Chapter 1118 - 038 Muddy Water (second watch)
Glancing at the Lizheng holding his waist and howling in pain, and those village chiefs with eyes full of resentment, Xia Zheng pursed his lips and asked, "How much silver has the Lizheng embezzled over these years?"
He Guangming, who had been absorbed in fiddling with his sleeve, suddenly froze and looked up at Xia Zheng in shock. Had Xia Zheng asked more tactfully, he might not have been as startled, but who would have expected him to be so direct and ask outright.
He had long harbored the intention to report the Lizheng, but the Lizheng had powerful backers, and as a mere village chief, he knew no other influential people besides the Lizheng. Not to mention reporting him, he might end up getting dragged in himself. It didn’t matter if he suffered, but what about his daughter Xiao Dong? What about the villagers of He family village? If another village chief with ill intentions like the Lizheng came along, then their village would truly be plunged into darkness.
After pondering for a moment, He Guangming, with some bitterness, looked at the Lizheng who was busily working and slowly said, "The silver from the land sales, half of it went into the Lizheng’s pocket. Several other village chiefs got a share too, claiming it was to be distributed among the villagers, but how many actually did distribute it?"
Lin Yuan frowned, knowing well that officials would skimp layer by layer on the relief silver meant for the common people, yet she did not expect that the lowest level of village chiefs, the Lizheng, would embezzle even more fiercely, truly a case of universal corruptions.
"Fortunately, there are still good people like Village Chief He around." Lin Yuan’s praise was sincere as she had already seen from previous incidents that He Guangming was truly a good man.
Hearing her say this, He Guangming blushed with modesty and waved his hands repeatedly, "Miss, do not jest with me. If I were truly a good person, I would have arrested all these dishonest people by now, but alas, I heard that the Lizheng has someone powerful covering for him, I... sigh..."
Another sigh followed as he spoke of these matters, revealing just how often this middle-aged man must fret and agonize, no wonder there were deep furrows between his brows.