Becoming the Cannon Fodder Wife of Crazy and Powerful Official - Chapter 29

Xin Yueying’s legs felt like jelly. She barely managed to stretch out a hand, propping herself against the wall as she half-crawled to her feet. With trembling hands, she closed the window.

She collapsed on the floor, terrified, her mind racing with all sorts of hypothetical scenarios.

Whether they were here to arrest Shen Qingqi or to catch Lame Ma, she was as good as dead.

There was no escape. It was over. How would she die? By a thousand cuts? Or by beheading?

“Get the hell out of here! If you stick around, don’t say we didn’t warn you when blood starts flowing!” came the booming shout of a constable from outside.

Her heart leaped into her throat.

Leaning against the wall, her face was as pale as paper.

“I, Guan Waishan, am putting it bluntly today—if you don’t pay up, don’t even think about practicing here!” a man roared.

“I didn’t rent a stall. If I had, then I would only pay the rent. I’ve never heard of having to pay ‘tribute’ to constables,” Meng Ruxin retorted calmly.

Huh? They weren’t here for them?!

Guan Waishan?

Wasn’t that the corrupt constable?

He was notorious for his greed, extorting money from businesses large and small under the guise of “tribute.” Merchants not only had to pay rent but also had to give him additional “tribute” every month.

It was protection money.

The people had long suffered under his tyranny. Not long after, Meng Ruxin, together with the citizens, would draft a petition signed in blood and send it to the city magistrate to plead their case.

Coincidentally, an inspector from the higher-ups happened to be in the city. The magistrate, feeling embarrassed, ordered Guan Waishan to be severely punished.

Due to the large amount of embezzled funds, Guan Waishan was taken to the capital to stand trial as a high-profile case.

He was a key figure.

Why was that?

Because after he was taken to the capital, his confession of his crimes alerted high-ranking officials, who grew suspicious that the Shen and Meng families had fled to the area. They dispatched soldiers to hunt them down.

Xin Yueying steadied her nerves and glanced at Lame Ma, who was also frozen in place, listening to the commotion outside.

Guan Waishan absolutely could not die.

He was too useful.

“Master Ma,” Xin Yueying stood up.

Lame Ma stared at her blankly, “What is it?”

Xin Yueying, “Don’t blame me. I’m sorry.”

Lame Ma was stunned.

Xin Yueying pushed the door open and hurried out.

The crowd had been driven away.

She watched Guan Waishan and Meng Ruxin arguing, squinting at them. Lame Ma hobbled out after her, his face pale with fear. “Are you planning to turn me in?” he whispered.

Meng Ruxin likely refused to pay, infuriating Guan Waishan so much that he raised his hand as if to strike her. But a short constable quickly stopped him, “Brother Guan, why don’t we give her a few days? We can come back later.” The short man glared at Meng Ruxin and snarled, “Hurry up and save the money. If you’re even a coin short, you’re dead.”

Meng Ruxin, wearing a veil, nodded frantically, gathered her medicine box and table, and fled.

Hah, that short guy pretended to side with Guan Waishan but was actually protecting Meng Ruxin.

She finally realized who that short man was.

He was the one who had set up this stall for Meng Ruxin. In the story, he was also the one who suggested she petition the authorities.

He was Meng Ruxin’s number two admirer.

Wait, who was number one?

Shen Qingqi?

Strange, why did that make her a little angry?!

Lame Ma said grimly, “Come back with me! If you dare say a word, I’ll expose your husband’s secrets too! We’ll die together!”

“Master Ma, I’m not turning you in. I’m not that stupid,” Xin Yueying replied impatiently.

As Meng Ruxin disappeared into the distance, Xin Yueying stepped forward.

“Officer Guan!”

She called out to him.

Lame Ma trembled all over.

“Could we speak in private?” Xin Yueying patted her purse and offered Guan Waishan a smile.

With that one look, Guan Waishan immediately understood.

He grinned and walked toward her, “Isn’t this the Fourth Miss from the Xin Family Estate?”

It surprised Xin Yueying that he actually remembered Xin Siniang.

He glanced back at the other constables, who turned around and walked a few steps away, keeping their distance.

Xin Yueying looked at the short one.

She led Guan Waishan to the space between two houses, with Lame Ma hobbling along behind them.

Xin Yueying took out ten taels of silver and handed it to Guan Waishan.

His eyes instantly lit up. Ten taels was no small sum—only large shops like gold stores, jade dealers, and major pawnbrokers paid ten taels monthly.

“Officer Guan, this is my godfather,” she said, pointing at Lame Ma.

Guan Waishan nodded at him.

Lame Ma was on the verge of fainting, his face ashen, and he nodded vaguely.

Xin Yueying pointed at his complexion. “As you can see, my godfather doesn’t look well. He’s fallen ill.” She paused, then added, “It’s a long journey for me to come here to check on him. Would it be possible for me to pay tribute to you as well? Could you assign a few constables to keep an eye on him? Nothing too troublesome—just if he has any headaches or fevers, help him find a doctor.”

Lame Ma was horrified, “No, really, that’s not necessary! I’m a doctor myself!”

“Hey now, Doctor Ma!” Guan Waishan clapped Lame Ma on the shoulder, smiling. “Even doctors can’t treat themselves. Don’t be stubborn. It’s necessary, absolutely necessary. Don’t worry, starting today, I’ll assign two constables to patrol near your house. If you feel unwell, just let them know.”

Lame Ma, “Really, it’s not necessary. I’m begging you, I really don’t need it.”

Guan Waishan tucked the silver into his robe, “Doctor Ma, no need to be polite.” He smiled cheerfully at Xin Yueying. “For such a small matter, you didn’t have to be so secretive.”

Xin Yueying’s eyes flickered, and she said softly, “I also wanted to remind you not to trouble that Meng woman, at least not now. She’s quite popular at the moment.”

Guan Waishan was taken aback. “What do you mean?”

Xin Yueying, “To be frank, my godfather has long disliked that Meng woman. Her clinic drove his out of business, and now she’s even set up a stall right outside his house to practice medicine. If it weren’t for her, my godfather wouldn’t be in such poor health. Honestly, we’d love for you to harass her stall every day.”

She abruptly changed tack, “But now isn’t the time. She has the people’s support right now. What if she and the commoners draft a bloody petition and take it to the city? How would you handle that?”

Guan Waishan laughed, “This backwater place—how many people here would even know how to do that? And who’d dare cause trouble? Everyone knows officials protect each other. Even if they had the courage of a leopard, they wouldn’t dare make a fuss.”

“Don’t underestimate anyone!” Xin Yueying said gravely. “Besides, I’ll say something I probably shouldn’t—I saw with my own eyes that someone under you gave her money.”

“Who?”

“The short one,” Xin Yueying recalled. “I think his name was Shang…”

“Shang Heng?”

“Yes, that’s him. I heard Meng Ruxin call him that.” She lowered her voice:

“They were whispering under the old locust tree. Also, today he stepped in to stop the confrontation. On the surface, he was speaking for you, but every word was actually giving Meng Ruxin a way out.” She paused, then added softly, “Officer Guan, you’re a smart man. If Shang Heng catches wind of something, like inside information about an inspector or imperial envoy, and then he eggs Meng Ruxin on to petition the emperor? There’s an old saying in official circles: ‘They don’t punish the diligent or the lazy—they punish the careless.’ You’d be in serious danger.”

Guan Waishan froze instantly.

Lame Ma also stared at Xin Yueying in astonishment.

What a clever girl—killing two birds with one stone. How devious.

First, she arranged for constables to patrol his door, preventing him from poisoning anyone. Second, with just a few words, she’d won over the corrupt constable Guan Waishan.

Guan Waishan quickly realized the severity of the situation.

His eyes narrowed, and he said solemnly, “What should I do?”

“Officer Guan, take my advice. Ignore the small vendors and peddlers for now—only collect from the big households. Those major businesses are actually willing to pay you. First, like me, they genuinely need constables patrolling their shops for security. Second, if someone tries to organize a bloody petition, those big households won’t get involved. They’re making piles of money every day—why would they divert their energy to such a thankless task?”

Xin Yueying, “Officer Guan, how much would you lose if you stopped collecting from the small vendors and peddlers?”

“Today was mainly about asserting authority. I’d heard everyone praises Meng Ruxin, and I couldn’t stand her winning over the people right under my nose. I deliberately targeted her and demanded ten taels.” Guan Waishan stroked his chin. “Normally, I don’t charge much from small vendors and peddlers. Altogether, it’s only a few dozen taels a month.”

“Then it’s even less worth it!” Lame Ma chimed in now. “Risking so much for such a small amount of silver, and earning the reputation of a corrupt constable—it’s just not worth it!”

Xin Yueying shot a cold glance at Lame Ma. See? When it’s someone else’s problem, you’re full of wisdom.