The carefree life of Yang Shuisheng, the village miracle doctor

"What's wrong?"

Yu Qianwei didn't see Zhao Youcai outside, but was puzzled by Yang Shuisheng's sudden action of pulling her, and looked up at him in confusion.

Yang Shuisheng didn't answer immediately. His gaze was fixed on the furtive figure across the street. Only after he saw Zhao Youcai walk past the barbershop with his head down and hurried steps did he release Yu Qianwei's hand and whisper, "It's nothing, come with me."

He pushed open the glass door and went out first.

Although Yu Qianwei was full of doubts, she still quickly followed.

The two maintained a distance that was neither too close nor too far, following behind Zhao Youcai.

Zhao Youcai was preoccupied with his own thoughts and completely unaware that two new tails had appeared behind him.

He took a roundabout route, deliberately choosing quiet alleys, as if he were afraid of being discovered.

"Isn't that...that's the village chief?"

After following for a few minutes, Yu Qianwei finally recognized the somewhat hunched figure in front of her. She covered her mouth in surprise and whispered to Yang Shuisheng, "Why is he in town too? And he's acting so suspiciously."

Yang Shuisheng put a finger to his lips to silence her, then whispered, "I also think something's off about him. Let's follow him and see what he's up to."

A sense of curiosity welled up in Yu Qianwei's heart. She nodded and stopped talking, carefully following Yang Shuisheng.

The two followed for about ten more minutes, until they saw Zhao Youcai stop in a relatively quiet residential area on the edge of the town.

The houses in this area are noticeably newer and cleaner than the older houses in the town center.

Zhao Youcai stopped in front of a vermilion gate, first looking around warily to make sure no one was paying attention before knocking on the door.

Yang Shuisheng and Yu Qianwei hid behind a big tree and watched from a distance.

Yu Qianwei, however, immediately recognized that this was the mayor's house in Daliang Town, a place she had visited with her father before.

"The mayor's house?"

Yang Shuisheng's heart skipped a beat.

What was Zhao Youcai, a village chief, up to by sneaking into the town mayor's house?

Reporting on work?

There's no need to be so sneaky.

Gift-giving?

Or is there some other ulterior motive?

He thought for a moment, then whispered to Yu Qianwei beside him, "Qianwei, you wait here for me. Don't wander off. I'm going inside to take a look."

"Huh? Go in? How do I get in?" Yu Qianwei stared blankly at the high wall and the tightly closed gate.

Yang Shuisheng did not answer, but simply observed the terrain.

With his strength, he could easily jump in with both feet, but with Yu Qianwei watching him, he couldn't do anything too outrageous.

Therefore, he could only resort to the more common method of bypassing the firewall.

Although the mayor's courtyard wall was high, it was not impenetrable. There were several old trees with lush branches and thick trunks at the corner of the wall, which could be used as a foothold.

He took a deep breath, took a few running steps, lightly touched the protrusion at the base of the wall with his toes, lifted his body off the ground, accurately grabbed the branches of the locust tree that were sticking out of the wall, did a light pull-up, and then flipped over, silently disappearing into the dense canopy of trees and vanishing on the other side of the wall.

The whole process was lightning fast, clean and efficient, without making a single unnecessary sound.

Yu Qianwei, who was hiding behind the tree, was dumbfounded. Before she could even worry, Yang Shuisheng had already climbed over the tree.

She could only cover her mouth, staring nervously at the tightly closed vermilion door, praying in her heart that Yang Shuisheng would not be discovered.

Yang Shuisheng fell silently into the flowerbed in the backyard of the town mayor's house, like a fallen leaf.

He held his breath and, using the dense oleander bushes in the corner as cover, quickly moved to the area below the living room window.

The window was half open, and the voices inside could be heard clearly.

He tilted his head slightly and looked through the crack in the window.

In the living room, Zhao Youcai sat somewhat awkwardly on a mahogany sofa. Opposite him sat a man in his fifties, wearing a white shirt, with a protruding belly and a dignified face. This man was Tian Youguang, the mayor of Daliang Town.

Tian Youguang picked up his teacup, took a slow sip, then put the cup down and said to Zhao Youcai in a seemingly casual but commanding tone, "Youcai, I called you here today because there's something I want you to do."

"Mayor Tian, ​​please feel free to ask if there's anything you need."

Zhao Youcai quickly put down the teacup he was holding, leaned forward slightly, and pretended to be all ears: "As long as it is within my ability, I will definitely handle it properly for you."

Tian Youguang nodded in satisfaction, tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of the sofa twice, and said slowly, "I've taken a liking to a woman from Liangshui Village."

Zhao Youcai was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting Tian Youguang to have summoned him for this reason.

He hesitated for a moment, then chuckled and flattered, "To be noticed by Mayor Tian, ​​this person must be quite beautiful."

"certainly."

A meaningful smile appeared on Tian Youguang's face, his eyes filled with undisguised possessiveness: "So you help me think of a way to get rid of her."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Youcai's expression immediately turned somewhat troubled. He rubbed his hands together and said cautiously, "Mayor Tian, ​​this... this matter concerning Liangshui Village should, in principle, be discussed with the village chief of Liangshui Village. As the village chief of Taohua'ao, I'm afraid it's inappropriate for me to interfere too much?"

"You're talented. We've known each other for quite a while now."

Tian Youguang waved his hand, his tone carrying a sense of absolute certainty: "Of the dozen or so villages at the foot of the Liangshan Mountains, you are the one I have the most faith in."

"He's efficient and keeps his mouth shut."

"I don't trust anyone else to do this."

He paused, leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and spoke with a hint of seduction and promise.

"Furthermore, I might as well tell you something."

"I may be transferred to a position in the county soon."

"At that time, the position of mayor of Daliang Town will be vacant."

"I've been thinking about finding a capable and trustworthy person to take over my job."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Youcai's breath hitched, his eyes brightened, and his face revealed an expression of excitement and longing.

Tian Youguang took in his reaction, smiled slightly, and continued, "However, whether you can sit in this position depends on your own performance."

"Do you get me?"

Zhao Youcai's voice trembled with excitement. He quickly stood up, patted his chest, and assured, "Mayor Tian, ​​rest assured, I will live up to your expectations. I will do my best to complete the task you entrusted to me."

"Alright, sit down and talk."

Tian Youguang leaned back on the sofa with satisfaction and waved his hand: "Since you've agreed, then this matter is entrusted to you. What are your plans?"

Zhao Youcai sat down again, his eyes darting around, and tentatively asked, "Mayor Tian, ​​which one from Liangshui Village have you taken a fancy to?"

"Her name is Cai Yuzhu, did you know that?"

"Is it Cai Yuzhu, the tofu seller from Liangshui Village?"

Tian Youguang nodded, a greedy glint in his eyes: "That's right, it's her."

Upon hearing the name Cai Yuzhu, Yang Shuisheng, standing outside the window, felt his pupils shrink sharply, and a surge of anger instantly rose from the depths of his heart.

Cai Yuzhu is his target, how could he let someone else get there first?

He clenched his fists, suppressing the urge to rush in immediately, and continued listening.

Zhao Youcai's voice carried a hint of hesitation and dissuasion as he said, "Mayor Tian, ​​I'm afraid this Cai Yuzhu is not suitable."

"Why can't it be used?"

Tian Youguang frowned, somewhat displeased: "What's the problem?"

"Mayor Tian, ​​you are unaware of the situation!"

Zhao Youcai quickly explained, "This Cai Yuzhu, she... she's very strange. The day she married into Liangshui Village, her husband died inexplicably in the river."

"Everyone in the village says she's unlucky and brings bad luck to her husbands!"

"Anyone who gets involved with her is doomed!"

"This matter has spread far and wide, you... you should think it over."

"Killing husbands? That's all feudal superstition!"

Upon hearing this, Tian Youguang merely scoffed and said dismissively, "I, Tian Youguang, am upright and honest; I don't believe in such things."

"Besides, her husband is dead, and she's a widow with no one to rely on. I'm just taking pity on her and want to give her someone to depend on."

"Just do as I say!"