Chapter 64 - 63: Is He Going to Die? (Requesting First Subscription!)

"Whether it counts or not, tell me. Besides, I heard there’s a young man named Chen Xuan at your place recently. Is he your grandson?"

Upon hearing this,

Chen Xiu squinted his old eyes, staring coldly at Zuo Qiu Ming.

"Dare you investigate me?"

At this moment, he refrained from calling him Lord County Magistrate and instead wore a terribly cold expression.

It seemed as if he would take action the next moment if he didn’t receive a satisfactory answer.

"If I were truly investigating you, I wouldn’t ask like this. Do you really think I’m just a figurehead?"

Zuo Qiu Ming said disdainfully.

"Hmph!"

Chen Xiu snorted discontentedly.

Primordial Thunder looked at the two of them, feeling a headache; they’re both so old yet always bickering whenever they meet.

"Alright! Enough with this bullshit. None of us are any good. Let’s talk business!"

The three had been sitting here for over an hour.

They’d drunk several pots of tea.

With nothing achieved at all.

"Let someone from the Yao Family take this position!"

After talking for so long, Zuo Qiu Ming finally spoke sincerely.

"The Yao Family?"

Primordial Thunder wasn’t surprised by his words, given that the Yao Family had a much closer relationship with him than the other two families.

"Yes!"

Zuo Qiu Ming nodded and explained, "The Yao Family did contribute regarding the weapons issue this time, and they also sought my help concerning the West District Hall Master position, so I thought I might as well reward the Yao Family."

"Hehe!"

Chen Xiu sneered, disdainfully looking at Zuo Qiu Ming, mocking, "Reward? Reward my ass? If the Yao Family hadn’t offered you benefits, would you have spoken up? I also heard that the old guy from the Yao Family is going to give you his granddaughter. Aren’t you already in your sixties? Really shameless."

His words left no face for the County Magistrate.

"So what?"

Facing Primordial Thunder, Zuo Qiu Ming’s expression didn’t change in the slightest; instead, he very seriously replied, "What if I’m sixty? Does that mean my body isn’t working? Given my status, with the Yao Family offering me a woman, isn’t that acceptable? What’s wrong with her being young? I just like the young ones!"

He admitted his preference—just a woman, why not?

"Besides, being the County Magistrate for so many years, Yunze County is much better now than before. I’m getting older, can’t I enjoy some pleasures?"

"Ugh!"

Chen Xiu pretended to gag in disgust.

He simply couldn’t stand this old guy, all bones, whose women at home are already quite aged, truly shameless.

"Alright, alright, can you two calm down!"

Primordial Thunder kept pounding the table, producing banging sounds, utterly fed up with these two old fogies.

He couldn’t bear it anymore.

If he had more power, he would’ve liked to knock these two out.

"Chen Xiu, it’s your turn to speak, and once you’re done, both of you get lost!"

Saying this, he looked at him impatiently.

"Me? Then, it definitely has to be my own person. I didn’t care before, but this time, the West District Hall Master position must be mine!"

Even though Zuo Qiu Ming proposed giving the position to someone from the Yao Family, he still wanted it.

And he was determined to get it.

"Alright, that’s settled then. In a month, let your people compete in a match on the stage, and whoever wins will get the position. Any objections?"

As for other forces, as long as the three of them agreed, everyone else could forget about it.

"I have no objections. I’m leaving, Lao Yuan, next time, switch to wine. I don’t like tea!"

He tossed his teacup and left directly through the window.

"Hoo~~~"

Primordial Thunder was so angry he felt like killing him.

This tea, infused with beast’s blood, is a top-quality rarity. If it weren’t for both of them being here, he wouldn’t even have taken it out.

This old moron, acting all picky.

Just doesn’t know how to appreciate it!

"Isn’t he about to kick the bucket?"

At that moment,

Zuo Qiu Ming suddenly spoke, looking thoughtfully at the window through which Chen Xiu had disappeared.

"No way, he was injured back then, but it should be mostly healed by now."

Primordial Thunder was somewhat skeptical of Zuo Qiu Ming’s words.

After all, he had known Chen Xiu for over thirty years.

When he first came to Yunze County, he was severely injured.

Back then, the black market was newly established and unstable.

So they invited him to join.

With their formidable strength over the years, the black market became impregnable.

Ten years ago, they even drew in this County Magistrate Zuo Qiu Ming.

Since then, no one dared to target the black market.

"I’m just sensing it, but if that’s truly the case, then we should really let him be."

At this moment, Zuo Qiu Ming’s eyes showed a hint of fear.

He knew very well what kind of strength Chen Xiu possessed.

Even though he’d dropped a level, he still wasn’t a match, only Primordial Thunder could hold his own against him.

If truly provoked, it would be disastrous.

"You know fear too? Then why fight him for this position? Just give it to him. He hasn’t asked for anything all these years, and this is the first time; just give it to him!"

As one of the three pillars of the black market, Chen Xiu generally didn’t meddle in its affairs.

As long as the market’s monthly profits were delivered to him, it was fine.

This saved him from a lot of trouble.

"But I already promised the Yao Family, and I can’t go back on my word!"

Zuo Qiu Ming was also in a bind—he had accepted people, and things too.

Couldn’t just take and not deliver.

He had his pride too.

"Do as you please, I won’t meddle, but mark my words: if Chen Xiu is truly nearing his end, don’t provoke him. You know his temper, and if he messes up the black market, don’t blame me for turning my back on you."

He wouldn’t interfere, but under no circumstances could the black market be disrupted.

It was established with his hard work, and honestly, it was his retirement fund now.

"I know, I know!"

At this point, Zuo Qiu Ming was also feeling a bit troubled.

Dammit, if Chen Xiu wanted the position, why didn’t he say so earlier?

He could return the goods, but he had already used the woman, how could he return her?

"By the way, how’s the rebellion? Will it affect Yunze County?"

As the County Magistrate, Zuo Qiu Ming naturally had more insightful information.

If fighting broke out, the black market would inevitably be affected.

It was his main concern; otherwise, he wouldn’t bother with these trivial matters!

"It’s manageable so far and shouldn’t affect us in the short term, but over time, who knows. Also, it’s rumored that several rebel leaders are quite powerful, including some who slipped through the cracks and fled twenty years ago. Hard to say."

Zuo Qiu Ming didn’t hide anything.

As the County Magistrate of Yunze County, if the rebels did reach here, he’d be in the worst position.

Fight? Without imperial support, they wouldn’t stand a chance.

Escape?

No guts; desertion met with ruthless execution, including family annihilation.

"I’m leaving, so many troublesome issues."

Casting a single sentence, like Chen Xiu, he went out the window.

"Sigh! Turbulent times!"

Primordial Thunder sighed, his eyes filled with concern.