Chapter 62: Meeting the Big Shot

  That night, almost no one in Xishan village slept well. The prospect of exchanging a basket of locusts for a wild chicken or rabbit excited their nerves. Whether they were landlords, hunters, or servants and miscellaneous workers, they all felt the same way, especially the latter two groups, who couldn't wait for dawn to break so they could start their locust-catching business.

  Don't look at Xishan Township, adjacent to Fushan, there seems to be a lot of mountain goods, but going into the mountains to hunt is very dangerous. From the beginning of the hunt, old hunters would warn them that they might lose their lives at any time, and if they were lucky, their bodies could be dragged back, but if they were unlucky, their lives would be lost in the mountains, becoming food for wild beasts. Now, just catching a few locusts can exchange for things they used to hunt back with their lives, who wouldn't be excited?

  Bian Fuzi didn't sleep well that night either. He first chatted with Anping for a while, then went back to the Zhang's house and talked with Zhang Jiulang's father for half a day. Finally, he fell asleep in a daze. As soon as it dawned, he got up and went to the main hall of the Zhang's house.

  In the main hall of Zhang's house, An Tingzhang, Zhen Ba, Cui Lan and Mu Tou were all present. Zhang's father carefully accompanied An Tingzhang in conversation.

  Although he had already told Lin Bei that he would go to Longtan to select a new school address today, Bian Fuzi changed his mind. He had to take Cui Lan and Zhen Ba to Hepu County to see the county magistrate, so Bian Fuzi let Anting Chang and Mu Tou go about the new school matter.

  In this era, any school is a good thing for the local area, as it can increase reputation. The benefits of reputation in this era are self-evident. Take Yuan Shao, for example - because his students and former officials were all over the world, he was like a geyser in the early days of competing for hegemony. If not for Yuan Shao's own incompetence, Meng De would have been unable to surpass him. This is the benefit of reputation.

  Last night, Wen Fuzi and An Tingzhang discussed the matter of the Nanyue Academy. An Tingzhang naturally supported it with all his might and decided to make an effort to become a supervisor. Who knows, he may even be able to get a title in the academy. As for the silver needed to establish the academy, Zhang Jiulang's father has already agreed to contribute half of it, which can be said to have received a enthusiastic response from the whole county.

  A few people chatted for a while before parting ways. Bian Fuzi took a cow cart, on which was placed the water deer to be given to County Magistrate. Cui Lan and Zhen Ba followed him, and another cow cart led by An Tingchang carried Bian Fuzi's treasured bamboo slips and oil and salt for Lin Bei. Mu Tou and several hunters recruited later accompanied them, heading towards Mount Fu, where they would let Lin Bei choose a location.

  Two branches, each representing one side. Without mentioning the trip of Bolin and his companions to Hepu Bay, let's just talk about how many people from Anping entered Mount Fu. Although they talked with Bolin for a long time yesterday, Anping was still not at ease. He asked Mu several times about the nature and preferences of the Dragon Lord, as the highest administrative official in Xishan Township, Anping was very interested in Lin Bei. Bolin also secretly warned Anping last night that although the Dragon Lord's nature is good, he does not follow the court's laws and regulations. He acts on his own free will, but upon careful consideration, there is still some reason to it. Moreover, what the Dragon Lord has done is extremely beneficial to Xishan Township.

  Anping only felt that today's Xishan Township was filled with a kind of vitality. The villagers got up very early, mostly the whole family went out together, holding various things in their hands. When asked, they found out that they wanted to go out of the village early to catch locusts. Although these people had bloodshot eyes, they looked spirited and full of energy, even Anping could see it, their eyes were filled with hope.

  The wooden men also had a look of envy on their faces, because they too wanted to catch locusts. Anping asked the wooden man: "Is it true that one dou can be exchanged for a mountain chicken?"

  "It's true." Mu said without hesitation, "The adults definitely won't deceive us."

  "Oh?" Anping asked again, "With the collective strength of the villagers from Xishan Mountain, on this day we can catch at least a few thousand huang (a unit of measurement), but are there even several thousand mountain chickens in Fushan? Even if there were, how could Lord Yaolong capture so many?"

  "Sir, you're a supernatural being, so you must have some sort of magical powers. What we can't do might not be a big deal for someone like you."

  Anping didn't say anything, a hint of worry flashed in his heart. Now the people of Xishan village were both respectful and fearful of the demon dragon, and they deeply believed in its words. If the demon dragon wanted to do something unscrupulous, what could be done about it? However, Anping himself also had a powerless heart. Although he was a Tingzhang, he didn't dare go against public opinion. In southern Vietnam, there were many cases of officials being killed, let alone him being just a Tingzhang, even if he were the county magistrate, wouldn't his head still roll? Anping only hoped that the demon dragon was indeed good-natured as Mr. Bian had said.

  As the ox cart left Xishan Village, Anping found that some villagers had already come out, dragging their families to chase after the flying locusts. Every time they caught a handful, they would recite a phrase "only one mountain chicken". Anping could only sigh deeply.

  Entering the Fu Mountains, the road became difficult to travel, and the ox cart was even more difficult to navigate. Anping had no choice but to get off the cart. Anping often heard hunters say that there were many snakes and insects in the Fu Mountains, but this time when he entered the mountains, Anping found that the Fu Mountains seemed quite safe, with almost no snakes or insects.

  "This road has been taken by many adults several times, it must be the adults who drove away the snakes and beasts in this place." Mu explained.

  Anping felt a little intimidated, unexpectedly still able to drive away wild beasts and snakes, indeed worthy of being a demon, its divine powers were unfathomable. After thinking this way, he actually put his mind at ease regarding the demon dragon. Since its magic was all-powerful, humans probably couldn't stop it from doing anything it wanted. If that's the case, then why would the demon dragon still trade with humans? It wouldn't have any despicable thoughts, and was simply acting out of its true nature.

  This psychological change was imperceptible even to Anping himself, but when he arrived at Longtan and saw Lin Bei, there were only two words in his heart: reverence.

  Lin Bei is now thirteen and a half meters, when Lin Bei stands up straight, the height of his upper body must exceed six meters, plus the snake body as thick as a person's waist, this impact force, except for awe, you really can't have any other thoughts.

  "Sir, I am Anping, the village head of Xishan Township, loyal and honest. Greetings, sir." Anping involuntarily addressed Lin Bei as "sir", just like the hunters did.