Small-town rumors always spread the fastest.
Truth or not, as long as it eases the worries of ordinary folks, it becomes real to them.
Throughout Jiangdu City, stories about the government and the Serpent Gang were circulating.
"Have you heard? The Serpent Gang members locked up in the dungeon were subjected to… uh… "the chrysanthemum punishment" last night. When they were let out this morning, they couldn't even walk, and there was a terrible stench coming from them."
"Chrysanthemum punishment? What's that?"
"You know, chrysanthemum…"
"Which chrysanthemum…"
"Never mind. You're not worthy of knowing such things."
"Let me tell you, there was a massive battle on the streets last night. The Boss of the Serpent Gang was killed by Bald Constable! The scene was bloody, to say the least."
"Don't ask me how I know. I got up in the middle of the night to pee and spied on them from the alleyway."
Word-of-mouth rumors were flying everywhere.
Some were true.
But some were also false.
