In Ping'an Ward east of Qingshan County stood an ordinary little residence.
Though small, the residence had everything it needed: a water well, stove, vegetable patch, and pigsty.
Early in the morning, Old Man Liu lay in his Rocking Chair, lazily staring at the sun overhead, obscured by fog and resembling a fluorescent lamp.
"I'm old, truly old. I've only been busy for half a month, yet I'm exhausted like it took my life. I'm getting more and more listless." He could not help narrowing his eyes.
"Finally settled down."
"Once the fog clears, I'll go see Matchmaker Zhang."
The terrible foggy weather did nothing to spoil his good mood.
"I'll find a concubine to warm the bed. Then this life will be complete."
"I should also ask around about families that can't afford to raise their children. They can't be too old, or after raising them, they'll still belong to someone else."
A wistful smile appeared on Old Man Liu's face.
"I'll go once the fog clears. Once the fog clears..."
He murmured softly, carrying hope as he slowly drifted into sleep and slowly died.
In the rear courtyard of the Qingshan County Office.
Ever since the county magistrate vanished and County Lieutenant Li Qing had taken actual control of Qingshan County,
he had openly moved into the county magistrate's residence.
The world was in chaos. No one cared about a tiny place like Qingshan County.
As daylight gradually brightened, Li Qing slowly rose. His head ached, his eyes felt swollen, and his limbs were weak and sore, as if he had not slept all night.
"Someone," he called weakly in a hoarse voice.
Yet after shouting for quite some time, no one came to help him rise.
Enduring the discomfort throughout his body, Li Qing struggled angrily