First meeting

Upon hearing this, Peng Shulan was taken aback. Looking at Yin Yunze's current appearance as a young master, she said uncertainly, "Grandpa, what are you saying? There's just a young master here, where did this little girl come from?"

"A young master?" Xu Hanxian pointed at Yin Yunze and angrily rebuked Peng Shulan, "Open your dog eyes and see clearly for me! This is just a little girl of about ten years old! What young master! I, I was truly blinded by greed! I actually believed your nonsense about two million catties of grain and five copper coins!"

"Grandpa! You've really wronged me!" Peng Shulan immediately sensed something was wrong, but still insisted, "I see a young man in his early twenties! There's no young girl in her teens! Have you been working too hard these days?"

In the end, Peng Shulan even started to turn the tables and accuse the perpetrators.

However, there's no other way. If we don't hold on now, we'll probably suffer losses on both sides.

Seeing the two arguing, Yin Yunze naturally understood what was going on. This Xu Hanxian could really be considered a good official.

Although the Dynastic Karmic Luck will protect every official appointed by the court, there are differences between officials appointed by the court.

For corrupt officials who are wicked and prey on the local people, the protection of the Dynastic Karmic Luck will become thinner, at most allowing them to avoid being killed by ordinary evil spirits.

However, for good officials who genuinely serve the people and are loved by them, the Dynastic Karmic Luck will favor them even more, and they will receive additional benefits.

For example, this allows Xu Hanxian to see through some of the tricks and avoid being completely fooled.

He secretly rejoiced that, in order to avoid any unexpected incidents, Yin Yunze hadn't planned to continue with his act of showing off in front of others.

Otherwise, given the awkward situation of being exposed as soon as they meet, even if more food is brought over later, Xu Hanxian assume there's something fishy going on because of his preconceived notions.

Realizing he'd been seen through, Yin Yunze dropped the pretense, but still tried to smooth things over for Peng Shulan: "Lord Xu, please don't be so harsh on Constable Peng. After all, Constable Peng isn't an official of the court like you, so naturally he can't see through my Illusion Technique like you do. But since I've been seen through, I won't pretend anymore."

As they spoke, Yin Yunze dispelled the Illusion Technique, revealing Zhao Wan's youthful appearance.

Peng Shulan wasn't stupid; she could easily understand the implication in Yin Yunze's words.

When Peng Shulan saw Yin Yunze revert to his little girl appearance, he feigned surprise and said, "Young Master Qingqiu, how could you...?"

"So, who are you? And why did you go to such lengths to lure me here?" No longer caring whether Peng Shulan was faking it, Xu Hanxian looked at Yin Yunze and said, "You're not an ordinary little girl, are you?"

"I am no ordinary girl. The body you see, Lord Xu, is merely a temporary vessel for me."

Yin Yunze replied in a tone befitting a sage, then pointed to the dishes on the table and said, "While my previous appearance was an illusion, the dishes on this table are all real. Lord Xu, why don't you sit down and eat while we chat?"

"No need!" Xu Hanxian's expression turned serious, and he shook his head, saying, "I have no need to talk to those who are hiding their true intentions!"

After saying that, Xu Hanxian really didn't care about anything else and turned to leave.

"How pretentious!"

Seeing Xu Hanxian like this, Yin Yunze also remembered what Peng Shulan had complained about: Xu Hanxian was often too rigid and inflexible.

In this situation, it's clear that they feel cheated, and their stubbornness has flared up.

"Wait." Seeing Xu Hanxian turn to leave, Yin Yunze quickly called out, "Lord Xu, even if I could truly produce two million catties of grain and sell it for five copper coins, would you still not be willing to talk to me?"

"..."

Xu Hanxian stopped abruptly, turned to look at Yin Yunze, and a clear look of inner conflict appeared on his face. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said, "I don't believe it..."

Without saying a word, Yin Yunze raised his hand, and the several packets of prepared pig feed appeared out of thin air in front of Xu Hanxian.

This ability to conjure objects out of thin air immediately stunned Xu Hanxian.

But then, as if remembering something, Xu Hanxian looked at Yin Yunze and asked, "The fox spirit of Clear Creek Village?"

Yin Yunze wasn't surprised that Xu Hanxian recognized him; in fact, it was a good thing. "I didn't expect Lord Xu to still remember me!"

"I still remember your generous gift."

The 10,000 jin of rice that Yin Yunze gave away free of charge solved Xu Hanxian's urgent problem at the time.

At the time, Xu Hanxian thought Yin Yunze was no longer useful, so he didn't take it too seriously.

Now that several related elements from his memories have been pieced together, Xu Hanxian can easily recognize Yin Yunze's identity.

Looking at Yin Yunze in front of him, Xu Hanxian realized that he might have really underestimated this Nine-Tailed Fox spirit hiding in a small mountain valley.

Surprisingly, a phoenix actually perches in a pheasant's nest!

"That was just a small gift." Brushing aside the gift that had cost him so much money, Yin Yunze cupped his hands and said, "I am Green Hill Yi Yun. It's a pleasure to meet you, Lord Xu!"

"Xu Hanxian, Magistrate of Qingling County. If it is indeed the Clear Creek Fox Immortal, then for the sake of those ten thousand catties of rice, I might grant you this opportunity."

After casually introducing himself, Xu Hanxian squatted down and looked at the pig feed.

However, as he opened the packaging and took out the individual yellow pig feed pellets, Xu Hanxian couldn't help but frown.

"What is this? This is the grain you were talking about?!"

Before Yin Yunze could answer, Xu Hanxian picked up a piece and put it in his mouth.

Yin Yunze frowned at Xu Hanxian's behavior. Even grains like rice and flour shouldn't be sampled like this, right?

However, Xu Hanxian didn't notice Yin Yunze's expression. After chewing a few times, his furrowed brows gradually relaxed. "The taste is not bad. It is indeed food that can fill the stomach. Moreover, it seems that it can be eaten without cooking."

"Dude, you're awesome!"

Although Yin Yunze chose a pig feed with relatively good taste because it was ultimately for human consumption.

But no matter what, it's still pig feed. How can it taste good?

Yin Yunze, at least, tried it out of curiosity, and his feeling was that the taste was a bit strange and he couldn't really eat it.

Through Xu Hanxian's example, Yin Yunze realized that he had overestimated the things that ordinary people could eat in ancient society.

Judging from the fact that he gave a fairly good review, Xu Hanxian's daily diet probably wasn't all delicacies.

"Constable Peng must have already spoken to Lord Xu. I can provide two million catties of this grain, and it only costs five copper coins."

Seeing that Xu Hanxian seemed less resistant than before, Yin Yunze quickly resumed the previously interrupted topic, "Lord Xu, the food is ready, it will get cold if we don't eat soon! Let's talk about these matters while we eat?"

Upon hearing Yin Yunze's words, Xu Hanxian pondered for a moment but did not say he was leaving.

Regardless of whether Yin Yunze's identity is real or not, the grain is definitely genuine.

As soon as Yin Yunze sat down, Xu Hanxian picked up his chopsticks and started eating without saying a word.

However, despite enjoying modern cuisine, aside from raising an eyebrow at first, there were no positive reviews.

Seeing Xu Hanxian's expression, Yin Yunze realized that he seemed to be retracting his earlier assessment.

It seems that Xu Hanxian simply couldn't tell the difference between good and bad.

Seeing that Xu Hanxian sat down, Yin Yunze pretended to be unfamiliar with Peng Shulan and invited him, "Constable Peng, please take a seat as well."

"I..." Peng Shulan wanted to refuse, but seeing the table laden with food far more lavish than last night, she went along with it and said, "Then I won't refuse! Qingqiu... Miss, please!"

In front of Xu Hanxian, Peng Shulan naturally had to keep her distance from Yin Yunze and act as if she wasn't that familiar with him.

Therefore, Peng Shulan deliberately did not address Yin Yunze as "Lord," but instead called him "Miss."

However, the way he was addressed as "Miss" made Yin Yunze's eye twitch involuntarily.

Because of his identity as a fox spirit, Yin Yunze had never been called by such a feminine name before.

Suppressing the urge to correct him, and thinking to himself that this was the consequence of playing a female character, Yin Yunze also sat down and began to eat.

For a moment, the only sound inside the room was the sound of three people chewing food.

However, as they ate, Peng Shulan was the first to notice something was wrong.

Wait, didn't we agree to eat and chat? Why are we only eating and not talking now!?

After thinking about it, Peng Shulan understood what was going on.

Both sides deliberately ate and drank, waiting for the other to speak first. After all, whoever lost their composure first would reveal who cared more about the matter, and that person would be at a disadvantage.

But this stalemate was not what Peng Shulan wanted to see.

Swallowing the food in his mouth, Peng Shulan looked at Yin Yunze and said, "Miss Qingqiu, why don't you speak first..."

"Constable Peng!" However, before Peng Shulan could even begin, Xu Hanxian said, "One should not speak while eating or sleeping!"

Seeing Xu Hanxian interrupt Peng Shulan's speech, Yin Yunze raised an eyebrow slightly. Was this county magistrate putting on airs?