Chapter 162 - 161: Adding Fuel to the Fire
After three rounds of drinks, Manager Luo started to complain to the county magistrate and the county lieutenant about the poor law and order in Sanqing County, even stating that people from Tang Garden had been threatened. If things didn’t improve, he was considering retreating back to Dingzhou or the capital city...
Manager Luo’s words made County Lieutenant Ding, who was responsible for law and order, startle. If these complaints reached higher-ups, his career could be at risk. He smacked the table and yelled, "Who dares to threaten Tang Garden? Name him, Mr. Luo, and I will see them punished severely."
Manager Luo pointed at Junior Officer Zhao at the same table and said, "It’s this Junior Officer Zhao..."
At first, Junior Officer Zhao was shocked, followed by anger that flushed his whole face. In the past, he knew better than to try and trifle with Tang Garden. Chen Shiying was a respected official, but thousands of miles away, he couldn’t compete with the close proximity of the owner of Tang Garden. But now, Chen Shiying was the respected official of this province, and Zhao was his uncle.
Angrily, he put down his drink and said, "Mr. Luo, just because I call you sir, do you think you are one? You’re just the head of an estate, who has been given a bit of authority and who has started a dye shop. I kindly offered a suggestion; if you don’t want to take it, that is fine. But to complain to the county magistrate and the county lieutenant, they are very busy, they don’t have time for your nonsense."
With a smile that didn’t quite reach his face, Manager Luo said, "County Lieutenant Ding, you see, even in front of you, this Mr. Zhao can be so arrogant with me!" Then, with a mocking glance at Junior Officer Zhao, he said, "Head of the estate? A persnickety country bumpkin! Let me tell you, I’m not only the head of Tang Garden but also the second steward of Yongning Marquis Mansion in the capital city. Even the county magistrate treats me with great respect, usually inviting me to dine at his home every year. Even the previous governor of Dingzhou was courteous to me..." Pointing at the county magistrate and the county lieutenant, he added, "You tell me, is my talking to them nonsense?"
County Magistrate Li and County Lieutenant Ding hurriedly laughed along, "Of course not, of course not. A seventh-rank official could get an audience with the prime minister, so we wouldn’t dare ignore Manager Luo from Yongning Marquis Mansion. You speak, we’re listening." They gave Junior Officer Zhao a pointed look, "Junior Officer Zhao must not have known about Mr. Luo’s other identity, which is why he spoke so out of turn."
They thought to themselves that Junior Officer Zhao was digging his own grave by trying to crack a hard nut like Luo. However, they were here today to congratulate Mrs. Chen, they couldn’t allow Zhao to lose face in such an offence to Mr. Chen.