Chapter 1774: They Wanted His Tiger Skin
Fang Yong had just suffered the biggest blow of his life. His wife had cheated on him, and the child in her stomach might not even be his own.
Fang Yong was a smart man. He thought of Bai Yiqiao’s abnormality during this time. She didn’t even have any joy during pregnancy. Combined with what Li Gouzi said, Fang Yong could just about figure out what happened.
Now Fang Yong was full of resentment and had nowhere to vent. Unfortunately, as it happened, the bailiffs were acting greedy and insatiable. He gave seventy taels only ten days ago, and now, they wanted his tiger skin.
That unblemished tiger skin was at least worth a thousand taels. Tigers were rare, and it was not something ordinary people could hunt.
Fang Yong felt a surge of blood rushing up to his head. He clenched his fists tightly.
“What’s with that stare? Showing filial piety to the county master is a meritable deed. Quickly give me the tiger skin.” The bailiff was a little frightened by Fang Yong’s eyes. However, thinking that he was a government official, someone who this country hick could not afford to offend, he immediately straightened his back and demanded the tiger skin.
Fang Yong said, “This simple villager intends to give the tiger skin to his mother.”
“Hey, you dare to object?” The bailiff widened his eyes. “Believe it or not, I will tell the county master of your disrespect.”
With the support of the imperial court and the county master, the government official said to Fang Yong bravely, “Hand over the tiger skin obediently, or we’ll make you pay.”
County magistrates destroyed families, prefectural magistrates exterminated families!
In ancient times, local officials had authority over all civil affairs, taxation, justice, and civilization. If the officials in charge felt that the people under their jurisdiction were not pleasing to the eye, they could find any random reason to throw them in prison or even leave them ruined and destitute.
They left people without a road to survival. Not everyone could go to the capital to plead in the imperial court. Furthermore, the current bureaucracy was corrupt, the world was chaotic, and riots were frequent everywhere. Who cared about a trivial peasant?
Right now, the bailiffs were threatening Fang Yong and telling him to act tactfully.
Fang Yong clenched his fists and looked at the villagers attempting to curry favor with these bastards. He then glanced at the children who were crying incessantly in fear and the wife who had betrayed him lying at home.
Fang Yong felt uncontrollable indignation in his heart. He said coldly, “What if I don’t hand it over?”
“Alright, that’s it.” The bailiff drew the saber at his waist and slashed towards Fang Yong. Fang Yong dodged at once. He easily grabbed the bailiff’s saber.
While holding the blade, Fang Yong’s heart was full of uncontrollable impulses. He sliced the bailiff’s neck with a single swipe.
Blood spurted and splattered from the neck of the bailiff. Before dying, his expression was shocked and horrified. He covered his neck with his hands and fell to the ground with his eyes wide open.
The commotion here had attracted the attention of several other government officials. They each drew out their weapons to surround Fang Yong.
Fang Yong’s killing of the bailiff caused panic among the villagers. They thought that the whole village would be implicated because of him.
The village constable shouted towards Fang Yong, “Fang Yong, put down the blade.”
Ning Shu just watched silently. Fang Yong was now embarking on the road to rebel against the imperial court. He would join the uprising army and achieve meteoric success in the future. This was Fang Yong’s destiny.
Fang Yong ignored the constable and held the blade tightly. Blood dripped down the blade to the ground.
His face was grim and full of murderous intent. He raised the blade and slashed towards the officials.
As a hunter, Fang Yong was very agile. Moreover, he knew a bit of kung fu. He was not someone these useless people who only ate and drank could deal with.
Fang Yong made a ruthless attack and killed all the bureaucrats, including the county government’s secretary.
Anyway, no one from the county government was left alive.
With blood covering his face, Fang Yong said to the terrified children, “Go home.”
The children dispersed in a rush, while some villagers were panicked and looked alarmed.
The village constable yelled at Fang Yong, “What are you doing? You dare to kill the officials? Once the government finds out about this, our whole village will suffer.”
Fang Yong wiped the blood on the back of the blade and said calmly, “I’ll take the blame for everything. Even if the county master was in front of me just now, I would have killed him like the rest. The current court is better off overthrown. It’s impossible to make a living. I would rather do everything in my power than sit here and wait for death.”