Chapter 26: Zhou Shicai Arrives Unannounced
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“Slaying wild boars? You expect us to believe whatever you say?” Niu Er was still thinking when the young constable beside him grew impatient.
“Come quietly with me and explain everything to our chief.”
The young constable glanced at Chu Chen and then at Niu Er’s expression before stepping forward to seize Chu Chen.
Niu Er barked, “We haven’t finished questioning him. Why are you in such a hurry? What if you arrest the wrong man?”
“Heh heh, Brother Niu, my brother-in-law gave explicit orders that this man must be arrested. Are you planning to stop me?”
The threat in those words was unmistakable.
Niu Er was rendered speechless. Indeed, he was only a lowly constable. How could he possibly stand against Wang Fugui?
Chu Chen understood at once. So the Three Harmonies Gambling House had connections within the authorities.
The young constable before him was Wang Fugui’s brother-in-law, nicknamed Eight Pounds.
The chief constable of Green Ox Town was also a frequent guest at Wang Fugui’s table.
Long and his men had gone out to collect a debt this time, only to die inexplicably in the mountains. Wang Fugui had therefore concluded that Chu Chen was responsible.
He had joined forces with Eight Pounds and bribed the chief constable, intending to kill Chu Chen in revenge.
Since Eight Pounds had no official standing and was merely a temporary constable, they had brought along the honest and straightforward Niu Er as well.
To be honest, Chu Chen had no good solution at the moment. The matter was troublesome.
Although he did not fear these people, he could hardly raise his spear and slaughter them all. If he did, he would never have another peaceful day.
For now, he could only take things one step at a time.
He gave Li Qinglian and Wang Defa a reassuring look, then said to the young constable, “The entire village can testify on my behalf. Do you still have anything to say, Officer?”
“Who knows whether you lot colluded on your story? In poor mountains and harsh lands, you get crafty peasants. Come with me to see our chief constable, and we’ll talk there.”
Ignoring Niu Er beside him, he stepped forward to arrest Chu Chen, but then seemed to remember something.
He turned to Niu Er. “Brother Niu, make the arrest!”
“Eight Pounds, that doesn’t seem to follow procedure,” Niu Er insisted.
“Procedure? Brother Niu, remember your station.”
After Eight Pounds said this, Niu Er’s eyes immediately dimmed.
He turned to Chu Chen. “Come along. Sorry about this.”
He stepped forward and took control of Chu Chen.
Chu Chen did not resist, but Li Qinglian cried out anxiously, “Husband, you can’t go!”
She was already imagining them torturing him into confessing, but Chu Chen himself was unconcerned.
If they truly forced him to that point, he could simply disappear for a while. It would not be a problem.
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“Don’t worry. Wait for me at home. A man who has done nothing wrong has nothing to fear from a ghost knocking at his door.”
After reassuring Li Qinglian and the others, Chu Chen cooperatively followed Niu Er toward Green Ox Town.
Eight Pounds cast Li Qinglian a lingering glance, then left with a broad smile.
Chu Dazhuang was frantic. Not long after Chu Chen and the others had departed, he summoned Huzi, hitched up the mule cart with Wang Defa, and hurried toward Green Ox Town.
They hoped they might at least serve as witnesses for Chu Chen.
Just as Chu Chen and the others arrived at Green Ox Town, two luxurious carriages came toward them from ahead.
Though Eight Pounds usually swaggered around Green Ox Town, in the eyes of the truly wealthy, he was nothing at all.
He hurriedly motioned for Chu Chen to step aside, afraid they might offend the distinguished people before them.
Still, he could not help wondering why such grand carriages would come to this godforsaken place.
The carriages stopped directly in front of them.
“Why, Brother Chu, where are you headed? And why are there two constables with you?”
The man who stepped down from the carriage was none other than Zhou Shicai, the man who had sold Chu Chen his house.
When Eight Pounds heard this important person greeting Chu Chen so warmly, he realized that things were not going well.
Mustering his courage, he stepped forward and said, “Honored sir, this man is a murderer. The two of us are taking him back to town for questioning.”
Chu Chen had not even spoken before Eight Pounds seized control of the conversation.
“Brother Chu, you killed someone? Whom did you kill?” Zhou Shicai asked in confusion, completely ignoring Eight Pounds.
“Manager Zhou, just look at me. I can barely restrain a chicken, let alone kill someone,” Chu Chen said with a laugh.
Judging by Zhou Shicai’s bearing, Chu Chen thought, it seemed he would not need to act today.
“Brother Chu, don’t joke. What’s the big deal about killing someone? For a man like you, if you kill someone, then you kill someone.”
He then turned to Eight Pounds. “You needn’t take him into town. Hand him over to me.”
Eight Pounds was already seething. Who did this man think he was, ordering him to hand over a prisoner?
“Honored sir, this man is a murderer. Please do not make things difficult for me. May I ask your name?”
First, he would find out exactly who this person was.
“Oh? You truly have no sense at all. Slap him.”
The moment Zhou Shicai finished speaking, a servant behind him rushed forward and struck Eight Pounds twice across the face.
The blows sent Eight Pounds reeling, utterly dazed.
“You actually dare strike an officer? You must have a death wish! I don’t care who you are—here in Green Ox Town, I’ll make you regret this. Otherwise, I won’t be called Eight Pounds!”
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Struggling to his feet, Eight Pounds shouted furiously at Zhou Shicai.
Damn it, they had attacked without so much as a word. Did they not know that even a powerful dragon could not overpower the local snake?
He turned and yelled at Niu Er, “What are you waiting for? Go back and get reinforcements!”
Niu Er had never liked Eight Pounds in the first place, and now he remained completely unmoved.
“Oh, so this boy is quite arrogant. I’ll wait right here while you fetch your people. Hurry up.”
At that moment, a young man stepped out of the carriage and asked, “Uncle Zhou, what has delayed us?”
“Ah, Young Master, this is Chu Chen, the man I told you about. It seems he has run into a little trouble.”
Chu Chen looked up and saw a young man about his own age walking toward him.
“Manager Zhou, who is this young gentleman?” Chu Chen asked, studying the newcomer.
“Brother Chu, this is my young master, Zhou Heng!”
“Chu Chen greets Young Master Zhou.”
Chu Chen immediately stepped forward and bowed. There was something unusual about this man.
He lacked the ostentatious air of wealth common among merchants, yet he possessed the imposing presence of someone accustomed to standing above others for many years.
Moreover, Zhou Shicai was a salt merchant, yet he treated this young man with extraordinary respect. Clearly, Zhou Heng came from a remarkable background.
“Brother Chu, you are too polite. We have come to trouble you this time.”
Chu Chen was puzzled. Had they not agreed to return in three months? Why had they come again after only a few days?
Seeing the confusion in Chu Chen’s eyes, Zhou Shicai explained, “Young Master Chu, I showed your treasure to my young master, and he was so eager to meet you that he insisted on coming at once. I hope we have not been too presumptuous.”
“Not at all. It is only that I am completely unprepared today. I’m afraid the two of you will have to return empty-handed.”
As if making salt were as easy as breathing.
The stock he had on hand was reserved for his own use. How could he sell it to them so readily?
“That is no problem. In that case, Brother Chu, please lead the way to your home and allow us to impose on you for a while.”
As they spoke, the group prepared to board the carriages. Then a shout rang out from far away.
“Stop right there! You beat someone in my Green Ox Town and think you can simply run away? Have you grown tired of living?”
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