Chapter 83: Slow And Steady, True Feelings Revealed
The place Fang Shu had his eye on was precisely the mine where his Second Uncle had mined in the past, and where news of a Gold Seeking Insect had once spread.
“If we hadn’t obtained the Hu family Treasure Book《Hu family Treasure Book》, we would only think you were spreading a rumor, but since there’s a reminder in the《Hu family Treasure Book》, there shouldn’t be such a coincidence in the world.”
He pondered in his heart.
Even if that Mine Owner Cao was truly deceived by his subordinates, it wouldn’t hurt for Fang Shu to go investigate. At worst, it would just be a wasted trip. But if Fang Shu really found some clues and tracked down the Gold Seeking Insect, he would be rich!
Divine light flickered in Fang Shu’s eyes.
One must know there was still the matter of the Natal Gu without a landing spot.
And this Dragon Seeking Gold Worm, whether for Gu Dao practitioners or array path Feng Shui people, was highly valued. It was said to be born from Dragon Qi, which sounded quite extraordinary.
Using this insect as a candidate for the Natal Gu should be pretty good!
The thoughts in his heart stirred more and more, but Fang Shu still stood high up, staring intently at Mine Owner Cao’s mine, not rushing over to investigate.
A long time passed.
Instead, he forcibly suppressed the various thoughts in his heart, let out a long breath, turned around without hesitation, and dashed toward Gu Ling Town.
This trip out of town to seek treasure had already yielded great gains, and he had newly obtained a Treasure Book. Although the origin of this Treasure Book was very clear.
That man surnamed Hu was a dead man, and it was 99% unlikely he would deceive the person helping to collect his corpse.
But Fang Shu couldn’t blindly believe everything in the Treasure Book.
At the very least, he had to inquire in the Marketplace, ask the other Feng Shui Masters there if there really was so-called Dragon Qi in the Qian Shan Mine.
And best of all, wait until the Dao Talisman finished analyzing that Feng Shui secret technique, and he fully mastered it, able to seek dragons and pinpoint acupuncture points on his own, understand some methods, then go seek dragons and capture insects—that would be most appropriate.
On the way back.
The more Fang Shu thought about it, the more he felt that returning to town first was the wise choice.
“There are so many Immortal Sect disciples, and many ancestors in Gu Ling Town also joined the Immortal Sect. It’s unlikely only the Hu family knows there’s Dragon Qi in Qian Shan.” He thought to himself.
If really only the Hu family knew, it was probably mostly a scam. And if not, he would surely hear something in the Marketplace, making it convenient to seek dragons and explore treasures later.
And after Fang Shu calmed down, he suddenly thought of something:
“If there’s really a Gold Seeking Insect in Mine Owner Cao’s place, for him to mine where Gold Seeking Insects appear, he must have gained quite a bit—not as simple as it seems on the surface.”
If so, going with only Second Tribulation cultivation to extort him might not be very safe. It would be better to settle down more, improve his skills, and then it would be more secure.
Not long after.
Gu Ling Town, nestled in the mountain mists, appeared in Fang Shu’s view. When he stepped into the town, his thoughts had settled.
Exploring for treasure and Gold Seeking Insects—better to take it slow than rush.
………………
After returning to town, Fang Shu checked the time and didn’t go straight back to the Dojo. Instead, he headed toward the uncle and nephew’s large tiled house.
The tiled roof area had changed greatly, completely different from the former Paper Workshop. Not only were stone bricks laid on the ground instead of sandy dirt roads, but the gutters had also been replanned and rebuilt, neat and uniform.
And within the tiled roof area, many shops had appeared, with many courtyards turned into front-shop back-yard forms.
Such as the courtyard where Fang Shu and the others lived.
Dou Su Fu was clever, so she expanded the windows of her inverted room into a shop selling tofu pudding and Fried Pastries, also selling some snacks and sundries.
As for the Milk Shop on Blood Street, she had long stopped running it. Even when selling Milk Tofu in the inverted room, she clearly marked it as made from cow’s milk, not skirting the edges at all, and was very taboo about it, as if afraid of being despised by the people in the tiled roof area.
When Fang Shu returned, he didn’t disturb Dou Su Fu. Instead, he slipped back to his own right side room, washed up, bathed comfortably, and slept a good sleep to relieve his fatigue.
It wasn’t until dusk that he leisurely walked out of the room and headed into Dou Su Fu’s house.
But before he could enter, a delicate figure came out of Dou Su Fu’s room, and the two nearly collided.
The ponytail behind her head swayed nonstop. Seeing Fang Shu, she called out crisply: “Fang Ge Er, you’re back.”
Fang Shu smiled and responded to her: “I’ve seen Lulu sister.”
The other was precisely Jiao Lulu, the precious granddaughter of Old Madam Jiao, who lived in the same Courtyard House.
This woman’s movements were impressive. Though she nearly bumped into Fang Shu, the two square sea bowls in her hands didn’t sway at all, held steady. Clearly a practitioner with solid foundation.
What surprised Fang Shu even more was that with his current eyesight, he couldn’t tell this sister’s cultivation level, only knowing she was definitely an Entering the Dao immortal cultivator.
“Ge Er is here for food too? Sister Dou is making it.”
Jiao Lulu’s cheeks flushed slightly, somewhat shy and introverted. She said another sentence to Fang Shu, then hurried away back to the main room.
“Give my regards to Old Madam Jiao.”
Fang Shu didn’t chat much, politely said that, then walked into Dou Su Fu’s inverted room on his own.
Just entering the room, a pleasant Soy Milk fragrance and milk scent hit his nose.
Without him saying a word, Dou Su Fu, with a headscarf and sleeves rolled up, deftly scooped hot Soy Milk from the Bucket, picked a few Fried Pastries, put them on a plate, and shoved them into Fang Shu’s hands.
“Didn’t know you’d come back today, haven’t made yours yet. Eat this to pad your stomach first.”
Dou Su Fu wiped the fine sweat from her forehead, smiled at Fang Shu with fragrant breath, and spoke again:
“For the rest, sister will make it fresh for you right now.”
Facing this woman’s enthusiastic attitude, Fang Shu wasn’t too polite. He held a bowl of Soy Milk and a plate of Fried Pastries, sat in her room, and started eating.
This wasn’t the first time he had freeloaded a meal in Dou Su Fu’s room.
Since everyone moved to the tiled roof area, Dou Su Fu, doing business with the door open, fearing disdain from others, took the initiative to handle meals for the other three households in the courtyard.
As long as everyone called out, she would act like a cook, stir-frying a few side dishes for them, and occasionally make some meat dishes to share.
Of course, the one who could eat directly in Dou Su Fu’s room was still only Fang Shu for now.
Jiao Lulu had been invited too, but she was introverted and didn’t dare be so impolite. As for the others, they were all urged to take their bowls back to their own rooms to eat.
Fang Shu ate heartily. When he was almost done, Dou Su Fu had prepared a few plates of side dishes.
Not many dishes, but with meat and veggies: seasonal vegetables, braised beef, pig’s head meat, egg custard, wine fermented balls, and a fried fish, all looking very appetizing.
She also carried a porcelain bowl, plopped down next to Fang Shu, grabbed a pot of Small Wine, and ate together with him.
The two chatted idly.
“Is business here as good as before? Can the shop keep going?”
“Business naturally isn’t as good as before. Most is just making breakfast for neighbors, but it saves on rent and commissions.”
Dou Su Fu’s face glowed red. Though her eyes were tired, her whole body brimmed with hope for the new life, quite excited:
“We can get by! When more people come later, I’ll brew some wine to sell, and the house payments should be paid off in ten years or so.”
The reason this woman could buy the inverted room, besides her blood and sweat savings over a dozen years, was naturally tied to the money house—she had borrowed a hefty sum.
Seeing her joyful face, Fang Shu felt a bit hesitant in his heart, not wanting to dampen her spirits.
But he still casually said:
“By the way, I heard sister’s man was surnamed Hu? Didn’t Brother Hu leave sister any family assets back then, making you work so hard?”
Dou Su Fu’s face visibly dimmed, but she soon smiled resignedly:
“What Brother Hu, your brother is surnamed Hu.”
Recalling, her gaze somewhat dazed, she glanced at their own tiled house, low-voiced:
“Your Brother Hu naturally left some family assets, otherwise how could I continue squeezing in this courtyard with you uncle and nephew.”
She didn’t blame Fang Shu at all for saying what he shouldn’t, instead like opening a floodgate, drinking and talking.
“Your Brother Hu back then promised old woman to live in a tiled house in the Marketplace, and it had to be the main room.
But who would’ve thought, this short-lived ghost, now doesn’t even know where his bones are, probably doesn’t even have a grave himself, and tiled house… pfft.”
Fang Shu listened carefully, occasionally chiming in:
“Maybe Brother Hu isn’t dead yet.”
Hearing this, Dou Su Fu rolled her eyes: “If he isn’t dead, old woman would rather he was. Not coming to find old woman for so many years, serves him right to rot in the ground.”
But amid her curses, Fang Shu could clearly see a few unrealistic glimmers of hope in her eyes.
He didn’t respond anymore, just silently took a few sips of wine.
Not long after, Dou Su Fu, who was originally just eating to accompany Fang Shu.
Got drunk herself, face flushed red, mouth and nose exhaling wine fragrance, like she’d just bathed, her aura seductive, eyes hooking.
Dou Su Fu also smiled dazedly at Fang Shu, not knowing what she was thinking.
As for what Fang Shu wanted to inquire from her mouth, he had already gotten it clearly through indirect questions.
Her deceased husband indeed claimed deep ancestral ties, boasted that his ancestor was an Immortal Sect disciple, and knew a few deceptive Feng Shui techniques.
According to Dou Su Fu, Brother Hu relied on fooling noble families and kings in the Mortal World to gather Talisman Money and come up the mountain Seeking Immortality.
Combining the information Dou Su Fu revealed, the authenticity of the Hu family Treasure Book Fang Shu obtained was undoubtedly more confirmed!
Suddenly.
While Fang Shu was pondering, Dou Su Fu leaned her cheek toward him.
This woman propped her chin with her hand, her eyes hazy and fixed on his face, her plump ripe body pressing closer.
Immediately after, Fang Shu heard Dou Su Fu murmur lowly:
“You said you only had this one chance, the only chance in this lifetime, didn’t want to give it up, told me to wait nicely at home, and you’d be back soon.”
Her voice was wistful:
“But you bastard, leaving me alone in the Marketplace for what, waiting for you so long……”
Fang Shu’s face slightly froze, immediately realizing she was drunk and mistaking him for that man surnamed Hu.
Looking at the genuine emotion on Dou Su Fu’s face, Fang Shu sighed lightly and stood up directly.
Dou Su Fu looked up in confusion, cheeks drunk-red, murmuring dazedly and shyly: “Ah, why don’t you look old yet? What are you doing……”
Without waiting for her eyes to clear, Fang Shu suddenly flicked her cheek lightly.
Buzz!
A Sleepy Bug flew over, hovering in front of Dou Su Fu’s mouth and nose.
Her eyelids drooped immediately, body swaying, about to slump on the table.
Fang Shu reached out in time to catch her, hoisted her up, and placed her on the narrow bed in the inverted room.
Immediately after.
He deftly closed the door and windows, blew out the lamp, shut down the business, let this woman rest well for once, lest her long-term excitement and hard work wear her out into illness.
As for himself, he stayed unreservedly in this inverted room without leaving.
