Chapter 66: Who Will Be Executed

Jin Youcai was utterly stunned, clutching his face in bewilderment.
“Secretary Lin... Lin... why did you hit me?”
“Aren’t you here to support me?”
Lin Chunhua’s hand shook with fury as she pointed at Jin Youcai.
“Support you?”
“You fool!”
“You've gotten us into huge trouble!”
With that, Lin Chunhua slapped Jin Youcai in the face again, causing another wave of shock among the crowd.
After landing the slap, Lin Chunhua no longer wasted words. She turned on her heel and hurried over to Zeng Xiaofan, giving him a deep, respectful bow.
“I apologize, Mr. Zeng!”
“I failed to discipline my subordinates, and I’ve caused you trouble!”
“On behalf of all the township officials, I offer you our most sincere apologies!”
“Please forgive us!”
She bowed deeply again.
The entire scene erupted in astonishment.
“What? Our mayor is apologizing to that guy?”
“This... what in the world is going on?”
“Who is he, really?”
“To think he could make our esteemed mayor bow so humbly in apology...”
“My goodness...”
All the staff present instantly turned pale with fear. If even the mayor treated Zeng Xiaofan with such respect, it was clear to everyone that they’d made a grave mistake today.
Jin Youcai was so shocked his eyes nearly popped out. He hurried over to tug at Lin Chunhua, forcing an awkward smile.
“Mayor Lin... Secretary Lin... you must be mistaken!”
“He’s just a worthless nobody!”
“With your esteemed status, how could you bow to someone like him?”
“His name is Zeng Xiaofan, a stray orphan taken in by our village, whose parents aren’t even home.”
“He only gets by thanks to the help of his foster mother’s best friend, his aunt’s family. He’s nothing but a useless good-for-nothing!”
“Please, get up, please...”
Jin Youcai urged repeatedly, not noticing Lin Chunhua’s face had darkened to the point of a brewing storm.

“Zeng Xiaofan! The mayor made a mistake in bowing to you, and you even dared to accept it?”
“You dog! Get on your knees and kowtow to the mayor in return!”
“Go to hell!” Lin Chunhua could take it no longer, even cursing outright.
He raised his foot and kicked Jin Youcai straight into the wild field, roaring in anger:
“You fool! If you don’t care about your official cap, don’t drag me down with you!”
“This distinguished Mr. Zeng Xiaofan is the young man I admire the most!”
“He’s the top of this year’s Ten Outstanding Youths in our whole township!”
“What do you know?!”
“The county chief himself called me to make sure I came to support Mr. Zeng’s work!”
“You idiot!” Lin Chunhua was so furious his face turned green. He raised his foot, wanting to kick Jin Youcai again, but Jin lay sprawled in the muddy paddy, too far away. So Lin Chunhua could only scoop up two clods of mud and hurl them at him with all his strength.
Everyone else was utterly dumbfounded. Each person stared at Zeng Xiaofan in shock, mouths agape.
Li Bixian’s ample chest heaved with excitement, her lips parted in disbelief.
“Xiaofan... what have you done...”
“How does even the county chief know you??”
“My god... when did you become so amazing?”
“What else are you hiding from your sister?”
“Could it be you’re one of those top domineering CEOs in novels, coming to the countryside for the experience—some kind of heir?”
Zeng Xiaofan chuckled, lightly patting Li Bixian’s fragrant shoulder.
“That’s right, Sister Xian, you’ve seen through me.”
“I am Murong Yunhai, and I’ve contracted all the village fish ponds just for you!”
Li Bixian giggled coyly at this.
Even Lin Chunhua, who had been so stern, broke into a smile.
“Hahaha, Mr. Zeng, you truly are witty and humorous.”
“I never imagined our township would have someone as broad-minded and deeply attached to his home as you!”
“So young, yet you’re not tempted by the glittering world outside, and instead return home to lead the villagers to prosperity!”
“You are the pride of our town, and a model for our youth!”
As Lin Chunhua spoke, he began to applaud enthusiastically. The staff who had previously been set on making trouble for Zeng Xiaofan quickly sensed the change in the wind and scrambled to join in, clapping for Zeng Xiaofan with all their might.
In an instant, thunderous applause filled the air and went on and on. Even Jin Youcai, still standing in the mud, grinned foolishly and clapped along for all he was worth.
“Hehe, Secretary Lin is absolutely right!”

“Xiaofan, my good nephew... it was all a misunderstanding before.”
“All just a misunderstanding.”
“It was your uncle who wronged you, I apologize...”
“I’m sorry, truly sorry...”
Jin Youcai bowed repeatedly to Zeng Xiaofan, his attitude a hundred times more humble than Lin Chunhua’s.
There was nothing else he could do—once Lin Chunhua mentioned that the county chief had personally named Zeng Xiaofan, Jin Youcai knew there was no way he’d come out on top today.
No matter how Zeng Xiaofan had managed to connect with the county chief, Jin had to do everything he could to curry favor if he wanted to keep his official cap.
Zeng Xiaofan gave a cold smile. “Uncle Youcai, you really can bend and stretch, can’t you?”
“Is this the admirable trait of those in office?”
“Always adjusting to the wind, changing faces in an instant, and not feeling the least bit ashamed?”
At these words, not only Jin Youcai, but even Lin Chunhua and the rest of the officials blushed in embarrassment.
Indeed... his words had slapped the faces of every government worker present.
Still, Zeng Xiaofan was mindful of Lin Chunhua’s dignity as the township leader, so he did not go further, instead turning directly to Jin Youcai.
“Secretary Lin, this village chief of yours throws his weight around.”
“He just accused me of destroying basic farmland—said I’d committed a crime so serious I should be executed. Should I prepare myself, then? If I’m truly to be executed, why don’t you take me away yourself...”
“No, no, no... what does he know?”
“You’re not destroying farmland at all, you’re reclaiming wasteland and leading the villagers to prosperity!”
“You’re a leader in rural revitalization!”
“And that so-called village chief—what authority does he have to enforce the law? What does he know about the law?”
“Don’t worry, Mr. Zeng, I will make sure to deal with him properly!”
“Jin Youcai!”
“You scoundrel, people might think you’re just a village chief, but if they didn’t know better, they’d think you were an emperor!”
“You dare threaten people with execution? If anyone deserves execution, it’s you!” With that, Lin Chunhua picked up more clods of mud and hurled them hard at Jin Youcai.
With a splat, the mud landed squarely on Jin Youcai’s face, drawing laughter from the crowd. Li Bixian laughed so hard her chest trembled, her cheeks blooming like peach blossoms, more radiant than ever.
Zeng Xiaofan, watching Sister Xian’s lovely smile, felt a stirring in his heart, and his anger faded away.