Chapter 95: I Was Only After That Xu Tong!

The thug who had been gripping the little beggar stared blankly for a moment, then snapped irritably, “Who are you?”

At the sound of the voice, Xu Tong turned around, and his expression changed at once. “Well, well. Isn’t this Young Master Xu, the little fortune-bringer?”

During the period when Xu Mo had been hanging around the Changlong Gambling House, he had lost so much money that the others had given him the mocking nickname of fortune-bringer.

Xu Mo ignored Xu Tong. He jumped down from the mule cart and strode straight toward the thug. “Let him go.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Xu Mo had already reached the little beggar.

Without the slightest courtesy, he shoved the thug aside and pulled the boy behind him.

The thug staggered from the push and instantly flew into a rage, ready to rush forward and snatch the boy back.

Qin Woodhead, fearing Xu Mo might be in danger, hurried over and planted himself in front of Xu Mo.

Xu Mo suddenly shouted, “Do you believe I’ll go report this to the magistrate right now?”

The thug was stunned at once upon hearing that they meant to involve the authorities, standing there at a loss.

Xu Tong stepped forward and said coldly, “Young Master Xu, ever since you came into your fortune, you’ve certainly found your voice.”

Xu Mo had no interest in wasting words with him. He said to Qin Woodhead, “Woodhead, go report it at once.”

Worried that Xu Mo might suffer for it, Qin Woodhead asked, “But Master, what about you and Madam if I leave?”

“Don’t worry about us. Just go. I refuse to believe they’d dare touch me in the middle of the street.”

Qin Woodhead thought that made sense, nodded, and was about to turn and run for the magistrate’s office.

“Stop!” Xu Tong shouted, stepping in to block his way.

Then he said to Xu Mo, “Young Master Xu, no one here has done anything illegal. Who exactly are you trying to have arrested by reporting this?”

Of course Xu Tong would never sit back and let Xu Mo go to the authorities.

A gambling house dreaded official officers more than anything. The moment constables appeared, they would frighten off half the gamblers. How much money would that cost them?

More important still, if the boss found out that officers had come today, Xu Tong himself would surely be cursed from head to toe.

Xu Mo replied unhurriedly, “Xu Tong, did you not hear what he said? His mother’s money for medicine was cheated away. The swindler is in your gambling house right now. Tell me, then—who do you think I’m reporting to have arrested?”

After saying that, Xu Mo turned to the little beggar and asked, “Little brother, are you certain the man who cheated you is inside?”

“I’m certain! He’s wearing a blue shirt with a patch on it, and there’s a black mole on the left side of his nose. Even if he were turned to ashes, I’d still recognize him!” The little beggar nodded hard, his voice tight with anger.

Xu Mo nodded at once. “Good. When the officers arrive, you’ll point him out and have them arrest him.”

“Mm!” The little beggar nodded again with all his strength.

Xu Mo immediately said, “Woodhead, what are you standing there for? Hurry and report it!”

“Yes, Master.” Qin Woodhead started to move.

Xu Tong blocked him again, then lowered his voice and said to Xu Mo, “Xu Mo, last time you injured my men, I still haven’t settled that score with you. If you dare stick your nose into this again today, do you believe I’ll make sure you regret it?”

Xu Mo let out a cold laugh. “Hah.”

Then he stepped closer to Xu Tong and said in a deep voice, “Xu Tong, you still haven’t paid me back for splashing filth all over my house. So today, this business is mine to meddle in.”

Xu Tong frowned, genuinely puzzled. “Xu Mo, what the hell are you talking about? When did I ever throw filth at your house? Stop slandering me with baseless accusations!”

Seeing that Xu Tong refused to admit it, Xu Mo sneered with contempt. “So you dare do it but not own it? Are you even a man?”

Xu Tong flew into a rage. “I’ve always had the guts to own what I do! If I did it, I’ll admit it; if I didn’t, no one gets to pin that kind of filth on me!”

The two men glared at one another, and the air between them seemed to crackle with tension.

Seeing this, Chen Miaoyi hurried down from the cart. Courageously, she stood beside Xu Mo and glared at Xu Tong together with her husband.

“Woodhead, hurry and report it!” Xu Mo urged again.

Qin Woodhead dared not hesitate any longer. He hurried around Xu Tong and sprinted full speed toward the county office.

Xu Tong did not stop him this time, because he knew there was no stopping him now.

He gave a cold laugh. “Xu Mo, do you really think reporting this will do anything? Do you take Changlong Gambling House for some idle trifling place?”

Since the day Changlong Gambling House opened, it had regularly sent gifts and payments to the county office.

In particular, Xiao Jinchong, the county clerk of Xinzhou City, received more from Changlong Gambling House than the county magistrate and the chief secretary combined.

The reason was simple: the county clerk was the local officer in charge of arrests and prison affairs, and he had far more dealings than most with a place like a gambling house, where trouble always gathered.

Though the county clerk was not a high-ranking official, the power in his hands was by no means small, which was why Changlong Gambling House valued him so highly.

In truth, Xu Tong was not really afraid of Xu Mo reporting the matter. He simply did not want the officers to appear, scare off the gamblers, hurt the house’s business, and leave him to be scolded by the boss.

After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Qin Woodhead returned with a patrol of constables.

Among those leading the group was not only Xiong Youli, but also a man in his thirties of average build with a short beard, his expression stern and severe.

Xu Tong recognized the man. The moment he saw him, he hurried forward and cupped his hands respectfully. “County Clerk Xiao, you’ve finally come. Someone is deliberately causing trouble here and seriously affecting our business at Changlong Gambling House. County Clerk Xiao, you must stand up for us!”

This man was none other than Xiao Jinchong, the county clerk of Xinzhou.

In fact, Xiao Jinchong had not intended to come at first. But once he heard it involved Changlong Gambling House, he immediately set aside what he was doing and came over at once.

His face set hard, Xiao Jinchong asked, “Manager Xu, what exactly is going on? Look at this scene of yours. You’ve surrounded the whole place, and the road is blocked.”

By then, the front of Changlong Gambling House was already ringed three deep with people, and traffic had been brought to a complete standstill.

“County Clerk Xiao, it’s like this...” Xu Tong immediately began explaining the whole affair, shifting all the blame onto Xu Mo.

While Xu Tong was speaking with Xiao Jinchong, Xiong Youli walked up to Xu Mo and said quietly, “Young Master Xu, this is only a small matter. There’s no need to make it into a big one, is there? You’re already a man doing serious business now. It would be best not to offend Changlong Gambling House. These people are not easy to deal with.”

On the way over, Xiong Youli had already learned the whole story from Qin Woodhead.

Xu Mo lowered his voice. “Constable Xiong, to be honest, I’m not targeting Changlong Gambling House. I’m targeting only that Xu Tong.”

“Him?” Xiong Youli asked in surprise. “What has he done to offend you?”

Xu Mo’s mouth twitched, and a silent, cold smile passed over his face. Then he told him about the filth that had been thrown at his home.

Xiong Youli was shocked and immediately said indignantly, “Damn it! That bastard is despicable beyond words. He’s gone too far, truly too far!”

Xu Mo nodded at once and said, “Constable Xiong, if you were in my place, could you swallow that?”

Xiong Youli did not even hesitate. He shook his head and said passionately, “No chance! If it were me, I’d throw that bastard straight into the cesspit!”