Great Tang Idyll

Book 1: Chapter 73

Thank you Dan for commissioning the extra release of this chapter!

"If you can't make sense of it, then stop pondering. You just have to remember that was an auspicious omen." Magistrate Cheng warned Chen Dong. Actually, he didn't understand how water came out too. If he didn't know that this was the workings of the Zhang Manor, he would have believe the rumors too and believe that the heavens sent down a lightning to revive the dried out well.

The more he thought about it, the more confusing it became. In the end, he could only listen to the words he told the bailiff--- stop pondering and believe that it was an auspicious omen.

"Xiao'bao, come over quickly. They have started working over there already. After just a few days, we can dine on the surface of the water and fish for fish.

Wang Juan pulled Zhang Xiao'bao, who was thinking about whether the burned soybeans can be used as fodder, and walked towards where the little bridge was. Everybody else was busy and Hu'zi was the only one that was a bit more at leisure, so today he followed behind his little masters while observing the surroundings with alert.

"Xiao'bao, quickly, look over there. The river is dry already and they're building the foundation there." Wang Juan pulled Zhang Xiao'bao onto the bridge. She supported her hand on the bridge railing and stood on the balls of feet while watching. She was unusually excited; this was mainly because she designed some parts of the building layout.

It was the room that was closest to this bridge. She designed it so that it had a pink color scheme and inside there was a quite a few low-positioned spots to hang clothing. She also got people to make a big decorative pillow that was even bigger than herself, and fresh flowers will be displayed for all four seasons of the year.

At first when Zhang Xiao'bao saw her design, he didn't say anything. He felt that Wang Juan was not designing the room for other people but was actually making a custom room for herself, otherwise, there wouldn't be those short clothing racks. These kind of things will be taller as the body grows--- everything was possible.

"Xiao'bao, say something. Is that place pretty or not?" Seeing that Zhang Xiao'bao didn't make a sound, she asked again.

"It's pretty, it has an abstract type of beauty, it's exactly like Van Gogh or Picasso. There's a sliver of undertone that can not be easily detected that is hidden inside the chaos. This reminds me of the disorganized graves on the mountain behind the orphanage I stay at as a child.

When you look at it during the day, you might not think much of it as it looked boring and dull. If you wanted to fully understand that place, you have to go at night. It will make you heart race and it will also cause a sudden change in your psyche. Occasionally, there will be a sound that wasn't made by you, and when the sound comes, you will subconsciously join in with the sound.

Then, you will truly understand that high pitches are not an obstacle for you. Your intelligence will be stimulated to develop, allowing you to evolve from the narrow science where ghosts and spirits do not exist into the broad science where the areas of research that are delved into are the existence of everything and the future."

Zhang Xiao'bao looked at the messy pile of construction supplies and finally said that dialogue.

After Hu'zi listened, he felt that he was able to see the Picasso's painting that Zhang Xiao'bao talked about.

"Comrade Zhang Xiao'bao, please do not insult Van Gogh and Picasso." Wang Juan took in a deep breath and disagreed with Zhang Xiao'bao.

"Nope, comrade Wang Juan, be assured, I absolutely don't have that kind of thought. I'm insulting the messy graves, trying really hard to insult it, so that it can be exposed in the dark night. To paint it, the deathly pale light of the moon needs to be borrowed. Let's go back and wait until it's finished before coming to see it again."

Zhang Xiao'bao really didn't have the mindset to look at this pile of materials that would later form a building. What he was worried about was who would be sent to check the drought.

Yesterday, Magistrate Cheng got someone to ask around and it was found that a person from the higher ups would arrive in two days, which will be tomorrow. The most important thing was to consider how to deal with this person.

"I know you don't know how to appreciate it. You always see the beauty of the result, but you don't know that it is already beautiful before the result has arrived." Wang Juan muttered, and followed Zhang Xiao'bao back. Then she walked to the front again saying that she wanted to go see how much more the fishes in the pond have grown.

"The people over there will be coming soon. How could I think of appreciating results? What I am thinking now is how to kill this matter while it's still in a cradle1."

Zhang Xiao'bao followed behind her and when he arrived at the pond, there were small groups of ducks and geese floating about. Xiao'hong was standing on the side of the pond while holding a long stick in her hand. Her mouth was constantly moving as if she was talking with the ducks and geese.

Xiao'hong happily greeted Zhang Xiao'bao and Wang Juan and pointed to a goose in the water to introduce it to them.

As soon as she finished speaking, the goose really did signal the other geese to get a one-foot-long fish onto the shore. The fish seemed unwilling to accept its fate and was flopping up and down.

"Ah, the fish. The fish that were placed into the water were brought out by the geese before the fishes have a chance to grow." Wang Juan didn't consider whether the goose was smart or not; she came here to just watch the fish.

Zhang Xiao'bao praised, "It's smart. Later, I will stuff it into the oven at Er'niu's house that is used to grill fish fillets and see if it can open the oven door from the inside."

"Ah? Young Master, you can't kill it. I still rely on it to lead the other geese back obediently." Xiao'hong was terrified when she heard that. This goose was the most obedient one, and can take care of other geese. All she had to do was take care of this one goose and she wouldn't have to worry about other things.

"Then move it to a different pond. There are six ponds in total and only this one contains fish. Why do you have to put them here?" Zhang Xiao'bao was a little resigned. The pond in front of him was not the largest, nor was it the best.

"Okay, I'll change the place now, but Rong'rong cannot be killed. Rong'rong, come here quickly, If you don't come, you will be roasted."

Xiao Hong agreed, and signaled to the goose in the pond. The goose really came over, and a group of geese followed behind which surprised Zhang Xiao'bao and Wang Juan.

"Let's leave. Let's go back and exercise, Hu'zi, pick up the fish and make soup out of it." Zhang Xiao'bao pulled Wang Juan in the direction back. He didn't intend to let the fish go back into the pond.

At the administrative office of the San'shui County, Majesty Cheng was also restless. He was trying to guess who would come this time. If a serious and responsible person comes, it will be doomed when they begin to investigate the Zhang Manor. He promised the Zhang Manor that he will try to delay the investigation until summer fall.

The Magistrate Assistant tried to persuade him. Just earlier, when the Magistrate was eating his meal, he didn't even eat much and just drank alcohol.

Majesty Cheng slowly closed his eyes, "Okay, I will take a nap first, remember to call me if something happens over there."

The Magistrate Assistant agreed and took his leave. Magistrate Cheng closed his eyes, but he couldn't fall asleep. As soon as his head became a bit heavy, the image of people from the Zhang Manor being taken away would surface to his mind even though he knew that even if the lands there didn't follow the regulations, the people on the manor would be fine.

After a few times of trying falling asleep, Magistrate Cheng decided to sit and look at the ground thinking about how to handle whoever were to come. It will be the most ideal if the people that came didn't have much time on their hands and only just a few days of time. In that case, they wouldn't be able to arrive at every place in the entire county. Or, the people who came were lazy and chose to only look at the documents prepared by the administrative office. After taking a few glances, they would leave to go do something else.

"Uncle Cheng, Uncle Cheng, I have come to see you." While Magistrate Cheng was making speculations, Zhou Xi'hu's voice was heard from outside.

"Oh, Xi'hu, come in." Magistrate Cheng greeted him but he didn't move; he just sat there and waited. When the sounds of his steps reached the front of the door, the door opened and Zhou Xi'hu, who was in high spirits, walked in happily.

"For what matter has Xi'hu come here for? You made a lot of money in the last two trades, right? Now you can speak to your uncle2 about it to put him at ease."

Looking at Zhou Xi'hu, who seemed to be a different person compared to before, Magistrate Cheng was also quite satisfied.

"I can't make a guess, could it be that you know?" Magistrate Cheng shook his head and suddenly realized that if Zhou Xihu didn't know the answer, he would definitely not come here.

Zhou Xi'hu puffed out his chest and nodded vigorously. "Of course, I do know. The people from the prefecture are going to accompany the people sent by the imperial court to have a walk around but only for show. After all, the people at the imperial court want to check the entire state, it's impossible to check each place one by one. Uncle Cheng, now do you know who it will be?"

"I don't know." Magistrate Cheng had been thinking about this for the past two days and his mind was now just a tangle of mess so he couldn't think of it.

"Oh, it's going to be my uncle, the prefecture's Si Cang Can Jun3. He's in charge of taxation matters. Last time when my uncle came, he said that I was ignorant and that I always got into trouble. This time I will prove him otherwise." Seeing that Magistrate Cheng couldn't guess, Zhou Xi'hu disclosed it himself.

"Really? Your uncle the one that's coming? I'm relieved now." Magistrate Cheng suddenly felt sore all over his body at this moment and wished that right now he could fall over and sleep.

"Uncle Cheng, rest assured this time, my uncle will help the Zhang Manor once he sees me. I understand now that doing real business is more profitable than conning and robbing others." Zhou Xi'hu wholeheartedly wanted to present his best side to his family for once and his face was flushed from the excitement.

The county magistrate Cheng looked at Zhou Xi'hu, feeling a little helpless and thinking that this child still didn't know some things. Making money from business deals depended on what kind of deals were made. TOut of the two business deals that the Zhang Manor offered, which one was not a unique one?.

"Yes, the Zhang Manor still doesn't know about this. Quick, call Chen'dong and ask him to go to Zhang Manor to notify them of this. When he returns, bring back one catty of wood fungus, I need it to properly treat my guest." Magistrate Cheng only recalled this now. Such good news must be delivered to the Manor, so he made an order to the servant that was guarding outside the door.

Hearing this news, Zhang Xiao'bao and Wang Juan both breathed a sigh of relief and then ordered people to prepare a catty of fungus. Zhang Xiao'bao thought about it again and said, "It's good that people are here. I will take this opportunity to invite Zhou Xi'hu's uncle here and only his uncle. There's no need for the other people from the imperial court to come. The situation about that building will now be more secure."

Translator's Notes

1. Kill the matter while it's still in a cradle

The phrase literally refers to killing a baby while the baby is still in their cradle. It's a metaphor for fixing a problem before it has a chance to grow and worsen.

2. Uncle

Magistrate Cheng is actually talking about Zhou Xi'hu's real uncle who is a sixth rank official.

3. Prefecture Si Cang Can Jun

This is a government position in ancient China, and is responsible for managing the supplies and money of the prefecture.