Water flowed into the hall from all four directions; above the courtyard well, a square inch of azure sky.
The perfectly square patch of sky was framed by gray tiles and old whitewashed walls. After the rain, water dripped softly from the courtyard eaves, gathering water, gathering wealth, gathering Good Fortune. Yuan Qi stood beside a pillar, gazing at the square sky as he quietly pondered his troubles. Compared to years ago, his face was now covered in unkempt whiskers, and his eyes were gloomy.
Voices and footsteps from the rear rooms drew nearer. Gongyang Dong chatted cheerfully with a plump rich man.
"Steward Lin, put your mind at ease. My brother's skills are renowned throughout the county. Your residence has also been adjusted properly, so live here without worry. As for that... heh heh..."
"Hahaha, I understand. A small token of my regard. If you come to Fengwan again, don't forget me, Lin."
The rich man smiled as he stuffed some broken silver into Gongyang Dong's hand. Gongyang Dong made a token refusal before accepting it.
Both sides were pleased, chatting and laughing as harmony brought wealth.
Yuan Qi shook his head and came back to himself.
He put away his compass, tucked it into an old cloth bag, and slung it over his shoulder.
He stepped over the tall threshold, its door-sockets on either side worn smooth.
"Steward Lin, please stay."
"Take care, you two~"
After bidding farewell, Yuan Qi and Gongyang Dong strolled leisurely along, tallying up how much they had earned from this job.
The lotus leaves were fresh green, and sunlight warmed the valley residence. They walked slowly along the path by the pond, admiring the scenery. After the rain, the mountains were clearer and the trees greener. Gongyang Dong wanted to recite a few