ers from the mountain. You know the rules: whoever catches game, shares it with those present. Mengqi, Chuxia, give some of the spoils to Brother Dog," Shao Qian, suddenly sober, commanded his secretary and assistant to unload the goods from the car.

"Leave everything and go. Act as if nothing happened. Otherwise, you know my temper," Er Dog warned coldly.

"Brother Dog, are you really going to disregard old ties and break the rules? You may be fierce, but I'm not necessarily afraid of you." As Shao Qian spoke, Mengqi and Chuxia drew their daggers, flanking Er Dog.

"Shao Qian, I'm letting you go because we're acquainted. If you persist, don't blame me for being ruthless." Er Dog stood proudly, unafraid of the glinting daggers.

Police sirens wailed in the distance, causing Shao Qian and his group to panic.

"Want to keep fighting?" Er Dog mocked.

"No, no! Brother Dog, please show mercy. Shao Qian will be eternally grateful," Shao Qian pleaded, dejectedly clasping his hands in a supplicatory gesture.

"Drop the stuff and scram!"

Shao Qian's group hurriedly placed the cash and goods by the roadside and fled in embarrassment after Er Dog cleared the way.

"Bah! Scumbags," Er Dog spat forcefully on the ground.

When Secretary Liu sobered up, Deputy Secretary Fu was accompanied by police drinking in Liu's restaurant. Headman Liu and others, looking despondent, were there too. The money and items Shao Qian had swindled were piled up in the courtyard.

Secretary Liu looked around in confusion. Officer Xiao Wu handed him a wanted poster for identification. The face on the poster was none other than Shao Qian. After being educated by Officer Xiao Wu, Liu still couldn't believe what he saw.

Deputy Secretary Fu, uninterested in arguing, took Liu to the address Shao Qian had left behind. Upon arrival, the company was gone. Dialing Shao Qian's number, they found it disconnected.

They spotted Shao Qian’s Lincoln parked by a rental company with a large red flower on the hood. Next to the flower was a glaring sign: "Luxury car rental, 200 yuan per day."

"Now do you believe it?" Deputy Secretary Fu pulled out a cigarette and lit one for Liu, who took a few deep drags before angrily flicking it aside.

"Even if I don't believe it, what can you do about it? Let's go back." Liu slammed the car door. Deputy Secretary Fu shrugged and restarted the car.

"Where are we going?" Liu snapped at Fu.

"Home." Deputy Secretary Fu, unsure of Liu's sudden burst of anger, pulled over.

"I'm so upset, can't you at least take me for a bath?"

"With that rogue face of yours, consider it done," Fu responded, laughing.

Back in the village, Liu made a detailed inspection in front of Elder Min and the village and mine executives. Fu once asked Er Dog why he hadn’t turned Shao Qian'

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