Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 162 - 161: Adding Fuel to the Fire

Chapter 162: Chapter 161: Adding Fuel to the Fire

After three rounds of drinks, Manager Luo started to complain to the county magistrate and the county lieutenant about the poor law and order in Sanqing County, even stating that people from Tang Garden had been threatened. If things didn’t improve, he was considering retreating back to Dingzhou or the capital city...

Manager Luo’s words made County Lieutenant Ding, who was responsible for law and order, startle. If these complaints reached higher-ups, his career could be at risk. He smacked the table and yelled, "Who dares to threaten Tang Garden? Name him, Mr. Luo, and I will see them punished severely."

Manager Luo pointed at Junior Officer Zhao at the same table and said, "It’s this Junior Officer Zhao..."

At first, Junior Officer Zhao was shocked, followed by anger that flushed his whole face. In the past, he knew better than to try and trifle with Tang Garden. Chen Shiying was a respected official, but thousands of miles away, he couldn’t compete with the close proximity of the owner of Tang Garden. But now, Chen Shiying was the respected official of this province, and Zhao was his uncle.

Angrily, he put down his drink and said, "Mr. Luo, just because I call you sir, do you think you are one? You’re just the head of an estate, who has been given a bit of authority and who has started a dye shop. I kindly offered a suggestion; if you don’t want to take it, that is fine. But to complain to the county magistrate and the county lieutenant, they are very busy, they don’t have time for your nonsense."

With a smile that didn’t quite reach his face, Manager Luo said, "County Lieutenant Ding, you see, even in front of you, this Mr. Zhao can be so arrogant with me!" Then, with a mocking glance at Junior Officer Zhao, he said, "Head of the estate? A persnickety country bumpkin! Let me tell you, I’m not only the head of Tang Garden but also the second steward of Yongning Marquis Mansion in the capital city. Even the county magistrate treats me with great respect, usually inviting me to dine at his home every year. Even the previous governor of Dingzhou was courteous to me..." Pointing at the county magistrate and the county lieutenant, he added, "You tell me, is my talking to them nonsense?"

County Magistrate Li and County Lieutenant Ding hurriedly laughed along, "Of course not, of course not. A seventh-rank official could get an audience with the prime minister, so we wouldn’t dare ignore Manager Luo from Yongning Marquis Mansion. You speak, we’re listening." They gave Junior Officer Zhao a pointed look, "Junior Officer Zhao must not have known about Mr. Luo’s other identity, which is why he spoke so out of turn."

They thought to themselves that Junior Officer Zhao was digging his own grave by trying to crack a hard nut like Luo. However, they were here today to congratulate Mrs. Chen, they couldn’t allow Zhao to lose face in such an offence to Mr. Chen.

Seeing that the county magistrate and the county lieutenant were not only failing to support him, but were also attempting to mollify Manager Luo, Zhao began to panic.

Manager Luo continued, "This Mr. Zhao here first came to tell me how I should manage the personnel at Tang Garden. I warned him not to meddle in Tang Garden’s affairs, not to touch my people. Not only did he not listen, but he also threatened the people working at Tang Garden. And then, you know what he did next?" Seeing that everyone shook their heads indicating that they did not know, he continued, "He actually used silver to hire someone’s relatives, tricked one of our workers back home, tied them up, and sold them. Such behavior is not only shameless but also disregards us at Tang Garden. They clearly victimize us at Tang Garden. Can we still live in this area? County Lieutenant Ding, isn’t that right?"

County Lieutenant Ding, hearing that his name was mentioned by Manager Luo, hastily said, "Zhao, you were wrong to do what you did. It would be wrong even if you did it to an ordinary farmer, let alone to someone from Tang Garden." Then turning to Manager Luo, he laughed and said, "Mr. Luo, please calm down. Zhao promises not to do it again, and if he does, we certainly won’t let him get away with it."

He was quite helpless. Mr. Chen was someone he could not afford to offend. But the Chu family and Mr. Chu were even more untouchable.

Manager Luo knew Lieutenant Ding was trying to appease both sides, judiciously closed his argument. He wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, threw it on the ground, and stood up to say, "Mr. Zhao, let me warn you once again in front of County Magistrate and County Lieutenant, do not touch my people at Tang Garden, or the people under my protection at Tang Garden. If any of them or their relatives are harmed, I will blame you. Then, much harsher words will come flying at you. I will break your legs, knock out your teeth, and leave you with no place to bury your body. If you don’t believe me, give it a try." Bowing his hands to County Magistrate Li and County Lieutenant Ding, he said, "County Magistrate Li, County Lieutenant Ding, please bear witness to this."

County Magistrate Li and County Lieutenant Ding hurriedly nodded in agreement.

Manager Luo and his son left the table and said to the two of them, "Out of respect for Mrs. Chen, I won’t invite you to Tang Garden for drinks today. I will invite you another time."

The two of them quickly replied with laughter, "Sure, we will invite Mr. Luo to our place for a drink another day."

Manager Luo then called to Junior Officer Gao, Hu Laowu, and the elders of Shangshui Village and Guqiao Village who were at another table, "Have you had enough? If so, let’s leave."

The men, whether they had drunk enough or not, quickly stood up and followed Manager Luo. The remaining guests were left with their mouths agape, watching as they all strode confidently out of the feast.

As they watched them leave, County Magistrate Li and County Lieutenant Ding softly said to the shocked Junior Officer Zhao, "Zhao, what you’re doing is courting trouble for Mr. Chen. Those large, influential families are capable of stirring up quite a storm in the political sphere—and their subordinates aren’t ones we can afford to offend..."

With Manager Luo and his entourage gone, Junior Officer Zhao, now scared witless and no longer in the mood for alcohol, hurriedly left to find Mrs. Chen at the Chen estate for consultation.

After hearing Manager Luo’s report, Chu Lingxuan nodded and said, "Hmm, good job, Uncle Luo." He then furrowed his brows and asked, "What is this about Zhao sending relatives to sell slightly? "

Manager Luo said, "My lord, on the 18th, something happened to Afu’s family..."

He detailed to Chu Lingxuan the day Junior Officer Zhao went to Lu Garden to find Mrs. Wang to forbid Chen Afu to work for Tang Garden, as well as recognizing Afu’s resemblance..."...By rights, Junior Officer Zhao should have guessed Afu’s background and surely told Mrs. Chen about it. Yet they still went to the Chen’s main estate that evening, attempting to make her marry forcefully..."

After hearing this, Chu Lingxuan was furious. If Chen’s main family was truly as vulgar as Mrs. Ding, Afu might indeed have gotten into trouble. Even if she was rescued afterward, she might have already suffered a great deal.

He couldn’t bear to imagine how furious he would be if such a smart and beautiful woman was harmed, or how upset his daughter would be.

The Zhao family, knowing that Chen Afu was with Tang Garden, dared to be so reckless. That old woman knew perfectly well that Chen Afu was her own granddaughter, but completely ignored kinship and hurt others, even resorting to such despicable tactics.

Chu Lingxuan slammed his hand on the table and angrily questioned, "Knowing they were looking for trouble, why didn’t you take action? They acted disrespectfully, why didn’t you immediately lead the estate guards to the Zhao’s and beat that old bastard’s henchmen’s legs to break? Didn’t I tell you long ago that I would back you up if there was any trouble? What were you waiting for when you spoke to them today?"