Returning to the county opera troupe in 77

The incident of assault at the state-run restaurant eventually alerted the local police station.

The police arrived quickly, and three bicycles were parked in front of the restaurant, while the crowd of onlookers had not yet completely dispersed.

Xia De, the assailant, followed the police officers with an indifferent expression. Lin Zhaotang, the victim, was not so composed. He was half-supported and half-dragged into the back seat of a jeep by Chu Shengli and Jia Dafang, and they headed straight for the county hospital.

The surgical clinic was filled with the smell of disinfectant. Lin Zhaotang lay half-reclined on the hospital bed, a gauze pad with ointment applied to his nose.

The incident of the foreign businessman being assaulted alarmed the county hospital director. The heads of various departments stood in a row behind the director, making the small consultation room seem even more crowded.

The head of surgery stood respectfully beside the hospital director, his face tense, as if reporting a matter of utmost importance: "The external injury has been treated. The nasal bridge is not fractured; it's mainly a soft tissue contusion. I've applied a cold compress ointment to reduce swelling for Mr. Lin, and it should subside in four or five days."

When the dean heard that the foreign businessman's nose was not broken, he breathed a slight sigh of relief and looked at Chu Shengli, whose face was ashen, across from him: "Director Chu, what do you think of this..."

Chu Shengli frowned and slapped his thigh hard: "It's fortunate there were no broken bones, but that doesn't mean the matter isn't serious! A foreign businessman being publicly beaten in our Dongping County—have you even considered how egregious that is?"

He turned to look at Lin Zhaotang on the hospital bed, his anger still lingering in his eyes: "Mr. Lin, don't worry, this matter will not be left like this. I'll go find Director Liu of the Public Security Bureau right away and make sure the assailants are severely punished! It's outrageous, they're simply thugs and bullies, completely lawless!"

Chu Shengli was truly furious with Xia De. If Xia De drove away the Hong Kong businessman he had worked so hard to build a relationship with, he would want to strangle the scoundrel with his own hands.

As he spoke, he stood up to leave. But before he could take a step, Lin Zhaotang's nasal voice suddenly rang out from behind him: "Director Chu! Wait a minute, don't go yet!"

Chu Shengli turned around and saw that Lin Zhaotang had sat up with a "whoosh," completely no longer looking weak as before. His eyes flickered a few times: "Forget it, that guy who hit someone, there's probably some misunderstanding. Young people should be given a chance to reform. Just educate him, don't actually send him to jail."

The moment those words were spoken, everyone in the room was stunned.

The dean and a dozen or so department heads exchanged bewildered glances. Chu Shengli's expression shifted from fury to astonishment. He opened his mouth in confusion, "Mr. Lin... what are you doing..."

Lin Zhaotang wanted to laugh to ease the tension, but the laugh aggravated his wound, causing him to grimace. "Director Chu, if this gets out of hand, it won't be good for you, the theater troupe, or the cooperation we just finalized. I'm a businessman, and what I fear most is things ending up in the newspapers or in the police station. Let's just let it go."

.........

Chen Xiangdong had originally thought that after Xia De's outburst, things would definitely escalate significantly.

If Xia De is to be convicted, Lin Zhaotang will inevitably have to give a statement. Under the police station's thorough questioning, he will inevitably reveal his inconsistencies.

Once he steps through that door, his flimsy arguments, his half-foreign, half-local dialect, and his unclear Hong Kong background will eventually be thoroughly exposed.

But he soon discovered that his wishful thinking had failed.

Around four o'clock in the afternoon, Lin Datou rushed into the courtyard from outside. Before he even got there, that raspy voice had already arrived:

"Hey! Guess what! That big bear from the cotton mill was just released from the police station! He's perfectly fine, just strolled home!"

The actors and staff who were waiting for news in the front yard all looked up in surprise.

"Nothing's wrong?" Xu Erdao rubbed his beard with the back of his hand, looking incredulous. "He beat the Hong Kong businessman so badly he bled so much, how could he be okay?"

Lin Datou, panting heavily, bent over and clutching his knees, said between breaths, "It's true! Would I lie about something like this? I heard that Mr. Lin wasn't going to pursue the matter and offered to settle. If you don't believe me, go to the cotton mill yourselves tomorrow!"

The courtyard erupted in commotion. Guo Jufu sidled over, smacking his lips. "Hey! This is really something. Such a big boss, his magnanimity is truly extraordinary. He got beaten up like a coward, and he didn't even hold anyone accountable? If it were me, I'd make sure that guy spent at least half a month in jail!"

As he spoke, he nudged He Jianshe next to him with his elbow, "Old He, don't you think so?"

He Jianshe didn't reply, but just frowned and shook his head: "The more I think about it, the more awkward it seems. Do you think a prominent figure like him could be so magnanimous after being beaten like that in public?"

The crowd was buzzing with discussion, saying all sorts of things.

Pan Lanxiang happened to be passing by when the words "Xia De" and "Mr. Lin" reached her ears, causing her to pause and her heart to clench.

She wasn't afraid of Xia De's actions; she was afraid that if Lin Zhaotang was driven away, her promise to go to Hong Kong to perform would also fall through.

Pan Lanxiang's expression changed, and she lowered her head, clutching her handkerchief as she quickly walked away.

Upon hearing this news, Chen Xiangdong was taken aback, and then frowned deeply.

This isn't a matter of being generous or not; any normal person's first reaction upon hearing this news would be that it's illogical.

If a true Hong Kong businessman were beaten up in public, almost breaking his nose, his first reaction would be "let it go".

It seems that the man surnamed Lin is exceptionally cautious.

Lin Zhaotang is too cunning, he's clearly a fox spirit. What should we do? Suddenly, Chen Xiangdong thought of someone!

Isn't there a cunning old fox in the compound? Why don't we give him a try?

Once the thought crossed his mind, he didn't hesitate for a moment and headed straight for a dormitory room in the backyard.

"What? They're not going to pursue the matter further, and they've reached a settlement?"

When Zhu Zhengkuo heard Chen Xiangdong mention this, he also showed a look of surprise. Then he frowned and muttered, "It doesn't make much sense..."

He looked up at Chen Xiangdong, his brows furrowing even more deeply: "But that doesn't prove there's anything wrong with Lin Zhaotang's identity. Why do you suspect he's a fraud?"

Chen Xiangdong rolled his eyes, pulled up a stool and sat down, leaning forward slightly: "I just feel like this pie in the sky came too suddenly. Secretary Zhu, look, all those old opera costumes in our warehouse, over the years, even our own people haven't paid them any attention. He just opened his mouth and asked for a thousand Hong Kong dollars a piece, and even said he'd take Pan Lanxiang to Hong Kong to perform, a hundred Hong Kong dollars a performance."

He craned his neck and lowered his voice: "Don't even mention the provincial capital, even the troupes in Hongzhou have plenty of old costumes, and there are tons of good actors. Why did this incredible opportunity fall into our poor, remote Dongping? A Hong Kong businessman, ignoring the provincial and regional troupes, came all the way to Dongping..."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhengqu's eyelids twitched slightly, and he leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he stood up thoughtfully: "Let's go to the guesthouse and see how he filled out the registration book."