tongzhou City, he would likely have to wait for another simple assignment and sit on a cold bench for a few years.
Even so, Tongzhou was ultimately a key area in the capital region, and reinstatement was just a matter of time—a case of demotion in name but promotion in reality.
“Lord Ding, safe travels.”
“Parting this time to go, who knows when we will hear your teachings again? It truly makes me reluctant!”
“These years, it’s all thanks to Lord Ding personally handling everything and showing consideration everywhere, that we could manage to get by. In the future without your guidance, we really won’t know what to do!”
Zhao Guangxi, Zhao Guanghui, Guo Guanfu, and the other eight landlords each put on a good show.
Some clung to the carriage shaft, some pulled the cart shaft, some lay on the road in front of the wheels, all appearing reluctant to let him go.
Liu Ru Yue stood quietly to the side, her pretty face slightly stern, feeling that these colleagues were too shameless. As a woman, she still wasn’t quite used to it.
After all, her father was a money and grain secretary, and under his borrowed prestige, she held a minor official position, so there was no need for such hypocritical behavior.
Utterly contemptible!
Zhao Guangxi looked at Guo Guanfu, who was lying in the road refusing to get up, rolling and throwing a tantrum, being helped up by Ding Zhang, and his face also twitched slightly.
He thought himself already quite shameless, but this guy was even more so.
Too contemptible!
Thus, Zhao Guangxi unobtrusively slipped a thick red envelope into Ding Zhang’s hand and said,
“Lord Ding, the road ahead is long and arduous, with wind and rain along the way. This is my travel expenses for you. In addition, there are some local specialties. I hope Lord Ding will take care of your health.”
Wuqing County was only about a hundred li from Tongzhou City, all along six-horse official roads, with neither bandits nor dangers. It would be hard even to travel with haste.
But Zhao Guangxi spoke with sincere emotion and unchanged expression—this was the skill honed over many years.
Professional professionalism.
“This is also a little token of my appreciation.”
“Travel expenses should be plentiful and not lacking. This is clothing I’ve prepared for you…”
How could Zhao Guangxi’s little scheme fool the other eight?
The other landlords, including Liu Ru Yue, also generously contributed, stuffing red envelopes one after another into the hands of Ding Zhang and his entourage.
In the end, Ding Zhang, who had set out lightly, inexplicably had his luggage increased by over a dozen carts, filled with all sorts of clothing trunks, book cases, and gift boxes, piled full.
After doing this, the nine landlords looked at Ding Zhang eagerly.
With Ding Zhang stepping down, that position was now completely vacant.
The appointment document from the North Grand Canal Branch was still in Ding Zhang’s hand and had not yet been formally announced.
However, many had already vaguely heard the news and guessed the next wellhead’s appointee.
Thus, they looked at Zhao Guangxi with gazes of complexity, jealousy, or indifference.
“Zhao Guangxi’s method really works; he actually filled the hole. I don’t know who told him that. We should find a way to poach that top staff member…”
Many hearts simultaneously flashed with this thought.
Zhao Guanghui’s expression flickered repeatedly, his hand on the carriage shaft unconsciously tightening with more force.
He too had tried methods to stop his good younger brother, even humbling himself to curry favor with the consul of the North Grand Canal Branch.
But all to no avail.
After all, he was a halfway entrant, not only a water station landlord but also running various money houses and banks. In the eyes of some stubborn old fogeys, he wasn’t of pure lineage.
And Zhao Guangxi wasn’t one to be trifled with, naturally countering every move with seasoned tactics.
Meanwhile, Guo Guanfu, wearing a deep-brimmed warm hat and a sable fur jacket, seemingly extremely afraid of the cold, saw the situation and thought of something.
The corner of his mouth rose almost imperceptibly, a trace of unfathomable depth flashing in his eyes.
The other officials and warehouse clerks who came to see him off were also very curious about who the next wellhead would be.
After all, this concerned the distribution of interests, power relations for the entire Wuqing County, and even the common people’s water supply—it was a major matter.
The sooner one knew, the faster one could react.
Whether to win over, show goodwill, or lay plans…
It had quite the feel of waiting under the list to grab a son-in-law.
Sitting back in the horse-drawn carriage, Ding Zhang counted them—exactly nine red envelopes, each with banknotes from one to three thousand taels.
Seeing this, Ding Zhang was extremely satisfied.
From the debts left behind, to the three festivals and two longevity grasshopper fights for treasure appraisal, to the farewell gifts upon leaving, stuffing road fees and travel expenses…
Ding Zhang had held the position of Wuqing wellhead for just over ten years, directly and indirectly amassing silver probably amounting to over a hundred thousand taels.
He then took from his bosom an appointment document, a wellhead seal, and a short sword.
The sword body resembled pale jade, with cold light within, named【Chengping Guan Well Sword】, the token exclusive to the wellhead.
It could neither slash nor cut iron like mud.
But it could observe the jurisdiction’s water wells’ daily usage and consumption, and could erupt with power comparable to a full strike from a Slay Five Thieves expert.
It could be called the greatest reliance for the wellhead to deter the water station landlords.
Otherwise, with Ding Zhang being a mere wine sack and rice bag, people like Zhao Guangxi wouldn’t be so wary and fawning.
What they feared wasn’t Ding Zhang, but this sword and the wellhead’s identity.
In the martial world, some say the【Chengping Guan Well Sword】 essence is essentially a mysterious item of the martial world, others say this sword is a derivative of some immortal fate, a lower Guanjing Sword, just like the Zhang Mansion’s Flying Immortal Tablet.
The true immortal fate body is hidden in the Water Merchant General Association.
Seeing Ding Zhang’s actions, everyone’s breathing stilled, all gazes focused on the thin appointment document in his hand.
Ding Zhang slowly unfolded the appointment document.
Actually, Wuqing County’s next wellhead was Zhao Guangxi.
It was almost a matter without suspense.
But Ding Zhang rubbed the appointment document in his hand, still somewhat reluctant.
Tongzhou was good, but where was it as free as Wuqing County?
Not going, he was a big shot, ordered around.
Going, he was a small fry, ordered around.
Fortunately, little Zhao was sensible, a good kid. Leaving the position to him wasn’t bad…
Ding Zhang said gravely: “The vacancy of Wuqing County wellhead is hereby filled by the original landlord…”
“Wait!”
Just at that moment, a clear shout came from the official road in the Tongzhou direction, piercing the air!
Everyone looked in astonishment and saw the silhouette on a dark red horse galloping like an arrow off the string, shattering the morning mist.
The agile figure on horseback suddenly leaped up, flying through the air, landing steadily before the carriage, and said loudly,
“By order of Jiang Hui, consul of the North Grand Canal Branch, additional appointment document. Brother Ding Zhang, hold off on the announcement! There is a change in the Wuqing County wellhead position!”
These words caused an uproar in the crowd.
How could there be morning orders changed by evening, with an additional appointment document?
Wasn’t this slapping their own face?
Many even thought someone was falsely transmitting orders.
But looking at the newcomer’s attire—a set of black battle robes with dragon-head shoulder armor, water-dividing dagger and chain dart at the waist.
Lan Ting Guard!
