Chapter 130

Hu Xiaotian slowly reached out his hand to Zhou Batian, the two clasped hands. Zhou Batian whispered: "My matter, you must absolutely not leak any news; I suspect someone in the Government Office is colluding with the horse bandits of Tianlang Mountain."

Hu Xiaotian nodded; Zhou Batian took out a wooden carved tiger talisman from his waist and whispered: "Find Jia Liu, show him this tiger talisman, and you will understand everything."

Hu Xiaotian's oversight of the repair of Qingyun Qiao spread through the streets and alleys almost overnight, accompanied by the news of an impending donation levy—five taels of silver per household. For wealthy families it was nothing, but for poor households it was tantamount to forcing them to smash their pots and sell their iron, even to the point of ruining themselves completely. From the looks of the people around him, Hu Xiaotian had already sensed something amiss, but in this world often the last to know is oneself. Only when Su Guangju inquired about the truth of the matter did Hu Xiaotian understand why so many Qingyun commoners suddenly regarded him with hostility.

Hu Xiaotian's first reaction was that Xu Qinglian had set him up, the damn bastard pushing this thankless task onto him and spreading the word that the donation idea was his own; hearing that they were to donate money, the Qingyun commoners naturally felt no goodwill toward this newly appointed county magistrate.

Su Guangju said: "Sir, is the donation matter true?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head: "How come I haven't heard of it?"

Su Guangju said: "Hu Sir, now everyone on the streets and alleys is discussing this matter, saying that you, Hu Sir, are overseeing the repair of Qingyun Qiao and demanding each household contribute five taels of silver."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Overseeing the repair of Qingyun Qiao is true, but the claim that each household must donate five taels of silver is baseless; for such an important matter, I cannot decide it alone."

At this moment Murong Feiyan and Liang Da Zhuang entered together; Murong Feiyan said: "Hu Sir, I think you'd better not go out today; the donation matter has spread throughout the city, everyone says it was your idea. The commoners hate you so much they'd like to tear you apart."

Hu Xiaotian scratched his head: "Which bastard is screwing me over?" He naturally understood it was definitely that old turtle Xu Qinglian who did it; the nasty idea of making the commoners donate money was originally Xu Qinglian's, yet now he's pinned it on him.

Liang Da Zhuang bitterly said: "Young master, this matter must be clarified; I just went out and got hit with rotten eggs." Following Hu Xiaotian's assumption of office, which had been mighty for just two days, the situation suddenly took a turn for the worse, overnight becoming a rat that everyone shouts at and beats.

Hu Xiaotian put on a brave face: "The innocent are clear; I just came to Qingyun, I only wanted to be a good official—how could I possibly come up with such an idea to exploit the commoners?"

Su Guangju looked at Hu Xiaotian, half-believing, half-doubting; in these days a good official is a rare thing—you could search with a lantern and still not find one.

Hu Xiaotian couldn't be bothered to explain, preparing to go to the Government Office to argue; Murong Feiyan and Liang Da Zhuang followed him out of the Fulai Inn's main door, both acting very cautiously, keeping a distance from Hu Xiaotian. They feared stepping outside would plunge them into a mob attack, but once out the door they saw hardly anyone around.

Hu Xiaotian stood outside the door, lazily stretching, then turned back with a smile, only to notice how far they were from him; he shook his head and said: "What's there to fear? I walk upright and stand straight; others would find it hard to scheme against me. The commoners' eyes are sharp."

At that moment an old lady with her grandchild walked by from ahead; Hu Xiaotian recognized her as the neighbor granny and greeted her with a smile: "Good morning, granny!"

The old lady turned her face, her wrinkled visage showing an unprecedented look of disgust as she spat two words from the corner of her mouth: "Dog official!"

Hu Xiaotian's heart skipped a beat: "Uh..."

The little grandson suddenly turned his head and spat at Hu Xiaotian. The spit sprayed far and wide; Hu Xiaotian hastily raised his sleeve to shield his face, damn it, how can a small child have so much saliva?

In an instant, a crowd of ragged commoners surged from the nearby alleyways and streets, shouting furiously: "Beat the dog official!" Rotten vegetable leaves, stinking eggs, watermelon rinds, and morning glow flew everywhere. Hu Xiaotian never expected so many people to be lying in wait around him; this damn thing frightened him into turning and fleeing, and upon looking back he saw Murong Feiyan and Liang Da Zhuang already escaping into the Fulai Inn ahead of him.

Hu Xiaotian, feeling depressed, lacked righteousness! Murong Feiyan, as a woman, caring for her reputation is understandable, but Liang Da Zhuang, you beast! Just two days ago you solemnly promised to protect me, yet when danger struck you still fled like lightning! Do you think I can't outrun you? Although Hu Xiaotian fled quickly, his head and butt still took several hits from flying eggs; though the attack was brief, the firepower was intense, and this damn thing darted into the room, where Murong Feiyan and Liang Da Zhuang together shoved the door shut; all that could be heard was the continual thumping on the door as the commoners, having lost their target, could only vent their anger on the door panels.

Hu Xiaotian had green leaves on his head and two rotten vegetable leaves hanging from his ears, his appearance utterly disheveled. Seeing him, Murong Feiyan couldn't help but giggle; Hu Xiaotian shook his head: "No righteousness!" Then he pointed at the unharmed Liang Da Zhuang and said: "No humanity!"

Hu Xiaotian changed into fresh clothes, had Su Guangju first go to the back door to scout; finding that the back door also had many commoners lying in wait to intercept him, he had no choice but to climb over the wall to the neighboring Hui Chun Tang and leave that way. After all, the commoners wouldn't expect him to slip out from there.

Hu Xiaotian was not angry at the commoners' indiscriminate attack; these commoners were merely misled and deceived. Grievances have origins, debts have owners; this score must be settled with Xu Qinglian.

On this side of Hui Chun Tang a ladder had also been set up; Hu Xiaotian went down the ladder and saw that the one holding it was Father and Son Liu Danggui and Liu Kuohai; he hurriedly thanked them: "Many thanks, Boss Liu, for lending a hand."

Liu Danggui laughed: "Hu Sir, you've helped us so much; this small matter is hardly worth mentioning."

Liu Kuohai said: "Hu Sir, I believe you could never have done this; surely someone is framing you."

Hu Xiaotian patted Liu Kuohai's shoulder, showing his appreciation.

Liu Kuohai said: "Hu Sir, I have prepared a carriage; get in and I will take you out." Father and son kept this great favor of Hu Xiaotian firmly in mind.

Hu Xiaotian grunted in assent, entered the carriage and sat down; Liu Kuohai drove the carriage out the back door, and indeed they swaggered out through the layers of commoners' ambush. Because seating inside the carriage was limited, Hu Xiaotian only invited Murong Feiyan to come along; as for the cowardly Liang Da Zhuang who feared death, Hu Xiaotian told him to get lost and stay put honestly.

After they had left the alley, Liu Kuohai then asked: "Hu Sir, where are you headed?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "To the Government Office!"

The sole purpose of going to the Government Office was to issue an official notice as quickly as possible, so that the commoners would understand that the alleged requirement of five taels of silver per household was pure rumor. Although Hu Xiaotian knew Xu Qinglian was behind it, he had not confronted that old man, for he had no evidence; even if he confronted Xu Qinglian directly, the latter could simply deny everything.

Xu Qinglian had people keep an eye on Hu Xiaotian's movements; hearing that this bastard had been surrounded and chased by the commoners, trembling like a stray dog, he felt great satisfaction. Seeing Hu Xiaotian approach, he assumed he wanted to argue with him; Xu Qinglian had already prepared a full set of countermeasures, as the saying goes, "meet the enemy with generals, block the flood with earth"—dealing with the young Hu Xiaotian, Xu Qinglian asked himself it would be no problem.

Hu Xiaotian's face showed none of the dejection and regret Xu Qinglian had imagined; instead, this bastard wore a hint of self-satisfaction, as if he had encountered some great joy. Seeing that smug grin, Xu Qinglian's feeling of triumph from his successful revenge was greatly diminished, and he deliberately said: "Xiaotian, you didn't go to raise funds for the bridge repair—what are you doing here?"

Hu Xiaotian silently cursed, "Even if I'm only the second-in-command of Qingyun County, this government office isn't your family's property—what right do you have to keep me out?" His composure was far beyond what these low-level officials could match; he smiled and said: "I came especially to discuss an important matter with you, Sir."

Xu Qinglian nodded, indicating Hu Xiaotian should sit down and speak.

Hu Xiaotian produced a notice he had prepared in advance; this notice had been drafted just now by Murong Feiyan. Its content was simply an announcement to the whole county that he would oversee the repair of Qingyun Qiao, and as for funding, he would take responsibility for raising it; all the commoners in the county, acting on the principle of voluntary contribution, could donate or not, give much or little, and the authorities would not interfere.

Seeing the notice, Xu Qinglian's heart involuntarily blossomed with joy; it seemed this kid had really fallen hard, the commoners all regarded him as an enemy they could not coexist with, wishing they could kill him on the spot. Reputation is extremely important for an official; I have painstakingly built my position in Qingyun for two years, yet you, a wet-behind-the-ears brat just arrived, want to take my place—how could that be easy? All I need to do is lift a little finger and I can make you a street rat in Qingyun, hated by all.

Xu Qinglian finished reading Hu Xiaotian's drafted notice and said: "Xiaotian, you've just come to Qingyun and don't understand these people; Qingyun is poor mountains and wicked waters, full of shrewish women and petty troublemakers. If you are too lenient with them, letting them have their way, you'll likely end up unable to raise even a single tael of silver, and then there's no point in talking about repairing Qingyun Qiao."

Hu Xiaotian said full of confidence: "Sir, you need not worry; I have my own way to handle this."

Xu Qinglian said: "Although that may be so, the bridge repair is urgent; previously many petty troublemakers have gone straight to Xiezhou to file complaints, and the Xiezhou authorities have repeatedly sent people to urge this matter. If we cannot promptly repair Qingyun Qiao, we will certainly be held accountable, at least dereliction of duty; Xiaotian, by then even I won't be able to protect you."

Hu Xiaotian blinked his eyes; he hadn't misheard—this old bastard Xu Qinglian was clearly trying to push all the blame onto him. Damn you, you son of a bitch, what's it to me? The Qingyun Qiao was already broken before I arrived here; if anyone's to blame for lax oversight, it's you, Xu Qinglian. I'm not going to argue with you, yet you dare to act all high and mighty—do you really think I'm a soft persimmon?