Volume 2: Ren Ping Sheng Chapter 103: Snake Calamity

  At dusk, a servant came to the east wing to report to Chen Jianchen that someone was visiting. He went out to take a look and found it was Wang Fu. He had previously received Chen Jianchen's letter and already knew where Hu Zhuang was located, so he took advantage of his free time to come and visit.

  Upon seeing the grand and magnificent estate, Wang Fu couldn't help but praise it excessively, saying: "Liu Xian, no wonder you're willing to stay here as a teacher. I've made some inquiries, and it turns out that the Hu Estate is a prominent and respected family in Suzhou, with assets worth tens of millions. The Huang Pu family has immense wealth and influence, and is truly an extraordinary figure.

  In other words, Chen Jianchen became the master of Huangfu's daughter and also climbed up to the big tree of Huangfu Yuanwai. A big tree is good for shade, and there are countless benefits.

  In life, there are many things to learn, but relationships come first. However, Wang Fu also heard a lot of bad things about Princess Huangfu, but he didn't know how Chen Jianchen could swallow it?

  Chen Jianchen belonged to Yu Zhuang, it was not convenient for him to greet Wang Fu in the hall, so he wanted to take him into the east wing to talk. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw Lu Xiyue walking out.

  "Huh! This is... In Jiangzhou, Wang Fu had only seen Lu Xi a face or two from afar, never expecting to run into him here. He was both shocked and delighted, his mouth agape, unable to utter a word."

  On the other side, Lu Xi had already bid farewell to Chen Jianchen and said: "Has the young master received a guest?"

  Chen Jianchen introduced Wang Fu, and then Lu Xiyou made a courtesy call to Wang Fu before leaving with his daughter Shi Xiang'er.

  Wang Fu finally came back to his senses, excitedly saying: "Liu Xian, isn't she the daughter of Lu Gong from the You Niao Lou? How can she be here? Do you know her?" Chen Jianchen replied calmly: "This is a long story. Let's go into the east wing and talk." Wang Fu came back to his senses and answered: "I'll set off tomorrow morning after all the business matters are settled." Seeing the smile on his face, it seemed that not only were the business matters settled, but other aspects were also going well. Chen Jianchen joked: "I thought Brother Wang was so enchanted by the spring water flowing in Suzhou River that he had forgotten about returning to Jiangzhou!" Wang Fu laughed and said: "Suzhou River's spring water... Ah, Liu Xian is a great talent, his words are like poetry! Unfortunately, Liu Xian wasn't there that night, otherwise this one sentence would have been enough to get the girls to give him a 30% discount!" Chen Jianchen was speechless, but he also knew that some talented scholars could use their poetic skills to get free favors from the courtesans and become a "one poem for one night" kind of brothel scholar, which was quite an enviable thing.

  "Brother Fu Tai, actually I also wanted to come find you, there's something I want to entrust to you. 1,"

  Wang Fu nodded and patted his chest, saying: "Liu Xian, what are you talking about? Speak your mind. If it's something that can be done, I, your foolish brother, won't hesitate."

  Chen Jianchen immediately downplayed Lu Xiuyue's situation and suggested that Wang Fu and Lu Xiuyue return together, so they could look out for each other.

  Wang Fu listened, patted his thigh with a loud slap, and his eyes sparkled as he stared at Chen Jianchen, excitedly saying: "Liu Xian, you're too talented! Without making a sound, mysterious and secretive, it turns out that you've hooked up with the number one Ru Qing in Jiangzhou!"

  Chen Jianchen said what is called "hooking up"

  Wang Fu sighed: "It's really true that people are compared to people, and some people are suffocated by others. My foolish brother has been romantic for a few days, but it turns out he can't even compare to Liu Xian's one night of spring romance."

  The more he talked, the more nonsense Chen Jianchen hurriedly cleared his throat and said, "Fu Tai brother, things are not as you imagine them to be. 1,

  Wang Fuyi waved his hand and said, "Brother, I understand that this matter cannot be explained to outsiders. You don't know, but in the Bird-Raising Building, those who can invite Ruru to play a tune are all capable people. Many young masters have spent thousands of gold coins trying to get her to spend one night with them, but she refused because she is truly chaste and virtuous. She sells her art, not her body, and never yields or compromises. Tsk, tsk, if those officials and nobles knew that Ruru had chosen Liuxian as her husband, they would be furious."

  Chen Jianchen suddenly felt a chill in his heart, and Wang Fu's careless words sounded in his ears with a different warning meaning.

  Wang Fu saw that his face was different, and he thought he had said something wrong, so he quickly spoke seriously: "Liu Xian, please rest assured, from now on, I will treat Lu Jie as my younger sister and treat her with courtesy."

  Marrying a courtesan, especially bringing a concubine back home, is the trend among the current scholar-official class, very common. In Wang Fu's view, it was thought that Chen Jianchen had finally moved his heart and had an affair with Lu Xianyong, and they were mutually affectionate, which was normal. But since the two had such a relationship, Chen Jianchen naturally did not like others to comment on Lu Xianyong anymore.

  Chen Jianchen didn't want to get entangled in this matter, and asked: "Has the route for returning to Jiangzhou been decided?" Wang Fu suddenly sighed, his face worried: "This time, it's likely that we'll have to return to Jiangzhou from a different direction." "Oh, why?"

  Wang Fu then said angrily: "Isn't it all because of that green snake arrow?"

  Green Snake?

  Chen Jianchen's heart skipped a beat: "Could it be that the big snake has come out to block our way again?"

  Wang Fu's face revealed a bitter smile: "Not only did it come out, but it also ate people. Two hunters who went up the mountain to post bills were swallowed by it in one bite."

  "After eating people, the green snake's ferocity was greatly aroused, and it often appeared in the mountains and forests, biting anyone or anything that crossed its path. Now, within a radius of several miles around the valley, basically no one dares to walk there."

  Chen Jianchen was moved: "The evil beast is so ferocious?"

  "It's not, is it? The snake was furious, and the government sent 300 soldiers with weapons to go up the mountain to kill it. But these soldiers were used to bullying the common people, and as soon as they saw the giant snake appear, they were immediately scared out of their wits, crying and shouting as they ran down the mountain. From then on, the soldiers didn't dare to move again."

  Chen Jianchen raised an eyebrow: "Train soldiers for a thousand days, use them in one moment. The imperial court trains soldiers, no more than to stabilize the country, bring peace and protect the people. They are so incompetent."

  Wang Fu hastily waved his hand: "Liu Xian, don't say such things, attacking the government is not a trivial matter. Be careful, there may be ears on the other side of the wall, and if someone hears you, it will be a big trouble."

  The Tianyun dynasty, although the atmosphere is relatively free, also has many taboos. For example, offending the image of a saint, criticizing the imperial court, etc., are all inappropriate remarks that can easily lead to trouble from one's own mouth and being "invited" by the Black Shirt Guards to "have a drink".

  What kind of wine?

  There is a tavern called "Seven Steps to Drunkenness"!

  Chen Jianchen suppressed his anger and said: "The snake disaster is getting more and more severe, can't the government do anything about it?"

  Wang Fu said: "It's not that they don't care, Zhang Biao has asked people to do it, but the officials and soldiers are all afraid to take action, how can ordinary civilians dare to risk their lives?"

  Chen Jianchen asked, "Since the local government can't suppress it, why didn't the prefect send an urgent report 800 miles away to ask for help from the imperial court, or perhaps dispatch the Black Shirt Guard to kill the snake?"

  Wang Fu sneered, "Liu Xian, you have great talent, but after all, you're still young and don't understand the ways of being an official... A giant snake is wreaking havoc in our jurisdiction, and it can't be contained. If this gets out to the imperial court, Governor Zhou will definitely be charged with 'incompetence' and might even lose his official hat due to a memorial from the censor. So, how could he possibly report this and invite trouble? Besides, the giant snake is only active in the mountains and forests, and hasn't entered Suzhou City."

  Chen Jianchen was not a fool, and he immediately understood the trick behind it. Not to mention this Suzhou governor, but looking around the world, the way of being an official by "deceiving the superior and cheating the inferior" is simply applicable everywhere.

  Wang Fu said, "Let's not talk about this anymore. We'll just take another road back and spend a few more days on the way. But for you, Liu Xian, staying here is somewhat dangerous. You should suggest to Huangfu that he make some preparations."

  Dongshan presents a semicircular shape, with the mountain range stretching for thousands of miles. The Hu Zhuang is located at the foot of the eastern slope of Dongshan, while the valley where the giant green snake wreaked havoc belongs to the south face, and the two are separated by hundreds of miles, a considerable distance, theoretically not worth worrying about. However, such things are inherently abnormal, so it was necessary for Mu Wangfu to remind Chen Jianchen as well.

  However, Chen Jianchen knew that both Huangfu father and daughter were fox spirits who had cultivated the Tao, with profound magical powers. What would they be afraid of a big snake? And if that big snake was intelligent, it wouldn't dare to come this way either. He suddenly thought of something, which was what attitude Huangfu Yuanwai held towards the existence of the Green Snake. Probably thinking that everyone was a demon, and well water didn't offend river water, they just ignored each other.

  After saying a few words, Xiang'er knocked on the door and came in, carrying a wooden tray with many dim sum, saying that Lu Xi had instructed her to bring them to entertain Chen Jianchen's guests.

  Lu Xi was so thoughtful and considerate, Wang Fu couldn't help but give Chen Jianchen a thumbs up, meaning to congratulate him on taking in a virtuous concubine.

  Chen Jianchen pretended not to see him and just invited him to have some tea.

  Wang Fu didn't linger at the villa for too long, after drinking a few cups of tea he bid farewell. He didn't directly return to Suzhou city, instead he took a shortcut and went to the Suzhou River, apparently eager to seize the moment and continue "Spring water flowing on the Suzhou River".

  After sending him out of the village, Chen Jianchen had a worry on his mind, his eyebrows were furrowed and he returned to his room with a depressed mood.

  Today, Huangfu went out to discuss business and had already said that he would not be back for dinner. Chen Jianchen was left alone and did not want to sit by himself in the spacious dining hall, so he simply had his servant bring the meal into his room, where he ate and then had it taken away.

  Having settled many trivial matters, Chen Jianchen began to read and practice calligraphy as usual. After nearly two hours of study, he stopped and then meditated on the "Three Stands True Scripture", understanding its meaning. As for Jiaona's small temper tantrum in today's class, he didn't take it to heart at all. The specific impact and consequences would be clear tomorrow. If Jiaona doesn't come to class tomorrow, other measures will have to be taken; but if she appears on time in class, it means things are much better than imagined.

  This little fox spirit is not beyond salvation and has considerable room for training.

  No man is without dreams.

  The next day, Chen Jianchen strode into the study after breakfast. As soon as he entered, he saw Jianna sitting upright at her desk, and when she saw him arrive, her bright eyes sparkled, and she hastily pretended to flip through the pages of a book.