Xu Zhengyang smiled but didn't speak. After a while, he said with a smile, "Since you're going to open a shop, competitors are bound to be enemies. I'm practically a shop owner myself, and you have a grudge against him. You're bound to clash sooner or later, so why not just fight it out..."
"Using force to subdue people and violence to control them is a poor strategy, the behavior of a brute," Yao Chushun said disdainfully.
"Nonsense..." Xu Zhengyang retorted dismissively, "If I told him that you threw up on my pants, made a mess, that you were wrong and needed to apologize, would that have worked?"
"..." Yao Chushun was speechless.
Xu Zhengyang's lips curled up, revealing a meaningful smile.
The reasons for beating Zou Mingyuan were threefold: first, anger at Zou's arrogance in spitting on him as if it were perfectly justified; second, dislike of Zou because of Yao Chushun; and third... he was a clerk, and good heavens, shouldn't such a heartless bastard be taught a lesson? It was only because Zou was lucky to be from Fuhe City; if he were from Cixian County, he would haunt Zou's dreams every day.
Damn it! Let him know what it means to have a guilty conscience and be haunted by ghosts at midnight!
Volume Two, Gong Cao, Chapter 45: The God in a Dream
Inside the No. 1 Detention Center in the western suburbs of Fuhe City.
Shen Qun, the former head of the Futou Town Police Station, who once held absolute power and swaggered around the town, lay half-asleep on a hard bed. Mosquitoes buzzed incessantly around his ears, seemingly oblivious, lying there motionless. A sliver of moonlight shone through the narrow iron window, illuminating his unkempt face, making him appear even more haggard and listless.
His act of protecting his good-for-nothing nephew, which led to his imprisonment, was a significant blow to him.
However, once everything was clear, I accepted it calmly. There was no use in regretting it; things had already come to this point.
He had originally prepared himself to accept the situation calmly, awaiting the final verdict in the detention center. He figured it would just mean expulsion from the Party and his job, and a year in prison—nothing serious, since the cases of Cao Gangchuan and Zhang Hao hadn't caused any truly dire consequences. Besides… he was thankful that in some people's eyes, he was at most a nobody, not even worthy of being a pawn.
He knew his place; once the storm raged above, no one would bother to look at this insignificant man again.
This case shouldn't have caused such a big commotion in the first place.
He was simply taken advantage of by someone with ulterior motives, and his opponent was not Shen Qun, nor did he have the right to do so.
However, after a few days of quiet and peaceful waiting, his tranquil life in the detention center was suddenly shattered again. The prosecutors interrogated him once more. This time, the investigation was no longer about the case of Cao Gangchuan and Zhang Hao, because that case had already been solved and there was nothing left to investigate. What the prosecutors wanted to investigate was the case of Chen Chaojiang and Liu Bin maliciously beating Guo Tian, causing him serious injury, in the winter of the year before last.
Shen Qun was terrified. If this case were to be reopened, he would face more than just expulsion from the Party and a year and a half in prison.
Because Chen Chaojiang and Liu Bin have been imprisoned for a year and a half, the case is an ironclad one.
Once the previous verdicts and testimonies are overturned, and the entire case undergoes a qualitative change, what will be the impact? In order to take into account public sentiment and the various losses suffered by the victims and their families, the authorities will inevitably have to severely punish the relevant personnel and give an explanation to the public.
As the instigator, his life is over.
If someone really spends more than ten years in prison, how old will they be when they get out?
Shen Qun was frightened, but after a moment of silence, clinging to a sliver of hope, he resolutely refused to admit anything wrong with the Chen Chaojiang assault case from years ago. He understood perfectly well that even if those in power knew it was a miscarriage of justice, they probably wouldn't want him to admit it. It was clear that since Chen Chaojiang and Liu Bin had indeed committed assault, it was best not to bring up any other interpretations. Because if the case were overturned, the impact would be far too severe; didn't the image of the government and the judiciary need to be protected?
Having figured out what his superiors were thinking, Shen Qun felt somewhat at ease, but he always felt that things weren't that simple. It was as if something in the shadows was coldly watching him, keeping an eye on him.
Drowsy and half-asleep...
"Shen Qun!"
In a daze, a cold, lifeless voice called out to him in a chilling tone.
"Who are you?" Shen Qun looked around in alarm and found himself in a pitch-black world.
Suddenly, a golden light burst forth, and in the pitch-black darkness, a person radiating golden light appeared before them!
Yes, it's a person's image, but their face isn't clearly visible.
"Chen Chaojiang and Liu Bin injured Guo Tian, but you know in your heart that it was your nephew Guo Tian who deserved to be beaten!"
"Who are you?"
“I am the local earth god, and for many years I have not concerned myself with worldly disputes and grudges. However, you have repeatedly oppressed the good and kind, turned black into white, framed Chen Chaojiang and Liu Bin, and even tried to harm Cao Gangchuan and Zhang Hao…”
"I don't!"
"No?" The other party chuckled coldly. "I am in charge of all matters, big and small, in this area. Do you think I am so easily deceived by ordinary people? Otherwise, who do you think knows the hidden truth in the cases of Cao Gangchuan and Zhang Hao... Shen Qun, I ask you, do you know your crime?"
"I……"
"I am too lazy to deal with scoundrels like you any longer. Your numerous evil deeds will surely bring trouble upon your family... From now on, your family will live in constant turmoil, with no peace day or night..."
"No, no, don't!"
"To realize one's mistakes and correct them is the greatest virtue!"
"I……"
"Think it over carefully, for the sake of your family! Do more good deeds and accumulate merit, and stop talking nonsense and distorting the truth..."
Shen Qun was so frightened that he trembled. Because of his nervousness, he didn't pay attention to the grammatical errors and occasional stuttering in the words of the man who claimed to be the Earth God.
A flash of golden light, and the person vanished, leaving behind only darkness once more.
Shen Qun seemed to vaguely hear a sentence: "Why is it so tiring to even say a few words? I won't do this again..."
Shen Qun sat up abruptly, his whole body drenched in cold sweat.
"Feeling guilty about having a dream?" After realizing it was just a dream, Shen Qun shook his head with a wry smile, but he was still uneasy. If it was just a dream, how could it feel so real? And he was still feeling uneasy and nervous.
Shen Qun could no longer fall asleep. The words of the local earth god in his dream kept replaying in his mind, disturbing his peace of mind.
What if it were true? He vaguely remembered once drinking with Han Dashan, who casually mentioned the local earth god's miraculous appearance in their village. Could there really be such a thing as good deeds being rewarded and evil deeds being punished? And could it even affect his family? What should he do?
No, no, I absolutely cannot admit it!
It's all superstition!
...
Inside Xu Zhengyang's home in Shuanghe Village.
Xu Zhengyang sat on the edge of the bed, covered in sweat. After gulping down a bowl of cold water, he finally managed to clear his tired mind. He muttered to himself, "Damn it, I'm a clerk, and I have to go to such lengths to send a message in a dream? This official position... this divine power is so weak... this is just awful!"
Xu Zhengyang lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and thought, "Hmm, not bad tonight. I didn't expect that I, a illiterate man of the new century, could actually spout some half-baked English. It seems that watching those period dramas wasn't for nothing. Hmm, I need to study harder in the future. As the old saying goes, 'One is never too old to learn!'"
Xu Zhengyang hadn't originally intended to appear in Shen Qun's dream. He felt that overturning Chen Chaojiang's case was not something he, as a clerk, could handle. After all, he couldn't just run to the Municipal Public Security Bureau and yell, "I'm the clerk, and you can't disobey me!"
But today, when he couldn't help but ask again, half-inquiring and half-consulting, whether there was any progress in Chen Chaojiang's case, Wu Feng and Zhong Shan said that the higher-ups had already started investigating the case, but the chances were slim.
Seeing Xu Zhengyang's disappointment, Wu Feng sighed and explained the reason to him. Just as Shen Qun had considered, the higher-ups wouldn't want this case overturned; it would have a negative impact. However, it wasn't hopeless… After hesitating for a moment, Wu Feng, considering that Xu Zhengyang had helped him solve several long-pending theft cases in the past two days, offered a suggestion: "If the local deity can intervene and find a way to get Shen Qun and Guo Haigang or Guo Tian to confess voluntarily, then the higher-ups will have no choice but to overturn the case."
Wu Feng had already thought of this idea, because he found Xu Zhengyang to be too mysterious, so mysterious that it was terrifying.
Almost all the police stations had given up on solving the theft cases, but Xu Zhengyang provided accurate clues: the suspects, the time of the crime, the tools, how many people were involved, how they carried out the crime, where the stolen goods were sold, and where the money was spent... It was as if Xu Zhengyang had been watching and seeing everything, or... it was as if he, Xu Zhengyang, had done it all himself.
When Wu Feng and Zhong Shan discussed it privately, it was indeed frightening.
Does this mean that Xu Zhengyang can find out anything about anyone he wants, even if they have a secret stash of money at home behind their wife's back?
That's why Wu Feng gave Xu Zhengyang this idea. Firstly, it was to do his best and let Xu Zhengyang feel indebted to him; secondly, it was also to see if this local deity could really do more.
I'm afraid Wu Feng and Zhong Shan are currently at home, anxiously or hopefully waiting for Shen Qun and Guo Haigang to confess their crimes. Xu Zhengyang grinned. If Shen Qun and Guo Haigang don't confess after waking up from their dream, then he'll visit those bastards in their dreams every night.
Oh no, I need to give that son of a bitch a good beating!
We need to grasp both aspects simultaneously, and both must be firm!
So Xu Zhengyang rested for a while, drank a bowl of cold water, then turned over and lay down, closed his eyes, and went to look for Guo Haigang's wife and daughter, hmm, Shen Qun's wife and his two daughters... Hmm, I heard Shen Qun's daughters are quite pretty...
Damn it, what are you thinking about?
He's supposed to be a god, can't he at least not be so despicable?
No, no, actually I'm still a person, a pitiful virgin who's only twenty-one years old and has never experienced anything wonderful!
As Xu Zhengyang was lost in thought, a thought of his had already transcended the limitations of all things and time, entering Shen Qun's home a few miles away.
Volume Two, Gong Cao, Chapter 46: Managing the Shop
In recent years, thanks to improved management, the antique market north of Fuxing Street in Fuxing District, Fuhe City, has seen a decline in the number of quacks who used to set up stalls and sell fakes to fool people. On the surface, they seem to be disappearing altogether.
However, those in the know understand that they have simply changed their way of surviving in this industry.
There are very few genuine antique shops in the antique market; most are shops selling counterfeit art, jade, calligraphy, and paintings.
"Tianbaozhai" is the largest antique shop here, both in terms of fame and scale. The three-story building is located in the middle of the south side of the market. It is decorated in the style of retro architecture from the inside out, with carved beams and painted rafters, flying eaves and upturned corners. From the doors, windows, beams and pillars to the murals and ceilings, everything is carved with phoenixes and dragons and gilded and painted, exuding a strong sense of ancient simplicity and elegance.
Of course, beneath the outward appearance of antique decorative style lies an absolutely modern anti-theft system.
Otherwise, even if the shop didn't store those priceless treasures, the sheer number of ordinary antiques would be enough to tempt many thieves and even master thieves, leading them to take the risk.
With antique shops like "Tianbaozhai" existing, other shops in the antique market naturally pale in comparison.
Walking slowly along the edge of the market, past the various shops, occasionally glancing up at the shop signs and decorations, Xu Zhengyang couldn't help but feel a little emotional. How long had he been the local earth god? And he was already planning to open a shop in the city—not one of those small grain stores, but an antique shop… He figured most of the villagers probably didn't even know what an antique shop was.
Today, Xu Zhengyang wore black leather shoes, black trousers, and a crisp white short-sleeved shirt, looking completely different from his usual self. His slightly dark and thin face revealed a healthy physique and fortitude, while his often slightly furrowed brows and half-closed eyes gave him a serious and profound expression. Although his attire lacked the trendy fashion sense of a young person, it exuded a unique maturity on him.
Thinking back to yesterday when his younger sister heard that he was going to open an antique shop in Fuhe City, she insisted on dragging him to Futou Town to buy him this outfit, saying that he should look like a big boss, Xu Zhengyang couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.
Yes, from now on, I'm no longer that country bumpkin who trades millet for scraps! I'll no longer haggle with rural women over a few extra dollars, exhausting my breath to bargain with them.
After Yao Chushun left home that day, his parents and sister all gathered in their room, staring at the dirty earthenware jars, bowls, and plates covered in mud that were lying on the bed. They stood there dumbfounded for a long time before finally snapping out of their daze after Xu Zhengyang reminded them.
Are these things antiques as valuable as those two jars from last time?
Xu Zhengyang, of course, couldn't think of any other reason to explain the origin of these treasures. His explanation remained the same: the Earth God had appeared to him in a dream, telling him where the treasures were, and that he should go dig them up that night. This reason was somewhat far-fetched and inevitably raised suspicions. However, the Earth God was inherently a very astonishing and unbelievable entity. Since several events had already proven its existence and its close connection with Xu Zhengyang, it was not surprising that some of these extremely valuable items had come to belong to him.
However, Xu Zhengyang discovered something that surprised and delighted him during Yao Chushun's visit to his home.
As Yao Chushun excitedly examined each antique still covered in dirt, Xu Zhengyang suddenly worried that Yao Chushun might be like Zou Mingyuan, deceiving him, an outsider, to profit from the situation. So he stared intently at Yao Chushun, pondering and worrying, and then... he suddenly realized that he could actually see right through people and sense whether Yao Chushun was telling the truth or lying.
At that moment, he understood that the supernatural ability of the clerk to send messages in dreams was actually the ability to enter the other person's mental world, and not just limited to sending messages in dreams.
After the initial shock and surprise, Xu Zhengyang was left speechless. Damn it, this position of Gongcao was so demanding, even for such a small task? And it was limited to Cixian County! This was a bit… well, he should be content. Contentment brings happiness.
...
"Zhengyang, what do you think of this shop?"
Yao Chushun's voice pulled Xu Zhengyang back from his reverie. Xu Zhengyang paused, then looked at the shop in front of him. It was a jade and antique shop, with a gilded wooden signboard bearing the shop's name—Gu Xiang Xuan. The shop wasn't small; from the open entrance, one could see it was about eighty or ninety square meters inside, and a narrow staircase in the middle of the side led to the second floor.
The shop has brown wooden counters on three sides, covered by glass frames, which are undoubtedly the kind of extra-thick, anti-smashing and anti-theft glass.
The place was deserted, with only a young shop assistant sitting behind the counter facing the door, engrossed in reading a book.
Xu Zhengyang looked at the red paper pasted on the wall between the door and the window, on which were simply written a few large characters: "This shop is for sale or rent".
"That's good." Xu Zhengyang nodded.
"This is it!" A glint flashed in Yao Chushun's triangular eyes as he craned his head and shrugged his shoulders as he walked into the shop.
Xu Zhengyang couldn't help but chuckle at Yao Chushun's appearance. If one hadn't met the old man before and known him personally, the first impression he gave would be either a conman or a thief—definitely not a good person. Why did he always look like a swindler?
Stepping inside, Xu Zhengyang looked around at the shop's decor. A strange sense of familiarity welled up inside him. He didn't know why, but everything in the shop seemed pleasing to the eye, just like the first time he visited "Tianbaozhai".
"Hey, Mr. Gu, what brings you here?" The young shop assistant put down his book as soon as he heard someone enter the store. When he saw that it was Yao Chushun, he greeted him with a smile and came out from behind the counter.