143: Chapter 143 Refusal

Han Jingyang, Shi Xiaoya, and Liu Jing enjoyed the relaxed pace of country life.

They felt quite immersed in it.

Dinner was authentic village food—simple, rustic, and full of flavor.

After eating and drinking their fill, they strolled along the creek that ran through the village, finding the experience quite delightful.

Meanwhile, after returning home, Huang Zhiyun called Zhou Jianjun, the village chief of Dongpo Village. "Old Zhou, I have something to tell you. Don't panic."

"I've seen the world; do you think you can scare me?"

"I ran into Han Jingyang today."

"Han Jingyang? Who's that?"

"The Feng Shui Master who took down He Dingkun and the Dingshen Group. The young man rumored recently to be able to bring the dead back to life."

"It's him?" Zhou Jianjun stood up abruptly. "Where did you run into him?"

"By the reservoir. He was with two young women, said he was fishing, but I think his target is that Octagonal Building."

"What do you mean?"

"He took the initiative to strike up a conversation with me and kept bringing up topics related to that area, intentionally or not."

"What does he want to do?"

"How should I know? I just feel that your village's involvement with He Dingkun is quite heavy. Now that He Dingkun has fallen, you guys need to be careful."

"This..." Zhou Jianjun hesitated. "What does this Han Jingyang look like?"

"He's staying at your brother-in-law's place. If you go now, you should be able to find him. He's a tall, handsome young man with a very unique temperament; you'll definitely recognize him when you see him," Huang Zhiyun said in a low voice. "Be careful not to let him use you. After all, his motives are unclear."

"Alright, I'll go over tonight and feel him out," Zhou Jianjun said seriously. "Old Huang, thanks."

"You're welcome, you're welcome. The reason my shops are doing so well is largely thanks to your village's high-quality vegetables. I want to keep using them, so whoever causes trouble in Dongpo Village is my enemy."

"It's not that serious. I'll test the waters first. Talk to you later."

Hanging up the phone, Zhou Jianjun hurriedly changed his clothes and headed straight for the agritainment farmhouse run by his brother-in-law.

Back in the Quancheng urban area, Huang Zhiyun dialed another number. "Mr. Sun, I just heard some gossip I think you might be interested in. Want to hear it?"

"What gossip?"

"It's about He Dingkun."

...

9:30 PM.

Han Jingyang returned to the farmhouse with Shi Xiaoya and Liu Jing. Just as they entered the courtyard, a middle-aged man around fifty years old came out to meet them. "Hello, Master Han. I am Zhou Jianjun, the village chief of Dongpo Village."

He took the bait that quickly?

That man named Huang really is... quite impatient.

But the sooner the better.

It doesn't hurt me anyway.

Han Jingyang shook hands with Zhou Jianjun with a calm expression. "Chief Zhou, do you have business with me?"

"A small matter, just a small matter. Let's talk inside."

"Sure."

In a small meeting room, Han Jingyang and Zhou Jianjun sat down.

Zhou Jianjun's brother-in-law, Wang Yan, brought tea and then withdrew, closing the door behind him.

Zhou Jianjun lowered his voice. "Master Han, I've heard your name."

"Oh?"

"Your reputation has been very great lately, and you're linked to He Dingkun. Our village's history with He Dingkun is also quite deep, so we've been keeping an eye on you."

"Chief, you didn't look for me just to get an autograph, did you?"

"That wouldn't be out of the question, but there is official business."

"What business?"

"Help us take a look at our village's Feng Shui."

"Why look at the Feng Shui when everything is fine? Your village is developing so well; whether the Feng Shui is good or bad doesn't seem important at all."

"Sigh, our village's development was built entirely on the foundation of He Dingkun's funding. Now his fate is unknown, and the Dingshen Group has been acquired. We don't know how we'll get by in the future."

"With such a good foundation, how bad can it get? You don't plan on relying on subsidies for the rest of your lives, do you?"

"Of course not," Zhou Jianjun shook his head quickly. "It's just that there are rumors that He Dingkun tampered with things in our village and ruined our Feng Shui."

"Didn't you find someone to look at it before?"

"We did, but none of them could give us a straight answer."

"They couldn't say, or they didn't dare to say?"

"Who knows?"

Han Jingyang smiled. "I can look at it, but I won't say anything either."

Zhou Jianjun was stunned. "Why?"

"Dongpo Village is a large village with a population of over a thousand. The involvement is too deep and the karma too heavy. My small shoulders can't carry that burden."

"Master Han, name your price."

"No, I won't take the job for any amount of money. People's livelihoods are no small matter. If something goes wrong, all thousand-plus people in Dongpo Village will be affected. I really can't take that on."

"Back then..."

"Back then, you had a big figure like He Dingkun backing you. Even if your village completely rotted, he could easily build a new one for you. I don't have that kind of power."

Zhou Jianjun was silent for a long time. "What if you only look at the Octagonal Pagoda?"

Han Jingyang shook his head again. "The word on the street is that He Dingkun and I are mortal enemies, and I was the one who brought him down. If I go to look at that pagoda now, no matter what I say, it will stir up controversy. It's better to avoid suspicion."

"Is that pagoda good or bad for Dongpo Village?"

"Whether it's good or bad, you feel it most deeply and clearly yourselves. Asking me is just trying to confirm your own feelings. So don't ask me; trust your own judgment."

Zhou Jianjun took a deep breath. "Then what is your purpose in coming to our Dongpo Village?"

Han Jingyang laughed.

He crossed his legs and took a sip of tea. "I want to ask Wang Wei's parents about something."

"Wang Wei?"

"Yes."

"Is there such a person in our village?"

"She should be thirty-four or thirty-five this year. She graduated from Shanyi ten years ago as an acting major. Her father's name is Wang Jinliang."

"Her? What happened to her?"

"You don't know?"

"I don't. She never came back after leaving for school. She just sends money to the old couple regularly. Some say they've seen her in Quancheng, others say she's being kept by a big boss in the Capital. If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten her formal name; I only remember her nickname was Xiao Wei."

Han Jingyang nodded. "Is that so? Then I can't tell you."

"Did something happen to her?"

"I have to see her parents before I can tell you."

"Master Han, she is one of our villagers. As the village chief, I have a right to know. Besides, Xiao Wei's parents haven't seen much of the world; they probably won't be able to say a word in front of a big figure like you. In the end, I'll still have to step in to handle it."

Han Jingyang just shook his head.

No matter what Zhou Jianjun said, he wouldn't budge.

Zhou Jianjun had no choice. "Then should I bring Xiao Wei's parents here? Or should we go there?"

"Let's go to her house."

Wang Jinliang's house was quite nice. Although it was a single-story house, it was kept very clean and had everything it needed. The exterior walls were even tiled, so their economic situation clearly wasn't bad.

However, the old couple's mental state was very poor.

Though not yet sixty, they already seemed lifeless. Seeing Han Jingyang and the others, they barely reacted, appearing quite numb.

Poor souls.

Zhou Jianjun cleared his throat. "Uncle Jinliang, this is Little Han from Quancheng. He's a friend of your Xiao Wei and has something to talk to you about..."

Wang Jinliang didn't speak.

But Wang Jinliang's wife suddenly grabbed a tea mug beside her and threw it at Han Jingyang. "Get out! Get out! Get out of my house! I don't know any Xiao Wei! Get out, get out now!"