Upon hearing this, even the honest and kind-hearted Xu Neng was enraged, as if Liu Xiuyan had truly cheated on his son, making him a cuckold. Xu Neng slammed his hand on the stone table, startling Yuan Suqin, who looked at her husband in surprise: "What's wrong? Is this... a steel rod piercing through the soft strip, about to get hard?"
“Our son doesn’t need another wife!” Xu Neng said angrily, then turned and walked into the house, casually tossing his wife a message: “Cook up a couple of dishes and buy a bottle of good wine. When Zhengyang comes back, we’ll have a couple of drinks together.”
Yuan Suqin was stunned for a moment, then agreed and happily walked out of the courtyard gate.
Volume 3, Judge 094: Looking up at the heavens, bowing down to feel human emotions
The moonlight was like frost, and the stars twinkled faintly; the night sky was high, deep and vast.
The occasional clumps of grass peeking out from along the village streets, chirping softly, added to the peaceful and serene atmosphere of the village at night. Xu Zhengyang, carrying a bag of wine and food, strolled leisurely eastward along the main street of the village.
When he returned home, his parents had already prepared food and drinks, looking overjoyed as if they couldn't wait to find the village secretary, Zhou Qingguo, and then run to the village committee compound to broadcast the news throughout the village via the loudspeaker. Seeing his parents so happy, Xu Zhengyang was also overjoyed. His father said he wanted to have a couple of drinks with him, so he might as well... Anyway, given his father's drinking capacity, he figured it wouldn't affect his drinking with someone else later.
Yes, that's true. Xu Neng said he wanted to have a couple of drinks with his son, but he drank four quite forcefully before getting tipsy, his face turning red, and he couldn't drink anymore. Seeing this, Yuan Suqin quickly told him to stop drinking, saying it would be better for the three of them to chat and eat together. Of course, their son could continue drinking.
It was getting late, so even though Xu Zhengyang had just escaped a great danger and returned home safely, everyone was overjoyed. However, under Xu Zhengyang's urging, Yuan Suqin and Xu Neng, the couple, had no choice but to go back to their room to sleep, grumbling all the while. Xu Zhengyang tidied up the remaining dishes, a bottle of liquor, and chopsticks, and then put four glasses into a bag.
Before leaving, Xu Zhengyang made sure to tell his mother and locked the courtyard gate from the outside.
Xu Zhengyang walked along the quiet street, a cigarette dangling from his lips, feeling the cool autumn breeze on his face. He instantly felt refreshed, all the effects of the alcohol dissipating. Thinking about the events of the past few days, Xu Zhengyang felt a touch of melancholy and softly hummed an old song:
People say heaven is wonderful, where immortals live a carefree life.
How many tears are behind success?
Everyone says life is hard, full of toil and suffering.
When the sweat dries, there is laughter.
Immortals are made by humans; cultivation requires no fuss.
Only by enduring the bitterest hardships can one achieve true enlightenment.
You must have the heart of an immortal.
Paradise on Earth, I'm sure to come.
Immortals have no worries, they cast aside fame and fortune.
Be like a god
Forget about gains and losses
Heaven and earth are the same.
Heaven is good
Humanity is good
...
As he hummed the song over and over again, Xu Zhengyang felt a surge of bittersweet pride welling up inside him.
Just as the lyrics say, he had worked hard in the past, his sweat dripping and drying, yet there was always laughter... He longed for a happy and carefree life, a life like paradise. His goal was simple, his thoughts singular: to make money. With lots of money, life would be happy, and he would live a good life. Now he had the money. While not incredibly wealthy, unlike the rich young men he met in Beijing, or those affluent families whose wealth was astonishing, his current savings were enough for his family to live a much better life than others in this rural village. Just as his mother said, worried about his safety, "Our family's money is enough to last two lifetimes."
But now, instead of joy and carefree living, even bigger troubles have arisen.
Indeed, everything has been resolved, which shows that being a deity is very good and powerful.
However, achieving a carefree and untroubled life, free from worries and the pursuit of fame and fortune, was something Xu Zhengyang could never do. The reason was simple: everyone must bear their responsibilities in life. Those immortals who once existed, living such carefree and trouble-free lives, were bound by the so-called heavenly rules and regulations, which prevented them from interfering in worldly affairs, allowing them to reside alone in their celestial realm. Completely disregarding the joys and sorrows of the mortal world, they were able to enjoy their endless, leisurely lives.
The book says: Heaven is ruthless, regarding all living beings as mere ants.
Therefore, it is clear that the reason why humanity no longer believes in the existence of God cannot be entirely blamed on human arrogance. It really takes two to tango!
Since acquiring the position of local deity, and now holding twenty-one divine positions including wandering judge and merit officer in Cixian County, as well as local deities in nine towns and ten townships, his official rank has risen three levels in less than half a year, and his supernatural abilities have continued to expand and strengthen. What is the secret to this? In the end, isn't it the faith of people that has elevated Xu Zhengyang, this mud crab who crawled ashore from the ditch, a person who became a half-baked local deity by sheer luck, to his current position as wandering judge? And isn't it the constant flow of faith that replenishes the supernatural abilities he has expended countless times?
And if Xu Zhengyang hadn't done things for himself, his relatives, or his friends—in short, with a selfish mindset—how could he have received such a rapid and powerful supply of faith to replenish his divine power and elevate his divine position?
Ultimately, these events are all interconnected.
Ordinary people yearn for a life where everything goes smoothly, fairness prevails, and their wishes come true. However, things in this world rarely go as planned. Therefore, when people encounter difficulties and injustices that they cannot resolve due to their own abilities or other external factors, they pray and hope that there are divine beings in the dark who can help them.
This thought and desire certainly contains an element of selfishness. But that's not wrong.
Humans are just humans, that's how they are. The gods of the past were so selfless they bordered on ruthless indifference, and their fate… if there truly are no more gods in the Three Realms, and the Heavenly Court has long since vanished, then perhaps this is the reason for their demise? Xu Zhengyang pondered silently, thinking, perhaps… I should do something. Leaving aside all those grand pronouncements to elevate myself, even from a purely selfish perspective, I should do something.
Because he has a goal, a goal that humanity has been exploring, yearning for, and dreaming of achieving since the dawn of humanity.
I still remember what the former Earth God once said: You don't need to worry that you will be like me, unable to die even if you want to. After all, you have a physical body. If you don't reach the level of an Emperor in the future, the death of your physical body will end everything.
Xu Zhengyang thought to himself: Who the hell would be crazy enough to want to die?
yes……
However, to achieve this, the difficulties are numerous, arduous, and immense, making them almost insurmountable.
A vague, elusive, and unfathomable thought crept into Xu Zhengyang's mind. He sighed softly, gazing up at the deep, vast night sky, at the bright moon, the faintly visible stars, and the boundless expanse of heaven. A myriad of emotions welled up within him: Where is the Heavenly Court? Is it truly as I've imagined...?
As he pondered, he walked slowly, and before he knew it, he had arrived at the east side of the village, at his new homestead.
The new house has been built up, but the roof is not yet on. Under the moonlight, the red brick walls stand quietly. Inside and outside the courtyard, bricks, stones, sand and mortar are piled up, along with scattered wooden planks, steel frames, shovels, and other tools. The courtyard faces the place where a high wall will surely be built and a gate will be opened in the future. A simple shed has been built with wooden beams and plastic sheeting and straw mats.
Outside the shed, under the soft moonlight, stood a person.
A slender figure, a white shirt, black trousers; short hair, pale cheeks, thin eyebrows like swords, and a pair of long, narrow eyes colder than the moonlight on a winter night, watching Xu Zhengyang slowly walk towards him from not far away with a cold and indifferent gaze.
Upon seeing this person, Xu Zhengyang immediately put aside the myriad thoughts that had been swirling in his mind, a joyful and wistful smile appearing on his face. He quickened his pace slightly as he stepped forward and whispered, "Still not asleep?"
"I heard you singing, come out and see." Chen Chaojiang's voice was indifferent, and his face and eyes showed no excitement or joy. Zhengyang is alright, he's out, that's good.
"Aren't you afraid of getting arrested?" Xu Zhengyang smiled and sighed softly.
"Hmm?" Chen Chaojiang tilted his head, a hint of doubt flashing in his cold eyes.
Xu Zhengyang patted him on the shoulder and said, "Chaojiang, I understand."
"Oh." Chen Chaojiang understood. Although he didn't understand how Xu Zhengyang knew, he was too lazy to think about it, and he wouldn't ask the question. Then he said in a nonchalant tone, "If I'm not at home, they naturally wouldn't think I'd be in the village."
"You're really bold," Xu Zhengyang laughed.
"You haven't done anything wrong, have you?" Chen Chaojiang's tone was unusually playful.
Xu Zhengyang smiled, took out a pack of Yuxi cigarettes from his pocket and tossed it to Chen Chaojiang, then took out an opened pack of cigarettes, took out two, gave one to Chen Chaojiang, and lit one for himself.
Inside the shed, heavy snoring could be heard. Xu Zhengyang chuckled, "Are they all asleep?"
"Mm." Chen Chaojiang nodded.
Inside the shed were Cao Gangchuan and Liu Bin, who were in charge of watching the construction site tonight.
"Let's go, let's have a drink on the riverbank." Xu Zhengyang smiled and turned to walk north, saying, "Let them sleep, they've had a long day."
“Okay.” Chen Chaojiang followed.
Although Chen Chaojiang felt much more at ease and somewhat happy after seeing Xu Zhengyang, a faint worry followed. While he was extreme in personality and could become almost manic when driven to madness, he wasn't stupid. He understood the seriousness of the incident he had caused on the Xinbei Ring Road in the county town. In broad daylight, a man wielding a weapon, committing a violent attack in the street, injuring several people… the police would not stand idly by, given the immense impact.
Xu Zhengyang naturally understood his worries.
If there is anyone in this world who understands Chen Chaojiang best besides his parents, it would be Xu Zhengyang.
So when the two sat down on the cool, damp dirt road of the riverbank, laid out the food and wine, smelled the fresh, cool air with a faint scent of grass, and listened to the Mangniu River flowing eastward, joyfully rushing into the embrace of the Fu River, Xu Zhengyang poured two glasses of wine, raised his glass to indicate that he was drinking, and said with a smile, "Nothing will happen."
"It doesn't matter." Chen Chaojiang raised his glass and drank half a glass of wine in one gulp.
Xu Zhengyang naturally wouldn't expose the slight concern behind Chen Chaojiang's words, and said with a smile, "Director Zhao and Uncle Zhongshan are both fine now. One is the county public security bureau chief, and the other is the county criminal investigation team leader. If they knew that you were still thinking about avenging them when you did such a big thing, do you think they wouldn't be moved?"
"I didn't intend to stand up for them," Chen Chaojiang denied.
"Well, I can't just stand by and do nothing about it, can I?" Xu Zhengyang flicked away his cigarette butt, exhaled a puff of smoke, and laughed, "Tell me, if I portrayed you as someone who was ganged up on and beaten up, would you be able to save face?"
"I'm going to kill Shen Haobing." Chen Chaojiang's pale face revealed a stubborn seriousness and earnestness.
"Nonsense." Xu Zhengyang smiled and said, "It was clearly a group of them who wanted to beat you up. You couldn't run away, so you had no choice but to grab a knife and fight them to the death in self-defense."
Chen Chaojiang was taken aback and remained silent for a while before smiling wryly and saying, "I'm never as smart as you."
"You're too competitive," Xu Zhengyang said, raising his glass and taking a sip of wine. "Don't be so impulsive in the future, it's not good."
"Hmm." Chen Chaojiang chuckled self-deprecatingly, raised his glass, and drank the remaining half-glass of wine.
Neither Chen Chaojiang nor Xu Zhengyang believed that Xu Zhengyang's advice would be effective and would prevent Chen Chaojiang from acting impulsively or going crazy if he encountered a similar situation again.
They poured drinks, and the two remained silent, smoking and drinking.
Chen Chaojiang hesitated, wondering whether he could voice his worries and anxieties. After all, no matter how cold and fearless he was, he didn't want to return to that prison cell where he had to do push-ups and boxing in front of a group of people every day. Well, because Chen Chaojiang didn't like talking to those people, he could only exhaust himself in there, falling into a deep sleep and forgetting the many annoying and tedious feelings.
Xu Zhengyang was thinking about how to most reasonably ensure that Chen Chaojiang would be safe.
“Self-defense and excessive self-defense… are two different things.” Chen Chaojiang suddenly spoke up. In front of Xu Zhengyang, he put aside his pride and finally said, “When I came out, the police talked to me about these things. Even if Guo Tian’s family had no connections, I would still have been jailed. I don’t want to go back in.” Before Xu Zhengyang could say anything, Chen Chaojiang gave a self-deprecating laugh and said, “It’s not that I regret it.”
"Yes, I know." Xu Zhengyang nodded.
Chen Chaojiang's words were his true feelings. Not wanting to go back in and regretting what he had done were two conflicting emotions for him.
"Zhengyang, how do you know all this?" Chen Chaojiang suddenly asked, because he realized that Xu Zhengyang knew too much. Wasn't he arrested? It was understandable that he knew that Xu Zhengyang had chopped up Shen Haobing in the county town and single-handedly taken down many people. The matter was too big, so the police probably told him. But how did he know that Xu Zhengyang would be living with Cao Gangchuan and Liu Bin on their new house site? Since he brought food and drinks, it was obvious that he was here for Chen Chaojiang.
Chen Chaojiang was staying in the workers' shed that night, and even Cao Gangchuan and Liu Bin only found out when they were about to go to sleep.
Without any hesitation, Xu Zhengyang smiled and said decisively, "You forgot? I know the Earth God."
"That's utter nonsense..." Chen Chaojiang smiled bitterly.
"Don't believe me if you don't want to."
"You have to believe it whether you want to or not." Chen Chaojiang's expression turned serious, and he regained his usual cold demeanor. "You wouldn't lie to me."
"certainly."
The two exchanged a smile, clinked their glasses, and drank.
"Come with me to the county tomorrow morning and turn yourself in," Xu Zhengyang said with a smile. "We need to make it look like we're doing it. The more we hide, the more unclear things will become, and it'll make us look guilty. But don't worry, nothing will happen..."
"Okay." Chen Chaojiang nodded without hesitation.
Xu Zhengyang smiled wryly: "You're really stupid."
“I’m not stupid,” Chen Chaojiang retorted coldly.
"Hold……"
A rare, simple smile appeared on Chen Chaojiang's pale face.
A cool breeze blew by, causing the wild grass on both sides of the riverbank to sway and the branches and leaves of the trees to rustle.
Volume 3, Judge Chapter 095: Whatever You Say Is Whatever
The brawl and violent incident that occurred outside Shilipu Village on the eastern section of the Xinbei Ring Road in the county seat. When Zhong Shan returned to the Criminal Investigation Brigade, he naturally heard about the case immediately. After all, the situation was serious, with six or seven people injured, one of whom was seriously injured; moreover, the incident occurred in broad daylight, in front of so many people, a public attack, which was heinous and had a great impact.