Chapter 39: Disaster Strikes

  The three halls of the county government office, inside the West Flower Hall.

  "Bang!"

  A loud slap landed on Zhou Zhuang's face, and his pale complexion instantly printed a bright red five-finger mark.

  "Spare my life!" Zhou Zhanggui thudded to his knees and begged for mercy in a trembling voice.

  "This official handed over the Golden Jade Building to you for management, and this is how you manage it?" Huang Rui's face turned iron blue, his whole body involuntarily trembling slightly. His usually gentle and refined face was now full of ferocity, like a wounded beast wandering back and forth. The dignity and demeanor of an official were all thrown away.

  "Your Excellency, that Xiao Fan's actions are truly too despicable and lawless. This petty person didn't expect him to resort to such means. First, he deliberately provoked trouble at the Golden Jade Building, ruining our business, and then spread rumors all over the city, tarnishing the reputation of the Golden Jade Building. He...he acted in this way, clearly not taking Your Excellency into consideration. His methods are so sinister and shameless that they're hard to guard against..."

  "A lowly and despicable commoner, what skills do you have to dare to pierce the sky of this Jiangpu?" Huang Ruide's face had already begun to twist in anger. As the county magistrate, being provoked by a commoner like this was something he absolutely could not tolerate.

  Zhou Zhuangui muttered to himself, hesitated for a moment, and said in a low voice: "I also heard that..."

  "What else did you hear?"

  “…On the day that Huang Gongzi was knocked unconscious, he had a dispute with Xiao Fan. Later, because he feared Cao Yi behind Xiao Fan, he only smashed the store and did not hurt anyone. As a result, on the same night, Gongzi was found knocked out on the street corner…”

  Huang Zhi County's eyelid twitched slightly, and he suddenly became eerily calm, saying slowly: "What do you want to say?"

  Boss Zhou carefully looked at him and hesitantly said: "Sir... Huang Gongzi was beaten unconscious, could it be... related to Xiao Fan?"

  Huang Zhi's face twitched a few times, and he said: "Liu Captains thoroughly searched the entire city, but made no progress. Regardless of whether it is related to Xiao Fan or not, this person must be taken away!"

  Boss Zhou bowed his head and said: "Your Excellency is wise."

  "Go and tell Captain Liu to order him to take Xiao Fan into the main prison immediately, without delay!"

  "Yes! But... sir, we can't find any evidence that Xiao Fan injured the young master..."

  Huang Rui De sneered, his eyes flashing with a stern light: "Evidence? The words of this official are evidence! In Jiangpu, if this official wants someone to die, they will die! After taking down Xiao Fan, tell Pang Shifu to find some capital crime to sentence him to death, and behead him in the autumn market next year! And as for the Chen family, don't think you can get off lightly either. Immediately order people to search and confiscate the Chen estate, take down all members of the Chen family!"

  "Yes!"

  Zhou Zhanggui retreated in a flurry, while Huang Rui-de gazed out at the withered leaves being blown about by the cold wind outside the hall, his eyes growing increasingly ruthless.

  Xiao Fan would not have dared to be so bold and provoke the parents of the entire county if he weren't relying on Cao Yi's backing. Cao Yi, as an official, will cut off one of your arms today, let you know what it means to suppress a local snake with a powerful dragon!

  Gongs and drums shook the sky, firecrackers sounded in unison. The entrance of the Drunken Immortal Building was still bustling with noise, but outside, a large crowd of onlookers gathered from afar, yet not one person dared to take the initiative to enter. Two rows of flower-adorned girls' pretty faces gradually stiffened, and they could no longer smile.

  Xiao Fan still had a smile on his face, standing in the front, with a handsome appearance like a male model on the T-stage, either with his hands on his hips or with one hand supporting his cheek, or raising his head to gaze at the sky at a 45-degree angle, each pose was maintained for about a quarter of an incense stick time, attracting not a few admiring glances from young girls and women.

  Chen 46 could no longer bear it, he really did not expect that this seemingly honest and loyal son-in-law would have such a side.

  "Son-in-law, son-in-law!"

  "Ah! Father-in-law, your son-in-law is..."

  "You're moving around so much, are you feeling unwell?"

  "No, father-in-law. Being watched by so many people, I think the son-in-law should present his best side to everyone, in order to gain everyone's favor..."

  "What... what kind of twisted logic is this?"

  Xiao Fan patiently explained: "An enterprise must have its own corporate culture, I think our Chen family's corporate culture should be 'sunshine, health, upward, striving'..."

  Chen Si's eyes widened: "Wh...what is an enterprise? What does that 'enterprise' mean, and what about culture?"

  "This, for the time being, can't be explained clearly. Anyway, our posing is also a kind of corporate culture and it's very necessary... If Father-in-law is interested, I'll teach you a scissor-hand gesture, it's super cool, Father-in-law, give it a try?"

  Chen Si Liu: "………"

  The atmosphere of Zui Xian Lou's opening ceremony gradually fell into an awkward situation when a sudden change occurred.

  On the east corner of the street, Zhou Zhang led Liu Huotou from the yamen and over a dozen constables, storming towards Zui Xian Lou with an air of ferocity. They were armed with iron chains, iron rulers, and cangues, essential tools for capturing people. A cold smile played on Zhou Zhang's lips as his eyes, like those of a venomous snake, glared at Xiao Fan with malice.

  Xiao Fan and Chen Si Liu exchanged a glance, both of their hearts sank, what was supposed to come had finally arrived, Huang Zhixian was finally going to make his move.

  Liu caught the head of thirty or so, is a short but refined man, due to long-term capture of offenders, so the face looks very cold and hard, forever a not careless smile expression, small eyes and gods, when looking at people extremely sharp, straight through the heart.

  Xiao Fan's expression turned solemn, he took a deep breath and stepped forward to greet Liu Duizhang, smiling: "A humble commoner greets Captain Liu."

  Liu caught sight of Xiao Fan in front of him, looked him up and down, and said coldly: "You're Xiao Fan?"

  "The common people are right."

  "Xiao Fan, the captain of the guards, has received orders from the county magistrate to arrest you and Chen Si Liu immediately. Come, put them in shackles and take them back to the yamen!"

  Liu caught the head of the yamen behind him and responded with a loud noise. Two of them walked forward, intending to lock up Xiao Fan and Chen Si Liu.

  Chen Siliu's face turned deathly pale, with beads of sweat the size of beans slowly trickling down his bloated cheeks. His short legs gave way beneath him and he collapsed to the ground, unable to help himself.

  "Halt!" Xiao Fan stretched out his hand and shouted loudly, stopping the bailiffs who were about to take people away.

  "I humbly ask Captain Liu, what crime have I and my father-in-law committed?"

  Liu caught a glimpse of Zhou's unceasing cold smile and said coldly, "This catcher is ordered to capture the person, and knows nothing about anything else. If you have grievances, you can ask someone to go to the county government gate to beat the drum and shout grievances."

  Zhou Zhang stepped out and sneered, "Xiao Fan, is it so easy to offend the Golden Jade Building? You've lived for so long, don't you know what's right and wrong? Has no one ever taught you? You're just a lowly commoner, what qualifications do you have to challenge the Golden Jade Building? It's laughable and pitiful!"

  Xiao Fan slanted his eyes and glanced at Zhou Zhanggui, saying: "Have you ever heard a phrase, the one who laughs last is the one who laughs best..."

  Boss Zhou was taken aback: "Never heard of it."

  Xiao Fan murmured: "Lack of culture is really scary, I think you and my father-in-law might have more common language..."

  Xiao Fan immediately said to Liu, "Liu, you have been ordered to capture someone. I dare not disobey, but I have an unreasonable request. Can I ask you to wait for a moment?"

  Liu caught a glimpse of light in his eyes, as if he had heard the meaning behind Xiao Fan's words. He lowered his head and fell silent, lost in thought. The yamen runners behind him saw that their superior hadn't spoken up, so they didn't dare to step forward either. The scene was momentarily stuck in an awkward stalemate.

  Zhou Zhanggui sensed that the atmosphere was not right, turned his head and stared at Liu Captor: "Liu Captor, did he tell you to wait? Don't forget that you are here on the orders of County Magistrate to capture someone. What are you still hesitating about? Hurry up and take down Xiao Fan and Chen Si Liu! If you hesitate again, be careful that County Magistrate will scold you!"

  The yamen runners all looked at each other in dismay, unsure of what to do, and they all turned to look at Captain Liu.

  Liu caught the head of anger in his eyes, coldly said: "Zhou Zhuangui, I am the catcher of this Jiangpu County, doing things has its own measure, no need for you to open a wine shop businessman pointing fingers!"

  Zhou Zhanggui saw Liu Buzhang's tone was tough, and he couldn't help but pause for a moment. He then coldly snorted: "Alright, Liu Buzhang, I won't say anything more. I just hope you can explain yourself to County Magistrate Xu, don't forget that this Jiangpu is under whose jurisdiction!"

  Liu caught the head and said sternly: "How to confess is the business of this catcher, Jiangpu County will not be under your control, Zhou Zhuang?"

  Zhou Zhanggui snorted in anger and stopped talking, retreating to one side with a huff.

  Liu caught the head turned, looked at Xiao Fan, calmly said: "Xiao Fan, can't wait any longer, this catcher eats the imperial salary, county respect has an order, dare not disobey, you'd better follow us back to the county government."

  Xiao Fan listened to Liu's polite words and felt more certain that this captain had probably been won over by Cao Xiancheng. Jiangpu was a small place, and since he had taken Cao's side, he naturally knew what kind of person Xiao Fan was.

  Xiao Fan cupped his hands and smiled: "I don't dare to make it difficult for Captain Liu, let's go, there must be a place in this world where reason is spoken."

  Liu's cold eyes floated with a rare smile, and he said lightly: "That's right, there's always a place in the world where reason is spoken."

  Liu caught the head and passed a human relationship, did not give Xiao Fan and Chen 46 upper frame, the crowd of bailiffs slowly surrounded Xiao Fan and Chen 46 in the middle, a line of people took a step to go to the county government.

  Zhou Zhanggui stood by the road with his hands clasped together, a triumphant smile on his face as he gazed coldly at Xiao Fan.

  Just as the crowd had walked out of the Zui Xian Lou gate, they heard a loud and clear voice shouting: "County government Cao County Lieutenant is here! County government Xie Zhuzhang is here! County government Li Dianshi is here! Clear the street! Make way!"

  Everyone was stunned, and a flash of joy quickly flashed across Xiao Fang's face, and he let out a long sigh.

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  Today I got up early, why? Because today is a holiday.

  Last night a net friend Q left me a message, wishing all couples in the world were long-lost siblings.

  The old man was speechless towards him