“With the apricot blossoms withering on both banks, how can one speak of apricot blossom perch?”

Chen Pingan nodded, “In that case, the Jumping Wave River has indeed suffered a great calamity. Fortunately, I arrived just in time.”

The latter sentence sent a chill down Dou Yan’s spine.

“Brother Cao, I find you to be a kindred spirit, so I won’t beat around the bush. How about speaking frankly with your elder brother Dou? You wouldn’t happen to be an official from the Ministry of Works in the Great Li capital, would you? Seemingly enjoying yourself by fishing, but in truth, surveying the mountains and rivers? Judging by my keen eye, your official rank isn’t small, not small at all. Must be a director of a department at the very least. In the future, to be in charge of a department, I see no problem at all.”

“If I’m not mistaken, Brother Cao hails from Chier Street in the capital, a young and outstanding talent from a lineage of Great Li generals. That’s why you served as a cultivator attached to the Great Li border army. After the war ended, you smoothly transitioned from the Great Li iron cavalry to a position in the Ministry of Works? Am I right?”

“And looking at Brother Cao’s countenance, so attuned to the mountains and rivers, there’s no mistaking it. I just don’t know whether you are currently serving in the Bureau of Fisheries or the Bureau of Waterworks within the Ministry of Works?”

These two bureaus within the Ministry of Works oversee all policies and affairs related to rivers, lakes, mountains, marshes, official post stations, bridges, dams, and canals throughout the land, making them positions of great power and importance.

Chen Pingan remained silent.

If this Mountain God Dou Yan were to set up a fortune-telling stall, he would starve to death.

Dou Yan wasn’t ready to give up, “Brother Cao, if you could pass on a message to a Director-General in the Ministry of Works, or even better, a Vice Minister, regardless of whether it succeeds or not, the next time you come to Folded Cloud Ridge, you will be my honored guest.”

Chen Pingan shook his head, “Mountain God Dou is mistaken, I am not an official of the Great Li.”

Dou Yan asked in a low voice, “Could it be that Brother Cao is a geomancer from the Great Li Imperial Observatory?”

Chen Pingan still shook his head, and soon caught a perch, grasped it, and gently tossed it into the fish basket.

Dou Yan clapped his hands and cheered, “Brother Cao has good luck, it seems you are truly destined to be with the Jumping Wave River.”

For the sake of his friends, this Mountain God Dou Yan truly didn’t care about losing face.

In the past, whether it was with colleagues in the mountain and water bureaucracy, or even his superiors who managed the mountains and waters of several states and dozens of prefectures, such as the City God, Dou Yan had never been so subservient and ingratiating.

He was certain that this Cao Immortal Master, with his extraordinary demeanor, was an official from the Ministry of Works, hailing from Chier Street or Perhaps Intended Lane in the Great Li capital.

Although Great Li officials, regardless of rank, were difficult to deal with, such as with this river course change, the fine wines and accompanying beauties that the mountain god temples and river water mansions, including Folded Cloud Ridge, had prepared in advance were not used, as those Great Li officials simply did not visit. However, when it came to the specifics of official business, they were still…