Chapter 379: Chapter 379: County Magistrate Chapter 379: Chapter 379: County Magistrate “No, no, the county magistrate didn’t say to let her in,” the Yamen Runner shook his head repeatedly.
To everyone’s surprise, just as the words were spoken, Big Bull threw the tiger to the ground with a slap, turned his face, and sulkily said, “If my wife can’t enter, then I won’t bother entering this Yamen either.”
The hunter’s temper was so fiery that the two Yamen Runners were caught off guard, exchanging glances, not knowing what to do.
The village head, after all, was a man of age, more knowledgeable in dealing with people, and quickly came forward to plead amiably, “Brother Yamen Runner, you may not know, these two are an unmarried couple, very much in love. Wherever they go, they go together, and even this tiger was hunted down together by them on the mountain. Please let them enter together.”
The two Yamen Runners, thinking that the county magistrate was still waiting inside and that they would undoubtedly be blamed for any delay, at last waved their hands and said impatiently, “Alright, alright! Go in, go in, everyone go in.”
“Thank you, Brother Yamen Runner, thank you, Brother Yamen Runner,” the village head offered his thanks several times before he and Big Bull and Xuexue stepped into the Yamen.
As soon as they walked in, a man who looked like an Advisor approached them and said, “Gentlemen, the county magistrate is inside, please follow me.”
The village head recognized him, this man was indeed the county magistrate’s Advisor, surnamed Chen; he only knew that the Yamen Runners all called him Advisor Chen.
“Very well! Thank you, Advisor Chen,” the village head thanked him with a clasped hands salute.
“No need for formalities, please,” the Advisor glanced at them with a strange look, somewhat astonished, but soon turned and led the way.
With the tiger slung over his shoulder, Big Bull followed behind with Xuexue.
The Advisor did not lead them to the main hall but to a room on the side.
“Go in, the county magistrate is inside waiting for you,” the Advisor said, stopping at the doorway.
“Yes, yes,” the village head replied and turned his head to look at Big Bull and Xuexue, taking a deep breath with a nervous tone, “Let’s go in.”
Indeed, in the hearts of these common folk, the county magistrate was an unattainable high official, holding sway over their lives and deaths, so it was no wonder the village head was nervous.
Big Bull was quite the opposite, relaxed and nonchalant, which made the village head envious. He thought it was good to be simple-minded like Big Bull, who came to the Yamen without any fear, as casual as if in his own garden.
A middle-aged man in official robe was sitting on a Taishi Chair. He appeared to be in his thirties or forties, with very regular features, except his skin was somewhat pale, probably because he hadn’t been out in the sun for too long.
Seeing them enter, he stood up from the Taishi Chair with a smile emerging on his face, beaming at Big Bull, “Oh my! Truly a hero despite his youth.”
The village head immediately knelt down and kowtowed, “Peasant Mo Qimin pays respect to the county magistrate.” Then, turning his head anxiously toward Big Bull and Xuexue, he urged, “Quickly kneel and kowtow to the county magistrate.”
Unexpectedly, Big Bull and Xuexue remained still like statues, not moving an inch, causing him great distress.
The usually aloof county magistrate, for some reason, seemed approachable today. He quickly said, “This place is not a courtroom; we can dispense with those tedious rituals. Please, get up.”
“Thank you, county magistrate.”
The village head thanked him again, before standing up from the ground.
Big Bull dropped the tiger onto the ground.
The county magistrate went over to look at it closely, exclaiming with surprise, “Oh my! Why does this tiger have so many wounds?”