Chapter 48: Can’t Lose My Face, Give Him Two Slaps
Popular support.
The people’s wish.
Lin Fan knew well that in this world, power was like flowing water, and only the people’s support was as solid as iron.
He was now using the current power to do progressive things and win the hearts of the common people.
It was also a way to keep his options open.
Are kings and generals born to be so?
This was a killing move that every transmigator always needed.
The Hu Residence was not far from the Public Security Bureau, but he did not rush back. He wanted to stroll around Yong’an City. The common people who were familiar with Eldest Young Master Hu saw that face and blinked in disbelief.
In a street tavern, a young man holding a tea bowl squinted, glanced casually, and suddenly choked, coughing violently, his finger trembling as he pointed at the street.
“Cough, cough… That, isn’t that from the Hu Family…”
“Which one?”
“Holy hell!”
“It’s Hu Yu?!”
The exclamation spread rapidly like ripples.
Many common people who had been confused, upon seeing clearly following the astonished gazes and pointing of others, gasped and exchanged incredulous whispers.
Were the people from the Public Security Bureau so audacious?
They even dared to mess with someone from the Hu Family?
Hu Yu was very aggressive at first, threatening to kill their entire family or stating they were doomed, but after Lin Fan slapped him publicly several times, he immediately became quiet.
He didn’t shout or curse.
He honestly lowered his head, his thoughts unknown.
But certainly nothing good.
…
Public Security Bureau.
Xu Ming stood by the entrance, watching, and did not return to the office to work. The person on duty at the gate came out to ask a few questions, and Xu Ming waved his hand, indicating it was nothing.
He already knew Shopkeeper Wang had found Lin Fan.
But he didn’t know how things were going.
The Public Security Bureau was very unstable now. Squad Leader Chen had suffered severe injuries and was undergoing treatment. Squad Leader Chen’s confidants were all focused on how to regain face and avenge Squad Leader Chen.
“Xu Ming, what the hell are you standing here like a door god for? Did you do the thing I asked you to do?”
The confidants who had escorted Squad Leader to the medical hall returned. Seeing Xu Ming standing blankly at the entrance, they were already in a bad mood, and now they were even more furious.
They rushed forward and kicked Xu Ming in the waist.
Xu Ming was caught off guard and stumbled to the ground, but dared not make a sound.
It was normal for an Official Constable to beat a Commoner Constable; if you don’t like it, get lost.
The young masters who had just joined the Public Security Bureau also trembled with fear upon seeing this scene. They had known before that the Public Security Bureau was corrupt and chaotic, with severe bullying, but they hadn’t expected it to be this bad.
Of course, due to their status, those old hands were quite friendly towards them.
It was just that this friendliness was built upon their silver.
Xu Ming got up without a word, his trouser leg bearing a footprint, and remained silent. His only chance to turn things around was today. He didn’t believe in Squad Leader Chen, nor did he believe in Squad Leader Song. The only one who could bring him a glimmer of hope was Lin Fan, who was also a Commoner Constable.
He didn’t know why he thought Lin Fan was his glimmer of hope, but his intuition told him so.
“Are you mute? I’m asking you, did you do the job or not.” Seeing that Xu Ming didn’t answer, Zhao Fu became even more enraged and raised his hand to hit him again.
He was already agitated.
Seeing Xu Ming so ungrateful, he became even angrier.
Just then, a noisy sound of footsteps and commotion came from the street corner, instantly attracting everyone’s attention.
Xu Ming saw the arriving large group and rejoiced. He saw Lin Fan and also saw Shopkeeper Wang excitedly gesturing and speaking beside him, with no trace of his previous despair.
His gaze eagerly searched backward, and when he saw the familiar arrogant face being escorted like a dead dog, Xu Ming’s heart skipped a beat, almost leaping out of his throat!
He really caught him. Brother Lin really caught him.
At this moment, Lin Fan walked to the entrance of the Public Security Bureau, his gaze calmly falling on Squad Leader Chen’s confidants, then shifting to Xu Ming. He had learned from Shopkeeper Wang that a constable named Xu Ming had asked him to find him.
Yang Ming had told him about Xu Ming’s various circumstances: several years in the Public Security Bureau, still a Commoner Constable, from an ordinary family, and a recommendation from an official inspection as a superficial gesture.
“Young Master Hu.”
The confidant constables were stunned when they saw Hu Yu being held.
Hu Yu heard the voice and suddenly looked up, overjoyed. “Zhao Fu, hurry and save me! Where is Squad Leader Chen? Hurry and let him out to release me. This dog beat me at the Hu Residence, I want him dead.”
Slap—!
Lin Fan didn’t even look, and casually delivered a slap. He looked at Zhao Fu and said, “Was it you who handled Shopkeeper Wang’s tavern matter, and was it you who framed their child?”
Facing Lin Fan’s gaze, Zhao Fu’s throat moved up and down, sweat beaded on his back. He was an Official Constable, and the other was just a Commoner, yet he was afraid.
It was as if the person standing before him was not human, but a man-eating tiger.
That look, that aura.
It made him feel extremely uncomfortable.
“Lin, Lin Fan, don’t go too far,” Zhao Fu stammered out after a long pause.
*Hiss!*
Lin Fan was amused and looked at Xu Ming, “Are you Xu Ming?”
“Brother Lin, I am Xu Ming.”
“Shopkeeper Wang told me about you. Are you interested in working with me?” Lin Fan extended an olive branch. He lacked people who could get things done; besides him, only the Squad Leader and Yang Ming could. Sometimes, when there were matters, he had to ask the brothers from the wharf to drop their work to help.
It was quite inconvenient.
Xu Ming hesitated for almost no time and said with absolute certainty, “Yes, I am willing.”
Zhao Fu’s face turned cold. This was poaching Squad Leader Chen’s man right in front of him. Even if Xu Ming was not favored by Squad Leader Chen, he was still Squad Leader Chen’s man.
“Who kicked you?” Lin Fan saw the footprint on Xu Ming’s trousers and the dust on his clothes and knew what had happened. “Never mind. Since you’re following me, you can’t lose face for me. Give him two slaps.”
“Yes, Brother Lin.”
Xu Ming felt a surge of blood rush to his head at this moment. He strode up to Zhao Fu.
“You dare.”
Zhao Fu roared in fury.
Xu Ming’s eyes sharpened, and he raised his hand without hesitation.
Slap! Slap!
Two crisp, loud slaps landed squarely on Zhao Fu’s face. The force was so great that Zhao Fu’s head turned, and bright red finger marks immediately appeared on his face.
The entire scene fell into instant silence!
Zhao Fu was stunned by these two slaps. The stinging pain on his face and the immense sense of humiliation instantly overwhelmed his reason.
He hadn’t expected Xu Ming to actually dare to act.
“Xu Ming, you son of a bitch,” Zhao Fu roared furiously, and with a clang, he drew his saber, the gleaming blade pointing directly at Xu Ming. “I’ll kill you, you dog bastard.”
The surrounding constables were stunned. They naturally wanted to shout, but the ruthless methods of Lin Fan flashed through their minds, and since the matter didn’t involve them, they suppressed their anger.
Xu Ming held his head high, a slight smirk on his lips, completely unfazed, as if saying, “If you have the guts, come and cut me.”
Hu Yu saw the saber being drawn and shrieked, “Zhao Fu, what are you standing there for? Cut him, cut him! He’s just a commoner, what are you afraid of?”
Lin Fan chuckled, “Young Master Hu, was it him who handled things for you?”
“So what? Which of the Public Security Bureau doesn’t work for this young master? Lin, remember everything you’ve done to me. I will make you pay it all back, a hundredfold, a thousandfold, even ten thousandfold.” At this moment, Young Master Hu still didn’t understand the gravity of the situation and continued to shout.
Zhao Fu’s mind was in chaos, and he didn’t hear what Hu Yu was saying. While he was stunned, Lin Fan kicked him to the ground. As soon as he looked up, he saw Lin Fan wave his hand.
“Take him down.”
Xu Ming obeyed and, without a word, grabbed his wrist, pressed his knee against his back, and pinned him to the ground. The pained Zhao Fu yelled, “Let me go! Lin, what do you want? I’m an Official Constable, and you, a mere commoner, dare to defy your superiors! What are you all standing around for?”
The surrounding constables took a step forward, some placing their hands on their saber hilts.
However, as Lin Fan’s gaze, like a cold blade, swept over each of them, the invisible sense of oppression made their scalps tingle, and none of them dared to step forward.
They were deterred.
Lin Fan said sternly, “Zhao Fu, as a constable, you accepted a bribe from Hu Yu, framed him, and committed a crime according to the law. Today, you will be taken to prison for interrogation. I advise you to think about how to confess.”
“Take him away.”
With a wave of his hand, they entered the Public Security Bureau.
Only a group of people were left behind, as if floating in the clouds, confused and bewildered.
The crowd of onlookers’ mouths remained open for a long time.
Was this something they could witness?
It was something they had never dared to imagine in their lives.
