Li Qingxian said, "Official Luo, you're really overthinking it. I've just been a little lucky."
"Plenty of people have better luck than you, but you're the only one who has made it this far and convinced me that your next step will be the right one too," Luo Jing said.
"You officials just think too much," Li Qingxian said, shaking his head.
Luo Jing smiled. "I have no ulterior motive in saying this. It's just that everything you've done has overturned much of my past experience. Rationally, I think the sect master is right, and some of those things people say are right. But somewhere I can't quite put into words, I hope you'll keep doing things differently, as you always have. I don't know why I'm saying this. Perhaps I've simply grown accustomed to wanting to see you leave the narrow sheep trail behind and open up a broader, grander road."
Li Qingxian shook his head with a wry smile. "You officials talk in clouds and mist, leaving my head full of fog. Still, I can tell you want things to go better for me, and I appreciate the sentiment. But I honestly don't understand what you're saying. I, Li Qingxian, am a straight-talking man. How could I understand talk like yours?"
Luo Jing rose with a smile. "Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease. I'll be going. May you have a bright future."
Li Qingxian rose as well and saw Luo Jing off.
After they returned to Chunfeng Residence, Zhou Hen stood at the doorway, the toe of his right foot shifting back and forth several times before he finally stepped inside and asked, "Were the distillery and the public cemetery really both schemes you set up?"
"Young Uncle Zhou, if you put that curiosity into