Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 119 Witness
When Shen Tu Zhuo climbed out of the ditch, he was shivering with cold.

His body cooled down, but his inner fire remained raging. He couldn't help but sigh, worthy of the prestigious Hongsu, its medicinal effects were truly enduring. Fortunately, he was much more sober now, and many things were easier to handle.

The canal guard waiting on the shore handed him a set of clean and thick clothes, and flattered him cleverly: "Mr. Zhuo has taken on the position of water official and does everything by himself. It really makes us ashamed." Although he didn't know what direction of the underground spring he was going to see in the middle of the night, wouldn't it be clearer to see it during the day?
Shen Tu Zhuo didn't know what to say. He nodded casually and put on his clothes shakily. His teeth chattered as he spoke, making a clattering sound. "Well, we have to rush tomorrow. I'm afraid the location we set during the day won't be clear... Let's explore the waterway again. Thank you all for your hard work on patrol. I'll go back to the county government office first."

The clever canal guard handed him a lantern and asked him to carry it back to prevent him from slipping into the water again.

After returning to the county government office, Shentu Zhuo dug out a few incense balls he had brought from a wooden cabinet, lit them, and dropped them into the incense burner. These were a gift from Tan Huaike himself, made with camphor before his departure, and are said to have refreshing and invigorating properties. He had been staying up late late lately, and during the day, he'd keep working on the ditches. When he felt sleepy but had to force himself to keep going, he'd light a ball to relieve his fatigue.

The curling smoke was completely different from the sweet aroma of Hongsu. It was like a clear spring slowly flowing into every limb, driving away the lingering desire.

This is not an antidote, but it can bring him complete peace.

By the time everything calmed down, the morning light had spread from the horizon and penetrated through the window lattice.

Shentu Zhuo did not sleep the whole night, but perhaps the sleeping pills made him sleep enough, or perhaps the camphor took effect, he felt refreshed. After washing up, he went to the study room arranged for him by the county magistrate to check the canal drawings.

He had no idea what had happened there after he left the Tan family's old house.
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Two hours ago, Shentu Zhuo escaped from the wall of the Tan family's old house, leaving Tan Anfu alone and tied up in the room, but Mr. Tan thought that things were going as expected.

In order to ensure that this matter could be confirmed without causing too much trouble, he specially invited a canal chief to discuss it after Shentu Zhuo was "drunk" and said to him, "Actually, I wanted to ask Master Zhuo a request just now, but he got drunk first, so I can only ask you, Canal Chief Miao."

Miao Canal Chief was very cautious: "Are you trying to change the route again? Master Tan, I advise you to give up this idea. Many people have come to the Water Officer with money, hoping to benefit their own families by asking him to 'take a slightly longer route' or 'make the river take another bend', but he has refused them all. Not a single one of them is really worth talking to."

Mr. Tan feigned annoyance. "I've heard that Master Zhuo is ruthless and unyielding, so even though my little daughter is his biological sister-in-law, I never dared to bring it up. But my uncle has come to me time and again to plead for mercy, so there has to be an explanation. Master Miao, please think of another way for me. Is there really no room for compromise?"

"Oh, you don't even dare to mention your relatives, so how can I have a say?" Miao Quchang laughed.

"Were there no changes made when the canal was diverted?" Mr. Tan offered him a glass of wine.

"That's not the case..." Miao Quchang took a sip of his wine and said, "But it's not something that anyone else begged for. Unless we discovered new water conditions and had to make changes, otherwise, no one's persuasion would be of any use."

"New water conditions? I heard a spring was discovered today."

"Underground spring? That depends on the direction..."

"So there's still a chance?" Mr. Tan said happily. "I don't know the direction of the underground spring, but my fields are right next to my uncle's. If the underground spring can slightly change the course of the ditch, why not consider passing it through my uncle's house? Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"

"Well..." The aroma of wine was enticing. Miao Quchang, a heavy drinker, couldn't help but drink two more cups. He stroked his chin and said, "The construction will start tomorrow. I don't know what the water official has decided, but I can ask for you." "Okay, that's great." Mr. Tan tactfully pushed two small bottles of wine to him and said earnestly, "Thank you, Miao Quchang. This little bit of wine is for you. It's not much of a courtesy."

"Let me be frank. I can't guarantee I can convince the Water Officer. Hiccup, if he's already considering where to change his route, I might be able to offer some suggestions..."

"That's all that's needed," said Mr. Tan. "But you have to start construction tomorrow. If I tell you too late, I'm afraid it might be too late."

"Well, I'll go find the Water Officer right away." Miao Quchang stood up and was about to leave, not forgetting to pick up the two bottles of wine, but suddenly hesitant, "No, I drank some wine today. Hiccup, the Water Officer will scold me if he sees me."

"It's okay, it's okay, he drank too." Seeing that the time was almost up, Master Tan supported him and said, "I asked the servants to send Master Zhuo to my old house to rest for a while. I also made him some sobering soup. Director Miao went to talk to him about the canal diversion, and he can drink some to sober up. I think he should be awake by now..."

In this way, Miao Quchang was led by the old servant of the Tan family to the old house to look for Shentu Zhuo.

As they walked along, Miao Quzhang couldn't help but open another bottle of wine, thinking that since he was about to drink the hangover soup, he might as well drink a little more to satisfy his craving. He also discovered that the other bottle contained not wine, but three strings of silver coins.

Miao Qu Changle thought happily that it was really wise of Mr. Tan to ask someone else to do the job for him.

Watching him walk towards the old house, Tan Li stroked his beard and smiled.

He talked about the diversion of the canal for a long time, but it was just an excuse. His real purpose was to let this Miaoquchang be a witness to the affair between Shentu Zhuo and his daughter.

This person took my money, so it would be easy to control him later.

With an outsider like him who witnessed the incident with his own eyes, the evidence is irrefutable. In order to protect Shentu Zhuo's reputation, Mrs. Shentu will definitely quickly propose marriage to the Tan family to calm the situation.

After a while, Miao Quchang arrived at the old house of the Tan family. After the old servant led him into the empty courtyard, he nodded and took his leave.

Miao Quchang was a little dazed after drinking. He looked around and saw a room with a dim light on. He guessed that was where the water official rested.

He did not rush over, but threw away the empty wine bottle first, and hid the wine bottle full of silver and money in a corner of the yard, intending to take it away after the discussion was over.

After hiding the wine jar, Miao Quchang approached the room and knocked on the door. "Master Shuicao, are you awake?"

At this moment, he heard an unusual sound coming from inside...
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Next chapter: You reap what you sow.