Qi Xingjie trembled all over, shaking with anger. He pinched his thigh tightly to ensure he wouldn't jump up and beat this person soundly, his eyes turning red with rage.
Steward Tu, hiding to the side and overhearing their conversation, also clenched the firewood axe in his hand tightly in anger. He had initially worried that the wine would not be effective, and if a fight broke out later, he would have something to defend himself with.
But now he really wanted to rush out and beat these people up! Despicable! Utterly despicable! If he were an official, he would definitely have all these people arrested, flogged, and thrown into prison!
No, no, no! That would be letting them off too easily. It would be best to sell them all into servitude as armored soldiers, send them far away from here, and restore peace to Yong'an Town!
A group of people ate, drank, and played, their thoughts clouded by alcohol. They completely failed to notice that in the very corner of the hall sat several people diligently writing.
These people wrote while wiping sweat and occasionally stole glances at the expressions of those beside them. A stack of paper lay piled high on the eight-immortal table, recording the sins of these people. It was the height of summer, hot and humid, yet they felt as if they had fallen into icy depths, surrounded by a chilling, piercing pain.
At another eight-immortal table, where the scribes were stealing glances, sat two more people. One, around thirty years old, still carried an air of authority, and his face was currently grim.
The other was older and even more portly. However, he was nervous now, sweating all over from tension. He regretted coming; if he had known, he would not have come to watch this good show!
The younger man was Liu Zhiwen, the Prefect of Cangzhou, and also Qi Xingjie's brother-in-law. As Qi Xingjie had been in Yong'an Town for several months, Liu Zhiwen happened to have business there, and his sister, missing her son, had asked him to check on Qi Xingjie.
It happened to be opportune timing. He had arrived in Yong'an Town just last night. Since Qi Xingjie was out visiting Old Man Li, Liu Zhiwen had stayed at the town magistrate's house. He also read.
Who would have thought that early this morning, someone would come to the magistrate's house to summon him? They said Young Master Qi had arranged a major spectacle at a restaurant on East Street at noon and invited the magistrate to witness it, specifically asking him to bring along the scribes who wrote the fastest.
Liu Zhiwen, having not seen Qi Xingjie the previous night and knowing his playful nature, wanted to see what new trick he was up to, so he accompanied the town magistrate.
Who would have known it would indeed be a good show! And a major spectacle at that!
Unlike Liu Zhiwen's overwhelming fury, Town Magistrate Song Guangyao felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. He never expected that such evil deeds would go unnoticed in Yong'an Town, which was under his jurisdiction. Seeing Liu Zhiwen's increasingly displeased expression, Song Guangyao felt terrified.
These people had truly ruined him!
Song Guangyao was a mediocre man, his life having been unremarkable. He had studied some books in his youth but only managed to pass the provincial examination after more than ten years, making no further progress.
The reason he managed to secure the position of town magistrate was his distant relation to Qi Xingjie's maternal grandfather. Furthermore, his family had been in business for many years and was quite wealthy.
After donating a considerable amount of money to the court, he managed to exchange it for a sinecure official post for his retirement. Therefore, after becoming town magistrate, he barely engaged in corruption. At most, he would use his position to create advantages for his own family in Yong'an Town.
However, a person like him always feared trouble. He had devised a method to avoid trouble: not asking, not listening, not looking. Then, he wouldn't know anything.
Thus, Song Guangyao basically never sided with the common people. If something happened, unless there was irrefutable evidence, he would primarily try to smooth things over, with the ordinary folk usually bearing the brunt of the loss in the end.
Although Yong'an Town was merely a town, its excellent geographical location meant it had a large population and considerable area. With so many sordid affairs occurring in just these past few months, one could imagine how difficult the lives of the common people must have been over the years he served as town magistrate due to his inaction.
Meanwhile, Gong Laoda, completely unaware that his end was near, took a swig from his wine jar. Seeing that Qi Xingjie still hadn't responded, he began to prattle on by himself.
"Heh heh! You bumpkin, you still don't know, right? I've already tried out quite a few young ladies for you, and they were all virgins, mind you. The feeling was indescribably wonderful! You can take them all back to your manor. Women who have been coached by Gong Laoda are very good at serving people. I guarantee they'll keep you from leaving your house every day, making you feel like you're dying and living in ecstasy every day..."
"No, I'm saying you only think about eating. You don't react to women, could it be that your little thing hasn't grown properly yet, and you can't do anything? What's more fragrant than women when you eat! Huh? Hahahaha..."
"Hahahaha..."
"Hahahaha..."
The people in the hall burst into laughter again, their boisterousness drawing the attention of those outside the restaurant who couldn't help but stop and watch. However, with more than a dozen guards armed with swords standing at the entrance and constables lining both sides, they dared not get too close.
Gong Laoda held his wine jar, sitting unsteadily on the chair, reeking of alcohol, his face flushed red. Hiccuping, he reached out and patted Qi Xingjie's chubby cheeks heavily.
"Hic... Kid, Gong Grandpa has told you so many good things today, so you have to be more generous when you pay later! Otherwise, if there's anything fun next time, I won't bring you along..."
A Li was also drunk, and upon hearing the word "silver," he thumped the table and joined in the clamor. "Right! You must give more silver! I haven't married yet. If you leave one day, where will I find such a money tree!"
"You still yell at me whenever you feel like it. Who do you think you are? You just have a good dad! You just have a well-placed ancestor's grave! But what's the use of having such good conditions? You're still being played around like this!"
"But I still have to thank you! Just to thank you a bit, among so many people, you chose me to serve you. Otherwise, where would I get this opportunity to earn money? You are truly damned difficult to serve. The tea must be served at eighty percent heat. All day long, if you want to eat good food, you make me go out and find it for you..."
"This Yong'an Town is just a tiny place, where do you expect me to find it? But brother! Thank you! Brother Li thanks you here... Come! Have another drink with your little brother! After this drink, Brother Li will cover for you from now on!"
After A Li finished rambling, he picked up his wine and tried to stand up, but his hands and feet were weak, and he sank back down. Finally, he sat directly on the ground, propped himself against the stool, and couldn't get up.