Chapter 21: A Little Information
The disheveled young boy paced nervously outside the gate, trying to brush the dirt and grime off his clothes.
He peeked cautiously through the cracks in the door, catching glimpses of the familiar man and woman talking inside.
He hesitated, unsure how to approach them.
Rumors were swirling throughout Changling County, all praising the scholar living in this house for his great talent and virtue, predicting a bright future for him. Even the county magistrate seemed interested in befriending him.
His reputation was spreading, and he was already quite well-known in the county.
For a lowly beggar like him to approach so casually…
Would he be looked down upon?
But as he hesitated, the gate suddenly opened.
“Young man, you look even more disheveled than the other day.” Lin Tianlu stepped out with a smile. “Are you here to beg for more money and food?”
“Sir?! I-I… no…”
The boy stumbled back, waving his hands frantically, trying to explain.
Lin Tianlu softened his expression and said gently, “Don’t be nervous. I was just teasing you.
But why have you come here? What is it you want to say?”
Seeing the handsome scholar’s kind and approachable demeanor, the boy blinked, a wave of relief washing over him.
This man was truly a good person.
But he still clutched his ragged clothes nervously and said in a small voice,
“I… I’m here to do business with you, Sir.”
“Oh?” Lin Tianlu raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms with a chuckle. “What kind of business, young man?”
“When we met at the restaurant, Sir, you asked me about ghosts and demons. I didn’t take you seriously then, thinking you were just teasing me.”
The boy’s eyes flickered, and he took a deep breath. “But a few days ago, you displayed your incredible power, dispelling the evil aura from the fabric shop, saving lives, and vanquishing a demon. Everyone in Changling County is praising you. I thought… you might be interested in those supernatural beings.”
Lin Tianlu was surprised.
This young boy was quite perceptive.
Seeing the boy’s nervousness as he mustered his courage, he couldn’t help but chuckle. “You seem to have read my mind, young man.”
The boy’s eyes lit up with joy. “Are you serious, Sir?!”
“Of course.”
Lin Tianlu nodded. “Those supernatural beings are a mystery to me, a vast and unexplored world. And I’ve read many tales of the supernatural, so I’m naturally curious. As for the business you mentioned…”
“I-I want to trade information about these supernatural beings with you, Sir!” The boy quickly replied.
“Information?”
“You can tell at a glance… I’m a beggar who relies on begging for a living. But I’m quick and have sharp ears. I hear all sorts of gossip in and around the county. I know what’s happening in every household. If there’s any sign of a supernatural occurrence, I can be the first to inform you, Sir.”
The boy’s voice was filled with excitement, eager to prove his worth.
Lin Tianlu silently observed his eager, dirt-stained face, then smiled after a moment of thought.
“A hundred copper coins for each piece of information. What do you think?”
The boy’s eyes widened. “A-a hundred copper coins, Sir?!”
A hundred copper coins was a fortune to him! He wouldn’t be able to earn that much in a month of begging!
“Of course. But the information must be accurate. If I find out you’re making things up to cheat me out of money, I’ll cancel our deal and report you to the authorities.”
“I would never! Please trust me, Sir! I would never lie to you!”
He swallowed hard and said in a small voice, “Sir, I have a piece of information right now…”
“Oh? Something happened in the county?” Lin Tianlu asked curiously.
“There seems to be something strange happening at the Cheng family’s house, five miles north of the county. People are saying that they hear eerie laughter coming from the house every night, and these past two days, they’ve even heard the sound of chopping meat. But when they search, they can’t find the source of the sound. It’s very strange.”
“Such a strange occurrence. Hasn’t the Cheng family reported it to the authorities?”
“Not yet. Perhaps they don’t want to make their family matters public and want to handle it privately.” The boy pondered for a moment, then added, “I heard that the head of the Cheng family, Cheng Yanghua, is a very proud man. He was known for his hot temper in his youth and hated being gossiped about. Although he’s calmed down a bit after starting a family, his wife died young, and his personality has become unpredictable.”
“You seem to know a lot about him.” Lin Tianlu chuckled.
“I-I just heard these rumors from people on the streets.” The boy shrugged shyly. “Maybe that Cheng Yanghua… isn’t as proud as people say.”
“It’s alright. It’s commendable that you remember these things.” Lin Tianlu said gently. “Wait here for a moment. I’ll get you the money.”
The boy beamed with joy, nodding repeatedly.
While waiting, he carefully wiped his hands, trying to make them look cleaner.
When Lin Tianlu returned and handed him the coins, the boy stared at them for a long time, then suddenly started to sob softly.
“Why are you crying?”
“You… you gave me a chance, Sir!” The boy quickly wiped away his tears, clutching the coins as if they were a precious treasure. “I’ll work hard!”
Lin Tianlu smiled and patted his shoulder. “Use your ‘talents,’ and you’ll be rewarded. But…
I have to warn you, you can gather information from others, but don’t go investigating those supernatural beings yourself. If you encounter them directly, you might lose your life!”
“I’ll remember your words, Sir!”
The boy’s expression turned serious, and he added, “I almost forgot something. It seems that Cheng Yanghua is having dinner at the Tianhai Restaurant tonight. If you’re not busy, Sir, you could go there and talk to him.”
“Tianhai Restaurant?”
Lin Tianlu shook his head with a smile. “What a coincidence.”
“Sir?”
“It’s nothing. I’ll take care of it. You go and have a good meal with that money. And wash your face and buy yourself some new clothes.”
“O-okay!” The boy’s cheeks flushed slightly as he carefully put the coins away and ran off…
His clumsy gait, bowing every few steps, was quite endearing.
“Senior, who was that child?”
Hua Shuya approached silently.
Lin Tianlu waved his hand. “A poor child I met at the restaurant. He’s quite clever and told me about some strange things happening in the county.”
“So you’re planning to…”
“Have dinner at the Tianhai Restaurant tonight.”
Hua Shuya’s eyes lit up, and she smiled sweetly. “I’ll tell the restaurant to prepare a feast!”
Leave a Reply