Chapter 6: Master, Didn’t You Say We Shouldn’t Worship Martial Prowess?
Tense, stimulating, indescribably exciting.
Murderer.
This is a murderer!!!
He was taken down just like that. Recalling the series of moves just now, he felt he could give it such a score.
9.8 points.
As for why not full marks, leave some room for progress.
“Sirs, are you alright?” Lin Fan said.
The young constable with the injured arm shook his head.
The older one panted for several breaths, then cupped his fists and said: “Thank you for your assistance, young brother. Otherwise, given the situation just now, the consequences would have been unimaginable. I am Song Qing from the Public Security Bureau, and this is my disciple Yang Ming.”
After speaking, he glanced at the murderer lying motionless on the ground, feeling a wave of fear in his heart.
It had been too dangerous just now; they had nearly died at his hands.
Lin Fan returned the courtesy with cupped fists: “When encountering injustice, draw sword to help. I am Lin Fan, aspiring to take the Law Exam to join the Public Security Bureau, become a constable, and contribute to the stability of Yong’an City. Naturally, I couldn’t ignore a murderer.”
One must learn to say nice things.
See, when he stated his aspiration, the eyes of these two sirs changed.
“Good, a hero emerges from the young.” Song Qing sighed, then glanced at the surroundings. “Little brother Lin, it’s too late. Why don’t you come with us to bring the murderer back to the Public Security Bureau first, and then we can talk in detail.”
“Sure.”
Song Qing and Yang Ming were both injured, and now the murderer was unconscious, making it hard to carry him away. Lin Fan took the initiative, grabbed the murderer’s ankle, and dragged him along the ground right there.
Seeing this, Song Qing was shocked in his heart.
Incredible arm strength.
Combining it with the earlier situation, his evaluation of Lin Fan was: agile skills, exceptional courage.
Those fluid, seamless movements were something ordinary people couldn’t do.
And ordinary common people would have fled at the sight of a murderer.
……
The Public Security Bureau was adjacent to the county government office, separated by just one street.
It was late now, and only one person was on duty inside. Their entry caused some noise, waking the sleeping duty officer, who grumbled as he came to see who was making trouble in the middle of the night.
Until…
“Squad Leader Song, what’s this?” the duty officer asked puzzled.
Song Qing pointed at the murderer and said: “Hu Yong, perpetrator of three murders, has been apprehended.”
Hearing this, the duty officer looked shocked. “Ah, he’s Hu Yong? Indeed, he has a fierce face. Congratulations, Squad Leader Song, this is great merit.”
Song Qing nodded; it was indeed great merit, but it wasn’t much use to him. At his current rank, promotion was difficult, and the merit from capturing one murderer wasn’t enough.
Rather, his disciple could use this merit to promote from commoner constable to official constable, gaining an official position and a modest salary.
The difference between a salary and relying on subsidies was huge.
Song Qing gave instructions, having his disciple and the duty officer escort the murderer to the prison, while he enthusiastically took Lin Fan to the inner hall, personally brewing tea to thank him for tonight’s events.
This was Lin Fan’s first time entering the Public Security Bureau.
He just hadn’t expected the place responsible for Yong’an City’s public security to be so shabby.
The blue brick floor was severely worn, the stone brick walls battered and broken, even the carvings on the Grand Tutor chair under his butt were worn flat, and the armrests polished shiny.
Song Qing took the initiative to start the conversation, Lin Fan followed along. Not long after, Yang Ming, with his wounds bandaged, walked in, sat down, drank tea, and relaxed his still-unsettled mood.
But when he learned that Lin Fan worked under Wang Changhai of Loyalty Hall, he looked at him in stunned shock.
He hadn’t expected this righteous brother to be from the underworld.
His master, on the other hand, remained calm, clearly unconcerned.
“Wang Changhai of Loyalty Hall is a bit rough, but he’s considered a good man in Loyalty Hall. Working under him isn’t bad, and him entrusting Jili Wharf to you shows his trust in you.”
Song Qing said.
Lin Fan hadn’t expected their hall master to receive such an evaluation.
But thinking about it, it seemed true. Many bottom-level common people made their living at the wharf, and he hadn’t seen their hall master bully anyone.
“The hall master is quite righteous to us brothers under him,” Lin Fan said.
Song Qing had dealings with the gangs in the city, of course, nothing good—after all, the gangs caused much trouble in the city, oppressing the people was minor; the major cases involved were enough for beheading.
But… best not to mention it.
Collusion between officials and gangs had been hard to eradicate since ancient times.
Song Qing changed the topic to the Law Exam. “How’s your grasp of the law now?”
“Not bad.”
“Oh, ‘not bad’ means good. Study hard for the exam. Not to mention anything else, for today’s matter, I’ll definitely record it for you, which will greatly help your joining the Public Security Bureau,” Song Qing said.
Lin Fan set down his teacup, stood up, and gratefully said: “Thank you, Squad Leader Song.”
Song Qing quickly supported Lin Fan’s fist. “No need for that. You really helped us big time this time. If you truly want to join the Public Security Bureau, listen to my advice: during this period, no matter what, don’t take on any dirty business from Loyalty Hall.”
Lin Fan nodded in agreement.
He could tell that Song Qing didn’t mind his current identity and seemed to quite approve of his choice to join the Public Security Bureau.
Now, his confidence in joining the Public Security Bureau was higher than before.
It was late, so Lin Fan took his leave. Though he received no tangible reward, the words from the other were the greatest reward.
To join the Public Security Bureau, besides having some ability, the key was connections. Now he had that connection.
Tonight’s trip to the restaurant was worth it.
Under the night sky, with gentle moonlight, Lin Fan walked lightly toward home.
Inner Hall.
“Master, can someone from Loyalty Hall really join the Public Security Bureau?” Yang Ming voiced his doubts—not that he had anything against Lin Fan, but Loyalty Hall was still underworld.
Song Qing stood at the door with hands behind his back, gazing at the moonlight outside, and slowly said: “Why not? As a constable, besides being upright and incorruptible, you must be worse than villains, more vicious than evildoers. Naive people aren’t suited to be constables. Do you know why I chose to take you on back then?”
Yang Ming said: “Because I didn’t bribe them, my colleagues and seniors weren’t willing to take me, only Master was.”
Song Qing said: “That’s just one reason. The second is that I saw in you a belief, a belief in maintaining Yong’an City’s peace and stability. Your family is well-off and prominent locally, yet you resist those temptations. I’ve been a constable for decades; honestly, too many promising seedlings who started with pure hearts ended up as slaves to those people.”
Slaves!!
Yang Ming understood; his master was utterly disappointed in those people.
“Master, this disciple will definitely keep his original intent. But even if he passes the Law Exam, he may not be selected. From what this disciple knows, most participants in this exam are locals with status and background. I’m afraid he…”
“Afraid of what? You think my decades of experience are for nothing?”
“Master, are you going to personally step in?”
Yang Ming was astonished; he hadn’t expected his master to think so highly of Lin Fan. In the time he’d been with his master, he’d never seen him pull strings for anyone.
“Are you wondering why I think so highly of him?”
“A bit.”
“Because he’s very good at fighting.”
“Ah, being good at fighting counts? But Master, didn’t you say we constables shouldn’t worship martial prowess, and to negotiate if possible?”
Hearing this, Song Qing rolled his eyes. “That depends on the person. I’m afraid you’d get beaten to death shortly after joining.”
Yang Ming: ……
Fine.
Thinking of Lin Fan’s performance tonight, he admitted it—the guy really could fight.
