Chapter 421: You think you're fit to be a scholar?

Two constables were escorting the Du Family father and son to the place where Wei Yuan was, when one constable whispered as they walked, "Brother, isn't it a bit improper for us to take a bribe right in front of the County Magistrate?"

He didn't really care about that; what he worried about was that this incident might draw Wei Yuan's targeting toward them.

He hadn't forgotten that Wei Yuan, the dog official, harbored a bellyful of anger toward them and was always looking for a chance to deal with them; now this matter falls into that dog official's sight.

He doesn't believe it.

This dog official will act as if he didn't see it!

"Bribe? What bribe? This is evidence, it's this guy's attempt to bribe us, not us taking a bribe!"

The other constable replied with righteous words.

What he really wants to say is to curse Wei Yuan, the dog official, because they did nothing wrong, yet that dog official, who is no man, fined them a month's salary.

They are bystanders, but the issue is they know exactly how much they weigh; Wei Yuan, the dog official, is being held hostage, and they have no power to rescue him—at least they haven't caused any chaos.

And also.

It isn't only the two of them who stand by while others die; why does this dog official fine only their salaries?

If they're fined their salary, they still have to earn money themselves; otherwise how will they support their whole family?

"Brother…"

The constable who spoke first wanted to say something, but seeing Wei Yuan so close, the words at the tip of his tongue were swallowed.

"Sir, two criminals have been brought in!"

Wei Yuan said harshly, "You two actually have talent, taking a bribe right in front of me—do you realize that what you're doing is illegal, and this single incident is enough to have both of your heads cut off!"

The first constable trembled all over, about to beg for mercy, when the other constable muttered "Useless", flattered with a smile, and said seriously:

"Sir, you misunderstand; we're not taking a bribe, it's this damned thing that wants to bribe us—this is evidence!"

"Evidence?"

Wei Yuan let out a cold laugh, about to unleash a tirade, but when he saw the constable's bulging money bag, his eyes lit up, and he changed his tone:

"Since you say it's evidence, then bring it up!"

"Dog official!"

The constable clutching the money bag muttered under his breath, yet dared not show any disrespect; he forced down his resentment—after being fined a month's salary, he had finally gotten some restitution, only for that shameless dog official to snatch it away, but no matter how unwilling he was, he understood one principle:

The arm cannot twist around the thigh!

Wei Yuan snatched the money bag from the constable without delay, feeling its weight, and casually stuffed it into his pocket, saying:

"I'll keep this evidence for you first!"

After speaking, Wei Yuan waved his hand, signaling the two constables to stand aside and await orders; once they left, his gaze turned to the Du Family father and son, and he sneered:

"You two actually have the nerve to steal the Mountain God Token; aren't you afraid you'll end up in Yincao Difu and have to walk the Eighteen Levels of Hell?"

"County Magistrate, I—I—I don't understand what you're saying…"

Du Guan was about to make a sly defense, but before he could finish, Wei Yuan impatiently cut him off: "How dare you lie before this old master, you ignorant fool, open your mouth!"

The constable standing by, hearing Wei Yuan's words, stepped in front of Du Guan, ignoring Du Guan's pleading eyes, about to give him a few slaps; when he tried to dodge, with a "Snort!" the waist knife was drawn, and he said in a harsh tone:

"If you dare to dodge, do you believe I'll cut off your dog leg, so you can't even walk anymore?"

Du Guan trembled at the words, daring not move.

"Slap!," "Slap!," "Slap!"

Seeing Du Guan no longer dodging, the constable sheathed the waist knife, delivered a few slaps that made Du Guan spit fresh blood, as if all the Qi Wei Yuan had taken in was expelled onto Du Guan. "Now will you admit you stole the Mountain God Token?"

Wei Yuan sneered.

Du Guan was about to nod in admission, but the slaps jolted him awake; Du Wenxuan rushed forward and said, "County Magistrate, we did not seize the Mountain God Token!"

Stealing the Mountain God Token is a crime punishable by death; he wouldn't dare admit it. Even if Wei Yuan hadn't seen it himself, even if he had, he still couldn't admit it.

"How bold!"

Wei Yuan barked a cold shout, about to order the constables to give Du Wenxuan a few slaps, when Du Wenxuan again rushed forward and said:

"County Magistrate, won't you hear our explanation? You just stubbornly claim that we stole the Mountain God Token—couldn't it be that the Mountain God Token was merely something we happened to pick up?"

"Explanation? What right do you have to explain before me?"

Wei Yuan sneered.

Even if he doesn't know, the Mountain God Token was stolen by the Du Family father and son; even if he doesn't know, if he says it was the Du Family father and son, then it is the Du Family father and son—who would dare oppose?

Du Wenxuan arrogantly said, "County Magistrate, I am a scholar!"

"Scholar?"

This novel you…

Wei Yuan slightly furrowed his brows, examined Du Wenxuan carefully, found a trace of righteous aura on him, and said coldly:

"What achievements do you claim to have!"

Du Wenxuan subconsciously shook his head.

It's not that he doesn't want to speak, but this matter cannot be lied about, especially in front of an imperial official like Wei Yuan; to lie would also be a capital offense.

"Without any achievements, how can you dare call yourself a scholar before this old master?"

Wei Yuan snarled, glaring at Du Wenxuan as if looking at a pile of foul dog excrement, shouting:

"Servants, drag this pretended scholar out and beat him to death!"

"Sir, I am a scholar, I truly am a scholar…"

Du Wenxuan, seeing the two constables approaching ferociously, trembled all over, still wanted to explain, but seeing Wei Yuan's hostile gaze, hurriedly changed the subject:

"Sir, I was wrong, I was wrong, I will never again call myself a scholar, please spare me!"

Wei Yuan, expressionless, said: "Are you deaf, or are your ears just ornaments? Didn't you hear his dog bark? Let him shout in front of me?"

"Slap!," "Slap!," "Slap!"

The two constables dared not speak further, quickly delivering several heavy slaps that left Du Wenxuan mute.

Wei Yuan watched Du Wenxuan being dragged away like a dead dog; not far off, two constables were handling him, and he nodded in satisfaction.

A nobody with no achievements dares to call himself a scholar before him? Does being a scholar mean it's free, that anyone who wants to can be one?

Wei Yuan, expressionless, said:

"I'll ask you one more question: the theft of the Mountain God Token—do you admit it?"

"Sir, I—I—I admit!"

Du Guan, trembling in his voice, met Wei Yuan's fierce gaze; he didn't want to admit it, but he had to.

Because his peripheral vision caught his own little rabbit being dealt with by the two constables, and the rabbit's cries kept reaching his ears; if he didn't confess, he'd likely meet the same fate.

(End of chapter)