Gu Tangjin arrived at Tongdong Village first and went to the village blacksmith’s shop to buy a hoe.

Only then did he realize that not only had all the weeds been pulled cleanly, but the fields had also been plowed!

Even the mounds in that section of the field had been neatly leveled and cleaned up; in front of one of them, there was an extra stone slab with a bit of incense ash on it, suggesting someone had recently paid their respects there.

Not far away, he could see people building a house; barring any surprises, it was Lu Wulang and his group.

Gu Tangjin picked up some small stones from the field, broke up the slightly clumpy soil, and then had little else to do. He really had made the right choice buying this plot of land; Lü Wulang was quite dedicated.

He hadn’t been working there long before Lu Wulang came over.

“Xiucai Gu, we’ve pulled every last weed over here. Is there anything else that needs doing? I’d be happy to lend a hand.” Having accepted payment, Lu Xiaoshun always felt compelled to work a little extra; otherwise, he’d feel uneasy about the money he’d received.

Gu Tangjin waved his hand, set down his tools, and said, “The field’s already been plowed; there’s nothing else to do. Your new house is built pretty close to here. I can even see it from over here.”

At the mention of the new house, Lu Xiaoshun grinned from ear to ear. “Heh, it is pretty close. As soon as I looked over, I saw you, Xiucai Gu, coming this way.” 

Gu Tangjin asked, “Now that you’ve sold your land, what kind of work are you going to do from now on?”

“I’m thinking of going to the docks to do some manual labor. It’s close by, so it’ll be a quick trip back and forth.” Lu Xiaoshun pointed to the plot of land further in. “Erqiao wants to grow some vegetables and beans over there—just enough to feed our family.”

Gu Tangjin nodded slightly. “It’ll cool down in a few days, so working at the docks will be a bit easier. You should use this time to build your house first.”

Lü Xiaoshun scratched his head. “That’s exactly what we were thinking. It’s still hot these days, and hauling goods at the docks is too exhausting. I’m not looking to make a fortune—as long as we can get by, that’s enough.”

“You should go back and get to work.” Gu Tangjin knew he still had to build the house and wouldn’t have much free time.

“Well… if you need anything, Mr. Xiucai, just give me a shout.” Lu Xiaoshun hesitated before leaving. Gu Tangjin waited until he was gone before getting back to work.

Although the soil here didn’t need plowing anymore, it did need fertilizing. Gu Tangjin thought he’d go to the wharf to buy some river mud to use as fertilizer, and with that in mind, he set to work.

Some fishermen dug up river mud from shallow waters to sell, but one couldn’t dig it at the wharf or similar places—damaging the riverbed would get you arrested if the constables found out.

Nor could one dig near villages, where every blade of grass and tree was watched over by the villagers; outsiders attempting to dig up their river mud would be chased away before they even started.

Consequently, one could only dig in areas where the riverbed was silted up or the water was shallower. Although it could be considered a business with no upfront costs, the work was too arduous and dangerous, so the price was not cheap—a dan of river mud cost over thirty wen.

Gu Tangjin was examining the river mud brought by several fishermen. It was the summer planting season, and there were many fishermen digging for river mud; Gu Tangjin was thinking of selecting the best batch.

But out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly spotted a familiar face—an attendant of the new county magistrate.

He turned his head in puzzlement. Zhu Pengyi sensed someone watching him; upon seeing it was Xiucai Gu, he quickly pulled the oxcart to a halt and called out to the passenger compartment, “Sir, I’ve spotted Xiucai Gu.”

“Xiucai Gu? What a coincidence!” Wu Baoquan pulled back the curtain and indeed saw Gu Tangjin, dressed in a short brown robe.

Although Ji Rongxia had told him earlier that Gu Tangjin had gone out into the fields, seeing the handsome and dignified Gu Tangjin dressed like this still took Wu Baoquan by surprise.

Even so, Gu Tangjin still looked quite distinguished, and Wu Baoquan secretly pinched the fat on his own belly. Ah, he was getting old after all—who wasn’t a handsome young man in their youth?

“Let’s invite Xiucai Gu to come with us,” Wu Baoquan said with a twinkle in his eye. Zhu Pengyi asked, “What kind of mischief are you up to now, Your Honor?”

Wu Baoquan replied with a straight face, “How dare you speak of your own master that way? What underhanded scheme could I possibly be hatching? I just think he’s a capable fellow, and I’d like to recruit him to serve as a clerk at the county office!”

Back in Shouwu County, he’d had a few capable clerks of his own, but some were too old to travel long distances, while others wanted to stay with the new magistrate to secure a better future.

Wu Baoquan wasn’t one to force things; he had originally intended to find a nice place to spend his retirement, and there was nothing wrong with others wanting to pursue their careers. As a result, he didn’t have a personal secretary with him on this trip.

Now, as he looked at Gu Tangjin, his eyes lit up.

“But with Xiucai Gu’s current… appearance, I’m afraid people might look down on him,” Zhu Pengyi hesitated, still wanting to offer a word of advice.

Wu Baoquan fell into deep thought. He himself wasn’t one to sweat the small stuff, but he truly didn’t know if Xiucai Gu cared about such things.

Meanwhile, Gu Tangjin had merely smiled and nodded at Zhu Pengyi as a greeting, but Zhu Pengyi had inexplicably stopped the oxcart and kept stealing glances at him, while the county magistrate inside the cart was also sneaking looks his way.

This was indeed strange.

Gu Tangjin walked over on his own. Zhu Pengyi’s eyes widened.

Wu Baoquan, noticing his reaction, followed his gaze and asked, “What’s the matter?”

Gu Tangjin strode over, and even in his short, worn brown robe and with his limp, he looked dashing and at ease. Zhu Pengyi immediately realized he’d overthought things.

Wu Baoquan laughed so hard his eyes were almost hidden: “Oh my, what a coincidence, Xiucai Gu! Come on in and sit down. This matter actually concerns you as well—let’s go find someone to settle this!”

Gu Tangjin had walked right into the trap; if he didn’t take the opportunity to make the most of it, he’d be wasting a golden chance!

“It concerns us?” Gu Tangjin froze for a moment, then realized it also involved Xia-ger. Only then did he stop resisting and climb onto the oxcart.

As soon as he climbed aboard, Wu Baoquan said, “I went to your stall to buy breakfast this morning, and Xia-ger told me someone was following me—he feared they might be up to no good, so I hurried over to find someone. By the way, just call me Uncle Wu; the man driving the cart up front is Old Zhu.”

Gu Tangjin didn’t respond but asked, “Magistrate Wu, you came to the wharf—surely you’re here to find Constable Xu?”

“Exactly! You’re absolutely right, Xiucai Gu—you truly have an eagle eye!” Wu Baoquan’s gaze toward Gu Tangjin grew even more intense, as if he’d spotted a delicious treat.

Gu Tangjin replied nonchalantly, “I know full well who calls the shots around here. Almost all the river transport business in this area is in County Constable Xu’s hands. Though he has a good reputation, he reaps all the benefits while County Magistrate Zhong bears the blame—doesn’t that just prove he’s the one really in charge?”

Outside, Zhu Pengyi could faintly hear the commotion. He listened in astonishment. No wonder the magistrate said he hadn’t grown up—it turned out he really hadn’t.

He’d been here for quite a few days and still hadn’t figured out what was really going on.

“Well said! Xiucai Gu, I knew you’d spot the problem just as quickly as I did. Rest assured, I’ll see this through and make sure no one causes trouble at your restaurant again.” Wu Baoquan spoke warmly and made his promise.

Gu Tangjin instantly sensed that this matter was far from ordinary; Magistrate Wu must have ulterior motives.

What could he possibly want from a Xiucai like him—lame and with no prospects in the imperial examinations?

Gu Tangjin thought for a moment and then understood. He smiled gently and said, “Magistrate Wu, thank you for your high regard, but I came here intending to farm the land and grow some rice and wheat for Xia-ger to use.”

“After all, homegrown grain tastes best. Once the restaurant business picks up, I won’t be able to neglect this either, so lately I’ve been focusing on the fields. If Your Honor is in need of capable clerks, I could recommend a few to you.”

Wu Baoquan: “……”

He hadn’t even said a word yet!

But this approach might work. He trusted Xiucai Gu to be a shrewd man; perhaps he really could find him a few capable clerks.

“Very well, let’s set a date. How about three days from now?” Wu Baoquan seized the opportunity, reasoning that he’d have to give Gu Tangjin a few days to prepare; otherwise, he would have suggested tomorrow.

“Alright.” Gu Tangjin agreed immediately.

The three arrived at Qingyuan Trading Company. As soon as they arrived, a manager came out to greet them: “Magistrate Wu, please come in. I’ll go find Constable Xu right away.” Although the manager was so efficient, Wu Baoquan showed no sign of pleasure on his face.

This was a show of force—someone had recognized him at a glance and sent someone to greet him in advance.

It would be strange if Wu Baoquan’s face showed any joy.

Steward Dou cast a curious glance at Gu Tangjin. He had seen portraits of the county magistrate and his aide, Zhu Pengyi, but he had never laid eyes on this man before. He led the three to a private room and served them plenty of tea, fruit, and pastries.

Grapes, oranges, lychees, apricots…

Fruits from all over the country were laid out before them.

Yet none of the three showed the slightest interest. Gu Tangjin had grown jaded from eating too many exotic delicacies, while Wu Baoquan and Zhu Pengyi had seen even rarer fruits in the Northern Frontier.

Wu Baoquan reached out, took an orange, and began peeling it slowly. Instantly, the air was filled with the fresh scent of oranges.

Seeing this, Manager Dou, who had been brimming with words to say, immediately fell silent and stood quietly to the side, waiting. Before long, a dark-skinned, burly man walked in.

Xu Hongzhen walked straight up to Wu Baoquan, bowed, and smiled, “Lord Wu, why aren’t you at the county office? We could have met there just the same.”

Wu Baoquan held up the orange in his hand to indicate he was too busy to rise and return the bow.

“Please, have a seat. I just came by today to have a chat with you.”

So that’s what that orange is for—holding it in your hand means you don’t have to stand up? That’s a novel idea. It must be a way to return the favor to Constable Xu. Gu Tangjin’s lips curled slightly at the corners, and he found this new county magistrate increasingly intriguing.

Xu Hongzhen’s smile froze for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.

“Very well, Magistrate Wu, what would you like to discuss?”

Wu Baoquan had no intention of exchanging pleasantries this time; instead, he pulled a thin ledger from his robe with a hand still stained with orange juice.

“I have examined Qingchi County’s accounts for the past twenty years. Your Xu family has underpaid by eighty-three thousand taels of silver over the years. Of course, I haven’t counted the small change—I’m giving you a round figure.” Wu Baoquan took a bite of the orange and nodded repeatedly. “Sweet. So sweet.”

“What do you mean by that, Magistrate Wu?” Xu Hongzhen didn’t believe Wu Baoquan could have uncovered so much; all the official records had passed through their hands.

Wu Baoquan shook his head. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m not just pulling some random ledger out of thin air to fool you. It’s true that the records can be altered. The deals you’ve made over the years are right here for all to see, but if I wanted to investigate, I could certainly uncover the truth.”

“Besides, County Magistrate Zhong isn’t exactly clean in his dealings—he even kept some private accounts. You know him, he’s getting on in years. He kept them, fine, but after all these years, he actually forgot about them, letting them get mixed up in the backlog of case files. I went through every single backlogged file in the county office, and that’s how I found them.”

“Don’t you think I’ve got some incredible luck?” Wu Baoquan took another bite of his orange. “Our Emperor loves nothing more than people who report others taking money from others’ pockets. Tell me, if I were to submit these accounts, wouldn’t that count as a meritorious deed?”

Upon hearing this, Xu Hongzhen finally picked up the ledger and began flipping through it quickly.

“Magistrate Wu, speak plainly. There’s no need to scare me like that.” Xu Hongzhen spoke casually, but his hands were clenched tightly around the ledger. Since it was a copy and likely not the original, tearing it up would be of little use.

Wu Baoquan wasn’t without his own backers; if he were to die in office, the Xu family would likely suffer the consequences. In the blink of an eye, Xu Hongzhen had already run through countless countermeasures in his mind.

Magistrate Wu’s stern expression shifted instantly, and he broke into a radiant smile. “I don’t have many hobbies—I just love to eat and love being in the office. I plan to spend my retirement here. If we can get along well, my family has some business in the Northern Frontier, so I’ll be counting on County Constable Xu to look out for us once they arrive.”

“Oh. So that’s how it is. I didn’t see that coming—I must be blind.” Xu Hongzhen breathed a sigh of relief. He’d been hoping to get a piece of the action, but now that he knew the truth, he felt at ease. It was just a pity that this county magistrate was so shrewd; he’d likely have to give up quite a bit of profit in the future.

Wu Baoquan took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped his hands clean, then patted Gu Tangjin on the shoulder. “No problem at all. This is Xiucai Gu. I’m particularly fond of his family’s restaurant, so I’ll be counting on you, County Constable, to keep an eye on things for us. By the way, that Deputy Magistrate Zhong sent someone with me to the restaurant earlier today. I have no idea what he was up to.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Hongzhen finally turned his gaze toward Gu Tangjin, who was dressed in a short, coarse brown robe. The moment he saw him, he realized, “Isn’t this that young Xiucai with the lame leg?”

Xiucai Gu had a reputation for some talent, and Xu Hongzhen had originally intended to befriend him. But before he could do so, the young man’s prospects had vanished. He hadn’t expected that Xiucai Gu had already secured connections with the county magistrate.

I’ve underestimated him.

Under Xu Hongzhen’s gaze, Gu Tangjin remained composed: “County Constable Xu, if Magistrate Zhong dares to send men to follow Magistrate Wu today, who knows what he might do tomorrow? Our small business cannot withstand such turmoil. I beg you to show us some leniency.”

Xu Hongzhen feigned reluctance: “How can you say that? I will certainly resolve this matter as soon as possible. However, the deputy magistrate is, after all, an official appointed by the imperial court; his appointment and dismissal are not something you or I can decide…”

Wu Baoquan replied briskly, “No problem. All I need is for him to be unable to give orders. With you and me here in the county, we’ll naturally be able to run Qingchi County smoothly.”

Hearing this, Xu Hongzhen nodded repeatedly: “Your Honor speaks wisely.”

“I must take these transcribed accounts with me. I won’t keep you any longer—you go ahead with your work.” With that, Wu Baoquan took the ledger from Xu Hongzhen’s hands, rose leisurely, and left with Gu Tangjin and Zhu Pengyi.

The moment Wu Baoquan left, Xu Hongzhen’s face fell.

He cursed bitterly, “Useless fools who can’t get anything done but only cause trouble!!!”

Only after they had walked a good distance away did Wu Baoquan let out a low chuckle: “Hahaha, let them fight among themselves.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Wu Baoquan turned to Gu Tangjin and said in a hushed voice, “Xiucai Gu, you’d better recommend a few capable clerks to me. When the time comes, I’ll take over all the deputy magistrate’s duties.”

“Magistrate Wu, do you really intend to do business with them?” Gu Tangjin asked curiously.

“Of course! Why wouldn’t I? I’ll have my sister gradually eat away at their business, and then I’ll submit the evidence to His Majesty for a little extra income. Isn’t that the best of both worlds? My sister has always been fair in her dealings and diligent in paying her taxes—she deserves this.” Wu Baoquan said with a straight face, “Though this won’t be accomplished overnight, rest assured, Xiucai Gu—they won’t be causing you any trouble for the time being.”

Seeing this, Gu Tangjin found himself at a loss for words—County Magistrate Wu was truly blunt, so blunt that he didn’t know how to respond.

Noticing his mixed expression, Wu Baoquan finally suppressed the smile on his face and said solemnly, “Xiucai Gu, I know that people your age are often full of youthful vigor, but once you reach my age, you’ll understand that it’s not easy to be a good official.”

Gu Tangjin did not respond to Wu Baoquan’s remarks. Instead, he smiled and said, “I’ll help Magistrate Wu find a few suitable candidates. I know several people who are good with numbers and knowledgeable about irrigation and agriculture. There’s even one who once served as an advisor to a third-rank official in the previous dynasty. I’d be happy to write a letter of recommendation on your behalf.”

“Oh, so our county has such talent? I had no idea!” Wu Baoquan was delighted. He knew he’d made the right decision in summoning Gu Tangjin—and now he’d even reaped an unexpected bonus!

Gu Tangjin said, “This man is not in our county, but in Huaishu Village, not far from the prefectural capital. His mother passed away, and he has been living in seclusion in a hut in the village ever since—it’s been three years now. Because he admires my calligraphy and paintings, we’ve been corresponding. I’m willing to write a letter on your behalf, but the journey is a bit long, and I’ve been busy with the summer planting here, so I can’t go in person.”

This was also a test on his part. If this Magistrate Wu lacked even the sincerity to invite him, the words he had just spoken to him were likely nothing more than empty words, utterly untrustworthy.

Wu Baoquan said with sudden realization, “Then please do write the letter, Xiucai Gu. By the way, why not list the candidates you have in mind and include them with the letter? I will pay each of them a visit myself, so there’s no need for you to make the trip.”

Gu Tangjin readily agreed, “When Magistrate Wu comes to the restaurant next time, I’ll simply hand the letter to you then.” 

“Very well, that would be a great help, Xiucai Gu,” Wu Baoquan replied.

The two settled on this arrangement.

“Your Honor, I must return to tend my fields. You may leave me here.”

Gu Tangjin hadn’t forgotten the reason he’d come here in the first place. He’d come to buy river mud for fertilizer.

Upon hearing this, Wu Baoquan’s lips twitched imperceptibly. This Xiucai was truly a man of great ambition—he said he’d focus his efforts on farming, and he actually did just that; it wasn’t an excuse to decline at all.

“Alright, Old Zhu, stop for a moment. Xiucai Gu wants to get off,” Wu Baoquan called out directly.

Zhu Pengyi stopped the cart immediately. Gu Tangjin bowed to Wu Baoquan and stepped down from the oxcart.

Afterward, Gu Tangjin walked back to the wharf, bought two loads of river mud for sixty-four wen, and only then returned to Tongdong Village to finish fertilizing the fields.

When he went to buy the river mud, he had left his hoe and wooden shovel at Lu Xiaoshun’s house, asking them to keep an eye on them—he wasn’t worried they’d get lost. The paddy fields weren’t as well-maintained as the dry fields.

Not only had weeds sprouted, but the water in the paddies was also murky.

Gu Tangjin first drained the water from the paddy fields, then weeded and turned the soil.

Draining the water was a bit of a hassle; he had to use bamboo pipes to channel the water to the fallow land, otherwise letting it flow into his neighbors’ fields would cause trouble. Gu Tangjin had no choice but to borrow bamboo pipes from the village head’s family.

He thought he’d have to bring two wooden buckets and a shoulder pole next time to make carrying water easier.

After working so hard for so long, it was already getting late, and Gu Tangjin was still worried about the restaurant. Once he had drained the water, he hurried back to the restaurant.

Gu Tangjin entered the courtyard through the back gate. He was covered in mud and grass, so he dared not go near the kitchen, afraid he might bring in insects or dirt.

Seeing that his parents were both in the courtyard, Gu Tangjin called out, “Father, Mother, I’m going to wash up first.” With that, he carried the water that had been left out to dry in the courtyard to the bathing shed.

Yao Tianlan hurried to fetch his clothes and stood outside the shed, whispering, “Tangjin, Tangjin, I need to talk to you about something first.”

Gu Tangjin had just taken off his mud-stained short tunic and set it aside. Through the bamboo blinds surrounding the shed, he asked in a low voice:

“What’s wrong, Mother?”

“Xia-ger is really upset today. He’s changed all the prices on the restaurant’s menu—a single shrimp and pork patty is forty wen now! He wouldn’t even let your father and me into the kitchen, saying he wanted to tidy things up himself. You’ll have to do your best to soothe him once you come out.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Tangjin immediately realized that the young chef must have assigned another task.

But… why would Xia-ger be so furious? If it was just because someone was following Magistrate Wu, he shouldn’t have reacted this way.

“Did someone bully Xia-ger today?” Gu Tangjin asked as he quickly scooped water with a ladle to rinse the dishes.

Yao Tianlan recounted the events of that morning. She hadn’t seen the whole thing, but she’d later asked Ge Fulang and Liu Dalang about it in private, and had managed to piece together most of what had happened.

Gu Tangjin dried himself off, put on the clothes Yao Tianlan handed him, and strode out.

A mother knows her son best. As soon as Yao Tianlan saw Gu Tangjin’s expression, she knew he must be quite angry as well.

As soon as he reached the kitchen, Gu Tangjin’s expression softened, and a smile spread across his face. He knocked gently on the door: “Xia-ger, it’s me.”

The door to the kitchen opened a crack, and Ji Rongxia reached out and pulled Gu Tangjin inside.

“Tangjin, come take a look—see what’s different about this kitchen now!” Ji Rongxia asked, his eyes sparkling. Seeing this, Gu Tangjin swallowed the flood of words he’d been about to say.

He began to look around the kitchen.

Gu Tangjin said uncertainly, “Did you make a lot of Koushui chicken today?” Plates of chicken without the sauce were arranged on the stove.

Ji Rongxia quickly shook his head. “That’s not it!”

Gu Tangjin patiently examined the area once more.

“The stove on the far east side seems a bit longer and wider,” Gu Tangjin said uncertainly. “That’s it!!!” Ji Rongxia clapped his hands. “I knew you’d notice, Tangjin.”

Ji Rongxia pulled Gu Tangjin over to the stove, then placed his palm against the stove wall.

To their surprise, the “earthen stove wall” clicked open on its own—this wasn’t an earthen stove at all, but clearly a chest!!! Inside, the chest was now filled to the brim with ingredients.

After Ji Rongxia took the ingredients out, the inside was once again stuffed to the brim.

Ji Rongxia patted the box disguised as a stove and said, “The Little Master got so annoyed he gave me a task: raise the prices on more than half the dishes. The reward is that every day, the Little Master will give me one-third of the ingredients for those expensive dishes. Whatever dish I write down, it provides the ingredients. I have to keep my palm on it for a while before the box opens—no one else can do it! Isn’t that amazing?”

The Cooking God System was quite proud; its host had finally witnessed its true power. Gu Tangjin smiled and said, “That’s impressive.”

Ji Rongxia closed the box, and it instantly returned to its original form as a stove. Beaming with delight, he took Gu Tangjin’s hand and placed it on the box.

Gu Tangjin was puzzled but obediently let Xia-ger hold his hand.

【 Ding. Do you wish to bind a new palm print?】

Ji Rongxia replied without hesitation, “Bind.”

【 Ding! Binding successful.】

As the system notification faded, the box clicked open again on its own!