Misty Rain of the Old Times

As the core of the prefecture, Zhoushan County had a permanent population of over 300,000. It was far less prosperous than the capital city. Most of the buildings on both sides of the street were low, and the common people's clothes were often patched.

The city has many waterways with gentle currents. Normally, it would be a pleasant experience to take a boat trip around the city. However, despite the numerous flood control measures outside the city, if there is a torrential rain that lasts for decades or even a century, the entire city will be flooded and turned into a waterlogged area. Hundreds of thousands of people will be displaced and forced to leave their homes, and human tragedies will unfold one after another.

In the face of natural disasters, all living beings are but ants.

On the way from the prefectural governor's mansion to the teahouse a few hundred meters away, the little maid asked curiously, "Master, why didn't you just say his name? That way we should have been able to go in and see Young Master Gao without any trouble. He received a grand welcome at the Tai Xuan Sect, so I don't think anyone would dare to stop you, right?"

Why didn't you remind me sooner? I'm usually so carefree and easygoing, and Xiao Gao and I are like brothers. Sometimes I don't even think about all those details.

Muttering to himself, Chen Xuan argued confidently, "That's different. Tai Xuan Sect is Tai Xuan Sect, and the Prefectural Governor's Office is the Prefectural Governor's Office. The higher-ups of Tai Xuan Sect can access certain things, but the guards at the Prefectural Governor's Office aren't of a high enough level. They probably haven't even heard of me. Just mentioning my name probably won't work. Besides, that's a government office, and it wouldn't be appropriate for a nobody like me to go in for no reason. Young Master is still at work, so I won't bother him. It won't make a difference if I take a little more time."

Upon hearing this, Du Juan lowered her head and pursed her lips, wanting to laugh but not daring to. As she gradually became familiar with Chen Xuan, she knew that her master was being stubborn again.

No matter how many reasons he might have to justify his negligence, the little girl's words left Chen Xuan speechless. She innocently said, "That shouldn't be the case. Master and Young Master Gao grew up together. Now that he's a high-ranking official, how could people around him not inquire about his past? Otherwise, they'd be too oblivious. How could they not know Master's name?"

Chen Xuan's lips twitched. This little girl's mouth is as sweet as honey. If you can talk, then talk more. Are you trying to embarrass your master?

Pretending not to hear, he looked up at the sky and said, "The sunset is so beautiful. The distant mountains are like delicate eyebrows, and the scene is like an ink wash painting. In terms of scenery alone, young master has come to the right place."

Weren't we talking about visiting Young Master Gao? How did we get onto the scenery? Fortunately, the little girl was already used to Chen Xuan's rhythm and nodded in deep agreement, saying, "Yes, yes, the landscape of Zhoushan County is truly magnificent."

Seeing her husband's speechless and sullen expression, Du Juan felt an even stronger urge to laugh, causing her full chest to heave slightly. She quietly took a deep breath and stepped forward, saying, "I'll go arrange a private room for you, sir."

Watching her swaying, voluptuous figure leave, Chen Xuan thought to himself, "Sister Juan is so sensible. Unlike that little girl, who's so carefree and always trying to cause trouble for me."

"Oh dear, this was originally my job, but Sister Juan has made me feel embarrassed," the little girl said weakly.

Chen Xuan laughed and said, "It's alright, it's all the same. We're family, so let's not compete to show off."

When they arrived at the teahouse, Du Juan had already arranged a private room and was waiting at the door.

It was already afternoon, and the teahouse was still quite crowded. Among them were many well-dressed people, as well as a number of roughnecks who seemed to be trying to appear cultured. Teahouses are usually places frequented by literati and scholars.

This teahouse is located not far from the gate of the prefectural governor's mansion, so it must have some background. The tea drinkers here are probably not so much drinking tea, but more hoping to meet officials here and make a name for themselves. They are not only looking for ways to advance their careers.

The tea drinkers were either engaged in lively conversation or chatting idly, but many of the male guests were secretly glancing at Du Juan at the entrance. Her appearance and figure were simply too dazzling, especially her serious and aloof demeanor, which was truly eye-catching.

Men are all the same; when they see a beautiful woman, they can't help but take a few more glances. Seeing her is a bonus. Occasionally, some men might show their lust, but they restrain themselves from approaching her or even flirting with her. After all, it's broad daylight, and the prefect's mansion is not far away. Unless they don't want to live.

"Sir, the private room has been arranged. It's on the second floor facing the street," Du Juan said to Chen Xuan and his group as they approached. She was carrying a large box containing materials for the concealment array, which looked quite heavy. This was why some self-important male tea drinkers dared not act presumptuously.

Judging from her tone and demeanor, this beautiful woman was actually the young man's maidservant. This made many tea drinkers feel both frustrated and envious, wishing they could take her place. What was the young man's background?
However, after seeing it clearly, I felt that it was actually a blessing for that woman to become his maid.
Nodding, Chen Xuan said, "Thank you, Sister Juan. Please lead the way."

"Please follow me, sir," Du Juan turned and led the way. She had nervously reminded him many times, but the master was always so polite, and she had no choice but to comply.

Upon arriving at the private room on the second floor, with Du Juan and the maidservant present, Chen Xuan naturally didn't need the teahouse waiters to rush around. He could simply enjoy their service. Du Juan poured tea and water, and the maidservant massaged his shoulders, making him feel quite comfortable.

Slumped in the chair like a boneless rag doll, looking at the envious glances outside the window, Chen Xuan thought to herself that she had already become the kind of person others both loathe and envy.

With nothing else to do, Chen Xuan casually asked, "Sister Juan, do you know what kind of underworld and legitimate forces exist in Zhoushan County?"

A jade-like hand held a cup of tea to Chen Xuan's lips. Du Juan thought for a moment and said, "Master, this place is located in Liuzhou, which is in the north of central my country. I used to travel around Huizhou, where Mocheng is located in the north, which is thousands of miles away. Therefore, I am not very clear about the situation in Zhoushan County."

He was completely useless. What was the difference between this and someone who had everything done for them? He sipped his tea, the aroma—whether from the tea or the fragrance of the azalea—was incredibly soothing. Chen Xuan said nonchalantly, "It's alright, just tell me what you know."

"Yes, sir. About a year or two ago, I occasionally saw some information about Zhoushan County in the Shadow Killing Sect. In this county, the Shadow Killing Sect only has two factions and three gangs that are recorded as legitimate or illegitimate. The others are all insignificant."

"The two factions are the Liuyun Sect and the Mingshan Sect. The Liuyun Sect has about two or three hundred members, mostly women, and they are best at swordsmanship. Their leader, Feng Yue, is at the Ren and Du meridian level. The Mingshan Sect is about the same level and is good at fist techniques. Neither faction has any innate masters, after all, they are small local forces. These two factions are considered the strongest forces in the Jianghu (martial arts world) within Zhoushan County."

"The three gangs are the canal gang, the horse gang, and the mountain-carrying gang, which control the canal transport and freight and the mountain goods transport, respectively. These gang names are very common and can be found in many places. They can't be called evil or demonic, but at most they are underworld figures who operate in the gray area. They are good at oppressing the lower class, but they can't do anything big. They also don't dare to openly go against the imperial law. My lord, that's all I know."

After listening to her, Chen Xuan nodded and said, "It's true that shallow ponds breed many turtles. Zhoushan County isn't big, yet it has already spawned two factions and three gangs. It just goes to show that wherever there are people, there is a jianghu (江湖, a world of martial arts and chivalry). However, existence is its own justification, and there are places where the law cannot reach. They may oppress the lower classes, but to some extent, they also set rules for certain industries. Good and bad should be viewed from different perspectives."

The master actually had such insights, which Du Juan had never considered before. She thought to herself that he was indeed worthy of growing up with the top scholar.

The young girl interjected, "Those gangs are the worst! Before I served Master, when we went to the city to sell things, we not only had to pay the government a stall fee, but also protection money to the gangs. Even in the countryside, it wasn't peaceful. Not only did we have to pay taxes to the government, but they also came to extort money from us, calling it a 'stability fee.' If we didn't pay, they threatened that if anything happened to any of our families, we shouldn't blame them. It was clearly a threat, and everyone could only grit their teeth and accept it. Life was already hard enough, and then we were exploited layer by layer by the government and the martial arts world. Sigh."

"This kind of thing has existed since ancient times. Even if it changes temporarily, it's just a different form. You either have to endure it or resist without considering the consequences. That kind of world where everyone is kind will only exist in dreams forever," Chen Xuan said, shaking his head.

They didn't know how to respond because they hadn't considered those things at all. Since it hadn't happened to them, as young women, they wouldn't even think about such issues…

While they waited and chatted, Gao Jingming also finished his day's official duties at the prefectural governor's mansion. He left work amidst the superficially friendly greetings from his colleagues and the obsequious farewells from his subordinates. Although he had finished his work for the day, it did not mean that he could rest without any worries. He also took several official documents back home to work on overtime.

Xiao Gao looked weary. He hadn't felt it when he was in the Hanlin Academy, but after more than ten days in office, he realized that being an official was not so easy.

The backstabbing and treachery among colleagues, the sycophancy of subordinates, the conflicts of interest among local gentry and wealthy families—all these things exhausted him, both physically and mentally. Even though he was a prefectural governor, he was too young, and many people didn't take him seriously at all. In officialdom, the title of "top scholar" was of little use.

As an outsider parachuted in, even though he considered himself to have some talent and shrewdness, he could easily be sidelined if he wasn't careful.

For the past ten days or so, he has been quietly familiarizing himself with his surroundings without taking any major actions. He has been observing the people around him and understanding the situation under his jurisdiction. He already has a clear idea of ​​what is going on. The next step is to take control of the power that he should have and clean up the bad apples so that he can better realize his ambitions. Otherwise, it would be really frustrating if there were always people hindering him and ruining his plans.

As the saying goes, a new broom sweeps clean, and the entire bureaucracy of Zhoushan County was watching closely to see when Gao Jingming would start his first fire and who would be the first target. If he didn't perform well, he would probably have to leave in disgrace before long.

Many times, Gao Jingming thought to himself, "I really envy Ah Xuan. He's carefree and doesn't care about anything. He can do whatever he wants without any worries. Unlike me, I'm always dealing with petty things and feeling incredibly tired."

But he chose this path himself, and he has no regrets. He still has many ideals and ambitions to realize, and no matter what he ultimately achieves, he will continue to move towards his goal.

"Young Master, shall we go straight back to the manor now? We received several more invitations earlier, including from the Prefect, the Registrar, the Chamber of Commerce President, and the head of the Zhang family, a prominent family in the city. They want to invite you to a banquet to relax and unwind," Wei Song asked Gao Jingming.

From a minor official to a prefect, he rose in rank accordingly, becoming Xiao Gao's right-hand man. Countless people were envious and tried to curry favor with him. In private, countless people had to respectfully call him "Master Wei" to his face. There were countless instances of people secretly slipping him money and beautiful women, but he remained dutiful and dared not do anything reckless. Whenever such things happened, he would tell Xiao Gao in private.

Wei Song cherishes everything he has now and dares not do anything reckless. Originally, all of this belonged to Chen Xuan. It's like a windfall for him to have what he has now. Sometimes he even dreams of making a mistake and being replaced.

He knew very well that he had only joined the young master halfway through his life, unlike Chen Xuan who had grown up with him since childhood and had no ties with him. He could never replace Chen Xuan. If he did something wrong, the young master would not hesitate to kick him out, and if things got worse, he would deserve to be beaten or killed!
Dressed in official robes, Xiao Gao strode with an air of authority and poise. Upon hearing this, he shook his head and said, "How many times have I told you, officials must be addressed by their titles in the yamen."

"I misspoke, please forgive me, Your Excellency," Wei Song said nervously. Why couldn't he control his mouth? He was used to saying things wrong all the time.

Without dwelling on it, Gao Jingming laughed and said, "You can decline for me. Just say you're too busy with official duties to make time. Be polite in your wording. I know what they're thinking; now is not the time to make contact."

“Yes, sir, I understand,” Wei Song nodded.

With no one else around, Gao Jingming suddenly asked, "Xiaosong, they sent the invitations and had you relay the message, didn't they give you anything in return?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Song's heart trembled, and he quickly told the truth: "My lord, to be honest, they promised that if I could persuade you to accept their invitation, I would be offered beautiful women and money at your beck and call. I won't be easily fooled by them, but I just felt that I should inform you of this matter."

With a smile, Gao Jingming didn't care. Such things were unavoidable. Not to mention Wei Song, even he himself, if he were to give in, money and beautiful women would be offered to him by countless people. But he didn't become an official for money and beautiful women. If it were for those things, he could easily have them even if he didn't become an official.

Since he was someone close to him, a subtle hint was enough. Xiao Gao then said, "Xiao Song, you're not getting any younger. Have you taken a fancy to any girl? If so, tell me, and I'll arrange a marriage for you."

"My lord, not yet. There's no rush to get married. As you're new here, it's my duty to help you as much as possible," Wei Song said, shaking his head.

"As the saying goes, of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is having no offspring. My affairs cannot be rushed; you should also consider your own marriage."

"Thank you, sir, but I think we should wait a little longer."

As they spoke, the two arrived at the gate. Gao Jingming, now a prefectural official, was accompanied by Wei Song and more than a dozen personal guards. They were about to escort Gao to his carriage when the guards at the gate hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and saying, "Sir, please wait. I have something to report."

Gao Jingming paused, turned around, and smiled, "Speak freely, whatever it is."

Not long after arriving in Zhoushan County, Gao Jingming did not put on any official airs. He was always kind and amiable, and he did not easily offend even the gatekeepers, creating the illusion that he was easy to talk to. This was a show to lull others into a false sense of security. Otherwise, how could a bunch of old foxes easily reveal their true colors? Moreover, if he was nice to his subordinates, they could also report him to the authorities.

Having only recently entered officialdom, Xiao Gao quickly mastered the art of winning people's hearts.

He was easy to talk to, but the guard had to maintain a proper attitude and bowed deeply, saying, "Reporting to your Excellency, someone came to visit earlier, saying that someone from your hometown was coming to visit. I refused, but the other party did not give up and said that they would wait for you at the Cloud Mist Tea House ahead." Upon hearing this, Xiao Gao was secretly pleased, thinking to himself that it must be someone impersonating him again. Unable to find a way in, he actually came directly to the yamen. He was really bold. There were too many people like this lately, and he had become numb to it.

That's what he thought, but he still had to put on a show, so he asked, "Since the other party is from my hometown, did they say their name?"

"Reporting to you, sir, the other party did not leave a name," the guard thought for a moment and shook his head.

He inwardly scoffed, thinking to himself that this was definitely an imposter; otherwise, why wouldn't they dare leave their name? Nodding, he said, "I understand. From now on, just deal with anyone like this."

"Yes, sir," the guard quickly replied, reminding himself that he would never dare to say another word about such things again. That money was too hot to handle; if it happened again, he might be sent to some corner, or even have his skin peeled off.

Stepping into the car, Gao Jingming blurted out, almost as if possessed, "What does the other person look like?"

"He's very young, about the same age as the adults, and his handsomeness is unforgettable, a rare find. Oh, and he's accompanied by two stunningly beautiful women, one older and one younger," the guard said truthfully.

As he spoke, Xiao Gao thought of the young man from his hometown. The image of Zhou Lintian and Xue Yu flashed through his mind, but the phrase "handsome beyond compare" made him unforgettable. Xiao Gao immediately thought of Chen Xuan and was overjoyed, wondering if it was Ah Xuan who had come.

This is something Ah Xuan would do; he doesn't follow the usual path, and you never know what he'll do next, so it's not surprising that he came here.

Upon hearing the guards say that the other party was accompanied by two stunningly beautiful women, one older and one younger, Gao Jingming denied it. After all, as far as he knew, Ah Xuan only had a young girl by his side for the time being.

So he dismissed that idea, not taking it to heart, and said, "I understand. Let's go back to the manor."

The carriage, surrounded by more than ten people, headed towards Gao Jingming's residence. As a prefect, his position was not low, and his procession was quite impressive.

In the teahouse, Chen Xuan, who was chatting with Du Juan and the others, naturally paid attention to the situation at the entrance of the prefect's mansion. He was secretly amused and exasperated. The two of them, who had been inseparable since childhood, were now having such a troublesome time to meet. Well, it was all his own fault.

Just as Xiao Gao's convoy was about to pass by the street outside the window, Chen Xuan stood up and leaned halfway out, saying, "Young Master, over here, I've come to see you. Why don't you come up and sit down?"

Inside the carriage, Xiao Gao, who was still checking official documents on his way home from get off work, was startled when he heard a familiar voice. He was overjoyed; it really was Ah Xuan.

Then I was both amused and exasperated. What was Ah Xuan doing? This wasn't like him at all. Shouldn't he have just run up to me and startled me?

"Oh, it's Young Master Chen. Greetings, Young Master Chen. Young...Master, Young Master Chen has arrived. He's upstairs saying hello," Wei Song's voice came from outside the carriage.

Putting down the official documents—it wasn't anything too urgent—Gao Jingming was far more concerned with his good friend's visit. He lifted the carriage curtain without getting out, and waved to Chen Xuan at the upstairs window, complaining, "Xuan, why didn't you let me know you were coming? If I'd known, I wouldn't have waited here! Honestly, what are you waiting for? Come on down, let's go home. There's no place like home. Your sister-in-law, Qingrong, is always talking about you. Let her make some dishes to go with our drinks, and we'll have a good drink together."

The guards around the carriage were on guard the moment Chen Xuan spoke, thinking there might be an assassin. He seemed to be a friend of the master, but they still had to be cautious, as there were many disguised people around.

"That's great! I haven't tasted the young mistress's cooking yet. I'll be right there!" Chen Xuan said happily, then jumped out of the window and, amidst the guards' tense atmosphere, boarded Gao Jingming's carriage. He didn't forget to turn back and call out, "Roujia and Juanjie, you two settle the bill and follow me."

What is a brother? When you're entertaining guests at a banquet, they're guests; but you should bring your own people home.

He went straight to the carriage, and the guards around him couldn't resist taking him down, but Gao Jingming said in time, "Relax, this is my brother. From now on, seeing him is like seeing me."

"Yes," the guards replied in unison, finally relaxing completely.

Wei Song watched with envy. Young Master Chen was different from him. Seeing him was like seeing a young master. He himself did not receive such treatment.

There was no formality between Chen Xuan and Xiao Gao. He casually slumped into the carriage and said, "Tsk tsk, young master is quite busy these days. It's really not easy to see you."

"Ah Xuan, stop being sarcastic. And you're the one talking about me? You're always wandering around, going from the capital to Yang County. I don't even know where to send my letters to you," Gao Jingming said, both amused and annoyed.

Chen Xuan shrugged and said, "There are only two places. I can receive it no matter which one you send it to. By the way, why didn't you bring Uncle Geng and the others with you when you came to take up your post, young master? You don't have a single acquaintance here. You'll have to bribe them to let them know you're here."

“They’re not young anymore. They’ve been traveling all over the country these past few years. It’s time for them to go back and get some rest,” Gao Jingming sighed, following Chen Xuan’s lead.

More than ten years have passed in the blink of an eye, and Geng Hongdu is now approaching his sixties.

Nodding, Chen Xuan said, "They've really had a tough time these past few years, always separated from their families."

“Yes, Mother wrote that she will arrange an easy job for them in two years, and the younger generation will also be settled. By the way, Ah Xuan, what are you doing here all of a sudden? I thought someone was impersonating a visitor from my hometown to get close to me,” Gao Jingming said with a smile.

The pace of their conversation was so fast that most people couldn't keep up.

To this, Chen Xuan casually replied, "I went for a stroll around the Tai Xuan Sect not far away this morning. I figured since I was already nearby, I'd come over and say hello to the young master. Otherwise, you know he'd definitely complain."

"Ah Xuan, is this outrageous? Tai Xuan Sect is hundreds of miles away from here, why are you just wandering around nearby?" Xiao Gao chuckled, without asking him what he was doing.

Chen Xuan said proudly, "Of course! I travel between Yang County and the capital as easily as visiting a neighbor."

"Yes, yes, yes, Ah Xuan, you're awesome, aren't you?"

"Just now you realized? You're not as powerful as the young master. You hold immense power now; a single word from you can determine the lives of countless people. By the way, young master, you should watch your words. You're an official now, why are you talking like a thug?"

"It's all your fault"

"How can you blame me? You're the one who has the right to talk."

"Haven't you fed me enough foul language since I was a child? We're brothers, the older one shouldn't be talking about the younger one."

"Hahaha, this is the young master I know. You were so proper in the yamen before, it felt like a stranger to me..."

Amidst their laughter and conversation, they arrived at Xiao Gao's current residence, a small three-courtyard house in a pleasant environment, neither ostentatious nor shabby.

After getting off the bus, Su Roujia and Du Juan had already caught up.

"Greetings, Young Master Gao, Happy New Year!" Su Roujia greeted him with a bow, and Du Juan followed suit.

Xiao Gao immediately said cheerfully, "Roujia, Happy New Year too! Has Ah Xuan been bullying you lately? If he does, tell me, and I'll take care of him for you. And who is this?"

Chen Xuan began, "Young Master, let me introduce you. This is Du Juan. She came with me after the New Year. You're probably familiar with her. Remember a few years ago in Mo City? I mentioned it to you. We had a neighbor we'd never met before while we were tinkering with some gadgets..."

After briefly explaining the situation, Gao Jingming suddenly understood and nodded amicably to Du Juan, saying, "I see. Miss Du, work hard for Ah Xuan from now on, and I'm sure Ah Xuan won't treat you badly."

"Dujuan understands, the master is a very good person," Dujuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that she had gained his approval. Perhaps some of her thoughts were unnecessary, but the fact was that her master and young master Gao were close friends. If he did not approve, it would definitely affect her future.

Given their close relationship and the absence of outsiders, Gao Jingming turned to Chen Xuan and winked, saying, "Xuan, you're quite the ladies' man."

"Hehe, how can I compare to you, young master?" Chen Xuan winked and said, with an expression that said, "We're even."

At this moment, Lü Qingrong, who had been waiting at the door, spoke up: "Husband is back! Come back inside and rest. Oh, Ah Xuan, you're here too. When did you arrive? Why didn't you tell me beforehand? I wasn't prepared at all."

"Greetings, young mistress. I came unexpectedly without prior notice, please forgive me," Chen Xuan greeted.

He paused for a moment, glanced at Lü Qingrong, then cupped his hands to the bewildered Gao Jingming and said, "Congratulations, young master."

"What's this all about? Ah Xuan, what are you up to now?" Gao Jingming asked, puzzled.

Chen Xuan said happily, "Of course it's because the young mistress is pregnant! Congratulations, young master! I'm going to be an uncle too! What a wonderful thing!"

Xiao Gao is quite something. They've only been married a short time, and Lü Qingrong is already pregnant. Perhaps an ordinary doctor wouldn't be able to tell, but with Chen Xuan's cultivation level, he could see the signs at a glance. In a few more months, he might even be able to tell whether it's a boy or a girl.

"Is Ah Xuan's statement true?" These were the words of Lü Qingrong, who was beaming with joy. As is a woman's nature, she subconsciously touched her belly, which had not changed at all.

Nodding earnestly, Chen Xuan said, "That's absolutely true. The young mistress will need to take better care of herself from now on."

As Gao Jingming's wife, Lü Qingrong naturally knew about Chen Xuan's situation and had no doubt about his words. She looked at Gao Jingming excitedly and said, "Husband, did you hear that? I'm pregnant! We're going to have a child!"

At this moment, Gao Jingming was so overwhelmed by the sudden good news that he was laughing like a fool, repeatedly saying, "I'm going to be a father!"

...(End of chapter)