"Alright, Old Yuan, stop pretending."
Zhou Weiguo waved his hand impatiently, "I'll notify Director Li to come arrest people later."
As soon as they heard about being arrested, the few ruffians became restless.
They had come to beat people up, not to be arrested themselves!
"What do you guys want?"
Yuan Yixiu's eyes were bloodshot, and he glared at them viciously.
Intimidated by his usual authority, they all looked crestfallen and could only obediently kneel on the ground.
"Secretary-General Zhou, it's really not what you think. I, I..."
Yuan Yixiu suddenly thought of something and pointed at Bai Lu, "It's all her fault!"
Bai Lu shivered violently, instantly dumbfounded.
"This bitch had a small conflict with Lin Fan, and then she pestered me to find people to help her. Secretary-General Zhou, I was foolish for a moment!"
Yuan Yixiu cried out in despair.
"Husband..."
Bai Lu's eyes darted around, scarcely believing her ears.
Slap!
A fierce slap landed on her face.
Bai Lu spun around more than halfway in place.
"You bitch, are you trying to get me killed?"
Yuan Yixiu's face contorted with rage, and he slapped her again, "It's all your fault!"
"You jinx, what can you do besides cause trouble?"
Bai Lu's nose was bleeding from the blows, and she no longer had the arrogant demeanor of a wealthy lady.
"Husband."
Facing Yuan Yixiu's slaps, Bai Lu was utterly defenseless and could only beg for mercy.
Su Yurou felt a sense of satisfaction, but also felt it was not worth it for Bai Lu.
Relying on the strong was only a temporary measure; ultimately, one had to depend on oneself.
"Alright, Old Yuan, stop putting on a show for me."
Zhou Weiguo said coldly, "I'll let this matter slide for now."
"Secretary-General Zhou."
Yuan Yixiu breathed a sigh of relief, though his heart was still churning with unease.
"Let's go, don't embarrass yourselves here."
Zhou Weiguo waved his hand dismissively.
"Thank you, Secretary-General Zhou. I'll come to thank you properly another day."
Yuan Yixiu plastered a fawning smile on his face.
Zhou Weiguo looked at Lin Fan, "Xiao Fan, I'll walk you out."
The group of four left, chatting and laughing, leaving behind the kneeling ruffians, Bai Lu who was seeing stars and feeling dizzy from the beating, and Yuan Yixiu standing in place, still shaken.
"Husband, I know you had no choice but to hit me."
Bai Lu pounced forward, forcing a seductive smile.
What could she do about being beaten?
It had taken her a full five years to get Yuan Yixiu to divorce his original wife and for her to become the mistress.
Was she going to give up the hard-won wealth and status because of one beating?
"Get lost, you disgust me."
Yuan Yixiu pushed her away, his eyes filled with loathing.
"Husband, Husband!"
As soon as Yuan Yixiu got into the car, he hit the accelerator, spewing black smoke in her face.
--
Xiao Fan Medical Clinic.
Two Maybachs were parked in front of the clinic.
"My master is here."
Lin Fan had already guessed this.
"Oh."
Zhou Weiguo recalled the information he had seen at the hotel and thought to himself, "This is a wealthy magnate!"
The cars stopped.
Zhou Weiguo got out of the car and said to Wang Qing, "I'll go say hello to Elder Zhong."
As the three of them walked into the clinic, Xia Xue was carefully accompanying Zhong Chen and An Hai, talking with them.
Song Yue was like a maid, boiling water and refilling tea, afraid of causing the slightest dissatisfaction.
"Master!"
Lin Fan called out cheerfully.
"Xiao Fan, you're back."
"We heard you went on a house call, so we sat in your clinic for a while."
The two presidents smiled and stood up.
Zhou Weiguo stepped forward proactively, extending his hand and smiling, "Hello, I am Zhou Weiguo, Secretary-General of the County Party Committee of Shimen County. It is a great honor for you to visit us here."
"Hello."
Although the two presidents didn't know where this person came from, they politely shook hands with Zhou Weiguo, as a friendly gesture.
"Our region has simple folkways, convenient transportation, and a good investment environment."
Zhou Weiguo smiled obsequiously, "President Zhong is Lin Fan's master, and with this connection, you are welcome to invest here."
"We will if we have the chance."
"I will seriously consider it."
The two presidents smiled helplessly.
So that's how it was.
"Then I won't disturb you further."
Zhou Weiguo smiled and took his leave.
Xia Xue was extremely nervous.
A Secretary-General of the County Party Committee!
He must be higher in rank than the town mayor, right?
"Secretary-General Zhou, please sit down and have some tea."
Xia Xue beckoned.
"No need, I have other matters to attend to. Please continue with your business."
After Zhou Weiguo left, Xia Xue quickly asked Lin Fan, "Didn't you go to see patients? Why did the Secretary-General of the County Party Committee personally send you back?"
"Sister-in-law, the Secretary-General of the County Party Committee is also human and can get sick. Besides, times have changed, so don't worry about it."
Lin Fan said dismissively.
"Easy for you to say."
Xia Xue rolled her eyes.
Zhong Chen, seeing their disagreement, advised, "Xiao Fan's sister-in-law, please don't worry. He's just a county party secretary. My apprentice is not to be trifled with."
"Yes."
Xia Xue immediately fell silent.
If she continued, she would be disrespecting Zhong Chen.
"Xiao Fan, you chat with your master. My sister and I are going back to cook."
Xia Xue's high school education was not low in the village, but facing two feng shui masters who knew everything from astronomy to geography, she felt inadequate.
Since Lin Fan was back, she was eager to leave.
After she left, Zhong Chen eagerly asked, "Where is the 'Qing Nang Jing'?"
"Yes, Xiao Fan, quickly take it out and let us see it."
An Hai's beard trembled with excitement.
"Master, please sit. I'll go get it."
Lin Fan quickly ran into the inner room, opened the wooden chest where clothes were kept, and took out a flat wooden box from the bottom.
"Master, here it is."
Lin Fan placed the box on the table and then jogged to close the clinic door.
Zhong Chen couldn't wait a second longer and immediately opened the box.
A tattered piece of beast skin, covered in ancient text, appeared before the two of them.
They stared intently, not daring to breathe, their eyes fixed on the 'Qing Nang Jing' in the box.
"Master, I used transparent tape to stick it together later, so it can be taken out."
Lin Fan walked over and carefully took out the beast skin.
He scratched his head, "I've always doubted if this thing is real. Logically speaking, the era of Liu Bang and Xiang Yu fighting for supremacy was over a thousand years ago. How has it not rotted yet?"
"Of course, it won't rot!"
"Old An, do you recognize this thing?"
An Hai gently turned over the entire piece of beast skin and then carefully felt it all over before confirming it with a nod.
"If I'm not mistaken, its material is鲛皮 (jiāo pí), like the 鲛 (jiāo) in horse mackerel."
"Jiao pi?"
Lin Fan blinked, "I thought 鲛 (jiāo) referred to mermaids?"
"That's right."
Zhong Chen stroked his long beard, "According to the 'Sou Shen Ji' (Records of the Spirit Seekers), outside the South Sea, there are Jiaoren (鲛人), who live in water like fish and do not cease weaving. Their tears can produce pearls."
"Haha."
An Hai burst into hearty laughter, "You guys only understand half of it."
"Old An, what time is it? Are you still playing coy?"
Zhong Chen urged impatiently.
"Then I'll be brief."
An Hai pointed to the beast skin and explained, "Jiao originally referred to sharks in the sea, which is completely different from Jiaoren. Therefore, legend has it that Jiaoren are skilled weavers, and their dragon-silk fabric is waterproof in water and fireproof in fire, which is very magical."