Water elemental became a god, ultimately becoming the master of heaven, earth, mountains, and rivers

Chapter 87 Wan Niang, you always love to come up with new tricks.

A moment later, Manager Li and Sun Xiao, along with other second-rate experts, hurriedly arrived.

Seeing Lü Ze's death, the group tacitly refrained from saying anything more.

They lifted the lid of the bucket on the wheelbarrow and put Lü Ze's body inside.

Whether by coincidence or not, these empty buckets were just the right size to fit the curled-up corpse of an adult.

Manager Li, Sun Xiao, and others pushed the cart away carrying the corpse.

Chen Shunan threw the few strings of cash that Lü Ze had stolen to the woman, then closed the wooden door and left with San Dezi.

Chen Shunan was temporarily powerless to help this family with their suffering and the young man's tuberculosis.

All I can do is come here to offer some blessed water, and if there is an opportunity in the future, I will develop it into a source of blessings.

It was already noon when we returned to Chaodou Hutong.

The courtyard was quiet, and a large group of mischievous children were all sitting obediently at the octagonal table in the main room, practicing calligraphy and reading.

Those who had reached the age to learn martial arts followed Liu Daoba in practicing stances in the shady corner of the wall.

"Hey bro, you're back?"

The women were busy in the kitchen when Wan Niang saw Chen Shun'an and his companion. She quickly wiped her hands on her apron, walked over, and took the basket.

Wan Niang faintly sensed the blood on Chen Shun'an's body. She continued her work without changing her expression and went to pour water for Chen Shun'an to wipe his body.

She had the air of a housewife, keeping everything in perfect order.

San Dezi chuckled and went to find his wife and children.

As Chen Shunan walked toward the bedroom, he noticed that there were many kinds of children's toys, such as firecrackers, bangers, and sky rockets, on the stools in the main room.

Close the bedroom door.

Wan Niang took off Chen Shun'an's wet short jacket and helped him change, saying casually as she did so.
"Tomorrow night is the day Lingguan becomes a god, and we probably won't see the Thunderfire Golden Whip, so these kids bought some firecrackers to remember the occasion."

Upon hearing this, Chen Shunan laughed: "I'm afraid you want to play too, right?"

Wan Niang pursed her lips, glared at Chen Shun'an with a playful smile, and her unadorned face instantly blossomed with a captivating beauty.

Those eyes seemed to speak volumes, brimming with the vibrant energy of spring.

Chen Shunan was momentarily lost in thought.

Wan Niang, why do you have a slight fever?
Wan Niang scolded playfully, "Play! Fine, I'll play!!"

As she spoke, Wan Niang, emboldened by her actions, began to cause a ruckus.

While making a fuss, wishes kept popping up.

[Wish +1]

[Wish +1]

[Wish +1]

Chen Shunan asked in surprise, "Wan Niang, aren't you afraid anymore?"

Chen Shunan vividly remembered the time when Wan Niang knelt down and begged for mercy, timidly telling Chen Shunan not to torment her.

Wan Niang stopped what she was doing and said softly, "I went to the Lingguan Temple to burn incense, smashed the holy cup, and also asked for five locust wood talismans. The temple keeper said they could appease the ghosts and summon the spirits to dwell here."

Wan Niang's ideas were extremely simple.

The five older sisters have all suffered hardship and may not have had a place to live for many years. Why not stay in her locust wood talisman?

That way, you won't blame her, right?

After all, Chunhong has already spent most of her life in the palace as a maid, so there's no need for her to worry about her anymore.

The young man went to visit prostitutes, and that flirtatious woman named Xiaoman is still alive and well.

Wan Niang had nothing to fear anymore.

Wan Niang asked for five taels of silver a few days ago, it turned out she went to burn incense and ask for a talisman.
Chen Shunan reacted immediately, feeling both amused and exasperated.

Wan Niang, you always love to come up with new tricks for me.

The two didn't linger for long; after a brief playful tussle, they left the bedroom.

The Golden-Headed Tyrant remained curled up in the earthenware pot the whole time, chirping softly and ignoring the humans' vulgarities.

As they stepped out of the house, they ran into Liu Daoba's wife, who was leading a little child with rosy lips and white teeth.

When Liu saw Wan Niang's face, which was flushed red like a peach blossom in March, and her disheveled clothes, she was struck by the sight.

She vaguely understood what was going on, so she quickly pulled the baby away and blindfolded him.

Shh, this is not suitable for children.

The Golden-Headed Overlord is not to be listened to, and children should definitely not watch it.

Only the grass carp in the water tank stared with its big, puffy eyes.

Abba Abba.

……

At the dinner table, Chen Shunan told Liu Daoba and the group of women the information he had gathered that morning.

Upon learning that the government had begun to rectify the situation, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and the atmosphere became more lively.

After the meal, Chen Shunan, Liu Daoba, and San Dezi gathered around the table, legs crossed, smoking, eating melon seeds, and drinking tea.

The women were left to clean up the leftovers and do the housework.

Liu Daoba and San Dezi had long been accustomed to this and took it for granted, accepting the traditions and customs of the Holy Dynasty in their entirety.

Chen Shunan, on the other hand, simply followed local customs and saw no need to promote any surrealist ideas about the inherent equality of all people and the equal rights of men and women.

Taking too big a step can easily lead to trouble.

Liu the Scarface said, "Brother Chen, are you familiar with that Li family's son, Li Dongyang?"

Chen Shunan said, "I grew up seeing these green hooks in the alley, so of course I'm familiar with them. What's wrong?"

Liu Daoba and his family have been staying at Li's house for the past few days, and naturally, they have paid for their lodging.

Li didn't find it nagging at all; instead, she remembered Chen Shunan's kindness and even gave him some homemade pickled vegetables.

Liu the Scarface said, "That kid Li Dongyang is something else. He borrows light from the candles in our room at night, chiseling a hole in the wall, to study some second-rate martial arts manual he bought from who-knows-where. He's all bent over, shaking his head and swaying..."

If I had put that much effort into martial arts back then, I would have broken through to the second-rate level long ago!

Liu the Scarface laughed and cursed.

Chen Shunan and San Dezi both laughed.

Chen Shunan said, "Besides Li Dongyang, there's another kid in the alley named Zhang Wangyue. These two little devils used to eavesdrop on my martial arts practice, always hiding in the corner, practically inseparable. Li Dongyang has good aptitude, but he's not good at literature, so he can only practice martial arts. He's an honest person. Zhang Wangyue has poor aptitude, but he's quick-witted and is known as a child prodigy. He's highly praised by his private tutor, but he's a bit of a schemer."

San Dezi said with some surprise, "Oh? These two are childhood friends with complementary personalities."

As people get older, they seem to always like to talk about children.

Perhaps it's because they can see a reflection of their younger selves in the other person.

Wanting to buy sweet-scented osmanthus and carry wine together is not like a young man's journey.

"By the way, a snuff shop called 'Juxingzhai' opened and gave us a few receipts, saying we could sample it three times for free."

Liu the Scarface seemed to have thought of something, and after rubbing his hands together, he pulled out several brand-new receipts from his pocket.

It's palm-sized and was made privately.

The front bears the four large characters "Xiang Miao Xin Qing Gao" (香妙心清膏), the signboard of Juxingzhai, along with patterns resembling lamps and snuff bottles.

The reverse side indicates the official opening date, states that the ticket can be used three times, and details the wonders of the 'Fragrant and Wonderful Heart-Clearing Ointment,' such as clearing the mind, brightening the eyes, preventing plague, and relieving itching...

Liu the Scarface continued, "The person delivering the receipts said that Juxingzhai has been in trial operation for quite some time now, in the county, the city, and I heard that it even has branches in the capital, and it is widely praised by the people."

San Dezi listened while looking at the receipt with great interest.

Chen Shunan, holding the receipt, noticed something, and his face instantly darkened.

The lights on the receipt are just those colorful and vibrant Taigu lights I saw on the street this morning.
Inside the snuff bottle, a tiny dot of ink revealed what appeared to be a pill-shaped ointment.

A faint, almost imperceptible fragrance wafted from the receipt, a scent that was somewhat familiar but much thinner.

Snuff paste?

It's just a front for snuff, but they're actually selling hibiscus oil!
Or rather, it's a commoner's version of hibiscus oil.

It has been given a makeover and renamed Fragrant and Wonderful Heart Cleansing Cream!

……

The lights flickered.

A well-worn diary was opened in Chen Shunan's hands.

Quotations from the Venerable Zheng Dongjia:
"In the spring of 954 AD, Wuqing County suffered a severe drought, hindering the county government's tax collection and leading to numerous resistance to grain requisition. Master Zheng took the lead, paying his taxes and grain himself. Afterwards, he whispered in my ear—"

"Whenever the court imposes heavy taxes, it first requires the wealthy and powerful to contribute, then leads the common people to donate. Once the wealthy and powerful have contributed, the people will follow suit. After the funds are collected, the wealth of the wealthy and powerful is returned, while the money of the common people is divided three-sevenths. This is a truth that has been true throughout history." Upon hearing this, I was greatly shocked and astonished, considering it a work of divine wisdom.

"In the winter of the 955th year of the Holy Dynasty, at dawn, the weather was bitterly cold. Master Zheng went to 'Fulongji' to pick up newly arrived Suzhou embroidery. To curry favor with his master, the manager of Fulongji sent a young woman, Xu Niang, who was being sold into prostitution, to present the girl. Master Zheng said—"

'This young woman has reached marriageable age, the perfect time for matriarchal ...

In the early spring of the 959th year of the Holy Dynasty, before the ice on the river had melted, Master Zheng frequently traveled to the Enchanted Bay at Bannozutsu, shielding himself from the entourage and taking only three or five trusted men with him. His whereabouts were unknown. Upon his return, he murmured absentmindedly—

'If I don't accept what Heaven has given me, I'll suffer the consequences; what do I care about the disasters that befall the country and its people? What do I care about the deluge after I die!' Upon hearing this, I was bewildered and doubtful, so I recorded it again..."

The lamp flickered and flashed for a moment.

A pungent smell of smoke drifted over.

Chen Shunan finally came to his senses.

It is well known that officials and many merchants of the Holy Dynasty loved to keep diaries and notes.

They record every detail of their lives and work, some even creating lengthy works of millions of words.

On the one hand, it is to admonish and reflect on oneself; on the other hand, it is to serve as key evidence for future acts of mutual destruction, for fear of harming others, or for serving as a tainted witness!

This book, 'The Sayings of Zheng Dongjia,' was found by Chen Shunan after he reported Ah Hua, this young man, for leading people to overthrow the Wanlong Mill that night.

He had skimmed through it before, but seeing that it was full of flattering words from the shopkeeper to Zheng Shicheng, he didn't pay any more attention to it and put it aside.

Now, Chen Shunan vaguely realizes that the Guolu Society seems unable to find Zheng Shicheng.
The Guolu Society members practically turned Wuqing County upside down, and even launched a strong attack on the Zheng residence, but returned empty-handed.

But the more imposing the commotion became, the more Chen Shunan sensed the anxiety in the hearts of the Guolu gang members.

After all, the common people are no match for the officials, let alone the bandits.

The reason why the Guolu Society has been able to survive for so many years is that it breaks into smaller groups and comes and goes without a trace. By day, they are butchers chopping meat in the market, and by night, they are chivalrous knights who help others and make money.

If Zheng Shicheng were dead, they would have disappeared long ago, vanishing into the wilderness.

Why stir up trouble here?

at this time,

As Chen Shunan flipped through the diary...

A profile of Zheng Shicheng, and even his life trajectory, gradually became clearer in Chen Shunan's mind.

The Zheng residence has a tunnel that leads directly to a brothel more than ten miles away.

Few people know about this, but Zheng Shicheng once told Manager Xiang something inadvertently while drunk.

It was carefully recorded in his diary.

Ultimately, Chen Shunan discovered that Zheng Shicheng always liked to sneak through the tunnel to three or four places.

There's Fulongji Restaurant, Minghu Ju'an Temple where illegitimate children are secretly fostered, and the Enchanting Bay in Banno Tsuto...

Zheng Shicheng probably never dreamed that having overly loyal subordinates and winning the emperor's favor could sometimes be a bad thing.

Work must be documented.

You may do bad things, but never leave a trace.

In particular, there was a subordinate who loved keeping a diary.

Chen Shunan should also keep this in mind.

If you cannot remember it yourself, then if you have younger brothers or followers in the future, you must not let them remember it either.

Those who came before stumbled, and those who come after follow suit.

We should learn from past mistakes...

A rustling sound sounded.

Using his left hand, Chen Shunan crookedly wrote these place names and related information on a very common piece of letter paper.

Chen Shunan was not entirely certain that Zheng Shicheng was hiding somewhere among these locations.

After all, Chen Shunan is not good at reasoning, but only at cross-border comebacks.

But at this point, having a certain degree of certainty is enough.

Anyway, it's not him who's taking the risk.

After blowing out the candles and seeing that Wan Niang was still fast asleep, Chen Shunan quietly left the house, transforming into a ghostly afterimage and disappearing into the night.

(End of this chapter)