I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 5 Business is business
"Who did this? How dare they?"

The burly young man shouted coldly.

His full name is Xun Sizhou, and he is the squad leader of the Ninth Patrol Team.

"They've got some nerve, daring to hurt people on our turf."

The tall, thin man who spoke, whose real name was Wu Kui, was Xun Sizhou's trusted subordinate. He was usually flattered by Liu Er and had been treated to meals by Liu Er several times.

Taking the opportunity to cry, Liu Er pointed at Liu Mei at the courtyard gate and said, "It was this slut who got into heat and climbed over the wall to peep at me while I was taking a bath. She accidentally stepped on the chamber pot and made a mess of the courtyard with excrement and urine."

They deliberately framed me; I am a law-abiding citizen, how could I tolerate such filth?

Xun Sizhou and Wu Kui's eyes lit up at the same time; what a beautiful woman!

Xun Sizhou initially thought Liu Er was in the right, but upon seeing Liu Mei's appearance, he understood the situation and said coldly, "Whose chamber pot is this that hasn't been emptied yet?"
Peeping at you while you shower? What makes you think you're such a stunning beauty?

You dare to talk nonsense in front of me.

"Liu Er, I'm giving you one hour to clean the yard, or you'll have to eat bamboo shoots stir-fried with pork."

"Angkor."

Liu Er panicked and looked at Wu Kui for help.

Wu Kui said, "Team leader, Liu Er is injured after all. It's not a good thing that someone committed violence on our turf."

"Did you inflict the injuries on Liu Er?"

Xun Sizhou had noticed Xue Xiang long ago, staring at the bronze flying fish emblem on his chest and saying, "As a member of the public service, you should be even more law-abiding and dutiful."

Xue Xiang said loudly, "This yard full of excrement and urine is my family's."

This Liu Er is my neighbor. He is despicable, shameless, vulgar, and dissolute. Everyone in the neighborhood knows about him.

He first threw excrement and urine into my house, then insulted my sister, and even attempted to assault Xue.

What's wrong with Xue's legitimate self-defense?

Xun Sizhou was taken aback, unable to discern Xue Xiang's identity, and dared not reply rashly.

Then Xue Xiang said, "My sister has carefully tended my courtyard. Every plant, every brick, and every stone is a labor of love. Now that this scoundrel has smeared it, how can we just clean it up and be done with it?"

No matter how the case is judged, Liu Er won't accept it. Please ask the captain to issue a lawsuit.

Although he had given Liu Er a severe beating, Xue Xiang's anger had not subsided.

He also knew that someone like Liu Er, a piece of trash, couldn't be crushed with one foot; otherwise, he would just continue to disgust people.

When the police patrol the streets and encounter disputes, if they cannot resolve the conflict, they will issue a lawsuit on the spot, and the two parties will sue in court.

However, most residents considered litigation a major taboo and avoided it at all costs, so Xue Xiang's reaction surprised Xun Sizhou greatly.

"Does it really have to be this way?"

"That's how it should be."

Xun Sizhou nodded and immediately issued a legal document.

Liu Er's voice rose again, "Without any evidence, why do you say I poured the manure in your yard? Let's have a lawsuit then, are you afraid of me?"

After searching through the records of Liu Er's name, he then inquired about Xue Xiang's name.

Xue Xiangcai announced his name, and Wu Kui exclaimed in surprise, "May I ask if you are on duty at the Plum Blossom Hall of the Seventh Courtyard?"

"Exactly."

Xue Xiang revealed the plum blossom token.

Xun Sizhou gasped and bowed to Xue Xiang with his hand on his chest, saying, "We are the Ninth Patrol Team, responsible for maintaining order within a five-mile radius and protecting commercial prosperity."

Commerce and education both fall under the jurisdiction of the Seventh Academy. In a sense, we are colleagues, but you are my superior.

While the law enforcement in Sizhou is strict and impartial, it doesn't mean it lacks emotional intelligence.

He knew all too well the significance of the Plum Blossom Token in Xue Xiang's hand; in a sense, it represented the Plum Blossom Hall and Xie Yuanzun, and mobilizing them was just a matter of a word.

"Brother Wu, this, this, is there some mistake? What kind of Plum Blossom Hall is this guy..."

Liu Er panicked. He really couldn't understand how a useless good-for-nothing like a quail could be treated with such respect by a big shot like Xun Sizhou.

"Wu Nima!"

Wu Kui grabbed Liu Er by the collar and swung his arm, slapping him twice across the face. "Who the hell are you, calling yourself my brother? Who do you think I know?" Liu Er was stunned by the slaps.

"What are you all standing there for? Doesn't this scoundrel want to file a lawsuit? Send him to the Third Court, and they'll make a fair judgment there."

At Xun Sizhou's command, several team members pounced like wolves, their scabbards flying, and in an instant, Liu Er's broken teeth flew out, and he howled like a wolf.

The rest of the ruffians, already terrified, fled crying and begging for mercy.

"Thank you."

Xue bowed.

Xun Sizhou returned the greeting, saying, "You're too kind, Clerk. This scoundrel is bullying you, which is tantamount to bullying the Seventh Academy. In other words, he's treating us brothers like we're not human."

I'm taking him to the Third Hospital now. Everyone there is reasonable and united in their hatred of the enemy; you probably won't see this scoundrel again."

Xue Xiang nodded.

Wu Kui stepped forward and bowed, "Clerk, I know a company that does post-construction cleaning. You can leave your yard to me."

"I'll book you a top-class room at Fuyun Inn right away. Your whole family can stay there for two days. After two days, you can come back and we'll return you to your clean and beautiful home."

He hated Liu Er's two calls of "Brother Wu" and was afraid of incurring Xue Xiang's jealousy, so he seized the opportunity to make a good impression.

"Thank you very much."

Xue Xiang did not keep people at arm's length.

Xun Sizhou and the others escorted Liu Er away to say goodbye. The neighbors either became righteous crusaders, angrily rebuking Liu Er, or they became caring older sisters, disregarding the stench in the courtyard, and gathered around Xue's mother, gently comforting her.

…………

The third day of the twelfth lunar month is a day of rest and recuperation.

Xue Xiang changed into a plain robe, as usual pinning the bronze flying fish badge to his chest. He picked up the four kinds of pastries prepared by Sister Mei and headed towards Mao'er Alley, two streets away.

Passing by a roast meat shop, Xue Xiang spent another five hundred spirit coins to buy a cured pork leg, three cured fish, and five catties of cured meat. At three quarters past Chen hour, he arrived at his uncle Song's house.

This was a secluded courtyard facing the street. When Xue Xiang entered, he was startled by several pretty young girls who were admiring a winter plum blossom.

A young girl in a yellow dress, her face flushed with embarrassment, stepped forward, knelt down, and bowed, saying, "Greetings, elder brother."

She was the youngest daughter of her uncle Song Yuan, and her given name was Song Yuan. Xue Xiang had only met her a few times in his memory.

"It's Xiaoyuan! Long time no see, you're almost as tall as me now."

Xue Xiang habitually patted his head.

Song Yuan's pretty face immediately turned bright red. She glared at Xue Xiang and ran away in a flash.

Xue Xiang chuckled and walked towards the main room.

"Xiaoyuan, Xiaoyuan, who is that? He's so tall and handsome! How come I've never heard you mention him before?"

"Books describe someone as handsome and extraordinary, but this person's appearance is what truly brings him to life."

"Xiaoyuan, who exactly is he? Is he married?"

"........."

The group of girls immediately transformed into three thousand ducks, creating quite a commotion.

"How did you come?"

As Xue Xiang stepped onto the steps, a round-faced boy came to greet him from the west wing.

Xue Xiang smiled and said, "It's Zijie. I heard you're studying at Baishui Academy. I imagine you've made great progress in your studies. Your uncle has a worthy successor."

The visitor was the son of Song Yuan, whose full name was Song Zijie.

The former Xue Xiangzhi was talented but incompetent, and he looked down on everyone else. He was arrogant because he was from a family of officials and looked down on his maternal uncle's family, who were known for their farming and scholarship.

Especially after Song Yuan went to work for the patrol team, in the eyes of his predecessor Xue Xiang, this was clear evidence of his self-degradation.

Therefore, his relationship with his cousin Song Zijie was always very tense.

“Brother, haven’t you already risen to high positions and achieved great success? How can you possibly enter the door of us poor commoners?”

Song Zijie shouted loudly.

(End of this chapter)