Chapter 38: I Want To Make Proper Progress
The news of the public shaming spread extremely fast.
Like locusts passing through, it stirred up a massive wave of shock.
The common people who heard about this matter only felt it was unbelievable. Could there be a mistake?
After confirming repeatedly.
They realized it was actually true.
The common people remembered Lin Fan’s name, a constable who dared to lay hands on the Loyalty Hall hall master.
At the same time, the local dignitaries in Yong’an City were also shaken.
Had those guys at the Public Security Bureau taken the wrong medicine?
In their eyes, He Sen was just a street thug not worth their attention, but no matter what, He Sen was the Loyalty Hall hall master, a local tyrant.
He really had a bear’s heart and leopard’s gall.
……
Li Mansion.
“Wait here a moment, I’ll go report first.” A servant hurried away, leaving Song Qing and Lin Fan standing at the door.
Lin Fan looked at the high walls, at the two majestic stone lions at the door, and smiled. “The prefect’s living area is truly grand. If one didn’t know, they might think it was a prince’s mansion.”
“Impressive, truly impressive.”
After the public shaming ended, he had Yang Ming stay at the Public Security Bureau, while he had Song Ban Tou bring him to meet the prefect. As the saying goes, prepare for a rainy day and resolve some troubles.
Beating Chen Xingzhi in the street felt good, but when this guy woke up, he would surely bite like a mad dog. He wasn’t afraid of the mad dog’s bites; the only thing to guard against was the other party playing dirty.
For example, having the prefect remove him from his position and kick him out of the Public Security Bureau.
Song Ban Tou reminded, “Once inside, don’t speak recklessly. The prefect is not easy to deal with; be sure to watch yourself.”
He didn’t respond to the topic.
Those in the know understand.
Without corruption or bribery, how could he have such a luxurious mansion?
The servant who went to report soon returned. “Follow me; our master is waiting in the hall.”
Following the servant into the mansion, passing through the luxurious courtyard, they soon arrived at the hall. From afar, they saw a figure sitting on the grand tutor chair, holding a teacup, leisurely sipping tea.
Entering the hall, a whiff of fragrance entered their noses; that was the scent of premium incense.
“This lowly officer Song Qing pays respects to Sir Prefect.” Song Qing said.
The prefect did not stand, didn’t even lift his head, merely glancing at Lin Fan and Song Qing from the corner of his eye while fiddling with a pair of polished walnuts in his hand.
The hall was very quiet, only the clacking sound of the walnuts rubbing together.
Song Qing felt very awkward, not knowing what the prefect meant.
Lin Fan cupped his fists. “This lowly officer Lin Fan pays respects to Sir Prefect.”
Damn it.
Putting on airs.
Sure enough, after Lin Fan’s greeting, the prefect slowly raised his eyelids, looking at Lin Fan with scrutiny and displeasure.
“Hmm…” The prefect spoke, deliberately dragging out the tone, pointing to the chair beside him. “Sit.”
His emotions showed no fluctuation, even more relaxed than before, completely displaying the casual attitude of a superior toward subordinates.
As Lin Fan and the others sat down.
“I’ve heard about the matter.” The prefect spoke slowly and deliberately. “Though I am the prefect, I’ve already handed over the Public Security Bureau’s affairs to you all. Yong’an City’s rights and wrongs, public security good or bad—I don’t want to manage it, nor do I care to. After all, I’m a man who’s about to leave.”
Song Qing listened with his head lowered.
Suddenly, the prefect changed his tone, stopped fiddling with the walnuts, and fixed his gaze on Lin Fan with apparent displeasure and warning. “You are audaciously bold; the commotion you’ve caused is very noisy, bringing turmoil to the once peaceful and harmonious Yong’an City.”
The prefect placed the walnuts on the tea table and leaned forward, gripping the armrest.
“I dislike trouble the most, especially when I’m about to leave.” The cold intent and threat in his gaze seeped out. “Some matters should stop at the right point. If things get too ugly, it’s no good for anyone. Yong’an isn’t big, but its roots are as intricate and deeply entrenched as those of an old tree.”
“Release He Sen, then go apologize to Chen Ban Tou. I’ll step in to suppress the matter, consider it a good deed I do for you young man before I leave.”
“One can be young and vigorous, but too much vigor and sharp edges are not a good thing.”
“Do you agree?”
The prefect chuckled lightly, but it was a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
He naturally knew Lin Fan was very capable in a fight, but what use was being able to fight? To survive in the Public Security Bureau, to rise steadily, one had to learn to conduct oneself properly.
This was what he had learned in twenty-five years at the Public Security Bureau.
From a once handsome young man to his current appearance, every wrinkle on his face was a story.
Song Qing, with head lowered, felt utterly helpless.
Even the prefect had spoken this way; what else could he do?
“I don’t agree.”
As soon as these words came out.
Song Qing jerked his head up.
The prefect’s smile froze and vanished; he slammed the table furiously and rebuked, “You are too insolent.”
“Insolent?” Lin Fan smiled as he stood, walked in front of the prefect, raised his hand and slammed it down on the tea table with a bang. The walnuts were smashed into it, and the tea table shattered with a crash. “Sir Prefect, whether one is insolent or not depends on strength. Without strength, that’s what insolence is.”
The prefect looked down at the shattered tea table, at the handprint dented into the surface, his eyes stunned in shock.
This was huanghuali wood, which even a knife couldn’t chop through, yet the other party had caused such damage with one palm.
At this moment, Song Qing felt his mind go blank, his throat dry. He had many words he wanted to say, but for the moment, he didn’t know what to say.
Lin Fan squatted down, picked out the smashed walnut kernels, put them in his mouth, then spat them out with a “pah”—they didn’t taste good.
He stood with hands behind his back, facing away from the other.
“Sir, before leaving Yong’an City, haven’t you thought about adding a bold stroke to your resume?” Lin Fan said softly. “Sir said just a few days ago to uphold the law and act impartially; I remember it all.”
“You?”
After a brief shock, the prefect regained his composure and questioned.
He hadn’t expected this kid to be so arrogant.
But he really wanted to hear what earth-shattering words this kid would say.
Lin Fan gripped the iron rod tightly, exerted force suddenly, and swept it horizontally at the water-bucket-thick support pillar beside them. With a bang, the resounding boom echoed, shaking dust down like falling snow.
Crack!
The support pillar cracked, covered in fissures.
The iron rod was embedded in the pillar, and as he pulled it out, the cracks in the pillar became even more pronounced, as if it could break at any moment.
“Sir, what do you think of this one strike?” Lin Fan turned his head and asked.
The prefect’s mouth hung open, completely stunned. If one palm shattering the tea table could be accepted, this strike now was beyond what he could accept.
Inhuman power.
Was this something a person could do?
Facing Lin Fan’s question, the prefect lowered his head in silence, analyzing the pros and cons. After some time, he looked up at Lin Fan.
He felt this was worth betting on. Even if it failed, it had nothing to do with him, but if it succeeded, the benefits would be immense.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Simple: do nothing and say nothing.”
“That’s it?”
“Correct.”
“Fine.”
Lin Fan smiled, said nothing more, and walked toward outside the hall. When he reached the door, the prefect suddenly spoke.
“What are you doing this for, exactly?”
“Justice.”
At these words, Song Qing felt Lin Fan’s back view piercingly bright. What was that?
That was the light of righteousness.
But…
“Tell the truth, can you?” The prefect didn’t believe it.
Lin Fan stopped, back turned to everything, fists clenched tight, body trembling.
“I want to advance too badly. Believe that?”
The prefect smiled; sure enough. “Progress isn’t just one way; there are faster methods.”
“No, I want to advance openly and honorably.”
With that, he strode away.
Song Qing saluted and followed.
The prefect stood in place, dazed for a moment, then walked to the cracked support pillar, stroked the fissures, and suddenly seemed to think of something.
His face instantly turned pale.
“My house!”
Outside the Mansion.
Song Qing looked up at the sky, feeling everything was like a dream. He hadn’t expected the prefect to be convinced.
Lin Fan looked down at his fist, smiling very happily.
“This thing is really quite useful.”
Sure enough, anything that can be solved with a fist isn’t a real matter.
