“Please forgive us, Magistrate. We did indeed find someone—both of these wells were sited by him, and sure enough, water was struck with the very first attempt.” Andrew Thompson, frightened, hurriedly confessed the truth.

“Hmm, that’s more like it. Where did you find such a geomancer, with such remarkable skill? How is it that I’ve never heard of him before?” David Clark’s expression softened a little as he asked.

Andrew Thompson replied, “To answer your question, Magistrate, this person isn’t a geomancer. He’s a scholar from Longkou Village.”

“A scholar?” David Clark was a bit surprised. “How would a scholar know anything about well-digging?”

“Magistrate, you have no idea—this scholar is truly remarkable.” Since the secret was out, Andrew Thompson no longer concealed anything. He animatedly told David Clark, “This scholar is only seventeen, looks thin and frail, as if a gust of wind could blow him over. But with just a glance, he said the spot we’d chosen for the well was wrong and that we’d never find water there. Our Officer Carter asked him: ‘Then, Scholar, can you point out a spot where we could strike water?’ Guess what happened?”

“What?” David Clark was drawn in by Andrew Thompson’s story and couldn’t help but ask.

Andrew Thompson said, “The scholar shook his feather fan, calculated with his fingers, then pointed southeast and said: ‘From here, walk 700 paces and dig a well 60 feet deep; you’ll get 400 dan of water per hour!’ Sure enough, when the well-diggers reached 60 feet, water gushed out, and it was exactly 400 dan per hour.”

“Incredible!” David Clark was truly astonished this time. “What is this scholar’s name? You say he’s only seventeen, so he must have passed the county exam in the last year or two. How come I have no recollection of him?”

“This scholar’s name is Brian Cooper, and he only passed the exam last year,” answered Andrew Thompson.

“Brian Cooper?” David Clark racked his brains, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t recall such a person. There were many students taking the exam in the county each year, but if any of them were truly outstanding, David Clark should have remembered.

Philip Foster, who had come upon hearing the news, stood to the side and said leisurely, “Sir, I do recall this Brian Cooper. His essays are steady and well-structured, but lack any spark of brilliance. He doesn’t seem like someone with great talent.”

“But even so, not only could he pick the right spot for a well, he could even estimate the water yield. Mr. Foster, have you ever heard of anyone with such ability?” David Clark asked.

“Never in my life,” Philip Foster shook his head. “Matters underground are ever-changing—who could see through them? I think this scholar was probably just making bold claims to impress the crowd.”

“Magistrate, Master, this Brian Cooper absolutely wasn’t just talking nonsense!” Andrew Thompson knelt below and argued, “Yesterday, he said the well would yield 400 dan of water per hour. The villagers tested it with buckets, and sure enough, it was about 400 dan per hour. Today’s well, he said in advance it would yield 200 to 300 dan per hour, and after it was dug, it turned out to be 250 dan. Even our geomancer Jason Brooks wants to become his disciple.”

“Tell William Carter to drive away your Patrick Brooks. There’s clearly water in Zheguishe, but he pointed out fifteen sites and not a drop was found. Why keep such a fraud around?” David Clark said offhandedly.

“Yes, sir!” Andrew Thompson quickly agreed.

“This is actually true?” Philip Foster looked at David Clark. “If there really is such a prodigy, it would be a waste to use him only in Zheguishe. The whole county is digging wells to fight the drought, but many are dry, wasting money and delaying the farming season, which is a serious problem. If we could get his advice, even if only half the wells succeed, it would be much better than now.”

“Andrew Thompson, hurry back to Zheguishe and summon that scholar Brian Cooper to the county office,” said David Clark, picking up his brush to write a summons. The so-called summons was actually an ancient letter of introduction, specifying the matter on a piece of paper, signed in red ink and stamped with the official seal, giving it legal force.

“Sir, you mustn’t.” Philip Foster quickly stopped David Clark, saying, “If this Brian Cooper truly has such talent, he is a sage and must not be treated lightly.”

“You’re right.” David Clark realized as well—someone this capable should be won over, and sending a summons as if arresting a criminal would be most inappropriate.

“Andrew Thompson, go and deliver my message. Tell the scholar Brian Cooper that the county magistrate invites him to the office for a discussion. Be polite and don’t alarm him. Do you understand?” said David Clark.

“I understand, sir. I’ll go invite Brian Cooper right away,” Andrew Thompson replied loudly.

Chapter 011: The Magistrate Summons

“The magistrate is summoning me to the county office?”

Brian Cooper’s hands were covered in clay and plant ash, and fine beads of sweat dotted his forehead. He turned to look calmly at William Carter and Andrew Thompson, who stood behind him, and asked.

These past two days, besides taking William Carter to survey several new well sites, Brian Cooper had been busy helping other villagers modify their fuel-saving stoves. Emily Scott worried that this would interfere with Brian Cooper’s studies, but when the villagers came to her for help, she simply couldn’t refuse. She kept telling herself: this is the last household—next time, I absolutely won’t agree.