Chapter 30: Constables Enter the Village, Defending Chu Feng and Intimidating the Zhou Family

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After dealing with unreasonable people so many times, Chu Feng had found that he could no longer be bothered to reason with them.

If not for Zhou Xiaoxiao, that ax might truly have come down.

Yet once he had calmed down, he realized that he absolutely could not strike.

Leaving aside the punishment he would receive for killing someone, how could Zhou Xiaoxiao face him after he had killed her grandmother and father right before her eyes?

Even if Zhou Xiaoxiao was not close to them, they were still her family.

Wang Xiufen was terrified. She had truly feared that Chu Feng would act on impulse and bring the ax down.

When she saw that it had not fallen, the old woman’s legs went weak, and she collapsed onto the ground.

She pointed at Chu Feng, staring at him. She tried to speak for a long while, but not a single word came out.

In the end, she did not dare say anything.

Zhou Youzhi hurriedly helped his old mother to her feet.

“Zhou Xiaoxiao, very well! Since you no longer want this family, then never come back for the rest of your life!”

“Get lost! And don’t come back!” Sun Can stepped forward with a club in his hand.

“Chu Feng may not be able to lay a hand on you, but do you really think the rest of us are useless?”

“If you go back and spread rumors about Chu Feng and his wife, you’ll be finished. If we really bury you on Jade Dragon Mountain, who would ever know what happened?”

The threat frightened Zhou Youzhi and Wang Xiufen.

They knew those words were not empty threats.

In this era, even the authorities were barely able to look after themselves. If two people truly disappeared from a village, would the government bother to investigate?

At that thought, their eyes filled with malice, and they turned to leave.

But they had barely gone a few steps when several constables and a man in official robes came toward them.

The moment Zhou Youzhi and Wang Xiufen saw them, they felt as if they had found their savior.

Zhou Youzhi hurriedly threw himself before Deputy Magistrate Liao Zi’ang.

When he opened his mouth, the sight of his two missing front teeth nearly made Liao Zi’ang laugh.

“Honorable magistrate, this commoner wishes to file a complaint! I wish to file a complaint!”

Liao Zi’ang had come to Jade Dragon Mountain today on important business. He had no time to deal with the affairs of other villagers.

Still, the proper procedure could not simply be ignored.

Thus, with some impatience, he asked, “What is the matter?”

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Zhou Youzhi had not dared go to the government office.

When someone filed a complaint there, both the plaintiff and the defendant would be dragged in and given thirty strokes of the rod of authority.

That was why ordinary people were exceedingly cautious whenever they brought a case before the authorities.

Regardless of whether they had truly been wronged, those thirty strokes were unavoidable.

As a result, whenever villagers had minor disputes, they usually settled them among themselves.

That was why the local people were so fierce and hard-bitten.

But Zhou Youzhi had been lucky. He had happened to encounter Deputy Magistrate Liao Zi’ang outside.

If he filed his complaint here, at least he could avoid the thirty strokes.

“My own daughter actually joined forces with that vicious son-in-law of hers to beat me and my mother! They beat me into this state! I beg Your Honor to uphold justice for me! Please, Your Honor, uphold justice!”

Liao Zi’ang lifted his head. When he saw Chu Feng, he instinctively nodded to him.

Only then did he ask Zhou Youzhi, “Which one is your son-in-law?”

“That one—the man holding the ax! Look at that vicious son-in-law of mine! He sees Your Honor and still refuses to come kneel before you. He’s even threatening me with an ax! Axes are prohibited weapons, Your Honor. Hurry and arrest this utterly wicked criminal!”

Apparently believing that he now had someone to back him, Zhou Youzhi dared to stand up and point at Chu Feng as he cursed him.

“Oh, him? Men, take the plaintiff back to the county office first.”

“What? Your Honor, I’m not filing a complaint!”

“Not filing a complaint? Wasn’t that exactly what you were doing just now?”

“But I… I didn’t file a complaint at the county office. I merely happened to encounter Your Honor and told you what happened. Your Honor only needs to punish that Chu Feng.”

Liao Zi’ang gave a cold laugh. “And why should that be so? A complaint brought before this official is a complaint, whether it is made inside the county office or outside it. All plaintiffs must receive thirty strokes of the rod of authority. Why should the punishment be waived merely because the location is different? Men, take him away and give him thirty strokes first. Then let him present his grievance!”

“Wait, Your Honor! I’m not filing a complaint anymore! I’m not filing a complaint!”

Liao Zi’ang’s expression turned severe.

“Do you know the consequences of making sport of an imperial official?”

“No, Your Honor! I truly am not filing a complaint anymore. I don’t want to be beaten. Let this matter go.”

“Truly?”

“Truly, truly.”

“Then I shall let you go. You are not from Jade Dragon Village, are you? If not, leave at once. Snowstorms are dangerous, and you should not wander about aimlessly. You might die on the road.”

Hearing the sinister undertone in Liao Zi’ang’s words, Zhou Youzhi, who had lived for several decades, understood at once what was happening.

Liao Zi’ang definitely knew Chu Feng!

The two exchanged a glance, then hurried away with their tails between their legs.

They did not dare say another word.

The people of Jade Dragon Village had also felt somewhat afraid when they saw Liao Zi’ang.

Whenever soldiers or officials appeared in the village, it could only mean trouble.

But they had never expected Liao Zi’ang to help Chu Feng settle the matter.

Had things continued as they had been—

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Zhou Youzhi and Wang Xiufen, unable to obtain any grain, would certainly have gone elsewhere to ruin Chu Feng’s reputation.

But now that they had the government’s backing, even if they were given twice the courage, they would not dare spread rumors recklessly.

“I have come looking for the mountain ranger. Bring the village headman here. Everyone else, please leave,” Liao Zi’ang said.

Chu Feng was stunned.

He had not expected a deputy magistrate to come looking for a lowly mountain ranger like himself.

“Husband?” Zhou Xiaoxiao asked anxiously.

“It’s fine. This official just helped us. Don’t worry. Miaomiao is still at home, so go back quickly,” Chu Feng said.

Seeing this, Zhou Xiaoxiao could only leave.

The others dispersed as well, but they did not go far. From various places, they watched curiously.

Du Dahai soon received word and came to the entrance of the village.

Once the two men had arrived, Liao Zi’ang drew a deep breath and patted Chu Feng on the shoulder.

“Your name is Chu Feng, is it? I’ll call you Little Feng.”

“You are too kind, Your Honor.”

“Little Feng, I am not being courteous. I have come to assign you a task. How familiar are you with Jade Dragon Mountain?”

“I know it reasonably well. Jade Dragon Mountain has seven peaks, but I am most familiar with the first and second.”

Jade Dragon Mountain was vast, a whole mountain range consisting of seven peaks.

The main peak was the highest, rising four or five thousand meters above sea level.

The first and second peaks were considerably lower.

Chu Feng had always worked around the first peak. He had only seen the second from a distance.

“Little Feng, the daughter of the Tian family was kidnapped during Old Master Tian’s birthday banquet. From our pursuit, we discovered that the kidnappers likely entered Jade Dragon Mountain. However, the constables and bailiffs are unfamiliar with the mountain. At present, no one but you can lead them into it. They will arrive in three days. I hope you will cooperate with them fully. Over the next few days, make a careful search of the area. If you discover any clues, notify him at the village immediately.”

As he spoke, Liao Zi’ang brought forward a constable.

The man was broad and heavily built, with a look of arrogance on his face. He could not even be bothered to glance at Chu Feng.

“His name is Tian Zhuang. He is the chief constable of the county office. He will remain in the village for the next two days to assist you. If this matter is resolved successfully, you will be handsomely rewarded.”

“Understood, Your Honor. This commoner accepts the assignment.”

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