Chapter Twenty-Two: Not of My Kind

  "How come it's been so long?"

  Finally someone can't wait anymore.

  In a typical Suzhou-style garden, a small flower hall with gray tiles and white walls is hidden. Through the intricately carved window lattices, you can see that inside, chairs are arranged in a circle. Between each pair of chairs is placed a wooden tea table carved with flowers, on which is placed a plate of snacks. The five main guests sit around the circle, clearly not for a friendly gathering.

  The hall was originally quiet, with everyone staring at the tea utensils in their hands, watching the misty steam rise, as if they were savoring the fragrance of tea. This sentence, which carried a hint of anger, finally broke the surface harmony and drew out the impatience of the crowd.

  "Zhang Sheng, don't be impatient." The speaker was a middle-aged scholar with three long whiskers, wearing a high and large square flat cap, as if he had put on a bookcase. He saw him shaking a white paper fan, with an air of confidence, saying: "Even if Qian Yiqun doesn't come, his father will definitely come. At present, we can't wait for them yet, they must have been delayed by other things."

  "Mr. Li said, we're not in a hurry for the time being." A young man standing next to the scholar wearing a black round-necked robe with wide sleeves and a soft scarf, responded with a tone that seemed somewhat disdainful towards Zhang Sheng.

  Zhang Sheng seemed about to erupt, his eyes scanning another young man, seeing his face sink like water, and suddenly calming down.

  Although the five people sat in a circle, there was still a clear distinction between the main seat and the others. The young man sat directly opposite the door of the flower hall, also wearing a swallow-tailed coat, with a net scarf on his head, and an air of elegance between his eyebrows. As soon as he opened his mouth, the Cantonese accent in his Mandarin flowed freely.

  "Zhang Sheng, if you have something to attend to, you can go back first." County Magistrate Chen said expressionlessly.

  Zhang was tongue-tied and didn't expect to be driven away here. However, the natural gap between officials and civilians made him stand up, make a bow, and bid farewell.

  A young servant immediately came forward and led Zhang away from the garden.

  Zhang Sheng's figure had not yet completely faded from everyone's line of sight when County Magistrate Chen spoke up again: "What a waste, I've wasted my good Liu'an tea."

  "Haha, I knew it! Chen Gongzi hasn't changed his temper at all. He's been sitting there for half a day without saying a word, but now he can't even speak clearly. It turns out he was just holding back all along!" Wen Shigao burst out laughing loudly, and the atmosphere in the flower hall suddenly came alive like flowing water.

  Chen Zhi Xian's mouth twitched, barely managing a smile, and said: "Zhou Wu De is really not willing to let people off. Brother Wen, aren't you going to say something fair?"

  Three young people were apparently old friends reunited, and Mr. Li just smiled and watched them.

  "It's been many years since we last met, and you two are still the same." Wen Gongzi smiled slightly and said, "You're a double juren public servant, aren't you afraid of losing face by joking around with us?"

  Magistrate Chen's face still had a cold air, and he said with a mixture of truth and falsehood: "What does it count for to be a top scholar? I've been in Wu County for so many days, and I've sent more than eight visiting cards to the residence of Master Zhou, but I haven't had the chance to see him. Today, you actually bring a copper-smelling merchant to find me, how cultured!"

  Zhou Gongzi slightly embarrassingly rubbed his nose and smiled: "This can't be blamed on me, that Zhang Sheng is indeed rough and unrefined, but he has a close relationship with the Dai family of Cangzhou. I am also entrusted by someone..."

  "If it weren't for someone's recommendation, you wouldn't have deigned to come here, would you?" Chen County Magistrate added.

  "You're a county parent, who dares to easily disturb you." Wen Gongzi smiled and rounded the scene, "Speaking of last night's matter, Teacher Dai was also defeated by that Qian Yiqun, your county lord is quite impressive?"

  Magistrate Chen's face was expressionless as he said, "People only say that Dai Shiming lost to Qian Yiqun."

  The two men exchanged a glance, and Zhou Gongzi said: "I went to Muxia last night and saw Teacher Dai. He said that Qian Yiqun was originally a knife holder, but he temporarily took his spiritual sword. The depth of the spiritual seal is extremely extraordinary and cannot be compared to ordinary people. I think Qian Yiqun's natural talent is beyond ordinary people, and with the guidance of a superior, the day when he will soar to the sky is just around the corner."

  "Hmph." County Magistrate Chen spat out a single word, declining to comment further.

  Wen Gongzi looked at his old friend, then at Mr. Li, and smiled as he sang in a flowery tone: "Please, Master, do not hesitate to instruct us rustic simpletons; we beg of you, please, let's chat!"

  "Dai Shiming indeed lost," County Magistrate Chen suddenly made a big turn, and continued, "but he did not lose to Qian Yiqun and his master, but rather to the situation."

  "What's going on?" Even Mr. Li couldn't help but change his expression and listen seriously.

  "A powerful dragon may not suppress a snake in its own territory, let alone Dai Shiming who is not even a strong dragon, while the Qian family is indeed a real snake in their own territory." County Magistrate Chen opened his mouth, "A newcomer to Wu, who can't even understand the local dialect, dares to take away someone's precious treasure in front of everyone, doesn't he know that the winds of Wu are fierce?"

  Wen and Zhou were both from Wu, they burst out laughing upon hearing this and didn't take it seriously.

  "I'd like to ask Brother Zhou, what is the meaning of Dài family sending out Dài Shìmíng this time?" Magistrate Chen turned to Young Master Zhōu.

  "It's no harm to let you know," said Zhou Gongzi with a hint of pride, "Mi Fu's 'Research on Mountains' is in the Zhang family's hands, and this time it's intended to be passed to the Dai family as a birthday gift for Duke Kaiyang."

  A chill ran through the hall.

  Zhou and Wen were not afraid of County Magistrate Chen, but Mr. Li, who was sitting beside them, was getting restless. He knew the temper of this host, whose heart was no wider than a needle point. That Mi Fu's "Mountain Research" treasure was in the hands of a wealthy family in Wu County, and yet this County Magistrate had not even heard a whisper about it, which was like being slapped in the face in public.

  Mr. Li saw the atmosphere in the flower hall suddenly become stagnant, and he couldn't help but look around. Suddenly, he saw someone outside peeking inside, which was a good excuse for him to leave his seat. He knew that this young master had many secrets, those secrets even exceeded the gap between the holders of the imperial examination degrees, but he wisely kept his distance.

  It's also the case now...

  Mi Fu's Inkstone is a Lingbi stone, said to have been an old object of Li Yu, the last ruler of Southern Tang. It was passed down through many hands until it reached Mi Fu. After obtaining this stone, Mi Fu was overjoyed and slept with it in his arms for three days, writing the famous "Inscription on the Inkstone" which became a masterpiece in the history of calligraphy.

  Not to mention the present, even Song Huizong, with his supreme status, was unable to find this Lingbi stone, and unexpectedly it has now fallen into the hands of Zhang from Muzhen. This Zhang is just a local wealthy gentry, who donated to become a student at Nanjing National Academy, and can be said to be an ordinary man possessing a precious jade.

  "You all think I'm a corrupt official who breaks rules too!" The county magistrate's face turned even colder.

  "It's reasonable that they didn't reveal the news," Wen Gongzi explained, "You've just taken office, who knows you're a disciple of Zuihuayuan? This treasure falling into the hands of ordinary people is nothing but a rare stone for play, but for us Taoist guardians, it's extremely precious. It's only natural that they didn't reveal the news."

  "This is also you yourself, if you often walk close with people of the same way, how can your ears and eyes be closed to this extent?" Zhou Gongzi didn't put Chen Xun's change of color in his heart, "If the demon sect's evil person comes to your noble territory, I'm afraid you won't know either."

  The county magistrate pointed at him with a slight movement of his finger and remained silent.

  Mr. Li had been paying attention to Dong's every word and deed, and seeing this, he knew that it was because of Dong's anxious mind and uncommunicative words. Just thinking about how to resolve the situation, he happened to see a servant looking around outside the flower hall, so he got up to take a look.

  It turned out that the gatekeeper had waited for a long time and couldn't bear it anymore, so he asked someone to come in and see if the old master had finished seeing off his guests.

  "The servant reported that Mr. Qian and his son had arrived early, but didn't dare disturb the noble guest." Li Shiyeh returned to the flower hall which was already in an awkward silence, just in time to report back to the master.

  The county magistrate nodded and said, "Let him come in."

  "Hold on," Wen Gongzi stopped Li Shiyé, "I'll ask one more question, are the Wu County Qian family and the Wujin Qian family closely related?"

  "What a fuss! The person is just outside, can't you just ask him yourself?" Zhou Gongzi smiled and said, "I'll go to the door to welcome him."

  The county magistrate originally wanted to tease him a bit, but then thought better of it and stopped.

  Qian Yiqun sat in the ear room for a long time, slowly exhaled, refreshed and invigorated, only to find that the gatekeeper was standing beside him, with an itchy expression.

  "Master Qian, the old master is inviting you." The gatekeeper felt relieved as soon as he saw Qian Yigun wake up.

  "Alright, alright, I'll go now." Qian Yiqun hastily got up and took a step forward. "I'll go inform Father first."

  "Qian Xiaoge didn't dare to delay, quickly go see the old master is serious. The Dianshi side will be taken care of by me sending someone over." The gatekeeper knew that a noble guest was waiting to welcome Xiao Qian and didn't dare keep him waiting.

  At this moment, there was a miscellaneous task that led Qian Yiqun to the back garden. In this Jiangnan garden, he wandered around. After washing his bones and marrow, Qian Yiqun's body became agile and nimble. He walked in the forest like a deer running, swift and quick, with a carefree and elegant demeanor.

  In the blink of an eye, Qian Yiqun's eyes fluttered and the white-walled flower hall suddenly appeared before him. Before he could even praise the hall's unique architecture, a young scholar in a blue robe stood on one side of the stone path, admiring the flowers.

  That scholar had a slender build, with an indescribable elegance. He didn't turn around until he heard footsteps, then bowed and greeted: "I am Wu Jiang Zhou Zhengqing, courtesy name Wude, nice to meet you, brother."

  Qian Yiqun was perplexed. This Zhou Zhengqing looked like a rich young master, and his silk brocade changshan alone was probably worth more than Qian's family's food expenses for several months. Someone like him had no connection with Qian whatsoever, so why would he be waiting for him here?

  "In the lower Wu County, Xīn Chāi met Qián Yìqún, and saw Zhōu brother." Qián Yìqún hastily returned the courtesy. Although he didn't know this noble young master, it didn't prevent him from addressing others as brothers, after all, it wasn't himself who would lose out.

  Zhou Zhengqing made a gesture of "please follow me" and led Qian Yiqun into the flower hall, which really scared the young Qian Yiqun.

  Even Chen Xian, the county magistrate and a jinshi (a successful candidate in the imperial examination) from both lists, stood in the flower hall, gently shaking hands with him, as if welcoming him.