Chapter 25: Subduing the Great Mountain

"Whack!"

Lu Hao had no patience for Niu Dashan. He backhanded him with a resounding slap. "Learn to speak properly. I may not be able to kill you, but I am more than capable of beating you into the hospital."

Lu Hao did not want to resort to such extreme measures, but he knew that Niu Dashan had to be broken today. Otherwise, Niu would certainly sabotage his work at the Poverty Alleviation Office from the shadows.

"Lu Hao, don't get cocky. I'm going to call the police in a minute and make sure you regret this," Niu Dashan gritted his teeth.

In Fangshui Township, he had never suffered such humiliation. To be beaten black and blue by a mere pup—if word got out, he would be a laughingstock.

"Call the police? On what grounds? You brought people to ambush me; my reaction was self-defense. If anyone is calling the police, it's me. Besides, you just said there are no surveillance cameras here. Even if the police wanted to investigate, they wouldn't find any evidence." Lu Hao sneered as he lit a cigarette.

"You..." Niu Dashan was trembling with rage, but he knew Lu Hao was right.

Lu Hao crouched down, flicked the ash, and suddenly grabbed Niu Dashan by the hair. "I used to tolerate you because you were, in some sense, half a superior. But now? What are you, exactly? You’d better get your status straight and stop testing my bottom line."

"Lu Hao, don't forget, this is Fangshui Township. This is my turf. If you won't let me live in peace, I’ll drag you down with me." Niu Dashan still glared, uttering threats.

If Lu Hao pushed him to the edge, there was nothing he wouldn't do.

Watching Niu Dashan’s stubborn display, Lu Hao’s expression shifted, and he said with disdain, "Drag me down with you? Are you worthy? At the very least, I graduated from a prestigious 985 university. Even if I weren't a civil servant, I could find a job in a big city and easily earn ten thousand a month. And you? I heard from colleagues that your entire family depends on this salary. If you lost your job, your wife and children would suffer right along with you. By the way, which village do you live in? And which school does your daughter attend? I'll have to look into those things later. Know your enemy, right?"

These nonchalant words immediately made Niu Dashan tremble. He asked in panic, "What... what are you trying to do?"

Lu Hao exhaled a puff of smoke and said with an innocent look, "You’re the one who wanted to drag me down with you, aren't you? What else could I do? If you won't let me live in peace, then I have no choice but to make sure your whole family doesn't either."

"You..." Cold sweat poured down Niu Dashan's back. He never expected that the young man he had bullied for so long could harbor such vicious thoughts.

"So? Have you folded? Let me tell you, I've already distributed the work at the Poverty Alleviation Office. I can manage just fine without you. As for you, a man already under disciplinary review—every time you sabotage me, I will dock your pay. I’ll make sure you’re left with nothing but a basic salary. Let’s see how you survive then."

"As for your backer, Li Haotian, you should know better than me that you’ve already been discarded. The fact that I’m sitting in this position proves you’re no longer worth his effort to oppose Zhao Gang. He’s already kicked you aside like a dog; do you really want to keep being his pawn?" Lu Hao said coldly while smoking.

Niu Dashan glared at Lu Hao, saying nothing, though his heart was a cocktail of complex emotions.

It was Li Haotian who had incited him to target Lu Hao, promising to resolve his niece's career staffing issues and promising him the position of Director of the Poverty Alleviation Office. In the end, none of it was delivered, and he was left with a disciplinary mark on his record.

Thinking of this, Niu Dashan gnashed his teeth in resentment.

Lu Hao suddenly offered him a cigarette. Niu Dashan hesitated, snorted, but took it anyway. He wiped the blood from his face, lit the cigarette with a lighter, and sat down on the ground next to Lu Hao.

Lu Hao seized the moment. "I know Li Haotian ordered you to mess with me, but you’re a grown man. He dangles a piece of fat in front of you, and you run around biting me like a dog? Don't you find that ridiculous? Think about it: have I ever truly done anything to wrong you? What good does it do you to keep acting against me?"

Niu Dashan remained silent, head bowed, smoking as if lost in thought.

"As long as you do your job at the office properly and follow the rules, I promise to let bygones be bygones. Everything between us is wiped clean."

After saying this, Lu Hao walked to a motorcycle nearby and rode it over to Niu Dashan. "Get on."

"What for?" Niu Dashan glared at him.

"To take you to the clinic to get bandaged up. I don't want you dying of blood loss here," Lu Hao said, rolling his eyes.

"I don't need your help." Despite his tough words, Niu Dashan climbed onto the motorcycle. He also signaled to the men he had brought along to head to the clinic as well, just in case they had suffered any real injuries.

Soon, Lu Hao drove Niu Dashan to a nearby clinic. After an examination, it turned out they only had superficial wounds.

Besides a bloodied scratch on his back, Lu Hao had also cut his arm during the fight. After being bandaged, he paid the bill and left first.

Niu Dashan hadn't said a word to Lu Hao from beginning to end, his expression heavy with thought.

...

In a private room at the Yunding Hotel in the county seat.

Liu Ruyan, a socialite in political circles, moved gracefully around the table, pouring Maotai liquor. She smiled lightly at Li Zhen and Li Haotian, who were sitting beside her. "I’m the host today, treating you two leaders to a meal and drinks to strengthen our ties."

After some polite formalities, Li Zhen spoke to Li Haotian with a meaningful look. "Township Head Li, I asked you to deal with Lu Hao for me, yet you’ve allowed him to become the Director of the Poverty Alleviation Office in such a short time. It really caught me by surprise."

Li Haotian's expression changed, and he quickly explained, "County Magistrate, this really isn't my fault. I had already successfully saddled Lu Hao with a major demerit, but who could have expected that wretched woman Lin Xiyue to take the matter to the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection? Zhao Gang, that fence-sitter, was afraid of offending Lin Xiyue, so he forced Lu Hao into the position of Director, completely disregarding my feelings."

He calmly shifted all the blame onto Zhao Gang and Lin Xiyue, pitting them against Li Zhen.

Sure enough, Li Haotian's words caused Li Zhen’s face to darken immediately.

As a native of Anxing County, Li Zhen had been County Magistrate for over a decade. He couldn't claim to have everyone in the county at his beck and call, but at the very least, no one dared to openly oppose him. Zhao Gang’s actions this time clearly displeased him.

As for that woman Lin Xiyue, she did have a bit of a background, making her difficult to move for now. Naturally, Li Zhen was deeply annoyed.

Seeing the displeasure on their faces, Liu Ruyan spoke softly at the perfect moment. "County Magistrate, this really can't be blamed entirely on Township Head Li. After all, when it comes to personnel appointments, Zhao Gang is the Party Secretary, and Township Head Li is the deputy. He is inevitably suppressed in every way. You really should give Township Head Li a promotion."

Li Zhen pondered, then nodded. "Indeed, Haotian is due for a step up."

Li Haotian was overjoyed. He hurriedly toasted Li Zhen while casting a look of gratitude at Liu Ruyan.

"Thank you, County Magistrate. I’ll toast you."

He had been worrying about how to broach the subject with Li Zhen, and he hadn't expected Liu Ruyan to do it for him. It was a massive favor.