Chapter 00101: Big Fish in Deep Waters
# Big Fish in Deep Waters
Chapter 101
Novel: After the Immortals Disappeared
Chapter 101: Big Fish in Deep Waters
He Chunhua nodded.
"Old Mo has gone to handle it."
The village had just finished harvesting wheat, and the grains were piled up like small hills behind the houses.
It seemed they wouldn’t lack food for a while, so providing some warm meals for the visitors shouldn’t be a problem.
Madam Ying glanced at the flatbread on the table.
Though freshly baked, with a faint aroma of wheat, the bread was too thick, slightly burnt at the edges, and undercooked in the center.
Clearly, the hostess hadn’t put much effort into it.
Moreover, the bread was plain—no sesame, no scallions, not even a hint of oil.
It seemed the uninvited guests weren’t exactly welcome.
Madam Ying smiled at the homeowner.
"You haven’t had dinner yet, have you? We won’t take your food. Just some hot water will do."
The man stood up and headed to the kitchen.
"I’ll fetch the water."
The water in the pot was still warm, but when the man tried to pour it into cups, Steward Old Mo stopped him.
"Pour it out and boil it again. Clean the pot first."
He then took out a small string of copper coins.
"We’ll also borrow your kitchen."
The man was taken aback but complied.
After all, no ordinary villager would turn down money.
Old Mo followed closely, scooping water from the jar, filling the pot, and placing it over the fire.
He watched every step intently, not missing a single detail.
Meanwhile, Qian Ma, who had come with the group, entered carrying a bag.
"I asked the hostess, and she gave us some vegetables and fruits."
Qian Ma was a servant Madam Ying had brought from her maiden home.
She had been taking care of the He family’s daily needs for years.
Though her title made her sound old, she was only in her early forties.
She borrowed the man’s kitchen to wash rice and prepare a meal.
It looked like she was making several dishes, a pot of hot soup, and even brewing some fermented rice wine!
The rice, oil, dried fruits, and jerky had all been brought from Blackwater City.
The fermented rice wine had been bought from a famous restaurant in the last city they passed through.
As it cooked, the sweet aroma of rice wine filled the room.
The man watched in awe.
"Wow, do officials eat this well? Damn bureaucrats!"
"Of course," Qian Ma replied curtly.
The man, not getting any further response, asked, "So, where are you all headed?"
Qian Ma opened her mouth to answer, but Old Mo nudged her gently with his elbow, and she immediately fell silent.
Unable to help, the man returned to the main room, only to find it empty.
He was startled.
"Where did they go?"
His wife whispered nervously, "They... they went out for a walk."
The village was small, and the He family of four adults couldn’t all fit in one house.
The two He brothers were assigned to another farmhouse.
After dinner, He Yue strolled to the lakeside and stretched.
"We’ve never seen such a vast body of water back home. It’s truly refreshing."
After being cramped in a narrow carriage for most of the day, standing by the boundless lake felt liberating.
He Lingchuan picked up a small stone and skipped it across the lake’s surface.
The stone bounced once, twice, thrice...
He Yue, feeling playful, picked up a stone as well, blew on it, and threw it.
He Lingchuan teased him, "You’re no good at this!" This little bookworm had no experience with outdoor skills.
He Yue glanced at him, flicked his wrist, and sent the stone skimming across the water.
It bounced four times.
He Lingchuan’s smile froze.
"You got lucky."
"This isn’t luck," He Yue said, picking up another stone.
He weighed it in his hand and threw it again.
This time, it skipped six times.
Even He Yue was surprised, and He Lingchuan was stunned.
"When did you practice this?"
"Do you really need to practice such a simple trick?" He Yue’s smile carried a hint of pride.
"Just pick flat stones and throw them close to the water’s surface."
He Lingchuan shrugged.
"You’re right. This isn’t fun anymore."
This older brother of his always got upset when he lost.
He Yue was about to retort when a loud splash came from the lake, sending ripples across the surface.
There must be a big fish down there.
Both brothers were startled, then exchanged a smile.
Suddenly, He Lingchuan threw two stones toward the bushes by the shore.
"Ouch!" Two or three people emerged from the bushes.
He Yue’s smile faded.
"What are you doing here?"
"Answering nature’s call," one of the villagers said, pulling up his pants.
"What are you two doing here?"
He Lingchuan eyed them.
"I thought you were hiding there to eavesdrop on us."
"Why would we care what you’re saying?" The villagers chuckled and walked past the He brothers.
The village head had agreed to Steward Old Mo’s request to have the women prepare hot meals for the soldiers.
The village didn’t usually stock enough food for three or four hundred people, so the He family’s guards volunteered to haul wheat from the storage and grind it into flour.
Thus, the lakeside was now crowded with people.
He Lingchuan watched the villagers’ retreating figures and said slowly, "Those guys looked shifty, like they’re up to no good."
He Yue laughed.
"They’re just villagers. You always think everyone’s suspicious."
"Who the hell pees by the lake where they fetch water for cooking?" He Lingchuan sneered.
"Those guys seemed to have come from downstream. Why would they sneak into Xianling Village in the middle of the night?"
"Maybe they were just late coming back," He Yue said, frowning at the lake.
"Now that you mention it, I don’t feel like drinking this water anymore."
Just then, He Chunhua and Madam Ying strolled over, followed closely by several guards.
Father was indeed cautious in unfamiliar territory, always mindful of his safety.
He Lingchuan approached them.
"Father, Mother, what brings you out here?"
"The food isn’t ready yet, so we came out for some fresh air," Madam Ying said.
With no villagers around, she could finally speak freely.
"The house smells awful. The bedding probably hasn’t been washed or aired in days."
"Food?" He Yue instinctively glanced at the lake.
Were they using this water to cook? He didn’t feel like eating anymore.
Under the bright moonlight, something dark surfaced in the lake.
Before he could get a closer look, it sank back down.
Madam Ying saw it too and exclaimed, "What was that?"
"Big fish come from deep waters," He Chunhua said with a smile.
"Xianling Lake has existed for so long that it wouldn’t be surprising if some massive spiritual creatures lived in it."
He looked at his two sons.
"Did you know that Emperor Yuan Gao once raised his army by this very lake? Step by step, he built his empire, which is now the vast territory of Yuan Country."
One son nodded, saying he knew, while the other exclaimed, "Oh, so this is the place?"
"By the lake, but not exactly here," someone interjected.
The He family turned to see Lu Han, the village head’s nephew, approaching.
The burly man was very enthusiastic.
"If you’re interested, I can show you around. The scenery there is unique, with the Twin Moon phenomenon. Many scholars and poets come to visit."
"Twin Moon?" Madam Ying was intrigued.
He Chunhua looked around.
"Where’s the village head?"
"He’s caught a cold and isn’t feeling well, so he asked me to take good care of you," Lu Han said, gesturing.
"This way."
"No, thank you. Dinner should be ready soon, and it’s getting late. We’ll visit tomorrow morning," He Chunhua declined.
"You seem well-spoken, not like an ordinary villager."
(End of Chapter)