Chapter 658: Minister of Revenue, Ji Xingsheng

"Do you get fish to eat if you become a cat god?"

"You should, and more fish than you could ever eat."

"Is it that good?"

"Yes, and you can accumulate merit."

The Tabby Cat in front of the chessboard was somewhat tempted.

It hesitated a moment before asking, "Then what's the catch?"

Mo Yuan thought for a moment and said, "There's no catch. With Mister Chen around, you can go wherever you want without restriction."

Lihua thought it over and said, "Chen the Good Man always says there is no such thing as a free advantage."

"That's how the saying goes," Mo Yuan said with a smile. "But for you, this really is a free advantage."

Lihua let out an "Ooh" and asked, "Then why doesn't Mo Yuan go become a dragon god?"

"That's completely different, of course. Immortals from a Human Dao Investiture are orthodox, while someone like me is just a local ruffian."

"Is Mo Yuan a ruffian?"

"Of course. Robbing people is what I do best."

"That's so impressive."

"Huh?"

Lihua said, "Lihua doesn't know how to rob people. So many people see I'm just a Mao'er and tease me. They aren't afraid of me at all."

"Baring your teeth is scary enough."

"Like this?"

Lihua bared its teeth.

Mo Yuan took a look, paused, and said, "Alright, you really aren't suited for it."

If it ran out to rob people looking like that, others would just think this Mao'er was begging to be taken in.

Lihua rather liked Mo Yuan, mostly because of his name.

Because he and Mo Yu shared the same character.

A Mao'er's thoughts were always simple; it took a liking to him for such a straightforward reason.

Lihua placed down a piece and said, "I win!"

Mo Yuan froze for a moment. "I was careless..."

Lihua smiled and stroked its whiskers.

"Impressive," Mo Yuan laughed.

He finally understood why Mister liked this Mao'er so much.

This was a Mao'er that no one could bring themselves to hate; it only left room for fondness.

It was well-behaved and sensible, like a child, with a purely innocent nature.

It was just so clean.

Being around such a clean Mao'er, his own filth-ridden heart felt as if it had been cleansed quite a bit.

Mo Yuan asked, "So, does Lihua want to be this cat god?"

"If there's enough fish, I'll do it. Dried fish is best."

Mo Yuan smiled and said, "Alright then."

Lihua blinked and asked, "So, what does Lihua have to do?"

Mo Yuan shook his head and said, "Nothing. It's just a matter of adding a few brushstrokes."

Lihua nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

After talking for so long, it still didn't understand what a cat god was.

"Let's play! Lihua wants to win another game!"

"Alright."

.

.

Early the next morning, Lord Xu waited anxiously at Caishi Market. The surroundings were already packed with bailiffs. Lord Xu stood at the very front, pacing back and forth, occasionally checking the time in his extreme anxiety.

"Could he have decided not to come...?"

Lord Xu felt uncertain. After all, he hadn't even managed to see Mister yesterday.

By now, quite a few people had arrived at Caishi Market, gathering around to watch the commotion.

The incident of two officials going mad had already spread through the streets. Many bold individuals wanted to come and see exactly how they had gone crazy.

"Are you going to open or not!"

Someone shouted from the crowd.

This shout immediately sparked a clamor across Caishi Market. The noisy chatter swelled until no one could hear anything clearly.

"Bang! Bang!!"

Lord Xu slammed the table and shouted, "Silence! Silence!!"

"Men!"

In the end, the bailiffs had to step forward and intervene before things finally calmed down.

Lord Xu was endlessly frustrated. He let out a long sigh. "Why isn't he here yet...?"

Just as he was thinking this, he saw a figure passing through the crowd.

"Excuse me, coming through."

"Pardon me."

Chen Changsheng walked out from the crowd.

He immediately stepped forward.

The bailiffs blocked his path.

Chen Changsheng said, "Lord Xu asked This Chen to come this morning."

Chen Changsheng's words were very light, but Lord Xu, who was not far away, jolted upright in an instant and hurriedly rushed over.

When he laid eyes on this person, he felt immediately stunned.

The Mister surnamed Chen...

Lord Xu believed it now. Sometimes, a single glance truly was enough to confirm exactly who stood before you.

If not for such bearing and aura, how could that eunuch address him as Mister, and even His Majesty personally mention him?

"Dare I ask, is this Mister Chen of the Jingzhaoyin Office before me?"

Chen Changsheng nodded. "Indeed, it is This Chen."

Lord Xu paused, but still asked, "Could I ask Mister to present a token of identity?"

Chen Changsheng thought about it and said, "That is only proper. However... This Chen did not bring any token."

"This..."

Lord Xu hesitated, finding himself in a bit of a difficult position.

Just as he was mulling it over, a voice drifted over.

"Lord Xu, this is indeed Mister Chen. This official can vouch for him."

Both Chen Changsheng and Lord Xu looked toward the source of the voice.

They saw a person sitting at a tea stall.

The man was dressed in plain clothes, with greying hair and a white mustache drooping from the corners of his mouth. Although he dressed simply, his commanding aura could not deceive anyone.

"This subordinate greets Lord Ji!"

Lord Xu cupped his hands respectfully.

Ji Xingsheng gave a slight nod and said no more, keeping his gaze firmly fixed on Mister Chen.

Chen Changsheng looked at the man. His face was a bit unfamiliar, and for a moment, he couldn't recall who this person was.

"Many thanks," Chen Changsheng said. He then followed Lord Xu to the front of the official desk.

Lord Xu stood respectfully to the side and explained what Mister Chen needed to do. He then ordered the bailiffs to sound the gongs and drums.

With a resounding dong, the bailiffs dispersed, and people slowly began to step forward.

However, there were simply too many onlookers.

Chen Changsheng looked over and noticed several gazes watching from within the crowd, clearly hesitant to approach.

Perhaps there were too many people, making it difficult to come forward.

Chen Changsheng looked at Lord Xu and asked, "Lord Xu, are such matters usually handled at Caishi Market on a typical day?"

Lord Xu nodded. "Indeed. Is there something wrong?"

Chen Changsheng said, "Capable individuals tend to keep their distance from the masses. With so many people gathered here to watch the spectacle, those who wish to step forward will be too intimidated to do so."

"This..." Lord Xu paused, then nodded. "Mister Chen's words make sense. I will immediately have my men disperse them."

"Mhm." Chen Changsheng nodded.

Taking advantage of this momentary lull, Chen Changsheng also made some inquiries.

Chen Changsheng asked, "By the way, who is that Lord Ji from earlier?"

Lord Xu was somewhat puzzled, thinking to himself: shouldn't Mister Chen be acquainted with Lord Ji?

But he didn't ask further and replied, "To answer Mister Chen, Lord Ji oversees the Ministry of Revenue and holds the post of Minister of Revenue. He sits at a height that petty officials like myself can only look up to from afar."

Chen Changsheng asked, "I wonder what Lord Ji's courtesy name is? Lord Xu, why not tell This Chen a bit more about him?"

Lord Xu said, "This subordinate doesn't know much either. Lord Ji's courtesy name is Xingsheng. He became a court official as early as during Jingshi. It was just that after Jing fell, he was demoted and exiled. It wasn't until later, when His Majesty recalled him, that he assumed the position of Minister of Revenue."

"Ji Xingsheng..."

Chen Changsheng murmured, his gaze falling upon the old man at the tea stall.

Vaguely, Chen Changsheng seemed to recall something.

"So it's him..."

The Ji Xingsheng from the River Crossing boat all those years ago, high-spirited and talking grandly about the world.