Misty Rain of the Old Times

Chapter 780 Hope is Unfounded Worry

Having understood the source of the conflict between the two elders, Chen Xuan felt relieved. He was genuinely worried that the two would get into a real fight, which would put him, as a junior, in a difficult position.

They didn't even have a real conflict; it was just a bickering out of frustration after something like this happened. In short, it wasn't a big problem, and even the worst outcome wouldn't shake them. At most, their political enemies might seize on this and use it to annoy people occasionally. Of course, someone of their caliber wouldn't have gotten to where they are today if they couldn't even handle something this simple.

The matter was resolved once Chen Xuan, a junior, intervened and made light of it. There was no use in being anxious; all that was left was to wait for the outcome.

With the bigwig Lao Gao personally giving the order, the government machinery was set in motion. No matter who kidnapped the students of the academy, they would be brought to justice. They wouldn't be able to escape. The imperial court had plenty of capable people who could chase them down to the ends of the earth. Even if they went to other countries, they would be extradited back if they were serious about it.

However, it is uncertain whether those kidnapped students will be able to return alive. If they are alive, it will be fine, and the aftermath will be easy. If they are dead, Lao Gao and Mr. Pei will definitely be furious, and the entire Huizhou will be shaken up. Countless people will be punished.

In any case, it is inevitable to rectify the officialdom in Huizhou. Lao Gao has already established himself here in the few months he has been here. He had not taken any major actions before, but the kidnapping of the students has given him a good reason.

Chen Xuan didn't understand the ways of officialdom, but with his not-so-bright brain, he could still figure things out after a little thought. Just thinking about these things gave him a headache; it was too much of a headache. He was definitely not cut out to be an official. Let alone governing people's livelihoods, the power struggles in officialdom were something that someone like him, who only knew how to throw punches, couldn't handle.

According to Lao Gao, the results should be available by noon, and all that's left is to wait. Chen Xuan didn't dwell on it and decisively diverted their attention to avoid them arguing over a single word.

Chen Xuan gave a slight nod to Xia Mei and the others, then looked at the two elders and smiled, "Uncle, Mr. Pei, I've recently taken Qian Ning and the others on a trip around, visiting many places and bringing back quite a few local specialties. We don't need that many, and due to the rush, we didn't prepare much, so we just brought some. They're not anything valuable, so I hope you two elders won't mind. We're all family, and I won't be so particular. You two can decide how to distribute them."

As soon as he spoke, the palace maids and eunuchs who had accompanied him began to present the gifts they had brought. There were quite a lot of them; Chen Xuan had brought a whole cartload, and the various gifts almost piled up into a small mountain in the living room.

Old Gao was immediately overjoyed. It wasn't the gift itself that pleased him; it was the sentiment that made him happy. He felt perfectly justified in accepting Chen Xuan's gift. It was a junior's gesture, and who would dare to use it to accuse him of accepting a bribe?

He had no time to pay attention to Mr. Pei, but instead pretended to put on a stern face and scolded, "Nephew, you're being too polite. You've come all this way, why bring gifts? I'll let it go this time, but next time you bring something, I'll send it back to you double the amount."

"What a wonderful thing!" Chen Xuan was delighted and smiled, saying, "It's nothing valuable, just a small token of my appreciation. I'm glad you don't mind."

"You," Old Gao shook his head, looking helpless, then laughed and cried at the same time, "How can you give things away like that? You should personally deliver Mr. Pei's gift to him."

He was giving advice to a junior, and he truly treated Chen Xuan as a junior. In reality, this kind of behavior of delivering something to someone else's house halfway through is very offensive.

Scratching his head awkwardly, Chen Xuan knew this all too well and said embarrassedly, "We originally planned to visit Mr. Pei after we went to the capital, but we found out that Mr. Pei was with my uncle before we came, so we brought him along. As you both know, I am not a member of the scholarly community, and since Mr. Pei lives in the academy, it would be inappropriate for me to go there and disturb his peace. I hope you will be understanding."

At the end, Chen Xuan looked at Mr. Pei with an apologetic expression.

It wasn't that he hadn't thought things through; it was just that he didn't want to make it too formal with his own people. A casual approach was fine, and everyone would be happy.

Anyone familiar with Chen Xuan knows his personality. Mr. Pei wouldn't care about such things; he was already happy that he even thought of him. Stroking his beard, he raised his chin smugly at Old Gao and said, "Did you hear that, Lord Gao? Half of what's here belongs to me. Don't think you can hide it from me just because it's in your house. I'll have someone send my share over later. If anything's missing, I'll hold you responsible and make sure you never have a moment's peace."

Old Gao wasn't about to give in. He immediately glared at him and said, "Dream on! You'll be lucky if I give you some leftover soup. You think you can make decisions for me once you're in my hands?"

"You shameless scoundrel, you dare to snatch something a junior gave me?" Mr. Pei snapped again.

Old Gao said smugly, "That's just how I am, what can you do to me, you old scoundrel?"

Mr. Pei is usually gentle and refined, while Lao Gao is dignified and steady. Why do they always clash when they're together? They act like children, making a ruckus. No wonder they can get along so well.

Chen Xuan quickly smoothed things over, saying, "Alright, alright, Uncle, Mr. Pei, these things weren't easy to come by. We've traveled a long way over the past few months, from south to north and from east to west. In the south, there are dried fruits, pearls, and shellfish from the Rong Kingdom's coast; in the north, there are snow mountain jade and ginseng from the Yu Hua Kingdom; there are also chilled jade pears; and the red thread that's all the rage in the Yu Hua Kingdom... There are so many, I can't remember them all. You can decide what to do with them after you've divided them up."

These words left the two of them stunned, not because these things were so hard to come by, but because Chen Xuan and his companions had actually traveled such a long way, visiting almost everywhere except for Frostmoon Kingdom.

Well, this made them all a little envious. Having lived for decades and been entangled in worldly affairs, they hadn't been able to travel properly. The chances of going abroad were extremely rare, and they hadn't even been to many places in their own country.

They didn't care about gifts, but Old Gao asked curiously, "Nephew, you two seem to be having a very leisurely time. It's still early, so tell us where you went and what you experienced, so we two old folks can broaden our horizons."

Old Gao isn't actually old; he's in his prime. But he's almost a grandfather, so he automatically categorizes himself as an old guy. This kind of mentality is quite normal in this world.

There was nothing he couldn't talk about on this trip, so Chen Xuan chatted with them. The little princess and the others would occasionally add a few words from the side, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

Even though the two of them were over a hundred years old combined and had seen many ups and downs, they were still often shocked by what they heard: that Prince Qing had actually developed to such a scale in the south, and that Yuhua Kingdom had undergone such a change.

They originally just wanted to have some fun, but they never expected to actually learn something new.

In fact, they had all heard some news from various sources, but none of it was as detailed as Chen Xuan's personal experience.

Fortunately, Chen Xuan focused on the key points and omitted many parts; otherwise, he could have talked for three days and three nights without finishing.

After Chen Xuan finished speaking, Mr. Pei looked at him with a reproachful yet helpless expression and said, "Young Chen, you're about to become a father, how can you be so inconsiderate, running around with Qian Ning like this? It's not proper. You should be at home resting and taking care of your pregnancy. Oh well, with your abilities, you're not inconsiderate. I won't say anything about what you young people do."

Chen Xuan knew his behavior was somewhat rash, so he readily and humbly accepted the instruction, saying, "What you say is true, sir. I will be careful. Thank you for your concern."

Old Gao said with concern, "Speaking of which, my grandson is due to be born in the next few months. Nephew, why don't you go to Ming'er's place after you go back? Your aunt can take care of one or two people, it's the same as taking care of two. Young people are often immature, and we elders can't help much, we can only offer some assistance with daily life."

"Thank you very much, Uncle. I won't hesitate to trouble you when I need your help," Chen Xuan said sincerely. He didn't mention whether he should go to Xiao Gao's place. He wouldn't stand on ceremony, but he didn't need to and didn't want to cause trouble for others.

Speaking of which, Xiao Gao's baby is indeed due soon, in two or three months at most. Chen Xuan will definitely be going to the wedding banquet then.

Some things would seem contrived if said too much, so Lao Gao didn't say anything more. Earlier, when Chen Xuan was talking about his experience on this trip, he mentioned Prince Qing's current achievements in Rong Kingdom. Both Lao Gao and Mr. Pei's expressions changed slightly, but they didn't delve into the topic at all, and even deliberately avoided it.

Mr. Pei's expression changed the most. Chen Xuan, who noticed his expression, couldn't help but think of what he had said when he observed the celestial phenomena. However, everyone avoided mentioning it, and Chen Xuan naturally wouldn't say anything inappropriate.

Apart from Mr. Pei, both Lao Gao and Chen Xuan have rather sensitive identities. How will those with ulterior motives view what they say?

Time flies when you're chatting, and before they knew it, noon had passed. The group went to a restaurant, where Lao Gao had already arranged the meal in advance.

Even though Lao Gao is now in a high position of power, the meals he serves to his guests are not delicacies or fancy dishes. They are just a dozen or so ordinary home-style dishes, with wine and meat, which is considered quite a feast.

Of course he is not short of money, but as an official, he should set an example. There are gains and losses. Once you have power, you can't enjoy a luxurious life like a rich man. Otherwise, with droughts everywhere, what will the common people think if you are enjoying delicacies at home?

Amidst the pleasant atmosphere of eating, drinking, and chatting, Chen Xuan thought about his experiences on the way into Huizhou and looked at Lao Gao curiously, asking, "By the way, Uncle, there is something I don't understand. I wonder if you could enlighten me?"

"You silly boy, just say what you want to say, why are you being so polite with me?" Old Gao said with a smile, treating Chen Xuan like family at all.

Chen Xuan directly asked the question that had been on his mind: "Uncle, we've been to so many places these past few months and seen so much. Whether it's Rong Kingdom or Yuhua Kingdom, Huizhou is the most peaceful place we've seen in the past few months. No matter how well other places are governed, there are always disaster victims, and there are always people gathering to storm government offices, and even uprisings. But in Huizhou, we hardly see any disaster victims. Although people still look distressed, they don't look desperate. Instead, their eyes are filled with hope. I suppose the peace and tranquility here must be the work of you, Uncle?"

Old Gao was taken aback when Chen Xuan asked this question, then chuckled and said, "Nephew, you flatter me too much. In the face of such a calamity, even with all my abilities, I cannot guarantee complete peace within the territory."

"In any case, it is only under your uncle's rule that the territory is so stable," Chen Xuan said with a smile.

Shaking his head, Old Gao's smile faded as he pondered, "Nephew, you don't understand. The reason we're in this situation now isn't because I played a significant role. I was merely a manager or an executor."

"I'd like to hear the details," Chen Xuan nodded, indicating he was all ears.

At this moment, Mr. Pei became serious, and his eyes showed a hint of admiration as he looked at Lao Gao. Although Lao Gao spoke lightly, in reality, if it weren't for his governance, Huizhou would not be in its current state. Just look at other places for comparison.

Old Gao pondered for a moment and said, "Since my nephew has asked, I will speak. To be honest, there are two reasons why Huizhou is in its current state. My role has been truly insignificant. Firstly, I have only diligently implemented the disaster relief plan that Ming'er presented during the palace examination. There were too many complexities and difficulties involved, but fortunately, we have managed to overcome them one by one. There are still many shortcomings that need to be improved and implemented. As his father, I naturally have to set an example and realize everything that Ming'er proposed, so that the world knows that it is not just empty talk. It seems that the effect is quite good now, but how easy is it to achieve perfection?"

"Secondly, there is the financial and logistical support from the imperial court; otherwise, even the best strategies are just castles in the air."

Hearing this, Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow slightly. Clearly, the second point that Lao Gao mentioned was the key. Could it be that the imperial court's resources were all being tilted towards Huizhou, resulting in the current situation? Was it to prove that Xiao Gao's disaster relief method was effective and to set an example for the world?

Seemingly sensing Chen Xuan's thoughts, Old Gao shook his head and laughed, "What are you thinking? All the land under heaven belongs to the emperor, and all the people within his territory are his subjects. They are all flesh and blood, so how can we only take care of one place?"

Realizing he had misunderstood, Chen Xuan said embarrassedly, "The drought has affected almost the entire country. If we don't concentrate resources in a small number of areas, it's almost impossible to treat everyone equally and take care of the whole country, isn't it? Perhaps it sounds cruel, but even though I haven't read many books, I know this is the truth after a little thought."

Nodding, Old Gao said with a mix of emotion and amazement, "My dear nephew is right, but that was in the past. In the face of great disasters, especially droughts, as long as the problems of food and water are solved, relative stability can be maintained, and the people will have hope of survival, and naturally, there will be no chaos."

With a flicker of thought, Chen Xuan said thoughtfully, "That's true. Solving the drinking water problem is easy enough. We can send people to survey the earth's veins and dig wells. We don't need many. Having a stable water source for a town can solve the immediate problem. But what about food? We can't just conjure it up out of thin air, can we?"

"What if it really appeared out of thin air?" Old Gao asked rhetorically.

A thought suddenly struck Chen Xuan, and he immediately understood—this explained everything.

Old Gao didn't keep him in suspense any longer and continued, "That's why I said that was in the past. Although our Jing Kingdom is currently facing a nationwide disaster, we don't lack food. With enough food to fill the people's stomachs, they can see the hope of survival and won't panic!"

"You should be able to guess where the food comes from, right, my dear nephew?"

Nodding, Chen Xuan said, "We have some clues. It must be the underground cave at the foot of Wanku Mountain, right?"

“That’s right, it is there. You’ve been there yourself, my dear nephew, so you know the situation better than we do. I know some information. The imperial court has completely opened up a passage to enter and exit the cave. The creatures inside are huge, and many of them are edible. They can be transported out, ground into powder, mixed with some rice bran, and eaten by the people to fill their stomachs. In addition, many plants that can replace grain have been discovered inside. They are being transported out continuously and distributed to various places. This is the root cause of the fact that our Jing Kingdom is still able to maintain a stable situation!” Old Gao answered Chen Xuan with certainty.

Although he had expected it, Chen Xuan was still somewhat surprised after Lao Gao confirmed it.

The underground cave is vast and boundless, a veritable inexhaustible treasure trove. The Jing Kingdom, having entered first, holds a unique advantage and is now making full use of this cave world.

However, Chen Xuan frowned slightly. Was having such a treasure trove behind him really a good thing? For now, they could use the cave heaven to solve the disaster, but what about in the future? How much of an impact would it have on all walks of life in the surface world?

Given his current position, Lao Gao could easily see through Chen Xuan's thoughts. He shook his head and said, "Nephew, there's no need to worry. The court has its own considerations. They are forced into this situation now, but once they overcome this difficulty, they will weigh the pros and cons and make adjustments accordingly."

These were not things Chen Xuan should worry about, so he didn't dwell on them and nodded to indicate that he understood.

Suddenly, an image flashed through his mind: the mirage city he had seen during the desert sandstorm not long ago. Chen Xuan remembered that the giants of the underground cave had been suppressing the so-called Netherworld Clan, and now the Jing Kingdom had actually opened a passage in and out...

'The images presented by mirages may not have a real-world basis; they could represent events from the past or future!'

The thought suddenly popped into Chen Xuan's head, and he felt a chill run down his spine, hoping that he was just worrying unnecessarily.

It is clear that the Jing Kingdom is now exploring the underground caves on a large scale, and it is unknown whether they have made contact with the giants.

There's no point in thinking about these things now. What's meant to happen can't be stopped by anyone, and what's not meant to happen won't come no matter how much you think about it. Suppressing his thoughts, Chen Xuan decisively put these ideas aside. He wouldn't add unnecessary pressure by saying something baseless.

As Chen Xuan was lost in thought, someone came to report that there was news about the kidnapped students from the academy… (End of Chapter)