"Xiao Zeng, you saw it just now. This Chen Ping'an is just an ordinary person with good luck. His character, methods, ambition, and courage are nothing to praise. Why are you so polite to him!"
After Chen Ping'an left, as the group walked back to Nanquan Lane Garrison Office, Cheng Yuan spoke to Zeng Jihe with disdain.
"That's right, Xiao Zeng. I think you should just join us two. The three of us can work together to isolate him!"
Zhao Hu chimed in from the side. To be honest, when Zheng Shiyong tried to win him over yesterday, he was a bit hesitant. However, he reluctantly agreed due to Chief Constable Zheng's Face. But after interacting today, all his concerns completely vanished.
It was indeed as Cheng Yuan said; he was just an ordinary person who got lucky. He hadn't even entered the martial Dao!
"Brother Cheng, Brother Zhao. That may be true, but he is, after all, a formally registered Yamen Runner in the Zhenfu Division! Offending him would do us no good."
Zeng Jihe's Foundation was still shallow, and he didn't want to cause any trouble.
"Who said there's no benefit! Do you know who stands behind us!?" Cheng Yuan said.
"Foreman Zheng?" Zeng Jihe said uncertainly.
"Exactly! It's Foreman Zheng! As long as we can isolate this Chen Ping'an, Foreman Zheng has made a promise. Afterwards, he will definitely find a way to arrange jobs for us that are lucrative and have little work. He won't treat us unfairly. Xiao Zeng, if you participate, you definitely won't miss out on the benefits."
Cheng Yuan coaxed.
"Xiao Zeng, you also know who stands behind Foreman Zheng! You don't have to worry about anything going wrong! With that person above, even if we mess up, there's nothing to fear. Besides, we're just isolating Chen Ping'an; what kind of trouble can that cause! Don't worry!" Zhao Hu added.
"Ah, this..." Zeng Jihe felt a bit tempted upon hearing this, and a hesitant look appeared on his Face.
"Xiao Zeng, what are you still hesitating for! If this matter is accomplished, you will have firmly established your footing in our Nanquan Lane Garrison Office. Moreover, you'll be able to successfully connect with Chief Constable Zheng. Such a good opportunity is something others would beg for but can't get! This chance is right in front of you, yet you don't cherish it!"
Cheng Yuan looked at Zeng Jihe, who showed signs of wavering, and added another bargaining chip.
Zeng Jihe's Face was filled with struggle, as if in a fierce internal battle.
Just as Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu thought he was about to agree, Zeng Jihe gritted his teeth and said, "Brother Cheng, Brother Zhao, this matter is too big. Can you let me observe for a few more days!"
"Hesitating like a woman!"
Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu looked disappointed, as if frustrated that he couldn't live up to their expectations.
"Even if we give you a chance, it's useless!"
"Hehe..." Zeng Jihe chuckled twice dryly. He didn't want to offend Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu, but he also didn't want to offend Chen Ping'an. Making a judgment after only one day of contact made him feel a bit uneasy. So he decided to wait and see.
...
Chen Ping'an returned home after work, and Chen Er'ya had already prepared a fragrant dinner. Before leaving, Chen Ping'an had asked Chen Er'ya to buy more meat. The dinner that night was indeed very rich!
After removing his saber, Chen Ping'an began to feast on the table full of meat.
After dinner, Chen Ping'an first practiced Flying Locust Stone. Flying Locust Stone consumed less physical strength than Gongmen Thirteen Blades. Chen Ping'an practiced 4 times in one go, accumulating 4 points of cultivation experience.
Just as Chen Ping'an picked up his saber, preparing to practice Gongmen Thirteen Blades, a scream came from the alley outside the door.
Chen Ping'an's expression shifted. He put down his saber. The scream from outside the door sounded somewhat familiar to him.
At this moment, Chen Er'ya also stood up, evidently having heard the scream from the alley outside the door. Chen Ping'an gestured to Chen Er'ya, telling her not to speak. Then, Chen Ping'an lightly leaped up, his hands firmly gripping the courtyard wall, and peered over the wall to look outside.
At the southeast end of the alley, many people were gathered. From time to time, screams and pleas for mercy could be heard from the center.
Chen Ping'an thought for a moment, then released his hands and jumped down into the courtyard.
"Nannan, you wait for me at home. Brother is going out to take a look."
"Mm." Chen Er'ya nodded.
Although she was curious, she knew what was important.
Chen Ping'an left the courtyard and saw a dense crowd from a distance.
It was Lao Gao's house at the southeast corner!
As he got closer, a cacophony of voices entered his ears.
"A few days ago, I was still wondering how Lao Gao's family's life had become so prosperous! Turns out they borrowed from loan sharks!"
"They dare not repay the Tiger Head Gang's loan sharks! Lao Gao's family really has guts!"
"Alright, alright, everyone, say less."
"It's truly a sin!"
"Oh..."
"..."
At this moment, Chen Ping'an also squeezed into the crowd. He saw several hooligans from the Tiger Head Gang surrounding a person, punching and kicking him. It was Lao Gao.
A woman nearby was crying and wailing, trying to rush forward but was tightly held back by neighbors. Behind the woman hid a half-grown child, looking completely terrified.
Lao Gao's front door was wide open. From Chen Ping'an's perspective, tables and chairs were overturned everywhere inside, a chaotic mess. It looked like it had been searched.
Lao Gao, borrowed from loan sharks?
Chen Ping'an's mind recalled the scene of Lao Gao excitedly rushing into the gambling den in Hu Pao Alley back then.
This Lao Gao probably got addicted to gambling, maybe won a few small bets at first, then got more and more carried away, eventually borrowing from the Tiger Head Gang's loan sharks, hoping to win back his losses. In the end, he was unable to repay, which led to his current predicament.
Alas!
Chen Ping'an couldn't help but sigh at this.
However, no matter what, the Tiger Head Gang beating people was always wrong.
Just as Chen Ping'an was hesitating whether to help, the crowd seemed to encounter some kind of monstrous flood, quickly clearing a Dao.
Then, Little Tiger Lord of the Tiger Head Gang, broad-shouldered and powerfully built, walked in from outside the crowd with a few hooligans.
"Don't hit him yet, stop!"
Upon hearing this, the hooligans immediately stopped.
"Thank you, Little Tiger Lord, thank you, Little Tiger Lord." Lao Gao seemed to have found a savior, kneeling on the ground, kowtowing frantically.
Little Tiger Lord walked unhurriedly to Lao Gao and slowly said, "Lao Gao, don't say that I, Little Tiger Lord, am unreasonable. If you repay the twenty taels of silver you owe me today, this matter will be over!"
"Twenty taels of silver!" Lao Gao suddenly looked up, his Face bruised and swollen: "Little Tiger Lord, please see clearly, I only took twelve taels of silver!"
"Oh? Trying to deny it." Little Tiger Lord pulled out a promissory note from his Pregnant: "It's written in black and white. It says twenty taels! The rule of my Tiger Head Gang is 'nine out, thirteen back,' plus the interest for these days, twenty taels of silver, that's correct!"
"Ah! This, Little Tiger Lord..." Lao Gao opened his mouth to argue, but a hooligan nearby kicked him hard in the back, making him hit the ground and his mouth fill with blood.
"Still trying to renege!?"
"Don't be so violent!" Little Tiger Lord waved his hand. He squatted on the ground and looked at Lao Gao: "Lao Gao, just tell me if you're going to repay this silver today or not!"
"Little Tiger Lord, even if you sell me, I don't have these twenty taels of silver!"
Lao Gao's Face was filled with grief, and he cried out in sorrow.