Chapter 69: Warning

"Is there a bounty as well?"

Liu Dongzhu exclaimed, surprised.

"Yes, there is a bounty. Madam Wang, because there is a villain inside, he is wanted by the authorities!"

As he spoke, Mao He took a money pouch from his waist, hurriedly handed it over, and said: "There are five taels of silver inside, exactly the bounty for that scoundrel. Madam Wang, please count it."

Liu Dongzhu subconsciously tried to reach out to take it, but found her both hands were holding Wang Ping'an and she couldn't extend her arms.

Mao He, whose eyesight was exceptionally sharp, immediately noticed and hurriedly said, "Madam Wang, let me hold the young master for you!"

"Head Constable Mao, thank you!"

Liu Dongzhu said gratefully.

After that.

Liu Dongzhu, while passing Wang Ping'an from her arms, also took the money pouch Mao He handed over, opened it without inspecting—though inspection wasn't needed—found five pieces of broken silver, each about a tael, took three of them out, handed them over, and said warmly:

"Head Constable Mao, take this money and have tea with the two elder brothers!"

"Madam Wang, that won't do. This money is the bounty the authorities gave you; in any case, I cannot take it!"

Mao He refused, speaking righteously.

He wasn't the type to be penniless; after so many years as a head constable, he hadn't shied away from taking others' favors, but at least he helped settle matters. If he couldn't, he would return the silver.

Normally, for such favors, he would accept them without remorse, perhaps asking for a larger amount or a little less—nothing impossible—delivering it straight to the person, lest it hurt others' feelings.

Only.

Thinking of the Wang family's situation—without mentioning it, the completely estranged Wang Ruhai, the Tan Hua, is said to have remarried in the Capital City a beautiful young wife, a daughter of the Prime Minister's household, and people from the county traveled thousands of miles to attend the wedding.

He returned full of bragging!

Although Wang Ruhai's parents didn't appear, his wedding was still unusually lively.

During this period, rumors spread in the county about Wang Ping'an—whether it was Xuanqing Daozhang taking the child as a disciple, or Elder Luo preparing a marriage alliance with the Wang family, arranging a child marriage between his daughter and Wang Ping'an.

Even though she was a concubine‑born illegitimate daughter, bearing the Luo family name attracted many admirers; ever since her birth, people had schemed.

They hadn't expected Elder Luo to actually form an alliance with the Wang family.

However.

What no one in the county anticipated was that, faced with Elder Luo's proposal, the Wang family not only refused but rejected it—not once but twice—astonishing countless people.

Everyone originally thought Elder Luo would be furious about this, but unexpectedly, he seemed not angry at all; instead, he planned to wait until his daughter grew up to interact with Wang Ping'an.

Although she was born out of wedlock, it shouldn't be taken so far; after all, she's of his own blood.

Thus, Elder Luo's regard for the Wang family—or rather, for Wang Ping'an—was evident.

Under all these circumstances, how could he feel comfortable accepting Liu Dongzhu's favor? If he could make an appearance before the Wang family and have Wang Ping'an remember him, even if it meant seeking favor from the Wang family, he would gladly do it a hundred times.

Mao He, fearing Liu Dongzhu would continue to cling to this matter, and knowing he couldn't accept the favor anyway, quickly changed his tone: "Madam Wang, may I have a look at your family's Divine Cat Hero?"

The Divine Cat Hero's deeds of rescuing people, killing traffickers!

The villagers of Yan Village repeatedly guaranteed, even swearing with curses; only then did he reluctantly believe, though a trace of doubt lingered until he arrived at the murder scene and saw the villain's corpse.

After a careful examination, he confirmed that the fatal wound on the corpse was caused by something resembling a cat's claw.

Later, upon arriving at Hutou Gou, he didn't rush to the Wang family but first visited Village Chief Cheng Yong's home, because the Yan Village villagers said the first to discover these was the Hutou Gou Village Chief; he learned the gist of the matter from Cheng Yong.

Again, hearing Cheng Yong mention the deeds of the Divine Cat Hero during this period.

His lingering doubt finally vanished!

At the same time.

He developed a strong curiosity about the Divine Cat Hero!

"Head Constable Mao, sorry, my family's Divine Cat Hero was taken by my father to Yan Village!"

Liu Dongzhu, fearing Mao He might misunderstand, explained: "Earlier the Yan villagers came to our house, thanking our Divine Cat Hero for saving lives. Upon learning that our Divine Cat Hero could solve the granary problem, they asked him to go to their home and eliminate the mice in their granary!"

"I see!"

Mao He wore a look of disappointment, yet didn't doubt that Liu Dongzhu was just making up an excuse.

First, he wouldn't harm the Divine Cat Hero, so no excuse was needed; second, the title 'Divine Cat Hero' itself came from solving the granary issue…

Initially it was just a child's playful remark, but when everyone heard and even saw the Divine Cat Hero eradicate the granary's mice, the name truly earned its reputation.

In this novel, you…

Mao He said regretfully, "Madam Wang, I won't disturb your rest any longer; I'll be leaving now!"

"Head Constable Mao, take care!"

Liu Dongzhu took the Wang Ping'an that Mao He handed over and said.

"Head Constable Mao, what brings you to our home?"

Mao He was just about to turn away when a tense voice suddenly sounded; turning his head, he saw Wang Lin walking in from outside, yet his gaze was drawn to a black cat that followed Wang Lin.

The swaggering, overbearing gait made it hard to imagine a cat could be walking out.

"Lord Wang, you're back. This time I return on behalf of the county office to thank your family's Divine Cat Hero for the good deed, and also to deliver the bounty for that villain to you!"

As he spoke, Mao He stared fervently at the swaggering Divine Cat Hero, yet the cat showed no sign of panic.

Instead, it didn't even glance at him, passed by his side, and rubbed against Liu Dongzhu's pant leg in a flattering manner.

In an instant it seemed like a different person… no, a different cat.

Mao He said oddly, "Lord Wang, this is the Divine Cat Hero, right?"

"Head Constable Mao, that's right, this is the Divine Cat Hero!"

Wang Lin chuckled, his face full of smugness, yet a close look revealed a fleeting hint of doubt in his eyes as he said, "Head Constable Mao, let's sit inside for a while!"

Mao He understood coming to their home to thank the Divine Cat Hero for the good deed, but he hadn't expected there to be a bounty as well.

"If I sit, I won't; there are many matters in the county waiting for me to return to!"

Mao He shook his head, as if recalling something, his expression firm, and said, "However, during this period, Lord Wang, you must keep a close watch on your grandson; it's best not to take your grandson out of Hutou Gou."

Wang Lin panickedly said: "Constable Mao, what do you mean by this? Could it be that something's up?"

(End of chapter)