Chapter 114

The chieftains repaid their debts and taxes, and were ecstatic when they saw the silver coins in their hands. Did this count as making money? This was pure riches, wasn't it? They all hosted a banquet to honor Tao Da, the meritorious official. Without his information, they wouldn't have dared to sign the IOU with the chieftain's mansion.

Tao Da accepted the silver coins wrapped in red paper with a smile. He shook his head and said proudly to the chieftains who were drinking with him, "You probably thought I was bragging before, but now you see it, right? In the past, when we went to the chieftain's house to buy opium, we didn't even consider money. It's a pity that you were too timid to take more than a little. If you took all the goods from the chieftain's house, your descendants would enjoy it for generations to come."

The Mengwang chieftain toasted him and said, "We are able to make a profit this time thanks to you, brother! You have a deep foundation and great prestige in the mansion. If we want to make a fortune, we still have to rely on you!"

Tao Da raised his wine glass and waved his hand modestly, saying, "I'm just a high-ranking figure, relying on my seniority to have a say in front of the master. Over the years, the leaders have given me face, offering cigarettes and greetings when we meet. I appreciate your kindness, so of course I have to help you wherever I can."

The leaders burst into another wave of thanks. Tao Da accepted the praise with a smack of his lips, then shook his head and asked, "You need to be bolder this time and stock up on more goods. When it comes to making money, the bolder you are, the fatter your pockets will be."

Everyone present knew this, but the rice seedlings in the fields had already been sown, so where was the extra land to grow opium?

Tao Da raised his cup and sighed to himself, "As long as you have money, there's nothing you can't do, and there's nothing you can't buy. I work for the Tusi Mansion and I dare not disobey the master's orders. If the master had allowed me to plant, I would have dug up all the rice on my dozens of acres and covered it with soil to plant tobacco. How much is that rice worth? If I don't have rice to cook, won't I go to other villages to buy more?"

Yes, a rich man can buy his life, let alone a few dan of rice? Everyone took his words to heart. Although they didn't show it on the surface, as soon as they returned to Mengquan, they all started planting opium. A few cautious people didn't dare to start with the spring seedlings, but seeing that other Mengquan were working in full swing, they rushed to pull up the seedlings, fill the soil, and sow the seeds, fearing they would suffer losses.

The old lady heard about the chaos in Mengquan and hurried to the study to find Yunkai. Despite the urgent situation, he was leisurely practicing calligraphy at his desk. Yin Tai suppressed her anger and asked in a deep voice, "Those Mengquan people down there have stopped growing grain and are now competing to grow opium. Have you heard about this?"

Yun Kai nodded, still focusing on his brushstrokes. He casually agreed, "I know."

Seeing that he looked like nothing had happened, Yin Tai finally couldn't help but yelled, "I know you're not doing anything about it. If you continue to let them go on like this, the people of Yunxiang will starve to death."

Yun Kai raised his head from the table, shrugged, and said helplessly, "How can I control it? The sky wants to rain, my mother wants to get married, and they insist on having their own way. What can I do?"

The old lady saw the words "Harmony is the most precious" that had just been written on the table and said earnestly, "I know you wish they would all die before you, but this is no small matter; it will shake the foundation. Do you want to see Prime Minister Yun starving to death?"

Yunkai tossed the brush into the brushwash. The clear water quickly formed a cloud of black ink, which then gradually dispersed. Yunkai chuckled indifferently, "Mother, why should you worry about those traitors who have no regard for their master? Besides, am I not good to them? I give them whatever they want. Even their own father couldn't give them the wealth and glory, but I offer them with both hands. They didn't have such good things when my father was here."

Yin Tai felt that she could no longer see her son clearly! Ever since he became a chieftain, he spoke and acted so gently that he seemed like a completely different person, but every word he said made you think about the deeper meaning behind it. She stared at the big "harmony" character on the table and said in a bitter voice, "Some things are over and done with. I wanted to bite off a piece of flesh from those people back then. But you are the chieftain, the king of Yunxiang. You have to have a long-term vision and pattern, and not just seek temporary pleasure."

"I can't accept this." Yun Kai pointed at his chest and said coldly, "My father and brother are dead, and I abandoned my fiancée. If these people were still alive, this would be unacceptable."

Seeing the old lady's face filled with shock at his words, Yun Kai smiled again and said, "What did mother think I was going to do? Don't worry, every wrong has its perpetrator, every debt has its creditor. I won't implicate innocent people. I just want them to know that things have changed for Yun Xiang. I'm even more cruel than my father. I just said I don't want my fiancée, whom I've loved for so many years. Who do they think they are?"

When Old Lady Yueming was mentioned, she followed up on his words and told him about her brother's proposal: "Your uncle wrote to me about your marriage to Se Manli. Yueming is gone now, and you have to make plans for yourself. The position of hostess of Yunxiang can't remain vacant forever."

Yun Kai picked up his pen again with a cold expression: "I have no plans to get married. You should go back to your uncle to avoid delaying Se Manli."

The old lady advised, "Apart from your uncle, the only other suitable family to form an alliance with is your aunt Zhang Wai Tusi. But the girls in his family are either older than you or much younger than you. Se Manli is the most suitable. After you get married..."

Yun Kai looked up and interrupted her: "Mother, I said I have no plans to get married."

The old lady gasped when she heard this: "What do you mean? Are you still thinking about Yueming?"

Yun Kai remained silent.

The old lady scolded him harshly, "Are you crazy? How could a chieftain not have a legitimate heir? Do you want the Han family to have no descendants?"

Yun Kai said calmly, "Has mother forgotten my third brother and Liang Yun? As long as they are here, the Han family will never be extinct."

The old lady felt as if the earth and mountains had collapsed upon hearing this. She felt dizzy and dazed, barely able to stand, relying on the table. She said sadly, "When Lan Yingde broke off the engagement, he said you and Yueming had nothing to do with marriage. She might have already married in Kunming, so why can't you let it go too?"

Yun Kai looked at the newly drawn moon, a gentle smile appeared on his face, and he swore, "No matter what happens to her, my feelings for her will last until death!"

After the rain, the chiefs enjoyed a second wave of benefits. With their wealth now abundant, they naturally wanted to give generously, and they lavishly recast the gilded statues of the Buddhas in the temples. They also lavishly entertained guests during the closing festival, setting off rows of high-rise fireworks in the evening.

The chieftain and the other gentlemen were all honored guests. Yunkai sat at the head of the banquet table, watching the waves of fireworks rising higher and higher in the sky, his smile growing ever wider. "A raging fire is boiling oil," he said, referring to moments like this: pour a bucket of cold water over a scorching hot iron wok, and who knows what the outcome will be.

The leader of the Shanggan Circle held a cup of wine in front of him and offered it to Yunkai: "This cup of wine is dedicated to our far-sighted Anyazhao Chieftain Han Yunkaifa. Under your wise rule, Yunxiang Nine Meng Eighteen Circles are thriving. We are all grateful for your kindness and generosity."

Yun Kai raised his cup and said lazily, "I am wholeheartedly committed to the prosperity of Yun Xiang. I hope you can understand my painstaking efforts."

The leader of the laid-off group slapped his thigh and said, "Look at what you said. Not only do we understand your hard work, we are also trying our best to help you share your worries." After that, he waved his hand to call people up.

A young girl in a green dress walked gracefully to Yunkai's table and knelt down.

Yun Kai raised his eyebrows: "This is..."

The unemployed leader flattered the girl, "You don't have anyone to serve you. This is a gift I prepared for you, Master. It will refresh your mind in your spare time." He then scolded the girl, "You are so clueless! Lift your head and let Master see!"

The girl raised her head timidly, not knowing whether it was out of fear or excitement. The hairpin hanging beside her ear swayed gently, making the girl look more lively.

The same big eyes, the same innocent face, Yunkai's pupils constricted. But he quickly came to his senses. Something was different. At first glance, they looked 50% similar, but after a second glance, only 20% remained.

Yueming had always seen him as bold and passionate, never one to display such a timid expression. Those eyebrows weren't right either; their crescent-shaped brows were more feminine than Yueming's hard, sword-like brows, lacking in character. The reason why the story of Dong Shi imitating Xi Shi became such a joke wasn't because she was truly utterly ugly, but because she could only imitate Xi Shi's skin, not her bones.

They really knew how to cater to his preferences! Knowing he wasn't one of those lecherous men who only cared about women, they specifically picked a woman who was his favorite. Little did they know Yueming wasn't easily replaceable, nor was she someone they could casually joke around with. This time, they'd successfully stirred up some of his old and new grudges.

"I'm not married yet. I'm afraid that Yin Tai will be sad if I keep someone like this. I appreciate your kindness." His tone was light, but he was furious in his heart. He left the table on the pretext of being drunk.

Standing in the courtyard where he was staying, he looked up at the moon with his hands behind his back. Feng Xiaosai ordered the guards to step back a foot and then stood silently behind him.

"Do you think she is looking at the moon right now?"

Feng Xiaosai was silent for a few breaths, then replied, "Miss Yueming has never been one to suffer any loss. I wonder where she is now, reveling every night!"

Yun Kai smiled wistfully. "She's actually not that fond of joining in the fun. When my eldest sister held a dance party in Bangkok, she only went once out of three invitations. She prefers going to the movies. She'd be happier if I could go with her."

Seeing Yunkai's dejected expression, Feng Xiaosai felt a pang of sadness. Those damned bastards couldn't even flatter him, yet they found a woman like that and stirred up all the trouble in the master's heart. How could they possibly understand the feelings between the master and Miss Yueming, the woman the master had cherished and nurtured. He had been frivolous for her in his youth, and had made plans for her when he was older. After having experienced a woman like this who had given him so much thought, what other woman in the world could possibly catch the master's eye?

"Master, eight out of ten things in this world are not what you want. You and Miss Yueming are both outstanding people. The few regrets you have experienced in life are a test from the Buddha! When Yun Xiang is safe, you can go look for Miss Yueming. She may talk tough, but she is actually very soft-hearted. If you can coax her well and beg her, you can still live your life as before."

Yun Kai smiled bitterly and said, "Xiao Sai! Not all mistakes can be forgiven. Yue Ming probably doesn't want to see me anymore in this lifetime. Otherwise, she wouldn't even stay in Kunming, leaving me with no trace of her."

They all underestimated her, thinking her departure was a playful ploy, a negotiation tactic, the result of a fit of anger. Only he knew that she was heartbroken but couldn't bring herself to scold him, so she simply turned a blind eye!

Love is not about possessing the other person, it is also about fulfilling the other person.

Feng Xiaosai was right, she really was someone who would never suffer any loss. She had clearly helped him, but it only made him feel even more melancholy, missed him even more, and regretted even more.

He looked at the bright moon in the sky and murmured, "No matter where she is, I hope she can be like me now, with mountains, streams, birdsong, and cicadas as her companions, looking up at the bright moon, with a peaceful and tranquil mind."