Saving System: Calm Down, My Fleeing Host!-Chapter 228: System Cheat Tool

The County Magistrate choked; he was using the guise of official business to handle personal matters, so what search warrant would he produce? 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Although he was the County Magistrate, producing a search warrant would require it to be recorded and substantiated by solid evidence before any search could proceed. The case would also need to be tried publicly – only a fool would resort to using a search warrant for such a trivial matter.

"Whether there’s sheltering or not, it will become clear after the search," he confidently claimed.

The County Magistrate, without any hesitation, pushed Bai Lian aside and stepped into the mansion’s entrance.

Bai Lian followed him in, unwilling to give up, "Does the County Magistrate have no search warrant? That means no solid evidence. Our Bai Family is a reputable entity in Lijiang County. How can you storm into private property without giving an explanation? Are you openly disregarding the law?"

Bai Lian’s last words were spoken with such high spirits that more and more people began to gather around to watch.

They pointed and commented, surprised that the County Magistrate, knowing the law, would still violate it. Treating the Bai Family this way, how much less would he regard ordinary citizens? Such a person is unfit to be a parental official of the county.

Similar sentiments began to spread among the crowd.

This was undoubtedly Cheng Xiaoxiao’s doing. Even if the public opinion couldn’t do much to the County Magistrate, it would surely ruin his reputation, if not destroy him, at least disgust him.

The County Magistrate secretly resented Bai Lian for not recognizing the timing. He was still hoping to find beauties; how preposterous that a small Bai Family would dare to oppose him.

The reason the County Magistrate had such confidence was entirely because his wife was from a first-class aristocratic family, the daughter of the Yuan Family. This gave him significant confidence, and over the years, he had wielded power and oppressed people in Lijiang County.

Of course, much of his misconduct was carried out behind the scenes. Publicly, he still needed to maintain a face. Being publicly pointed out for the first time, while he was resentful, he also secretly vowed to bring down the Bai Family.

Daring to publicly oppose him, the Bai Family truly had no desire to continue in Lijiang.

From behind a pillar, Cheng Xiaoxiao watched from afar, that vicious and twisted old face truly nauseating.

"That short, stout old man, with a face of grievance and constipation, is the County Magistrate of your Lijiang?"

Cheng Xiaoxiao didn’t turn her head as Bai Qiuyi beside her replied amusingly, "Yes."

He wouldn’t dare slander a court official, but hearing Miss Di say this was truly refreshing.

Anyway, there were only those they trusted around, and he wouldn’t spread what Miss Di had just said.

If she wanted to curse, let her curse!

"Get ready, they’re coming in."

The County Magistrate, ignoring the public’s criticism, stubbornly led his men into the Bai Mansion.

Old Sir Bai, leaning on his cane and supported by the butler, slowly stepped out of the hall to confront the County Magistrate in the courtyard, "What brings the County Magistrate to our Bai Family? Our Bai Family is a law-abiding and upright family."

"Ha! Looks like the Bai Family is determined to protect someone!" Before coming, he had already investigated the matters at the dock that day. Only because the incident was true did he come directly with his men.

"Is the County Magistrate referring to that Di-named merchant? Our Bai Family merely invited him for a meal and did some small business. He left the Bai Mansion long ago."

"Stop pretending. Search the place!"

A group of soldiers marched uniformly, scattering to face off with the Bai guards at every passage, with swords drawn, the atmosphere icy and eerie.

If the County Magistrate hadn’t been backed by a first-class aristocratic family, would the Bai Family tolerate a lowly County Magistrate behaving this way here?

Hmph! They truly think the Bai Family is a soft target to be squeezed at will.

"Is the Bai Family planning a rebellion?" The County Magistrate glared angrily, unexpected that the Bai Family dared to resist.

"Don’t be ridiculous. It’s just that the County Magistrate broke into the Bai Family without cause, refuses to show a search warrant, and has no substantial evidence or testimony. On what grounds do you search our Bai Family?"

Old Sir Bai spoke with righteousness, fearless of authority, unyielding, earning Cheng Xiaoxiao’s deep respect.

It seemed she wouldn’t need to step in. Just as she thought this, Bai Lian, having quietly retreated from the crowd, came to this side, urging Cheng Xiaoxiao to hurry and leave.

"Thank you, Uncle Bai. We part here."

Cheng Xiaoxiao didn’t refuse; the time Old Sir Bai bought them was entirely sufficient for their retreat from Lijiang.

As she took a step forward, she paused and turned back.

"Uncle Bai, if the County Magistrate unites with the Wang Family for revenge, find a strong ally. Offer all I have given you, and the Bai Family will surely be safe."

Though she was leaving, the Bai Family had completely offended both the County Magistrate and the Wang Family. Even with the bean sprout recipe, they might not recover, perhaps being destroyed by their combined forces before any achievements were made.

So it’s best to find protection from a powerful aristocratic family, and to solicit help from such a family, ordinary offerings won’t catch their eye. Only the life-saving items she left for the Bai Family could secure respect from those in high positions.

Even if it revealed some of her secrets, it couldn’t be helped.

After all, Old Sir Bai had protected them like this, moving Cheng Xiaoxiao, who couldn’t harden her heart and leave suddenly, hence her advice.

And besides, as long as she ran fast enough, with the system as a bug-like cheat, capturing her wasn’t so easy.

With well-laid plans, Cheng Xiaoxiao intended to swiftly pass through Dingzhou and then divert north, but unexpected events occurred one after another, catching her off guard.

The two reached the dock at the fastest speed.

Avoiding the noisy crowd, they quietly boarded the ship. Watching the chaos at the ferry, Cheng Xiaoxiao knew it was certainly Qi Fei’s handiwork.

Everyone was still in shock, almost caught by the lust-driven County Magistrate, luckily reminded in time by Xiaoxiao.

"Daughter, you were too impulsive this time. A slight oversight, and we wouldn’t have escaped Lijiang," Mr. Cheng said with a face of fear.

"If we didn’t take the risk, getting the assurance letter could have taken us ten days or half a month, during which the situation could have changed drastically," Cheng Zhenglian sighed. Who would have thought that a group of commoners like them could momentarily rise above, a dream they never dared to dream.

Beside him, Cheng Zhengfan and Cheng Xingwang also joined the discussion, the several old men had been holding back these days, trying to reduce their presence, fearing they’d disrupt Xiaoxiao’s plans.

"Xiao did well this time. With our status, surviving outside Yan State was already difficult, especially with the plague as an added variable. Making it through is a miracle. Not to mention thriving in such a dire situation, embarking on a different life," said Gui Lianxu, typically reticent, moved to speak.

Indeed!

What great fortune must they have accumulated in their past lives to carve a bloody path in such a doomed scenario, led by Xiaoxiao.

As they spoke, the sky suddenly darkened. Clouds gathered and scattered, and rain began to drizzle, enveloping the river in fog, visibility reduced to less than ten meters.

A cold wind swept through, making everyone shiver simultaneously. The weather changed abruptly, turning frigid.

The interest in discussion dissipated, and everyone returned to their cabins.

Yet their hearts were stirred, unable to calm down for a long time, secretly vowing to protect Xiao, to let her be a joyful and carefree girl, no longer toiling for everyone.