"Sister-in-law... what are you talking about? I’m not that kind of person!"
Lin Fan stood frozen in place, looking at Nie Yinghong with a look of utter bewilderment as she knelt there, tears streaming down her face once again.
"Lin Fan, if it weren’t for you today, Lao Luan couldn’t have departed so honorably, and Ru Long and Ru Feng couldn’t have returned to my side so smoothly. You have helped me a great deal, and I really don’t know how to thank you..."
Nie Yinghong, looking up at Lin Fan with a pitiful gaze, said, "I just happened to hear... you like widows... Sister-in-law doesn’t have much to offer... if you really like them, you can have me right here..."
"Sister-in-law, you can’t listen to those guys spouting nonsense. I really am not that kind of person. I’ve already said it was because County Magistrate Luan was kind to me that I helped him hold face, it’s not because I had any ill intentions."
Lin Fan was truly caught in a dilemma, whether to help or not to help. He had only intended to fulfill Huo Ben’s wishes, yet somehow it had been spread around.
"This isn’t any ill will... everyone has their own preferences, and now that Lao Luan is gone, us mother and children have no one to rely on... who knows what will become of us in the future... if you pity your sister-in-law... you might as well have me... After all, these past few years Lao Luan kept women outside, he wouldn’t even touch me when he came back..."
Nie Yinghong wiped the tears from her face, saying, "Sister-in-law isn’t promiscuous, and I’m not sick... if you like, you can use me, think of it as feeling sorry for us, a lonely widow and orphans, and it’ll give us someone to look out for in the future."
"Sister-in-law, you really misunderstand... rest assured, now that County Magistrate Luan is gone, you still have me. If you don’t want to stay in Red Flag County anymore, I’ll help you find a way to switch jobs, and we can go back to the city."
Lin Fan hurriedly helped Nie Yinghong to her feet, not to mention that he had never had any improper thoughts from the start, even if he had, he couldn’t possibly take advantage of someone else’s wife so soon after her husband’s death—that would require hating someone to a perverse degree.
"Then... then thank you very much... we have lived here for quite some time... the two kids have their university entrance exams next year, and with everything that’s happened at home already, it’s difficult enough without adding the complication of transferring schools, so we’ll stay put."
Nie Yinghong took a deep breath, some things she couldn’t escape from even if she wanted to.
"Sister-in-law, I have to ask something, if it’s convenient for you to tell, please do; if not, then never mind!"
Lin Fan looked at Nie Yinghong’s face and asked, "Do you know what County Magistrate Luan has been busy with recently, and why he ended up in a situation that cost him his life?"
"He hasn’t been home for a long time... I don’t know... and we’ve been estranged for a while now, just living under the same roof, and I never inquire into his work."
Nie Yinghong sighed and said, "If you want to know, you might as well check on the two fox spirits he kept; they might know something."
Hearing this, Lin Fan suddenly recalled what Ren Tian’ai had mentioned about County Magistrate Luan picking courtesans in her office and subsequently taking away two dancers. This time County Magistrate Luan was already scheduled for training at the Party School, and being forced to jump off a building, he must have crossed paths with core information that led Zhao Chuanchun to kill him. The executor was very likely someone close to Huo Ben. He hoped this lead wouldn’t be wiped out as well.
"Then... if you... really don’t want me... I’ll go back now!"
Nie Yinghong looked at Lin Fan awkwardly and said, "But... if you ever change your mind, you can come find me... my children reside at school... and there’s no one else at home."
"Thank you, sister-in-law."
Lin Fan didn’t know what else to say; by now, the whole town probably knew of his predilection for married women. However, he wasn’t too bothered by it, as a bad reputation suited his need to keep his identity hidden.
After Nie Yinghong walked away, Lin Fan dialed Ren Tian’ai’s number. As soon as the call connected, he could hear Ren Tian’ai’s somewhat coquettish voice: "Master, what do you need?"
"Didn’t you mention earlier that County Magistrate Luan took two dancers? Help me check if they’re still in Red Flag County, I have something to ask them."
Naturally, Lin Fan would not let go of this clue; if he could find even the slightest lead, it would make things much easier.
"I’ll try to find out!"
Ren Tian’ai couldn’t make any promises since they hadn’t been in touch for a long time. As Lin Fan hung up the phone, he saw Zhu Zhixuan walking over with a smile and leaning into his arms: "Did County Magistrate Luan’s wife come to find you for something?"
"The word got out that I like married women, so she came to offer herself."
Turning Zhu Zhixuan around, Lin Fan lifted her long skirt and slid his hand beneath her smooth abdomen to play with the ravine between her legs.
Zhu Zhixuan obediently placed her hands behind her, slipping them into his belt, caressing the gradually fierce dragon: "That makes sense; with County Magistrate Luan fallen, she needs support here in Red Flag County. You’re young and powerful, definitely her best bet for security, and with such a fine ’jewel’ to use, why wouldn’t she?"