bigabreads Chapter 118 The domineering boss bows in the dust to tie his belt: Jiaojiao, with me here, no one ca
Chapter 118 The domineering boss bows in the dust to tie his belt: Jiaojiao, with me here, no one ca
The mountains of gold and silver that the wealthy man brought ultimately failed to secure him exclusive rights to a single cotton boll; instead, he was left with a bellyful of resentment and a contract that represented an unequal treaty.
However, Master Qian has one advantage: he is thick-skinned and only cares about money, not people.
Since I can't handle these "hungry wolves" from the Qin family, I'll find someone who can keep things in check!
"Master Sun! You must do me justice!"
Master Qian, with tears streaming down his face, knelt in the back hall of the county government office, stuffing a five-hundred-tael silver note into Master Sun's hand:
"That Qin family is utterly lawless! Not only do they hoard goods for profit, but they also... they even possess contraband! Look at this glass cup... this is a tribute item! And they just casually take it to drink tea!"
Master Sun held the silver note in his hand, then glanced at the glass that Master Qian had secretly taken out, his beady eyes instantly narrowing into slits.
"Glass? As a teacup?"
Master Sun was the magistrate's confidant and had seen a bit of the world.
He stared at the crystal-clear cup, startled. Its clarity surpassed even the glass Buddha statue enshrined in the master's study!
"That's interesting."
Master Sun stroked his goatee, his eyes gleaming greedily.
"It seems that I, your humble advisor, will have to personally 'inspect' this Wolf Fang Village."
……
Three days later.
A horse-drawn carriage convoy bearing the banner of "County Government Inspection" swaggered towards the Langya Special Zone.
Master Qian rode alongside on horseback, looking every bit the arrogant fox.
"Hmph! Those peasants from the Qin family! Let's see how arrogant you are this time!"
He thought viciously to himself, "If the advisor just finds a fault, he can confiscate the Qin family's assets! Then, that Lady Su... hehe!"
However, just as the horse-drawn carriage caravan passed through the territory of Wangjia Village and was about to enter the Langya Special Zone,
The clerk, who was originally drowsy, suddenly felt the jolt beneath him... disappear.
"Um?"
Master Sun suddenly opened his eyes.
When I go to the countryside for inspections, I'm always jolted awake by the dirt roads, feeling like my internal organs are about to shift. But now, this carriage is as stable as if it's gliding on water!
"parking!"
Master Sun lifted the curtain and jumped down.
next second.
He froze completely.
Underfoot, the dusty, potholed dirt road was no longer there.
Instead, it was a wide, flat, gray-white road as hard as rock!
The road surface was incredibly smooth, without a single crack, stretching all the way to the horizon, like a giant gray dragon crawling across the wasteland.
"What...what kind of road is this?!"
Master Sun stomped his foot hard.
"Thump! Thump!"
The sound was dull and solid, making the soles of my feet go numb.
"A stone slab road? No way! Where would you find stone slabs this big? And there aren't even any seams between them!"
Master Sun squatted down and scratched at the pavement with his fingernail, but it didn't budge.
"Made from a single piece of stone?!"
He gasped, feeling a chill run down his spine.
How much manpower and financial resources would this require?
Even the imperial roads in the palace are paved with blue bricks! Did the Qin family... use magic to flatten the entire mountain and pave this place?!
"Master Qian!"
Master Sun grabbed Master Qian by the collar, his voice trembling:
"You call this a backwater?! This road is a hundred times better than the official road in the county town! Just how much money is the Qin family hiding?!"
Master Qian was also completely bewildered.
The road wasn't even paved when he last came! It's only been a few days! Is the Qin family being helped by ghosts or gods?!
"This...this humble one doesn't know either..."
……
Just when Master Sun was having an existential crisis.
"Da da da—"
A crisp sound of horses' hooves came from the end of the cement road.
A group of barbarian cavalrymen dressed in dark blue uniforms and carrying curved swords at their waists were escorting several people slowly towards them.
Leading the way was the second brother, Qin Mo.
He was still dressed in a refined manner, holding a folding fan in his hand, but when he saw Master Sun behind his glasses, a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.
And walking in the middle was Su Wan.
Today she wore a light apricot riding outfit, her long hair tied up high, making her look heroic and dashing.
But what's most eye-catching is the tall man beside her.
Qin Lie.
He didn't ride a horse, but instead held Su Wan's reins, walking step by step on the cement road like the most loyal knight.
"I am deeply sorry for not welcoming you properly, Master Sun."
Qin Mo slightly cupped his hands in greeting, his tone polite, yet it carried an air of aloofness that kept people at arm's length.
"May I ask what brings you here, sir?"
Before Master Sun could recover from the shock of the "cement road," he instinctively straightened his back and adopted an air of official authority upon seeing the grand spectacle before him.
"Ahem! I've heard that someone reported your Qin family for possessing contraband, so I've come to investigate!"
"Contraband?"
Qin Mo chuckled lightly, his gaze sweeping over the Qian family man cowering in the back, a mocking smile playing on his lips:
"Does the advisor mean this road? Or... the cup we use for drinking water at home?"
"Hmph! Enough with the nonsense!"
With his hands behind his back, Master Sun's eyes greedily scanned the cement road.
"What's going on with this road? And that cup! Hand it all over! Otherwise..."
"ah--!"
A sweet cry suddenly interrupted Master Sun's official speech.
Just as Su Wan was about to dismount, her skirt was too long and her shoelaces came undone, causing her to slip and fall forward.
"Be careful!"
Qin Lie, who had been silent all along, reacted as quickly as lightning.
He suddenly stretched out his long arm, grabbed Su Wan's waist, caught her steadily, and then gently placed her on the ground.
"Are you alright?"
Qin Lie nervously looked her up and down; his usually murderous eyes were now filled with panic and heartache.
"It's nothing... my shoelaces just came undone."
Su Wan lifted her skirt a little shyly, revealing her exquisite deerskin boots, the ribbons on which had indeed come undone.
"Don't move."
Qin Lie suddenly shouted in a deep voice.
then.
Under the astonished gazes of Master Sun, Master Qian, and the barbarian cavalry.
This burly man, nearly two meters tall, exuded an aura that kept strangers at bay.
There was a sudden "plop".
He knelt on one knee on that hard concrete road!
"Boss Qin?!"
Master Sun's eyes nearly popped out.
Qin Lie was known as a tough nut to crack in the county! Back then, when the county magistrate tried to make him kneel down, he almost tore down the courtroom!
now……
He actually knelt down in public to tie a woman's shoelaces?!
Qin Lie completely ignored the stares of those around him.
In his world at that moment, there was only that one loose shoelace.
He lowered his head, his rough, large hands—hands capable of drawing a 300-pound bow and crushing iron walnuts with his bare hands—now gripping a thin ribbon, his movements clumsy yet devout.
"Jiaojiao, lift your foot."
His voice was deep and filled with a doting affection that made one's legs go weak.
Su Wan's face turned as red as a ripe apple, and she whispered, "Big brother, I can do it myself..."
"obedient."
Qin Lie didn't look up, but gently held her ankle with his large, calloused hand.
The scalding heat traveled through the thin boots, making Su Wan's toes curl up.
He carefully tied the ribbon, bit by bit, into a beautiful bow.
He did not get up immediately.
Instead, he remained kneeling on one knee, raised his head, and looked up at her with his deep, dark eyes.
that moment.
Sunlight shone on his resolute profile, gilding his features with a golden edge.
His eyes no longer held the ferocity of a wild wolf.
Instead, it is like a most faithful believer looking up to his god.
"alright."
He reached out and brushed a speck of dust off the hem of her skirt, his voice hoarse but firm:
"Jiaojiao".
"Don't run, Lu Ping either."
"It's easy to fall."
"Although I can catch you... it hurts me to see you fall."
This man...
This man, usually quiet and reserved, only ever focused on his work...
How come she's even more irresistible when it comes to flirting than that peacock Qin Yue?!
This act of kneeling in public, bowing and submitting, this deep affection that values her safety more than her dignity...
It's practically the most lethal weapon against women!
Master Sun stared with his mouth agape, forgetting why he had come there in the first place.
Even the lecherous Qian was speechless at the sight.
That's amazing.
That stark difference in size and status, and that extreme sense of pampering...
"Have you seen enough?"
Qin Lie stood up and instantly transformed back into that cold-faced, ruthless demon.
He stood in front of Su Wan, his eyes, which had just been full of tenderness, coldly staring at Master Sun, his tone icy:
"What did the advisor just say he wanted to investigate?"
"Gulp."
Master Sun swallowed hard, feeling a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.
He had a misconception.
If he dared to say a single word that was detrimental to Su Wan, this man would absolutely not hesitate to draw his sword and chop him into mincemeat!
"N-nothing!"
Master Sun immediately cowered, a smile more painful than a grimace plastered across his face:
"What I'm saying is... this road is well-built! It's wonderfully constructed! This is a great thing for the country and its people! Chief Qin is truly... truly... a pillar of society!"
"Since he's a pillar..."
Qin Mo stepped forward at the opportune moment, adjusted his glasses, and smiled like a fox:
"Shouldn't the advisor... go in for a cup of tea and discuss the promotion of this 'road construction technology' in detail?"
He deliberately emphasized the pronunciation of the word "technology".
That's about interests.
It was a huge profit that would make corrupt officials like Master Sun envious.
"Yes, yes, yes! Let's have some tea! Let's talk in detail!"
Master Sun immediately seized the opportunity and followed Qin Mo into the courtyard.
As for that unfortunate Mr. Qian?
Who cares about him anymore!
……
Only Su Wan and Qin Lie remained at the main gate.
"Big brother..."
Looking at the tall man in front of her, Su Wan's heart melted completely.
"Um?"
Qin Lie looked down at her, his gaze softening again.
"Thank you for what you did earlier."
"What are you thanking me for?"
Qin Lie reached out and naturally put his arm around her waist, leading her inside:
"You are my life."
"You're protecting my life, and I still need to thank you?"
He spoke as if it were a matter of course, as if it were something that should be taken for granted.