"This...this..." My mouth failed me again, my eyes darting around to other people.

But the girls from Liangjie Tang either avoided my gaze or kicked the ball right back to me: "Tangzhu (Hall Master), you interpret dreams; the Tangzhu is the authority on dream interpretation."

Did I suddenly become smart overnight?

So I'm the authority now, am I?

But what could I do?

"Well, about this! Let me tell you... I'll tell you this..." I stalled for time, searching for the right words. "Dreams, you have to interpret them in different ways, right?"

"Let me give you an example!"

"There once was a county magistrate who wanted a promotion. But nothing ever happened. He was anxious! As you sow in the day, so shall you dream at night! And he had three dreams in a row."

"The first dream was that he was walking on top of a wall. The second dream was that he was wearing a raincoat and holding an umbrella. The third dream was that he and his sister-in-law were lying naked on the bed."

"The magistrate didn't know what they meant, so he asked his wife."

"His wife heard it and said: 'Don't you know? Dreaming of walking on top of a wall means: nowhere to go. Dreaming of wearing a raincoat and holding an umbrella means: superfluous. Dreaming of lying with your sister-in-law means: wishful thinking. This isn't going to happen.'"

"The magistrate heard that and thought it made sense! So it was over? He got sick from the frustration."

"The magistrate's advisor knew he was sick and came to see him, and asked what was wrong. After hearing the story, the advisor clapped his hands: 'Sir, these are all good dreams!'"

"'Sir, you dreamed of walking on top of a wall, that means: a cut above the rest. You dreamed of wearing a raincoat and holding an umbrella, that means: double insurance. You dreamed of lying with your sister-in-law, aren't you going to get on top of her sooner or later? This is definitely going to happen!'"

"The magistrate heard that, and his illness was cured!"

"Interpreting dreams is a job for the advisor."

Jiang Junci turned to look at Lao Liu, and I finally breathed a sigh of relief: Saved! I finally managed to pass it off.

Lao Liu cleared his throat twice and said, "I think this dream means that there are countless fish in the sea, and you only need one."

"The red dragonfish is grand, gorgeous, and has both beauty and talent. With this one red dragonfish, you can put away your net and stop fishing."

Jiang Junci asked inexplicably, "Why should I put away my net? There are so many beautiful fish waiting for me!"

"Besides, what's so good about that red dragon?"

"I still think those small fish are pretty."

"I think..."

Before Jiang Junci could finish, I saw Wang Xiaohuan pick up the big green radish I brought back yesterday, swing it around, and slam it on his head.

What a waste of that radish.

It was smashed into several pieces, and the broken radish flew more than a meter high.

Wang Xiaohuan threw the radish away and stamped his feet, "Li Po, I want to go out on a mission with you. I don't want to see that fisherman."

"Okay...okay!" What else could I say at this point?

Wang Xiaohuan threw the radish and left. I helped Jiang Junci up: "Tell me, Little Chi, did you really have a dream, or did you make it up?"

Jiang Junci said with a sad face, "I'm telling the truth."

"Besides, I really want to raise fish."

"If Ye Yang didn't have so many cats, I would have raised fish a long time ago."

I had a headache: "So, you're talking about real fish, and Huanzi (Badger) is talking about mermaids!"

"Why don't you go and coax Huanzi?"

Jiang Junci said with a serious face, "How do I coax him?"

Wang Butcher couldn't stand it anymore: "Jiang Junci, you've not only been infected by him, but you've even learned the Northeast dialect! Listen to that accent! You two get out of here."

Wang Butcher grabbed us and was about to throw us out. I immediately became anxious: "What does this have to do with me? I'm the Tangzhu! Even a father can't control his son in matters of finding a wife, how can the Tangzhu control it?"

Wang Butcher threw me and Jiang Junci into the backyard without mercy. I pointed at Jiang Junci and scolded him, "Look at you! Can you do anything right? Even making a dream gets me thrown out with you!"

"Innocent disaster!"

"When the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer!"

"Was that dream you had last night for me? I'm that poor fish in the moat."

Jiang Junci looked up at me: "Did I offend Huanzi?"

"You're just realizing that now!" I was about to go crazy: "How did your two shifu (masters) teach you? How did they find wives?"

Jiang Junci said truthfully, "My Big Shifu was chased after by Shimu (Master's Wife)."

"Fat Shifu (Master) being able to marry a wife was an accident. If someone hadn't accidentally drugged him, it wouldn't have been his turn to marry. My Fat Shifu said it's called immense good fortune. A lucky person doesn't have to work hard; they can sit at home and their wife will fly to them."

"Your shifu are great! Truly two oddballs!" I was completely defeated.

Jiang Junci leaned over: "Tangzhu, you have ten shifu. Didn't they teach you how to chase girls?"

I spread my hands: "All ten of my shifu are bachelors. They taught me how to resist bewitching techniques, how to dissolve certain powders, how to suppress love Gu, and even how to escape marriage, but they never taught me how to flirt with girls."

Jiang Junci retorted, "Aren't your shifu even more odd? My shifu at least have wives, but not only do your shifu not have wives, they won't let you marry one either. Do you think that's normal?"