The sky gradually brightened.
Many villagers had gathered around Aunt Li's pigsty.
They pointed and gossiped about Wang Quezi and Chang Mao, who were covered in pig dung. Their words were naturally not kind.
Some, feeling indignant, picked up stones and threw them at the two men.
"Ah!" Wang Quezi cried out in pain.
"Still alive," a middle-aged woman sneered.
"Don't hurt them too badly, Secretary Tian needs to see how to handle them later." Aunt Li and her husband hadn't even eaten breakfast, having stayed by the pigsty all night, afraid that Wang Quezi and Chang Mao might suffer serious harm.
"It would be fine if they were hurt. In the past, thieves like these who broke into the village deserved to be beaten to death."
"That's right. Our Luofeng Village is so poor, and they still come to steal. These people have rotten hearts. I say breaking their limbs wouldn't even be too much."
"Who did they have to steal from, but Xiao Fan's family? He does so many good deeds normally. These two are worse than animals!"
The more the villagers spoke, the angrier they became, even discussing ways to torture the two men.
Aunt Li quickly intervened, "Things are different now. What do they call it... a society governed by law? We can't just hit people; we'll be legally responsible."
She recalled phrases from TV and patiently explained to everyone.
"Hmph, they got off too lightly. If I ever catch them again, I'll beat them to death."
"Scum like these won't have a good end in the police station either."
"Look at that disgusting sight, spit!"
With someone leading the way, saliva rained down on Wang Quezi and Chang Mao.
"Secretary Tian and Xiao Fan are here, and... Secretary Wang from Wangjia Village."
Someone with sharp eyes spotted Lin Fan and Tian Mengyao first, along with a vigorous old man whose face was as dark as the bottom of a pot.
Wang Fugui, recognized by some, felt his face flush and wished he could turn back.
How embarrassing, so embarrassing!
That beast Wang Quezi, after being quiet for only a few days, had caused such a huge mess again!
In the morning, Lin Fan went to the village committee to find Tian Mengyao. Tian Mengyao immediately suggested that Wang Fugui come to collect the men.
It would be illegal for others to deal with Wang Quezi, but it was different for Wang Fugui.
No matter how Wang Fugui scolded or beat him, Wang Quezi would not dare to retaliate against his own elder.
"Everyone, go back to what you were doing. Stop crowding around and watching the show."
To save Wang Fugui some face, Tian Mengyao, upon arriving, urged the onlookers to disperse.
"Oh, alright."
"Secretary Tian, please don't go easy on them. Teach these two a good lesson."
"Kill one to warn a hundred, let them know Luofeng Village isn't to be trifled with."
The people of Luofeng Village showed no respect for Wang Fugui.
"I understand, everyone can rest assured." After trying to persuade them for a long time, Tian Mengyao finally managed to get the crowd to leave.
Wang Fugui clenched his fists, cracking his knuckles, veins bulging on his forehead.
"Beast, may you die in this pigsty and never come out!"
His old face turned red as he cursed, "You damn it, you've disgraced Wangjia Village completely!"
"Xiao Fan, quickly untie them." Tian Mengyao nudged Lin Fan's arm.
"This..." Lin Fan hesitated. The pigsty was dirty, and the men were even dirtier. How could he untie them without getting himself soiled?
"Xiao Fan, what are you waiting for? Hurry up." Tian Mengyao urged, pinching her nose.
Lin Fan gritted his teeth, preparing to brave the pigsty.
Aunt Li handed him a carrying pole. "Xiao Fan, use this."
"Oh, right. Thanks." Lin Fan took the pole and, leaning forward, swung the hooked end outward with all his might.
With a single hook, it snagged onto Wang Quezi's waistband.
Lin Fan didn't care if it hurt him and yanked it back forcefully.
Wang Quezi felt a burning pain in his back, large beads of sweat forming on his forehead, and he let out muffled groans of pain.
After dragging him out of the pigsty, Lin Fan loosely untied the ropes. "You can untie the rest yourself. Don't forget to untie your accomplice."
Wang Quezi flexed his sore arms, untied all the ropes on his body, spat out the foul-smelling sock that had been stuffed in his mouth, and took deep breaths, feeling somewhat revived.
Lin Fan had also had a sudden thought and deliberately stuffed Chang Mao's stinky sock into Wang Quezi's mouth, and then stuffed Wang Quezi's stinky sock into Chang Mao's mouth.
Neither of them was a clean person, and their socks smelled equally bad. Neither gained an advantage nor suffered a disadvantage.
Wang Quezi untied Chang Mao's ropes.
Chang Mao immediately sat up and wailed loudly.
"It hurts! My arm is broken, take me to the hospital quickly."
"My chest feels tight, I can't breathe, I'm dying."
Chang Mao clutched his chest, looking as if he could pass out at any moment.
"You shout one more word, and I'll beat you to death!" Wang Fugui snatched the carrying pole from Lin Fan and pretended to strike.
Chang Mao, having experienced the old secretary's power, scrambled to a corner, not daring to make a sound.
"Wang Fu, get out here!" Wang Fugui roared.
"Uncle Fugui." Wang Quezi hid timidly, not daring to come out. This elder of his was truly capable of swinging the carrying pole to beat him to death!
Swish!
Wang Fugui had been in the battlefield, fought real battles with real weapons.
Although the carrying pole couldn't reach, its iron hook swung out sharply, hitting Wang Quezi hard on the shoulder.
"Ah!"
A scream rang out, and Wang Quezi clutched his shoulder, staggering backward.
"Get out here!" Wang Fugui bellowed.
Wang Quezi, hit by the iron hook, felt as if his collarbone had broken. His face contorted in pain, and he didn't dare to come out.
"Uncle Fugui, please spare me this time."
"Look at me now, I've already learned my lesson."
Wang Quezi hesitated for a long time, too ashamed to mention that Lin Fan had forced them to eat feces.
If this matter got out, he wouldn't be able to face anyone.
"You deserve it! I'll beat you to death today, you disgraceful wretch!" Wang Fugui, still fuming, rushed into the pigsty with the carrying pole.
Lin Fan and Tian Mengyao quickly stopped him.
"It's not worth it, Secretary Wang, for people like them."
"Yes, please calm down."
Lin Fan and Tian Mengyao both advised.
Wang Fugui was furious, "Don't interfere, I'm here to rid the common people of this scourge today!"
Wang Quezi felt more bitter than if he had eaten yellow連 (a bitter herb), his face full of despair.
"How did our Wang family produce a creature like you?"
"You've shamed the entire village!"
"Look at your pathetic state, I..."
Wang Fugui, still unable to vent his anger, continued to scold.
"Secretary Wang, let's take them back first."
"It's not good for you to act like this, with everyone watching."
Lin Fan and Tian Mengyao chimed in, persuading Wang Fugui for a long time before finally calming him down.
"You two, come out." Lin Fan beckoned.
Wang Quezi and Chang Mao exchanged glances and, dejected, walked out of the pigsty.
Wang Fugui suddenly kicked Wang Quezi to the ground, "You scoundrel, get back to your village!"
Seeing the unfavorable situation, Chang Mao seized the opportunity and fled.