I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 69 Taking office
Watching Xue Xiang leave, Madam Wei praised Wei Yang, "Little Xue is such a wonderful child. I haven't felt this comfortable in years. You must take good care of him and not let him suffer."

Otherwise, they won't come back a second time.

"Don't worry, Madam. Even if it weren't for anyone else, I would have to carefully consider this boy's future. Besides, this boy is indeed clever. If I enlarge the sand table he gave me and present it to him, all my efforts in Yunmeng over the past few years might not be as valuable as presenting this sand table."

Wei Yang was wide awake and summoned the steward to fetch craftsmen that very night.

…………

April 30th, a sudden rain followed by clear skies.

On Suiyang Lake, the misty waves reveal a majestic and beautiful landscape.

Xue Xiang stood alone at the bow of the boat, drifting westward with the waves. Before he knew it, the Lake Pavilion came into view again.

He gazed into the distance, lost in thought, as if the woman in the yellow dress and the snow-sword were still standing there, reciting poems and appreciating the misty waves.

"Sir, there are still 29 waterways to go before entering the Xiang River. From the Xiang River, head east and then turn back to Suiyang Ferry to reach Suiyang Town."

Xun Sizhou turned around from the stern of the boat and came forward, bowing to report.

He and Wu Kui had expressed their desire to follow Xue Xiang back after Xue Xiang entered high school.

After Xue Xiang's new job was clearly a transfer to Suiyang, a newly opened and lucrative place, Xun Sizhou did not change his mind and took the initiative to approach him, expressing his willingness to be transferred there with him.

However, Wu Kui suddenly had a family matter to attend to and could not accompany Xue Xiang.

Xun Sizhou already had a formal position, so Xue Xiang and Xie Haiya made a brief introduction, and without even alerting Wei Yang, Xun Sizhou's transfer was completed.

“Suiyang Town guards the junction of Suiyang Lake and Xiang River. It has been prosperous since ancient times. Suiyang Ferry has been recorded in history for thousands of years. If it weren’t for this big case, it would be a good place to go. Brother Xun, I haven’t thanked you yet. Come with me and suffer.”

Xue Xiang turned around and bowed respectfully.

Xun Sizhou quickly returned the greeting, "I dare not call you Brother Xun anymore, just call me Sizhou."

Sizhou has wasted half his life without encountering a wise ruler. The head of the household is exceptionally talented, possessing both wisdom and courage. He is destined to be a man of extraordinary ability.

"Why bother with climbing the social ladder and currying favor with the powerful across the four continents?"

After saying that, he introduced Suiyang Town to Xue Xiang.

Six days earlier, he had gone to Suiyang Town to report for duty and collect information about the town in advance. This trip was specifically to accompany Xue Xiang to his new post.

"...with a registered population of 5,000, a population of 120,000, 1,633 mu of spiritual land, and a medicinal mountain, it is the second largest town among the six towns of Yunmeng, after Chengnan Town."

After the town magistrate Huang Shang was arrested and imprisoned in the temple, the situation is now being managed by the deputy town magistrate Cai Gaoyi.

In addition, there are many gangs in the town, among which the Kaishan Sect is the most powerful and is currently stirring up trouble at the ferry crossing, taking advantage of the aftermath of the major case.

In addition, after the former head of the Eleventh Division, Kang Mian, was imprisoned, the Eleventh Division was taken over by Deputy Head Wang Anshi. Another Deputy Head, Tong Guonan, had already claimed to be ill and taken leave before the major case occurred.

The Eleventh Division comprises three squadrons, nine platoons, and over one hundred patrol officers, but less than 20% of them are actually on staff…

As Xue Xiang listened to Xun Sizhou's introduction, the outline of this unfamiliar town of Suiyang gradually became clear in his mind.

At 1:15 AM, the boat left Suiyang Lake and sailed into the Xiang River. The distant mountains were like dark eyebrows, and the peach blossoms on both banks were in full bloom like fire.

Amidst the misty waves, Xue Xiang seemed to see his family waving goodbye to him.

The feeling of being away from home is always melancholic.

Although Suiyang Town is only thirty miles away from Yunmeng City by land, although he promised to go back every seven days, and although his whole family, unaware of the situation, were happy about his promotion.

However, the melancholy and sorrow of parting still lingered deeply in the hearts of the whole family for the past day or two.

Xue Xiang bent down, scooped up a handful of river water, rubbed his face, and a gust of wind blew, the coolness penetrating to the bone, invigorating him.

"Why are there so many boats over there? Are they tour boats?"

Xue Xiang pointed to the west, where dozens of boats were scattered in the river.

Seeking the Four Continents, he said, "Those are people who do business in the river market. Yunmeng is a prosperous place, a thoroughfare connecting three counties. The area is rich in a spiritual plant called Buddha Mother Vine, which has many supernatural abilities."

When woven into a fan, it can create a cool breeze on summer nights. When woven together with hemp fibers, it can be used to make hemp clothing, which can generate its own warmth.

Therefore, the textiles from the vicinity of Suiyang are widely enjoyed in the country.

Such small, magical items are readily available.

Furthermore, the waterborne trade allowed them to evade some commercial taxes, making the river markets upstream and downstream of Suiyang Town increasingly bustling. Not only did those dealing in spirit textiles come, but also small-scale itinerary merchants dealing in cultivation resources and those dealing in underground goods flocked here.

Xue Xiang seemed to be deep in thought.

After traveling several more miles, the boat suddenly turned east.

"Look, that's Suiyang Ferry."

Looking eastward from the four continents, a large ferry crossing with a long stretch of shops comes into view. The ferry crossing is bustling with people, horses neighing and people talking, making it quite lively.

The boat spun around in the Xiang River and then turned back to the mouth of Suiyang Lake.

The ship docked, and Xun Sizhou summoned two porters to help carry the luggage ashore. He stayed by Xue Xiang's side, vigilantly scanning the surroundings.

"Don't be nervous, I'm not worth people risking their lives for right now."

Xue Xiang patted Xun Sizhou on the shoulder, signaling him to relax.

"Mao Dan'er, keep an eye on what's behind you..."

Xun Sizhou suddenly spoke to a boy who was carrying boxes. The boy had two boxes stacked on his arms and was moving with difficulty toward a cart, with a frame standing behind him.

If Xun Sizhou hadn't reminded him, he would have definitely run into the shelf.

Mao Dan'er put the box on the carriage and ran over quickly. "Brother Xun, you won't be able to eat my steamed buns today, and it will be difficult in the future either."

Xue Xiang noticed that the Mao's Soup Dumpling shop in front of him was closing down, and nearby shops seemed to be doing similar things.

Noticing Xue Xiang's suspicion, he asked Si Zhou to speak for him and inquire about the inside story of Mao Dan.

Mao Dan said, "For two consecutive days, the black-skinned guys from the Eleventh Room have come to cause trouble under the pretext of investigating a case, and with the help of thugs from the Kaishan Sect, it's been impossible to have any peace and quiet."

They said that higher-ups would send down important figures, and they wouldn't rest until the case was solved.

Today, someone from apartment 11 came and said they agreed to terminate the lease. Seeing this, who would refuse?

Where did the crime occur?

As soon as Xue Xiang spoke, Mao Dan shrank his neck.

Xun Sizhou patted him on the shoulder, "We're all on the same side, so feel free to speak."

Xun Sizhou had eaten steamed buns at Maodan's house a few times and helped drive away some troublemakers. Maodan trusted Xun Sizhou a lot.

Mao Dan said in a strained voice, "It's just west of the ferry crossing, less than a hundred paces away, that day I..."

"Hey, you little brat, what are you babbling about? Get over here."

A middle-aged fat man with a dejected look shouted loudly, and Mao Dan'er sheepishly ran back.

"It seems that quite a few people witnessed the crime. In full view of everyone, these people managed to commit such a major crime. It's remarkable."

Xue Xiang found a bench with a view and sat down. "Sizhou, that kid just said that people from Room 11 came and asked everyone to terminate their leases. Is the property at this ferry terminal related to Room 11?"

Xun Sizhou nodded, "This area around the ferry was originally the old barracks of the Seventh Town's garrison. After the garrison moved, the ferry was occupied by the Eleventh Bureau, which built this row of shops and rented them out."

Some of these businesses have been renting here for over a decade.

Mao Dan'er was born in his family's steamed bun shop. Now that a major case has occurred, they can't even do business. People are struggling financially.

Xue Xiang nodded and looked out over the lake at a boat flying a red flag that was heading towards the ferry.

(End of this chapter)