Divorced woman with child travels through time

"Commander Wang!"

Wang Erniu was already bloodthirsty. He looked around but didn't see any Japanese soldiers standing. He was searching with bloodshot eyes when he was suddenly called out. He glared at them angrily. Wei Siyuan, the magistrate of An'nan County, was startled and took a step back before someone helped him up so he wouldn't fall.

Wang Erniu's gaze slowly focused, and he only came to his senses after a while.

"Are you alright?" Wang Erniu, covered in blood, walked over and helped him up.

"It's alright, I'm just sorry the militia leader made a fool of himself." Wei Siyuan didn't seem to mind, his handsome face showing slight fatigue. He stood up with a smile, using Wang's hand to help him, "Municipal Commander Wang's killing intent is so strong, no wonder those Japanese were utterly defeated."

He pointed to the dented and battered knife, "But it's fortunate that you came, otherwise if those Japanese had come in waves, we probably wouldn't have been able to hold out."

"How many waves have come? What's going on? Why are so many Japanese attacking you all of a sudden?" Wang Erniu asked, puzzled and confused.

"Hehe, I'm afraid someone has their eyes on the disaster relief funds of my county government. Brother Wang, please come in. We are about the same age, so I hope you don't mind me addressing you like this. Let's talk inside." Wei Siyuan politely invited Wang Erniu into the county government and explained the situation to him in detail.

"No problem, Brother Wei, please." Your Wei family is full of noble and refined people, and they don't mind that I'm dirty, so why should I mind? Wang Erniu smiled and extended his hand.

“Our county was hit by a sudden downpour two months ago, and many farmers and people were affected. As you may know, I come from a prominent family, so the disaster relief funds were distributed to the higher authorities on time. However, just as they arrived, before we could distribute them, word got out and the Japanese came. From the day before yesterday to today, there have been waves of them, several thousand in total. They didn’t get the money, so they killed civilians to vent their anger. I’m afraid many people have died or been injured. I sent many people to ask for help, but no one came. Fortunately, you came. Thank you for coming.”

Wei Siyuan looked grateful and said, "I will definitely remember the kindness of the militia in the future."

"Not at all. We're from the same yamen, and from neighboring counties, we're brothers. Helping you is only right." Wang Erniu wiped the sweat and blood from his face with his sleeve. "But have you found the traitor? If the Japanese attack again after we leave, what will you do?"

“I have some leads. After the incident, all the officials in the county, big and small, came, except for County Magistrate Huang Wudao, who said he was unwell and recuperating at home. This time, the Japanese robbed every household. If he were an inside man, those Japanese would not have touched him. Shall the militia leader come with me to witness this?” Wei Siyuan said with a smile, his expression quite cunning.

"With pleasure!" Wang Erniu and he exchanged a glance, and a tacit understanding arose instantly.

"Hahaha! Let's go!"

The three Japanese men hiding in the opposite courtyard saw that all their companions had been killed. They carefully avoided the crowd, slipped through the back door, and quietly escaped, leaving behind the dead family of four in the house, their eyes wide with fury, telling the story of the Japanese men's brutality.

The two men, accompanied by a few guards, strolled along the blood-stained streets. Many surviving villagers were already helping the soldiers clean up the bodies.

"Alas, now this disaster relief money is going to become funeral expenses!" Wei Siyuan said sadly. "I've only been here for two years, and every year there are natural disasters and man-made calamities. I'm powerless to change anything."

“Brother Wei, please don’t say that. Life is hard enough as it is. If the people of a region don’t have a good official, it will bring disaster. We are already very fortunate to have you.” Wang Erniu tried his best to persuade him.

"That's true, but I just lament that my abilities are too limited."

"Just focus on the present, take each step steadily, have a clear conscience, do good deeds, and don't worry about the future," Wang Erniu said calmly. "Oh, we've arrived? Brother Wei!"

“Brother Wang is right! Haha!” Wei Siyuan pondered his words, thinking to himself that he had been discouraged by the world’s troubles and that making many friends was indeed useful.

"Brother Wei and I will go in from the front. You guys go to the back and block the back door so no one can escape." Wang Erniu saw that he was acting strangely and didn't know what he was thinking, so he gave the order first.

"Your subordinate obeys!"

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Open the door!" Guard Wang Feng stepped forward and pounded on the door.

"Who is it! Are you blind? Why are you banging on the door?" a servant inside cursed in a gruff voice, refusing to open the door.

Wang Erniu and Wei Siyuan nodded in tacit agreement, it seemed that the Huang County Magistrate's residence had not been affected at all.

"I am Magistrate Wei. The Japanese have retreated. I have business with Assistant Magistrate Huang. Go and inform him immediately."

"Alright!" The sycophantic voice disappeared, and soon after, Magistrate Huang personally opened the door and welcomed him in, his face showing great panic.

"Lord Wei, what brings you here? And who is this?" Huang Wudao asked with a slightly flustered smile, blocking the doorway and refusing to let them in.

"This is Commander Wang, he came to support us. We're so grateful to him," Wei Siyuan introduced. "Why doesn't Lord Huang invite us in for a seat?"

How could he not know about the fighting outside that had been going on for so long? That's clearly suspicious.

"My wife is at home, so it's not convenient for you two to come in. Hehe." Huang Wudao and several servants blocked the door completely, so that no one could see anything from the outside.

"Is that so? What if I insist on going in?" Wang Erniu's expression changed, and he drew his long knife, pointing it directly at his chest.

"You! You! I am an official of the imperial court, how dare you point a knife at me?" Huang Wudao's face was unusually red, and he bared his teeth and claws like a paper tiger. If you ignored his thin figure, his voice was quite intimidating.

“This Wang Tuanlian just chased the Japanese here, and now we suspect he has fled into your courtyard. Please, for the sake of your innocence, let us go in and take a look,” Wei Siyuan said softly, patiently persuading him.

Huang Wudao's face alternated between green and white, and with his green official robes, his face looked even greener.

"No, I've been home the whole time and haven't seen anyone escape into my yard. You can leave now!" Huang Wudao's thin hands gripped the doorpost like a malnourished chicken claw, stubbornly occupying his nest.

"Really! Are you sure?" Wang Erniu unleashed his full power, raising his knife and taking a step forward. His face was long and dark, and his clothes were covered in foul-smelling bloodstains. His murderous aura, combined with his nearly five-and-a-half-foot-tall, muscular physique, was extremely impactful.

"You!...You~" Huang Wudao swallowed hard. He took a step back as soon as he got close, and his hand quietly loosened.

"I really don't have any at home, please leave, I beg you. Ahh~" Perhaps unable to bear Wang Erniu's ferocity any longer, after his outburst of courage subsided, Huang Wudao actually knelt down and cried.

The servants had never seen such a master before. They were all dumbfounded, staring at him in disbelief, as if they didn't recognize him at all.

"What if I insist on taking a look?" Wang Erniu smiled wickedly, like a demon from hell. "What can you do to me?" He said, and was about to barge in. He got angry as soon as he saw the man surnamed Huang.

"No!" Huang Wudao actually grabbed Wang Erniu's leg despite the danger.