Chapter 35

“Good, Master Zhu, if I dream about it again in the future, I will definitely tell you, but I think it’s best not to have such nightmares again.”

“I wonder if Master Zhu has any other instructions. If not, I should be heading back.”

“Alright, then you can go back. Thank you for your hard work traveling all this way.”

Tao Hua gently shook her head. “It’s no trouble; it’s what I should do.”

When Qin Feng saw that Tao Hua was about to leave, he walked with her for a few steps.

Master Feng watched the couple’s retreating figures. Noticing that their clothes had become a little faded from washing, an idea suddenly formed in his mind.

“Qin Xiao, come here. I have something to discuss with you.”

Hearing this, Qin Feng turned around and walked toward Master Feng. “I wonder what instructions Master Zhu has?”

Master Feng smiled. “It’s like this—just now, I saw that you are brave and strong, and I have a task I don’t know if you’d be willing to take? Recently, there’s a vacancy for a minor position at the yamen, responsible for the county magistrate’s horses and carriages. Though it’s a minor job, the county magistrate doesn’t judge by background. With your abilities and good character, it wouldn’t be difficult to become a constable in the future. I wonder if you would be interested?”

“Oh my, working at the yamen!” Before Qin Feng could respond, people around them started to gossip. “This is really a blessing earned in eight lifetimes.”

“Yeah, it’s only thanks to our ancestors that such luck is possible. If I had known earlier, I would have been the first to jump in and save Master Feng. Working at the yamen, no matter what position, is better than farming in these mountains.”

“Tsk tsk, it really makes people envious. How come I don’t have such good luck?”

The discussions were not quiet, and they all reached Master Feng’s ears.

He thought Qin Feng would definitely agree, and this would be his way of repaying Qin Feng for saving his life.

To his surprise, Qin Feng declined: “Thank you, Master Feng, for your kind offer, but I don’t think I am suited to work at the yamen. Please, choose someone else.”

“What?” Master Feng was surprised. “Are you sure? You really don’t want to reconsider? Maybe you should discuss it with your family and let me know your decision afterward.”

Qin Feng opened his mouth. He had intended to decline again, but after thinking for a moment, he looked at Tao Hua.

Tao Hua knew that he was asking for her opinion, but she was uncertain too!

“I’ll go with your decision, Qin Ge. If you want to go, then go. If you don’t want to go, then don’t. No matter where you go, I’ll be with you.”

Qin Feng smiled slightly, then turned to Master Feng again. “I’ve thought it over, Master. I’d rather stay in Baiyun Village with my wife. The county town is too bustling. It’s not a place where simple folk like us can live comfortably.”

Master Feng couldn’t understand it, but he still nodded: “Alright, since you’ve made up your mind, I won’t force you.”

The onlookers were left speechless: Is Qin Feng out of his mind? He actually turned down such a good, dignified job, and instead chooses to stay in this deep mountain to hunt for a lifetime! He must be crazy.

On the way home,

Sun Xiaolan, confused, said, “What’s so bad about being the county magistrate’s coachman? Why didn’t you try to persuade your husband just now? Let me tell you, this job has plenty of benefits. Think about it—if someone wants to find out where the county magistrate is going, they’ll surely have to ask the person in charge of his horses and carriages. Imagine how many advantages they could get from that!

This is a job that others can’t even ask for. I don’t know why your husband turned it down, and you didn’t say anything either!”

“Is that so?” Tao Hua thought for a moment and then smiled faintly. “If it’s really as you say, then I’m actually glad that Qin Ge didn’t agree.

If he were to be the county magistrate’s coachman, he certainly couldn’t reveal the magistrate’s whereabouts casually. But if the city’s powerful people asked, and he didn’t tell them, that would offend them.

So, it would be hard either way. It doesn’t seem like a good job at all. It’s better to just stay at home hunting and farming.

At first, I thought the villagers were right, and I felt sorry for Qin Ge for missing out on such an opportunity. But now, I don’t feel sorry at all!”

“Ha???” Sun Xiaolan was stunned, “Is that what I meant? I didn’t mean that at all!”

“I don’t care, anyway, I trust Qin Ge.” Tao Hua smiled foolishly. “I just want to take care of my little plot of land. He can hunt, and I’ll grow vegetables in the garden. It would be nice to raise some chickens and ducks, and maybe have a few kids in the future. As long as we can live well, that’s enough.”

“You…” Sun Xiaolan laughed as she linked her arm with Tao Hua’s. “Well, maybe you’re just one of those lucky people who get blessings without even trying. But you’re not really a fool, are you?”

Tao Hua smiled but didn’t say anything else.

What Tao Hua didn’t expect was that this matter would quickly take a turn.

The rumors that had been circulating before were soon being talked about again, and people were gossiping once more.

Since it was the off-season for farming, the villagers had nothing to do but meddle in others’ business.

They giggled, calling Tao Hua a woman who brought good fortune to her husband, while also saying that Qin Feng wasn’t fortunate enough to accept the luck she brought him.

Though they didn’t say these things in front of Tao Hua and Qin Feng, there’s no such thing as a wall that doesn’t let sound through. Sun Xiaolan, being Tao Hua’s good friend, immediately passed on all the gossip to her.

“They’ve started spreading rumors again,” Sun Xiaolan said, “saying that your husband didn’t go to the yamen not because he’s foolish, but because he’s actually smart!”