The Beauties Help Me Become the No.1 Official
Chapter 464: Words Within Words

Chapter 464: Chapter 464: Words Within Words

Across the tea table, Tang Xiaoshuang’s jade-like hands danced gracefully up and down as the teacup in her grip spun continuously in her palm. With a light stretch of her fingers, she placed two cups of tea in front of County Magistrate Luan and Lin Fan.

"I’ve lived for fifty years, and only now have I understood a bit about life," said County Magistrate Luan as he held the teacup, watching the misty steam rise, his face displaying a hint of helplessness.

"When I was young, working at the grassroots, I always thought that if I ever rose to power, I would be a good official. But after entering the officialdom, I realized that there are no good people here, just constant backstabbing, false flattery to your face and ready to stab you in the back the moment you turn around. You try to do good but face obstacles at every turn, and while the wicked are feared and obeyed. So, tell me, is this world too absurd, or are people just naturally like this?"

"Perhaps, the world has always been like this."

Through the promotion of Chinese Herbal Medicine Cultivation, Lin Fan had also seen the darker side of human nature that cannot be faced directly.

"Yes, the world has always been like this: murderers wear golden belts, while those who repair bridges and roads remain nameless. It’s hard to be a good person in this world, and yet the wicked are respected, honored with banners and praise. People do this in hope the bad won’t harm them, but they are harsh on the good. For the slightest dissatisfaction, they turn cold in an instant. In the long run, who would want to be good?"

County Magistrate Luan drank his tea, a smile of resignation on his face. Such a gesture might be normal coming from others, for life is unpredictable, and everyone has their trials and tribulations. However, for County Magistrate Luan, who was about to go for further studies and promotion, it seemed a bit out of place.

"Fortunately, I don’t consider myself a good person."

Lin Fan tasted his tea, a conclusion he had come to during the time he promoted Chinese Herbal Medicine Cultivation. After all, a good person wouldn’t call on so many people for support, effectively coercing them to tempoarily subdue the Cai Family’s counterattack, and push the promotion forward. But on reflection, a truly good person would not operate in such a manner.

"Hahaha, so transparent..."

Lin Fan’s response made County Magistrate Luan laugh: "Mayor Zhu was indeed not mistaken about you. To have such insight at your age is truly rare. From ancient times to present, people have been exceedingly demanding of good people, but extraordinarily lenient towards bad ones. If a good person frowns upon being accidently bumped, he is no longer a good person, but a bad person is not seen as utterly wicked as long as he can breathe. That’s human nature."

"County Magistrate Luan, you didn’t come to discuss human nature with me today, did you?"

Lin Fan looked curiously at County Magistrate Luan, finding his words somewhat off-kilter.

"It’s nothing much, just that I’ve accomplished an important directive from the province, lightening my load so I can now do something I’ve wanted to for a long time."

County Magistrate Luan pushed his teacup aside and turned to Lin Fan: "I am the County Magistrate of Red Flag County, but when I want to speak out, I find no one to talk to. That’s why I came to you to get it off my chest. Now that I have, I feel better. I’ve always thought it’s hard to be a good person, but now I’ve found it’s even harder for a good person to become bad. After all, being bad is not something just anyone can do. I must go!"

"County Magistrate Luan, won’t you stay a bit longer?"

Lin Fan watched him, hesitant to speak, sensing the complexity of the situation.

"No, if I stay too long I’ll grow too lazy to move."

County Magistrate Luan waved his hand and reached to push open the door. He took one step out, then paused, turned around, and said to Lin Fan, who had come to see him out: "Lin Fan, the waters of Red Flag County are deep. Make one wrong step and it could cost you your life. If anything unexpected happens to me, you must not come back. This is beyond our control!"

"What’s beyond control?"

Such an abrupt statement left Lin Fan stunned, but County Magistrate Luan didn’t elaborate further. He got into his car and left, while Lin Fan stood at the entrance of the shop, staring at the disappearing vehicle, lost in thought.

"Are you okay?"

Zhu Zhixuan followed him out, worry tingeing her voice, as she clung to Lin Fan’s arm.

"It’s nothing, even if there is something, it doesn’t concern me."

Lin Fan quickly put on a smile, wrapping his arm around Zhu Zhixuan’s waist and heading back into the shop, not wanting to worry her with a display of too much emotion.

In the bedroom, Zhu Zhixuan knelt on the floor, gathering her black, silky hair behind her head, then bent over, opened her mouth, and began to attentively suckle the increasingly formidable Iron Pestle. As he caressed her sleek, black hair, Lin Fan felt as if he were soothing a pet, the wet, soft encasement making his dragon incredibly fierce. Yet, his mind was still pondering over County Magistrate Luan’s parting words.

"No matter how I consider them, they sound like a will."

Even though he couldn’t decipher the cause and effect, if someone had the power to compel a county magistrate to leave a will other than Zhao Chuanchun, who else could it be?

And why, knowing the danger, did he not leave or seek help?