Chapter Fifteen: The Calamity of Unforeseen Consequences

  In a past life, there was a very popular saying: "Don't pretend to be what you're not, or you'll get struck by lightning."

  A sentence can spread on the internet for years without fading away, and there must be a reason for that.

  In fact, Xiao Fan is now very convinced of this sentence. In connection with his own words and deeds just now, the outcome of pretending to be a big shot has already been laid out in front of him.

  The old servant didn't say a word and picked up the wine jug, filling two large sea-bowl-like bowls to the brim with wine.

  White wine with a yellowish tint, under the winter sun's rays, emits a sparkling glow.

  A bowl can hold about two kilograms of wine. If he drinks it all in one breath, Shao Fan might die on the spot if nothing unexpected happens. This scene is so familiar that it triggers Shao Fan's deeper thinking. Before crossing over, he lay in wait in a grass thicket by the roadside for a fat sheep to pass by, and then he would make his move. Why did he cross over after drinking a few mouthfuls of Erguotou? This question is really baffling! Could it be that he has bad luck with wine, and whenever he sees it, he'll have bad luck?

  Xiao Fan turned his head towards the gate of the government office, with a face full of regret, and a classic sentence from Qing Long Tai flashed through his mind.

  "You shouldn't have come."

  "But I'm already here..."

  What Xiao Fan wants to know most now is, can he still leave after coming?

  Cao County's lieutenant patted his shoulder heavily, Xiao Fan felt a sharp pain and involuntarily sat down.

  "Kid, haha, not bad, not bad! After all these years, you're the first one to dare challenge me at the dinner table. You've got guts! I look up to you!"

  Xiao Fan almost cried.

  Just listen to his tone, how arrogant and self-righteous he sounds...

  "Lord Cao, can you just pretend I never came...?" Xiao Fang's voice was getting smaller and smaller, like a mosquito humming.

  Cao County's magistrate was such a worldly person, of course he didn't hear what he was muttering.

  Under Xiao Fan's frightened gaze, Cao Xian Cheng burst out laughing, picked up the wine bowl on the table, drank it all in one gulp, and carelessly wiped his mouth with his sleeve. Then he used his eyes to signal to Xiao Fan that it was his turn to drink.

  Xiao Fan sighed, he never thought that today would be the day of his "hero's one-way journey", how could things have turned out this way? What to do? Just drink then.

  Xiao Fan also picked up the wine bowl, looked at Cao Xiancheng with an extremely tragic and resentful gaze, then tilted his head back, and two liang of wine quickly entered his belly.

  The liquor of this era was not very strong, probably only twenty or thirty degrees, but Xiao Fan's alcohol tolerance was poor to begin with. After drinking two kilograms in one breath, he felt like his stomach was on fire, burning his internal organs into a painful knot.

  It's unbearable, not just ordinary unbearable...

  A familiar burning sensation in his abdomen suddenly made Xiao Fan realize that he had died of drunkenness in his previous life.

  Cao County Magistrate saw Xiao Fan drink a bowl so refreshingly, he became even more delighted. He began to take an interest in this weak and young man.

  Xiao Fan, however, was speechless with grief, sitting on the stone bench motionless, his face alternating between pale and white, his eyes lacking even the strength to move, staring straight at Magistrate Cao like a lifelike wax figure, as if he had been petrified.

  Magistrate Cao burst out laughing, gesturing to his old servant to refill the two large bowls, then patted Xiao Fan's shoulder and said in a loud voice: "You're not bad, haha, you'll definitely make something of yourself. Back when King Yan was on a northern campaign, how many rough and tumble men didn't dare drink with me? I didn't expect that you, with your soft and weak appearance, would be more manly than those soldiers... Haha... This damn southern land has finally found someone who suits my taste, come, let's..."

  The words were not yet out, but Xiao Fan was like the Statue of Liberty in a disaster movie, standing upright, his head fiercely hitting the stone table with a "bang", bouncing several times like a rubber ball... and completely passed out.

  Cao County's lieutenant maintained the posture of holding a wine cup, his loud and clear laughter suddenly stopped as if someone had pinched his neck, his joyful expression seemed to be frozen in ice and snow, instantly solidified...

  For a long time...

  "What the hell is going on here?!" Cao Xiancheng jumped up like he had been kicked in the butt, furious and exasperated.

  "Master, he's passed out..." The old servant stood beside him with half-closed eyes and said calmly.

  Cao County Magistrate Leng was taken aback and burst out laughing, saying: "This little brat, I thought he was a true hero who didn't show off his skills, but it turns out he's just a boastful fake..."

  County Magistrate Cao patted Xiao Fan's shoulder with his hand, and Xiao Fan fell onto the table, like a dead fish.

  The old servant furrowed his brow and suddenly spoke up: "Master, beware of treachery!"

  Cao Xian's lieutenant was shocked: "What deceit is this?"

  The old servant's half-closed eyes opened, and two intimidating rays of light shot out from his eyes.

  "Sir, southerners are often cunning. This man puts on a brave front, coming alone to the official residence to drink with you, but he's already down after just one bowl, which raises suspicions..."

  "What's suspicious?"

  "Tomorrow, Master intends to take action against the Chen family, but today they've sent over such a weak and feeble young man. If he were to have an accident while drinking with Master, or even... die within this official residence, the Chen family would then have grounds to counterattack Master, and the situation could become unfavorable for Master..."

  Magistrate Cao was taken aback: "Are you saying... this kid deliberately ran to me to get himself killed?"

  The old servant's eyelids drooped slightly: "Sacrificing one person's life to ensure the safety of the entire Chen family, this is a worthwhile deal for the Chen family. In the Spring and Autumn period, assassins would cut off their own arm to obtain the trust of Gongzi Qingji, and then get close to him to kill him. How can Master be certain that this person does not have such courage?"

  "My god! It can't be that bad, right? This little guy looks like a sick chicken, how can he look like an assassin..."

  "It is and it isn't, rather than disturbing people, Master will know slowly after inquiring."

  Cao County Magistrate slapped his thigh heavily, and a fierce glint appeared in his eyes.

  "Chen Si Liu, I haven't even moved against you yet, but you've already made the first move against me. Have the merchants of Da Ming become so arrogant?"

  …………

  …………

  Xiao Fan woke up in the afternoon.

  Before he even opened his eyes, Xiao Fan covered his head and groaned.

  Wine is really not a good thing!

  Especially the kind of liquor that is forced down one's throat.

  Xiao Fan sighed, slowly opened his eyes, and his vision gradually became clear. Then he saw Cao Xiancheng's face with a thick beard less than a foot away from his head, coldly smiling at him. In his hand, a sharp ox horn knife was emitting a faint chill.

  "Ah——you, you...... what are you going to do?" Xiao Fan was terrified.

  "Speak!" shouted County Magistrate Cao in a loud voice.

  "What...what was that?" Xiao Fan exclaimed in shock.

  "Hurry up and say it!"

  "What did you say?"

  "Are you going to speak or not? If not, I'll kill you with one slash!" Cao Xiancheng's tone was as fierce as that of a bandit leader.

  Xiao Fan almost cried: "Lord Cao, you have to believe me, I really want to say something, anything is fine, but... what exactly do you want me to say?"

  Today is absolutely not Xiao Fan's lucky day.

  Xiao Fan's heart was racing, his pale handsome face sweating profusely, but he didn't dare to lift his hand to wipe it.

  The treachery of being an official! Whether in ancient or modern times, officials are always so dark. One moment they were still together, drinking and laughing warmly, the next moment they immediately turned their faces and didn't recognize each other. Xiao Fan's heart was filled with boundless sorrow and regret.

  What's the point of going to Chen's house and stirring up trouble? Whether Chen is dead or alive has nothing to do with me. All troubles come from sticking one's head out, and what's even more unbearable is that Xiao Fang had just stuck his head out when someone poured a bowl of wine on him, which was really a humiliating thing.

  Cao Xian's whiskers were even more ferocious.

  "Damn it! Don't cry until you see the coffin, I'll kill you first with one knife, then go find Chen Si Liu to get to the bottom of this!"

  The bull horn scraper was raised high, and it was about to stab into Xiao Fang's chest.

  Xiao Fan was shocked and said a classic line from Director Feng's previous life with a sobbing tone.

  "Hey, slow down! We just had dinner together, don't you remember?"

  Cao County Magistrate: "………"