C29 Trouble in Dragon-Phoenix Town

A small river flowed right in front of the house. Ethan washed himself thoroughly, scrubbing away the stench of the psychiatric ward, the blood, the sweat, and the shame. When he finished, his body carried only the fresh smell of soil and grass from the countryside. Old Man Liu handed him a set of old clothes. Ethan’s own clothes were completely torn and unwearable.

He stood in front of a huge, ancient mirror at Liu’s home, looking at his new appearance. It was a Mao suit—something Ethan hadn’t seen in decades, like an antique unearthed from a tomb. The mirror was worn, with peeling red paint and faded double-happiness characters, clearly an old item from the mid-1900s. In the blurry reflection, Ethan looked like a young student from the May-Fourth movement. The clothes were worn, but Ethan did not care at all—this old man had helped him with genuine kindness, when no one else would.

The countryside scenery was peaceful. The sun was high, and villagers were busy with their daily work. Old Man Liu and his grandson had no land at all; they survived on government welfare. The boy’s parents were dead, Liu’s wife was dead, and the two depended entirely on each other. Ethan was shocked by how poor the village was, yet everyone here lived happily, with clear purpose and peace in their hearts.

Old Man Liu was a self-taught traditional doctor. Every day, he and his grandson went into the mountains to collect herbs. The boy had dropped out of school long ago—school fees were too expensive. No trace of modern civilization could be seen here.

The village had no bus to the city. So Liu planned to go to the nearest town market, about 30 kilometers away. He drove a tiny, slow walking tractor that sputtered like an old cow. Ethan decided to go with them—it was time to return to X City.

He was deeply grateful to Old Man Liu. Luckily, the change money Ethan had begged for in the hospital was not all lost. He gave the remaining 300+ yuan to Liu, who badly needed it and accepted after a small show of politeness. Once they reached town, Ethan would no longer have to worry about money—town meant government, and government meant help.

Liu and his grandson went to sell herbs and treat minor illnesses. But in modern society, medical practice required endless licenses and certifications. Liu’s traditional skills could barely feed him. It seemed rural Chinese medicine was truly disappearing.

The town was called Dragon-Phoenix Town. It looked hundreds of years old, with many old buildings still standing. Government development had not yet reached this remote corner. Judging by people’s clothes, life here was at least 20 years behind modern cities. Ethan sighed—all the investment and construction in the country only added flowers to the brocade, never charcoal in the snow.

Ethan helped Liu set up his small medicine stand. He was about to say goodbye when a man in a market-regulation uniform walked over, fat and arrogant.

“Pack it up! Pack it up! You quack liar again! That wild ginseng you sold me last time did nothing!”

The man spoke with official authority. Nearby vendors quickly moved away in fear.

“Sir, my medical skills are passed down through my family! Everyone for miles knows I never cheat! I charge almost nothing! That ginseng was over 100 years old—it works, I promise! Please take pity on me; I need this to live!” Old Man Liu begged pitifully.

Ethan chuckled. Hearing the word “comrade” used seriously in this day felt ridiculous and outdated.

“What are you laughing at? Who are you? I’ve never seen you before! You look like a little profiteer!” The fat man was angered by Ethan’s laugh.

Ethan ignored him. He couldn’t believe someone was still using phrases like “speculation” on him.

“How dare you insult a government worker! Do you know who owns this country? Opposing me is opposing the state!” The fat regulation officer was arrogant, clearly used to bullying small vendors.

“Shut up. Being insulted by me is your luck,” Ethan said. “Everyone who fights me ends up living a fate worse than death.”

He gently pushed away Liu’s hand, which was pulling him back, begging him to stay quiet.

“You… You dare attack a state worker?” The officer bluffed.

“I dare do whatever I want.”

“Old man Liu, I’m confiscating all your medicine! You’re coming with me!” The fat man couldn’t figure Ethan out and shifted his anger to the helpless old man.

Seeing Liu’s desperate face, Ethan exploded. This was pure bullying of the innocent.

“You fat pig! Talk to me, not him! I’ll beat you if you keep this up!”

Ethan didn’t remember official regulations well enough to argue. Anger took over, and his street-fighter side came out.

“I don’t believe you dare hit me! I can have you jailed for disturbing public order!” The fat man couldn’t believe a ragged peasant in a Mao suit would dare challenge him. In this town, he was the local emperor.

Before he finished speaking, Ethan’s right hand slapped him hard across the face.

A crisp, loud slap silenced the entire market. Old Man Liu’s mouth fell open.

“How dare you!” The fat man reached for his phone.

SLAP

Another slap.

Ethan looked at the shocked, satisfied faces of the crowd. He grabbed a sack and pulled it over the fat man.

“Everyone! This bully has pushed you around long enough! Today you take revenge! I take all responsibility! Let’s see what he can do to me!”

Liu’s grandson charged first and kicked hard at the sack. The crowd joined in. Shouts of pain and Ethan’s proud laughter filled the market.

The police arrived quickly.

The fat man was unrecognizable. The crowd scattered instantly. Beating a state official in this small town was unheard of.

Several serious-looking officers dragged Ethan away. Old Man Liu and his grandson fled too—they had normal lives to protect.

Ethan had been to police stations so many times he lost count. On the way, he criticized the station’s architecture and layout as if he were the mayor.

Inside the interrogation room, two officers went through the usual routine—all too familiar to Ethan. His arrogant attitude made everyone want to hit him. The head of the market-regulation office arrived; the fat man was his brother-in-law. Connections ran deep in the town.

Ethan sat with his legs crossed, acting like a boss.

“Occupation?”

“Mayor of X City,” Ethan said calmly.

The young officer interviewing him was so shocked he fell off his chair. He thought Ethan was insane.

Ethan burst out laughing. Being mayor actually had its uses.

The two officers whispered and left, taking their electric batons with them. Ethan was pleased—small-town police had better sense than city cops; they went to report to superiors instead of attacking blindly.

A moment later, they returned with a man in a white coat—a doctor.

Ethan cursed inwardly. They thought he was mentally ill.

The doctor was about 30, with a narrow, monkey-like face. If he had fur, Ethan would have thought he escaped from a zoo. The doctor stared at Ethan; Ethan stared back. Ethan hated doctors for no reason, but he forced himself to calm down—he did not want to disrespect the profession of healing.

“What number is this?” The doctor held up two fingers, treating Ethan like an idiot.

Ethan snapped. Being called crazy was one thing, but being treated like a mentally challenged fool was too much.

He lunged forward, snapped one of the doctor’s fingers, and said coldly: “This is ONE.”

The doctor screamed like a stuck pig. The two officers panicked and attacked with batons.

Ethan took them down effortlessly before they could react. The injured doctor fled. Ethan followed, frustrated that no one believed he was mayor. He looked like nobility to himself, but these rural people had no taste.

The doctor’s cry worked. More than ten officers rushed out with guns drawn, surrounding Ethan. The fat regulation man stood among them.

Ethan stopped. He was not stupid enough to fight armed police.

The fat man was burning with hatred. Seeing Ethan helpless, he waddled forward.

“You’re brave now! Hit me! I DARE YOU!” He was deliberately provoking Ethan.

“You’re pathetic. No one has ever begged me to beat them before.”

Ethan punched and kicked the man to the ground in front of all the police.

The officers stared in shock, unsure whether to shoot—killing an unarmed man without major cause would bring severe punishment. They looked at each other, helpless.

“Chief Chen is here!” someone shouted.

The crowd parted for a middle-aged police chief. Ethan studied him, curious how this top official would handle the mess.

“You… you…” Chief Chen stammered, pointing at Ethan. His legs went weak, and he fell to the ground.

Ethan was disgusted. A stuttering, cowardly man as police chief? The force was full of worms.

But Chief Chen scrambled up quickly and walked toward Ethan with deep respect.

“Mayor Zhao! It’s really you! We met at a conference! I didn’t expect you to inspect our small town! It’s an honor!”

His attitude changed faster than a child’s mood. He kicked the fat man on the ground, who crawled away in confusion.

Ethan was escorted to the chief’s office. The terrified officers rushed to serve tea and show respect. Ethan felt the charm of power—no wonder people sacrificed everything for it. Power brought wealth, and together they let you do almost anything.

Town leaders arrived one after another. Ethan’s old Mao suit was replaced with an expensive, well-fitted designer suit, all paid for by the local government. Mayor Jiang Hai was terrified of messing up the reception of a high-level city leader.

The town held an emergency meeting about Ethan’s attack on the regulation officer. Everyone agreed the officer had a terrible record of abuse. The previously model worker became a public enemy. Ethan found it funny—he was clearly in the wrong, yet the system protected him because of his rank. Official politics was complicated.

The police station also apologized, admitting poor judgment and rough handling. Ethan was amazed by the extreme reaction. He felt slightly corrupt; he was not a good official.

The town treated him like a visiting central leader. Ethan felt uncomfortable. Once an entrepreneur, now he was just a puppet, acting wildly without belonging anywhere. He was neither a proper businessman nor a decent official.

But he didn’t care. He was just a puppet controlled by stronger forces. No matter how glorious he appeared, his fate was not his own.

Ethan grew tired of fake smiles and formal banquets. He asked the town government for a car. After lunch, he headed back to X City.

The psychiatric hospital, the peaceful mountain village—they had given him sharp contrast. Happiness was subjective; he had been too focused on material things before.

He regretted pushing Dana away. If he had fought harder for her, she would not have been disfigured, and the professor would still be alive. It was too late for regrets, but Ethan decided to make up for it. He would give Dana a safe and happy future.

The car entered the municipal government complex.

Secretary Ma had long received news. He led officials to welcome Ethan, his face filled with shock and anxiety.

Most officials did not know Ethan had been in a psychiatric hospital—only Ma and a few others did.

Ma’s head ached. Ethan was supposed to be locked up, yet he had appeared in Dragon-Phoenix Town and turned it upside down. He had no idea whether Ethan was still insane.

Nervously, Ma stepped forward. Ethan smiled and held out his hand.

Ma flinched and almost turned to run, but forced himself back.

Ethan burst out laughing. Ma was still terrified of his “crazy” behavior.

Ma shook Ethan’s hand in awkward silence.

The other officials watched, confused, as their top leader laughed wildly and their Party Secretary trembled with embarrassment.

No one understood what was going on.

But everyone could feel:

The mayor was back.

And X City would never be the same.