Chapter 21: Continuing the Deception

"No..." Steward Fan waved his hand with a look of irritation. He had no interest whatsoever in meeting a penniless young man at this moment. He was just about to dismiss him, but he stopped before he could finish his sentence. *Perhaps this kid knows some inside information about the Su family's ancestral grave?*

"Let him in!" With that thought, Fan decided to have Chen Fan brought in.

"Steward Fan, it’s been a day, and you look as radiant as ever!" Chen Fan said, bowing as he entered.

Seeing the smile on Chen Fan's face, Fan’s eyes turned cold. It was this punk who had ruined his plans with Su Wenqi that night. He had been forced to swallow his pride and suffer in silence for the sake of appearances, and seeing Chen Fan’s cheerful face now only made his blood boil.

"Speak your piece or get out," Fan said impatiently.

Ignoring the hostility, Chen Fan kept his smile. "Steward Fan, I know you are desperate to acquire the Su family's ancestral grave, but my father-in-law is a stubborn old man. I have been persuading him for the past few days, and through my reasoning and appeals to his emotions, he has finally agreed to cede the burial grounds. However, the Fan family must offer a bit of silver to buy it, so that the Su family can save some face."

Fan did not look pleased at all; instead, he frowned. He knew that no matter how he had threatened or bribed Su Yi in the past, the man had never budged. How could Chen Fan have possibly convinced him? A sense of suspicion crept into Fan’s mind as he looked the young man up and down.

Noticing this, Chen Fan immediately put on a flustered expression. "S-Steward Fan, my father-in-law doesn't want much money—just... just one thousand taels." Chen Fan nervously held up a finger, a glimmer of greed appearing in his eyes.

Hearing this, Fan grew even more suspicious. Given the Su family’s background, why would they care about a mere thousand taels? Seeing Chen Fan’s shifty eyes, his doubt deepened.

"O-or perhaps five hundred taels would suffice," Chen Fan said, looking anxious when Fan remained silent.

Fan still said nothing, his eyes fixed intently on Chen Fan.

"Three hundred taels... would that work?" Chen Fan quickly lowered his price again.

This confirmed to Fan that something was wrong. "Is this money for you, or for Su Yi?" Fan asked, his eyes flashing with sharp insight.

Chen Fan turned even more nervous, his legs beginning to tremble. "H-how did you know?" he stammered.

Fan wore a look of "I knew it." "I’ve eaten more salt than you’ve eaten rice, boy. Do you think you can pull the wool over my eyes with such cheap tricks?" he said haughtily. "Do you know the consequences of lying to me?"

Chen Fan looked terrified. "I-I’m sorry! My father-in-law actually wants to gift the land to the Fan family. It was just me—I was blinded by greed and wanted to make some money, so I made that up. Steward Fan, please, have mercy! You can take the land whenever you want."

Fan, however, was no longer interested in Chen Fan’s excuses; he was busy pondering what he had just heard. Su Yi actually wanted to give the land away for free? This sudden change in Su Yi made him feel uneasy. *Could it have something to do with the evil spirit that appeared there?* His brow furrowed deeper.

"Why would that stubborn old donkey Su Yi have such a sudden change of heart?" Fan asked, looking at Chen Fan.

"It was through my reasoning and—" Chen Fan started, but Fan cut him off coldly.

"I want the truth."

"I... I am telling the truth! My father-in-law learned that Master Fan is a virtuous official who cares for the people, and he deeply respects you. Knowing you were searching for that plot of land, he was moved and decided to yield the ancestral grave."

Fan’s eyes grew colder. The story made no sense. If Su Yi truly felt that way, he would have handed it over when Fan first approached him. Why wait until now?

"You are still lying. I despise liars," Fan said coldly. "In the Fan family, we have a rule for those who lie: we cut out their tongues."

Chen Fan was so frightened that cold sweat began to pour down his face. "Steward Fan, have mercy! I don't want my tongue cut out!"

Fan looked at him with disdain. He had tried intimidation; now, it was time to try bribery. "I’ll give you one more chance. Tell me the truth, and I’ll give you one hundred taels." He pulled a pouch of silver from his robes and set it before Chen Fan.

Chen Fan’s eyes lit up, fixing greedily on the silver like a man looking at a great beauty, swallowing hard. Fan felt even more contempt. *To think you’re a son-in-law of the Su family; a hundred taels is enough to reveal your true colors.*

"Tell the truth, and this silver is yours. If you lie to me again, you won't just lose the money—you'll lose your tongue," Fan threatened.

"I’ll tell the truth! I will definitely tell the truth this time!" Chen Fan nodded frantically. He then glanced warily at the people around them.

Fan understood immediately. "All of you, get out." The servants obeyed, exiting the room and closing the door behind them.

"Speak," Fan said impatiently.

"Steward Fan, after I tell you this, you must promise not to mention it was me, or my father-in-law will never forgive me," Chen Fan whispered. This only piqued Fan’s curiosity further.

"Fine," Fan agreed.

"My father-in-law had a dream last night. He dreamt of the Su family ancestors," Chen Fan said, looking genuinely fearful.

"What did they tell him?" Fan asked, unable to wait.

"They said an evil spirit has taken over their home and enslaved them. Two Taoist priests went up the mountain last night, and the evil spirit had to loosen its hold on the ancestors to deal with them, which is why they had a chance to send this message. They told my father-in-law to move the ancestral grave immediately; the place has become a site of great misfortune. If the Su family keeps their graves there, they will eventually be ruined and perish."