Mu Cailiang glanced at the long pole in the Young Master’s hand and asked, “How… can this fish?”
He thought to himself that this Young Master must be joking.
Such a delicate bamboo pole—how could it possibly pull a person out of the water?
But no matter the reason, since he was standing there now, this person before him must be his rescuer.
Mu Cailiang stopped wondering how he’d been fished out. He then bowed low.
“Mu Cailiang thanks you, sir, for saving my life.”
Chen Changsheng turned around again upon hearing this. “eting soone by chance is fate itself. For this alone, there’s no need for thanks.”
“The rain is light now, and night will fall soon. You’d better hurry ho to change out of those wet clothes. The wind here by the river is fierce. Catch a chill, and it won’t be good.”
After hearing this, Mu Cailiang said, “You saved my life, sir. How could I possibly leave?”
Chen Changsheng replied calmly, “You standing here disturbs this one’s fishing.”
Mu Cailiang opened his mouth to speak but hesitated, unsure how to respond.
He looked once more at the Young Master in the Blue Robe, still holding the bamboo pole.
After a mont’s thought, Mu Cailiang said, “Please wait for just a little while, sir.”
Chen Changsheng turned and saw Mu Cailiang already leaving the pavilion. He ran through the heavy rain toward the Civic District. Chen Changsheng didn’t know what he was going to do.
He stopped thinking about it and focused on fishing again.
……
Pitter-patter…
Raindrops fell on Mu Cailiang. Perhaps because his clothes were soaked through, each step felt heavy.
His long boots splashed through puddles, sending water flying.
He ran without pause to a shop in the Civic District.
Mu Cailiang rushed into a clothing store.
“Governor Mu?”
The shop clerk was startled and hurried forward. Seeing Mu Cailiang drenched, he asked, “Why didn’t you bring an umbrella?”
“It’s alright,” Mu Cailiang said. “Is Manager He in the shop? I need to see him. It’s urgent.”
“I’ll call the Manager right now!” The clerk quickly ran upstairs.
Soon, Manager He Erlang ca down.
“Governor Mu!?” He Erlang gasped, stunned by Mu Cailiang’s state.
Before he could say another word, Mu Cailiang spoke. “Manager He, I need to ask a favor. Please.”
“Let’s sit down,” Manager He offered. But Mu Cailiang refused to be led to a seat.
Mu Cailiang shivered and said, “No sitting, no sitting. This is urgent.”
Manager He quickly replied, “Governor Mu, tell . If He can help, I won’t hesitate.”
“Could you…” Mu Cailiang stamred, “…lend a cloak? I’ll bring silver tomorrow.”
He Erlang quickly responded, “Governor Mu, why say that? If it weren’t for you, my whole family would have perished in that flood! A cloak is nothing. Why consider it a loan?”
“I’ll get it for you now.” He Erlang handed the cloak to Governor Mu.
Mu Cailiang said, “Thank you, Manager He. I’ll repay you tomorrow.”
“Forget the silver!” Manager He insisted firmly.
Mu Cailiang looked troubled. “Could… I also borrow an umbrella?”
Seeing him ready to leave, Manager He urged, “Governor Mu, at least change into dry clothes first! I have plenty here. Such a storm—how can you walk out like this?”
“No, no,” Mu Cailiang refused. Realizing he wouldn’t win, he tucked the cloak close and ran out.
“Governor Mu!”
Manager He stood stunned for a mont before trying to follow.
“Don’t follow!” Mu Cailiang called back, shielding the cloak as he hurried toward the riverbank.
Manager He watched him go, puzzled by the Governor’s need for the cloak. After a mont’s thought, he told his clerk, “Pick out so dry clothes. Take them to Governor Mu when the rain lessens.”
“Yes, Manager!” the clerk agreed.
……
Mu Cailiang hunched over, carefully protecting the cloak from the rain.
A little while later, he staggered back to the Long Pavilion.
“Sir,” he panted.
Chen Changsheng turned at the noise. “Why are you back?”
Mu Cailiang explained, “I have little to repay you with. As you said, sir, the river’s wind brings chills easily. Please accept this cloak. It will keep you warm.”
Rainwater dripped from his hair. He stood soaked, puddles forming around his feet.
Chen Changsheng almost refused, but then took the cloak. It would be hard to decline.
“Thank you.”
Seeing his gift accepted, Mu Cailiang breathed a sigh of relief.
“Sir, perhaps you should wear it.”
“Alright.”
Chen Changsheng put on the cloak there and then.
Mu Cailiang smiled. “Perfect.”
Chen Changsheng nodded. “You are still soaked. Go ho and change imdiately.”
“Delivering the cloak brings peace,” Mu Cailiang replied. “I’ll go change and return soon.”
Chen Changsheng pointed at the oil-paper umbrella leaning against the pavilion pillar. “It’s heavy rain outside. Take the umbrella. Rember to see a doctor for dicine afterward. Don’t fall ill.”
Mu Cailiang shook his head. “But if I take your umbrella, what will you do, sir?”
Chen Changsheng smiled. “This one won’t leave until the rain stops. Take it. But it must be returned later. It was only borrowed.”
Mu Cailiang hesitated, but finally picked up the umbrella.
“Thank you, sir.”
He opened the umbrella and departed.
Chen Changsheng watched him disappear into the rain. He lifted a hand to silently calculate.
“A River Governor…”
But only a forr River Governor.
After the Jing Dynasty fell, local officials across the land were mostly replaced by Xiang people. But these Xiang people weren’t locals and lacked familiar understanding.
Several mistakes had caused disasters.
After retiring as River Governor, Mu Cailiang had quietly kept watching the waterways his whole life. He’d prevented many catastrophes.
Now in his sixty years, he still guarded the river tirelessly.
“Truly a dutiful ‘River Governor’.”
Chen Changsheng sighed softly. “Dynasty changes always bring chaos. Such talent gets buried. What a pity…”
Still, one comfort remained.
The buried man had never buried himself.
Chen Changsheng put the thoughts aside, focused solely on his bamboo fishing pole. His gaze drifted back to the river. He smiled gently and murmured,
“My fish is biting soon.”
The tiny hook sank into the Riverbottom Dragon Palace below. Swaying gently through currents, it diligently searched through the grand underwater halls.
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