Li Jin knew that Pan Dachun was trying to use this incident to embarrass him.

My face did indeed hurt from being hit.

Look at the six or seven strong young men standing behind Pan Dachun; this matter is definitely not going to end well today.

Pan Dachun's goal was to make this matter bigger, even bigger.

Otherwise, how could he smear himself by taking over as the head of the pumping station?

Even a child could guess what Hu Shusong would say. He would undoubtedly look troubled and say, "I know Comrade Li Jin. A few years ago, he returned from the Yongxing County liquor factory and reluctantly became the head of Lijiapo Village. His work ability is certainly commendable. I certainly don't object to recommending him as the head of the Wudaohe Pumping Station. However, I heard that a few days ago, several people from his village went to the peach orchard of the neighboring Panjiazhuang Village to steal peaches. Panjiazhuang Village suffered a loss of over 400 yuan. Fortunately, the head of Panjiazhuang Village managed to salvage the situation, preventing the loss of state property and successfully stopping this illegal activity. Of course, Comrade Pan Dachun, the head of Panjiazhuang Village, is absolutely a good comrade. I will recommend someone more capable than someone I have a close relationship with, but I feel that Comrade Pan Dachun is more competent for the position of head of the Wudaohe Pumping Station..."

Although Tang Yunping is now the deputy director with real power, Pan Dachun's side consists of the head of the Wudaohe Commune and the nominal director of the Water Resources Bureau. Li Jin's support is no stronger than Pan Dachun's, and perhaps even weaker. At this juncture, if Li Jin has even the slightest flaw...

No, we can't leave any evidence at this time.

Whether it's going to the police station or paying compensation to Panjiazhuang, Hu Shusong and Pan Dachun will make a big fuss about it.

But what can we do?

This dilemma seemed to have no way out, and thinking of this, Li Jin's face darkened even more.

When Li Xiangdong arrived, panting, with Li Guoqing and Guo Yuxi, they were followed by more than a dozen aunties, uncles, and grandpas from Lijiapo and Panjiazhuang, all there to watch the spectacle.

Li Xiangdong watched as Li and Pan's groups occupied separate sides, and the situation on the scene became tense and on the verge of conflict.

Pan Dachun was surrounded by Pan Jiqing and five or six strong young men, while his father Li Jin was surrounded by Li Tang and Erhu's father, clearly putting him at a disadvantage.

Li Xiangjie, Erhu, and Gaifeng were tied to the three large peach trees in the middle.

Pan Dachun and Pan Jiqing are absolutely outrageous! Tying people to trees—are they going to resort to vigilante justice?!

This is utterly lawless!

Upon seeing Li Xiangdong, Li Xiangjie burst into tears.

He hadn't cried when his father came, but now that he saw Li Xiangdong, he acted like he'd seen a savior. He started wailing and complaining, "Second brother, that bastard Pan Jiqing hit me! Look, he's swollen my face!"

Li Xiangdong greeted his father, Uncle Tang, and Erhu's father, then walked over to Li Xiangjie and carefully examined his face. The swelling was not obvious. He then looked at the other two, who did not have any obvious injuries on their heads or faces.

It's easy to guess that, given Pan Jiqing's ruthless nature, even if he beat them, he wouldn't leave any obvious marks. This guy is best at harming people in the shadows.

In Li Xiangdong's opinion, Pan Jiqing was practically the reincarnation of Rong Momo.

Pan Jiqing committed many evil deeds in his previous life. The key was that he was ruthless and meticulous, and never left any evidence behind.

Li Xiangdong patted Li Xiangjie's head reassuringly, then turned to look at Pan Dachun, "Uncle Dachun, my younger brother, Erhu, and Sister Feng all accidentally entered your Peach Garden while trying to find cicada nymphs for me."

No sooner had Li Xiangdong finished speaking than Li Jin shouted, "You troublesome brat, you have no place to speak here, get the hell out of here and go home!"

Is the son making things worse? Doesn't this admit that he instigated Gai Feng and Er Hu?

What's the difference between someone instigated by their own son and someone instigated by themselves?

"Hey, Brother Li, the kids are all grown up now, don't be so disrespectful to them. Xiang Dong, tell me, did you order those three to steal the peaches?" Pan Dachun grinned like a weasel eyeing a chick.

Li Xiangdong sneered inwardly, but feigned ignorance. "Uncle Dachun, I never said I ordered them to do it. As for whether they stole the peaches or not, Uncle Dachun, did Brother Jiqing hit my brother?"

"Well, your younger brother came to steal peaches and was spotted by your brother Jiqing. The three of them tried to run away, and in the struggle, they inevitably bumped into each other."

"So that means Pan Jiqing caught and beat me because my brother and his friends stole peaches?"

"Yes, your brother and his friends stole the peaches! They're the ones who stole them. Our village is missing over a thousand catties, which means we lost more than four hundred yuan in sales..."

"So, Uncle Dachun, you're admitting that Pan Jiqing beat up my three brothers?"

"Just a few light taps!"

As soon as he uttered those words, Pan Dachun immediately realized he had said the wrong thing.

Just now, Li Xiangdong and he exchanged a few words back and forth too quickly. He felt that he was about to conclude that Li Xiangdong had instructed someone to steal peaches, and that he could drag Li Jin down with him. In a moment of smugness, he blurted it out.

Li Tang and Erhu's father looked furious and were about to reach for their weapons.

Li Xiangdong quickly stopped the two, smiled slightly, and looked at Pan Dachun and Pan Jiqing with an unwavering expression. "Uncle Dachun, it's good that you admit it—Pan Jiqing beat up my brother, Erhu, and Gaifeng!"

It's hard to take back what you've just said, and Pan Dachun was speechless for a moment.

Pan Jiqing rolled his eyes and replied, "I also got beaten up by those three brats. My leg still hurts from being kicked."

After saying that, she even touched her calf in a pretentious manner.

Li Xiangdong ignored him and turned to give Li Xiangjie a wink, "Xiangjie, does your head still hurt?"

Li Xiangjie immediately understood the meaning behind Li Xiangdong's words, and a look of pain appeared on his face.

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