The next morning, an off-road vehicle stopped in front of Qin Yu's house. Qin Yu, carrying a jute bag, climbed into the car. The off-road vehicle started and quickly disappeared from the town.
"Master Qin, this time it's really going to trouble you."
In the car, Hao Jianguo sat in the back, his uncle-in-law drove, and Secretary Wang sat in the front. Naturally, Qin Yu sat with Hao Jianguo in the back.
"Helping people with yin and yang feng shui is part of our job."
During this period, Qin Yu had also read other feng shui books and, by integrating the Zhuge Nei Jing, gained a certain understanding of the feng shui profession. Feng shui masters are actually divided into yin and yang types, just as feng shui is divided into yin houses and yang houses. One serves the dead, and the other serves the living. The difference between the two is quite significant.
Nowadays, some so-called feng shui masters in society not only look at yang houses but also yin houses. In fact, they have not truly understood feng shui. Feng shui has strict requirements for the feng shui of the living and the dead. In ancient times, the division of labor among feng shui masters was very clear. Some specialized in yang houses, and others specialized in yin houses. Only the true masters could handle both yin and yang.
However, these were not much of a problem for Qin Yu. The Zhuge Nei Jing itself encompasses the yin and yang feng shui theories, a collection of Zhuge Liang's lifetime skills, capable of examining both yang houses and yin houses.
The off-road vehicle quickly left the county town and sped towards the mountains. To Qin Yu's surprise, the car drove very smoothly. The cement road wound up the mountain, like a silver snake coiling around it.
"Master Qin probably hasn't been to Tongba Mountain for a long time. A few years ago, the state launched a tourism development project here, and the mountain road was renovated, making it easier for tourists to visit."
"Yes, I remember when I came to Tongba Mountain as a child, the road was all stone, and the car was bumpy. On one side was a cliff, which was quite terrifying."
Although the cement road was now in place, the off-road vehicle still drove slowly on the mountain road. After all, this was now a tourist development area with many vehicles coming and going. The road was winding, and one side was a cliff. Qin Yu's uncle-in-law did not dare to drive fast.
The car drove for over an hour on the mountain road before a few houses became faintly visible. Unlike the mud houses Qin Yu had seen before, these were flat-roofed brick houses. Some even had air conditioners outside, and a few people were sitting outside in the sun.
The car did not stop here but continued inward, stopping in front of a bamboo garden. Qin Yu, with his sharp eyes, saw the words "Laikeju" at the entrance of the bamboo garden.
At the entrance of Laikeju, a man with a large belly stood proudly. Seeing the off-road vehicle stop, he smiled brightly and walked up quickly.
Secretary Wang was the first to get out of the car, followed by Hao Jianguo. The man's smile grew even wider when he saw Hao Jianguo get out, like a laughing Buddha, reaching out his hands to shake Hao Jianguo's.
However, to his surprise, Hao Jianguo did not immediately shake his hand but opened the car door and politely let the others out.
"Could there be other important figures in the car besides the county magistrate?"
Liu Anshan had received a call from the county magistrate the night before, saying he would visit Tongba Mountain for personal matters and not to disturb the local government staff, allowing only him to come and greet.
This thought flashed through Liu Anshan's mind, and his smile grew even wider. He did not extend his hands this time. Shaking hands with the county magistrate was normal in a superior-subordinate relationship, but if it were other important figures, they might not give him the face. In the official world, one must not overstep boundaries; not everyone's hand could be shaken casually.
Qin Yu had intended to get out from the other side of the car, but seeing Hao Jianguo specially let him out, he followed.
As soon as he got out, the sound of the stream and the chirping of birds filled his ears, instantly refreshing him from the fatigue of the two-hour car ride.
"Could this be the son of a city leader visiting? But to have the county magistrate personally accompany him, he must be the son of one of the top three city leaders."
Liu Anshan, seeing Qin Yu get out, guessed that such a young man must not have a high position, so the only reason for the county magistrate to treat him so respectfully must be his family background.
After everyone got out, Hao Jianguo seemed to notice Liu Anshan standing to the side, shook his hand lightly, and said:
"Director Liu, I came to Tongba Mountain for personal matters. You didn't notify the management committee, did you?"
"County Magistrate, rest assured. Only I know about your visit today. However, the management committee members all hope for your guidance to boost their morale."
"Ha ha, your work is excellent. I'll visit again when I have time to see the results of your work."
"Oh, County Magistrate, you must keep your word. Everyone is looking forward to your guidance. They will be thrilled if they hear this news."
Liu Anshan looked as if he had found a treasure, his face full of excitement. Qin Yu found it amusing; this Director Liu was quite a character. For most government employees, the county magistrate was just a figure on TV. They wouldn't be excited by his visit, but from Director Liu's words, it seemed the county magistrate was everyone's guiding light and mainstay.
"Secretary Wang, Mayor Zhang, you are also rare guests. And this is?"
Liu Anshan knew Secretary Wang and Qin Yu's uncle-in-law, as the county was small, and these few were the county magistrate's confidants, so they had some understanding and interaction. However, he did not know how to greet Qin Yu.
"Hello, Director Liu, my name is Qin Yu," Qin Yu extended his hand and said.
"Welcome to Tongba Mountain, Mr. Qin."
Liu Anshan's smile remained, shaking Qin Yu's hand and releasing it after a few shakes. He tried to recall city leaders surnamed Qin but could not think of any.
"County Magistrate, let's have lunch at Laikeju. The ingredients here are good, all from the mountain, and the hygiene is excellent."
After greeting everyone, Liu Anshan suggested to Hao Jianguo.
"What do you think, Master Qin?"
Hao Jianguo's title puzzled Liu Anshan. How could such a young man be called a master by the county magistrate? In fact, Hao Jianguo did not plan to hide it from him. They were all his confidants, and he had asked him to wait here, so he intended to tell him about the matter.
Qin Yu could guess this and did not hide it, directly asking:
"How long will it take to reach the county magistrate's grandfather's grave from here?"
"My grandfather is buried at Shifengyan. After driving past Jiuxian Lake, it's about a half-hour walk."
It was already past ten, and they would likely arrive by noon. Qin Yu nodded, saying:
"Let's have lunch and go in the afternoon."
Seeing Qin Yu finish speaking and the county magistrate not objecting, Liu Anshan led everyone into a bamboo house. Despite its unassuming appearance from the outside, the inside was quite impressive.
The floor was covered with a thick red carpet, a round table was in the center, and on the sides hung imitation Zheng Banqiao peach and bamboo paintings. In one corner, incense was burning to repel insects.
Everyone sat down, and Hao Jianguo wanted to offer Qin Yu the main seat, but he declined. Liu Anshan went out to arrange the dishes, and Secretary Wang, smiling, said he needed to use the restroom and followed.
Everyone knew Secretary Wang's purpose. He was clearly going to clear up Director Liu's confusion and brief him on some matters.
"County Magistrate, Master Qin, shall we have a drink at noon?"
Liu Anshan, having arranged the dishes, came in and asked.
"You go ahead. I don't drink much, and I have important matters in the afternoon, so I won't drink."
Qin Yu shook his head, and Hao Jianguo also declined. With the family grave matter unresolved, he had no mood for drinking. With these two not drinking, the others found it harder to speak up. Liu Anshan told some interesting stories about the mountains to liven up the atmosphere.
"Beep beep!"
A car horn sounded from outside, likely because the uncle-in-law's off-road vehicle was blocking other vehicles. The uncle-in-law excused himself to check, and Liu Anshan followed, as he was the host here.
Unexpectedly, neither returned quickly. Qin Yu heard some arguing, with some standard Mandarin, suggesting outsiders were arguing with Liu Anshan.
"I'll go check."
Qin Yu got up and walked outside. Three Hummers were parked in the courtyard, and about a dozen people stood there. The leader was a woman wearing sunglasses, a black cloak, and long hair flowing, with long black boots adding a touch of wild beauty.
"This county is really small."
Qin Yu recognized the woman; she was the one who wanted to buy his compass on Feng Shui Street. The one arguing with Liu Anshan was a young man. Qin Yu heard the reason for their argument.
It turned out that Laikeju's most famous dish was "cured meat stewed with shileng." Shileng, known locally as "field frogs" or "toads," were caught from the mountain streams. These shileng were deep yellow, tender, and flavorful, and when stewed with homemade cured meat over a wood fire, the taste was unforgettable.
However, with the tourism development in Tongba Mountain, the number of shileng had decreased. They were also a delicacy for snakes, especially the famous five-step snake of Tongba Mountain. The locals had a saying: "Where shileng are found, five-step snakes are sure to be nearby."
This made it difficult to catch wild shileng. Laikeju received no more than fifty shileng per month from local farmers, and the price was high.
To entertain the county magistrate well, Liu Anshan had reserved ten shileng from Laikeju the day before. Laikeju had only twelve shileng left, and this group was also there for the shileng. When they heard only two were left, they were disappointed. But when they saw the chef take out ten shileng from a large pot, they were upset, especially since the other party only had five people and couldn't possibly eat so many shileng. The young man then offered to buy five shileng at double the price.