Just as Chen Ping'an, Cheng Yuan, and Zhao Hu were about to come to blows, Zeng Jihe ran back from the Errand Office.
"Chen Tou, we're in trouble!"
Zeng Jihe had a mournful look on his face.
"What's wrong? Where were you assigned?"
Chen Ping'an was already prepared for this. Ever since the matter of the tax came out, he knew it wouldn't be easy. To put it bluntly, it was Chief Constable Zheng of the Zhenfu Division making things difficult for him!
Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu exchanged glances, a look of schadenfreude on their faces.
They had already learned about the tax assignment from Zheng Shiyong. When they first found out, they were just as distraught as Zeng Jihe. However, Zheng Shiyong had already promised that as long as they followed orders, he would resolve their troubles.
With Chief Constable Zheng backing him, they naturally trusted Zheng Shiyong's words implicitly.
"Hu Pao Gambling House!"
Zeng Jihe looked depressed. Hu Pao Gambling House had always been one of the most difficult places to collect tax from! According to past practice, such establishments were usually handled by the most senior official Yamen Runners.
Even then, it would take one or two attempts to collect it!
"So, it's the Tiger Head Gang!" Chen Ping'an nodded, his expression calm.
"Chen Tou, aren't you surprised?!" Seeing Chen Ping'an's demeanor, Zeng Jihe became curious instead.
"Man proposes, God disposes! There's nothing to be surprised about!" Chen Ping'an waved his hand, "Oh, right. Where's the collection voucher?"
Collecting tax was not a random or arbitrary process. There was a fixed amount each year, which needed to be collected according to the voucher.
"They haven't given it to us yet, they said it wouldn't be until tomorrow morning!" Zeng Jihe became even more depressed as he spoke.
The Yamen Runners in other groups had already received their collection vouchers. Only a few places hadn't received theirs, and they happened to be among them!
Where could they even complain?
"What's the collection deadline?" Chen Ping'an pressed.
"Three days," Zeng Jihe replied.
"Hmm." Chen Ping'an nodded and fell silent.
That's quite a trick!
The tax collection period was originally only three days, but with the collection voucher only being given tomorrow, it effectively wasted a day of his time. For the already difficult Hu Pao Gambling House, wasting another day, the implications were self-evident.
However, it doesn't matter!
Chen Ping'an remained calm.
Putting aside everything else, his current Martial Artist with Qi and Blood Fourth Level Realm gave him immense confidence and courage.
Martial Artist with Qi and Blood Fourth Level, courage naturally arises!
"Chen Tou, what should we do next?" Zeng Jihe asked.
"Do we still have patrol duty today?"
"No."
"That's good then!"
Chen Ping'an nodded.
"In that case, let's go take a look at Hu Pao Gambling House first!"
"Okay!"
Zeng Jihe readily agreed.
With that, the two were about to set off. However, Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu stood lazily in place, showing no inclination to move.
"You two?" Chen Ping'an frowned.
"Township Defender Chen, our brothers have something to do later, so we won't be going!" Cheng Yuan stretched.
"What could be more important than collecting tax?!" Chen Ping'an questioned.
"Township Defender Chen, didn't you just hear Xiao Zeng say it? The collection voucher won't be available until tomorrow. What does going to Hu Pao Gambling House today have to do with collecting tax?" Cheng Yuan retorted.
"Fine! Don't regret it when something goes wrong!"
"Whether we regret it or not, there's no need for Township Defender Chen to worry about it."
Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu said with fake smiles.
Glancing at the two, Chen Ping'an didn't bother with further words and turned to leave.
"Pah! Head Zheng was right, that kid is a coward!"
Looking in the direction Chen Ping'an had left, Cheng Yuan spat forcefully.
"And he's an official Yamen Runner! I'd do a million times better than him!" Zhao Hu echoed enviously.
A typical 'I can do it better' mentality.
......
"Chen Tou, just the two of us, is it really okay?" Along the way, Zeng Jihe asked worriedly.
"No matter."
Chen Ping'an walked quickly, his expression calm.
"Chen Tou, Hu Pao Gambling House is the Tiger Head Gang's most important asset. It won't be easy to collect the tax smoothly! Looking at their attitude just now, they probably won't come tomorrow either. If they don't come, won't it seem like we're outnumbered, just you and me?!"
Zeng Jihe thought Chen Ping'an had misunderstood him; what he meant was that it would be very troublesome with just the two of them! Although the Tiger Head Gang wasn't a Dragon's Den, it wasn't easy to get benefits from them!
Especially since Cheng Yuan, the only one among the four who had entered the Martial Dao, might not even go!
If the Tiger Head Gang really wanted to mess with them, sending out a few small fry would be enough to give them a hard time. If things really escalated, the Tiger Head Gang could just casually push the blame onto temporary workers, completely washing their hands of the responsibility.
"Didn't Chief Constable Zheng just say it? The matter of the tax is of great importance, and any mistakes will not be tolerated! Even if Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu don't go, the task must still be completed!"
Chen Ping'an said lightly.
Speaking of which, the tax matter was the responsibility of their group of four. If Chen Ping'an's side didn't go smoothly and the tax wasn't collected, Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu would also be implicated!
Even so, they were still so fearless; Zheng Shiyong must have given them some promise.
Heh, Xiao Zheng is really generous!
Hu Pao Gambling House was on Hu Pao Alley, and Chen Ping'an had patrolled this street several times before. He had also come here one night when he killed Pockmarked Liu.
Walking on Hu Pao Alley, it was still bustling with people coming and going. Here, besides gamblers, there were mostly Gang thugs and ruffians. However, since the two were wearing the Zhenfu Division Yamen Runner's official uniforms, no one dared to provoke them.
In Hu Pao Alley, gambling houses were numerous, and Hu Pao Gambling House was the largest among them.
"This is it, Chen Tou." Zeng Jihe pointed to the gambling house's signboard ahead.
On the signboard, several large characters read, Hu Pao Gambling House!
There were a few attendants standing at the entrance of the gambling house. Although they were wearing the gambling house's uniforms, at a glance, they were clearly Tiger Head Gang thugs.
The few attendants watched Chen Ping'an and Zeng Jihe standing at the entrance of the gambling house, about to go forward to greet them. Then they saw one person in official attire turn and leave, and the other, caught off guard, reacted and quickly followed.
"Why are the Zhenfu Division Yamen Runners here?" a younger attendant asked curiously.
"It should be about the tax," an older attendant said with a smile.
"tax?"
"Yes. Once a year, and judging by the time, it should be these few days."
"So that's it."
"But it's strange, why are there only two people this time? According to past practice, there should be at least four! If the collection isn't smooth, it's perfectly normal for ten or so Yamen Runners to show up!"
"Are they just here to look? I saw them leave again."
"That should be it. You stay here and guard, I'll go inside and report. They'll probably come knocking in the next day or two."
"......."
After a brief exchange, a more senior attendant ran in to report the recent events to his boss.
......
"Chen Tou, why did we leave?" Zeng Jihe was a bit confused.
"Do we have the collection voucher?"
"No."
"Then why stay there?!"
"This..." Zeng Jihe wanted to say something but couldn't. He had thought Chen Ping'an specifically came here to scout things out first, to prepare for tomorrow's tax collection. He didn't expect them to not even enter the door! If that's the case, why did they come here?!
However, Zeng Jihe soon understood why.
"Xiao Zeng, we've been to Hu Pao Gambling House. Since the Zhenfu Division didn't arrange patrol duty today, let's go back first!"
"Chen Tou, go back where?" Zeng Jihe asked blankly. He felt like he couldn't keep up with the pace.
"Go home! Where else?"
"Ah!"
This...
They were supposed to collect tax tomorrow, shouldn't they be doing more preparatory work today, thinking of more plans and schemes to lay a solid foundation for tomorrow?
But Chen Tou is like this...
Is his mindset really that good? Not nervous at all?!
It's a bit too casual!
By the time Zeng Jihe came to his senses, Chen Ping'an had already walked far away.
With this time, it's better to go home and practice martial arts, and spend time with his sister!
As for Zheng Shiyong and Chief Constable Zheng's schemes, he didn't take them to heart at all.
Conspiracies and tricks seem ridiculous in the face of absolute strength!
He just needed a suitable opportunity to solidify his reputation as a Martial Dao Genius.
Isn't this the opportunity that's come?
Everything depends on tomorrow!