Volume 1: The Merchant Son-in-law Chapter 34: Nighttime Beating with a Cudgel

  On the Qing Shi Avenue in Dong City, Huang Wei Shan walked alone, swaying back and forth, completely unaware that two ill-intentioned individuals had already set their sights on him.

  Huang Weishan didn't bring any attendants or family servants, can't blame him for being careless, his old man is the county magistrate, the number one powerful person in the county town, within Jiangpu County, even if Huang Weishan learns to walk sideways like a crab, who dares to find trouble with him.

  Long procrastination will bring disaster. Huang Weishan naturally did not expect that in Jiangpu County, there would actually be someone who dared to look for trouble with him.

  Disaster is quietly approaching.

  Under the dark night sky, two figures were sneaking up stealthily.

  One person dragged a sack, another held a wooden stick, just like the local ruffians who used to sneak into the artillery tower.

  Huang Weishan was still staggering, humming a tuneless folk song in a yellow dialect. Tonight at Cang Spring Pavilion, Young Master Huang had a high time, doing all the bad things he should do except for taking drugs.

  Xiao Fan followed far behind, looking at Huang Gongzi's pretentious appearance. To be honest, even Xiao Zhang, who considered himself a decent and respectable person, couldn't help but want to beat him up. In countless literary works and films from past lives, there was a uniform term for people like Huang Gongzi: "human trash".

  Xiao Fan, who had initially felt apologetic about hitting Huang Wei, suddenly thought that it was actually necessary for young people to experience some setbacks and blows. Perhaps after this blow, Huang Wei would develop a sense of crisis awareness, born from worry and hardship, and die in peace and comfort, and understand the truth that "those who walk on the road at night will eventually encounter ghosts".

  Xiao Fan thought that today's action of knocking him out was simply accumulating good deeds.

  Then, Xiao Fan felt proud and even a little complacent.

  When he was a kid and handed in 50 cents to the police uncle, he had the same feeling.

  Education is a social obligation that every decent person must have, equivalent to eradicating the four pests, everyone has a responsibility.

  When Xiao Huang was still a few feet away from the good, Xiao Fan secretly gave Tai Xu a wink, and Tai Xu nodded in understanding.

  In the darkness, two figures suddenly emerged and pounced, the drunken Huang Gongzi was unable to react in time, his head was covered with a sack from behind, just as he was about to shout out in surprise, a strong gust of wind hit the back of his head, Taixu had heavily struck him on the head with a stick, finally...Huang Gongzi did not disappoint everyone, and fainted.

  The entire knocking process took no more than three seconds, and it was done in the blink of an eye. The two men worked together seamlessly, their movements as smooth as flowing clouds and water, extremely efficient.

  Tai Yu threw down the stick, fiercely spat at Huang Weishan who was lying on the ground unconscious, and then kicked him a few more times. While kicking, he scolded: "If Master Dao doesn't get angry, do you think I'm made of mud? You dared to smash my bed, you dared to be evil, you dared to seduce girls... Today, Master Dao will destroy you..."

  As he spoke, he lifted his foot and kicked Huang Weishan's **.

  Xiao Fan was shocked and hastily pulled him back: "Dao Zhang, a lesson is enough, killing someone is just a matter of beheading, but making them cut off their descendants is going too far..."

  Tai Xū panted heavily, heard the words and suddenly woke up, his face turned solemn: "Amitābha Buddha... I, a poor monk, have lost my composure, it's a sin, a sin!"

  Xiao Fan sympathetically looked at Huang Gongzi, who had footprints all over his face, and squatted down to grab the money bag that Huang Weishan always carried with him. He weighed it in his hand, estimating that there were tens of taels inside. Xiao Fan's eyes shone brightly as he exclaimed, "What a fortune! What a fortune!"

  The fact once again proves that robbery is indeed a promising career.

  Frankly and unceremoniously putting the purse into his own pocket, Xiao Fang's heart suddenly surged with a dizzying sense of happiness.

  He didn't feel ashamed of his behavior, smashing the store was a thrilling experience, but... don't you have to pay for it afterwards? Otherwise, is there still justice in this world? Is there still law?

  He stroked his beard, looking down at the unconscious Huang Weishan with a satisfied expression. The blow he had struck was just right, both in terms of force and angle.

  "Right, after being busy for half a day, who is this guy anyway?" Tai Xū finally remembered this very important question.

  Xiao Fan Chao Taixu cupped his hands and laughed, saying: "This guy's surname is Huang, he's the son of our Jiangpu County Magistrate Huang. Congratulations, Daozhang, felicitations, Daozhang! Today you've finally committed a heinous crime... Your worldly cultivation has gained another extraordinary experience, truly something to be congratulated on..."

  Under the cover of night, Tai's old face turned pale in an instant.

  "Dao Zhang, you're sweating a lot..."

  "Master Dao, why aren't you speaking?"

  "Dao Zhang... what's wrong with you?"

  After a while, Tai Xū stuttered and said: "You... why didn't you say it earlier?"

  Xiao Fan blinked his eyes innocently and said: "You didn't ask..."

  “…………”

  "Xiao younger brother... Lately, I've been feeling the energy in my body being drawn out, as if I've gained some insight. It seems that the great accomplishment of ascending to heaven is not far off. From tomorrow... no, from now on, I'll be wandering through the clouds, drifting to all corners of the world, seeking proof of the heavenly way..."

  Xiao Fan pulled him towards the Drunken Immortal Pavilion: "Daozhang, you're really good at joking. The Drunken Immortal Pavilion has food and drink, what's the need to prove the Heavenly Way? Even a god wouldn't trade this kind of life..."

  "Xiao Lao Di, Xiao Lao Di, listen to me, listen to me... I'm really about to ascend..."

  "Alright, alright, birds are molting, you're just an old man with osteoporosis, I'll get the chef to make you some bone soup to supplement your calcium..."

  "Xiao Lao Di, today's matter, you must swear to keep it a secret..."

  "Alright, I swear that I will never reveal a single word of what happened today. If I do, may I be punished to become a Taoist priest just like you..."

  "Xiao Lao Di, let's send Huang Gongzi back anyway. It would be impolite to leave him here. What if he catches a chill..."

  “…………”

  Huang Zhi County's son Huang Weishan was knocked unconscious at the corner of a street alley at night, and his belongings were robbed. It is suspected that someone plotted to kill him for money.

  This message exploded like an atomic bomb in the peaceful Jiangpu County.

  Huang Zhi County was furious with thunder, this is a serious provocation against his order in this county!

  Huang Zhi County, who had just returned from the capital, immediately summoned Liu Tou and a group of yamen runners to scold them severely, ordering them to investigate everywhere and solve the case as quickly as possible.

  From the county officials to the ordinary people, everyone knows that Jiangpu County is no longer peaceful.

  And the creator of this big case, Jiangpu County Chen's son-in-law Xiao Fan comrade, was sitting calmly in the front hall of Chen's house, looking at Chen Si Liu's face twitching constantly as if nothing had happened.

  "Has the silver been given to County Magistrate Cao?" Chen Si Liu asked in a low voice.

  "It's been sent, County Magistrate Cao expressed his delight and praised you, Father-in-law, as a man of noble character..."

  Chen Si Liu squeezed out a smile that was even uglier than crying: "Can't be noble, can it? More than 2,000 taels of silver, alas!"

  It seemed that he deliberately looked at Chen Si Liu with dissatisfaction, and Xiao Fan timely added a sentence: "Father-in-law, it's not just over 2,000 taels of silver, but also includes half of the shares of Zui Xian Lou. In other words, from now on, no matter how much silver Zui Xian Lou makes, half will have to be given to Cao County Lieutenant. Even if the business can't be done and the door is closed, after selling Zui Xian Lou, the silver obtained will also have to be divided in half for him..."

  Chen Siliu's face suddenly turned green, and he covered his chest for a long time without saying a word.

  Xiao Fan looked at him with sympathetic eyes, not quite bearing to tell him a more cruel fact. The silver and shares had all been taken by Cao Xiancheng, but he had clearly stated that it was in recognition of Xiao Fan's feelings, having nothing to do with Chen Si Liu.

  If this is said, Chen Si Liu will probably die on the spot from anger.

  Xiao Fan thought for a moment and still didn't say anything. He was a kind person, and his father-in-law's health was his heart's desire.

  After a long while, Chen Siliu let out a deep breath and sighed: "Forget it, if merchants want to find a backer, this silver is necessary to spend..."

  He looked at Xiao Fan deeply and said, "Xiansheng, if we give away this silver and shares, it means that our Chen family will directly oppose Huang Zhixian. Is the bet we made... correct?"

  "Father-in-law, the one standing behind County Magistrate Cao is none other than Prince of Yan. The Prince of Yan is a heroic and ambitious man, a hero of his time. We will definitely be on the right side if we stand with him. Huang Zhixian will surely lose to County Magistrate Cao. Jiangpu county will eventually belong to County Magistrate Cao. Please don't worry, father-in-law."

  Chen Si nodded slightly and then hesitated, saying: "Or else, let's also make a bet with Huang Zhi County, to please both sides and not offend either side..."

  Xiao Fan laughed, laughing very badly: "Father-in-law, it's too late, the arrow has been shot and cannot be turned back. You'd better follow Cao County Magistrate on the same boat..."

  Chen Si Liu saw Xiao Fan's wicked smile and suddenly felt a pang in her heart.

  "What do you mean?"

  "Father-in-law, did you know that yesterday Huang Zhixin, the son of Huang Zhi County, led a group of people to smash up the Drunken Immortal Pavilion?"

  "I know."

  Xiao Fan smiled and said: "Later on, Huang Weishan was knocked unconscious by someone at night, you also knew about this, right?"

  "Know... know." Chen Si Liu's whole body began to tremble, he suddenly had a very ominous premonition: "What does this have to do with our Chen family?"

  "Of course it's related, that thing was done by Xiao Yi... Hehe, Father-in-law has to keep it a secret for Xiao Yi, otherwise the whole Chen family will be in trouble..."

  Chen Si Liu's face suddenly turned purple, clutching his chest, rolling his eyes back, and kicking his fat legs twice before fainting.