The study in the Chen Residence's back courtyard.
Chen Wei sat at his desk, leafing through a book of miscellaneous Daoist writings. Yang Chan sat beside him, holding a peeled Jade Dew Tangerine and picking off its white strands bit by bit.
The study door stood open.
A patter of footsteps came from the far end of the corridor, approaching at a rapid pace.
Chen Xiang strode into the study, pulled out an official document, and slapped it onto Chen Wei's desk. "Dad, do me a favor. Stamp this."
"Stamp it?"
Chen Wei chuckled, not taking it seriously. He only found it amusing. "Look at you, getting all capable!"
"This is official business." Chen Xiang wiped his mouth and tipped up his little chin. "Someone at Uncle Lu's government office is holding up his paperwork. I promised Xiao'e I'd handle this little matter. Dad, hurry up and help me get it done!"
Yang Chan laughed as she listened and handed Chen Xiang the tangerine she had stripped clean of white strands. "Qingquan, look how thoughtful Xiang'er has become. He even knows to help a classmate's elder sort out his troubles. Since Xiang'er has asked, just give it a stamp."
Her voice brimmed with indulgence.
To the Third Holy Mother, the Heavenly Court's red tape and convoluted official documents were no different from scraps of paper.
Chen Wei smiled and shook his head. He did not take it seriously either. Since his son had taken on the job to save face before a little female immortal, he, as the boy's father, naturally had to make sure the stage was steady beneath him.
"All right. Let Dad take a look."
Chen Wei spread the document flat on the desk and casually glanced at the heading.
Finance Department, Revenue Department, submitted by the