CHAPTER 109: CHAPTER 109: JUST YOU WAIT!

"A Mu, the information you requested!"

Long Yue and Li Qingmu returned to the Qin Mansion, only to find that Xiang Yin had already arrived, holding the information they needed.

To be fair, Xiang Yin’s father had been in business for many years and knew many people, so it was quick to inquire about some news.

"This is the Liang Family’s business project, take a look!"

Li Qingmu took it and glanced at it, initially stunned, then furious: "Smuggling private salt? Such audacity!"

Salt, iron, gold, silver, and copper are all business of the court, strictly prohibited for common people to engage in, yet the Liang Family dared to dabble in the salt mine trade, indicating a complex relationship behind the scenes.

To transport private salt, the Liang Family must have special channels, at which point the mountain bandits come into play, meaning they are colluding with these bandits.

Moreover, this matter had been ongoing for years with no movement from the court, indicating that someone at the top was covering for them; this is a case of officials shielding one another.

The Liang Family’s waters run deep. Li Qingmu’s appointment here was certainly not by chance; someone arranged it purposely!

He could choose to back down, but if he did, that person would attack him, accusing him of dereliction...

Dereliction is minor, but if they manipulate things through special channels, it could become a major problem.

"This puts me in a dilemmas, good tactics!"

Li Qingmu sneered; the other side was calculating, but he was not about to lose this match.

"Your sister is quite amusing, always trying to harm you, but only using tactics. Why doesn’t she just send assassins to kill you? End it once and for all!"

Li Qingmu was joking, but Long Yue did not find it amusing. She sneered lightly and said, "She wants to! But there’s a reason she can’t make a move."

"Oh, that’s true. As the legitimate daughter of the Minister Mansion and granddaughter of General Xiping, if she were inexplicably assassinated, it would be a big problem."

That’s why she painstakingly tried to push them into the mud, ordering assassins to kill her to prevent them from prospering in officialdom.

Killing Long Yue would be troublesome, but killing a country boy involves fewer concerns.

"Ha, it’s laughable. We never meet, yet we are constantly at odds..." Long Yue recalled how in a previous life she was so miserably harmed, and felt sad and angry. She clenched her small hands, wondering when she might go to the Capital City and truly confront her?

Li Qingmu sensed the discontent in his little wife’s heart and immediately held her tightly. He said nothing, just silently hugging her, offering comfort.

In the following days, Li Qingmu went to the government office very late, which greatly annoyed the Liang Family members who had been waiting early; some even pondered if they should cover him with a sack and beat him when he entered?

"I’m not coming tomorrow!"

"Right, I’m not coming either!"

And thus, those who didn’t come faced a tragedy.

One day, Li Qingmu uncharacteristically arrived before dawn, and there were barely any people in the government office, except for two who weren’t from the Liang Family and had arrived early per Li Qingmu’s instructions.

"From tomorrow on, you two will be in charge here at the government office!"

Li Qingmu said lightly, causing the two little government officials to be both joyful and apprehensive. One worried and asked: "Sir, what about the Liang Family..."

"They have nothing to do with you!"

The Liang Family dared to smuggle private salt, and once this was investigated, it would inevitably lead to an even bigger case. Whether the Liang Family would still exist then was unknown, so there was no need to worry.

The Liang Family members came lazily, ready as always to play games and make merry in the government office. But as they entered, they saw Li Qingmu sitting upright at the top, glaring coldly at them.

"Why don’t I see anyone reporting here early every day as ordered?"

As they came in, they were loudly reprimanded, and a young member of the Liang Family, seeing Li Qingmu alone, spouted, "Brothers, it’s just this little brat alone, what are we afraid of? Go and teach him a lesson!"

"Right, teach him a lesson, toss him in a sack, beat him and throw him in the river for the fish to eat!"

This person had just drunk a little alcohol, which emboldened him, making him feel mighty and determined to deal with Li Qingmu.

Li Qingmu sneered, these few little rascals thought they could tackle him? Not to mention that his people were nearby, he himself, after almost two months of training by his little wife, had become quite skillful!

"Get him!"

The person shouted again, rolled up his sleeves, and rushed forward. But before he got close to Li Qingmu, a brick flew through the air, with a bang, hitting the back of his head.

"Ah, I... er..."

The man groaned, wiped the back of his head, saw his hand covered in blood, shrieked, and fainted.

"Someone hit, someone killed, the County Magistrate killed someone!"

The other Liang Family members nearby began to scream, holding their heads and rushing out, only to be driven back in by the Qin Family servants who had been ambushing outside.

"Who killed someone?"

Li Qingmu’s eerie voice sent chills through everyone, and someone quickly responded: "Uh... have mercy, sir, we misspoke, yes, misspoke!"

Li Qingmu saw through it; the Liang Family was just a gang of cowards, bullying the weak. Seeing him not being easy to provoke, they started pleading for mercy.

But he had no interest in negotiating with them, coldly said: "Since you don’t want to serve properly at the government office, leave, just go wherever you came from!"

Well, wasn’t this the same thing they told Li Qingmu before, and now here he returned it to them without missing a beat, this person was too much!

"Leave!"

Li Qingmu said sternly with a cold face, leaving them no room to hesitate, loudly commanded, and the hidden Qin Family servants came out, forcing them to pack and go!

"Alright, alright, you’re ruthless, huh? Okay, you made things so absolute today, don’t blame us for being merciless in the future!"

Liang Fugui looked at the mess in the government office, left some harsh words, and turned to leave with a group of family members.

"Master, they’ve come to hate us, managing Gaoyang County will be difficult..."

Once they left, Elder Qin said worriedly.

"Do you think they would behave if we treated them kindly?"

Li Qingmu asked and shook his head, pulling out a piece of information.

"Elder Qin, this document details the actions of the Liang Family over the years, oppressing the villagers, running amok, kidnapping women, committing all sorts of evil! Do you expect them to behave just because we show some restraint?"

Elder Qin was embarrassed, "This is indeed the old servant’s mistake."

"Elder Qin was not necessarily wrong, just seeing things from a different perspective than I. Elder Qin, Gaoyang County will be quite chaotic in the days to come, we need to recruit quickly and build this office to efficiently manage affairs."

Li Qingmu’s drastic measure was satisfying but also brought headaches that required gradual resolution.