Chapter 32: I Take Bribery, And He Praises My Loyalty
Ordinary people can’t be beasts, and they don’t even want to be.
But some ‘people’ insist on leaning towards being beasts.
He Sen is just such a guy. The things he did, if on Earth, wouldn’t get him many years in prison, but in jail, even the petty thieves who steal chickens and dogs would couldn’t help beating him up.
In the luxurious private room, the air was filled with a fresh fragrance, but even the fragrance couldn’t cover the foul stench emanating from He Sen.
At this moment, He Sen’s chest burned as if with flames, very furious.
This kid actually ignored him.
From entering the private room, he only glanced at him once, then sat there arrogantly.
Who am I?
I am Loyalty Hall Hall Master He Sen.
Even Wang Changhai, upon seeing him, has to politely call him Brother He.
“Aiyo, perfectly fine not mixing with gangs, why think of joining the Public Security Bureau and becoming a Commoner Constable? This line of work is tough.” He Sen crossed his arms, speaking sarcastically.
Qin Si, who was smiling beside him and pouring wine from a wine pot, had his arm tremble slightly. How could he not hear He Sen’s sarcastic tone? He quickly smoothed things over.
“Brother He, Master Lin has grand ideals here. Joining the Public Security Bureau to protect the peace, with Master Lin’s abilities, he will surely be promoted soon and obtain an official rank.”
Damn it.
He Sen, don’t you dare cause trouble for me.
I called you here to make connections, not to stir things up.
He Sen let out a hehe laugh.
His tone full of disdain.
But perhaps thinking of the purpose he was invited for, he didn’t say more.
Qin Si was indeed an old Jianghu veteran, slick and experienced. He livened up the atmosphere, starting by not mentioning Jin Biao at all, instead talking about strange news and amusing stories to warm up the room.
It was just like going to a brothel. Who strips off clothes right away? You drink some wine, flirt a bit, and when the atmosphere is right, things naturally flow.
Song Qing and Yang Ming sat there, not saying a word.
Especially Song Qing, who knew He Sen and Qin Si best. These two were no good, and if the law were just, both would be beheaded.
So he hadn’t touched a bite, disgusted at the thought of eating with them.
Lin Fan caught a glimpse of the Squad Leader’s refusal, but Yang Ming didn’t care, eating the dishes heartily and nodding occasionally to show approval of the food.
Lin Fan smiled: “Fourth Master Qin knows so much. I heard that when you were young, you wielded two watermelon knives, chopping from south of the city to north, without blinking, earning a great reputation.”
Huh!?
Qin Si was stunned. Who exaggerated his stories so unrealistically? Chopping from south to north? Chop my ass.
“Haha, Master Lin, no need to mention the past. I’m old now, not as spirited as before.”
Qin Si touched his smooth bald head and humbly waved it off.
He accepted this matter.
Out in the world, stories are made by others, status is self-given. Since they said it, he’d accept it. After all, bragging costs nothing.
“Master Lin, let’s drink, drink.” Qin Si raised his wine cup, full of enthusiasm.
Lin Fan smiled and downed it in one go. The strong liquor entered his stomach and was quickly broken down. He found Beginner Body Refining very domineering; alcohol didn’t affect him much.
This Body Refining wasn’t just about taking hits. Each improvement clearly made him feel an all-around enhancement.
Power and speed noticeably boosted.
At this moment, Qin Si perfectly showed his social skills, but he kept watching Song Qing’s expression. After all, Song Qing was the Squad Leader, with a much higher rank in the Public Security Bureau than Lin Fan.
When he saw Song Qing proactively pouring wine for Lin Fan.
He was shocked inside.
An astonishing thought surfaced in his mind.
That Song Qing seemed like the Squad Leader, but actually had long become Lin Fan’s underling.
Glasses clinked, after three rounds of drinks, Qin Si and He Sen’s faces were red, especially Qin Si’s the most obvious.
“Fourth Master Qin, this dinner tonight isn’t just a simple meal, right? If there’s something, just say it plainly.” Lin Fan saw the timing was right and took the initiative.
Hearing this, Qin Si downed the wine in his hand, set down the wine cup, and sighed lightly: “To be honest, Master Lin, the Jin Biao you caught today is my distant nephew. His parents died early, and he came to me young. I’m usually busy and neglected to discipline him. He actually dared to extort in the marketplace—truly detestable.”
“I’ve gone to apologize to the vendors and got their forgiveness.”
“So I hope Master Lin can let him go.”
Qin Si made up stories effortlessly, not caring about the truth. In his world, whether the story was true didn’t matter; what mattered was having a story to give face.
Just demanding release outright.
People need face too.
Lin Fan set down his chopsticks, pretending to be troubled. The perceptive Qin Si immediately took out a box from behind, opened it gently, and several silver notes were neatly placed inside.
Three in total, each for one hundred taels.
Among the officials he bribed, prices were fixed, sent once a month.
Commoner Constable: one tael.
Official Constable: five taels.
Squad Leader: twenty taels.
Clerk and Prefect level: thirty taels.
Higher up, like County Magistrate, only forty or fifty taels.
So Qin Si offering three hundred-tael silver notes gave Lin Fan full face.
It wasn’t submission to Lin Fan’s Commoner Constable position, but he knew this Lin guy was very capable in a fight. If he stubbornly opposed and made an enemy, it would be trouble.
If silver could settle it, that was ideal.
Lin Fan looked at the silver notes without speaking, but Song Qing beside him couldn’t help saying: “Three hundred taels, what a huge sum. Common people might not earn that much in a lifetime. Even this meal equals a year’s earnings for common people.”
Qin Si blinked.
Which common people earn that well? A year at least twenty taels?
“Squad Leader Song, that’s profound.”
Qin Si flattered, inwardly complaining: He’s here and still cares about the people, instantly elevating our bribery scene.
Lin Fan looked at Qin Si with a smile in his eyes. “Fourth Master Qin, this is bribery. According to Law page seventeen line three, officials accepting bribery reaching one hundred twenty taels get hanging, plus caning, seventy strokes per tael. If I take your three hundred taels, how many strokes do you say?”
He Sen was dumbfounded.
Qin Si was also dumbfounded.
No.
Are you crazy?
I’m kindly giving you silver, why recite the law at me?
Everyone in Yong’an City knows I’m the most ignorant of the law.
Qin Si had risen from legal illiterate to his current status, so his mind turned faster than anyone’s. “Master Lin, can’t say that recklessly. This isn’t bribery; it’s me repaying your silver.”
“Repaying mine?”
“Yes, how long ago was it? I borrowed three hundred taels from you. The receipt is still here. Let me find it.”
Qin Si rummaged on himself and quickly pulled out a receipt, placing it before Lin Fan.
Lin Fan read the content: “Today, I, Qin Si, borrow three hundred taels from Lin Fan…”
There really was a receipt.
This Qin Si had tricks; probably experienced in bribery, knowing some won’t take directly, so he prepared receipts.
“Aiya!” Lin Fan suddenly realized, slapping his thigh. “I remember now. It was that morning you borrowed from me, right?”
“Ah, yes, yes, yes.”
“I knew it. I kept feeling like I forgot something. Turns out it was this. Fourth Master Qin is truly trustworthy. If you hadn’t repaid, I’d have forgotten. Thanks a lot.”
Lin Fan pocketed the silver notes, then took the receipt, tore it in two in front of Qin Si to void it, and pocketed the pieces too.
“Fourth Master Qin, did we discuss interest back then?”
“Ah?”
Qin Si was shocked.
Are you a beast? Making it up like that.
“Haha, joking. With our relationship, talking interest would hurt it.”
“Right, right. Master Lin is generous and righteous.”
Lin Fan was very satisfied.
See.
Free money, and praised as generous and righteous.
Nice!
