I become a god in another world

Chapter 660 Mr. Feng Shui
Chapter 660
Seeing Zhao Fusheng's furrowed brows, Yu Lingzhu said helplessly:
“When my second sister was arguing with her two sisters-in-law, I really didn’t know what was going on in Changjiao County.”

As a general of the imperial capital, she possesses the power to control ghosts, and she doesn't care about ghost cases unless they are urgent.

But judging from Zhao Fusheng's expression, it seemed that the case in Changjiao County was also very important.

Years later, when Yu Lingzhu thought about it again, she felt a little regretful and realized that she had been very irresponsible.

“I heard that someone from Changjiao County filed a complaint with Wuqing Prefecture, but it was suppressed. It caused quite a stir at the time, and it seemed like some people had died.”

She said regretfully:

"But I was young and energetic at the time, and I was also upset because of the family scandal. Later, Old Mrs. Chang came to me and pleaded for me, promising that she would handle the matter in Changjiao County properly and would not cause me any trouble or put me in a difficult position—"

The matter in Changjiao County was dropped afterward, and Yu Lingzhu breathed a sigh of relief.

“I went back to Wuqing County twice that year. The first time I went back was at the end of March or the beginning of April. At that time, the old lady could eat, drink, and sleep well—” She recalled Old Madam Chang, a look of regret appearing in her eyes:
"Then in July, he suddenly stopped working and died suddenly."

Yu Lingzhu was extremely anxious when she received the news and rushed back to Wuqing County overnight. When she returned, the Chang family breathed a sigh of relief—the weather was hot at the time, and everyone was waiting for her, the person in charge, to return to the Chang family. As soon as she returned, they were all in a hurry to bury her, fearing that if the body rotted for too long, it would cause another major incident.

"When I got back, they were still arguing."

Yu Lingzhu rubbed her temples:

"The two sisters-in-law and the second sister each have their own reasons for their arguments."

Because the incident happened so suddenly, Yu Lingzhu returned to Wuqing County in the evening. After paying her respects to the old lady, the Chang family prepared a room for her and told her to wash up and change into mourning clothes. She was nominally the third daughter-in-law of the Chang family, and she was to wear mourning clothes to see the old lady off.

"While I was in mourning, my sister-in-law told me something."

Yu Lingzhu now understood the severity of the ghostly calamity in Wuqing County, and that it originated from the Chang family. She dared not conceal many details and tried her best to recall them:
"It is said that Changjiao County has been experiencing drought since early April. People in the county have to travel dozens of miles every day to fetch water from other places, which has led to many lawsuits."

Yu Lingzhu was grieving over the death of Old Madam Chang and had no interest in hearing about the affairs of Changjiao County, only asking a couple of perfunctory questions:
"Is Brother-in-law Dong managing Changjiao County?"

The older sister-in-law pursed her lips:

"Yes, a country bumpkin has transformed into a local tyrant in Changjiao County. He's practically a cannibal, and he's incredibly arrogant."

……

Decades later, Yu Lingzhu recalled her sister-in-law's words, which were full of profound meaning, but she didn't delve into them—ultimately, it stemmed from her inflated ego and arrogance after she began controlling ghosts, which made her disregard the lives of ordinary people.

Upon thinking of this, Yu Lingzhu immediately became restless:

"When I asked my sister-in-law about the cause of the old lady's death, she gave a vague answer, only saying that she fell asleep in her dream and never woke up again."

The old lady was seventy-six years old, so it was considered a happy death, and Yu Lingzhu didn't think much of it at the time.

She then recalled the conflict within the Chang family and asked her sister-in-law again, who replied:

"We've stopped talking about divorcing my wife. My second son and I have both agreed to bring people from outside into the mansion. We're discussing building two more large gardens, otherwise the east and west wing rooms won't be enough to live in."

When my sister-in-law said this, her face was full of barely suppressed anger, and she made a few sarcastic remarks.

When the topic turned to the old lady's funeral, the elder sister-in-law said:

"The second son said that he found a master to help guide the funeral arrangements."

At this point in Yu Lingzhu's speech, Zhao Fusheng, Meng Po, Liu Yizhen, and others all spoke in unison:

"Grandmaster?"

"Grandmaster?"

“Master.” Yu Lingzhu nodded.

“That’s what I asked at the time. Later, my sister-in-law said that my second sister found a master with a set of mysterious and unique skills. If we follow his guidance to handle the funeral for the old lady—mainly the burial—the Chang family will prosper and be rich for generations.”

Everyone was stunned by Yu Lingzhu's words.

"Is there really someone in this world with such abilities?" Meng Po asked, half believing, half doubting.
"Even if they really had that ability, why would they share the benefits with others instead of using it on their own people?"

Liu Yizhen also said:
"Wealth should not be flaunted. If there really is a way to make people rich for generations by burying a dead person, then you should at least bury your own ancestors first."

Yu Lingzhu stood there stunned for a long while, then exclaimed in panic:
"I... I didn't think that much about it at the time—"

Zhao Fusheng looked at her and shook his head.

“Really—” Yu Lingzhu saw her shake her head and thought she didn’t believe her, so she quickly emphasized it again loudly.

Zhao Fusheng said:

"I believe it's true."

Yu Lingzhu asked blankly, "Since you believe me, why are you shaking your head?"

"I think you are weak, confused, and easily deceived."

As soon as Zhao Fusheng finished speaking, Yu Lingzhu flew into a rage:
“Zhao Fusheng, I considered you a friend and tolerated you time and time again, but you shouldn’t have ridiculed me with your words—”

"I am not making sarcastic remarks," Zhao Fusheng said calmly.
"You are skilled at controlling ghosts, and on the surface you are the ancestor worshipped by the Chang family. However, you are spoiled but not taught, and you only protect others. You are manipulated by others in everything, and you cannot distinguish right from wrong. Although you are powerful, you are very weak at heart."

Her words struck a nerve with Yu Lingzhu, who forced herself to remain calm:

"I've also tried to persuade them—"

"Persuasion is useless; simply indulging and spoiling is not a good thing," Zhao Fusheng said coldly.
"In a family like the Changs, if they want to remain wealthy and powerful for a long time, they should be more humble and proper than others. But judging from what you've said, it's like when one person attains power, even their chickens and dogs rise to heaven. How can someone like Chang Erjie's husband, who was originally an illiterate peasant, become the head of a county just because his family and relatives have gained power? Isn't that a joke?"

“Although even an upright official finds it difficult to settle family disputes, Chang Er, now that she’s married, should manage her own household properly and stop meddling in her sisters-in-law’s affairs, let alone sending concubines to her two brothers or urging them to divorce their wives. This is meddling in other people’s marital matters, a grave taboo!” Zhao Fusheng said.
"Don't judge a book by its cover. Second Sister Chang's actions weren't simply to annoy her two sisters-in-law; ultimately, she wanted to gain benefits from her two brothers—"

She sighed deeply as she finished speaking:
"Dong Daneng's rise to become the de facto ruler of Changjiao County must be inextricably linked to Chang Er, right?"

As soon as Zhao Fusheng finished speaking, he could no longer contain himself:

"This Chang Er is quite a talent. She's been running around in the Chang family, causing chaos and making a mess of things. The position she schemed for actually ended up being given to her husband. Her husband probably doesn't even have her ability to cause trouble—it's all for nothing, she's just doing all the work for someone else."

"..."

Yu Lingzhu listened with a mixture of understanding and confusion, yet she also felt that it made a lot of sense.

"Never mind, we've gone off on a tangent."

Zhao Fusheng then brought the topic back:
“Since you want to manage the Chang family and treat them as your own, it’s only natural to promote them if they become capable. But you should give them both a slap and a sweet treat, reward and punishment, so that the Chang family will behave. But you only reward and don’t punish, which shows that you have controlled a vengeful ghost. You are powerful, but your heart is not strong enough. You are still the child who had to rely on others after the incident.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Lingzhu was struck dumb.

She retorted:
"How could I lack my own opinions? I handled the funeral arrangements for the opera troupe, and controlling ghosts is also my own skill—"

"You're just like Chang Er!"

Zhao Fusheng interrupted her bluntly: "You've mastered ghost control, yet instead of focusing on strengthening yourself, you're supporting others. Don't put the cart before the horse! The Chang family's wealth comes from you. The more powerful you are, the more obedient and stable the Chang family becomes. They are dependent on you, yet you're helping them rise while you remain stagnant, cleaning up their messes." Zhao Fusheng paused, somewhat wistfully.
"You know the state of the world. The Chang family might become the root of your own demise. Aren't you confused?"

"me--"

Yu Lingzhu was in a state of utter confusion and was speechless for a moment.

Zhao Fusheng's words struck her like a thunderbolt, leaving her stunned for a long time.

At this moment, she lost her composure and dignity, panicked and disoriented, just like the young girl who was arrested and imprisoned when the opera troupe had an accident, not knowing what the future held.

She desperately wanted to explain:
"But...but I only want to repay a debt of gratitude—"

"What debt of gratitude are you repaying?"

Zhao Fusheng asked.

Yu Lingzhu stammered:

"The opera troupe, the opera troupe—"

"The opera troupe did you no favors."

Zhao Fusheng shook his head.

Yu Lingzhu didn't believe it:
"The opera troupe raised me for many years, taking me all over the country. They weren't my parents. Everyone says that the kindness of raising someone is greater than the kindness of giving birth to them. They raised me, how could they not be kind to me?"

Zhao Fusheng's brow twitched.
“I told you that you should read fewer plays when you have nothing to do. The opera troupe is not your parents and has no obligation to raise you. But you are not eating and drinking for free in the opera troupe. You work hard every day. The food you eat is earned by your own work.”

At this point, Zhao Fusheng became puzzled:

"Yu Lingzhu, do you think your labor is worthless and you don't deserve to eat that kind of food?"

Yu Lingzhu stammered:
"They taught me to sing opera—"

Zhao Fusheng interrupted her:

"Did you call him Master?"

"They did call out—" Yu Lingzhu said:
"Can--"

"Then that settles it?" Zhao Fusheng spread his hands:
"Besides, what good are opera troupes? They teach you to sing so that you can make money for the troupe leader in the future. They raise you to adulthood so that they can sell you into prostitution. What kind of kindness is that? If they don't support you, they'll find other girls."

These words overturned Yu Lingzhu's previous understanding and threw her into a state of great confusion.

“It’s good that you value relationships, and it’s also right to be clear about gratitude and repay kindness. But you need to be clear about how to repay kindness.”

Zhao Fusheng sighed:
"You should know when to stop taking revenge on the Chang family—"

She stopped there and didn't continue.

The deed is done, and further elaboration is merely hindsight.

Yu Lingzhu appears tough, but she is unable to sever ties with others. In this unstable world, many people band together to form families, which should be a place to shelter from the storm. However, the Chang family that Yu Lingzhu supported did not bring her peace, but instead brought her storms.

“I…” Yu Lingzhu was speechless.

After being reprimanded by Zhao Fusheng, she felt both wronged and somewhat uneasy.

She felt she had done something wrong, and that Zhao Fusheng would definitely look at her strangely, perhaps with disgust, loathing, disdain, and even contempt.

With that thought in mind, she couldn't help but secretly raise her eyes to look into Zhao Fusheng's eyes—but what she met was a pair of eyes filled with pity and understanding, as if they were tolerant of what she was thinking.

"However, I don't think it's entirely your fault."

Zhao Fusheng shook his head; Yu Lingzhu had not received this kind of education.

This world taught her to be humble and obedient, but it didn't teach a woman how to be the head of her household—Yu Lingzhu lacked the courage to expand and maintain the status quo.

what a pity.

Zhao Fusheng sighed inwardly.

She truly pitied Yu Lingzhu, regretting that her ability to control ghosts was not used to solve ghost cases, benefit the people of the Han Dynasty, or make a career for herself, but instead used to become a protector of the Chang family; she also pitied her fate of being displaced and wandering.

Zhao Fusheng could even imagine that the timing of the accident involving the opera troupe was just right. After the group was imprisoned, Yu Lingzhu was perhaps spared the tragic fate of falling into prostitution. When she thought she was doomed, she was rescued by the Chang family. At that time, she was influenced by the opera troupe and prioritized loyalty, which also sealed her fate for the later tragedy.

……

Yu Lingzhu made mistakes in these matters, but her mistakes were not the primary ones.

From this incident, Zhao Fusheng can see her sorrow, her fear and helplessness, and her powerlessness due to the constraints of this era.

Yu Lingzhu stared at her blankly.

The two exchanged glances without speaking, yet their silence spoke volumes.

Yu Lingzhu was filled with emotion. She felt deeply understood at this moment, but then she felt tired and wronged.

"Stop talking about this."

Zhao Fusheng shook his head:
"Next, let's talk about Old Madam Chang's funeral."

Yu Lingzhu felt comforted and immediately calmed down. She sniffed, forcing back the tears welling up in her eyes.

“My memory is a bit hazy, but my sister-in-law said that after discussing it, the old lady would not be buried outside the burial ground.”

Because of Zhao Fusheng's understanding of her, she couldn't help but feel the urge to repay him again—her strong sense of loyalty and clear sense of right and wrong once again took over.

At this moment, Yu Lingzhu only knew that Zhao Fusheng attached great importance to the ghost case in Wuqing County and cared about the details. She wished she could immediately recall every detail of that year in order to repay Zhao Fusheng for his understanding and pity for her suffering.

"Let me think, let me think—"

She said hurriedly, unconsciously reaching out to tap her head.

Upon seeing this, Meng Po was taken aback.

The calamity in Wuqing County originated from Yu Lingzhu. Zhao Fusheng had previously pointed out Yu Lingzhu's problems, but then said that she couldn't be entirely blamed.

Meng Po was initially puzzled, but seeing Yu Lingzhu's anxious and flustered appearance, she vaguely understood a few things.

"At the time, the feng shui master said that the Chang family's ancestral home was an excellent place to nurture graves."

Yu Lingzhu thought for a long time, and finally, her efforts paid off. She suddenly remembered some details of what happened decades ago:
"The Chang family's ancestral home was in an alley in the north of Wuqing County. It used to be a large courtyard shared with others, located in a corner. Later, when they became wealthy, the Chang family took over the entire area, and the other residents moved to other places."

She patted her head, somewhat excited by her suddenly improved memory:
“The land, totaling over a thousand acres, was all allocated and turned into a garden. Originally, it was planned to be built into a villa to house the two older brothers’ private quarters, but after discussion, it was decided to build it into an ancestral tomb to bury the old lady.”

(End of this chapter)