Chen Fan looked at the River God, who was still hunched over and smiling ingratiatingly.
"River God, there's no need to worry. I called you here mainly to discuss two matters!"
The River God nodded and bowed as he replied, "Young Master, name them. Two matters, two hundred, or even two thousand—I'll take care of them all!"
He lowered his head, thinking only of placating Chen Fan.
Then he would find his backer and teach those unruly villagers of Zhao Family Village a proper lesson.
He could conveniently get rid of that loathsome Zhao Dagou, too.
After that, wouldn't all the villages within ten li be his to exploit as he pleased?
"Heh, River God, there's no need to be nervous. We in Zhao Family Village have always believed in settling things through reason.
"I said two matters, so there'll be two. First, from now on, Clear Water River will no longer restrict the construction of waterworks!"
Chen Fan held up one finger as he made his first request.
In this world, digging canals and building new waterworks weren't things you could do just because you had money and manpower.
You needed not only the local villagers' consent, but also the cooperation of the River God and the local Land God.
Otherwise, you wouldn't get anything done.
But he'd heard that the Land God of Zhao Family Village was one of the village elders, and would be easy to persuade.
Only this River God was irritable and difficult to deal with.
Chen Fan had originally intended to use the name of the Zhang Clan of Qinghe to pressure the River God into an agreement.
Who could have guessed Zhang Tianshou would be so capable, suppressing the River God outright?
"No problem. This Minor God will do everything he can to cooperate!"
After receiving the affirmative answer, Chen Fan nodded and held up a second finger.
"Second, I need to hire the spirits under your command to dredge the river and dig out the silt.
"We'll pay them in incense offerings and draw up a written contract!"
As Chen Fan finished speaking, a thunderclap boomed across the sky.
Rumble!
Zhang Tianshou looked up in astonishment and opened her divine eye.
She saw golden light gathering across the sky, auspicious colors streaming everywhere as heavenly flowers drifted down.
But Chen Fan and the people of Zhao Family Village were ordinary mortals; they couldn't see the strange sight at all.
They could only feel themselves suddenly becoming much lighter.
"Sister, sis... th-this..."
Zhang Tianxian pointed excitedly at the spectacle in the sky, breathing hard and stumbling over his words.
Zhang Tianshou patted the back of Zhang Tianxian's hand, her lovely eyes lingering on Chen Fan.
"Sir, is this what you planned?"
### "Contract? What contract?"
The River God froze, alarm rising in his eyes as he wondered, Did he notice I wanted to kill him and decide to make a contract so I can't act against him in secret?
But without the Human Dao Dragon Qi to bear witness, or some powerful being as a guarantor, what makes him think I'll honor a contract?
Zhang Tianshou noticed the River God's shifting gaze and furrowed her brow slightly.
Chen Fan simply pulled a sheet of paper from his sleeve and continued, "For every wisp of incense, you'll get a hundred stones of river silt. How much you can take out depends on your abilities, River God!
"It's all written down here in black and white. Take a look first!"
As Chen Fan brought out the contract he'd prepared earlier, a beam of golden light descended from the sky.
Layers of Merit Auspicious Cloud gathered, and a Golden Wheel of Merit rose above Chen Fan's head.
A layer of Golden Light of Merit appeared around him.
"H-he... h-he..."
Zhang Tianxian had opened his Heavenly Eye as well, and now stared at Chen Fan, dumbfounded.
At that moment, Zhang Tianxian felt as though a bolt of lightning had struck him, leaving him lost in confusion and bewilderment.
In Zhang Tianxian's eyes, Chen Fan was a decent-looking, witty little man.
That was right—Zhang Tianxian had always thought of Chen Fan as a petty person.
At the tea stall, he'd clearly seen through everything, yet had happily sat there enjoying the show.
The one enjoying the spectacle might have had a good time, but Zhang Tianxian and his sisters, who'd been made the spectacle, certainly hadn't.
If Zhang Tianshou hadn't insisted, Zhang Tianxian wouldn't have spared Chen Fan a second glance.
Yet the little man in his eyes had suddenly transformed.
Now Chen Fan was a Great Sage, surrounded by merit and blessed with profound fortune.
Zhang Tianxian felt as though cracks were spreading through his entire worldview.
"Tianshou, what's wrong with Fifth Young Lady?"
Chen Fan looked at Zhang Tianxian in surprise. He knew Zhang Tianxian disliked him somewhat.
It couldn't be helped. Chen Fan hadn't made a very good first impression.
That was why he now called Zhang Tianshou by her name, while always addressing Zhang Tianxian as Fifth Young Lady.
By contrast, Zhang Tianyu seemed much more carefree.
Chen Fan had made quite a spectacle of her earlier, too.
But Zhang Tianyu had forgotten all about it afterward and only kept thinking about his cooking pot.
"Thank you for your concern, sir. Fifth Sister is just a little nervous after seeing the River God."
Zhang Tianshou gave a perfunctory reply. Chen Fan could only roll his eyes.
That answer was far too halfhearted.
When Chen Fan had been listing dishes, Zhang Tianxian had looked ready to eat the River God alive.
There was no way she'd been scared.
But since Zhang Tianshou said there was nothing wrong, Chen Fan naturally wouldn't pry.
By now, the River God had taken the contract and was studying it carefully.
Then he passed it to the Turtle Spirit beside him and whispered, "Prime Minister, take a look. What does this say?"
The River God thought he'd spoken quietly, but the place was open and his voice was loud.
Not only Zhang Tianshou and her sisters heard him; even Chen Fan did.
Chen Fan was speechless. The gods of the Heavenly Court couldn't even read.
It reminded him of an old joke!
The Jade Emperor's son couldn't count!
And you're just the lowly River God of one stretch of Clear Water River.
You even call yourself the Turtle Prime Minister. Do you think you're one of the Four Seas Dragon Kings?
"Divine Lord, it says..."
Once the Turtle Spirit had finished reading, the River God was dumbfounded.
Chen Fan had made such a fuss and summoned him here,
only for it to really be over such a trivial matter!
The River God gritted his teeth in fury and pressed his fingerprint onto the contract.
Then Chen Fan took the contract back and held it out to the village chief.
The village chief accepted the brush with his head held high, giving the River God a contemptuous look.
Then he scrawled his name onto the contract.
Chen Fan: "..."
Before you continue