Chapter 71

Chapter 71

Luo Qiyan stayed at another inn not far away.

Li Gandang and Zhao Wuwei took turns "accompanying" him.

Calling it accompaniment was really just surveillance—the two of them rotated shifts, keeping a tight watch on Luo Qiyan.

Luo Qiyan, though, had a good temper. Every day he went out to search for gu worms, with Li Gandang or Zhao Wuwei following him, and he even bought them meals.

At night he returned to the inn and turned out the lights early to sleep, never disturbing Xiao Yang.

Pei Dinglan occasionally passed by that inn and would always go in for a "visit." He didn't do anything else—just kept going on and on at Luo Qiyan.

Luo Qiyan, however, couldn't care less. He went about his business as usual, completely unbothered by Pei Dinglan's nagging.

Xie Zhiwei's take: "This guy's practically a machine."

Two days later, Chen Jinan came to visit the inn again.

This time Xie Zhiwei didn't avoid him and invited him into his room to talk.

"Young Master Xie." Chen Jinan clasped his hands in greeting, smiling eagerly. "I've come to trouble you again."

Xie Zhiwei replied, "Young Master Chen is too polite. Please, have a seat."

Chen Jinan sat down and cut straight to the chase without beating around the bush: "Young Master Xie, I've come today about the mining contract."

As he spoke, he produced a document from his sleeve and presented it with both hands to Xie Zhiwei.

Xie Zhiwei glanced down at it. The contract was densely covered with writing—the gist being that the Chen family's mine contract was being transferred to Xie Zhiwei, with the annual contract fee, the government's cut, estimated ore output, and so on, all spelled out clearly.

"Young Master Xie." Chen Jinan tried his best to suppress his eagerness. "I know you want to take your time and learn more, but this matter truly cannot be delayed any longer. If we wait, trouble might arise."

Xie Zhiwei raised an eyebrow. "What kind of trouble?"

Chen Jinan's gaze flickered. "To be honest, the mining contract business isn't easy these days. If my father hadn't decided to return to our hometown, you wouldn't have this opportunity."

So your Chen family's hometown is in Luoqi? Ha!

Xie Zhiwei's expression gave nothing away. He simply waved a hand. "Alright, alright. I do trust Young Master Chen. Let's go to the county office and sign the contract right now."

At these words, Chen Jinan's eyes lit up instantly. "Young Master Xie is indeed a man of action."

Xie Zhiwei went to the county office accompanied only by his ever-present Pei Dinglan, plus Chen Jinan, who could barely contain his excitement.

There weren't many people at the Linyuan County office that day. The guard at the gate was dozing against the doorpost and only jolted awake at the sound of footsteps. Rubbing his eyes, he saw Chen Jinan leading people in and quickly straightened up.

"Young Master Chen, you've arrived." The guard put on a fawning smile. "Lord Hu is resting in the rear office. I'll go let him know."

Chen Jinan nodded and turned to Xie Zhiwei. "Young Master Xie, please wait a moment."

Xie Zhiwei stood in the main hall of the county office, his gaze sweeping unhurriedly across his surroundings. When he saw the plaque reading "Clear Mirror Held High," he scoffed inwardly.

"Young Master Xie has arrived." Hu Shoulian came out quickly to receive them. "The main hall isn't a place for conversation. Please, come this way."

The group went to the back of the county office, where Hu Shoulian ordered someone to brew tea.

Xie Zhiwei said, "Lord Hu, I've come today to process the mining contract."

The mines were under imperial control, and the contract only counted once stamped with the official seal. Even though Chen Jinan loathed the sight of Hu Shoulian's face, he had to come to the county office with Xie Zhiwei to get it done.

"My Lord, this is the contract my family drafted." Chen Jinan presented the document. "Please review it."

Hu Shoulian took the contract and examined it carefully. He wasn't worried these two would dare do anything behind his back—he just wanted to confirm his own interests were secured.

"Young Master Xie is meticulous in his dealings—that's a good thing." Hu Shoulian set the contract down and nodded while stroking his beard. "I've reviewed the contract. Every clause is written clearly and properly. No problems."

But Hu Shoulian made no move to stamp it. Instead, he tapped his fingers lightly on the contract twice and looked up at Xie Zhiwei.

Xie Zhiwei understood immediately. He produced a silver note from his sleeve and handed it over.

Hu Shoulian took the note and glanced at it, his eyes narrowing slightly. A thousand taels, issued by a major merchant house in the capital, redeemable anywhere in the Great Zhou.

"Young Master Xie is far too generous." Hu Shoulian tucked the note into his sleeve, his smile deepening. "I merely did a trivial favor—there was no need for all this."

Xie Zhiwei smiled. "Lord Hu has gone to trouble on my behalf, and I am deeply grateful. This small token is hardly adequate."

Hu Shoulian nodded repeatedly. He took the official seal from a rack beside his desk, opened the ink pad box, dipped the seal in the red paste, and pressed it squarely onto the contract.

The vermilion ink landed on the paper, leaving a crisp impression reading "Seal of Linyuan County."

Xie Zhiwei scoffed inwardly once more.

"Young Master Xie, I've stamped the contract." Hu Shoulian handed it back. "From today onward, the mine contracted by the Chen family belongs to you. Each year you'll pay the amount of ore set by the court, and anything beyond that will earn you imperial rewards."

Xie Zhiwei took the contract, tucked it safely into his sleeve, and bowed to Hu Shoulian. "Thank you, Lord Hu, for your assistance."

"Ah, you're too kind, too kind." Hu Shoulian waved a hand. "Speaking of which, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."

Xie Zhiwei said, "Please, Lord Hu, go ahead."

Hu Shoulian stroked his beard. "You and Young Master Pei are new here and don't know the area well. As the magistrate of Linyuan County, it's only fitting that I extend some hospitality. Would you do me the honor of joining me for a simple meal at my place this evening?"

His tone was casual, as if it were really just an ordinary dinner invitation.

But Xie Zhiwei read between the lines. Hu Shoulian was trying to draw him deeper into his web.

The three thousand taels of "sincerity" earlier had been the foot in the door; today's thousand-tael note was the token of loyalty.

Xie Zhiwei's face showed a hint of flattered surprise. "Lord Hu's hospitality is too kind to refuse. I'll take you up on that."

Hu Shoulian's smile widened. "No imposition at all. Your coming is my pleasure."

Xie Zhiwei exchanged a few more pleasantries before standing up to take his leave.

Hu Shoulian personally escorted them to the county office gate and watched Xie Zhiwei and Pei Dinglan walk away before humming a tune and heading back.

Chen Jinan followed behind, and the moment he stepped out of the county office gate, he finally couldn't help but let out a long breath.

The contract was signed. Their Chen family could finally leave this den of trouble, Linyuan.

Coming out of the county office, Xie Zhiwei and Pei Dinglan walked side by side on the road back to the inn.

"That dinner at Lord Hu's place tonight—I doubt it'll be just a simple meal." Pei Dinglan held Xie Zhiwei's hand.

Xie Zhiwei said, "He wants to pull me into the water. Fine, let him try. We'll see how deep he can go."

Pei Dinglan replied, "Indeed. You can't catch a tiger cub without entering the tiger's den."

"What are these Great Zhou pests compared to a tiger?" Xie Zhiwei curved his lips slightly. "Now Pei Sanlang, he's got the real tiger energy."

Pei Dinglan couldn't keep the smile off his face after being coaxed by Xie Zhiwei's words.

The two chatted and laughed as they walked back along the main street.

The sun was already low in the sky, and the streets were gradually filling with people. A stall selling sugar-roasted chestnuts had set up its wok, black sand sizzling in the iron wok as it was stirred, the sweet caramel smell drifting far on the breeze. A few children gathered around the stall, staring eagerly, clutching copper coins in their little hands.

As Xie Zhiwei passed by, he glanced over, remembering that Xiao Yang had mentioned wanting to eat sugar-roasted chestnuts last time. He stopped to buy a bag, had it wrapped in oil paper, and tucked it into his sleeve.

"You sure do look after Xiao Yang." Pei Dinglan watched his movements, a smile curving at the corner of his mouth.

"He calls me 'big brother'—if I don't look out for him, who else am I gonna look out for?" Xie Zhiwei patted his sleeve, pushing the oil paper bundle further in.

Pei Dinglan reached over to tighten the drawstring at his cuff, his fingers grazing Xie Zhiwei's wrist before he casually pulled his hand back.

"It's broad daylight—watch it." Xie Zhiwei shot him a glare.

"What did I do?" Pei Dinglan looked innocent. "I was just helping you tie your cuff."

Xie Zhiwei couldn't be bothered to bicker with him, picking up his pace toward the inn.

The inn wasn't far now—just one more turn and the sign out front would come into view.

Just as they rounded the corner, a figure stepped out from a side alley, planting himself right in the middle of the road.

He wore an indigo-blue cloth robe, with a braid woven with colored silk threads hanging at the back of his head, the silver beads at the end of the braid catching the fading dusk light.

Those amber eyes stared directly at Xie Zhiwei, his face looking more serious than usual.

"What are you doing?" Pei Dinglan's tone wasn't exactly friendly—no matter how he looked at it, Luo Qiyan seemed like a pig trying to snatch away his prized cabbage.

Luo Qiyan's gaze slid past Pei Dinglan and landed on Xie Zhiwei. "Young Master Xie, who have you been in contact with today?"

Xie Zhiwei peeked out from behind Pei Dinglan, frowning. "What do you mean?"

Luo Qiyan took two steps forward, and Pei Dinglan's hand was already on the short knife at his waist, but Luo Qiyan stopped three paces away, not approaching further.

He tilted his head slightly, nostrils flaring as he took a sniff.

"You've got the scent of a gu worm on you," Luo Qiyan said, his tone certain. "It's the same one that got stolen."

Pei Dinglan let his hand drop from the knife, but his brow stayed furrowed. He glanced back at Xie Zhiwei, whose expression had gone from confused to thoughtful.

"Are you sure?" Xie Zhiwei stepped out from behind Pei Dinglan.

Luo Qiyan nodded. "Certain. And the scent is fresh—it must have been picked up today."

Xie Zhiwei's mind was spinning.

The people he'd come into contact with today... Chen Jinan and Hu Shoulian.

If the gu worm's scent were on Chen Jinan, Luo Qiyan—who'd brushed past him once before—should've picked it up. But Luo Qiyan had said nothing earlier, which meant it wasn't Chen Jinan.

That just leaves Hu Shoulian.

Could the thief be Hu Shoulian, the magistrate of Linyuan County?

"Alright, tonight you change into Great Zhou clothes and come eat with us," Xie Zhiwei decided on the spot. "Maybe we'll find the gu worm."

"Good." Luo Qiyan didn't hesitate, agreeing readily.

Even Pei Dinglan went quiet, thinking that if Hu Shoulian really did steal the gu worm, they were in deep trouble.

Truth be told, he had his suspicions about who Luo Qiyan really was.

Love gu were rare, and Luo Qiyan had one. The theft of such an important gu worm was why Luo Qiyan had come looking for it. His clothes were clearly not those of an ordinary Luoqi commoner, and he was so young.

All of it pointed to one identity: the Holy Son of Luoqi.

A Great Zhou official stealing the Holy Son of Luoqi's gu worm—if this got blown out of proportion, it could even damage relations between the two nations.

Pei Dinglan was getting more and more irritated. Who the hell was stirring up trouble behind the scenes? And what did counterfeiting coins have to do with stealing the gu worm?