Cutting

The atmosphere suddenly froze.

Sun Fulai opened his mouth, wanting to say something.

The few people beside him signaled with their eyes, and one leaned in, reaching out to tug at Sun Fulai's sleeve.

Wu Yuanheng's complexion had already turned leaden.

Fan Ling gave a dry cough and hurriedly tried to smooth things over, "Drink, let's drink. Such good wine, don't let it go to waste."

Everyone took the opportunity to step down from the awkwardness, raised their wine cups, and changed the subject.

But in their hearts, they all had a new understanding of Feng Xiu.

The topic shifted back to grain.

"In another month, it will be time for the summer irrigation."

"Is the River Law Bureau actually going to open the gates or not?"

"Last month, when the head of the Feng Clan went to negotiate, the River Law Bureau didn't give an answer," someone said angrily.

"That's easy to solve; just give the River Law Bureau another sum of money," Fan Ling interjected with a smile.

"Give them more? The River Law set the rules years ago, and we pay the River Law Bureau every year. If we pay again now, wouldn't that be paying twice?" someone retorted.

Fan Ling let out a hollow laugh.

Feng Xiu and Lin Che exchanged a glance, their brows furrowing slightly.

Fan Ling's words did not fit his status.

As the eldest legitimate son of the Fan Family, the weight of the Fan Family in the grain business was, if anything, heavier than that of the Feng Clan.

How could he suggest paying the River Law Bureau again?

However, Fan Ling had always presented himself as a forthright and generous man, so no one paid it much mind.

"Before, it was because Brother Feng's Sweet Dew Grand Festival brought the rain that we were able to catch our breath. Now, what exactly is the River Law Bureau's attitude? Why do they keep their doors closed every day and fob us off?"

Everyone's gaze turned in unison toward Feng Xiu.

Although they were reluctant, they had to admit that while the banquet was nominally hosted by Wu Yuanheng, the actual center of the conversation had always been Feng Xiu.

Back then, after the Sweet Dew Grand Festival, all the family heads had carefully analyzed it in private, with many others listening in.

It was clearly a tactic Feng Xiu used to force the River Law Bureau to take a stance.

As for Fan Ling and Lin Che, both had personally stated that the planning and strategy were all Feng Xiu's ideas.

Later, he even invited a true immortal; such a person was not someone anyone dared to ignore.

"Brother Feng, you speak," someone thought for a moment, then paused. "Now that the River Law Bureau keeps its doors closed every day, if they don't open the gates for this summer irrigation, what are we to do?"

"Right, Brother Feng, you make the call."

"We will all listen to you."

With a cacophony of voices, they all looked at Feng Xiu.

Feng Xiu had just picked up his wine cup; the white porcelain was as thin as a cicada's wing, painted with a few stalks of green bamboo.

The liquid swayed slightly in the cup, reflecting a faint amber hue.

Setting it down, Feng Xiu spoke slowly.

"There is nothing to discuss."

The crowd fell silent.

"The River Law is a rule established long ago, and for these years, we have been paying the River Law Bureau."

"But do not forget, it is written clearly in the River Law: those who possess the River Law Seal do not need to report to the River Law Bureau and may open the sluice gates themselves. When it was built a hundred years ago, every family contributed money; this is our privilege."

Someone was stunned for a moment.

"Right, that's it!"

"How could I have forgotten that?"

When the River Law was formulated, its primary purpose was to rake in money.

The River Law Bureau only cared about collecting fees, while the subsequent release of water was coordinated by the families themselves, which slowly evolved into an unwritten rule.

Whichever family had more farmland would irrigate first.

Later on, the River Law Bureau gradually grew in power, and the audits for families holding the River Law Seal became much stricter.

But the regulations of the River Law had never changed.

In principle, a family possessing the River Law Seal already had the authority to take the seal and go directly to the Tang Reservoir to open the gates.

The River Law Seal and the Agricultural Commissioner Decree were the greatest safeguards for grain merchants.

"But the River Law Bureau has people stationed at the Tang Reservoir now... I'm afraid that won't be easy to handle," someone hesitated.

Feng Xiu heard this and reached out to pick up a piece of food with his chopsticks.

The roasted venison chop was charred on the outside and tender on the inside, its aroma hitting the nose as he chewed slowly and methodically.

The others watched him, their minds spinning rapidly.

Given Feng Xiu's current reputation—praying for rain, waiving rents, opening porridge stalls—even his own tenant farmers were spreading the word.

Whoever could go to the Feng Clan to beg for a meal would be considered blessed with good fortune cultivated over three lifetimes.

Feng Xiu did not speak, but his meaning was already quite clear.

Lin Che pondered for a moment, then turned to look at Fan Ling.

"What do you think?"

Lin Che's brows flickered; Feng Xiu's words had indeed jumped outside the constraints of the current framework.

But River Law was River Law, and the River Law Bureau was the River Law Bureau; the two could not be conflated.

As the words left his lips, Lin Che was momentarily distracted, realizing that Fan Ling, who had been beside him, had already departed at some point.

At this moment, some people still hadn't caught on; they first raised their glasses in a toast, downed the contents, and then asked Feng Xiu directly.

"Brother Feng, just tell us straight: can the River Law Bureau actually open the Tang Reservoir?"

This time, Feng Xiu responded directly.

He said indifferently, "They must open it. If they dare not to, the Feng Clan will be the first to disagree."

The words had barely fallen.

A voice, aged yet slightly resonant, drifted over from the rockery in front of the lawn.

"Young Master Feng is right; this year, the Tang Reservoir must be opened!"

Everyone looked up abruptly.

The old man wore a dark gray robe, his hair and beard were completely white, his face was gaunt, and his eyes held a faint sense of authority.

And the person supporting the old man was none other than the long-absent Fan Ling.

"Elder Qin!"

"Why have you come?"

Everyone's eyes widened, their expressions filled with shock.

The person who had arrived was Qin Huan, the current Director of the Green Rock City River Law Bureau.

He was a big shot whom even those present, who already managed their own family affairs, could rarely encounter!

At this moment, everyone subconsciously looked at Wu Yuanheng.

The Heyang Elegant Banquet was a gathering for the younger generation; Qin Huan's appearance was highly irregular.

Wu Yuanheng was also stunned; the Wu Clan's business was in theaters and brothels.

Aside from the thousand-odd acres of land used to feed their own, they had absolutely nothing to do with the River Law Bureau.

What was Qin Huan doing here?

Immediately, Wu Yuanheng's gaze sharpened as he looked at Fan Ling, who was supporting Qin Huan.

Lin Che and Feng Xiu were both taken aback.

Since when had Fan Ling gotten mixed up with the River Law Bureau?

Qin Huan stood there, his eyes slowly sweeping over everyone present.

His gaze was neither sharp nor fierce, just very calm, as if he were looking at a group of juniors.

Everyone felt uncomfortable, as if they were being stared at by something.

They had just been discussing how to pressure the River Law Bureau, and now the man himself had arrived; it was hard not to feel awkward.

Some lowered their heads, shifting their gazes away without a sound.

Only Feng Xiu, after regaining his composure, remained in his seat, his black-gloved hand picking up his wine cup and stroking it delicately.

Qin Huan's gaze lingered on Feng Xiu for a moment, a trace of imperceptible surprise flashing through his eyes.

He smiled slightly and said, "All young talents, good, very good."

He paused, then added, "Young Master Feng was right just now; the Tang Reservoir will definitely be opened this year, so all your families can rest assured."

Everyone looked at each other in dismay.

Someone gathered the courage to ask, "Elder Qin, what... what do you mean by that?"

Qin Huan glanced at the man and said indifferently, "Exactly what it sounds like."

The man was choked by the response and sheepishly shut his mouth.

Someone else asked, "Then, then why didn't the River Law Bureau open it before?"

Qin Huan did not answer, merely sweeping his gaze over the crowd again, his eyes clearly carrying a bit more scrutiny.

Everyone felt a chill under his gaze, and no one dared to speak again.

Qin Huan finally withdrew his gaze, letting it fall upon Feng Xiu once more.

Feng Xiu did not dodge, meeting the look head-on.

"Feng Yujin truly knows how to raise a son."

Within Qin Wenyuan's aged eyes, there was a hint of appreciation mixed with traces of reminiscence.

"That River Law Seal held by the Feng Clan back then was signed by my own hand," Qin Huan said slowly. "You weren't even born yet at that time; in the blink of an eye, you've grown so much."

Feng Xiu, neither humble nor pushy, stood up and bowed toward Qin Huan.

"You overpraise me, Elder Qin."

Qin Wenyuan nodded, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

Fan Ling supported him, saying respectfully, "Elder Qin, please mind your step."

Once the two had departed, the crowd finally let out a sigh of relief.

"Scared the life out of me, that look from Elder Qin..."

"Indeed, just one glance from him and my back was soaked in sweat."

"Why did he come here? Who invited him?"

The crowd discussed it fervently, then turned their eyes toward Wu Yuanheng.

Wu Yuanheng's expression was unsightly, and he remained silent.

Feng Xiu sat back down, picked up his wine cup, and took a sip.

The wine was the same as before, but the taste seemed a little different.

The crowd looked at one another in dismay.

Someone said angrily, "That traitor Fan Ling!"

"When he said earlier that he wanted to pay more money to the River Law Bureau, I felt something was wrong!"

"What exactly is his intention?"

Another person hesitated, "Would the River Law Bureau really be so kind as to open the sluice gates without any conditions?"

The crowd fell silent for a moment; no one could figure it out.

"I heard that things are not peaceful over in Jin Province," someone whispered. "Could it be that the River Law Bureau has its own difficulties?"

"Difficulties?" someone sneered. "A hundred-year dynasty, a thousand-year clan. No matter how chaotic the world gets, we are the ones with the grain. If they didn't release the water before, were they trying to starve the commoners to death?"

Listening to this, Feng Xiu let out a mocking laugh.

Where were these thoughts before? Now they suddenly remember the commoners?

However, Fan Ling siding with the River Law Bureau was indeed beyond his expectations.

The crowd discussed it for a while longer, but they still could not guess the River Law Bureau's true intent.

Following this, Wu Yuanheng continued to host the elegant gathering, but the atmosphere remained much more stifling than before.

The elegant gathering ended on a sour note.

Feng Xiu stood up and walked toward the exit.

"Brother Wen Zheng, about this matter..." Lin Che caught up and whispered.

Feng Xiu frowned. "We'll talk when we get back."

When he reached the doorway, he paused his steps.

Fan Ling was standing not far away, speaking to someone inside Qin Huan's carriage.

The many clan disciples leaving the gathering shot him hostile glares and steered clear of Fan Ling's position.

The gazes of Feng Xiu, Lin Che, and Fan Ling met for a moment, but no one spoke.

Immediately, the two turned and walked away.