Chapter 62: He Has No Family
Li Mansion, inside the hall.
The damaged pillar, under the craftsmen working day and night, was finally repaired. The newly applied paint still emitted a faint smell.
Two Grand Tutor chairs held two men.
Li Dian Shi held a teacup, pinching the lid, lightly scraping the rim now and then, making faint scratching sounds. With his peripheral vision, he glanced at the County Magistrate beside him who was biting a silver ingot with his mouth, and upon confirming it was real silver, stuffed it into his sleeve.
Zhou County Magistrate had white whiskers, a thin long face, full of frown lines. Now over sixty years old with no chance of promotion, but in Yong’an, he was truly a local emperor.
“Brother Li, have some tea, have some tea.”
Zhou County Magistrate chuckled, gulped it down in one go, then casually lifted his sleeve to wipe the tea stains from the corner of his mouth, showing no scholarly official demeanor at all, even revealing the wretched temperament unique to corrupt officials.
“Brother Zhou, please.”
Li Dian Shi smiled, genuinely looking down on the other from the bottom of his heart, but he still had to maintain the pretense in social interactions. After all, they were of the same rank.
“Good tea.” Zhou County Magistrate put down the teacup, smacked his lips in admiration, then said: “Brother Li, my Chief Clerk complained to me, saying he was beaten by one of your constables.”
Li Dian Shi’s expression remained unchanged as he gently set down the teacup and corrected: “Not a constable, he has now been promoted by me to Deputy Squad Leader.”
He understood that despite Zhou County Magistrate appearing doddering and foolish, he was actually very shrewd. This visit was clearly to probe Lin Fan’s background.
In Yong’an, with their status, they were indeed local emperors whom no one could afford to provoke, but who could guarantee no one with connections would come to Yong’an just to go through the motions.
There were plenty of people with status and backing.
“Mm, Lin Squad Leader, this old man has heard of him. Brother Li, we’ve worked together for decades, knowing each other inside out, always supporting and advancing together. Just give me the inside story—what exactly is his background that makes you tolerate him so much?”
Zhou County Magistrate really wanted to know Lin Fan’s identity.
Master Hu had come to him, bringing sincerity that made his eyes light up. Before accepting that ‘sincerity’, after learning the situation, he immediately dismissed the idea of taking it.
Others might not know Li Dian Shi, but could he not know him?
He would not allow such an arrogant person to appear in Yong’an, let alone a constable from his Public Security Bureau.
So there was a problem.
A very big problem.
Thus, using the reason that the County Office had no authority over Public Security Bureau matters, he sent Master Hu away.
Li Dian Shi said: “No background at all, just an ordinary person.”
“Hahaha, Brother Li, don’t tease me. If he had no… background.” Zhou County Magistrate laughed, then his face suddenly turned serious and he urgently asked: “Could it be that he gave you a lot of silver?”
“This official has clean hands, upright and incorruptible. Brother Zhou, you can’t slander me.”
“Aiyo, my Brother Li, don’t deceive me. Tell the truth—what’s the real reason? This old man truly doesn’t believe there’s no connection. You tolerate him, and given our relationship, is there any need to hide it from me?” Zhou County Magistrate urged, his heart itching badly. If he was sent by some big shot, he needed to latch onto that thigh too.
Though at his age there was no chance of promotion, having another backer was not a bad thing.
Li Dian Shi slowly said: “Truly no background, just an ordinary person, but he is very good at fighting.”
“Good at fighting?” Zhou County Magistrate was stunned. “That’s it?”
Li Dian Shi said: “Brother Zhou, with our friendship over so many years, I advise you: he will be here soon, so do not make an issue of the Zhu Chief Clerk matter. There is a fierce tiger in his eyes. I truly fear provoking his anger—he might beat us both to death.”
This was his genuine thought.
The first time he met Lin Fan, he did not have this feeling.
When he did get this feeling, it was when Lin Fan smashed the rockery in the courtyard with one strike of his iron rod, then turned back to look at him with eyes as ferocious as a vicious tiger.
Zhou County Magistrate’s face was full of disbelief.
Li Dian Shi pointed at the pillar and said: “See this pillar? It was smashed by one strike of his rod. It was just repaired not long ago. Did you see the courtyard on the way here? If you ask me where the rockery went, I’ll tell you: it was blown up by one strike from him. That iron rod weighs sixty jin. If it landed on you or me, could we withstand it?”
Hiss~
Zhou County Magistrate drew in a sharp breath.
The temperature inside the hall suddenly rose.
“But you and I are both Imperial Officials. If he commits such a grave offense, won’t he fear having his family exterminated? Not to mention…” Zhou County Magistrate’s words were interrupted by Li Dian Shi before he finished.
Pfft!
“He has no family.”
Li Dian Shi could not help laughing. “Brother Zhou, do you really think he wouldn’t dare? We’ve been in officialdom for years—do you still remember your original aspiration?”
“To make silver.” Zhou County Magistrate answered decisively.
“And now?”
“Of course still to make silver.”
Answering these questions required no thought from Zhou County Magistrate. He had worked hard to earn his official title for a minor post, all to make silver.
“So, Brother Zhou, stick to your original aspiration: focus single-mindedly on making silver, concentrate wholeheartedly on it. Don’t bother with irrelevant matters. These years, I’ve painstakingly operated to find opportunities to send out the money and gain a chance at promotion. I want to advance.”
What did officials fear most?
Naturally, having money but nowhere to send it.
You send it.
Others send it too.
With broader connections, the bribe-receiving superiors naturally favored the more sensible and familiar ones.
Zhou County Magistrate could tell that Brother Li’s words were sincere, so he believed them. As for sending out the hard-earned silver for promotion, he was utterly unwilling.
Being County Magistrate was pretty good—the top chicken among chickens.
Why be a phoenix tail?
“But Brother Li, this Squad Leader of yours has caused quite a few incidents, especially with the Hu Family. Master Hu has gone to Anzhou Prefecture to pull strings.” Zhou County Magistrate reminded.
This matter had nothing to do with him; he was from the County Office and could not interfere in Public Security Bureau affairs.
Li Dian Shi did not take this matter to heart at all.
The connections in Anzhou Prefecture had all been properly greased where needed.
Besides, did they think the people in Anzhou Prefecture were fools?
A mere Public Security Bureau constable leaves the Hu Family without any way to save their man, forcing them to go to Anzhou Prefecture for connections—why didn’t your local Prefect or County Magistrate step in?
That clearly meant the matter was not simple; there was definitely something fishy.
Just as Li Dian Shi was about to speak.
A loud voice came from outside the hall.
“I’m here.”
Lin Fan appeared, wearing a brand-new Squad Leader constable uniform, striding in boldly. His demeanor and gait made it seem like this was his own home, with no trace of restraint or tension.
He entered the hall.
Lin Fan locked eyes with Li Dian Shi, staring wide-eyed. He also noticed the old man in official robe nearby; from the robe, he could tell the other was the local County Magistrate.
“Cough cough…”
Li Dian Shi coughed lightly, the meaning clear: there was someone here, the local County Magistrate. Striding in so boldly showed no respect for hierarchy, making him lose face. Even if you just pretend a little now, I’d accept it.
Clearly, Lin Fan understood.
“Prefect Sir, what instructions do you have for summoning this humble subordinate?” Lin Fan clasped his fists and asked.
At these words.
Li Dian Shi smiled broadly, stood up and said: “No need to be formal. Come, sit. Let me introduce you—this is our local upright and incorruptible parental official to the common people, Zhou County Magistrate. Upon hearing of your deeds, Zhou County Magistrate applauded, praising you for removing harm for the people and clearing Yong’an of its tumor. He came specifically to meet you.”
Is that so?
Lin Fan turned his gaze to Zhou County Magistrate, whose expression was somewhat awkwardly stiff.
Not here to make trouble over the Zhu Chief Clerk matter?
To be honest.
On his way here, he had been prepared to activate berserk mode.
And for Zhou County Magistrate.
The moment he saw Lin Fan, he completely believed what Li Dian Shi had said.
This young man before him.
Truly exuded overwhelming dominance.
Absolutely ruthless and merciless.
