Hearing this, Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan were both stunned.

"What does the head of the village mean?" Gu Fengyan asked hurriedly.

Although Liu Zhengshan was only a small village head and a low-ranking official, and he only met his superiors a few times a year, he was well-educated and knew how to judge people.

Just from these few encounters, he could tell what kind of person the Qianmo County Magistrate was.

Liu Zhengshan shook his head and sighed, "Too much talk leads to mistakes. I'm just telling you, don't think about it. County Magistrate Zhu is not someone who is easy to talk to..."

The magistrate of Qianmo County was named Zhu with a given name of Kuo. He looked elegant and easy-going. When Liu Zhengshan first reported on his work, he thought he was someone who was easy to get along with. Unexpectedly, that day, Zhu Kuo had a banquet with a group of people in the backyard, drinking and having fun, and forced the people from several villages to wait for several hours in the cold wind.

Afterwards, not only did he not show any apology, he also asked them for tribute right away.

This Zhu Kuo... I'm afraid even the stone lions in his county magistrate's mansion are the kind of people who are used to looking at people's status and doing things in their favor.

Liu Zhengshan spoke for a while, looked around, and was very cautious.

After hearing this, Huo Duan and Gu Fengyan were not very surprised. The temple was small but the evil spirits were strong. The hands of the higher-ups could not reach this remote area, so they could only let this insignificant official become the local emperor.

Most of these people are like this, fawning on the powerful, oppressing the people, and taking advantage of the situation... Isn't Wang Er and his family the same?

Gu Fengyan was used to it. "Thank you for telling us, but we have to do this. Please help us this time."

"If you two meet County Magistrate Zhu, I'm afraid not even a few bones will be left of you! Have you thought it through?" Liu Zhengshan frowned and looked at Huo Duan solemnly.

"According to what Brother Yan said, the head of the village just needs to help us mediate." Huo Duan also said.

Liu Zhengshan had no choice but to shake his head and said, "Zhu Kuo has three hobbies - gold, beauties, and food. Huo boy, I remember that you have a cooperation with Dongfulou in the county... Dongfulou is considered the best restaurant in the county, and it has some fresh food. If you hold a banquet here, County Magistrate Zhu will definitely come."

As expected, Liu Zhengshan had more ideas. Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan were very happy.

Liu Zhengshan felt worried when he saw the two boys who were fearless like newborn calves.

"When the time comes, I will just tell them that our boss from our village is treating us to dinner... You better be careful. Although Zhu Kuo is weak and annoying, he has the final say in Qianmo County and no one dares to disobey him. If you offend him, you will suffer the consequences..."

Liu Zhengshan chattered on and on, breaking down in detail everything he knew about Zhu Kuo's character and telling them all about it.

Unexpectedly, Huo Duan and Gu Fengyan didn't take it seriously at all and just agreed absentmindedly.

Liu Zhengshan was helpless. "That's all I have to say. You can be careful with the rest."

Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan agreed and went to see Jing Ge'er again before returning to the old house.

At night, Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan lay side by side, discussing how to deal with Zhu Kuo.

"Any local tyrant like this is bound to be corrupt. The country has laws that stipulate that corruption is a serious crime and is punishable by death." Gu Fengyan changed into snow-white pajamas, his black hair gently falling down his neck. He was carefully folding the clothes he would wear tomorrow.

The candle was placed on the small table outside the bed. Huo Duan rested his head on his pillow and looked at the soft shadows cast by the warm yellow light when Gu Fengyan lowered his eyes.

"These things will naturally not be made known to others... Could it be that A Yan wants to use this to threaten him?" His eyes were gloomy.

He hadn't touched Gu Fengyan for several days, and when he smelled the fragrance on Gu Fengyan's body, he couldn't help but feel dry in the mouth.

Gu Fengyan said lazily, with a sidelong glance and a smile, "How can ordinary people threaten him? I am only good at talking. I will tell you when I meet him tomorrow."

What he said makes a lot of sense. Zhu Kuo has not lost a single hair in all these years. I'm afraid it's because the officials protect each other and he has someone higher up... It's easier to crush them than to crush an ant. Even if they can find evidence of him, they may not be able to bring him down.

Besides, if the enemy doesn’t move, I won’t move either. Zhu Kuo has no interaction with them at the moment, so I’ll just wait and see what happens.

Huo Duan didn't want to waste the night on this matter, so now it was just a good opportunity to put all the problems aside until tomorrow.

"Blow out the lights and go to sleep." Gu Fengyan stepped sideways past Huo Duan and placed the folded clothes on the low table beside the bed.

Then he raised his hand, and the snow-white gauze curtain with fine lines blew down in all directions, covering them with a layer of warm yellow shadow.

Huo Duan's heart skipped a beat when he suddenly approached her. His gaze on him became even more intense. "A Yan."

"Hmm?" Gu Fengyan responded subconsciously, but when he turned his head, he saw Huo Duan's eyes were bright.

Like a pitiful big dog.

Immediately, he understood, and lay back in the quilt as if he had been electrocuted, wrapping himself up with only half of his face exposed.

He spoke in a muffled voice, "Get lost, don't even think about it."

Huo Duan leaned over, pulled aside the quilt and rubbed against him, "Ayan, please have pity on me..."

It was hot and hard, and it made Gu Fengyan catch fire.

"Are you annoying?" He kicked the quilt away and stared at Huo Duan with clear eyes.

Knowing that he had agreed, Huo Duan dared to take a further step.

The wet and hot touch almost made Huo Duan's brain go blank... twice, twice in total, but he still held back because he was afraid that Gu Fengyan would hit him.

Then he pressed down suddenly and pressed Gu Fengyan into his arms.

Gu Fengyan's voice was hoarse, and his breathing was intermittent, like a cat's, delicate and soft, and dripping with water. Huo Duan could not control himself, and finally had to ask Gu Fengyan to close his legs.

The white was covered with a layer of red, and he regained some of his senses.

It started to rain in the second half of the night. Huo Duan carried the person to wash him clean, changed the bed once, and then fell into a deep sleep.

That night, Gu Fengyan felt like he was soaked in the rain, wet and hot, struggling and floating, swaying back and forth.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he felt difficulty breathing. It turned out that it was not the rain, but Huo Duan's hug that made him breathless.

"Mr. Huo, this is not the way to carry out murder." He said in a hoarse voice and pushed Huo Duan.

Huo Duan laughed and loosened his arm. "Are you awake? Are you feeling uncomfortable? Do you want some water?"

Not wanting to hear his own hoarse voice, Gu Fengyan nodded and shook his head.

Huo Duan immediately got a bowl of water from outside for him to drink.

I don’t know when it was prepared, but the water was neither hot nor cold, just perfect.

Most of Gu Fengyan's anger immediately dissipated.

"You're not going to sleep tonight?" He finished drinking the water and handed the bowl to Huo Duan.

Huo Duan laughed muffledly.

Gu Fengyan was puzzled and realized that what he said was ambiguous... He made it sound as if Huo Duan hadn't slept all night because of that.

"Your head is full of yellow garbage!" He cursed in an attempt to cover up his mistake.

Huo Duan raised his eyebrows, "Hurry up and get dressed. I'll go make breakfast."

He handed the clothes to Gu Fengyan, took the bowl and walked out, and he had put on his clothes without knowing when.

This guy is so energetic... Gu Fengyan looked at the sky outside the window which was about to dawn, tried to move his body, and secretly clicked his tongue.

…

The purchase of medicinal materials in the village came to a temporary end. Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan ate something casually and then hurried to the county before noon.

Liu Zhengshan was also with them. When they arrived at the county, Liu Zhengshan went to the county government office to invite Zhu Kuo, while Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan went to Dongfulou to arrange a banquet.

Dongfulou opened early, and at this time a small window was opened to sell breakfast, and there was a long line of people in front of the window.

Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan walked straight into the door. Shopkeeper Li was counting on the abacus at the counter. Master Zhao was holding a large bowl of porridge, sipping it and saying a few words to Shopkeeper Li from time to time.

Hearing the voice, they both looked towards the door. Seeing that it was them, Shopkeeper Li came out from behind the counter and said with a smile, "Please come in, both of you."

Master Zhao put down the bowl and wiped his hands on his apron. "Have you eaten yet? There is some dried fruit porridge just out of the pot in the back hall. Ask them to bring two bowls."

Huo Duan smiled and waved his hand, "Don't bother, we have something we want to ask Dongfulou to do..."

Seeing that they were in a hurry, Shopkeeper Li asked the waiter to serve tea and led the two to the private room upstairs. "It's quiet here. Let's drink the newly-served Yushan Cuiwu while we talk."

After walking along the way, Gu Fengyan was really thirsty and inexplicably nauseous, so he took a sip of the drink poured by Shopkeeper Li.

The nausea in my chest finally subsided.

"Today, I'll have to trouble Master Zhao to prepare a table of dishes. Huo Duan and I have invited County Magistrate Zhu to discuss our medicinal materials business. He will probably be here in the afternoon." Gu Fengyan gave a brief explanation.

When Manager Li heard that it was about the medicinal materials business, he became very interested, but County Magistrate Zhu...

"Do you know anything about County Magistrate Zhu?" Shopkeeper Li had a look of worry on his face and was quite worried.

Zhu Kuo had been to Dongfulou before... and was quite difficult to serve.

Master Zhao never beats around the bush and snorted, "This dog official is worthy of the food I cook - Ouch!"

Shopkeeper Li knew that Master Zhao was a talkative person, so he kicked him in the calf.

"Don't mind me, he is just like that... Just leave it to us. We will make all the arrangements before Magistrate Zhu comes."

Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan had nothing to worry about, so they selected a few kinds of tea, side dishes, and fruit plates before hurriedly going downstairs to wait.

Even though they acted very pretentiously and gave Zhu Kuo a lot of face, in fact, neither of them took Zhu Kuo seriously.

After all, they have all seen the world. When they were powerful and could make the world go round with a wave of their hands, Zhu Kuo? Even if the king of heaven came, he would not disobey.

Give him enough face, I just hope Zhu Kuo doesn't take it for granted.

…

Liu Zhengshan put on his best clothes, brushed his sleeves and tidied his hair, and finally entered the county government office to meet Zhu Kuo.

After explaining his purpose, Zhu Kuo didn't say anything for a long time. He just kept teasing the red-feathered bird in the golden cage.

The lawyer next to him reminded him with a flattering look on his face, and he squinted his eyes and said lightly, "Since everyone has been invited, I will give them this face... Come on, prepare the car."

Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan leaned against the window frame, looking very unruly. The wealthy Zhu Kuo stopped at the entrance of Dongfulou in a carriage, and the handsome young man lifted the curtain of the sedan chair with gold and silver threads carefully outlining the five gods sending blessings...

Gu Fengyan raised his eyebrows and whistled, "Someone is coming, Mr. Huo."

Huo Duan followed his gaze... and saw a pair of gold-woven boots, followed by a dark purple silk shirt with a golden cage in his hand, and a red-feathered bird jumping around.

The middle-aged man's eyes were shining as he looked at Dongfulou with contempt.

Everyone passing by recognized him, but due to the intimidation, no one dared to pass by him.

From this perspective, Zhu Kuo seemed like an elegant and easy-going middle-aged man, but Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan were the best at judging people.

I could tell at a glance how powerful this man was.

What's more, as soon as this man got off the carriage, his eyes turned towards Gu Fengyan with a hint of surprise, and then he looked at Huo Duan with amazement.

"Who invites me? Come and pay your respects." As he spoke, his eyes never left the two people.

This old man is not easy to deal with.

Gu Fengyan got goose bumps all over his body.