Chapter 379: Stalemate 02

  Xiao He and the others made a big fuss for a while, but eventually they all dispersed one by one. Liu Shanhe sat opposite the woman in front of the bed, and for a moment, he was speechless.

  "What's your name?" Liu Shanhe finally asked.

  "I, I'm called Cui Gu." The woman said with a red face.

  "Alas, if you follow me, you will suffer. Look, I am just a village chief, and at the age of 35, while you are only 17 or 18 years old." Liu Shanhe said sincerely.

  "I'm not afraid of hardship. I've been tempered in bitter waters since childhood. And if it weren't for you today, I'd probably have fallen into the clutches of that scoundrel. I know you're a good person, and what's more, you're an extraordinary one. The moment I saw you, I knew you were no ordinary person. I trust my own judgment." Cui Gu said with emotion.

  "What? I'm not an ordinary person? How did you know?" Liu Shanhe asked in surprise.

  "I don't know why, but my intuition tells me that you're not an ordinary person. I'm lucky to be able to follow you in this life. Please don't despise me from now on." Cui Gu said shyly, and then gently leaned into Liu Shanhe's arms.

  Smelling the fragrance emanating from the girl's body, combined with Liu Shanhe having had a few more cups of wine, even a saint would find it hard to remain unmoved. How much more so for Liu Shanhe, who was already a lecherous person at heart? Before long, he could no longer withstand the girl's temptation and lost control of himself, pinning Cui Gu down onto the bed in one swift motion...

  That morning, Liu Bang was fast asleep in bed when he suddenly heard the gate being knocked loudly. Liu Bang was shocked and hastily got out of bed to open the door, only to find it was Xiao He.

  "Lao Xiao, why are you so flustered?" Liu Shanhe asked hurriedly.

  "Alas, what's happened? Your Liu Zhi has been arrested!" Xiao He said with a change of color.

  "What, Liu Zhi was caught? I'm going to... what's going on here! This Liu Zhi is always causing me trouble!" As soon as Liu Shanhe heard about this, he didn't care about anything else and hastily pulled Xiao He into the house, telling him to explain things clearly.

  "Old Xiao, you've fallen down, tell me what's going on! Is Liu Zhi's old problem acting up again? Alas, I've told him so many times! But he just won't listen, just won't listen! It's infuriating, it's infuriating!" Liu Shanhe was also getting anxious.

  As for his own younger brother, Liu Shanhe still had a soft spot. This guy usually followed Liu Shanhe around, and whenever there was something to be done, he would take the lead, making Liu Shanhe feel at ease. He was indeed a reliable assistant by Liu Shanhe's side. However, this guy had a bit of a habit of being sneaky and thieving. Liu Shanhe had scolded him many times for this, but he never seemed to learn from his mistakes. As a result, Liu Shanhe often had headaches because of him. Naturally, Liu Zhi usually brought a lot of trouble to Liu Shanhe, and these troubles were still handled by Liu Shanhe himself.

  "I'm telling you, Liu Bang, this time your brother Liu Zhi has made a big mess! I'm telling you, Liu Bang, this time your brother Liu Zhi has made a big mess! Alas..." Xiao He's expression was somewhat solemn.

  "What's wrong, has he fallen back into his old ways again? Dammit, this kid is nothing but trouble for me..." Liu Shanhe said with a huff.

  "Alas, this time it's serious. If it were just his usual petty thievery, it would be easy to handle. But, alas, it's not that. He... he actually seduced the county magistrate's concubine, Rongfu! You say, isn't this a big trouble?" Xiao He said urgently.

  Liu Shanhe was taken aback for a moment, he really didn't expect that Liu Zhi would have such a big nerve, and actually dare to seduce the county magistrate's concubine!

  This county magistrate has seven concubines, which you also know. And that sixth concubine named Rongfu is truly as beautiful as a flower. Your Liu Zhi, I don't know what method he used, but he actually managed to seduce the county magistrate's sixth concubine. As the saying goes, there are no walls that don't leak wind! Soon, their affair was discovered by the county magistrate.

  However, our county magistrate was also an old fox. Although he was furious and almost burst his lungs, fortunately, he had some temper and means, so at the time, he didn't arrest anyone - of course, he wanted to arrest someone but couldn't because he hadn't caught any evidence. So, the county magistrate set a trap, intentionally setting up a scheme to lure the two into it. Meanwhile, Rongfu, the sixth concubine, was infatuated with Liu Zhi's romantic trysts and forgot to be cautious, so that night she went to Liu Zhi's place again for a rendezvous. Just as the two were in the midst of their romantic escapade, they were caught red-handed by the county magistrate. As the ancient saying goes, "When you catch an adulterer, you must catch both parties." And just like that, the two culprits were captured by the county magistrate.

  The county magistrate then had the two adulterers locked up in a large prison and ordered the prison guards to beat them severely, to vent his anger. As for Liu Zhi and Rong Fu? In the prison, they suffered from the severe beating, almost all over their bodies were injured, crying out in pain, unbearable. And on the second day, when the county magistrate brought them to the public hall, the two people couldn't even kneel down. Now, these two people also had different thoughts in their minds. Liu Zhi was now regretful, regretting that he shouldn't have done it, he shouldn't have made a move during his wife's menstrual period, as a result, not only did he not enjoy the pleasure, but instead got into trouble.

  The county magistrate, feeling that the timing was about right, had the two of them summoned to the main hall, intending to give them a good trial. However, just at this moment, Liu Shanhe burst in.

  "Sir, I have something to say to you." Liu Shanhe was very clear in his mind that at the very least, the county magistrate would not turn against him for now, after all, he had solved many problems for him. This bit of face, he should still give himself.

  As expected, it did not turn out as County Magistrate Liu had hoped. He had originally wanted to thoroughly teach that pair of shameless lovers a lesson, but was instead blocked by Liu Shanhe at the last minute, leaving him feeling extremely displeased in his heart. However, thinking back to how Liu Shanhe had helped him resolve some difficult problems not long ago, he still felt grateful towards him. Thus, with a huff, he said to Liu Shanhe: "What is it that you want to say?"

  Liu Shanhe saw that the county magistrate had finally allowed himself to speak, and his heart became even more confident. He glanced around and said: "Sir, this is not a place for conversation, please take a step back and talk."

  The county magistrate originally wanted to say, "Speak quickly and let it out quickly!" But considering that Liu Shanhe had indeed helped him a lot in the past, he couldn't rush him too much. So he said, "Alright, let's go over here." As he spoke, the county magistrate led Liu Shanhe to the backyard of his courtyard, then said to him, "Now we're alone, what is it that you want to say? Start speaking now! I'm listening!"

  "Sir! I have a question and would like to ask for your guidance, may I be so bold as to request your instruction?" Liu Shanhe said with a deliberate detour.

  The county magistrate was indeed somewhat impatient this time, and he waved his hand at Liu Shanhe, saying: "Oh, just say it, just say it! Why be so polite to me?"

  "Heh heh, sir, do you know that from ancient times to the present, some cultivated people have always emphasized the two words 'avoid suspicion'? I wonder if you know what these two words 'avoid suspicion' really mean?" Liu Shanhe narrowed his eyes and stared tightly at the county magistrate.

  "Alas, I'm telling you, Liu Bang, are you trying to test me? The so-called 'avoid suspicion' means avoiding suspicion, that's all. Don't tell me you don't know the meaning of this word? Hehe, I think it's not necessarily the case!" At this time, the county magistrate had already realized that Liu Shanhe was playing tricks on him, and his eyes also showed a hint of cunning.

  "Yes, sir, that's exactly what I mean. In the past, those who had cultivated themselves would not have been so worked up over one person or one thing. If they did, it would naturally take up too much of their time and energy, preventing them from attending to other important matters. One thing leads to another, and another, and another... where does it end? Wouldn't this person exhaust himself to death over these trivial matters? Moreover, that way, he would also invite suspicion and disapproval from others, and be unable to earn a good reputation."

  "Sir, Liu Zhi and Rong Fu's private communication is a punishable offense. This is undeniable. Moreover, since this matter involves you, Sir, they should be punished even more severely. However, Sir, it is precisely because of your involvement that you must restrain yourself and handle the situation calmly. Think about it, Sir: if you only seek to satisfy your temporary anger by punishing them, you may alleviate your current resentment, but you will also create hidden dangers for your future path."

  "Oh? Is it that serious?" The county magistrate was finally moved by Liu Shanhe's words.

  "Alas, sir, this is unbelievable! Think about it, if you really punished Liu Zhi and Rong Fu for their crimes, the common people would all think that it's because your jealousy has reached a boiling point and you couldn't bear it anymore, so you took action. And if that were true, then your reputation, your good name, would truly be gone with the wind, vanished without a trace. Sir, please think carefully, is this not the case?" Liu Shanhe said solemnly.

  The county magistrate listened to Liu Shanhe's words and this time did not say anything, but silently twirled his whiskers, looking as if he was thinking about something.

  Half a day later, the county magistrate narrowed his eyes and asked Liu Shanhe: "So, according to your words, how should this matter be handled?"

  Liu Shanhe saw this scene and also knew that his words had already moved the county magistrate. He was overjoyed in his heart. After thinking for half a day, Liu Shanhe finally said: "Your Excellency, your wives are numerous and beautiful, each one more lovely than the last. But Rongfu, although she has some charm, is just an insignificant one among them. Moreover, someone like Rongfu, who is not particularly good-looking but likes to cause trouble, what benefit is there in keeping her by your side?

  Moreover, a woman like her would not be tolerated by adults either. Since that's the case, it's better for you to do a favor and give this Rongfu woman to Liu Zhi as a gift. This way, no matter what aspect, it will be extremely beneficial for you. Firstly, if you do so, you will naturally gain a beautiful reputation, people will say that you are kind, tolerant, understanding, and broad-minded. Secondly, keeping such a woman by your side will only bring trouble sooner or later, as she is born to be a licentious person, it's better to get rid of her early. This way, you can gain the reputation of being "tolerant" while also getting rid of this beauty who brings calamity, and at the same time, push her towards those who have grudges against you. Isn't that a win-win situation? Please think thrice, sir! Liu Shanhe said word by word.

  The county magistrate's eyes sparkled with gold after hearing Liu Shanhe's words, and he thought to himself: "Liu Bang's analysis is indeed reasonable! Firstly, the matter has already happened, and it's no use trying to keep that woman even if I wanted to. Even if I forced her to stay, there would be no good outcome, so it's better to send her away. Secondly, just as Liu Bang said earlier, if I were to give that woman to someone who has a grudge against me, her wicked heart would not change, and over time, she would definitely seduce new people again. This way, my enemy would also be driven mad with anxiety and exhaustion, which would bring me great joy! Moreover, it's possible that the woman might still provide me with an opportunity to get rid of my enemy in the future if she continues to indulge in her desires..."

  The county magistrate thought to himself, but his face didn't reveal anything, and he just muttered: "Alright, I'll hand over that cheap woman to Liu Zhi. This way, I won't get a bad reputation, and in the future, if Liu Zhi does something wrong, he won't take revenge on me. However, I also can't let them off so easily, I'll heavily punish them with thirty big slaps, then release them. I'm telling you, Liu Bang, by doing this, I'm giving you face, otherwise, who dares to touch my people? Doesn't he want to die? Alright, we've settled on this, and that's how it will be done!" After finishing speaking, the county magistrate followed Liu Shanhe back to the main hall.

  Liu Zhi never had the intention of surviving anyway. He naturally knew how big a disaster he had caused this time. At that time, he was only infatuated with the woman and didn't think that one day this matter would be exposed, and he would become a piece of meat on the county magistrate's chopping board, to be chopped off at any moment. Thinking of this, Liu Zhi couldn't help but hate Rongfu, thinking in his heart, if, if he could escape with his life, after getting out, he would definitely make her pay eighteen times more, and fuck this cheap woman to death! As he thought about it, Liu Zhi gritted his teeth, making a "chirping" sound, and when he turned back to look at the woman again, she was still shaking violently like a sieve, her whole body trembling with fear, and it was very likely that she had already peed her pants.

  Just as Liu Zhi was about to enter, the county magistrate and Liu Shanhe returned from the backyard. The county magistrate sat steadily in the main seat, while Liu Shanhe stood with his hands behind him on one side. Suddenly, the county magistrate shouted loudly: "Now, I announce the crimes of these two adulterers! To punish them, I have decided to give Rongfu ten severe beatings and Liu Zhi thirty severe beatings, then drive them out of the yamen, let them go!"

  With the sound of "pa pa" one after another, accompanied by the cries of two people, the two were finally beaten with a board and then supported by Liu Shanhe, limping back home.

  But Liu Zhi never thought that he would be able to escape with his life, and that Rong Fu would ultimately be given to him. This was almost unthinkable for him. Originally, he had prepared for the worst, which was being put to death by the county magistrate. But in the end, he only received thirty lashes. Although the thirty lashes left him barely able to get up, this pain was nothing compared to death. Moreover, the woman ultimately followed him anyway. And wasn't it all because of that woman that he had gotten himself into this situation in the first place? Now, although he had suffered a bit of physical pain, it was also worth it.

  However, Liu Zhi had no idea that he had already been dragged by the woman named Rongfu into a deadly swamp from which there was no return. The woman was like a demon, sneering at Liu Zhi not far away. That's a story for later, let's not mention it for now.

  After being saved by Liu Shanhe, Liu Zhi regarded Liu Shanhe's words as sacred teachings and followed him even more loyally. No matter what task was at hand, he would take the lead with even greater enthusiasm, executing Liu Shanhe's orders to perfection, which in turn greatly enhanced the combat effectiveness of the "Liu Ji Party". As for the county magistrate, after this incident, he finally understood the correctness of Liu Shanhe's words, especially when he saw that the number of sworn brothers under Liu Shanhe was increasing and their combat strength was growing stronger. He couldn't help but feel a deep respect for Liu Shanhe, and unconsciously, he began to appreciate him even more, thinking that this person was truly a rare talent.

  However, the headache for Liu Zhi soon arrived. Recently, in addition to being more loyal to Liu Shanhe's orders, Liu Zhi also became more devoted to his words. Although Liu Shanhe had advised Liu Zhi many times before not to do those things as a "梁上君子" (a kind of rogue), old habits die hard and it was difficult for him to stop immediately. Moreover, Liu Zhi was a good drinker and womanizer in daily life, which made him quite similar to Liu Shanhe. Sometimes, Liu Zhi would secretly laugh at himself: "I'm really like my third brother, we're indeed alike!" He had not only gained some wealth from this rogue lifestyle but also occasionally got to "劫点色" (a phrase that roughly translates to "get a taste of romance"), which felt great. How could he easily give up such a life? And then there was Rong Fu, who was the woman Liu Zhi discovered crying under the moonlight when he went to steal from the county lord's backyard.

  At that time, Liu Zhi didn't dare to make a sound either, and could only hide in the shadows and quietly listen to what was going on. And Rong Fu, of course, had no idea that there was a thief by his side, but continued to face the moon and lament his grievances: "Father and mother, have your hearts been bitten by a snake? Why are you so cruel, abandoning me in this fiery pit? Your daughter is living a life worse than death here! Although I have fine clothes and food, what's the use of these things? Your daughter spends her days guarding an empty bed. Your daughter is only twenty years old, but that scoundrel has seven wives by his side! Your daughter may be young, but constantly there are even younger girls being sent into the mansion. In ten days or half a month, your daughter can't even share a bed with that scoundrel once! Waaah~~~~~~ Waaah~~~~~~ Waaah~~~~~~ Waaah~~~~~~ Waaah~~~~~~"

  Liu Zhi was an extremely intelligent and astute person, in the prime of his life, with a bold and daring nature. After hearing Rong Fu's words, he immediately understood that the woman was actually a palace lady-in-waiting with a grievance.

  "Damn, thinking about it, this old heaven is really unfair! I'm so hungry and uncomfortable, but there's not a single woman around me; while that dog official is already over 50 years old, he has seven or eight young and beautiful women around him. Damn, this is just too unfair, too unfair!" Liu Zhi's teeth couldn't help but chatter loudly, and his eyes were also full of anger. Just at this time, Rong Fu suddenly walked to a dark tree shadow, undressed and squatted down to pee. Listening to the "gurgling" sound, Liu Zhi couldn't bear it anymore, looked around and saw no one, then quietly crept up. So, after Rong Fu finished peeing and was about to get up and tie her sweatband, she suddenly felt like there was some movement behind her. But before she could turn her head back, someone covered her mouth, and she couldn't shout even if she wanted to."

  Then she was pressed down by the man. At first, out of instinct, Rongfu struggled for a while, but as the rapid breathing and movements of the person on her body continued, Rongfu finally understood that this seemed to be just a case of lust, and he wouldn't harm her.

  The grievances of many days, at this moment, have completely turned into a kind of hatred for Rongfu, a hatred for the corrupt officials who have been in power. And at this time, an idea suddenly surged into her mind, that is, she wanted to take revenge. Now there is such an opportunity. Why struggle? Why shout loudly? Okay, come on, no matter what kind of person this is, even if it's a dog, she will recognize him. Not only will she not feel any shame, but she will also feel a kind of pleasure, a different, alternative pleasure.