Village Chief Sun glanced up at the crowd surrounding his home, a sense of unease bubbling within. None of these people were from Lord County Magistrate’s contingent, nor were they County Captain Jiang’s men; not a single one belonged to County Magistrate Zou’s crew. What made Village Chief Sun even more anxious was the arrival of Master Tian. Lord County Magistrate had three stewards by his side: a scribe steward, a financial clerk, and a criminal master. This Master Tian was the criminal master, specialized in assisting Lord County Magistrate with legal cases, and he had a good relationship with County Captain Jiang. Criminal master... Could it be that his Sun Family was in trouble today? Master Tian did not respond to Village Chief Sun’s greeting but looked at the third entry of the Sun family house and said, "Village Chief Sun, you really are a major household in the village, to be able to live in such a residence, far more imposing than Master Tian’s own home." Village Chief Sun hurriedly replied, "Master Tian jests. This house was built by my grandfather when he was alive. It’s been several decades now—it looks grand but, in fact, many beams and pillars have been eaten away by termites." He then quickly welcomed Master Tian and Squad Leader Yang into the main hall of the Sun household. After seating the two guests, Village Chief Sun cautiously asked, "Master Tian, Squad Leader Yang, what brings you to my modest dwelling today?" Squad Leader Yang sat silent with a stern face, as if he were a door god, saying nothing. Master Tian, however, pointed at Sun Youqian and asked, "This must be Village Chief Sun’s eldest grandson?" Village Chief Sun replied with a smile, "Exactly, the eldest grandson of our family, Sun Youqian by name. He also has a younger brother called You Kun. Both brothers are currently studying at Scholar Zhang’s private school in the county." Village Chief Sun then pretended to scold Sun Youqian, "What are you dawdling for? Hurry over and greet Master Tian. Master Tian is both an old classmate and a good friend of Lord County Magistrate." Sun Youqian had heard of this Master Tian, a figure even harder to curry favor with than Steward Shao, who was close to County Magistrate Zou. Now having the rare opportunity to meet him, he hurried forward, "Your humble servant, Sun Youqian, greets Master Tian." Master Tian sized up Sun Youqian and smiled with a nod, "With your ruddy lips, white teeth, and a tall and straight figure, you are certainly an exceptional young man. No wonder Widow Zhou took a fancy to you." Upon hearing this, the Sun family’s faces all turned pale, while Squad Leader Yang and the others burst into hearty laughter. Master Tian brought two clerks with him, and one of them, Clerk Zhao, remarked, "It’s always the old bull grazing on tender grass, but who would have thought that a young bull would fancy old grass? Indeed, the world is so vast that nothing is too strange." Village Chief Sun’s face was an ashen mix of green and white, and Sun Youqian’s handsome face flushed to the color of liver with indignation as he retorted, "Honorable gentlemen, I am a scholar and cannot endure such slander. If word of this spreads, how will I face anyone in the future?" "You needn’t worry about that; the news has already spread throughout the county. Everyone knows that Sun Youqian is a lascivious ghost, having eloped with an older widow," said Luo Wu, his eyes filled with rage as he glared at Sun Youqian, as if he wanted to devour him alive. On his return home for the break, Luo Wu was infuriated upon learning that Ge Wenhao, the Sun family’s grandson-in-law, had designs on Hui Niang. Just a few days after returning to the government office, Liu Wu heard from the Jiang family people about the Sun family’s proposal visit to Uncle Dashan’s home, aiming for Sister Xiu, the person he held dear in his heart for nearly five years. Luo Wu wanted nothing more than to storm the Sun family home, tear down their house, smash their pots, and cripple Sun Youqian! The story of Sun Youqian and Widow Zhou became known in the county due to the actions of Good Brother An, Xiao Yu, and Luo Wu. Good Brother An and Xiao Yu had He Sanlai bribe Matchmaker Lao, who then spread the news of Sun Youqian and Widow Zhou throughout the county. Luo Wu, on the other hand, paid off the beggars in the county to gossip about Sun Youqian and Widow Zhou. Because of this, Jiang Qi scolded him, saying he didn’t handle the situation cleanly and shouldn’t have taken direct action himself. He advised Luo Wu to learn from Good Brother An and Xiao Yu, to use intermediaries, to move through two or three degrees of separation for safety. But Luo Wu couldn’t restrain himself; Sister Xiu was his, and no one else could even think of having her! "What? This matter has already spread throughout the county?!" Sun Youqian nearly fainted. His involvement with Widow Zhou was simply to taste the thrill of seducing a widow, and he never intended to let this news to get out. "It’s all over, my reputation." "You have what reputation to speak of." Luo Wu cursed: "I have never seen such a shameless beast, Widow Zhou is already so old, and yet you still had the heart to lay your hands on her!" "Constable Luo, hold your tongue." Squad Leader Yang saw that Luo Wu was about to lose control and quickly scolded him: "The affairs of the Sun Family will be dealt with by Steward Tian, we are here to help, don’t make unnecessary remarks." Luo Wu was rebuked and calmed down, bowing his head and saying, "I have been impudent, I ask for Steward Tian and Squad Leader Yang to forgive me." Steward Tian glanced at Luo Wu and chuckled, "No harm done, what you said is the truth after all." County Magistrate Zou and County Captain Jiang are at odds, and whenever people recommended by these two officials arrive at the government office, the Lord County Magistrate would want a roster of them, hence Steward Tian was aware of who Luo Wu was. And with Steward Tian’s words, Sun Youqian’s affair with Widow Zhou was firmly sealed. Village Chief Sun was so angry he almost passed out, glaring at Sun Youqian, he wished he could strangle him to death. This damned beast, not learning anything good and instead learning to steal away a widow, now making it known to everyone. Sun Youqian felt very wronged, how could he have known that his affair with Widow Zhou would leak out? After feeling wronged, he silently swore in his heart, he must find out who let this information slip and make sure they die a horrible death! Steward Tian watched the disputes between the Sun family members indifferently, and blandly stated, "Village Chief Sun, there is no need to blame Young Master Sun, it is just a frivolous romance and not worth mentioning." Upon hearing this, Sun Youqian felt much relieved, thinking that among scholars and Madmen, which one doesn’t have some romantic affairs? Just as Sun Youqian was nonchalant, Steward Tian threw out a statement: "We are not here for the affair of Young Master Sun, but for that of Village Chief Sun." Village Chief Sun was suddenly alarmed: "My affair? What am I involved in?" Steward Tian did not tease Village Chief Sun any longer, and said directly: "I am here to inform Village Chief Sun that, from today onwards, you are no longer one of the village chiefs of Qingfu Town, your position has been revoked." Village Chief Sun was stunned: "What does Steward Tian mean? I don’t understand?" Steward Tian smiled and said, "It’s no problem if you don’t understand, as long as you can read, here is the decree from the county government, take a look." With that, he placed a notice, stamped with the seal of the county government, onto the table with a slap. Village Chief Sun leaned over to look, his vision went dark, almost passing out, the shaking hand pointing at the notice said, "No, impossible..." How could the county revoke half of the village chiefs? And he was one of those being revoked! Clerk Zhao sneered: "Village Chief Sun, this is a notice personally sealed by the Lord County Magistrate, where could it be fake? Your time as village chief is up." "It must be a mistake, surely the county wouldn’t revoke half the village chiefs, with half of the village chiefs gone, how is the county supposed to collect taxes, and manage these troublesome citizens?" Village Chief Sun simply couldn’t accept this fact, if he lost his position as village chief, how would his family carry on with their lives?