Chapter 21: The Power of Force

  Lu Qi nodded, thinking to himself that the shops here were really cheap. He thought about buying land and building a house in Wangjiang Pavilion, but it would be better to buy out that medicine shop and make it a branch store. However, buying a shop was easy, but finding someone to replace him in managing it wouldn't be. He couldn't help but look at Xiao Yun, this young girl wasn't old, but she was clever. Since she had experience selling medicine in the shop, he could initially put her in charge of selling medicine, and if she couldn't handle it, there would be a buffer period to hire someone else.

  "Halt!" A loud shout accompanied by the sound of chaotic running, Dongqing and Xiaoyun were frightened and stuck together behind Lu Qi's back. In front of them, more than a dozen soldiers rushed forward, with three of them carrying lanterns.

  Lu Qi furrowed his brow, he had already seen Wang Ren-shou following behind the soldiers. This guy really didn't know when to quit. The soldiers rushed over and immediately surrounded the three of them with swords and guns at the ready.

  "How dare you! Are you going to kill officials and rebel?" Lu Qi shouted loudly, first suppressing a big hat.

  The soldiers were startled, subconsciously taking a step back with their guns lowered. Good people don't fight against officials, and the crime of killing an official and rebelling is a capital offense. A square-faced soldier with big eyes sheathed his sword and asked in surprise: "May I ask which lord you are?"

  Lu Qi coldly snorted and said with a stern face: "This official has always valued reason, will not use power to oppress people. Why do you want to point knives and guns at this official? If we discuss the reason, this official will naturally report for duty."

  The brave soldier didn't know where Lu Qi was coming from and his momentum was already low, he didn't dare to act rashly. He turned around and shouted: "Master Wang, please come over."

  Wang Renshou covered his right cheek and came over, seeing Lu Qi pointing urgently: "General Bi Bing, it's this strong man who broke into my home, took away my family's slave, and injured me."

  Xiao Yun hid behind Lu Qi's back, trembling with fear. Lu Qi listened to Wang Renshou's accusation and remained calm, instead asking in surprise: "Old Master Wang, he was fine just now, how did his face become like this?"

  "Wang Ren-shou's angry shout: 'It wasn't a collision, it was you, this strong man, who used your knife to hit me, you damned strong man!'"

  Lu Qi's face sank coldly and he said: "Old Master Wang, you say it was me who hit him, but do you have any evidence?"

  Wang Renshou shouted strangely: "My family's Wang Fu, seen with his own eyes, Wang Fu come over." A thin man responded and came over, but he looked at Lu Qi with fear in his eyes, only daring to nod slightly.

  Lu Qi said coldly: "Master Wang, if we must avoid relatives as witnesses, what kind of witness is he? If you want to count, I also have a witness."

  After finishing, he pulled out Xiaoyun with his backhand, supported Xiaoyun's shoulder and gently grasped it, while pointing at Wang Renshou loudly: "Xiaoyun, whose fault is it that Mr. Wang's face was hit, mine or his own?"

  Xiao Yun was originally very fearful, but when Lu Qi pulled her out and pinched her shoulder, the pain distracted her, and she heard Lu Qi's loud and confident questioning. Her courage and spirit were boosted, and seeing Wang Ren Shou, she couldn't help but feel a surge of hatred. She immediately shouted in a sharp voice: "It wasn't the young master who hit him, it was he himself who bumped into the door frame."

  Lu Qi's hand moved slightly as he gently sent Xiaoyun back, then turned around and stared at Wang Renshou, saying coldly: "Master Wang, you crashed into yourself, why do you want to frame me?"

  Wang Renshou's eyes blazed with anger, pointing at Lu Qiuguo and shouting: "You little scoundrel, how dare you collude with the strong, wait until I catch you back, this old master will not kill you."

  Lu Qi Mei's eyebrows rose in anger as she shouted: "Wang Ren Shou, how dare you slander me for colluding with the traitor? Do you think I would tolerate your behavior?"

  With a loud shout, he dodged and grabbed Wang Renshou's chest with one hand, first giving him a knee strike to the abdomen, then raising his hand again to deliver a hammer blow to the back of his neck. Wang Renshou let out a cry and fell forward, only to be kicked flying three meters by Lu Qi's foot, rolling five times before lying still.

  The soldiers all shouted in surprise, and their knives and guns were raised again. Lu Qi calmly clapped his hands, took out the document and the county guard's token, held the token in his hand, and coldly said to the leader of the soldiers: "I am the new anti-bandit protection officer of Shitou County, come and verify it."

  The brave soldier leader stepped forward, took the county lieutenant's token from his waist, looked at it and handed it back to Lu Qi. However, he still looked shocked and angry, and said indignantly: "You are a county lieutenant, but breaking into civilian homes, looting and killing in public is also not a light crime."

  Lu Qi coldly said: "Wang Renshou's false accusation should be severely punished, but I only knocked him unconscious. As for the charge of breaking into a civilian's home and looting, do you have any evidence? My contract is complete and in order, how can you mention the two words 'loot'?" He finished speaking and handed over the sales contract.

  The brave soldier looked at Wen Qi and said coldly: "Sir, this matter has exceeded my authority. Please go see the elder sir to explain it clearly."

  Lu Qi didn't want this matter to be made public, and if it reached the elderly, it would definitely alarm the county. As a county lieutenant without any backing, he was only temporarily appointed by Wang Zhongbo in an emergency, not actually holding the position. He was extremely wary of getting entangled in disputes, and seeing this small-time soldier acting so haughty and uncooperative made him feel annoyed.

  He turned his head, sneered and said: "General Bingyong is indeed doing a good job. Well, I will go see the elder gentleman to explain. However, before I go, I want to say one thing. Recently, bandits have been rampant, as the county's anti-bandit officer, my responsibility is great, and I am in urgent need of brave and loyal talents. I think General Bingyong and all these brave warriors are very good, after returning to the county city, I will issue a document inviting you all to help the country eliminate bandits, please." After finishing speaking, he turned around and walked forward with his head held high.

  The leader's face changed, staring blankly at Lu Qi who had already left. A soldier behind him urged, "Third Brother, we've been drafted to the county, that's equivalent to going to our deaths, we can't offend this gentleman."

  The brave soldier was greatly shocked and immediately understood that if they were sent to the county to suppress bandits, this official would surely order them to lead the charge, and nine out of ten would not survive. Frightened, he hastily ran to catch up with Lu Qi.

  "Wait, sir! Wait a minute, I understand." The leader of the soldiers hastily blocked Lu Qi and said.

  Lu Qi stopped and said coldly, "What does General Bingyong understand?"

  "Sir, your contract is in order, it's a legitimate purchase of slaves. Master Wang falsely accused you and even hit you, but you dodged and he accidentally fell unconscious. These are just minor public security issues that don't require disturbing the elderly sir. I have the authority to handle this." The leader of the soldiers finished explaining in one breath.

  Lu Qi cursed in his heart, but on the surface he spoke in a harmonious tone: "General Bingyong, this is indeed a trivial matter. After I bought the slave, I didn't leave because I had forcibly purchased her from Wang Renshou, who was excessively cruel to her. I came to Wuxiang Fortress to pay respects to an old man named Zhou, and I will be leaving tomorrow. Therefore, I don't want this small matter to affect my official reputation. As the saying goes, 'being considerate of others is being considerate of oneself.' So for today's events, I'll just say thank you."

  Lu Qi's courtesy put the soldiers' leader at ease and also gave him a good impression. He hastily bowed and said, "Sir is too kind, I will take care of the rest, curfew is approaching, please return to your mansion."

  Lu Qi nodded and turned to beckon Dong Qing and Xiao Yun to head back. On the way, Xiao Yun remained silent, while Dong Qing asked anxiously, "Young Master, is that Old Man Wang dead?"

  Lu Qi calmly said: "Not dead now, will die in two months."

  Dong Qing exclaimed in surprise: "Two months later, Wang Lao Ye died, will it implicate the young master?"

  "It won't happen, you don't have to worry."

  Dong Qing let out a soft "oh" and walked for a while before Xiao Yun suddenly raised her head to look at Lu Qi, asking coldly: "Young Master, why do you want to kill Old Man Wang?"

  Lu Qiyan stopped in his tracks and turned his head to look at Xiao Yun. Xiao Yun's eyes were clearer than before.

  Lu Qi smiled and patted Xiao Yun's shoulder, calmly saying: "Because he deserved to die." After finishing, he gently supported Xiao Yun and continued on their way.

  Xiao Yun walked with the support of her sister, but gradually leaned towards Lu Qi. Lu Qi thought she was weak and didn't mind half-supporting and half-hugging her as they walked.

  When they were about to arrive at Zhou's house, Lu Qi suddenly said: "Tomorrow before I leave, go buy the pharmacy on West Street. You all stay behind and help me manage the pharmacy."

  The two women were shocked and stopped in their tracks, both looking up at Lu Qi in surprise. Lu Qi smiled and said, "Why aren't you leaving? Don't you want to stay and sell medicine?"

  Dong Qing was shocked: "Young master lets me sell medicine, can I do it?"

  Lu Qi smiled and said: "If you think it's not feasible, you can go serve Yue Er, I'll give you a chance to choose between the two."

  "Gentlemen, slaves and Dong Qing sisters can do it." Dong Qing had just doubted her ability, but Xiao Yun expressed confidence that she could do it.

  Lu Qi looked at Xiao Yun's longing eyes and nodded: "You can remember my orders, I am willing to give you this opportunity. From now on, you will be the maidservants in my house, and the income and expenses of the medicine shop will be reported directly to my mother."

  Dong Qing worriedly said: "Young Master, if you use our pharmacy's medicine, won't Miss Yue get angry?"

  Lu Qi and Sheng said: "Dong Qing, I told you that this time is an opportunity for you. Why do I want you to be the maid in my house? It's just to avoid interference from Yue Er's mother-in-law. What I'm doing isn't opposing Yue Er's mother-in-law, nor am I trying to secretly take possession of wealth. It's just a business strategy. Business and family matters shouldn't be mixed together. Let's go, it's already very late."