Chapter 17: Dissolving the Crisis (Part 2)

  Why don't you like dealing with this little woman?

  That's why.

  She was too ruthless, and in front of her, Qin Kan had the possibility of becoming a sandbag at any time.

  Although she had a measure of restraint and didn't beat Qin Kan to death, she still hit him.

  "Add money, must add money! Compensate for medical expenses, two hundred taels, otherwise I won't do this job..." Qin Kan said weakly.

  Du Yan's expression was very refreshing, and the depression that had been accumulated for many days was all released today, feeling extremely relieved.

  "No problem, two hundred taels is just two hundred taels..." Du Yan smiled like an angel, the person who had brutally beaten him earlier seemed to be someone else, and had nothing to do with her.

  Staring at Qin Kan, Du Yan said sincerely: "Honestly, from the day I met you, I had a strong urge to beat you up. These days, every time I see you, this urge gets stronger and stronger. I've been restraining myself, enduring great hardship. Today, I couldn't care less, and finally fulfilled my wish. Thank you, Qin Gongzi."

  Qin Kan: "......"

  He didn't realize until now how much he deserved a beating. Just listen to what others are saying, "Enduring extreme hardship"…

  Qin Kan really wanted to scold his mother.

  Du Yan didn't care about his feelings and started talking business.

  "Shi Lu has been in Shanyin County for two days now. You said you had a way to break the deadlock, but so far there's no movement. What do you mean?"

  Qin Kan said coldly: "The time has not come yet."

  "What kind of timing are you waiting for?"

  "Wait for your dad and Shi Lu to have a falling out."

  "What then? They've torn their faces off, what are you going to do?"

  "Then I made my move and broke the deadlock..."

  Du Yan was silent for a moment, then let out a long sigh: "Qin Gongzi, can we not speak nonsense?"

  Qin Kan also sighed: "I don't want to waste words with you either, but all the questions you asked are useless, what can I do?"

  "My dad is almost at odds with Shi Lu." Du Yan said suddenly.

  "Tell me in detail."

  "Shi Lu was ordered to inspect the local area, and for the past two days he has been checking the account books in the county yamen, verifying the number of officials and clerks, and investigating the reputation of the county magistrate. Every time he speaks, he is overbearing, saying that the accounts are unclear when there is not a single mistake, and claiming that the number of officials and clerks in the yamen is insufficient when it can be clearly checked in the records...". Du Yan's face gradually turned red as she spoke, her anger growing with each word.

  Qin Kan sighed and said, "It seems that this Stone gentleman has made up his mind to impeach your father. However, he is doing it so obviously and in such a hurry, it's really quite unseemly. Although I'm not familiar with the official circles, I also know that it's a place where face and rules are important. Doesn't this Stone gentleman know that?"

  Du Yan sneered: "A petty person who has just achieved success is arrogant and domineering. Does the young master of Qin not know this?"

  "It's a good thing I'm not a petty person, but a gentleman..." Qin Kan had a fortunate expression on his face and didn't bother to investigate who gave him this definition.

  Just now, I've already beaten him up, Du Yan couldn't bear to hit him again for the time being. She skipped over his self-boasting and continued: "My dad is about to lose his temper, just now he was pounding the table, saying that since he's going to retire anyway, why bother looking at the faces of these petty people..."

  "Hmm, your dad is going to transform..."

  "Huh?"

  "Your dad is going to blow up."

  Duan Yan gazed deeply at Qin Kan and said, "Qin Gongzi, you once said that there was a way to resolve this. This matter concerns my father's reputation and position, it cannot be taken lightly. Now I ask you again, do you really have a solution?"

  "A gentleman never speaks thoughtlessly."

  "Is it time now?"

  "It's almost done."

  "Come on, follow me to the county yamen."

  "Alright, after it's done, don't forget to pay me two hundred taels."

  Du Yan raised an eyebrow and gazed at him sideways: "You just said you were a gentleman?"

  "A gentleman who helps others with things also collects money; if he doesn't collect money, he's not a gentleman, he's a fool."

  Shan Yin County Government Office

  If these two days in the county government were like a powder keg about to explode, then at this moment, the powder keg finally exploded.

  Censor Shi Lu's nitpicking, Shi Lu's veiled insults, Shi Lu's subtle jabs, Du Hong could all tolerate, the years of studying sacred texts hadn't been in vain, and he still had some composure and demeanor when facing petty people.

  But when Shi Lu pointed at last year's autumn tax account book and said that the accounts were confusing and unclear, with a hint of corruption, Du Hong finally erupted.

  Du Hong has been a clean and honest person all his life, he is a man who loves to keep his reputation intact. He cannot tolerate the villain's behavior that tarnishes his good name. He can give up being an official, but his reputation will follow him for the rest of his life, not allowing any slightest stain.

  "Shi Lu, you're going too far! The autumn tax account is clearly recorded, where is the confusion? You want to add crime to innocence, what's the worry about not having an excuse?! If you want to impeach me, go directly to the Nanjing Court and submit a memorial, don't come here to tarnish my reputation!"

  Shi Leng coldly smiled: "Director Du, as a touring censorial inspector, I have the duty to investigate and impeach local officials. All matters in various government offices are within my power to investigate. I merely flipped through a few pages of account books, yet Director Du is so flustered - are you afraid or guilty?"

  "Shi Lu! You're deceiving people too much! You said I'm corrupt and self-serving, do you have any evidence? If you can't produce evidence today, I'll report to the Emperor and we'll argue it out in front of His Majesty!"

  Shi Ruo burst out laughing: "County Magistrate Du is probably confused, right? As a seventh-rank county magistrate, what qualifications do you have to enter the capital and meet with the Emperor? Moreover, during your three years in office in Shanyin County, the governance has been chaotic, and the taxation system is a mess. You can't shirk responsibility as a county magistrate, so don't bother dreaming up fantasies to report to the imperial court. I've recorded everything, and tomorrow it will be sent to the Censorate of the Southern Capital. County Magistrate Du, what you should do now is pack your belongings and prepare to return to your hometown."

  Du Hongqi was so angry that his eyes turned black and his whole body trembled uncontrollably.

  …………

  …………

  When the two were arguing, Du Yan led Qin Kan to appear outside the door of the wing room of the county government's second hall. Behind them was a woman in a coarse linen shirt with a sallow complexion and a child about two or three years old who was pale and thin.

  Inside the room, Shi Lu pointed at the deer and called it a horse, wantonly slandering Du Hong. Du Yan had already become so angry that her face turned purple, and she was about to rush in when she was tightly grabbed by Qin Kan.

  Qin Kan lowered his voice and said coldly: "What are you doing?"

  Du Yan angrily said: "This rascal is even more deserving of a beating than you!"

  Qin Kan took a deep breath and thought, forget it, no need to argue with women...

  "Duguniang, if you rush in, your father's official position will definitely be lost, and even the gods can't help."

  "What do you want then?" Du Yan turned her head to see the poor middle-aged woman and child behind her, and said: "Why did you hire this woman and child to come to the county government office?"

  "I have a plan, didn't I say so before? To take advantage of this Imperial Censor's weakness..."

  "How to take?"

  Qin Kan smiled and said: "To deal with the enemy or make them surrender, the most effective way is to attack him spiritually, eliminate him..."

  Du Yan was about to go crazy: "Speak human language! Otherwise, I'll beat you up physically! What are we going to do next?"

  "Go ahead and rush in now, then hug Shi Lu's leg, crying and complaining about how he abandoned you after playing with you and didn't even give you cab fare..."

  The atmosphere around has changed, becoming cool and chilly, with a coldness that penetrates to the bone.

  Qin Kan wisely changed his tone: "I guess you may not be very willing to do this, so I asked someone else to do it..."

  Du Yan withdrew her murderous aura and pointed at the woman behind him, saying: "Is it her? Is this method useful?"

  Qin Kan smiled, a sweet smile that showed off his pearly white teeth gleaming with a cold light.

  "Isn't your father inside? If he's stupid enough to not grasp such a good counterattack opportunity, then it's better if he doesn't take the official position; otherwise, he'll be killed by others sooner or later..."

  After finishing speaking, he turned his head to glance at the woman, and a flash of sharp light quickly flickered in the dispirited and desolate eyes of the woman. Almost imperceptibly, she nodded towards Qin Kan, then hugged the child tightly in her arms, stood outside the door taking a deep breath, and with a swift movement, rushed into the room.

  Then, a heart-wrenching howl came from inside the compartment.

  "Son of a gun! I've finally found you! You're so heartless, why did you abandon me and our child? Child, quickly, call your father..."

  A stunned gasp echoed from inside the house by Du Hong and Shi Lu.

  "Dad——" The child's voice was sweet and clear as he opened his mouth to speak to Shi Lu, tender and crisp, making people feel affectionate.

  P.S. There is another update tonight.....