Chapter 4, Mr. Geography

Now that she has gained the reputation of being a husband-killer, Bai Xiaobi feels much safer than before and is no longer afraid of anything. After finishing her meal, she returns home and manages to get through the night. Early the next morning, she hurries to the small courtyard of the Fan family where they pile up miscellaneous items. Zhu Quan is already under the eaves, pushing a stone mill to grind flour. His hair is as white as frost, contrasting with his rough, brown skin. It is still a bit cold in the early morning, and his old face is covered in sweat, resembling old tree bark soaked in dew.

An old man and a young boy ground for most of the day, finishing their work only in the afternoon. The two of them cleaned the stone mill, and Zhu Quan sat under the eaves to rest and catch his breath, while Bai Xiaobi went to the kitchen to fetch the meal. As she was the maid left behind by Young Master Fan to do the work, the kitchen staff did not make things difficult for her, though their expressions were strange, knowing that the rumor of her being a husband-killer had spread. Bai Xiaobi pretended not to notice and returned with two bowls.

In fact, there are really no major problems in life right now, at least I won't starve. Bai Xiaobi is washing the dishes, hesitating whether to accept the kind offer from the gentleman from last night. Since he has already paid the money, if I don't go to eat, it would just let the restaurant profit for nothing. It would be better to bring some back for Uncle Zhu to eat tonight.

Though blind in sight, not blind in heart, Zhu Quan set down the bowl: "Girl, you must not have eaten such a meal before"

The Fan family dominates the county, and thinking of her father's tragic death due to old age, Bai Xiaobi couldn't help but shed tears: "So many people are powerless against them, can my uncle's master really avenge us? Is he somehow more powerful than Fan Ba's official status?"

Bai Xiaobi whispered: "At that time, I will definitely ask the esteemed elder to avenge my father"

Zhu Quan, blind and unable to see, was unaware of her unusual expression, and replied: "Go ahead, the face has been finished today, just come over early for dinner this evening"

Zhu Quanan said: "Perhaps my master can be found."

If one wishes to inquire about what this geomancer is, one must start from the common folk sayings. There is a saying: "Ten people earning well is not as good as one person lying down well." Whenever there is a construction or renovation in the community, it is customary to first invite a skilled geomancer to assess the feng shui. The most common practice is to examine residences, as it is believed that the feng shui of a dwelling affects the owner's future fortune. There are two types of residences to consider: one is called a yang residence, which refers to the ordinary living quarters of the living; the other is called a yin residence, which, as the name suggests, is the dwelling place of the deceased in the underworld, essentially referring to burial grounds. Therefore, when someone dies in the community, except for those who are impoverished, most will hire a geomancer to inspect the land to avoid burying the deceased in the wrong place, which could lead to disturbances from the restless spirit. If a truly auspicious burial site can be found, not only will the deceased find peace, but it will also bless their descendants, allowing them to rest easily. The living family members will then receive protection and enjoy honor and prosperity. This is the origin of that saying.

Escape? Bai Xiaobi felt a stir in her heart, Could it be that, contrary to what is said outside, Uncle was forcibly kept here by them?

Zhu Quandao: "The earth is within my sight, and naturally, there are ways to unravel it. They fear that I will go out and cause trouble, so they forcefully keep me here and do not allow me to speak out"

The food was extremely coarse and difficult to swallow. Bai Xiaobi forced herself to eat half a bowl, but could no longer continue. Seeing Zhu Quan eat with great appetite made her feel even more distressed

But they are ungrateful! Bai Xiaobi listened with anger, surveying the surroundings, "They make you live in such a place and still expect you to grind flour"

Should we just let them act tyrannically

Bai Xiaobi nodded: "Understood, Uncle did not grasp its context at the time, so he cannot speak on its behalf"

Seeing his expression darken and the signs of old age become apparent, Bai Xiaobi hurriedly comforted him, saying, "I will take care of you in your later years."

Zhu Quan nodded: "I originally anticipated that I would face such retribution, wholeheartedly hoping that they would be grateful and treat me well, seeing me through to the end. However, as soon as Fan Er took office, they confined me instead."

How could a commoner possess such great abilities to contend with Fan Ba Tai? Bai Xiaobi was skeptical, but what Zhu Quan said next left her even more astonished

Where would a young lady in the boudoir have done such rough work? Zhu Quan certainly knew this, as he fumbled to take out a cloth bag and a bamboo brush, handing them to her: "Good child, come over and prepare the flour."

Bai Xiaobi was feeling embarrassed; upon hearing this, she hurriedly took the flour from the grinding trough with both hands and quickly swept it into the bag

Zhu Quan shook his head: "If it were really that easy, I would have taken action long ago. As it stands, my eyes cannot accomplish this task, and you alone cannot do anything about it. If you seek help from others, in this small Menjing County, once it reaches their ears, my life will be in jeopardy"

Zhu Quandao said: "When I passed through this place years ago, I saw an extremely rare piece of land. Unfortunately, I have no descendants and my skills are lacking, so I can only understand it superficially. I know that this land is very rare, and if it were to be used as a burial site, it would ensure wealth and nobility for future generations. However, I cannot comprehend its veins and trends, and thus I am incapable of giving it a name. " Anticipating that Bai Xiaobi would not understand, he smiled and said: "Anyone who sees a piece of treasure land must first have it named by someone well-versed in this field. If the name is given well, it can be utilized to its fullest potential; if the name is poorly chosen, it will bring misfortune and ruin the land's spiritual energy. A geomancer must be proficient in feng shui and naming, as well as determining the proper burial site for the deceased. This is the skill of seeking dragons and locating graves. Do you understand?"

Bai Xiaobi was overjoyed: "Uncle said to come, I will take care of it"

"It's alright," Bai Xiaobi said ambiguously, bringing over a bowl of water. "Uncle, are you thirsty?"

Zhu Quanyue could no longer bear it: "Good child, it pains me even more to see you like this. I only wish that in my lifetime I could meet my master again, so that he could take you out and help you find a place to settle down elsewhere"

"Uncle Zhu, I will grind it." Without waiting for Zhu Quan to respond, Bai Xiaobi rushed forward, only to find that she could not move the heavy stone mill at all

Bai Xiaobi lost her voice: "Could it be that Uncle's eyes..."

Zhu Quandao: "A land of treasures that has not been named is merely waiting for a fated person. As the saying goes, 'It is easy to find a dragon, but difficult to locate a burial site.' The proper order is to first find the dragon and then locate the burial site. To do it in reverse is not only a joke but also makes it impossible to find the treasure land. However, at that time, I heard a story and became convinced of that site, skipping the step of finding the dragon. This was also driven by my eagerness to find someone to enjoy a life of wealth and comfort, so I disregarded my master's advice and secretly conferred a name upon that piece of land in consultation with the Fan family, despite my limited understanding. As a result, the Fan family gained wealth and power, and their fortunes grew. Fan Er soared to success and eventually held the position of Minister."

Zhu Quanxian nodded and then shook his head: "It is true that they do not let me go, but this matter is a sin I have committed myself. I have kept it hidden in my heart for ten years, and I have never dared to tell anyone. If it were to be made public, I fear I might not even be able to preserve my own life."

Recalling what happened last night, she blushed and stood up: "Uncle, I have one more thing to take care of, and I will come back to help you afterward"

Zhu Quandao: "I sensed something was wrong and wanted to leave, but I was beaten half to death by them. This is also my own doing, causing you to suffer oppression from the Fan family. I have merely survived in a precarious manner for ten years; the retribution should be coming to an end. I do not seek anyone to see me off; I only wish to escape from this place as soon as possible and live a few days of peaceful and stable life. That would be the mercy of heaven towards me."

The blind old man who grinds the mill suddenly transforms into Mr. Geography, which would astonish anyone.

The discourse on geography originally corresponded with astronomy. Common geographers primarily focus on geographical features, while truly distinguished geographers are not limited to the term "geography." They not only understand the patterns of mountains and rivers and the flow of terrestrial energy, but are also well-versed in astronomy, capable of observing celestial phenomena, interpreting the mysterious gates, calculating the destinies of others, and even discerning the dragon energy and imperial energy, which shall be set aside for the moment

In the eyes of the common people, these geomancers are regarded as exceptional experts, thus they are referred to as "masters of geography" and are held in the highest esteem

Zhu Quan nodded in silence

Speaking of the master, a hint of pride unexpectedly appeared on Zhu Quantuo's defeated old face as he lowered his voice and said: "I have only seen him once. Although he is not a high-ranking official, his abilities are extraordinary. In terms of wisdom and strategy... heh heh, he will surely be able to save us out."

Bai Xiaobi, fearing that he would be upset, hurriedly said: "Uncle, don't worry, I am still accustomed to it. If they want me to stay and be a maid, I will eat their food to my heart's content. Besides, there are still some things left at home, and being a maid can earn me a bit of money."

I am destined to have no children or family ties, living a life of solitude and suffering. It was not until ten years ago that I met my master. He saw my plight and, with the intention to guide me, imparted some rudimentary skills in geomancy for me to make a living. He said that I could not bear great wealth and advised me to save some money to find an honest and ordinary person to spend my remaining days with. As he spoke, a look of regret appeared on Zhu Quan's face. "I can only blame myself for not heeding his advice, and now, indeed... sigh!"

Zhu Quan took a sip of water, wiped his sweat, and sighed: "Don't mention it, even I couldn't eat back then, but I forced myself to eat for nearly ten years. I wonder if I will have the chance to meet my master again in my lifetime, to ask him to help me escape and live freely for the last two years of my life"

Bai Xiaobi opened her mouth for a long time and finally came to her senses: "Could it be that Uncle Zhu is a geography teacher?"

Having only met the master once, who knows when he might pass by here? Perhaps he will never come. Zhu Quan could not bear to disappoint her: "Let them take over your family's property, in the future..."

Bai Xiaobi did not understand the meaning of the words: "The Fan family is so wicked, could it be that Uncle had no way to punish them back then when he was able to help them?"