Cultivation System: Stronger with Age Chapter 1397 - 609: Expert

A short while later,

Lin Xuankong, together with several servants and the junior steward Miao Youren, headed toward the side courtyard in the west.

After Lin Xuankong, Miao Youren, Miao Wan’er and the others left the main hall,

Ma Nanfeng, who was sitting upright in the Grandmaster’s Chair, frowned and looked at Miao Yun Lake beside her, a look of hating iron for not becoming steel appearing on her face,

"Two days ago I already told you that a great figure capable of influencing the tides of the three northern prefectures would be staying over at Qing Lake Residence for a period of time, and incidentally getting a grasp of the situation here in Jee Province in its war against the Ai Race!

This matter is something not even County Magistrate Huang of Qingyuan County and the others know about; it was my elder sister, who serves as director of the Military Intelligence Office in Jee Province, who secretly tipped me off. And yet you don’t seize the opportunity to go over there more often?

Do you realize that if you can manage to say a few words to that great figure who is living in seclusion at Qing Lake Residence, or win his favor, your position as Inspector Bureau Chief is sure to soar to the heavens? If everything goes smoothly, in another ten years or so you might even sit in my father’s seat!

And yet these past two days you’ve been running to the Inspection Bureau every day to fuss over those trifling matters of catching thieves and robbers; today you even specially went to the restaurant to welcome some ruined good‑for‑nothing. Do you really plan to rely on doing those petty thief‑catching chores and currying favor with these ruined good‑for‑nothings to accomplish some great enterprise? To attain some lofty post?"

Hearing this, Miao Yun Lake couldn’t help but knit his brows and sigh:

"I am the Inspector Bureau Chief of Qingyuan City; of course I must maintain the peace of Qingyuan City and manage all the various affairs of the Qingyuan City Inspection Bureau. If I don’t handle those matters of catching thieves and robbers, who am I to hand them over to? Am I supposed to be like that County Magistrate Huang of Qingyuan County, with nothing in his eyes but gold and jewels, fine wine and beautiful women to make you happy?

As for that great figure you spoke of who can influence the winds and clouds of the three northern prefectures, since he has quietly come to Qing Lake to live in seclusion, he clearly doesn’t wish to be disturbed. If I, a mere small bureau chief of the Inspection Bureau, keep running over there every day, wouldn’t that just annoy him? It may well be that if I go and happen to run into that great figure, not only will I fail to gain any favor, I might even provoke his displeasure!

And as for you calling Lin Qiang a ruined good‑for‑nothing—yes, his family has indeed fallen on hard times, but his father once saved my life and was a sworn brother who shared life and death with me for many years. If, when the descendants of a brother who has been through life and death with me fall into hardship and come to seek refuge, I don’t take proper care of them, then in future, when my men hear of it, who will still sincerely help me do things! Moreover, Lin Qiang is quite learned and also a fine‑looking youth. In my view, if he is given some duties, he will surely accomplish something in the future!"

Seeing her husband speak like this, Ma Nanfeng’s expression could not help but change; in the blink of an eye, it shifted from a dark scowl to a pitiful, helpless look,

"Fine, fine, I won’t oppose you giving that ruined good‑for‑nothing a bit of care, so people don’t gossip,

but you must at least listen to my advice. These next few days you should still go over to Qing Lake Residence more often. It’s not like I’m asking you to make a big show of looking for that great figure—just pretend to run into him by chance, isn’t that enough! If you let such a good opportunity slip by, with that mule‑stubborn temperament of yours, when will you ever rise above your station! Back then, when I, Ma Nanfeng, took a fancy to you, wasn’t it because I thought you were a man of great ambition? Do you really plan to spend your whole life as some second‑rate little Inspector Bureau Chief, rotting away in this godforsaken Qingyuan County where not even birds bother to shit?

Even if you won’t think for yourself, you should think for me and the children! Do you want to go to Jee Province every year and see that all of the children’s older cousins and younger cousins live in wealth and splendor, while your children are no different from the common run of people?

When will you finally put more of your mind on getting promoted? Besides, with your talent and ability, staying cooped up in such a small Inspection Bureau, you simply can’t spread your wings!"

By the time she was done, Ma Nanfeng’s tears were already pattering down.

This woman truly had a fine hand at tactics—seeing that a hard line wouldn’t work, she immediately put on a pitiful face!

Seeing this, Miao Yun Lake immediately felt a headache coming on; he sighed again and said, "Alright, stop this, I’ll do as you say. In the coming days I’ll make time to go over to Qing Lake Residence more often!"

When Ma Nanfeng saw Miao Yun Lake agree, she at once wiped away her tears and smiled, "I knew it, back then I, Ma Nanfeng, definitely didn’t misjudge you!"

...

In the western wing of the Miao Mansion, within a small courtyard for guests.

Lin Xuankong stood in the courtyard and looked around. Though this courtyard wasn’t large, it still covered three to four hundred square meters. The northern house was a row of three main rooms, bright and well‑lit; on the west and east sides there were three small rooms each, serving respectively as quarters for male and female servants, and as firewood room and kitchen.

Miao Youren, standing to the side, sidled over with a beaming smile and said, "Young Master Lin, in previous years this courtyard has always been used by Master Miao to entertain certain distinguished guests—at the very least, only local gentry of some standing and reputation were qualified to stay in these small courtyards of our Miao Family. Although this courtyard may not be quite on par with the residence Young Master Lin originally lived in—after all, you are the eldest young master of the Lin Family—still, among the courtyards our Miao Family uses to receive guests, this is one of the very best. It shows just how much Master Miao likes and cares for you!

At the moment these rooms have all been tidied up. Young Master Lin, why don’t you go into the main rooms and rest for a while? As for what you’d like to eat this evening, just tell Youren. So long as it can be found in Qingyuan County, Youren can get it ready for you!"

Eat what?

Lin Xuankong’s eyes couldn’t help but move slightly.

Earlier at the restaurant, although he had already used the Blood Spirit Technique to absorb the blood and Life Force of several big River Fish weighing several catties, that bit of blood and Life Force was still far from enough to repair the chronic ailments of this body! Moreover, this body itself wasn’t particularly strong; it even leaned towards being somewhat frail and scholarly. If he wanted to quickly raise his strength, he still needed more Spirit Blood and Life Force!