Chapter 42: Don’t Worry, I Know Exactly What I’m Doing
What happened in Loyalty Hall is an internal matter.
But not long after Lin Fan left, rumors began to spread, one wave after another.
Lin Fan caused a huge scene in Loyalty Hall, picking up the Grand Tutor’s chair and smashing Hall Master Huang Wei.
He even pointed at Gang Leader Chen Qingshan and cursed him loudly, and Chen Qingshan didn’t even dare to fart.
The news is all true.
But those who spread gossip know that during the first wave of transmission, they add a bit of personal description, and by the second or even third time it’s spread.
It becomes very off.
After all, everyone on the streets knows that if you don’t brag a bit, it doesn’t show how well-informed you are, so adding oil and vinegar is basic operation, no need to be surprised.
Some say Lin Fan was very unhappy with the old man Chen Qingshan, rushed up and slapped him madly several times, the kind that couldn’t be pulled away.
There are also rumors that Huang Wei was beaten because while Lin Fan was negotiating with Chen Qingshan, this guy kept picking at his toe crevices nearby, causing a strange smell to spread, leading to him getting beaten.
People who hear the gossip generally believe the reason Huang Wei was beaten was picking at his toe crevices.
After all, they all know this Huang Wei just likes to pick.
Even after being told, he doesn’t change.
At this time, some are happy, some are worried.
Fierce Tiger Gang is very happy. They didn’t expect Loyalty Hall to be taken down by one of their own former members. This is a happy event. It means their Fierce Tiger Gang can dominate alone in the future.
The worried ones are Wang Changhai and his wife.
Evening, at the Hall Master’s home.
“Little brother, you can’t act on impulse about this. Although sister hasn’t paid much attention to the situation in Loyalty Hall, they are all ruthless people.”
At the dinner table, Wang Shi couldn’t eat a bite, her face full of worry.
In contrast, Lin Fan grabbed a chicken leg and stuffed it into his mouth, saying while eating, “Sis, it’s fine. Hey, this dish is delicious. It must be handmade by you, sis.”
“Yeah, handmade with great care. Wait, sis is talking to you about Loyalty Hall. You’ve just joined Public Security Bureau not long ago, your foundation is unstable, there are people above, it’s hard to handle.”
Wang Shi was genuinely worried, always feeling like her little brother had really poked a hole in the sky.
“It’s fine, I know what I’m doing.” Lin Fan said with a smile.
Nearby, Wang Changhai was drinking cup after cup of wine. It wasn’t that he wanted to drink, but he wanted to use the alcohol to calm his nerves. Even now, his head was still dizzy.
Thinking of Huang Wei’s shouting and yelling afterward, even pointing at his face and cursing him loudly, he held back his anger but had nowhere to vent it. Now the whole Yong’an City knew that his leader Wang Changhai was extremely domineering.
There were even rumors that he Wang Changhai was plotting for the Loyalty Hall gang leader position.
He couldn’t make a move himself.
So he let others do it.
Damn it, he had nowhere to explain. He really wanted to say, don’t spread nonsense, my Brother Fan isn’t that kind of person, he fights for the common people, for justice.
But even if he said it, would anyone believe him?
Definitely not.
At this moment, Wang Shi got up and went to the back room. When she returned, she had a box in her hand and placed it in front of Lin Fan.
Lin Fan was busy eating, freeing up one hand. “Sis, what’s this?”
He opened it and took a look.
Inside were all gold and silver jewelry, and some gems.
Seeing these, Lin Fan’s expression froze slightly. He put down the chicken bone in his hand and picked up the cloth nearby to wipe his hands and mouth.
Wang Shi said, “These are what sis has accumulated over the years. Originally, I was thinking when your brother-in-law gets old, let him quit Loyalty Hall and live a peaceful life. But now, take them, go and grease some palms. The clerk is sick and not handling affairs, but he has his position. You need to send more to Prefect Li’s side too. I heard he’s going to be transferred, but he’s still here now. Handling it well won’t hurt. And also…”
She rattled off a long list of people.
The connections in Yong’an County Town are like a web. As long as you’re willing to grease palms, there’s no problem that can’t be solved.
Lin Fan closed the box. “Sis, no need. To tell you the truth, I’ve already talked to certain people. There won’t be any issues.”
Wang Shi didn’t catch the implication.
But Wang Changhai did. Talked to certain people? Talked to whom?
Could it be?
The ones who can withstand the pressure are only those few.
Though he was very good at fighting, this wasn’t something that could be settled just by fighting.
If Lin Fan knew Wang Changhai’s thoughts, he would definitely say in surprise, you actually guessed it right, it really was settled by fighting.
“Really fine?”
“Really fine.”
Lin Fan smiled, then looked at Wang Changhai. This look made Wang Changhai’s heart panic, feeling like something bad was about to happen.
Yong’an City’s structure was decided long ago.
Trying to overturn it would cause trouble. Too many common people rely on it for a living. Once the framework is overturned, it’s easy to cause problems. So his initial idea was to take down internal personnel, use them to make progress, while keeping the framework.
“Hall Master, you’ve been in Loyalty Hall for a long time, right?”
“Yeah, a long time. Along the way, there have been ups and downs, experienced too much, so tiring.”
He was really tired, mainly mentally tired. In the past, at gang meetings, he was always mocked by the other hall masters. Whenever he disagreed with them, he was ridiculed. Some people’s eloquence was impressive, no wonder they rose by flattery.
What could he say about it?
Because what they said was spot on.
Without flattery, how to make progress?
Lin Fan picked up the teacup, rinsed the taste in his mouth. “People alive must find ways to make progress, otherwise what’s the difference from a salted fish.”
Progress?
Wang Changhai was stunned.
One more step forward, wouldn’t that be the gang leader position?
Thinking of this, he sat with his mouth open, dazedly looking at Lin Fan. This, this couldn’t be planning to boost him to the top, right?
Lin Fan looked at the night curtain outside the door and stood up. “Sis, it’s late, I’ll head back first. Still the same words, relax, I really know what I’m doing. I won’t do anything without confidence.”
After saying that, he left.
In the hall.
“Really fine?” Wang Shi asked again.
Wang Changhai sighed. “How would I know? The current situation is there’s no way back. He can only go all the way to the end. Wife, a year ago you said to quit and live peacefully, I wasn’t willing then. Now thinking about it, if I’d listened to you back then, how good it would be. Now I’m on edge all the time.”
Under the night curtain, Lin Fan walked alone on the street.
The surroundings were very quiet.
Not a single sound.
Until he saw Little Fatty holding a lantern standing at the door waiting. He looked behind him, shook his head in some disappointment. He had thought someone would make a move on him, but unexpectedly there was none.
Quite a pity.
If there really was, that would be handing him the knife.
Unfortunately, no opportunity given.
“Bro, have you eaten?” Little Fatty trotted over.
“Yeah, eaten. Go rest early.”
Lin Fan patted Little Fatty’s shoulder and they returned to the courtyard together.
……
Morning.
Public Security Bureau, the office next door.
Xu Ming had come to work early. He brewed himself a cup of tea, with a few cooked flatbreads beside it, eating while flipping through the files.
He was a commoner constable, three years in Public Security Bureau, never promoted, because he was one of the few from poor family backgrounds who could enter Public Security Bureau.
Back then it was good luck. A high official came to inspect Yong’an City. He was still an ordinary commoner then, and by chance caught a thief in front of the high official.
So many common people watching, the high official probably wanted to put on a show, specially called him over, praised him, asked about his ideals. He said he had taken the Public Security Bureau exam but didn’t know if he could pass.
The high official said, this young man has a strong sense of justice, good, our Imperial Court needs people like this.
Later he understood how valuable those words were. A position that was already taken was forcibly made available for him.
But the effect stopped there. Future promotions wouldn’t include him.
Creak.
The door opened, an official constable walked in.
“Brother Huang.” Xu Ming greeted.
The Huang constable in front of him was an official constable, joined Public Security Bureau two years later than him, but half a year ago he was promoted to official constable with a salary.
Unlike him, who could only get subsidies.
Seeing only Xu Ming in the office, Constable Huang said, “Little Xu, find a case, one that can get ten or eight years in prison, pin it on that kid from the tavern family.”
“Ah? Brother Huang, so harsh? Hasn’t that family already handed over the recipe?”
“They handed it over, we just wanted to scare them. But that kid bit Young Master Hu in the chaos, Young Master Hu is very angry and wants to deal with him harshly. Alright, stop the damn nonsense, do what I told you quickly. The squad leader will come soon, and I have to go handle something with the squad leader.”
Constable Huang was very impatient.
“Oh, got it.”
Xu Ming didn’t dare say more and nodded in agreement.
