"With so many expenses in various places every year, where would the imperial court find food to feed you? You're dreaming!"

If my brother-in-law weren't the village head, you wouldn't have any grain or anything at all.

Other villages only get 8 jin, but each family in our village gets 10 jin. This is already a huge benefit. What more do you want?

You keep asking me for an explanation, but who should I ask for an explanation from?

Do you really think being the village chief is easy?

I work myself to the bone all day long for you, and this is how you treat me?

I don't know which gossipy bastard they listened to, but they came here to make a scene.

Who started this whole thing?

If you know what's good for you, step forward now, or don't blame me for finding out and making him suffer the consequences.

Hmph. Don't you even think about it? Let alone whether we have that much grain, is it something I can control?

Who am I? I'm just a small village chief.

Village chief, that's why you all treat me like an official. But in front of the county magistrate, I'm not even an ant.

Over the years, I've often complained about being poor and said nice things to my brother-in-law, otherwise how could your corvée labor be so little?

Don't be so ungrateful. Didn't you just say you were going to file a complaint?

Then go ahead and go. The yamen gate faces south; if you don't have money, don't come in.

"To accuse an official of the imperial court is to first be punished with twenty strokes of the cane. Go ahead, let's see who you can sue then!"

Chen Xiaoquan's words stunned the villagers, especially the final twenty strokes of the cane, which frightened many.

Those who were already wavering in their resolve immediately took a step back, as if those standing in front were the ones causing trouble.

In the end, only Zai Zai's family remained among the villagers who had retreated.

Faced with so many disloyal villagers, Zai Zai's family felt helpless.

Chen Xiaoquan was amused.

"I knew it! Someone must be talking nonsense. Chen Yaozu, you're so old, yet you dare to slander me with your own words. Do you know what will happen to you?"

My brother-in-law is the head of the pavilion in our Chunfeng Town. Do you know what a pavilion head is? He's in charge of everything in our town. To put it bluntly, he's the local tyrant.

Don't even mention it, go ahead and sue me, you won't be able to leave this town.

And my brother-in-law's brother-in-law is our county magistrate's advisor. Do you know what an advisor is?

That's the county magistrate's head. To put it more bluntly, even the county magistrate has to listen to my brother-in-law's brother-in-law.

You still want to cause trouble for me? I think you don't want to live anymore.

From now on, I don't think other families will have to do the corvée labor; your family will have to take on the responsibilities. This is also a punishment for your family.

If we allow your family to continue inciting unrest, no one in our village will have a good life.

"I don't know who gave you the guts! Guards, tie this whole family up!"

Chen Xiaoquan's official power was immense; as soon as he gave the order, his lackeys were already ready to act.

"Stop! Let's see who dares!" Beren shouted.

Upon hearing the sound, the people immediately parted to make way for Berren and his party.

Bai Lun walked step by step into Chen Xiaoquan's house.

"Hehe, I didn't expect that there would be such a capable person as you in Baihua Village."

What? The relief grain was supposed to be 15 jin per person? How come you stole it all? Is your brother-in-law's brother-in-law my head?

I must listen to your brother-in-law's brother-in-law.

Haha, your brother-in-law is a local tyrant? It's not you or your brother-in-law who embezzled grain, it's me, the official?

Who gave you the guts?

Bai Lun's stern voice startled Chen Xiaoquan so much that he fell to the ground with a thud.

When Chen Xiaoquan's family saw that a group of people had entered, and that they dared to call themselves "this official," and that the head of the household was sitting on the ground, they knew that things had gone wrong.

Chen Xiaoquan has four sons, but perhaps because he did too many immoral things, all four sons only gave him one grandson.

My grandson is 15 years old this year. His name is Jinbao. He is the little tyrant in the village. Nobody dares to mess with him.

He was used to being arrogant and always bullied others. When did it become his turn to be bullied, especially by his beloved grandfather?

He rushed out of the house, carrying a kitchen knife, shouting as he ran.

"Where did this filthy wretch come from, daring to cause trouble in my house? I'll chop you up!"

This startled quite a few people.

Chen Xiaoquan closed his eyes, thinking to himself, "It's over."

When Zai Zai Ye realized that this was all the result of his impulsiveness, he stepped forward to block the way for Bai Lun.

Deng Xinzhou was a step ahead of Chen Yaozu, kicking Chen Jinbao, whom he was carrying, flying away. The knife in his hand also flew out, and unfortunately, it landed right in Chen Xiaoquan's crotch.

With a scream, Chen Xiaoquan lost consciousness. Blood was gushing from his groin.

Chen Jinbao also vomited blood and fainted from the kick he had just received.

The village chief's family, who had been eager to make a move, are now cowering like quails, afraid to move for fear of getting kicked as well.

Only Chen Jinbao's mother let out a loud "Aww!"

“My son, my son, you killed my son! You will all die a horrible death and go to the eighteenth level of hell!”

She picked up her son and shook him violently.

"Jinbao, wake up, wake up! Mother can't live without you. You died such a tragic death."

Deng Xinzhou knew very well that his kick would at most damage the kid's internal organs. He could still live after some rest, but he would be weaker than an average person.

If this woman shakes the baby again, the child will surely die.

He shouted a stern rebuke to stop them.

"If you keep shaking him, your son is really going to die. Do you really want your son to die?"

Upon hearing this, the woman stopped what she was doing and continued to cry her heart out.

Seeing that the woman had stopped shaking Chen Jinbao, Deng Xinzhou stopped paying attention and instead shouted loudly,

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is Magistrate Bai of Qingrao County."

Today, Lord Bai went on an incognito visit to understand the hardships of the common people. Unexpectedly, he encountered a parasite like Chen Xiaoquan.

Under the orders of Prefect Duan of Lingnan Prefecture, our county government has opened the granaries and distributed grain subsidies.

Each affected person was supposed to receive 15 jin of pure grain, not with the husk, but unexpectedly, Chen Xiaoquan was able to embezzle so much.

Such heinous acts are too numerous to recount, therefore today we will give the people an explanation here, and this matter of embezzlement must be thoroughly investigated.

As for the matter of Chen Yaozu's family coming to you to demand an explanation, it was at the behest of our superiors.

There is still justice in this world.

Do not let yourselves be threatened by such petty people.

As long as everyone is in the right, they can report to the imperial court without any hesitation.

Our county magistrate is a good official, honest and dedicated to public service, and our prefect is an even better official among good officials.

Our imperial court is wholeheartedly devoted to protecting the people, so please have more trust in our leaders and our imperial court.

Report any grievances you may have.