This Monkey Head has some brains!
Chen Ping'an looked up at Monkey Head, sighing softly in his heart.
Although their positions were different, most people couldn't display such adaptability.
"Lord Chen, you're back."
Monkey Head's Face, full of rough features, was forced into a smile, making him look somewhat amusing.
"Oh, isn't this Monkey Head? What? Are you here to cause trouble for Chen again?"
Chen Ping'an said expressionlessly. With his current Martial Dao Realm and status, he could appropriately vent his emotions without worrying about anyone else.
"Lord Chen, what are you saying? You're joking! I'm here specifically to apologize to Lord Chen."
Monkey Head said with a continuous smile.
"Apologize? Apologize for what? Chen is someone who pays monthly fees to the Tiger Head Gang every month. How dare Chen accept an apology from the illustrious Monkey Head of the Tiger Head Gang?" Chen Ping'an looked at Monkey Head playfully.
"Monthly fees? There are no monthly fees! Lord Chen, you're trying to make me lose Face. If my Tiger Head Gang dared to collect monthly fees from Lord Chen, that would be slapping my Monkey Head's Face."
Saying that, Monkey Head forcefully slapped his own Face.
"Oh? Is that so?" Chen Ping'an said indifferently.
"Fei Zi."
Monkey Head called out.
"Yes, Monkey Head." A ruffian behind him stepped forward, holding a wooden box in his hand. "Lord Chen, please take a look."
With that, Fei Zi opened the wooden box in his hand.
Chen Ping'an glanced inside the wooden box, which was neatly filled with silver ingots. These ingots were bright in color, of full purity, and each weighed exactly ten taels of silver. There were a total of six ingots in the wooden box, which meant sixty taels.
Sixty taels of silver!
For ordinary people in this world, that was an incredible sum. Even for a Provisional Chief Constable like Chen Ping'an, it was no small amount.
Chen Ping'an's current monthly salary was one tael and eight qian. Sixty taels of silver was more than two and a half years of his monthly salary.
Of course, after being promoted to Chief Constable, Chen Ping'an's income would not be limited to just his monthly salary.
"Lord Chen, a small token of my regard, please accept it with a smile. For any past offenses, please be very understanding." Monkey Head observed the changes in Chen Ping'an's expression, fawning and smiling apologetically.
The previous 'nine-out, thirteen-return' was fourteen taels of silver, and with the subsequent monthly fees, it hadn't exceeded fifteen taels of silver.
His current apology, offering sixty taels of silver in one go, was full of sincerity.
"I dare not accept the Tiger Head Gang's apology silver. Who knows, one day it might be returned with principal and interest, 'nine-out, thirteen-return' style."
Chen Ping'an indifferently glanced at the silver, then lifted his leg to walk into the courtyard.
Chen Ping'an was not satisfied with the sixty taels of silver's sincerity.
"Lord Chen, wait." Monkey Head gave a look, and another ruffian behind him took out another wooden box.
The wooden box opened, and inside lay four ingots of silver quietly.
Forty taels.
Adding that to the previous sixty taels, it was now one hundred taels.
In the outer city of Weishui County, that was enough to buy a decent house.
Chen Ping'an glanced at the silver in the wooden box, a hint of mockery appearing on his Face: "Monkey Head, I think you haven't understood the situation. Do you think a small amount of silver can send me away? Originally, I had no grievances with the Tiger Head Gang, but you have provoked me repeatedly.
"The first time, you bullied me, knowing I had no father to stand up for me, and broke into my home. Old Chen borrowed ten taels of silver, received nine, and it was agreed to be for one year. But you, you came early demanding repayment. Principal and interest, fourteen taels!"
"The second time, I managed to gather fourteen taels. It should have settled the debt, ending our business. But you said that from then on, I needed to start paying monthly fees."
"The third time, my younger sister was home, and you, seeing me as insignificant, forcefully demanded the monthly fee, frightening my younger sister."
"The fourth time, without distinguishing right from wrong, you sent ruffians to my home to interrogate, as if I were not a Yamen Runner of the Zhenfu Division."
"The fifth time, you disregarded the da gan law, oppressed the common people, and made things difficult for me in public."
"All these accumulated grievances, who do you take Chen to be? You think one hundred taels of silver can settle and resolve everything? Do you really think Chen is someone with a good temper!"
With that, Chen Ping'an gave Monkey Head no Face at all, lifting his leg and walking into the courtyard.
Monkey Head was about to step forward to explain when he saw the courtyard gate slam shut with a bang.
Seeing this, Monkey Head's Face alternated between green and red.
"Monkey Head." A ruffian couldn't help but speak.
Monkey Head looked at the tightly shut courtyard gate, forcefully suppressing the urge to kick open the broken door, and snorted angrily: "Go, let's go back first!"
"Yes."
The group from the Tiger Head Gang then left Chen Ping'an's doorstep.
.......
"Brother, is everything alright outside?" From the beginning, Chen Er'ya had been waiting in the courtyard. When the Tiger Head Gang arrived, she was a bit nervous. But once her brother returned, she was fine.
"It's nothing. Just a bunch of useless people." Chen Ping'an waved his hand and stepped forward to comfort Chen Er'ya.
"In less than a month, this Tiger Head Gang is willing to break their monthly fee rules for me. This isn't due to anything else, but because of my status as a Provisional Chief Constable!"
"In this world, I've finally understood. To live well and not be bullied, you need strength, you need authority!"
"The reputation of being a Martial Dao Genius has already laid the foundation, what I do next can be even faster!"
After dinner, Chen Ping'an quietly pondered in the courtyard.
Now that he had been promoted to Provisional Chief Constable, his feud with Monkey Head should be properly settled. And, the sooner this matter was resolved, the better. He wasn't afraid of Monkey Head, but Nannan, who didn't practice Martial Dao, was afraid.
Fortunately, he had mentioned the silver amount at the end, so the other party wouldn't do anything foolish like burning bridges for a while. They would only think of trying other methods to ease their relationship with him.
"The Tiger Head Gang's matter must be resolved quickly!"
"Like the previous midnight raid on the stronghold, that was just a small Dao! Since I am a Provisional Chief Constable of the Zhenfu Division, I must use the glorious Righteous Path to suppress others with power!"
"It's not just Monkey Head that needs to be dealt with, otherwise, the harm will be endless!"
"......."
Chen Ping'an calculated the solution in his mind.
......
"Monkey Head Da Shan, Xiao Zeng, the three of you, help me gather some information."
In the Chief Constable's office, Chen Ping'an instructed Monkey Head Da Shan and Zeng Jihe.
"Chief Constable, please speak."
Monkey Head and the others' attitudes were very proper. In official business, they should address him as Chief Constable, not rashly call him Ping'an.
"Go help me collect some information on the illegal activities of the Tiger Head Gang. I have a use for it."
"Yes."
Monkey Head and the others acknowledged and left.
Watching Monkey Head and the others leave, Chen Ping'an's fingers lightly tapped the table. He quietly thought for a while, then got up to find Li Chatou.
After sitting with Li Chatou for a little over half an hour, Chen Ping'an then went to find Huang Chatou and Chief Liu.
A day passed quickly.