Chapter 320: Chapter 320

He suppressed his anger, tidied up Chai Eying’s clothes, and smoothed her hair.

"I’m okay, you came just in time." Chai Eying said, still shaken, holding Li Xingmao’s hand to stand up. If Li Xingmao had been a bit later...

She dared not think further.

Recalling the humiliation she had just suffered, Chai Eying’s anger flared up. She picked up a stick from the ground and swung it viciously at Luo Zikun’s leg, "What kind of man bullies women?"

Luo Zikun jumped up from the blow.

He shouted angrily, "Chai Eying, you wretch, you invited me here, and now you dare hit me?" He pointed at Li Xingmao, sneering coldly, "Li, do you know your woman is being indiscreet? She’s still not over me, you know?"

"You... you’re talking nonsense!" Chai Eying trembled with anger, "I came here to ask Uncle Tian’s son something! How could I possibly be involved with someone like you? You think you deserve it?"

Uncle Gui feared Li Xingmao would misunderstand Chai Eying, and said anxiously, "Third Young Master, Luo Zikun is making this up, trying to sow discord! I can testify! Don’t believe his lies!"

"Ha, aren’t you a servant of the Chai Family’s main house? What can you testify?" Luo Zikun sneered, "You’re just a doorkeeper for Chai Eying."

"You’re lying!" Uncle Gui trembled with fury.

"Bang—" Li Xingmao, with a swinging fist, punched Luo Zikun hard in the face, "How dare you ruin Eying’s reputation! You’re courting death!"

Luo Zikun, enraged, fought back with a punch, but he was no match for Li Xingmao; his outstretched fist was firmly grasped by Li Xingmao’s hand.

Li Xingmao twisted hard, making Luo Zikun’s arm ache, immobilizing him with pain.

"Kneel down and apologize to my wife!" Li Xingmao demanded angrily.

Luo Zikun refused to kneel, "Li, Chai Eying was someone I discarded, why do you care so much? So fond of picking up discarded shoes?"

"Thunk—" Behind Li Xingmao, Guoguo hit Luo Zikun’s head with the wooden toy mallet in his hand, "Daddy, hit the bad guy, hit, hit—"

Though small, Guoguo wielded the mallet swiftly.

He struck Luo Zikun until he saw stars.

Li Xingmao smiled wryly, "Alright, Daddy will hit the bad guy now."

He swung his fist again, delivering another punch to Luo Zikun’s face.

Luo Family’s driver was petrified, he hurriedly ran to help, but seeing Li Xingmao’s fierce eyes and brutal fists, he was too scared to intervene.

"Kneel! Apologize!" Li Xingmao lifted his leg and kicked Luo Zikun’s knee hard.

Luo Zikun, unwilling but forced, knelt down.

"Apologize!" Li Xingmao’s voice was chilly.

"Bad!" Li Guoguo echoed crisply, pointing his little mallet menacingly at Luo Zikun.

Luo Zikun couldn’t fight back nor could he escape.

Finding no alternative, Luo Zikun gritted his teeth and said to Chai Eying, "I apologize, Chai Eying!"

His defiant gaze made Chai Eying very uncomfortable.

She turned her head away, "Husband, let him go, I don’t want to see this person."

Li Xingmao released Luo Zikun, giving him another kick, "Get lost, dare to harass my wife again, don’t blame me for being rude!"

Luo Zikun climbed up from the ground, gave Li Xingmao a frosty look, flicked his sleeves with a cold snort, and hobbled out of the yard.

His driver dashed to support him.

As he reached the gate, Luo Zikun turned back to sneer at Li Xingmao, "Li, you rustic, just you wait, I’ll report you to the county government!"

Chai Eying turned pale with anger, he still had the face to accuse?

Li Xingmao, however, was indifferent, "Feel free to report! Even if you go to the Emperor, I won’t be afraid!"

"Ignorant country bumpkin, just wait and see! Hmph!" Luo Zikun left with a flick of his sleeve.

His driver helped him into the carriage, and the two left in disgrace.

However, Luo Zikun didn’t go home immediately; instead, he had the driver take a detour to the home of the Pavilion Chief.

Li Xingmao humiliated him today, and he must avenge this insult! Read complete versıon only at NoveI[F]ire.net

He would make the Li Family unable to stay here!

He would make Li Xingmao kneel before him and kowtow! No, kowtow a hundred times!

The Pavilion Chief’s home was nearby.

The carriage rode half a mile to reach there.

The Pavilion Chief managed eight villages of Xingfu Town, usually collecting taxes and overseeing public order for the county government, conveying the County Magistrate’s orders, and occasionally visiting the county town to cozy up to the County Magistrate.

Luo Zikun had the coachman knock on the door of the Pavilion Chief’s grand mansion.

The door opened, and the doorman, recognizing Luo Zikun, ushered him in with a smile, "Ah, it’s Mr. Luo? Please come in, our master is home."

The Luo Family’s wealth was renowned in the village, making them honored guests at the Pavilion Chief’s residence.

The doorman was extremely courteous and respectful upon seeing Luo Zikun.

However, upon noticing a bruise on Luo Zikun’s face and his somewhat wrinkled clothing, he furrowed his brows in puzzlement but dared not ask.

Luo Zikun nodded slightly to the servant, walking inside with his hands behind his back and his head held high.

He was a scholar and a student of the County Magistrate, and even the Pavilion Chief had to show him some respect.

The Pavilion Chief’s old servant led Luo Zikun inside while loudly announcing to the main house, "Master, Mr. Luo is here."

The Pavilion Chief, who was talking with his family in the main house, heard the loud call from the courtyard and personally came to the door to greet him, smiling as he said, "Mr. Luo, back from the county town?"

Luo Zikun had become the County Magistrate’s student, and the Luo Family regarded it as a great honor, spreading the news far and wide.

The Pavilion Chief, who interacted with several wealthy families in the village, naturally knew about Luo Zikun’s situation.

Luo Zikun was quite pleased with their flattery and nodded, "Just returned, haven’t even gone home yet. Passed by your residence and thought I’d stop by first."

The Pavilion Chief stepped forward, cupping his hands with a smile, "Ah, Mr. Luo, amidst your busy schedule you still remembered this old man. I am truly touched."

Upon getting closer, the Pavilion Chief immediately noticed the bruise on Luo Zikun’s face.

This was clearly from a beating!

Looking more closely, Luo Zikun’s hair was also a mess, and his robe was wrinkled and covered with a good deal of dust. What else could it be but a beating?

No wonder Luo Zikun came here first instead of home, was he here to complain?

But who would dare to assault the wealthy Mr. Luo, daring to strike the County Magistrate’s student?

The Pavilion Chief couldn’t help but frown, scrutinizing Luo Zikun as he said, "Mr. Luo, this is... What happened? Where did you come from?"

As the Pavilion Chief sized him up, Luo Zikun recalled the events earlier and was even more frustrated.

He swung his sleeve and, with a cold face, walked into the main house, "Pavilion Chief, let’s talk inside."

Seeing Luo Zikun not responding, the Pavilion Chief didn’t ask further and followed him inside.

Inside, his two sons were standing, the Pavilion Chief instructed them to run some errands.

After sitting down, the Pavilion Chief asked why Luo Zikun was in such a disheveled state.

"Have you ever heard of the Li Family from Taohua River Village? It’s the family that fled here from another province, right?" Luo Zikun bluntly asked.

His expression was unpleasant as he spoke through gritted teeth.

The Pavilion Chief laughed, "Ah, Mr. Luo, speaking of that Li Family, you should be more familiar than I am. Isn’t he your relative? Your father-in-law’s stepdaughter, Miss Chai, is Li Family’s eldest son’s wife. You and that eldest son are brothers-in-law. I’m not familiar with them, but I’d like to visit. Mr. Luo, could you introduce me sometime?"

Luo Zikun was taken aback, "..." Why was the Pavilion Chief so muddle-headed? "Why does the Pavilion Chief want to visit the Li Family?"

The Pavilion Chief chuckled, "Mr. Luo, didn’t the Lord County Magistrate mention the Li Family to you while you were in the county town?"

Luo Zikun was even more puzzled and shook his head, "No, he didn’t."

Though he claimed to be the County Magistrate’s student, he had only met the magistrate twice. He paid respect to the magistrate as a teacher but didn’t have free access to see him.

The County Magistrate was busy with state affairs, and he dared not disturb him.

But this couldn’t be told to outsiders.

Saying it would be a loss of face.

The title of the County Magistrate’s student earned him a lot of respect in the village, how could he admit to hardly seeing the magistrate?

He absolutely couldn’t say that.

Even under threat of death, he couldn’t admit it.

Luo Zikun cleared his throat slightly and said, "I’ve been busy with official duties lately, helping the County Magistrate organize some documents, very important ones, so I haven’t had the leisure to chat about personal matters with him."

"Ah, I see." The Pavilion Chief smiled and said, "The County Magistrate values Mr. Luo so much; surely your future is promising."

Luo Zikun didn’t want to hear any more flattery from the Pavilion Chief; he was still pondering why the Pavilion Chief wanted to visit the Li Family.

He asked again, "Why does the Pavilion Chief want to visit the Li Family? Is there anything worth visiting in that Li Family?"

"The Li Family is related to the County Magistrate. In the future, if anything happens in our village, Landlord Li can put in a good word for us. Naturally, it’s worth a visit." The Pavilion Chief smiled and added, "Mr. Luo, rest assured, after I visit the Li Family, I won’t forget you."

Luo Zikun secretly took a breath of cold air.

The Li Family... is related to the County Magistrate?