Chapter 20: Curiosity

Page 1 of 3

In a secluded river bend within Golden Sands Valley, seven people had gathered under the leadership of Chief Steward Qian Wen. These were the minor stewards of the valley, each overseeing a different aspect of its operations. Now, sitting around a table, the mood was heavy with tension.

“Chief Steward, you really must intervene. That Jiang fellow is abusing his power for personal gain. The mining guard squad has become his private hunting team. The brothers are dragged into the woods with him day after day—life has become unbearable,” a bearded man burst out, unable to contain his anger any longer. His name was Hu Yong, the former supervisor of the mining guard. Since Xiong Li’s arrival, he had been edged out of his position. Although Qian Wen had secretly offered him compensation and promises, Hu Yong had never truly accepted his demotion.

His outburst opened the floodgates, and the others quickly chimed in, pouring out their grievances and harshly criticizing Jiang Chen and his followers. They claimed he cared only for his own pleasures, paid no attention to their hardships, and that his obsession with catching rats was pure folly—hardly the actions of a responsible leader.

In reality, things were not nearly as bad as they made them sound. Since Jiang Chen’s arrival at Golden Sands Valley, he had rarely interfered directly in valley affairs. While his presence had inevitably influenced their lives, the impact was limited.

Yet, now that one had spoken, the others felt compelled to join in. They understood the unspoken rule: if others complained and you did not, what would the Chief Steward think? What would your colleagues think? Would you not appear unsociable?

Qian Wen, seated at the head of the table, watched the scene unfold with complete composure. He knew these men’s circumstances and thoughts as well as he knew his own.

“All right, enough. Quiet, all of you.”

After watching their little performance for a while, Qian Wen finally spoke.

At his words, everyone immediately fell silent, awaiting his next move. Even Hu Yong, the loudest complainer, quieted down. It was permitted to make noise, to show one’s stance, but there were limits.

Seeing this, Qian Wen set down his teacup, his expression turning grave.

“Hunting, catching rats—these antics may seem ridiculous, but for us, they are not a bad thing, but rather a blessing in disguise. As long as he does not interfere with the gold mining itself, let him amuse himself however he wishes.”

“Our task is to keep him content, to ensure he has no reason to trouble us. Is that clear to everyone?”

His sharp gaze swept across the room, setting the tone.

The others all voiced their assent, except for Hu Yong, who still looked dissatisfied. He alone among them had truly suffered under Jiang Chen’s whims. Despite the mountains flanking the valley, it was no easy feat to hunt large game, and with each foray, the task became harder. Recently, he had been driven to exhaustion—hunting was not only dangerous, it was a grueling chore, far from the idyllic pursuit some imagined.

But before Hu Yong could voice another complaint, Qian Wen spoke again.

“Ah Yong, I know you’ve endured much this time, and I’ve seen your efforts. Once this batch of gold is ready, I will personally petition the Third Chief for a reward on your behalf—a medicinal pill to help you break through to the Second Rank. When that happens, a chief’s position will surely be yours.”

Page 2 of 3

“For now, you must continue to endure. Think of the bigger picture.”

His words were earnest as Qian Wen deftly offered another promise, assuring Hu Yong that these hardships were but temporary, and the future held promise.

Hu Yong swallowed his protest, nodding silently. He knew Qian Wen’s promises were little more than empty words, but a promise, however insubstantial, was better than none—it was something to hope for.

Moreover, since Jiang Chen’s promotion to the Fourth Chief, a vacancy had indeed appeared under the Third Chief. If Hu Yong could distinguish himself in the next three years and break into the Second Rank, he truly did stand a chance at the position.

Qian Wen, seeing this, nodded in satisfaction.

“From my observations, our Chief Jiang may be a bit frivolous, but he clearly has no intention of managing the valley’s affairs. It’s time for us to act more boldly and pick up the pace.”

“Send word down—have the heads of the mining teams push the workers harder, shorten the gold-washing times, and increase production. This will not only satisfy the Third Chief’s demands, but also make life easier for all of us.”

If you want a horse to run, you must feed it well. After a moment’s thought, Qian Wen had reached a new decision.

At these words, everyone’s spirits visibly lifted.

When it came to illegal gold mining, the real profits went to the Third Chief, but the stewards each got their share of the spoils. The more gold they extracted, the more they stood to gain. After a few years of this, each could amass a handsome fortune and live as wealthy men.

As for the risks, in recent years, earning money had never been without danger, and besides, they had little choice in the matter.

“Rest assured, Chief Steward—we will handle it beautifully.”

Their responses were prompt and unanimous.

At last, the atmosphere relaxed, laughter spreading from top to bottom. Only one among them wore a smile different from the rest: Wang Yuan.

“Perhaps the time has come.”

Watching Qian Wen at the head of the table, tea in hand, wearing a composed smile as if everything was firmly within his grasp, Wang Yuan silently lowered his gaze. He was done waiting. Hatred gnawed at his heart like a venomous worm, unceasing.

And after all this time observing Jiang Chen, he was convinced that Jiang was not the type to let Qian Wen sideline him so easily.

Moments later, the group dispersed, leaving Qian Wen alone in the room.

Page 3 of 3

Just then, a shadow emerged from the darkness: it was Zhao Er.

On seeing him, Qian Wen’s calm facade vanished, replaced by visible anxiety.

“Zhao Er, tell me the truth—what’s happened to the Third Chief?”

Qian Wen fixed Zhao Er with a piercing gaze, as if hoping to read the answer on his face.

But Zhao Er remained impassive. He had come for two reasons: to observe Jiang Chen’s situation, and to press Qian Wen for progress, for the Third Chief was growing impatient.

“The Third Chief is fine. Just do your job and ask no questions that don’t concern you.”

His tone was icy, leaving no room for argument.

After all, Qian Wen’s influence rested on having sent his sister to Zhao Meng as a concubine—not a wife. While his abilities had earned him some standing with Zhao Meng, he was far from being an equal.

Rage surged in Qian Wen’s chest, but before he could speak, a feral, oppressive aura emanated from Zhao Er, making Qian Wen shudder involuntarily.

“A Second Rank expert!”

Remembering Zhao Er’s formidable strength, Qian Wen instantly deflated, like a punctured leather ball, unable to muster any further resistance.

“I understand.”

Defeated, Qian Wen nodded. All his careful scheming was useless in the face of Zhao Er’s power.

With a final glance at Qian Wen, Zhao Er slipped away into the night. He still planned to visit the southern slope and see for himself what Jiang Chen was up to. From everything he had gathered, Jiang Chen’s actions were far too strange, arousing a growing curiosity in his heart.