Free Web NovelChapter 106: Chapter 107: Sister-in-law is Well-Read and Polite
"Because the village chief said he wants to seek justice from you."
"Me?" Fatty Wang could not believe his ears. "Seek justice from me?" ’Is that old man tired of living?’
"That’s right. Aren’t you Mrs. Zhu’s husband?" Hee Lingchuan smiled. "The village chief wants you to go see him now that you’re back."
Fatty Wang was absolutely unwilling to leave the house right now, but he was not stupid. He immediately sensed something was wrong and shot a sideways glance at Mrs. Zhu. "You. Tell me what’s going on."
This was, in fact, a violation of Lui Han’s orders. His exact words had been: ’The villagers should have as little contact with the soldiers as possible. Don’t talk to them, lest you blow our cover.’
But at this point, he felt that if he said even one more word to Hee Lingchuan, he might lose control.
With his back to Hee Lingchuan, Fatty Wang shot Mrs. Zhu a warning look.
Mrs. Zhu’s face was impassive. "The Lake God is a Spirit Turtle, said to be at least three hundred years old. Xianling Village holds a small offering every three months and a large festival every year. The Spirit Turtle only allows villagers to fish in the lake once a week, and they cannot use fine-mesh nets. In return, it ensures their safety in the water and blesses them with a bountiful catch. Right, the Spirit Turtle was also skilled in divination. In the past, the fortunes people requested at the Water Spirit Temple were always accurate."
"In the past?" Hee Lingchuan’s interest was piqued, and he went on a brief tangent. "What happened then?"
"Too many villagers came to ask for fortunes; some even traveled from over thirty miles away, disturbing the Water Spirit’s peaceful meditation," Mrs. Zhu replied. "The Water Spirit expressed its dissatisfaction to the village chief in a dream, so the chief hung up the fortune-stick canister and forbade it. Even when villagers tried in secret, or cast offerings into the lake, it was no longer effective. Slowly, everyone gave up on the idea."
’So it was an Old Turtle Demon with a side hustle?’
"Then what happened to the Spiritual Token today?"
"I passed by the Water Spirit Temple this morning and found the Water Spirit Altar was broken. The village chief thinks I did it."
Hee Lingchuan found this even stranger. "Why is the village chief so sure it was you?"
"..." Mrs. Zhu was silent for a moment before saying, "This morning, I was the only one who passed by." ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
Fatty Wang said angrily, "So it was you, you troublesome woman, who got me into this mess!"
’His companions got villagers as meek as lambs, but he had the bad luck of being stuck with a troublemaker.’
Hee Lingchuan asked him, "Aren’t you going to go plead your case with the village chief?"
Fatty Wang had his excuse ready. "The chief is old. He’s probably asleep by now. I’ll go reason with him tomorrow morning."
Mrs. Zhu suddenly asked, "Could the Water Spirit’s altar have broken on its own?"
Hee Lingchuan thought for a long while before saying, "If it broke on its own, that means something has happened to the Water Spirit. It’s either gravely injured or has perished."
He suddenly asked his Personal Guard, "What do you think?"
The Personal Guard shook his head. "I’m not sure either, sir."
Fatty Wang’s face fell. He pointed at the two Personal Guards and asked, "Wait a minute, are they staying here too?" ’If I’m going to make a move tonight, this just made things much more difficult.’
"They’re *personal* guards. What part of ’personal’ do you not understand?" Just as Hee Lingchuan was speaking, two servants came in from outside carrying bundles on their backs. They entered and bowed to him. "Eldest Young Master, we’re here to make the bed."
Although Hee Lingchuan did not care, Madam Ying, when packing their things in Black Water City, had ordered their sons’ bedding to be brought along. Things on the outside were dirty; it was more reassuring to use their own.
Hee Lingchuan led them into the inner room as if he were the master of the house.
Watching these people bustle in and out of the house, so busy that he himself felt like the outsider, Fatty Wang could not help but sneer. ’That dog official Hee’s family is still so particular even in this godforsaken valley. I can only imagine how much of the people’s blood and sweat they’ve extorted over the years.’
As the servants made the bed, Hee Lingchuan asked one of them, "Where’s my younger brother staying?"
Thankfully, the man knew he was referring to Hee Yue. "The Second Young Master is staying to the south tonight, in the second house from the lake."
’My brother is so far from me and from our parents. It’s hard to believe this arrangement is unintentional.’ "Why is he staying so far away? Move him next to me! We have things to talk about tonight." He pointed to the farmhouse across the way. "That one looks good. It’s spacious, too."
Only he could be such a brazen guest. The rest of the Hee Family were all very polite—all except the Eldest Young Master. The servant was used to it. He would take the order and report to the steward, Old Mo. It was the steward’s job to figure these things out anyway.
Hee Lingchuan asked again, "Are my parents still in their room?"
"The Lord Governor and the Madam are both there. The Second Young Master has gone out."
Hee Lingchuan frowned. "Where to?"
Meanwhile, the Personal Guard who had remained in the main room spoke to Fatty Wang. "Your household seems to be struggling, and the young master is willing to help. However, he has trouble sleeping in new places. Seeing as your wife is an educated and well-mannered woman, I was wondering if she could chat with him for a bit?" With that, he placed a ten-tael silver ingot on the table.
Fatty Wang stared at the large silver ingot, momentarily at a loss for words.
’Did the little pup really take a fancy to Mrs. Zhu?’
But he knew the two of them must not, under any circumstances, be left alone. He slammed his hand on the table, expressing a perfectly measured amount of rage. "What did you say?! Take your silver and get out!"
"What are you so worked up about?" Hee Lingchuan stood at the entrance to the inner room, arms crossed. "Earning ten taels of silver just for a few words? You won’t find a deal that good anywhere else, even if you search with a lantern."
The two servants behind him were well-trained; they even closed the door behind them as they left Mrs. Zhu’s house.
"You’re not staying here anymore!" Fatty Wang strode toward the inner room, intending to use the opportunity to throw out Hee Lingchuan’s bedding.
One of the two Personal Guards in the main room quickly stepped in front of him. "Don’t move!"
Fatty Wang could not take it anymore and shoved the Personal Guard aside with one hand.
Even he, slow as he was, knew that Hee Lingchuan had grown suspicious. Who else would beat around the bush like this?
’So what if we drop the act? That little pup is coveting another man’s wife, doesn’t he deserve a beating? I’m in the right here. Even if Hee Gouguan wants to take his son’s side, he’d better remember where we are.’
Just then, Fatty Wang suddenly caught a whiff of an incomparably foul, fishy stench!
The pungent aroma... even the smell of his own sweaty feet, stewing in airtight boots for ten days straight and then held under his nose, would not be one-tenth as bad.
The smell went straight to his head. Fatty Wang bent over and retched violently.
In that instant, all his imposing manner, his battle stance, his vigilance—it was all thrown to the wind. His body’s instincts were far more honest.
The other Personal Guard rushed forward and viciously struck the back of Fatty Wang’s neck with the hilt of his sword.
Normally, that should have been enough to knock him out.
But this fatty was tough-skinned and thick-fleshed; he was not stunned. Despite his severe physical discomfort, he knew to charge at Hee Lingchuan, his two fat palms spread wide, aiming for his throat.
’If I can just grab this kid, spin around, and use him as a human shield, the guards will be forced to hesitate!’
The moment he lunged, the Ring on his ring finger emitted a faint black glow. This ring was called the Black Thorn Ring, made from the tusk of a Black Thorn Boar. It not only enhanced its master’s strength and injured opponents but could also apply a corrosive poison to the wound. If not treated promptly, it would cause muscle and bone to rapidly necrotize.
But he was still reeling, and his movements were half a beat too slow. Mrs. Zhu had already grabbed the wooden cup from the table and violently splashed the half-full cup of freshly poured hot water in his face.
