APSIL -Chapter 30 A Charlatan Who Seeks Fame Through Deception

The sounds of hammers rang through the village as dust filled the air. Cart after cart loaded with timber and stone rolled along the roads, while every villager wore a smile of genuine happiness.

In the past, they had all thought Young Master Zhang was a rather strange fellow.

Why else would he force a group of children to memorize poetry and multiplication tables? Why would he teach the more patient youngsters to read and write, even selecting Deng Xiaodai and Qi Liang to study with him?

And why would he insist on experimenting with farmland that had been cultivated the same way for generations—planting rice and cotton instead of the usual crops, while also making everyone grow mulberry trees and raise silkworms?

Those efforts had taken time before their benefits became visible.

But now…

Every single day, the villagers told anyone who would listen:

“Young Master Zhang is a good man.”

After all, he was about to become the son-in-law of the Duke of Zhao’s household in the capital. Better yet, he had even persuaded that kind-hearted young lady to finance the renovation of all their homes. The money was merely an interest-free loan, with repayment spread over ten years.

Who else could deserve to be called such a truly good person?

As Zhang Shou walked through the village, words of gratitude greeted him from every direction.

Not a single villager complained that Zhu Ying wasn’t donating the money outright but merely lending it without interest. That only convinced Zhang Shou even more that these villagers had all been carefully selected.

After all…

Examples of “a single bucket of rice earns gratitude, but a whole cartload breeds resentment” were far too numerous.

The Duke of Zhao truly had gone to great lengths.

Whether the marriage agreement was genuine or not, the Duke had unquestionably been the benefactor who had allowed him and his mother to live peacefully until now.

As he chatted casually with the villagers along the way, Zhang Shou easily gathered the information he wanted.

“Young Master Lu and his attendants were taken to Cuiyun Retreat by Miss Liuyin,” Old Yang explained carefully. “As for the three Young Masters surnamed Zhang—and those other noble youths who came afterward—their servants all asked around the village before finding the place.”

He deliberately emphasized one detail.

“When they questioned the villagers, every one of those fellows acted arrogantly. They tossed down a few coins after asking for directions and walked off. Not one of them bothered asking anything about that old famous scholar living there.”

“With Miss Zhu personally accompanying him, who wouldn’t believe it?”

The oldest—and also the craftiest—man in the village winked at Zhang Shou with a grin.

“Don’t worry, Young Master… no, Son-in-law. These old eyes and ears of mine are keeping watch everywhere. I won’t let anyone spread nonsense. Besides, who’d be foolish enough to flatter a bunch of rude outsiders instead of the future son-in-law of the Duke of Zhao’s household who’s lived with us for years?”

Zhang Shou couldn’t help laughing helplessly.

Although it seemed the truth hadn’t leaked yet, he had always been someone who preferred preparing for the worst and assuming the greatest possible malice from others.

After bidding farewell to Old Yang, he began rapidly considering every possible scenario.

After turning two corners, he arrived outside Deng Xiaodai’s home.

Like everywhere else in the village, the roof was being repaired amid a deafening chorus of hammering.

He had barely stood there for two breaths when someone cried out in surprise.

“Oh! Young Master Son-in-law, what brings you here?”

Ever since Old Yang had publicly started calling him Son-in-law, the title had spread throughout the village like wildfire.

Normally, Zhang Shou would have patiently corrected them.

Today, however, as he watched the man leap down from a ladder and hurry over, he simply coughed lightly.

“Uncle Deng, has Xiaodai sent any messages back?”

“Oh, you’re too polite! Just call me Old Deng.”

The speaker was Deng Xiaodai’s father, Deng Sanniu.

His hands hung awkwardly before him, every finger stained black with either mud or dust.

Perhaps because he felt pressured standing before such an elegant and refined young gentleman, he unconsciously wiped both hands against his back before bringing them forward again, nervously rubbing them together.

His face was already overflowing with smiles, but he forced out an even more eager expression.

“If Xiaodai sends a letter, it’d definitely be addressed to you, Young Master! Our family’s only literate person is Xiaodai. Even if he wrote home, who could read it? I’ll pass word to him immediately. Thanks to your care, he managed to become a clerk in the Shuntian Prefecture Office. Naturally he should constantly write to ask after your well-being…”

Unlike Old Yang’s effortless flattery, Deng Sanniu stumbled over every compliment, speaking awkwardly and haltingly.

Zhang Shou nevertheless listened patiently.

Afterward, he entered the house, borrowed paper and brush, and quickly wrote a letter, asking Deng Sanniu to send it to Deng Xiaodai in the capital immediately.

Not only did Deng Sanniu readily agree, he even promised to have his eldest son leave at once.

After expressing his thanks, Zhang Shou finally departed.

Deng Xiaodai had only recently entered the Household Registry Office of the Shuntian Prefecture.

The investigation Zhang Shou had asked him to conduct regarding Zhu Ying’s marriage agreement hadn’t produced any results yet, and now he was burdening him with another task.

Truthfully…

He felt somewhat guilty.

But Zhu Ying attracted far too much attention. He couldn’t fully trust the other members of the Duke of Zhao’s household.

The only person he could rely on to quietly prepare in advance was his capable student.

Lost in thought, Zhang Shou walked unconsciously toward the village entrance.

When he looked up, he noticed someone approaching from the distance.

One man.

One donkey.

The black donkey was skinny and lethargic, stopping every few steps.

Mounted upon it sat an elderly man with graying hair and beard.

His head bobbed constantly.

Sometimes his body leaned left.

Sometimes it tilted right.

He appeared to be fast asleep.

Yet despite all the swaying and jolting, he somehow never fell from the donkey’s back.

Zhang Shou had heard stories of people sleeping while riding horses.

This was his first time seeing someone napping atop a donkey.

He couldn’t help stopping to watch.

As the donkey drew near, it unexpectedly halted directly before him as though it understood human intentions.

The old man remained fast asleep.

Even gentle snores escaped his nose.

Zhang Shou hesitated.

Should he wake the old man?

Or not?

Judging from his current posture, waking him might very well send him tumbling straight off the donkey.

Just as he was wavering…

The sleeping elder suddenly jerked awake.

Without even opening his eyes, he shouted, “You lazy beast! Why’d you stop just because you felt like it? Get moving! If we don’t reach Rongshui Village before sunset to meet that great recluse, you’ll be skipping both tonight’s dinner and tomorrow’s breakfast!”

I was just wondering whether anyone besides those noble youths would come looking for this “great master.”

Speak of the devil…

Suppressing a smile, Zhang Shou calmly asked, “There’s a great master in Rongshui Village? How is it that I’ve never heard of such a person?”

“Hm?”

The white-haired elder instantly became fully awake.

His half-closed eyes flew open wide.

But the moment he clearly saw the handsome young man before him—dressed in a blue robe and black shoes, with delicate features and a brilliance like the moon in the heavens—the trace of irritation he had felt immediately vanished.

Smiling warmly, he asked, “And you’re so certain you haven’t simply been ignorant, young man?”

Zhang Shou answered evenly, “I was born and raised in this village. While I wouldn’t claim to know every single person and custom by heart, I’m confident I’ve overlooked nothing of importance.”

Only now did he notice that although the old man rode a donkey, his wide sleeves fluttered gracefully, his bearing was spirited, and traces of extraordinary handsomeness remained beneath his aged features.

He truly possessed an immortal-like aura.

Zhang Shou cupped his hands politely.

“If you’ve merely heard rumors, sir, and have come—like those impulsive young nobles—to seek out some so-called master who’s nothing more than a fraud seeking fame through deception, then I’d advise you to turn back. There’s no need to waste your valuable time in this remote countryside.”

“Oh?”

The old man clicked his tongue.

His eyes rolled thoughtfully as he examined Zhang Shou from head to toe once again.

Finally, he chuckled.

“You certainly seem trustworthy enough, young man. But I’ve traveled all this way. If these old bones turn around and ride back now, the city gates will probably already be closed before I arrive.”

He smiled shamelessly.

“Since you’re the one who stopped me, shouldn’t you at least find this old fellow somewhere to shelter from the wind and rain for the night?”

Zhang Shou had already guessed the man was an unconventional character from the way he lazily rode his donkey while scolding it.

Now, hearing him so brazenly latch onto him, he wasn’t particularly surprised.

Even so, he couldn’t help laughing inwardly.

First there had been Zhu Ying, the noble young lady who loved shamelessly imposing herself on others.

Now there was this mysterious old man doing exactly the same thing.

Could it be that everyone who came from the capital shared this peculiar habit?

After a brief moment of thought, Zhang Shou nodded slightly.

“Since you’ve put it that way, it would be my duty as the local host to show proper hospitality.”

“Please follow me.”

There was no way he could possibly take the old man to Cuiyun Retreat.

Nor could he bring a stranger to his own residence, where Zhu Ying, her family, and more than a dozen servants were currently staying.

That left him with only one possible choice.