Chapter 238: Chapter 238: Bodhisattva

Wang Bolao stood up in shock, shouting, “What? Beat to death?”

The attendant comforted him, “Mayor, don’t worry, after all, it’s just an outlander, if he’s beaten to death, so be it! Just find a place to bury him, who would know? Even if they knew, the villagers attacked him together; no one would be held accountable in a crowd!”

Wang Bolao’s face turned ashen, “Where? When are they going to do it?”

The attendant fawningly said, “Mayor, do you want to see that kid get his comeuppance yourself? They say that kid runs through six or seven villages every day, they’re planning to ambush him at Daleng Village. As soon as he shows up, they’ll rush him and cripple him first!”

Wang Bolao was furious and slapped his head, “Since you knew, why didn’t you report it immediately?”

“This… I, I just found out too…”

Wang Bolao paced around the room, cursing, “This is doomed to backfire!” And he ordered, “Quick, quick, quick, gather people, stop Song Heizi and his gang immediately, go quickly!”

The town mayor’s mansion was in chaos.

The attendant’s flattery missed the mark, and he got a heavy slap, completely baffled as to why Mayor Wang wanted to stop Song Heizi. That kid hit Mayor Wang, and these days Mayor Wang’s face has been longer than a horse’s, wasn’t he sulking?

Now that someone is helping him vent his anger, why is he still mad?

But, the mayor ordered it, so it must be done immediately. Maybe the mayor has another use for that kid’s life. Just as the attendant gathered people and prepared the carriage, Mayor Wang Bolao was about to set off when the mansion’s steward came running in panic, exclaiming, “Mayor, Mayor, something terrible has happened!”

The mayor felt a faintness in his eyes, slapped his forehead bitterly, “It’s too late, Xia Wenjin must have already been beaten to death!” He glared at the steward, “Quick, tell me, has he been killed?”

The steward was startled, stammering, “No, no… Not dead, it’s the Prefect… the Prefect…”

“What rot? How could he have decomposed right after being beaten?”

“No, no, no… It’s the Prefect who has arrived!”

The Prefect? How could he come to this small Wangshan Town? Even the Lord County Magistrate has never been here. The Prefect is much higher ranked than the County Magistrate.

The mayor was baffled and a bit incredulous, questioning, “Where is he?”

“Already at the door, with a large entourage!”

The mayor urgently said, “What are you still standing there for? Quick, quick, come with me to greet them!”

From the time Wangshan Town had him as mayor, no, since he could remember, such a high-ranking official had never visited. The mayor was both nervous and excited, slightly afraid, unsure of why the Prefect was visiting, and only finding out when he was already at his door. It was really rude, hoping the Prefect wouldn’t blame him.

The people he had just gathered were ready, and the mayor hurriedly led them out to greet him.

Outside the mansion, Shang Jingwang had already dismounted, preparing to enter the mansion.

After a long journey, spending even a night on the road, they had finally reached their destination.

The noble from the Capital City went to find a friend, which Shang Jingwang didn’t mind; he himself came to see the mayor. Skipping the County Magistrate and going directly to the mayor was also a first for him.

But with Young Master Jing from the Prince Kang Mansion accompanying him, promising to bring him political achievements, if he still thought of going to the County Magistrate first, delaying back and forth, the noble might think he was being difficult, so naturally, he headed straight to the destination.

At this moment, a round chubby man rolled out of the house like a ball, followed by a large group of people.

Shang Jingwang didn’t know Wang Bolao, and Wang Bolao had never had the fortune to meet the Prefect, but Wang Bolao was smart and perceptive. Seeing the middle-aged man in the center, exuding an air of authority, he figured it was definitely the Prefect, and hurriedly knelt to salute, “Wangshan Town Mayor Wang Bolao greets the Prefect, unaware of your arrival, I failed to greet you from afar!”

Shang Jingwang said, “Rise and speak!”

“Thank you, Prefect!” Wang Bolao quickly got up.

Shang Jingwang glanced at him, “The injury on your face, who did it?”

Wang Bolao was taken aback. The Prefect came all this way and was concerned about his facial injury? Was he really this approachable? He stammered, “I accidentally fell… fell!”

Shang Jingwang just asked casually, and upon hearing it was a fall, he paid no further attention, instead saying, “I’ve heard there’s an outbreak in Wangshan Town?”

Wang Bolao was startled, instinctively wanting to wipe his sweat. How did this news reach the Prefect’s ears? And why did the Prefect come personally?

How should he respond to this?

He considered, “The situation is still unclear, suspected, suspected…”

Seeing his faltering response, Shang Jingwang frowned and asked, “Even if it’s suspected, it can’t be taken lightly. As mayor, what preparations have you made? What measures have you taken?”

Upon hearing this, Wang Bolao almost burst into tears.

He recalled the young man previously telling him, “I told you to prepare early so when officials arrive and see you’ve set up everything, what will they think? If they arrive and see no preparations, letting the epidemic spread, what will they think?”

At this moment, he deeply realized that Young Master Xia was truly his Bodhisattva!

He quickly reported, “Your Excellency, I have set up quarantine points in each village. Anyone suspected of contracting the disease is ordered to undergo isolated treatment. The town also has a quarantine point. Additionally, I’ve organized the town’s wealthier households to donate money and materials to purchase medicine, but we have too few doctors in the town, we’re short on manpower!”

Shang Jingwang surprisingly gave him a look and said, “For you to achieve this is quite commendable. Fortunately, you’ve already begun the work. I initially thought it would be a mess, but unexpectedly, you have some ability. Come, take me to see the quarantine points!”

Wang Bolao was pleased to be praised, but then he remembered something that made his face turn pale.

He was supposed to rescue Xia Wenjin from Song Heizi’s ambush, but now with the Prefect here, he dared not leave at such a moment. But if something were to happen to Xia Wenjin, what would he do?

He wanted to order an attendant to handle it, but with Shang Jingwang present, any whisper could lead to misunderstanding.

Shang Jingwang, experienced in public service, noticed his unease, and his expression darkened slightly, speaking with a tone of authority, “Mayor Wang, are you hiding something from me?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep