Chapter 321 - 125: Taichu

Chapter 321: Chapter 125: Taichu

CREAK!

In Shangluo City, on streets wide enough for sixteen carriages to ride abreast, wheels clip-clopped over the bluestone, rolling across the reflection of the setting sun.

Inside the carriage.

"Young friend Fang Rui, now that you’re here, you should settle in as soon as possible. As for household registration, it might be difficult for others, but for me, it’s not a problem..." Zhou Changfa said, patting his chest.

Even for someone like Yu Song, a caravan master, getting a household registration was an incredibly difficult task, but for Zhou Changfa, it was truly a trivial matter.

Tax periods, residency duration, comprehensive evaluations... none of it was necessary.

—In a nation ruled by men, there were always backdoors left for certain people. It was the same everywhere.

"Thank you, Brother Zhou." Fang Rui cupped his fist, mentally noting the favor.

He knew full well that even for a retired old leader like Zhou Changfa, whose status was undeniable, he no longer held official power. Calling in favors meant indebting himself to others.

"It’s a trivial matter, not worth mentioning."

Zhou Changfa waved his hand. "However, finding a larger, well-located courtyard in the city on short notice is truly difficult. Fortunately, I have another courtyard. It’s where I lived when I first came to Shangluo. I moved out later, and it’s been empty ever since."

"That’s the place I mentioned I wanted to take you to."

In truth, the housing situation in Shangluo City was far more dire than he let on.

Someone like Yu Song, even if he obtained a household registration and qualified to buy property, couldn’t just buy whatever he wanted. Any place in a decent location was either astronomically expensive or not for sale, leaving only the option of an "old, dilapidated, and small" house on the outskirts of Shangluo City.

"Thank you, Brother Zhou. The money..."

"Haha, young friend Fang Rui, you’re treating me like a stranger. Why talk about money?"

Zhou Changfa shook his head. "Living in Shangluo is no easy feat. You should keep it for yourself, young friend!"

"This... very well. In that case, thank you again, Brother Zhou!"

Fang Rui cupped his fist again and didn’t insist further.

With his current cover, suddenly producing an "astronomical sum of money" wouldn’t fit his persona and would only arouse suspicion.

’Since I already owe him a favor, I don’t mind owing him a little more,’ Fang Rui thought.

"The residence isn’t too large, but it’s quiet and elegant. It’s a great place, but there’s just one problem."

Zhou Changfa seemed to recall something, his beard twitching. "The neighbor, that Old Yuan, is a bit difficult to deal with."

"Oh?!"

Fang Rui was surprised.

That an Upper Three Grade Martial Artist like Zhou Changfa, a retired official of the Great Yu Court and definitely a major figure in Shangluo City, would find someone difficult to deal with was unexpected.

As if sensing Fang Rui’s confusion, Zhou Changfa explained, "That Old Yuan is named Yuan Haogu. He retired from the Central Hub of the Court. At the peak of his career, he entered the Purple Cloud Pavilion, had his name and birth details recorded on the ’Primordial Golden List,’ and wore the ’Celestial Heart Seal’ at his waist..."

"The Primordial Golden List? The Celestial Heart Seal?"

"Ah, the ’Primordial Golden List’ is one of the Saint Emperor’s Relics. The ’Celestial Heart Seal’ is a protective Qi Fortune Secret Treasure bestowed only upon high ministers who have entered the Purple Cloud Pavilion. Even an ordinary Upper Three Grade Martial Artist can’t harm them."

’Another Innate Supreme Treasure!’ Fang Rui’s eyes narrowed.

"With the ’Celestial Heart Seal’ for protection, and what’s more..."

Zhou Changfa continued, "That old fellow Yuan Haogu has no children, is upright and incorruptible, and is extremely righteous in his conduct. He’s a handful!"

"In the Divine Capital, the entire imperial court of high officials couldn’t do a thing about him. After he retired, they sent him here to Shangluo to live out his days. And even then, Old Yuan can’t sit still. He goes out for a stroll in the city every day, specifically looking for injustices to meddle in. No one can do anything about him. Nowadays, all the dandies in the city take a detour when they see him coming..."

’I get it. This Yuan Haogu is a figure similar to Hai Rui.’

Fang Rui mused, then asked with a smile, "Brother Zhou, I don’t see you as someone who... why would you be afraid of him?"

"You’ve got a point, young friend. As the former Director of the Divine Capture Bureau, how could I possibly commit crimes? It’s that Old Yuan—he meddles in things that are none of his business!"

Zhou Changfa snorted. "Young friend, you be the judge. At night, I close my doors and enjoy myself in my own home. Who am I bothering? But that detestable Old Yuan comes and smashes my front gate with his cane..."

Hearing this, an image instantly flashed through Fang Rui’s mind: Late at night, amidst the incessant sounds of string and wind instruments, Zhou Changfa is embracing a beautiful woman and enjoying himself when suddenly an old man with a stern face starts BANGING on the gate outside with his cane...

PFFT!

Even with his acting skills, which were comparable to a Professional Level thespian, he couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing.

"Young friend Fang Rui, you... Haha!"

As Zhou Changfa spoke, he started laughing too. "That Old Yuan isn’t a Martial Artist. He’s old and doesn’t sleep well. I’m a magnanimous man, so I won’t bicker with him."

Though his tone was full of disdain, Fang Rui could still hear the admiration Zhou Changfa held for Yuan Haogu.

"Sigh, I’m already a man with one foot in the grave. I only have this one little hobby: listening to music, having some fun. To not let me enjoy myself... isn’t that just making things difficult for me? So, I moved out!"

"But you, young friend Fang Rui, have a calm personality. You should be able to get along with Old Yuan. And if you can’t, it doesn’t matter. That Old Yuan’s temper is like a stone in a latrine—stinky and hard... If you really can’t stand it, at worst, I’ll find you another place after a while."

...

「That afternoon」

With the help of Zhou Changfa and Yu Song, the Fang Family moved in smoothly.

As evening fell, Fang Rui met the "Old Yuan" Zhou Changfa had described.

This Yuan Haogu was a man in his sixties or seventies with a graying beard, dressed in simple cloth. He was so thin it seemed a gust of wind could blow him over, yet his spirit was vigorous, and his eyes were bright and sharp, as if they could see right through a person’s heart.