Hidden moth

Chapter 142: Years in the Mountains

As the Spring Festival approaches, Director Meng of Jinxing Media has returned home early, Vice President Qian of Qiyuan Branch is also preparing to leave two days in advance, and Yao Shaolan has returned from Nanhua.

The finishing work related to Huiming Shijia has not been completed yet, and Yao Shaolan has to go there to continue working after the New Year, and bring a few assistants from the firm with her.

This is both a transfer from the Shumen and a formal employment, which is equivalent to the firm taking on a big order.

He Kao specially invited Qian Guran and Yao Shaolan to have a meal at the big house in Guanliu Community. The house was fully equipped with cooking utensils and could be used as a private club on weekdays.

He Kao had to thank Lao Qian for the matter of Yang Lingxi and the Huiming Shi family, and also thank Lawyer Yao, and find out more about the latest situation of the Shi family.

The elders’ perspective on many trivial details of specific matters is different from that of Yao Shaolan. Elder Jiang and Elder Li may not understand them more clearly than Lawyer Yao.

Last time, when he invited the two elders to dinner, He Kao had learned a new dish: steamed scalloped anchovies. This time, he kept things simple, making two dishes and a soup: steamed scalloped anchovies, stewed musk deer, and water shield and egg drop soup, all following the same recipe from last time.

Why was the other dish stewed musk deer? Qian had eaten it once at He Kao's house and raved about it, which made Lawyer Yao want to try it too.

Qian Guran and Yao Shaolan were enjoying the meal and asked He Kao where he had learned the cooking skills. Of course, He Kao couldn't say that this was the dish the two elders had ordered a few days ago, so he just replied that it was a family tradition.

Yao Shaolan: "What kind of family is this, where is the steamed anchovy handed down from generation to generation?"

Qian Guran said with a smile: "His ancestors were not chefs, but carpenters."

Yao Shaolan: "I'm not talking about the craftsmanship, I'm talking about the family dish. Why do people often eat this?"

Qian Guran: "Two hundred years ago, razor-sharp anchovies weren't that rare. Local fishermen would sell whatever they caught."

During the meal, they discussed that Lao Qian would be leaving the following afternoon to attend the second Dharma transmission ceremony at the sect's ancestral hall. Of course, Qian would not casually reveal the location of the ancestral hall, including the existence of the Wangqi Gate and Dengyun Cave Heaven.

Qian Guran didn't say a word that shouldn't have been said, even in front of Yao Shaolan and He Kao.

He Kao reminded him, "Old Qian, do you like outdoor adventures?"

This was a bit puzzling, so Qian Guran replied, "I'm a qigong practitioner, not a heart-training practitioner. I don't usually have this hobby."

He Kao: "I have a suggestion. You'd better be well prepared and bring your outdoor adventure gear, such as camping, climbing, and insect repellent..."

Yao Shaolan laughed: "Why? Old Qian is now a fourth-level warlock. Can't he deal with wolves? Besides, he went to the sect's ancestral hall, not to play a dungeon or kill monsters."

He Kao rubbed the back of his head and said with a simple smile, "That's what I took for granted. I always felt that places like that were either deep in the mountains or on high cliffs, and that you had to go through a lot of hardships to get there."

In fact, He Kao had inside information. He heard from Wei Luo that when a sorcerer was promoted to a high rank, he would go to the sect's ancestral temple for the first time starting from Caiping Village. He was not allowed to take the modern tunnel, but had to go through the ancient road that had been there for thousands of years.

To reach Dengyunping, where Dengyun Cave Heaven is located, from Fengwei Township, one must cross four mountain ranges, all of which are uninhabited, primitive jungles. Even those who enjoy outdoor adventures would not venture into such a place.

He had tried his best to remind Lao Qian, and that was all he could say. He couldn't say any more.

Qian Guran and Yao Shaolan looked at each other, as if they realized something. They did not waste time and left after dinner. They probably went to purchase various equipment, so they should still make it in time.

There is a direct flight from Qiyuan to Hanning City, but it is not a hotline. There is only one flight every two days, and it flies on odd-numbered flights. The departure time is 5:30 pm and the flight takes two hours.

The leaders left one after another, which meant that the employees had begun to have fun. The next day, Gao Xue'e also went home, and many supervisors from other departments also went home.

Ms. E is very busy here. She said in advance that she would not stay at home for too long and would rush back to work on the second day of the Chinese New Year.

The project team is a department between the front-end and back-end. People have to be on duty during the Spring Festival to provide technical support services at any time, mainly to help solve front-end problems... Huang Si actually took the initiative to apply for duty!

This left He Kao a bit baffled. In previous years, Xiaopang had always been reluctant to work shifts, and it was said that he had even argued with Boss E because of this. Even if he wanted to avoid the blind date, he would have gone somewhere else to play. When did his work attitude become so positive?
He Kao asked him why he didn't stay at home during the New Year. Xiaopang said it was because of what happened last time. Recently, there was some trouble at home and the situation was complicated, so he wanted to hide away.

Xiaopang was unwilling to say how complicated it was.

He Kao sighed as he heard this. Originally, it was clearly a matter between Xiaopang and He Shan, but as a result, both sides' parents were involved, making the situation complicated.

Last time, he had told his uncle that he was willing to pay 150,000 yuan to Xiaopang first, but he needed his uncle to write a formal IOU. However, his uncle said that he had to go back and discuss it with his aunt, and then there was no further news.

Now Xiaopang was unwilling to say more, leaving He Kao with no source of information. He could actually call Chen's mother and ask, but after thinking about it, he decided not to get involved for the time being.

The day before New Year's Eve, Xiaopang became the highest-ranking leader in the department. With a wave of his hand, Xiaopang allowed everyone who had nothing to do to leave work early, so He Kao drove out of the office right after lunch.

Not long after driving forward, he stopped the car, rolled down the passenger window, and shouted, "Where are we going?"

Wei Luo was walking towards the subway station with a backpack on his back. He turned around and saw it was him. He smiled and replied, "What a coincidence! I'm going to the airport!"

He Kao: "Come on up, I'll give you a ride on the way."

Wei Luo opened the car door and got in and asked, "Are you going to catch a flight too?"

He Kao: "I don't fly, but I'll stop by the airport."

Wei Luo: "Then you are going in the wrong direction."

He Kao: "Can't I just give you a ride? It's a rare coincidence that we meet."

Wei Luo: "What's the matter?"

He Kao: "It's because I have nothing else to do that I can send you off. Where are you flying to?"

Wei Luo: "Hanning."

He Kao: "Oh, it's still early, the flight is at 5:30." Qian Guran took this flight two days ago, so He Kao knew the time.

Wei Luo: "I'm used to going out early to avoid getting lost."

He Kao wondered, "When you're not practicing the art of divination, do you also get lost?"

Wei Luo: "I'm used to it. I always get distracted sometimes."

He Kao: "Have you bought the plane ticket?"

It was just a casual question, but Wei Luo unexpectedly replied, "I haven't bought it yet. I'll buy it when we get to the airport."

He Kao stopped the car and pulled out his phone, saying, "Going to the airport like this? Let me check if there are any tickets for you. Do you have your ID with you?"

Wei Luo: "I brought it... Actually, I haven't been on a plane yet."

He Kao: "So what did you sit on when you went out?"

Wei Luo: "To get to nearby places, I walked. I also took tractors, tricycles, pickup trucks, cars, and buses..."

He Kao: "What about far away places? Like going to university, and Kurusuhara."

Wei Luo: "High-speed rail... Actually, I seldom go out, except for going to college. This is my first time traveling far away."

He Kao: "Your parents are really kind-hearted. They are not afraid that you will get lost."

Wei Luo: "Everything has a first time! That's why Master said that I can come find you when I get to Qiyuan. For example, I ran into you today, otherwise I might have gotten lost."

He Kao: "There's only one ticket left, do you want to buy it?"

Wei Luo: "Buy it, of course I will."

He Kao: "Name, ID number."

Being a good person to the end, He Kao bought her a plane ticket and said with a smile: "Six hundred and sixty, let me treat you to a meal."

Wei Luo: "That won't do. Wouldn't that mean I'll miss a meal?" He transferred the money to He Kao and asked, "Are you here just to get my ID number?"

He Kao answered the question irrelevantly: "Since this is your first time on a plane, let me explain to you how to board the plane... Is this all you have to bring?" Because she only brought a backpack with her.

Wei Luo: "I'm just going back to Fengwei Township, not moving."

He Kao: "Your master asked you to train in Qiyuan, and allowed you to run back to celebrate the New Year?"

Wei Luo: "I'm in Qiyuan for training, not to go to jail. Last time I got lost and ran to Hengzhou."

He Kao: "Did I get on the wrong bus?"

Wei Luo: “I walked over.”

Fine, she was pretty good. He Kao couldn't ask any more questions and could only change the subject: "Do the major caves of the Shu Sect also celebrate the New Year?"

Wei Luo: "How can we celebrate the New Year in the caves? Only in the villages do we celebrate the New Year! But every New Year is also the time when the major caves are most crowded. Many people come to worship their ancestors and visit their elders.

There are also people coming out of the cave to visit the village. I always receive a lot of gifts. Even if they are small things, they are very rare, so I have to go back... What about you, are you going to go on an outdoor adventure?"

Wei Luo has a high level of cultivation and is Elder Jiang's direct disciple, but he is very young. His birthday is in May, and he is only nineteen years old now. Therefore, he always receives many gifts from masters of various martial arts during the Chinese New Year, and they are all very unusual things.

He Kao's childhood experiences were almost the opposite of hers, but he had a good attitude. He only felt envy, not jealousy or hatred.

He Kao also purchased a batch of outdoor adventure equipment and related supplies, all of which were piled in the trunk, but Wei Luo could tell what was inside with just a glance of his spiritual sense.

He Kao sighed: "I don't know where to go for the Spring Festival this year. I don't want to go back to my hometown anyway, so I might as well go on a road trip... Why are you looking at me like that?"

Wei Luo: "I really envy you. You can celebrate the New Year wherever you want."

Hmm? This was a novel way to interpret the matter. He Kao asked, "Can't you just not go back?"

Wei Luo: "Of course not! Lingxi Sect has few disciples. I am one of the deacons of Lingxi Sect and I am responsible for leading others into the cave."

He Kao suddenly remembered what Gao Xue'e said that day. He Kao later asked Gao Xue'e if the matter of her aunt's family could be resolved. Gao Xue'e said she didn't know because she was not a fortune teller.

But the one I met today should be someone who can calculate. The title of the fourth-level sorcerer of Lingxi Sect is a charlatan, and Wei Luo's cultivation is higher than that of a charlatan.

He Kao: "I've been having some problems lately, and I wonder if I could ask you for advice."

Wei Luo actually showed a very happy expression: "I told you a long time ago that you had something to do, but you still didn't admit it! Tell me, the prerequisite is that you treat me to a meal today." He Kao: "Then I can only treat you at the airport."

Wei Luo: "Yes, I'll treat you at the airport. I haven't had lunch yet... Please drive slowly. I'm not in a hurry."

He Kao slowed down the car and recounted the recent events at his aunt's house, still using the modified version of Xiao Pang's memory. After listening to it, Wei Luo didn't hesitate and said directly: "It's very simple, you just messed it up."

He Kao asked back, "Why did I mess it up?"

Wei Luo: "You didn't think about solving the problem, because in your opinion, the debt issue has been resolved. At worst, they don't have to pay it back, and you know they won't pay it back at all, right?"

He Kao had to nod and say, "Yes."

Wei Luo: "Your friend, Xiaopang, also knew that your aunt and uncle would not admit this, so he never contacted them, right?"

He Kao: “Yes.”

Wei Luo: "The correct approach... I can't use the word correct, it's the normal approach. After you found out about this, you should have told Xiaoshan's parents first.

Xiaoshan's parents will definitely not pay back the money."

He Kao: "Yes, they will definitely do everything they can to make Xiaoshan default on this debt. Not only will they call the police, they will also tell the debt collectors - go ahead and sue them if you dare!"

Wei Luo: “Are you sure?”

He Kao: "I can be sure."

Wei Luo: "Let's not talk about character issues. This is the normal approach. What you and Xiaopang did is not normal."

He Kao was secretly shocked when he heard this, and asked again: "Could it be that Xiaopang was wrong?"

Wei Luo: "This kind of debt shouldn't be repaid honestly, but those who lend money are difficult to deal with. Xiaopang wants to protect your sister's reputation and doesn't want her to be scolded by her family, so he chose the simplest way and helped her pay off all the debts.

He didn't even tell your sister, he just wanted to help her, and you think he has ulterior motives towards your sister?"

He Kao: "That... I didn't think so. But I can see that he is indeed interested in Xiaoshan."

Wei Luo: "If it was you who owed the debt, would that fat guy do the same thing?"

He Kao pondered and said, "I think he will too."

Wei Luo: "So he's interested in you too?"

He Kao was stunned by the question and didn't know how to answer for a moment. Wei Luo continued, "It's normal for him to be interested in your sister. But being interested is one thing, and doing this is another.

It wasn't your sister who asked him to do it, and he certainly didn't ask your sister to do anything. It's a little strange that he didn't tell your sister afterwards, but it's not wrong... The real problem is you."

He Kao: "Why do I have a problem?"

Wei Luo: "If Xiaopang didn't help Xiaoshan pay off her debts, but told her parents directly, then the matter would be that Xiaoshan owed a loan scam, and they would be victims. There would be no moral pressure, and they could still resolve the matter through legal means.

Even if Xiaopang helped her pay off her debt, it was a private matter between him and Xiaoshan, and he kept it secret. From a legal perspective, Xiaoshan didn't actually owe him any money, and Xiaopang was prepared to lose money.

How did you do it? You had Xiaopang's mother go after your aunt. While it wasn't supposed to be a debt collection exercise, it was actually turning Xiaopang into the creditor. If your aunt's family didn't pay back the money, they would have to bear the moral burden. Would they agree to that?

Xiaopang originally wanted to protect your sister's reputation, and at the same time didn't want her to be scolded by her family, but you messed up this matter, it can be said that you messed up everything!

You just want to use this incident to teach your aunt's family a lesson because you can't stand them, right?"

He Kao was sweating and couldn't respond to this sentence. This girl was too direct.

Wei Luo then continued, "The selfless Xiaopang will be scolded when he gets home, and the victim of the loan scam, Xiaoshan, will be scolded when she gets home. But you won't be scolded, because no one will scold you, right?"

This was such a harsh remark that it nearly broke He Kaogan's defenses. He couldn't help but mutter, "But we can't just pretend this never happened and say nothing! That wouldn't do Xiaoshan any good, and it wouldn't be fair to Xiaopang either."

Wei Luo burst out laughing, and He Kao asked in confusion, "What are you laughing at?"

Wei Luo laughed and said, "You're actually sweating. Drive carefully! I just said you messed up, not that you did it wrong. Since you asked me, I'll tell you what I can see - where your problem is."

He Kao: "Actually, what I want to ask is, now that things have come to this, what should we do?"

Wei Luo: "Have you ever been to school?"

This was a strange question, and He Kao replied, "Of course I have."

Wei Luo: "Have you studied mathematics?"

He Kao: "How could I not have studied it? My major requires a very high level of math."

Wei Luo: "Then you should have known long ago that not all questions have correct answers. The first lesson of numerology is to understand that not all problems can be solved, which means that not all wishes can be fulfilled.

This is a proven conclusion, the incompleteness theorem, you should know it, right? "

He Kao: “I have learned it.”

Wei Luo: "Once you've learned it, you have to understand it. Let's not talk about anything else, just talking about the practice of sorcerers. Who doesn't want to get started, who doesn't want to break through the barriers and improve? But some people, sometimes, just can't make any further progress.

At this point, there is actually no perfect solution, and someone has to pay the price.

Either Xiaopang will bear the consequences silently, or Xiaoshan will be scolded when she gets home... You have to figure out what you think before you can figure out what they think.

He Kao hesitated for a long time before speaking: "Thank you for your advice!"

Wei Luo: "I'm not telling you what to do, I'm just telling you what I can see."

He Kao: "What else can you see?"

Wei Luo: “What I just said is not normal!

Your friend Xiaopang didn't even ask your sister, but directly paid 150,000 yuan to help her pay off her debts. He didn't plan to tell her afterwards, but waited for you to tell him. This is not normal!

You can find out more and find out whether he didn't pay the money, but got the IOU back directly through some connection, some acquaintance, or some evidence he had on the other party or did something for the other party.

There's no need to ask. Even if that's the case, it was his own ability. He helped your sister solve the problem."

He Kao couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat again, and quickly said, "Then I won't go and ask."

Wei Luo turned his head again and said, "Do you have a question now? Can your aunt and your cousin accept the lesson you want to teach them?"

He Kao nodded: "What do you think?"

Wei Luo: "I don't know her, how would I know? But you can see one thing, that is, whether Xiaoshan can keep the 20,000 yuan."

He Kao: "The 20,000 yuan she saved?"

Wei Luo: "Yes, that's what you just told me. Xiaoshan said she saved 20,000 yuan and could pay it back to Xiaopang first. She asked you not to tell her parents about this, but you still told them.

If your aunt takes the 20,000 yuan, it means she hasn't learned her lesson, and you won't be able to change her at all through this incident."

He Kao: "But I didn't tell Mother Chen about the 20,000 yuan. How did my aunt know about it?"

Wei Luo: "Xiao Shan can tell for herself."

He Kao: "Xiaoshan saved this with great difficulty, she can't be that stupid, right?"

Wei Luo: "Even now, do you still think she's smart? Now let's just focus on one thing: will your aunt take the money, no matter what the reason is."

He Kao: "I have to remind her not to tell my aunt."

Wei Luo: "It's already too late!
If this is the case, if you want to deal with her in the future, you must know what kind of person you are dealing with and what she will do, instead of expecting her to do it according to your ideas.

He Kao: "Why do you sound so old-fashioned?"

Wei Luo smiled playfully and said, "Did you hear that? Because that's what my master said, and I'm just imitating him."

He Kao: "If my aunt really took it away, I would like to try again and ask her to return it to Xiaoshan."

Wei Luo: "Then go ahead and try. I hope you can succeed. Even if you fail, it will still be a gain."

He Kao: "What else did your master say? Learn another sentence!"

Wei Luo imitated Old Man Jiang's expression and tone and said, "If it's not a deal, then don't talk about it. But there is a kind of people who put everything on the shelf but don't accept fair trade."

I have to admit that she learned it really well.

He Kao finally sent Wei Luo to the airport. There wasn't anything delicious here, so he found a place and ordered two half-tendon and half-meat noodle sets, both of which were eaten by Wei Luo.

After Wei Luo entered the gate, He Kao sent a message to Old Man Jiang: "Your beloved apprentice is flying back to Hanning today. I just sent her to the security check."

Then he drove straight to Pugang Town.

What Wei Luo said today was different from what Gao Xue'e said that day. He did not tell him what he should do or what he could do. He just analyzed the matter itself, focusing on why He Kao would do this.

But He Kao suddenly realized something, something very important.

In fact, he had already noticed something before, that is, he had a knot in his heart, and he asked Mother Chen to come forward to vent his anger, deliberately to embarrass his aunt's family, and at the same time teach them a lesson.

It's hard to let go of a feeling for a moment. Small things can make people go unnoticed as inner demons are growing. But inner demons can indeed bring disaster to people, such as making a mistake in an exam that is almost impossible to make in normal times.

This mistake might expose Yin Mo's identity and bring huge trouble to both him and Huang Xiaopang. It must be dealt with immediately before anyone notices and try to avoid any future troubles.

**
PS: I had a cold yesterday, so today I’m writing two chapters in one.

(End of this chapter)