Hao Yongtai could sense that the atmosphere between Chu Qiguang and Ding Daoxiao had turned rather delicate. Fearing that Chu Qiguang might come out on the worse end, he wanted to say something to smooth things over. Unfortunately, having dedicated himself to martial arts since childhood, he was poor with words and had no idea what to say.
Just as Hao Yongtai was fretting, Hao Xiangtong walked into the hall with a bright smile. Stepping directly between the two men, she greeted Ding Daoxiao, "Brother Ding, what brings you here? It's been quite a while since we last saw each other."
As she spoke, she tugged Chu Qiguang aside. "Chu Qiguang, who in Qingyang County doesn't know Brother Ding's boundless righteousness and passion for helping others? Improve your attitude."
She then turned back to Ding Daoxiao. "Brother Ding, please don't take offense. This silly boy is a bit dull-witted. A few days ago, when I tried to give him silver, he wouldn't even take it. He speaks without thinking and just blurts out whatever comes to mind."
Ding Daoxiao smiled with an air of complete amiability. "Xiangtong, do you take your Brother Ding for such a petty man? We're practically family here, and we'll be looking out for each other from now on. There's no need to stand on ceremony."
Looking back at Chu Qiguang, he let out a hearty laugh. "I appreciate people who speak their minds. If you ever need help with anything, come find me anytime. I think highly of you."
Ding Daoxiao's expression was entirely open and genial, yet murder raged within his heart: *This kid is truly adept at fanning flames and making waves... If I can't bring him under my wing, I must eradicate him as soon as possible before he ruins my plans.*
On the other side, Chu Qiguang also looked at Ding Daoxiao with a smile, having already suppressed his surging emotions. With a face full of warmth, he said, "Brother Ding, please don't hold it against me. I've always been clumsy with words, so allow me to apologize."
As he clasped his hands in salute, Chu Qiguang felt a chill run through him: *Ergou's memories were acting up again just now. Ding Daoxiao is a thorn in my side; I must make sure he dies.*
After exchanging pleasantries, the two were soon calling each other brothers, looking as though they were old friends of many years.
Only then did Hao Xiangtong breathe a sigh of relief. She had been waiting outside the hall, intending to enter once she saw her father leave, only to walk in on Chu Qiguang and Ding Daoxiao practically at each other's throats.
Now she looked at Chu Qiguang and grumbled silently: *This fool... Of all the people to provoke, why Ding Daoxiao? Doesn't he know the man could kill him with a flick of a finger? Good thing I stepped in to stop it. Honestly... Being so foolish, he'll be bullied to death sooner or later.*
Ding Daoxiao soon found an excuse to take his leave, leaving only Chu Qiguang, Hao Yongtai, and Hao Xiangtong to share the feast.
During the meal, Hao Yongtai explained to his sister the method Chu Qiguang had devised, praising him lavishly as he spoke. Hao Xiangtong listened in quiet astonishment: *Chu Qiguang is actually well-versed in the county yamen's grain and tax ledgers, not to mention official bureaucratic procedures? Normally, isn't that impossible without a scholarly family background? Yet he's clearly just a peasant... Could someone behind the scenes be coaching him?*
When the banquet ended, Hao Yongtai needed to rest before his martial training, so Hao Xiangtong escorted Chu Qiguang out. Passing through pavilions and corridors, the two chatted as they walked.
"Silly boy," Hao Xiangtong said, "when are you going to continue telling me stories?"
Chu Qiguang frowned slightly, thinking that Hao Xiangtong was truly lacking in manners. No wonder she ended up getting kidnapped to the grasslands later; she must have offended plenty of people with her sharp tongue in everyday life.
*If you weren't a seed for entering the Dao, I wouldn't even bother with you.*
Chu Qiguang smiled and coaxed, "I've been too busy these past few days. Once I wrap up the tax and corvée equalization matter and get some free time, I'll definitely tell you plenty of stories. When the time comes, I'll go all out and tell them to you for an entire day."
Hao Xiangtong's heart gave a sudden flutter. Her large, bright eyes blinked as she looked at him, thinking: *Wouldn't that mean spending an entire day with him? This fool... he didn't do that on purpose, did he?*
Yet she could not detect the slightest hint of lechery, lust, or infatuation on Chu Qiguang's face. All she could do was turn her head away and say, "Who said I wanted to listen to you for a whole day? Even if you have that much free time, I'd get sick of listening."
*That's even better.* Chu Qiguang breathed a silent sigh of relief. Seeing her turn away with an apparent look of impatience, he quickly said, "I know the way ahead, so there's no need to trouble yourself to see me out, Miss Hao. Please go attend to your own business."
Watching Chu Qiguang bid a hasty farewell and scurry off, Hao Xiangtong let out a scoff. *Why does this fool leave every time after only saying a few words to me? What does he even mean by that?*
The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she felt. On her way back to her room, she instructed her maidservant, "Dong'er, go to the Daoist temple and buy me a month's supply of body-tempering paste. I'm going into seclusion to train this month."
The maid gasped in surprise. "Huh?"
"What are you 'huh'-ing about?" Hao Xiangtong snorted. "Once I reach the second stage of martial arts, I'm going to beat up every single man in the first stage."
***
Stepping out of the Hao residence's front gates, Chu Qiguang could not help but sigh inwardly: *Hah, these pampered young ladies from prominent families are truly hard to deal with. She looked so impatient just walking me to the door.*
His thoughts shifted, drifting toward Hao Wen, Hao Yongtai, and even Ding Daoxiao and the Wu family.
*If the Wu, Hao, and Ding families truly follow my advice, with their power in Qingyang County and a righteous pretext on their side, it wouldn't be surprising no matter how big a storm they stir up.*
*Alas, whether surveying the land or equalizing the demon soldier pay, both are good measures that benefit the state and the people. But no matter how good a policy is, those executing it will only consider their own families' interests, waging private battles under the guise of implementing state policy.*
*Surveying the land was used to strike at Grand Secretary Wu, while equalizing the demon soldier pay is now being used to pull Magistrate He down from his post.*
*When state affairs and family affairs are tangled together like this, it would be a miracle if anything ever got done properly.*
Chu Qiguang shook his head in the end. *It's all a problem with the system.*
When he returned to his courtyard, Qiao Zhi was the first to greet him, asking how things had gone.
Yet as soon as Chu Qiguang reached out to stroke the cat's head, Qiao Zhi began circling him, sniffing intently with his nose before saying with a face full of suspicion, "Hmm? Something is wrong with you!"
"What happened? Was I drugged?" Chu Qiguang asked with a slight start. "Or is someone tailing me?"
Qiao Zhi circled him once more and said with utter gravity, "Why do you smell of a woman?"
Chu Qiguang gave him a blank look. "?"
Qiao Zhi took another deep sniff, even licking Chu Qiguang's clothes, before yelling out, "It's the smell of rouge and powder! Weren't you supposed to meet Hao Wen and Hao Yongtai? Did you talk business with them in a brothel?"
"A brothel?" Chen Gang and the two younger brothers he had brought along today snapped their heads up instantly, looking at Chu Qiguang with a mix of curiosity and excitement.
Chu Qiguang waved his hand dismissively. "What nonsense are you talking about? That must be the scent of rouge and powder from Hao Xiangtong. I ran into her today and exchanged a few words with her."
Chapter 73