Madmen don't keep diaries

Chapter 487, 486: Liu the Great Philanthropist
Feng Xiuhu rolled his eyes at Shunzi: "How come I didn't see that?"

The man with the goatee kept glancing at Feng Xiuhu. Seeing that he still hadn't fallen for the trap, he put on airs again and recited in a low voice: "Year after year, the bell tolls in the evening sky, the green mountains hold back their tears and await the clouds. I show you to ask the evening mist, for the secrets of heaven will enter the jade sky. You, sir, confronted the stall owner earlier, so you must know where this poem comes from."

Feng Xiuhu smiled at him and said, "I know, but where did you get that information from?"

The man with the goatee stroked his beard and smiled: "With open eyes, I observe all matters of Yin and Yang; with fingers, I calculate the secrets of Heaven and Earth. I make a living with these skills, which are naturally derived from divination of the secrets of Heaven."

Shunzi gasped, "What a master!"

The waiter from the teahouse next door was leaning against the door frame, cracking melon seeds. He had been listening for a long time and finally couldn't help but tease him: "Come on, old Li, who doesn't know you're the worst fortune teller on this street? The day before yesterday, you went to join Liu the Great Philanthropist's treasure-hunting team, and you were kicked out that very night."

Shunzi was taken aback, staring at his goatee: "So you were lying to us too?"

Feng Xiuhu suddenly realized, "So you've seen the real treasure map in someone else's possession? No wonder you know that poem."

The man with the goatee couldn't save face. He glared at the teahouse waiter, then turned to Feng Xiuhu and said, "Never mind how I knew, I did calculate it for you. Pay the bill first."

Shunzi was shocked and furious: "You liar! You still dare to ask for money?"

The man with the goatee stared at Shunzi without flinching: "You dare to hit me? I'm an old man, have you no shame?"

Shunzi was speechless for a moment—he had his pride.

Coach Feng Xiuhu got excited and started rubbing his hands together to warm up: "Fighting old men? I'm good at that."

As he spoke, he stood up. Seeing that he didn't seem to be faking it, the man with the goatee realized something was wrong and quickly grabbed a table and chairs and ran away.

After this experience, Shunzi was somewhat disheartened.

He said, "It turns out that there's more than one way to get rich than treasure hunting; you can also make money by tricking people into treasure hunting."

Feng Xiuhu replied, "Snakes have their paths, and rats have their ways. Since some people dream of getting rich, there are naturally people who create dreams for them."

The people selling treasure maps and fortune tellers are not isolated cases; looking around, most of the people on the street are talking about the bandit king's treasure.

The bamboo basket seller claimed their goods were durable and could carry an extra ten pounds of gold and silver when searching for treasure; the ironware seller said their swords could cut hair in an instant and behead wild beasts encountered while searching the mountains; even the book and storybook seller said their stories recorded the secrets and anecdotes of the Southern Yu Kingdom and contained clues to the treasure.

Feng Xiuhu couldn't help but exclaim, "What a grand event for the whole nation!"

Before they knew it, the two had walked half a street.

Suddenly, a crowd gathered ahead. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a large family recruiting people.

The manager in the middle stood in front of the notice and shouted loudly.

"Listen up, gentlemen! My esteemed philanthropist Liu is extending a wide invitation to heroes from all walks of life, to all the capable individuals in the martial world—"

"Let's search for the bandit king's treasure together! Anyone who lends a hand will be provided with food and lodging, and meat will be served at every meal in the communal kitchen!"

"A silver plate for daily wages! And if the treasure is found, there will be a generous reward!"

"Today is the last round of recruitment, a rare opportunity! Don't miss out!"

The price was undeniably generous, and many people eagerly raised their hands in response.

The manager called all the applicants over for questioning. Those who were selected stood behind him, all beaming with joy, while those who failed left dejectedly.

Feng Xiuhu was just there for the spectacle, and he was curious: "Why is it this Liu the Great Philanthropist again?" He had just heard that name from the man with the goatee.

A passerby who was squeezed to the side heard this and turned around to say, "You don't know Liu the Great Philanthropist? He looks like he's from out of town."

Feng Xiuhu nodded: "Then you tell me about it."

A passerby immediately said, "The real name of the philanthropist Liu is Liu Weisen. He comes from a wealthy family in our Zhenqiu City, and his family has been in business for generations."

"But he's famous not because he's rich, but, as the name suggests, because he's kind!"

Feng Xiuhu was stunned and almost thought he had switched to the wrong channel.

A passerby said, "From Liu Dashanren's grandfather's generation, he was famous for his good deeds. His father inherited the family business, and then Liu Weisen's generation, three generations of the family have been great philanthropists, making the title seem like it was hereditary!"

“There are quite a few people in Zhenqiu City who have received favors from the Liu family. I’m not saying this out loud, but even without paying wages, as long as the great philanthropist Liu asks, there are plenty of people who will help him find treasure.”

While Feng Xiuhu was chatting, Shunzi stood behind him, looking around.

Shunzi's figure was so outstanding that the manager in the crowd saw him as soon as he looked up and his eyes lit up: "Hero! Hero over there!"

Shunzi was taken aback, looked around, then pointed to his own nose: "You called me?"

The steward quickly pushed through the crowd and came over. He looked Shunzi up and down, stood on tiptoe to pat his shoulder, and then squeezed his forearm hard, exclaiming repeatedly, "Oh my, so majestic! So majestic! What the great philanthropist Liu needs most are strong men like him!"

Shunzi quickly stepped back: "What Liu the Great Philanthropist? I never said I wanted to join."

The steward, unwilling to give up, urged, "Brave man, think it over again. With your strength, I can put in charge for my master and give you a daily wage of two silver plates."

"Who are you looking down on?"

Feng Xiuhu, feeling indignant on Shunzi's behalf, interjected, "My brother is a martial arts expert; two silver plates are no match for him."

The manager's eyes lit up even more: "He's a trained fighter? Great, great!"

He held up three fingers, but then quickly turned them into four: "Three—no, four silver plates! Daily pay!"

The crowd erupted in uproar. In an era where the average monthly salary was less than two silver plates, earning four silver plates a day was a truly luxurious treat.

Feeling uncomfortable under the gaze of so many people, Shunzi continued to refuse: "This isn't about money, I don't have time for that..."

On the contrary, Feng Xiuhu enjoyed the atmosphere of being the center of attention, standing next to Shunzi with pride. He continued to fan the flames: "Only four? You're treating us like beggars! My brother is not only a martial arts expert, but he also has a powerful firearm!"

He lifted Shunzi's shirt to reveal the double-barreled shotgun inside.

Everyone gasped in surprise, and a flurry of discussion ensued.

The steward grabbed Shunzi's hand: "Brave man! Enough talk, come with me to see the master immediately, and I will do my best to get you a daily wage of ten silver plates!"

Shunzi looked anxiously at Feng Xiuhu: "Brother, stop talking!"

Unfortunately, it was too late. Feng Xiuhu's words were already on the tip of his tongue: "Only ten silver plates? What's the difference between that and working for free! My brother is not only a martial arts expert, and he also possesses incredibly powerful firearms, but he's also a cultivator capable of using divine abilities!"

The steward was so happy he almost fainted. He immediately hugged Shunzi's arm tightly: "What a brave warrior! What a mighty man! Say no more, my master can't do without you! I'll send someone to invite the master over right away. He'll personally invite you with the utmost respect. Once things are settled, you'll definitely get a share of the bandit king's treasure!"

(End of this chapter)