142: Chapter 142 Taking Chestnuts from the Fire

Han Jingyang was even less convinced: "It's not that I don't believe you, it's just that this sounds a bit far-fetched. Would someone like He Dingkun really let you see what he's doing?"

Huang Zhiyun lowered his voice and said, "It was just a coincidence. I came here to fish that day, and after only a short while, someone from the village came to clear the area. They gave us a refund and some gifts. Since they had a good attitude, we didn't make a fuss. However, when I went back, I didn't take the main road but a small path instead. See that path over there? If you cross that hill, you'll reach my father-in-law's house. I thought about stopping by the Old Man's place for lunch before heading back, but just as I was about to crest the hill, guess what?"

"What?"

"I saw a big wild rabbit. I hadn't caught any fish, so I couldn't go home empty-handed. I figured catching a rabbit to share a drink with my father-in-law would be nice, so I chased after it."

"And then?"

"Then I followed that rabbit as it zig-zagged through the woods. Who would have thought I'd end up near the pagoda, and that's when I saw He Dingkun."

"You know He Dingkun?"

"Not only do I know him, I've seen him in person several times. A few years back, He Dingkun used to eat at my restaurant frequently."

"You own a restaurant, brother?"

"Yes, Changle Private Kitchen."

"Wow, you're a celebrity."

"I wouldn't say that, I wouldn't say that," Huang Zhiyun replied modestly, but his expression was quite proud. He clearly enjoyed Han Jingyang's flattery, especially feeling honored in front of two great beauties like Shi Xiaoya and Liu Jing.

Han Jingyang laid it on thicker: "Definitely a celebrity, a big one at that. A successor of Lu Cuisine, a State Banquet Chef, and the owner of Changle Private Kitchen, Mr. Huang Zhiyun. My apologies for not recognizing you sooner; no wonder this fish is grilled so well."

The smile on Huang Zhiyun's face was practically overflowing: "It's nothing, it's nothing, just empty titles. Now I'm just a small restaurant owner who fishes when I have nothing better to do. You should come to my shop sometime to eat Braised Yellow River Carp; I'll cook it personally."

"I definitely will," Han Jingyang nodded repeatedly, and after praising him for a while longer, he followed up with a question: "Old Huang, you saw He Dingkun enter the pagoda?"

"Yes, He Dingkun was with a shriveled Old Man and a burly man. Their expressions were very solemn, and they were carrying things like incense, candles, and offerings. It was very formal."

"And then?"

"There is no 'and then.' I left after they entered the pagoda. So it's obvious that this pagoda was built by He Dingkun. Legend has it..."

"Legend has it what?"

"Legend has it that He Dingkun planted a Shengji here to extend his life."

Han Jingyang shook his head: "Planting a Shengji in a place like this, didn't the villagers have any objections?"

"How could they not? But the man has money and gives generously. He throws millions or even tens of millions at them every year. Even if the villagers have objections, they can only keep them to themselves. He Dingkun's shadow is everywhere in this village, inside and out. These roads, bridges, the reservoir, and the scenic area are all He Dingkun's handiwork. Even the repair and maintenance of the farmland and the reservoir were funded by him. Look at those clean and tidy field paths; could they have been built without spending money?"

"That's true, but this involves Feng Shui. Aren't they afraid He Dingkun might be up to something? What if He Dingkun is using the entire village's Feng Shui to nourish himself alone?"

"Well, I wouldn't know about that. Anyway, no one in the village says anything. Besides, their lives are getting better day by day, and nothing major has happened. Even if they have concerns, they have to swallow them. Furthermore, He Dingkun isn't your average businessman; crossing him means risking your life. Who in the village would want to be the one to stick their neck out?"

"It should be fine now, right? He Dingkun and the Dingshen Group have ended up in such a ghostly state."

"Yeah, now that He Dingkun's funding has been cut off, the villagers will surely have other ideas. But that has nothing to do with us. If we can fish, we'll keep fishing; if not, we'll just find another spot. It's just a pity because the fish here are truly excellent."

Han Jingyang nodded.

It would be hard for the fish here not to be good.

All the earth qi of the village was gathered in this area, suppressed firmly by the Octagonal Pagoda on the hill, forcibly turning this small reservoir into a Feng Shui treasure trove.

Whether the fish in the reservoir could become spirits was unknown, but they were definitely nourished to be plump and delicious.

Of course, good water quality was a prerequisite.

Good water doesn't always mean good fish, but good fish definitely require good water.

With good water plus good Feng Shui, the fish would naturally be even better.

Han Jingyang patiently chatted with Huang Zhiyun for the entire afternoon. It wasn't until after six o'clock, when they were preparing to pack up, that Huang Zhiyun finally realized: "Brother, I still don't know your name. Where are you from? Where do you work?"

"Me? My name is Han Jingyang. I opened a small shop in Yingxiong Mountain."

"Brother Han, you're in the antique business! Ahaha, what a coincidence, I like to dabble in those things too, though I look more than I buy. What's the name of the shop? I'll drop by for a cup of tea when I have time."

"Jiguang Zhai. It's being renovated right now and will be finished in a few days."

"Jiguang Zhai, as in 'a feather from a phoenix,' a good name," Huang Zhiyun said, but then he frowned. "Jiguang Zhai... why does that sound so familiar?"

"Does it?"

"Familiar, very familiar," Huang Zhiyun suddenly slapped his thigh. "You, you, you're that Mr. Han who took down He Dingkun?"

"Oh?"

"That's it, it's definitely you. You came for that pagoda, didn't you?"

"No, no, it's just a coincidence."

"Hehehe, I understand, I understand. Brother Han, is there some kind of treasure in that pagoda?"

"No, no, definitely not."

"Really not?"

"No."

Han Jingyang flatly denied it.

No matter how much Huang Zhiyun asked, he wouldn't admit he had come for the pagoda.

After asking for a while and seeing he wouldn't get a straight answer, Huang Zhiyun could only change the subject: "Brother Han, everyone says you used Feng Shui Arts to take down He Dingkun's family. Is that true?"

"It's fake. How could Feng Shui be that magical? If it were really that powerful, I would have gone to Dongying immediately."

"But the rumors are quite detailed. They say you set up a Yin-Yang Reversal Array near He Dingkun's ancestral grave, turning his family's fortune into misfortune. That's why He Dingkun and the Dingshen Group started having bad luck overnight, and it just kept coming until they were completely wiped out."

"How can you take rumors seriously? Let's go, time to head back."

"Hey, brother, tell me about this Octagonal Pagoda. Is there any story behind it?"

"There's no story."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"This pagoda really didn't suck away the luck of the whole village?"

"The concept of luck is ethereal and elusive; who can say for sure? He Dingkun has ended up in such a ghostly state, so his luck is definitely not good."

Huang Zhiyun narrowed his eyes: "Perhaps it's precisely because his luck was good that He Dingkun was able to last until now. If his luck had been a bit worse, he might have been gone long ago."

Han Jingyang laughed: "That's one way to look at it, but it's all just speculation and can't be taken as fact."

After saying that, he led Shi Xiaoya and Liu Jing directly back to the farmhouse.

The seed had been planted; now it was just a matter of when it would sprout, grow, and bear fruit.

Regarding that Octagonal Pagoda, he couldn't take it by force; he had to use wit.

It was best not to show his face personally and instead let others help him pull chestnuts from the fire.

To get others to take risks, he had to make them realize the stakes involved.

Huang Zhiyun was just a trigger.

And such a trigger could be Huang Zhiyun or anyone else.

In any case, Han Jingyang was in no hurry.

If one wants to eat hot chestnuts without taking risks, one must have patience—patience to wait for that quick-pawed cat who dares to pull chestnuts from the fire.