TSWPF -Chapter 350 Threat

“County Magistrate, don’t think it’s unbelievable. A few years ago, wolves came down the mountain and bit people! If that happens, a tiger coming down isn’t surprising either.” The villagers spoke with some worry. “Do you think the tiger will come down the mountain?” The memory of wolves attacking people had already terrified them enough—if a tiger came down, they…

Hearing this, Liu Zhimou was already certain in his mind. The tiger’s roar had been made by Ah Huang. For this, Xiao Ling had scolded it sharply to ensure it wouldn’t bark randomly again, so as not to scare the villagers.

Unexpectedly, what she had worried about had still happened.

“You don’t need to worry. It’s not winter now, and Ninghua Mountain has plenty of prey. The tiger won’t easily come down,” Liu Zhimou loudly reassured the villagers. “As long as you don’t go up Ninghua Mountain, nothing will happen.”

Hearing this, the villagers nodded vigorously and promised they wouldn’t go to Ninghua Mountain. When collecting firewood, they only went to lower, safer forests, avoiding Ninghua Mountain entirely.

Liu Zhimou nodded, reassured them a few more times, and then started walking away.

After a short distance, Deputy Ma quietly asked Liu Zhimou, “That roar… could it really have been made by Ah Huang? Otherwise, how could Your Excellency stay so calm?”

Liu Zhimou turned and patted him on the shoulder. “Exactly, your thinking is quick.”

“…Although he’s not as clever as Your Excellency, he’s not bad either. Then why is the Magistrate looking at him with such a pleased expression?”

Deputy Ma silently grumbled to himself and followed behind Liu Zhimou without speaking further. He felt that if he said anything else, the Magistrate would crush him verbally.

“Deputy Ma, do you want to go to Wutong Village?” Liu Zhimou suddenly asked.

“Huh?” Deputy Ma didn’t catch it immediately and looked up at Liu Zhimou in confusion.

“Do you want to go to Wutong Village?”

Could he say no? His first impression of the place had been too bad.

Deputy Ma sighed inwardly but smiled, saying, “I’ll follow Your Excellency’s lead.”

“Good. We’ll depart shortly,” Liu Zhimou decided firmly. “Don’t worry, you won’t have to be locked in the wood storage again.”

What else could he say? Nothing. Deputy Ma just chuckled quietly. Hopefully, this trip would go smoothly.

Thinking of that case, Liu Zhimou furrowed his brows. After a few steps, he asked Deputy Ma to go to the He family and check on He Dianshi’s health. If he continued to fall ill, Liu Zhimou would have to find someone to replace him.

Hearing this, Deputy Ma almost wanted to shout, “Long live Your Excellency!”

Not only did the Magistrate have a problem with him, but he did as well. He Dianshi fell ill every few days, taking several days off each time. In a month, he barely showed up at the office. What use was such a Dianshi to the magistrate’s office? It would be better to replace him.

“Yes, Your Excellency. I’ll go immediately.”

Liu Zhimou nodded and instructed Deputy Ma that if He Dianshi was not seriously ill, he should come to the office today to go together to Wutong Village.

“He Dianshi is coming too?”

“Do you have an issue with that?”

Deputy Ma quickly shook his head and humbly asked why Liu Zhimou was taking He Dianshi along.

Liu Zhimou didn’t answer directly, letting him ponder why.

It wasn’t a difficult question; anyone who thought seriously could understand why.

He Dianshi didn’t dare ask further, fearing another verbal hit, and bowed his head to ponder.

Why was the Magistrate taking He Dianshi to Wutong Village?

It wasn’t until they reached the He family’s doorstep that Deputy Ma realized: the land rented by Wutong Village’s villagers belonged to the Wang family. The Wang family had a good relationship with the He family, and out of respect, they wouldn’t dare interfere with He Dianshi.

Right. He knew the previous incident involved the Wang family. With He Dianshi present, would the Wang family dare act?

Understanding this, Deputy Ma proudly adjusted his collar and strode forward. Before the gatekeeper could speak, he announced he was there for He Dianshi.

The gatekeeper recognized him and asked him to wait while he notified the household.

Deputy Ma acknowledged and stood by the gate for half an hour before being allowed inside.

In the main hall, he waited some more before seeing He Dianshi being supported by Cui Cuicui.

“Ahem… Deputy Ma, you… ahem… have time to visit?” He Dianshi’s words faltered several times.

Deputy Ma raised an eyebrow and glanced at He Dianshi but hadn’t yet spoken when Cui Cuicui interrupted.

“Deputy Ma, sorry, my husband is a bit seriously ill. Please understand.”

Deputy Ma looked at He Dianshi again, feigning concern. “Why has it gotten so serious?”

He Dianshi struggled onto a chair, coughing several times before answering weakly, “My constitution is weak, there’s nothing I can do.”

“He Dianshi, falling ill every few days isn’t acceptable,” Deputy Ma sighed. “When I came, the Magistrate told me to check on you. If it doesn’t improve, you can stay home to rest properly, and the office can assign someone else as Dianshi. Otherwise, the office would be in trouble without a Dianshi.”

What?

Liu Zhimou wanted to replace him?

He Dianshi nearly jumped out of his chair. Fortunately, Cui Cuicui’s quick reflexes held his hand down, her sharp gaze warning him not to act rashly.

At this moment, if he jumped up, his pretense of illness would be exposed.

“Hehe… cough… cough…” He Dianshi coughed violently, wiping the tears from his eyes, and weakly said, “Deputy Ma, please go back and tell the Magistrate I… I will recover soon and won’t let anyone take my position.” Ridiculous. If someone else replaced him, where would his face be?

He needed to be Dianshi to act as the informant.

Deputy Ma looked troubled and hesitated before speaking: “You know, the current Magistrate isn’t so easy to deal with. He…” He paused, “…it’s not that I won’t help you, but I can’t help.” He sighed heavily, showing helplessness.

Seeing Deputy Ma like this, He Dianshi ground his teeth in anger and finally squeezed out: “I thought that since Deputy Ma is always by the Magistrate’s side, the Magistrate would treat you differently. But now…” Now, Deputy Ma was just Liu Zhimou’s lackey.

Deputy Ma, seemingly oblivious to the remark, sighed again. “It can’t be helped, for the sake of life.” He looked at He Dianshi with envy. “If I had your family background, I wouldn’t have to worry constantly following the Magistrate, afraid of making a mistake…” His words trailed off, and he sighed deeply, appearing troubled.

If not for Cui Cuicui holding He Dianshi’s hand, he would have jumped up to scold Deputy Ma.

Don’t think that looking miserable would make him sympathetic or believe him—impossible.

He Dianshi clenched his jaw and forced a smile. “Impossible. Deputy Ma, you are the Magistrate’s right-hand man, aren’t you?”

“He Dianshi, if you went to the office often, you wouldn’t say that. You haven’t seen how the Magistrate squeezes me. I often get home around midnight. It’s really… really hard!” Lately, he had been busy with the Magistrate until late at night.

Hearing this, He Dianshi felt some sympathy for Deputy Ma. He had been monitored and knew how busy he was.

“Deputy Ma, if the Magistrate pushes you like this, why do you stick to him? Why put yourself through this?”

He Dianshi’s words were immediately met with Cui Cuicui pinching his hand sharply. He gasped in pain.

He glanced at Cui Cuicui and saw the warning in her eyes. He pressed his lips tightly and dared not speak further.

If he spoke recklessly again, he would lose his hand.

It hurt… really hurt.

He suspected his hand was now bruised, yet he dared not complain.

If he did, the consequences would be worse.

He… had truly been foolish to marry such a fierce woman.

Had he known Cui Cuicui’s fiery temper, he would never have married her.

But… there’s no cure for regret.

Deputy Ma snickered inwardly but sighed aloud. Again, for the sake of life.

With that, he slowly stood up, glanced at He Dianshi, and smiled wryly. “The office still has much work waiting for me. I won’t disturb your rest. I’ll head back first.” He noticed Cui Cuicui’s little maneuver but didn’t expose them.

He Dianshi wasn’t really ill—he was faking it.

He wanted to see how long he could pretend.

He Dianshi lowered his head, coughed a few times, and waved Deputy Ma off.

Once Deputy Ma left, He Dianshi immediately straightened, quickly withdrawing his hand, and looked at the bruised hand. He frowned tightly. “Wife, why are you so ruthless? How could you hit me like that? Look, it’s all bruised. Don’t you feel any pity?” He gently touched it—painful as hell.

Later, he would need to apply ointment; otherwise, he didn’t know when it would heal.

This terrible woman… she really was a lunatic.

Cui Cuicui glared at him, poking his forehead with her finger. Gritting her teeth, she said, “If it weren’t for me, you’d have been exposed by now.” Pretending to be sick is not something you can half-ass, you pig brain. “Tell me, when are you going back to the office? If you don’t go, the Magistrate will really kick you out. Do you believe it?” You think the current Magistrate is the old one, letting you bully him?

He Dianshi dodged her finger, touched his sore forehead, and said helplessly, “In a couple of days.”

Liu Zhimou threatened him. Could he not go?