Zheng Suo completely ignored Li Hao and Lan Jian, walking straight up to Xia Liu and then doing something that stunned everyone.
He bowed to Xia Liu, "I am sorry, Mr. Xia Liu, for taking up your time."
Xia Liu was also perplexed; since when had he known this man? But now that he had called him by name, it felt rude not to respond.
"It's no trouble. May I leave now?"
"Yes, yes, someone is waiting for you in the office; please go there," Zheng Suo said with an excited smile.
"Someone is waiting for me in the office?" Xia Liu was slightly startled; had his return been discovered?
Before Xia Liu could think further, Lan Jian shouted at the top of his lungs, "Zheng Suo, my dad is Lan Weiming! How dare you..."
"Shut your mouth, even if your dad is the Emperor, it won't help. Xiao Zhang, handcuff them!"
Zheng Suo showed no respect toward Lan Jian; he had just received a call from the city's main bureau.
If Xia Liu suffered even the slightest harm, it wouldn't just be his job as the sheriff at stake, but Pinglan Town might face a massive upheaval.
Amidst the astonished looks from Lan Jian and Li Hao, Xia Liu slowly walked out.
When he arrived at the office Zheng Suo mentioned, he realized his worries were mistaken, and someone influential had come to his aid.
"I'm sorry I'm late, Xia Liu. Are you alright?" Fang Fei looked at Xia Liu, unsure of what else to say.
She thought that it was because of her that Xia Liu had been detained, and her first action was to call her connections.
"Sister Fang, no need to worry; they can't do anything to me."
Xia Liu smiled faintly; the woman gave him a mysterious feeling. Not to mention anything else, she must have a fearsome background; otherwise, Zheng Suo wouldn't have treated Lan Jian like that.
Fang Fei smiled, not giving Xia Liu a chance to refuse, and led him out, then found a decent restaurant for a meal.
After learning that Xia Liu had returned to the village from studying abroad, Fang Fei immediately became interested and wanted to recruit him as a manager at her hotel.
"Sister Fang flatters me, but I'm not cut out to be a manager. It's more fitting for me to be a rural doctor in the village," Xia Liu cheerfully refused Fang Fei's proposal.
"You're burying your own talents, Xia Liu. How can you get ahead if you're stuck in the village? Come be a manager for Sister, and getting a pretty wife will be killing two birds with one stone," Fang Fei insisted.
Fang Fei didn't give up; she wanted to truly repay Xia Liu, and possibly…
Xia Liu still refused Fang Fei, and because of this, she kept him from leaving and they drank a lot during that time.
It wasn't until eight in the evening that they stopped, and whether it was because of the alcohol, Fang Fei was very close to Xia Liu, continually flipping her hair and adjusting her clothes.
Although Xia Liu had consumed several bottles, it was like drinking water to him, watching Fang Fei next to him in a completely sober state.
He felt a surge of impulse; he really wanted to pin this seductive fairy onto the couch.
In the end, having no other choice, Fang Fei passed out, and Xia Liu helped her get a room in the hotel, then silently left.
"What a virile young man, and still such a gentleman. Just wait, Sister will definitely make you 'kneel' at my feet!"
After Xia Liu had left, Fang Fei, who was pretending to sleep, muttered to herself.
At this time, Osmanthus Village was somewhat lively because Xia Liu had not returned by evening, and some villagers had already gathered at the door of his house. They had all gone to the mountains today to pick Atractylodes.
This was their first time in the mountains. Each had picked about ten kilograms, and as it was nearing midnight and Xia Liu had not yet returned, they believed they had been deceived.
"Zhang Xiaoxue, although you are my niece, you can't help Xia Liu deceive everyone. Do you know how much you have delayed everyone today?"
Zhang Tie, standing in front of the crowd, said this in a threatening manner.
"Exactly, Xiaoxue, you better have Xia Liu come out and explain whether there is money or not!"
"Right, we can't just waste a whole day for nothing!"
About seven or eight strong men followed Zhang Tie, pressuring continuously. They had never met Xia Liu, and the reason they went to pick today was because of the few who had gone yesterday. The words from Zhang Tie and Xia Liu's disappearance made them suspicious.
At this time, Zhang Xiaoxue, holding a notebook, stood at the door with her head bowed down. Faced with the villagers' questions, she had assured them many times that Xia Liu would definitely bring the money back to them.
"Can't you all just wait a bit? Xia Liu will definitely come back!" Facing so many people, Zhang Qing still stood by Xia Liu, firmly believing in him.
"Zhang Qing, don't stand on the wrong side. If Xia Liu really were trustworthy, he wouldn't be missing till dark."
After the last demonstration at his door, Zhang Tie had come to despise Xia Liu, and finding this opportunity, how could he let it pass—this time he had to make Xia Liu despised by the whole village.
"What are you all clamoring about? Even if Xia Liu doesn't give the money, what's wrong with helping Xia Liu for one day? Have you all forgotten who cured Zhang Qing when she was bitten by a snake!"
Among the onlooking villagers, some voices Visit NovelHub for more amazing novels and chapters.
Leaving aside whether he was a scam or not, just Xia Liu's skill in treating poison deserved respect.
"Yes, Xia Liu cured Zhang Qing who was bitten by a Silver Ringed Snake. His medical skills definitely are not wrong."
"Exactly, even if we really just wasted today, it doesn't matter."
Gradually, some voices began to Visit NovelHub for more amazing novels and chapters.
Hearing this, both Zhang Xiaoxue and Zhang Qing were very happy, as the villagers were becoming aware.
But the main culprit, Zhang Tie, was unhappy. He shouted loud, "Be quiet everyone! Don't you all have doubts? Xia Liu came back just in time. Why did Zhang Qing happen to be bitten by a snake at this time?"
The villagers were confused. Their level of education wasn't high, and they had no idea what Zhang Tie was getting at.
"Zhang Tie, stop slander! I can stay alive till now all because of Xia Liu. You just want to drive Xia Liu away, and then let the village be without a doctor, so eventually your unqualified daughter, who studied medicine, can come back and open a clinic!" Zhang Qing forcefully responded, sensing the insinuation in Zhang Tie's words implying she had colluded with Xia Liu.
"Tsk, my daughter studying medicine is true, and even if she opens a clinic in the village, it's for everyone's good. What's wrong with that? Xia Liu's medical skills are inadequate. You two staged this snake-bite drama just to make everyone believe in him, didn't you?"
"Enough, Zhang Tie! I can guarantee Xia Liu's medical skills. They are absolutely impressive. Whoever gets bitten by a snake in the future, just ask him to come, and he will surely cure it. Don't compare your naive daughter to Xia Liu."
Li Hao couldn't stand it anymore. He had personally seen Zhang Qing being bitten by a snake then carrying her from the fields back home.
At this moment, Zhang Tie was fuming with anger. He had to get Xia Liu out of Osmanthus Village. Only then would he have a chance to become the village head!