In times of chaos and famine, I traded one pound of rice for two royal flushes.

Li Hu cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Wang Bantou and said in a deep voice, "Wang Bantou, we can testify! Master Qin risked his life to hunt this beast for the safety of our entire village! You have no idea how many of our fellow villagers this beast has injured these past few days! Now that Master Qin has rid the people of this scourge, it's one thing if you don't give him a reward, but how can you arrest him?"

"That's right!" Another hunter with a missing arm stepped forward, pointing at Wang Bantou and saying indignantly, "My arm was injured by a tiger! If it weren't for Master Qin sending the miraculous medicine, it would be useless now! You officials were nowhere to be seen when the tiger attacked people, but now that our benefactor has killed it, you come here to swagger around! If you dare to lay a finger on Master Qin, you're going against all the hunters in Lantian Town!"

"They're making trouble for the entire town of Lantian!"

More and more villagers rushed over after hearing the news. They surrounded the officials, their eyes filled with anger and accusation.

When people's hearts are with you, the difference between superior and inferior is immediately apparent!

Wang Bantou panicked completely, and cold sweat streamed down his fat cheeks.

He never imagined that this "useless doctor" from a remote, impoverished area would have such a powerful appeal! This wasn't just a simple case of troublemakers; it was threatening to incite a popular uprising! He couldn't bear that responsibility!

Looking at the young man who remained calm throughout, he felt a sense of fear for the first time.

Who exactly is this guy?

Wang, the head constable, swallowed hard, his attitude softening. Forcing a smile, he said, "Misunderstanding...it's all a misunderstanding! I was just following procedure. Since you're in the right, then...then tomorrow, take the tiger head and tiger skin to the county office to collect your reward!"

After saying that, he tried to slip away with his men.

"etc."

Qin Shaolang spoke calmly.

Wang, the foreman, stiffened, turned around, and forced a smile that looked more like a grimace: "This... Master Qin, is there anything else you need?"

Qin Shaolang looked at him and slowly said, "Chief Wang, this tiger carcass weighs five or six hundred pounds, and the mountain road is difficult to traverse; we simply cannot carry it. How about this, tomorrow morning, I will personally take the tiger head to the county office for verification. As for the tiger skin and bones, we will leave them with me for now."

He changed the subject, his tone now carrying an undeniable air.

"Please ask Chief Wang to go back and pass on a message to the county magistrate. These thirty-odd brothers who risked their lives are here, waiting for the six hundred taels of silver to improve their meals. If the reward arrives quickly, I might consider giving this tiger skin to the county magistrate to make a cushion for his armchair. But if the reward is delayed..."

Qin Shaolang didn't say anything more, but simply picked up a tiger bone, weighed it in his hand, and then smiled slightly.

"Tiger bone, when soaked in alcohol, is a very nourishing tonic."

Threat!

This is a blatant threat!

Wang, the foreman, understood. Qin Shaolang meant that he wouldn't go to the county government; he wanted the county government to deliver the money to their door! If they refused, they would dispose of the most valuable tiger skin and bones themselves!

Wang Bantou's face turned pale and then red. Looking at Qin Shaolang's calm smile, he felt that he was even more terrifying than a tiger with piercing eyes and a white forehead.

He gritted his teeth and squeezed out a few words.

"Okay! Okay! I'll definitely pass on the message!"

Having said that, he dared not linger for a moment longer, and led his equally terrified officers in a hasty retreat.

Watching their disheveled figures leave, the entire kiln was silent for a moment, then erupted into cheers that were more enthusiastic than ever before!

"Brother Qin is awesome!"

"Master Qin is amazing!"

The soldiers and villagers looked at Qin Shaolang with eyes that were no longer filled with admiration, but with utter worship!

Without firing a single shot, and with just a few words, they terrified a group of fierce and ruthless officials, sending them running for their lives! What power! What skill!

Chu Wu was so excited his face turned red. He walked up to Qin Shaolang and stammered, "Brother Qin, you...you're truly my god! I thought we were going to have to see blood today!"

Qin Shaolang simply smiled faintly, tossed the tiger bone in his hand back onto the straw mat, and gazed in the direction of the county town, his eyes deep and distant.

"This is just the beginning."

The officials slunk away like a group of defeated roosters, not daring to look back.

The tension and oppression they brought vanished with their departure. In their place came even more fervent worship and a surge in morale.

"Drink! We must drink until we drop with Brother Qin tonight!"

"Yes! Respect to Brother Qin! If it weren't for Brother Qin, we would have been bullied to death by those sons of bitches today!"

The soldiers swarmed around him again, each holding a wine bowl, their faces beaming with the excitement of surviving a close call and heartfelt admiration. If the tiger hunt had shown them Qin Shaolang's unpredictable strategies and abilities, then his effortless maneuvering to force the officials to retreat had shown them a powerful ally who could shelter them from the storm and allow them to stand tall!

I feel at ease following someone like that!

Qin Shaolang welcomed everyone without hesitation, clinking bowls with each person in a display of boundless generosity.

After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became lively again.

Su Jin stood not far away, quietly watching everything. Her gaze never left the man surrounded by the crowd.

She had seen everything that had just happened.

Her heart was far more moved than those of her soldiers who only knew how to cheer.

Born into a family of officials, her father was once the Minister of War. She was exposed to officialdom from a young age and knew far more about the ways of officialdom and the calculations between people than the average person.

In her opinion, Qin Shaolang's response just now was absolutely flawless, and could even be described as... extremely shrewd!

He first used the county government's reward notice to establish his legal authority. Then, he used the menacing aura of his thirty personal guards to demonstrate his military strength. Finally, he used the words of the villagers and hunters to gain popular support.

With the combination of law, force, and popular support, they could manipulate that arrogant bandit leader Wang into their grasp!

This is not the most terrible.

What's most terrifying is his last sentence.

Instead of bringing the tiger skin and bones to the county government office, he asked the county government office to deliver the reward money to his door.

This seems like an extremely arrogant, even reckless, decision. The initiative appears to have been completely handed over to the county government. If the county government refuses to pay, or even uses this as a pretext to send troops to suppress him, wouldn't he be trapping himself in a deadly situation?

But once Su Jin thought about it a little deeper, she immediately understood the terrifying nature of what could be called a "open conspiracy"!

He's forcing the county magistrate, Li Jian'an, to make a choice!

First, why did he stay in the village instead of going to the county town?

Because this is his home turf! Here, he has over thirty loyal and battle-hardened soldiers, and the support of the entire population of Lantian Town! If the government wants to touch him, they must carefully consider the consequences of inciting a popular uprising!

But what if he goes to the county seat? That would be like going to a dangerous place alone! Once he enters the county government office, whether he is rewarded or punished, whether he lives or dies, will all depend on the magistrate's word.

Secondly, why would he deliberately reveal that he still had the tiger skin and bones?

That was the most brilliant move!