And so the previous argument broke out.
Seeing that the argument between the two sides was getting more and more heated, and the three policemen seemed to be losing control, Xu Zhengyang quickly walked over, pulled his parents behind him, and shouted, "Quiet down, everyone!"
The small embankment immediately fell silent.
The villagers on both sides looked at each other with slight surprise, and then looked at Xu Zhengyang, not understanding why everyone would listen to him and quiet down with just one sentence from this young man.
Even Xu Zhengyang himself found it a bit strange, but he didn't have time to think about it now. He said calmly, "The rice paddies were burned, and everyone is angry, but we can't just start arguing without thinking, or even fight... What's the point?"
The villagers from both sides looked at each other, and upon reflection, they realized that all this arguing and even fighting was unnecessary; especially the villagers from Lu Village. They felt somewhat guilty, after all, the people from Shuanghe Village had helped them put out the fire. How could adults be less sensible than a young person?
The three police officers recognized Xu Zhengyang, especially Wang Yue, who was very familiar with him. He patted Xu Zhengyang on the shoulder, expressed his gratitude and admiration with his eyes, and then, together with the other two officers, persuaded the villagers to disperse.
Xu Zhengyang narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at the perpetrator.
The other person noticed Xu Zhengyang staring at him and felt guilty, but still stubbornly said, "So according to you, all that burning of the rice was for nothing? How can the police find out who started it?"
"Yes," Xu Zhengyang said, nodding before Wang Yue and the others could explain.
The man grew increasingly guilty and scoffed, "What a load of rubbish!"
"Lu Haichao..." Xu Zhengyang called out coldly, his eyes narrowed.
The other person was taken aback. How did this young man know my name?
Xu Zhengyang waved his hand, attracting everyone's attention, and then calmly asked Lu Haichao, "Do you smoke?"
"Why are you asking this?" Lu Haichao asked in surprise, then felt as if Xu Zhengyang's squinting eyes could see right through him, and immediately looked away from Xu Zhengyang's gaze guiltily. "Whether I smoke or not is none of your business."
Xu Zhengyang snorted and said coldly, "You still have a pack of unopened cigarettes on you, don't you? When you came to the field earlier and passed by this small embankment, you lit the last cigarette in another pack... I think some villagers saw you lighting a cigarette. Where is that empty cigarette pack?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Haichao immediately panicked and retorted, "I threw it away! With such a big fire just now, it's long since burned to ashes. Where am I supposed to find it?" Lu Haichao suddenly realized why he was being so obedient, answering every question asked. Wasn't that a clear sign of guilt? So he quickly added, "Why are you asking these questions?"
“That’s right, you threw away that cigarette box.” Xu Zhengyang turned his head and glanced at everyone. Seeing that they were all staring at him in a daze, he said with a sneer, “But you lit the cigarette box and threw it into the rice paddy by the dike. This family had an argument with you this morning, didn’t they?”
"You're talking nonsense!" Lu Haichao's eyes flashed with fear as he said to the crowd, "Don't listen to his fabrications... he's slandering people!"
Xu Zhengyang sneered, "Slandering you? Your rice paddies are far from here, aren't they? They weren't burned, were they? So why are you meddling in other people's business, coming here after the fire is over to incite others to come and question the people of Shuanghe Village?"
"I'm from our village, why wouldn't I help them?" Lu Haichao still tried to argue, but his nervous expression and evasive eyes clearly told everyone that he was guilty.
The men who had their rice paddies burned and had been instigated to come and question the villagers of Shuanghe Village exchanged glances and realized something. Yes, they had gotten angry because of Lu Haichao's words and had come here to question people.
The villagers who had a conflict with Lu Haichao knew his character well, and their eyes were already blazing with anger as they looked at him.
Xu Zhengyang said coldly, "Lu Haichao, do you really think you've done something so well that no one has noticed?"
"I, I didn't, I didn't..." Lu Haichao tried to avoid Xu Zhengyang's cold gaze, but he couldn't escape the doubtful and angry looks from the crowd. He became more and more guilty and scared, and his voice lost its confidence.
By this time, everyone could tell from Lu Haichao's behavior that he was the perpetrator.
"Lu Haichao, you son of a bitch!" The middle-aged woman from the family of four who had previously argued with Lu Haichao spat in his face and, cursing, slapped and scratched his face.
If Lu Haichao had continued to argue and deny it, it might have been more advantageous for him. However, he was guilty and became even more afraid after being exposed. As a result, after the woman spat on his face and scratched his face, he actually took two steps back and did not dare to fight back or argue.
Now everyone was completely convinced that Lu Haichao was the arsonist!
The crowd surrounded them angrily, the women scratching, spitting, and smearing, while the men simply punched and kicked.
Even worse, some officers brandished sickles, attempting to kill him. Fortunately, Wang Yue and two other policemen intervened in time, disarming them and shouting at the crowd. They then pushed through the throng to protect Lu Haichao, preventing him from being beaten to death. It's important to understand that without immediate intervention, Lu Haichao could easily have been killed by the enraged mob.
Seeing that the crowd was about to rush forward and beat Lu Haichao, Xu Zhengyang loudly advised, "Everyone, stop! The police will investigate thoroughly and ensure that the arsonist receives the punishment he deserves. We will also be compensated for our losses!"
After hearing Xu Zhengyang's words, everyone stopped fighting, still not satisfied. They watched angrily as Lu Haichao was taken away in a police car by three policemen, and then the police car sped away.
Meanwhile, Xu Zhengyang had already turned around and was comforting his parents, who were still in a daze: "Go back, you don't need to worry about the rice in the north this year. Oh, we even managed to salvage some." Saying this, Xu Zhengyang said to Liu Bin, "Binzi, go get your three-wheeled vehicle and take the rice back..."
"Okay, wait a bit." Liu Bin agreed, hurriedly ran to the roadside, got on his bicycle, and sped off into the village.
The family of three walked to a small stack of rice bundles piled up on the path, sighed with a wry smile, and shook their heads.
Xu Neng took out cigarettes and walked over to the group of old men, offering them cigarettes and chatting with them; Yuan Suqin told her son that there was nothing else to do, and she was going back to make lunch...
After his mother left, Xu Zhengyang sat down on the ground, took out a Yuxi cigarette and handed one to Zhang Hao, then lit one for himself.
Zhang Hao sat down next to Xu Zhengyang, smoking a cigarette, and said with a hint of guilt, "Zhengyang... I feel really guilty. Thinking about it, it's quite embarrassing, haha, I was actually jealous of my own brother's situation..."
"Let's not talk about that." Xu Zhengyang waved his hand to interrupt the other person and said with a smile, "Let me tell you something first. I found you guys some jobs, but it's not certain yet. I'll call and ask again when I get back..."
"What kind of job?" Zhang Hao's face lit up with joy.
"Let me talk to them first, and see if they need any help," Xu Zhengyang said with a smile. "But don't worry, I'll find you some good work."
Zhang Hao felt increasingly guilty, and said while smoking, "I won't bother with formalities..."
Not far away, villagers from Lu Village gathered in small groups, discussing Xu Zhengyang over there.
Volume 3, Judge Chapter 115: Are you really not going to pay me?
The busy farming season lasts only about a week. After each household has finished harvesting the rice, they help each other thresh it and bring the rice home. The rest of the time is less busy; they spread the rice out on the roof every day to dry until the rice and husks are completely dry.
The case of Lu Haichao's arson has entered the relevant judicial process. According to Zhong Shan upon his return, this type of intentional arson carries a sentence of three to ten years imprisonment. Fortunately, Lu Haichao's family has a good attitude and has actively made corresponding compensation. Farmers are usually extremely angry at first, but after receiving compensation, their kind and benevolent nature is revealed. They realize it was just a momentary impulse, and that it wouldn't be worth it for Lu Haichao to serve ten or eight years in prison.
Therefore, no one pursued the matter further and expressed their understanding towards Lu Haichao.
Even so, Lu Haichao will still face at least three years in prison.
When a person commits a crime, they should bear the corresponding legal responsibility. Repentance and making amends can only reduce part of the responsibility, but cannot exempt them from all punishment.
However, the villagers of Shuanghe Village and Lu Village had a vague idea. After the arson incident, the person people talked about most in private was not Lu Haichao, but Xu Zhengyang, the young man who was calm yet dignified on the day of the incident, exuding an indescribable aura, and who exposed Lu Haichao's crime.
We won't go into what the villagers of Shuanghe Village were saying, but they were already well aware of Xu Zhengyang's mysterious nature. The villagers of Lu Village, however, learned through rumors passed down by relatives and friends that this young man, who used to push his old bicycle to the village to exchange for millet, had some connection with the legendary deity, and that they had a very good relationship... Once he was associated with such a mysterious deity, many of the questions that had puzzled them about Xu Zhengyang seemed to be answered.
In short, the number of people from other villages who came to the local temple west of Shuanghe Village to burn incense, make offerings, and petition later on was much greater than before.
On the night of the arson, Xu Zhengyang hosted a banquet at his home, inviting a few of his buddies to drink and chat.
During the conversation, Xu Zhengyang mentioned finding them jobs. He said that they would need to contact and discuss the specific jobs with some people before finalizing the details, which would take about two or three days.
One morning after the busy farming season, Liu Bin, Zhang Hao, and Cao Gangchuan went to Fuhe City.
Following the address Xu Zhengyang left them, they found Jinghui Logistics Company, located at the intersection of Donghuan Road and Fuming Road in Fuhe City. The three of them stood outside the gate of Jinghui Logistics Company with a mix of trepidation and excitement.
Xu Zhengyang didn't come with them because he hadn't considered meeting Zhan Xiaohui and his wife yet. Therefore, he had always discussed work matters with his friend by phone, and Zhan Xiaohui had never refused from the beginning. Zhan Xiaohui was exceptionally excited and happy that Xu Zhengyang needed his help, and in his heart, he didn't think Xu Zhengyang was asking for a favor, but rather that Xu Zhengyang was doing him a favor, giving him an opportunity to perform and curry favor—something he should do.
However, Zhan Xiaohui also raised some of her own opinions. Since the three people who were going to work at Jinghui Logistics were friends of the Judge, what should they do? After all, none of the three were well-educated or had any relevant work experience, so they were obviously not qualified to be managers of the company; moreover, they couldn't drive, so they couldn't be drivers, and making them loaders was even more unacceptable. Putting aside Xu Zhengyang's opinion, Zhan Xiaohui and her husband felt that would be too disrespectful to the Judge.
So after much deliberation, Zhan Xiaohui proposed two positions: first, to make them security guards; second, to make them vehicle assistants, either accompanying large trucks on long-distance trips or small cars on short-distance trips. If they followed for a year or two, they could learn to drive and get a driver's license.
Being a truck driver's assistant is a crucial job. The assistant must be someone the company owner trusts, as they hold significant financial power over the long-haul freight. As a newcomer, you'll need the help of experienced drivers to learn how to handle cargo matching, unexpected incidents, and other miscellaneous issues. Furthermore, maintaining a good relationship with the driver is essential. This involves keeping the driver satisfied while minimizing expenses to prevent them from becoming upset and affecting work, especially since some drivers might maliciously damage vehicle parts. A good relationship with the driver also allows you to learn to drive with their assistance.
Xu Zhengyang affirmed Zhan Xiaohui's idea and also sought the thoughts and opinions of Zhang Hao, Cao Gangchuan, and Liu Bin.
Liu Bin and Cao Gangchuan were both happy to be security guards; the work was simple and didn't require much experience or skills. They figured that since the big company was giving Zhengyang face by letting them work there and even allowing them to choose their jobs, they couldn't take advantage of it. If they made a mistake while doing other work, it would be a disgrace to Zhengyang.
Zhang Hao, on the other hand, wanted to work as a car chauffeur, which would allow him to travel all over the country and learn to drive.
Xu Zhengyang didn't think much of it and agreed to their suggestion.
When the three of them went to Jinghui Logistics to report for duty that day, Xu Zhengyang and Chen Chaojiang had already driven their motorcycles to the antique market. These past few days, Yao Chushun had been planning to take over "Tianbaozhai," the largest antique shop in the antique market. After Zou Mingyuan was arrested, the entire Tianbaozhai building and its antiques were confiscated, and the relevant departments were now preparing to auction it off.
Yao Chushun naturally wouldn't let this opportunity slip by. Well, speaking of the antique business in Fuhe City, there are very few people with the ability and resources to take over Tianbaozhai. Without a substantial investment, who would dare to attempt such a venture? Tianbaozhai is such a large establishment; to take it over, you'd need the financial strength to fully utilize the space and get it up and running, right? Besides, if Yao Chushun were to make a move, others would simply hand it over. Who would be so foolish as to challenge the former "Master Gu," now the owner of Guxiangxuan?
This matter naturally needs to be discussed with Xu Zhengyang.
For Yao Chushun, making his antique shop a big success wasn't about material possessions or craving for huge profits. His intense passion for antiques, coupled with his desire to gradually rebuild his reputation and crush Zou Mingyuan, drove him to run Gu Xiang Xuan with such dedication—purely a spiritual pursuit. Besides, there was also the matter of making money. Leaving aside his own personal gain, he needed to earn more for Xu Zhengyang, as this young man had helped him immensely—a debt of gratitude he could never repay in a lifetime.
To Xu Zhengyang's surprise, an uninvited guest arrived at Gu Xiang Xuan early that morning—Li Bingjie.
An Audi A8 was parked right outside the entrance of Gu Xiang Xuan restaurant.
Li Bingjie remained aloof and indifferent, completely unconcerned about what kind of place Gu Xiang Xuan was. She walked straight in and sat down at a round glass table on the right side of the hall. Li Chengzong followed behind, standing beside Li Bingjie.
Yao Chushun was frowning and scrutinizing the accounts on the second floor, calculating that the store's current funds were insufficient to take over Tianbaozhai, and was pondering whether to borrow some more money from Zheng Ronghua. Little did he know that Xu Zhengyang's strange classmate was already downstairs in the lobby.
Jin Qiming greeted them politely with a smile, asking what kind of antiques they wanted to see—jade, porcelain, calligraphy, or paintings, etc.
Li Chengzong smiled and said, "We want to see Xu Zhengyang."
Jin Qiming was taken aback, then said politely, "Our boss Xu hasn't arrived yet. Please wait a moment. If there's anything you need, I'll ask boss Yao to come down."
Li Chengzong smiled and shook his head: "No rush, we'll wait."
Jin Qiming was somewhat puzzled, but didn't say anything more. After politely making tea and pouring water for the two, he returned to the counter and wiped down the counter and shelves, wondering who these two people were. Especially the girl, she was really beautiful… It's a pity she's like a celestial being, riding in an Audi A8, with bodyguards and a driver. Sigh, she just looked at people like us with such disdain and coldness. Hmm, perhaps a friend of Brother Xu? Could it be that kind of relationship? Hmm, only someone like Brother Xu could be worthy of her… but it seems he's not worthy…
Hearing people talking downstairs, Yao Chushun put down the accounts he was holding and went downstairs.
Upon seeing the extraordinary young woman sitting inside the shop, and the deep, calm man, Yao Chushun paused for a moment before smiling and walking over to greet them politely: "What an honor to have such distinguished guests! Gu Xiang Xuan is truly blessed!"
Li Bingjie ignored him and sat there quietly, without moving.
Li Chengzong smiled and took two steps forward, inadvertently blocking Li Bingjie's path. He shook hands with Yao Chushun and said with a smile, "I apologize for the abruptness of your arrival."
"You're too kind, haha. Zhengyang's friends are my friends too, Yao Chushun's friends." Yao Chushun chuckled, but he knew that the man who shook hands with him had just made it clear that he didn't need to shake hands with Li Bingjie, or even get close to her.
We had barely exchanged a few polite words when we heard the powerful roar of a Yamaha 250 engine coming from outside the shop.
Yao Chushun smiled and turned to look at the door, saying, "Zhengyang is here."
Actually, Xu Zhengyang knew Li Bingjie had arrived when he saw the Audi A8. He was surprised that Li Bingjie had come to Guxiangxuan today, since he hadn't seen her for some time. Could it be that Li Bingjie had come to visit him a few times while he was busy with farm work? Probably not, because if she had come, Yao Chushun should have called him. Besides, Li Bingjie could have gone to the village to find him.
With doubts in his heart, Chen Chaojiang entered the store, with Chen Chaojiang following behind.
Upon seeing Li Chengzong and Li Bingjie, Xu Zhengyang smiled and said as he walked, "What brings you here today?"
Li Bingjie ignored him.
“Miss wanted to come out for a walk to clear her head,” Li Chengzhong replied, taking two more steps and shifting his body to the right, completely blocking the round table. This allowed Xu Zhengyang to walk past him and sit down at the table. Li Chengzhong frowned slightly, his piercing eyes fixed on Chen Chaojiang, who was following behind Xu Zhengyang. He instinctively felt that this young man was dangerous.
Xu Zhengyang noticed that Li Chengzong's tone was not as casual as usual, and he also noticed that the other man's expression and eyes were not right, so he followed his gaze.
But then they saw Chen Chaojiang standing three meters away, staring at Li Chengzong.
Compared to Li Chengzong's imposing stature, Chen Chaojiang appeared increasingly thin and frail, and was also half a head shorter than Li Chengzong. Yet, standing there, he didn't appear inferior to Li Chengzong in any way. At this moment, his narrow eyes fixed on Li Chengzong with icy gaze, his pale face devoid of any expression. In his left hand, a finely crafted, sharp dagger had appeared without being twirled.
Xu Zhengyang was both amused and exasperated. He was about to introduce them to prevent these two formidable men, who also held bodyguard positions, from suddenly erupting into a conflict that could endanger the people and property inside Gu Xiang Xuan. Unexpectedly, Chen Chaojiang suddenly asked coldly, "Who is he?"
"Ahem, friend, friend." Xu Zhengyang quickly stood up and stood between the two, saying with a wry smile, "Chaojiang, don't be so nervous, okay? It's not that serious..."
Li Chengzong, however, said in a deep voice behind Xu Zhengyang, "I know his name is Chen Chaojiang. Tell him to stay away from our young lady. Perhaps I'm being impolite, I'm sorry."
"I don't know you," Chen Chaojiang said coldly. "Just a reminder, while you're with Zhengyang, don't do anything that makes me uneasy."
Xu Zhengyang was puzzled. What was going on here? He quickly waved his hand and said with a smile, "Hey you two, do you have a grudge against each other or what? What's going on here?"
Li Chengzong paused for a moment, then smiled and walked towards Chen Chaojiang, saying, "I think we should go outside..."
Chen Chaojiang tilted his head slightly, as if pondering something, then glanced at Li Bingjie and said, "I know her, she was my junior high school classmate." After saying that, Chen Chaojiang turned and walked out the door, while Li Chengzong followed him out.