Chapter 243 - 171: A Misunderstanding, a Misunderstanding
"Hm? What’s going on up ahead?"
Qi Ming and County Magistrate Lin had just turned a street corner when two government constables blocked their path. County Magistrate Lin immediately stepped forward to inquire.
"Who are you? The Government Office is on business. Mind your own," one of the government constables snapped.
County Magistrate Lin was about to get angry, thinking, ’Whose men are these? How could they not recognize me?’
’I’ll have to teach their leader a good lesson later.’
What he didn’t realize, however, was that the very reason these government constables didn’t recognize him was due to a suggestion he himself had recently made to the City Lord.
He had proposed that in order to deal with the refugees from Shanyang Prefecture, they should temporarily recruit more manpower. The Government Office’s original staff was stretched thin, and he had feared it would affect the city’s security.
In principle, this was an excellent policy, beneficial for stabilizing the city’s security.
For instance, when the Government Office recruited new government constables, it was supposed to investigate their backgrounds and conduct some simple training and assessments.
But because time was tight and the task was urgent, the assessments were inevitably less than strict. As a result, some local ruffians and hooligans managed to slip through in this recruitment drive.
To see a government constable act so rudely, especially with the Inspector from the Observatory right beside him, made County Magistrate Lin indescribably furious.
He was about to reprimand them, but before he could speak, the other government constable swaggered over. "Heh heh, you two don’t look like good people. Could you be spies for the Rebel Army? What are you holding? Open it up for inspection."
At these words, County Magistrate Lin flew into a rage.
’They want to inspect Lord Qi, and they even dare to call him a spy for the Rebel Army!’
’This is completely outrageous! If I don’t handle this properly, my entire official career will be ruined.’
’Forget about a peaceful retirement—I’ll likely be dragged off and punished!’
"Bastards! Who’s your leader? Lin San? Or Chen Wu? Tell him to get his ass over here and see me."
"Who the hell do you think you are? As if you can just demand to see Lin Tou. Now, get back in line and prepare for inspection!" the government constable sneered.
"You scoundrels! You scoundrels!"
That was the last straw for County Magistrate Lin. He rushed forward and landed two hard slaps across the constable’s face.
He had some Martial Arts Cultivation himself. Though he was only a Martial Artist at the Bone Forging Pass, dealing with two government constables who hadn’t even mastered Whole Force was child’s play.
"You... you dare to attack an Official! You’re finished! If you’ve got the guts, you old bastard, you just wait right here!"
Seeing this, the other government constable knew at once that these two were Martial Artists. He shouted threats as he ran back toward a courtyard in the alley.
"My subordinates are ignorant and almost offended you, Lord Qi. Please, forgive my oversight."
County Magistrate Lin felt his life as an official had been especially hard lately. ’Why is every single man from the Government Office so adept at stirring up trouble?’
"It’s nothing," Qi Ming said, shaking his head with a slight smile. ’It’s perfectly normal for a Government Office to have its share of dirty laundry.’
’If I were to get angry over every little thing, wouldn’t that suggest I lack magnanimity?’ With that thought, Qi Ming urged the magistrate,
"Alright, we’ve been delayed long enough. Please, lead the way."
"Yes, yes, of course! This way, Lord Qi."
Nodding and bowing, County Magistrate Lin hastily resumed leading the way.
Meanwhile, in Fang Yue’s courtyard, Lin San saw that Fang Yue’s family was not cooperating and was about to order his men to use force.
But soon, a government constable ran in, flustered, and whispered a few words in Lin San’s ear.
Chief Lin, Lin San, immediately roared, "What did you say? Some blind fool really dared to lay hands on my men?"
After receiving a confirmation, Lin San turned back to Fang Yue’s group. "You lot better think it over. Are you going to pay up to make this go away, or are you going to lose everything—your money *and* your lives!"
With that, he took two government constables and followed the one who had brought the news out the door.
"Which blind fool dares to attack an Official? Don’t you know that violently resisting law enforcement is a capital offense? I advise you all to surrender without a fight..."
Lin San was walking toward the two approaching figures, but before he could get a clear look, his brother-in-law beside him had already started shouting.
He didn’t notice that his brother-in-law, the Government Office’s Chief Constable Lin San, had turned deathly pale and was trembling as if he had palsy.
"Brother-in-law, just give the order! The men are ready to take down these two arrogant fools!" Lin San’s brother-in-law continued to urge.
"Heh heh. It’s only been a few days, and look how far you’ve come, Lord Lin. Even one of your subordinates dares to yell and scream at me," County Magistrate Lin said with a cold snort.
Ultimately, Lin San had a very distant, almost non-existent, family connection to him; otherwise, with Lin San’s background, how could he ever have become a Chief Constable?
’I didn’t expect it would actually be Lin San here today.’
"Bro-brother-in-law..." Lin San now understood. There were no arrogant thugs beating people up; it was definitely his hooligan subordinates who had offended his brother-in-law.
He had reached his current position entirely by relying on the other man. And in truth, if you really looked into it, there was no actual family tie between them. He had simply ’claimed’ the relationship to curry favor.
"Piss off! Who’s your brother-in-law? I wouldn’t dare to claim a connection to the great Lord Lin!" County Magistrate Lin sneered.
’This Lin San really knows how to say the wrong thing at the wrong time. I can’t afford to be associated with him right now.’
’After all, I still don’t know what Lord Qi thinks of this. If I displease him, I’ll be in a terrible position.’
"You bastards! How did you offend County Magistrate Lin? Hurry up and beg for Lord Lin’s forgiveness! If Lord Lin doesn’t forgive you, I’ll skin you all alive today!"