Prefect He gave his daughter an embarrassed look and apologized first, "Daughter, as your father, I haven't set a good example for you. Don't blame me. I did it for our family's good."
He Zihan, accustomed to a life of luxury, was grown up now. Besides, in families of similar backgrounds, daughters typically had their own small circles. She had some inkling about the intrigues of the funeral business. So, she whispered, "Dad, it's okay. Don't worry, no matter what, you're still my good old dad!"
"Ah, that's good..." Prefect He turned to the three of us. He sized us up, noting we were dealing with a major issue. Being a seasoned observer, though it was Huang Xiaoxian who had resolved the grievance, Prefect He's gaze eventually settled on me. His eyes continuously shifted, focusing primarily on me, then on Yao Yao and Old Ba, in roughly a three-to-one-to-one ratio.
From Prefect He's account, we learned that his meteoric rise in office over the years was primarily due to the political legacy of his father-in-law.
Madam He's father had once been a high-ranking official in Fucheng City. Fucheng University was the only key institution in Fucheng at the time.
Back when Prefect He was studying at Fucheng University, it was common practice among high-ranking officials, especially those with only daughters, to "select sons-in-law" from within the universities. They would identify promising student leaders, encourage them to date their daughters, and if the match was suitable, the students would be directly recruited into government departments after graduation and groomed for advancement.
With his father-in-law as a patron, as long as the son-in-law wasn't excessively foolish or made major blunders, he would steadily climb the ranks, typically reaching the level of county magistrate by his early forties.
Prefect He, then a prominent figure in the Fucheng University student union, was among the top contenders for these "son-in-law selections." He took charge of a region at thirty-six and smoothly joined Fucheng City's leadership team at forty. However, from forty to fifty, a full decade, Prefect He remained stagnant. The chief leaders changed one after another, yet he consistently served as their deputy, never getting a promotion. Those in his cohort, or even those promoted later, had all surpassed him, fueling his discontent.
He hadn't been idle during these ten years. He had reinvested the money he had "collected alms" with by "collecting alms" again, frequently visiting the homes of higher-ranking officials and spending a considerable sum. Yet, he seemed to be plagued by bad luck. Every time he was on the verge of a breakthrough, either a leader from above would be parachuted in and usurp his position, or the person he sought help from would encounter trouble, and he would narrowly escape implication, which was considered a stroke of luck in itself.
The latter scenario was more common.
Over time, a saying spread within Fucheng's official circles: Prefect He was fated to "overthrow his superiors." Whoever he asked for help would meet misfortune. Consequently, Prefect He found that his pleas and gifts were often met with closed doors. This led Prefect He to wonder if there was indeed a problem with his destiny, causing such a string of bad luck. He began seeking divine intervention everywhere for a solution.
As a result, he encountered a swindler who cheated him out of seven or eight million. Due to his official position, he dared not report the crime and had to suffer the loss in silence.
When Yao Yao heard this, she couldn't help but spit out her tea.
"Ah, forgive my indiscretion, esteemed immortals," Prefect He said sheepishly. "The last time I visited your abodes, I thought to myself, I'm not asking for high office or great wealth. It's been ten years! Even a change of scenery would suffice. Doing the same job for ten years, repeating the same speeches countless times, and visiting the same companies for surveys over twenty times—if the subordinates aren't tired, I'm already weary!"
"Prefect He, how much wealth do you currently possess?" Yao Yao asked directly.
"Uh... this..." Prefect He looked at Madam He. Madam He subtly shook her head, perhaps still apprehensive and unwilling to disclose.
"Three years as a clean prefect, a hundred thousand silver taels," I said with a smile, raising a wrist to begin a divination. "Even if you don't tell me, I can calculate it. But what I calculate is what I calculate. What you say is what you say."
It sounded like a platitude, but it was a veiled threat, a test to see if Prefect He was sincere.