CH 162

The Maitreya has always been portrayed baring his chest, holding a pouch, and with a conspicuous smile plastered on its face.

It was said that the Maitreya was fast, with wrinkled brows, and a bulging belly. His words were indefinite, and he would lay down anywhere. He would carry the pouch to the market and beg for food. He would then place all the food that others had provided him into his pouch and never has anyone seen him take anything out from it. The bag was also said to be empty.

This Maitreya had a kindly smile and a bulging stomach but sat upright. He wasn’t holding the pouch in his hand but rather, had it opened. The model of this Maitreya was slightly different from the usual ones, and if one weren’t paying close attention, they would easily miss these minute details.

Although Chu Jiao wasn’t considered to be proficient in handling mechanisms in the cultivation world, she still had a rough understanding of them. She slowly walked towards it and carefully observed every nook and cranny of the Maitreya, discovering that there was a gap below the Maitreya’s foundation, connecting to the pouch.

Chu Jiao reached a hand out to Shen Zhen and said, “Quick, give me a piece of silver~”

Shen Zhen did not ask what Chu Jiao intended to do and simply took out a piece of silver from his waist, casually handing it over to her, “Here.”

Chu Jiao probed around and cast the piece of silver into the Maitreya’s pouch. However, a clanging sound rang out, making it look as though there was no end to the pouch and that the silver had fallen into a much deeper end.

“Hm?” Shen Zhen also heard this and noticed the queerness. He walked towards Chu Jiao and coincidentally saw that the Maitreya’s stomach had slowly opened!!

Inside the Maitreya’s big stomach quietly laid a book.

“This senior officer…” Chu Jiao looked at the setting of this mechanism and sighed, “is really avaricious…”

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“Yeah.” Shen Zhen walked ahead and retrieved the thin booklet.

“We’ve really….worn out our iron shoes1To wear out one’s iron shoes(踏破鐵鞋無覓處，得來全不費工夫) means to travel far and wide looking for something, only to find it easily. ….” Shen Zhen flipped through the booklet for a quick browse and happily cupped Chu Jiao’s face for a victorious kiss, “Jiao’er, you’re amazing!”

That book was the record that Shen Zhen had been trying to procure from the start. It was the black ledger that detailed the transactions that transpired between the Wu County’s officials and merchants.

※ Translated by Little Potato, read only at secondlifetranslations(dot)com please QAQ

The two easily slipped out of the secret room, and before leaving, Shen Zhen twisted the mouth of the open pouch closed with brute strength, rendering this mechanism completely obsolete.

Chu Jiao followed suit and mischievously vandalized the chests of gold, writing “Someone was here!” One could well imagine how furious and deranged Zhang Feng would look when he arrived and saw the chaos that ensued.

“Crafty girl.” Shen Zhen laughed incessantly.

Chu Jiao wrinkled her nose, “This is called, ‘Those who handled cinnabar are stained red, while those who work with ink are stained black.2This means that if you approach good people, you’ll become a good person yourself, and if you approach bad people, you’ll become a bad person yourself.’”

Shen Zhen started choking up from laughter upon hearing her cunning words.

The senior provincial officer’s manor had been tranquil on the surface, however, lying beneath the surface were turbulent currents.

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Zhang Feng soon discovered the obvious peculiarity in his secret room, but unfortunately, he couldn’t speak a word of it and could only dispatch his family soldiers to conduct a private investigation. His whole being was furious and indignant while feeling anxious and restless on the inside.

At the same time, he had no choice but to inform the wealthy merchants he had dealt with who were recorded inside the booklet and have them clean up their tracks. Among them naturally included Lin Wenyue’s uncle, Lin Tao.

Lin Tao had already arranged for his wife to retrieve Lin Wenyue three days ago. Originally planning to stay in Huai’an for a little while longer at first, but upon receiving the senior official’s notice, he had to change his route and immediately returned to Wu County.

But before he returned, he had planned to specifically ask Shen Zhen out for a meal.

Initially, Lin Tao intended to take Lin Wenyue back and find her a suitable marriage partner as per his brother’s instructions. However, upon hearing her niece mention that the person offering her shelter was the brilliant and impressive capital official Shen’s son, other ideas began to surface in Lin Tao’s mind.

The fact that he was able to amass such wealth in just a short ten years was all due to his smooth way of handling affairs and sharp mind.

The newly appointed provincial governor was going to take up his post soon, and though the filial Zhang Feng was still the senior officer, his future wasn’t secure. Since a crafty rabbit has three burrows3A crafty rabbit has three burrows (狡兔三窟): A sly individual has more than one plan to fall back on., it was necessary to find another route of escape.

Although his niece was a bit foolish, she was still a beautiful sack of flesh. And though “Shen Zhongxing” was merely someone who has obtained his official position through donating, if he were able to establish relations with a fourth-grade capital official, this ‘business’ wouldn’t be a loss.

Lin Tao’s mind was filled with thoughts about scheming against Shen Zhen, but little did he know that Shen Zhen was also scheming against him.

Now that he had the account book, he had material evidence in his hands, and the only thing missing was a witness testimony.

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Shen Zhen went to the meeting as promised and had a good time with Lin Tao. After having his third round of drinks, Shen Zhen couldn’t win against the effects of alcohol and became intoxicated.

Upon seeing this, Lin Tao revealed a sly smile.

He quickly got up and walked towards the other room.

Inside the room, a girl sat feeling restless.

“Wenyue, Uncle can only help you until here.” Lin Tao pointed out to the girl in front of him with a deeper meaning, “There are some opportunities you have to learn how to seize them for yourself.”

“I understand, Uncle.” At this, Lin Wenyue revealed a bashful expression.

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