Chapter 28: You Fucking Want To Eat Shit?
Approaching noon.
The common people stopped in their tracks one after another, looking in astonishment at the large group walking in the street.
Lin Fan had a knife at his waist and a silver-white iron rod on his back, walking with his head held high and chest out, while his group of brothers formed two rows, also standing straight and receiving the curious gazes of the common people.
Jin Biao and the other dozen or so people followed in a daze, and even now they still didn’t understand what exactly had happened.
The common people whispered among themselves.
“What happened?”
“The leader is a constable, but wait, isn’t that Jin Biao? Fourth Master Qin’s man. Look at how swollen his face is.”
“Who doesn’t know that Fourth Master Qin has a good relationship with the Public Security Bureau? I saw Fourth Master Qin drinking with Squad Leader Chen at a restaurant just a while ago.”
Just as they were talking, a head suddenly poked into their huddle.
“I know a bit of the situation.”
“Oh? Brother, tell us.”
“Let me tell you, that leading constable is named Lin Fan. He just joined the Public Security Bureau. I heard there’s a gang of local ruffians oppressing the people in the city. On his first day in office, he went to arrest them. Look, he caught a lot, right?”
“Ah! So fierce. Daring to do this right after taking office. Doesn’t he know that Jin Biao is Fourth Master Qin’s man with a deep background?”
“Deep? Heh, you guys don’t know yet. When it comes to background, this Lord Lin is no less impressive.”
“How so?”
“Do you know Master Lin of Loyalty Hall at Jili Wharf?”
“Yes, I’ve heard of his deeds. He’s very formidable and well-known on the streets nowadays.”
“See, that’s him right there.”
“Ah… So he’s that Master Lin. Indeed, he has an extraordinary bearing and is a fine figure of a man.”
In ancient times, with slow information spread and no photos, it was truly difficult to let the common people know what the protagonist of the rumored deeds looked like.
But as long as you persist in spreading it and showing your face, becoming known to everyone is not a dream.
Arriving at the entrance of the Public Security Bureau, Lin Fan called Wu Yong over, took out silver taels and handed them to him, telling him to take the brothers for a good meal, then waved his hand for them to leave first.
But just as they were about to leave.
An unfriendly voice came.
“What’s going on?”
Chen Xingzhi approached from afar with a cold face and an attendant in tow. When he saw Jin Biao in the crowd, his eyes flickered—he remembered this was one of Fourth Master Qin’s men.
When he looked at Lin Fan, he roughly guessed the situation, but he didn’t expect this kid to stir up so much trouble, arresting so many people right after taking office.
No, absolutely not. He must be properly warned.
“Lin Fan, give me an explanation. What are you doing?” Chen Xingzhi asked.
Lin Fan smiled and said, “Squad Leader Chen, what can I do? These guys are all local ruffians who disturb the people and extort money. I happened to run into them, so I arrested them directly to interrogate them properly.”
“Nonsense.” Squad Leader Chen angrily said, “Is this how you waste the Public Security Bureau’s resources? What local ruffians do at most disturbs the peace. You could warn them on the spot. Now you’ve brought them back—where do you plan to lock them up?”
Chen Xingzhi knew this Lin Fan was a troublemaker, one of Song Qing’s people.
If the other party hadn’t joined the Public Security Bureau.
He really wouldn’t have much way to deal with him.
But once in the Public Security Bureau, no matter what identity or background you had before, you had to keep your head down in front of him.
“Release them, all of you release them. Go back and write a three-thousand-word self-criticism and send it to my office.” Chen Xingzhi used the authority of his position as squad leader.
This move was always effective in the Public Security Bureau.
The current Public Security Bureau could be said to be his one-man show.
The clerk was ill and had been recuperating at home for nearly two months. Based on the current situation, it was uncertain if he could return.
As for Prefect Li, he had long delegated power, handing the Public Security Bureau over to him and Song Qing. There were even rumors that Prefect Li might be transferred to a higher position.
If that were true, a position would become vacant.
With his prestige in the Public Security Bureau and his connections with the various forces in the city, the position of prefect was within his grasp.
Hope appeared in the eyes of the captured Jin Biao, but he didn’t foolishly shout for Squad Leader Chen to save him, saying that his Fourth Master had treated him to dinner.
He wasn’t that stupid yet.
“Release? Squad Leader Chen, what nonsense are you talking? What these local ruffians did has all violated the law. According to…”
He deliberately raised his voice very high and began reciting legal provisions again.
He recited them fluently from memory.
Chen Xingzhi was stunned listening to it.
Even his attendant was the same. Isn’t… your head this stubborn? You just arrived at the Public Security Bureau and don’t think about getting on good terms with Squad Leader Chen, but instead openly challenge his face in front of so many onlookers.
Do you really not want to live comfortably?
“Shut up. Are you really going to make trouble?” Chen Xingzhi said in a deep voice.
Lin Fan was not afraid at all and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, “Make trouble? I don’t know what Squad Leader Chen means by making trouble. These local ruffians extort money in the marketplace, even beating the people. In Squad Leader Chen’s mouth, it’s a small matter. Perhaps to Squad Leader Chen, these are indeed small matters, but…”
His voice instantly rose to the extreme.
“To me, Lin Fan, the people’s matters are no small matters. The people’s matters are the biggest things. I joined the Public Security Bureau to stand up for the people. Prefect Li said to keep the law in mind, act impartially, and punish any slackness severely.”
These words were truly deafening, striking the hearts of the surrounding common people like thunder from the heavens.
They stared blankly at Lin Fan, who feared not Squad Leader Chen’s authority.
The people’s matters are no small matters.
The people’s matters are the biggest things.
These words touched the helpless and fragile heartstrings in their hearts.
When had they ever heard such words?
“Well said. Lord Lin said it well.”
Cheers came from a corner of the crowd, crisp and loud, with the sound of footsteps as if changing position, seemingly whispering but actually ringing clearly.
“I heard this Squad Leader Chen has some unspeakable secret with Fourth Master Qin. Clearly, seeing that Jin Biao is Fourth Master Qin’s man, he wants to save him.”
“Sigh, truly officials protecting bandits.”
These words came out.
Chen Xingzhi, standing there, instantly turned ashen-faced, his eyes darkly terrifying as he looked at the crowd, as if wanting to drag out the speaker.
But he didn’t lose his temper, instead looking at Lin Fan.
“Good, good, good.”
He said “good” three times.
Was it praise?
Clearly not.
This meant he had thoroughly made an enemy of Lin Fan. He angrily flung his sleeves and strode into the Public Security Bureau, saying nothing else, but everyone could see that Squad Leader Chen had a big grudge against Lin Fan.
Lin Fan watched Squad Leader Chen’s departing back, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
What could a squad leader do?
Would Lin Fan be a coward?
If you, Chen Xingzhi, were some martial way master with strength higher than mine, able to kill me single-handedly, then Lin Fan truly wouldn’t dare be so tough and would have to use his brain to deal with you.
But now, with me and my rod, I could kill fifty—no, a hundred of you.
Still want me to grovel and submit, bow and scrape, speak nicely.
You fucking want to eat shit.
