“Head Zheng, Zhao Hu and I were implicated by Chen Ping'an, which is why we couldn't complete the tax collection. Please put in a good word for us with Chief Constable Zheng!”, Cheng Yuan looked at Zheng Shiyong with a fawning expression. Zhao Hu, beside him, also nodded in agreement.
“No problem, no problem.” Zheng Shiyong was in an excellent mood.
Chen Ping'an had offended his uncle, Chief Constable Zheng, thoroughly this morning in front of so many Yamen Runners with his disrespectful words and unyielding tone. Chen Ping'an's days in Nanquan Lane were numbered!
Given what happened this morning, whatever Chief Constable Zheng did to Chen Ping'an would be within the tacitly approved rules.
The person who had been annoying him for so long was finally going to be dealt with!
Aside from anything else, just the matter of the tax was enough for his uncle to properly deal with Chen Ping'an.
“Don't worry, once Chen Ping'an messes things up, tomorrow I will take on the task of collecting the Hu Pao Gambling House's tax. I will definitely bring you two along! With my uncle's Face, this tax matter will surely go smoothly. At that time, you two will make up for your mistakes, and no one will be able to say anything!”,“My brother and I thank Head Zheng in advance!” Cheng Yuan's eyes lit up; this promise from Zheng Shiyong was exactly what he wanted.
The events of the morning had left him feeling a subtle unease. He felt as if Chen Ping'an had changed into a completely different person!
“Oh, right. Next time, be more careful with your words. Don't be as foolish as you were this morning!” Zheng Shiyong glanced at Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu, speaking indifferently.
“Yes, yes, Head Zheng is right.”
“We will definitely pay attention.”
Seeing Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu nodding repeatedly like pounding garlic, Zheng Shiyong's mood improved even further.
First give a sweet date, then strike. Only by doing this repeatedly can one win over the hearts of subordinates. What his uncle taught him was indeed correct!
Thinking this, Zheng Shiyong couldn't help but hum a little tune.
The few of them had not yet reached the Zhenfu Division when they heard bursts of clamor from within.
“What's going on?”
A hint of confusion appeared on Zheng Shiyong's Face. Usually, while the Nanquan Lane Garrison Office could be noisy, it wasn't like this today.
Had something happened?
Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu, standing nearby, exchanged glances, each seeing confusion in the other's eyes.
“Let's go, let's take a look!”
With that, the few of them walked towards the Zhenfu Division.
As soon as Zheng Shiyong entered, he saw a large group of Yamen Runners surrounding one person like stars circling the moon.
With so many people, Zheng Shiyong couldn't clearly see the person inside. However, he saw Tan Huacong on one side.
“Head Tan, what's going on?” Zheng Shiyong stepped forward, expressing his confusion.
Tan Huacong's Face was ashen and not very pleasant.
“Chen Ping'an returned with the collected tax!”
“What!”
Upon hearing this, Zheng Shiyong shivered all over, completely shocked.
“How is that possible! That's the Hu Pao Gambling House!”
“This! This! This…”
Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu, standing nearby, mumbled, not knowing what to say.
Had the Tiger Head Gang changed their ways?
...
“What is all this commotion outside!?”
Chief Constable Zheng put down the official documents in his hand and looked out the window.
From just a moment ago, there had been continuous clamor from outside. At first, it was somewhat manageable, noisy but largely controllable. But later, it became increasingly boisterous.
“This is getting more and more out of hand!”
Chief Constable Zheng's mood had not improved since the morning's pre-shift meeting. He had planned to vent his frustration on Chen Ping'an in the evening when Chen Ping'an failed to collect the tax. But he hadn't expected that someone would run into trouble by noon.
Chief Constable Zheng stood up and walked out of the Chief Constable's Office.
Let him see which of these many Yamen Runners outside would be the chicken he'd use to warn the Monkey Head!
Not long after walking out of the Chief Constable's Office, and just as he approached the Errand Office, he saw Chen Ping'an turn and enter the Errand Office. Many people followed behind him.
This little brat! And these people behind him… they really dared!
Chief Constable Zheng's Face darkened.
Chen Ping'an naturally saw Chief Constable Zheng, but he had no intention of greeting him. Since he had already offended him, there was no point in trying to smooth things over!
Inside the Errand Office, Old Fan and several other Yamen Runners were chatting and joking. The main topic was Chen Ping'an's overestimation of his abilities that morning.
“That kid Chen Ping'an, he offended Chief Constable Zheng; he's going to get what's coming to him!”
“Yeah, putting aside everything else, just this time's Hu Pao Gambling House tax. He'll be skinned alive even if he doesn't die!”
“It's really strange, a person who hasn't even entered the Dao of martial arts, who only became a formal Yamen Runner by luck, where did he get such guts! How dare he be so arrogant!”
“He just feels good about himself! He thinks that since he's a formal Yamen Runner, everything's fine and dandy!”
“How naive! It's truly laughable! With his attitude, he probably won't last long before he's taken down!”
“Hahaha, that makes sense!”
Inside the Errand Office, Old Fan was chatting with a few people, full of enthusiasm.
They had heard people approaching from outside earlier, but they didn't pay it any mind, having no intention of stopping their conversation.
“Oh? Is that so!?”
Chen Ping'an's figure appeared outside the Errand Office.
Old Fan, who had been speaking eloquently, saw Chen Ping'an and suddenly froze, his Face stiffening.
Why was he here? Hadn't he gone to collect the Tiger Head Gang's tax!
Say what you will, joke as you please. Despite his eloquent speech just now, remembering Chen Ping'an's appearance and expression this morning still made him feel a little scared.
Now, having been discussing Chen Ping'an behind his back, seeing the man himself suddenly appear naturally startled him.
The other few people in the Errand Office, seeing Chen Ping'an arrive, had stiff, unnatural expressions, and for a moment didn't know what to say.
“Chen… Chen Ping'an, why are you here! Where's the collected tax?” Old Fan managed to steady himself and spoke.
Slap!
Chen Ping'an slammed the black cloth bag he was holding onto the table. The bag's opening gaped, revealing the heavy silver inside.
“This is…”
Old Fan couldn't help but swallow. An incredibly unbelievable thought surfaced in his mind.
“The Hu Pao Gambling House's tax!”
Chen Ping'an said indifferently. Without giving Old Fan any chance to refute or make excuses, Chen Ping'an slapped the collection receipt from his bosom onto the table again.
“The collection receipt, with the Hu Pao Gambling House's seal on it! Not a single cent of the tax is missing!”
Old Fan, who had been thinking of how to refute, trembled in his heart, his Face showing intense astonishment.
Inside the Errand Office, the other few people looked at each other, their minds astonished.
How did he do it?
“Old Fan! Hehe!” Monkey Head emerged from behind, looking at Old Fan with a half-smile.
“Old Fan! You misjudged him!” Zeng Jihe said with a smug expression, feigning a sigh.
As someone who had experienced it from beginning to end, he was deeply impressed by Chen Ping'an's methods. As an accompanying person, he also experienced a feeling of reversal. Few people here would understand this feeling of his.
It felt so good!
Just as Old Fan didn't know what to do, Chief Constable Zheng's reprimand sounded from outside.
“What are you all gathered here for!? All this noise, what's wrong with it!”