Chapter 234 - 137: Pulling Chestnuts out of the Fire

’Besides, Chen Cheng is being groomed by the Shen Family. His future is boundless, so it’s essential to stay on his good side.’

After a moment of thought, Dai Qingfeng also smiled and said, "Alright. I was just about to take a break and get something to eat. This one’s on me."

Chen Cheng put on a stern, reproachful expression. "Mr. Dai, that’s not right. I’m the one who invited you, so of course, I’ll be the one to host. If you try to take the bill, I might not want to drink with you after all!"

Dai Qingfeng quickly clasped his hands and smiled. "My mistake, I wasn’t thinking. In that case, I’ll allow Mr. Chen to do the honors."

"You’re too kind, Mr. Dai!" Chen Cheng replied, clasping his hands as well.

With that, he led Dai Qingfeng to the nearby Lishui Restaurant.

This was a well-known restaurant in Lishui District, famous for its luxurious and elegant decor and its menu of rare delicacies. A single meal with drinks could easily cost twenty to thirty taels of silver.

Dai Qingfeng was taken aback once more. "Mr. Chen, this is truly too extravagant. How about we find another place? Otherwise, I won’t be able to afford to treat you in return."

Chen Cheng replied, "Mr. Dai, you’re being too formal. It’s just a meal; there’s no need to keep track of who treats whom. To be honest, I have a small favor to ask, and this restaurant is a better place to talk privately."

"Next time you need a favor from me, any old streetside tavern will do."

Hearing that Chen Cheng had business to discuss, Dai Qingfeng’s reservations vanished. "In that case, alright. As long as it’s within my power, I’ll do my best."

The two entered the restaurant and went straight to a quiet private room on the second floor.

Chen Cheng once again ordered a lavish spread of food and wine, and Dai Qingfeng couldn’t help but offer a few more polite objections.

After they had traded toasts and downed a few cups of wine, Chen Cheng finally got down to business: he wanted to transfer five constables from Dai Qingfeng’s command to the Qingshui Pier area.

The number of constables assigned to each squad in the Lishui Sub-Department was based on the size of their jurisdiction. The Qingshui Pier area needed thirty constables to be managed with ease.

Due to the machinations of Ji Jingbei and Yang Xingyao, Chen Cheng had been forced to dismiss eight constables who refused to follow his orders.

Afterward, Chen Cheng’s lavish rewards inspired his constables to work with renewed vigor. They had managed to get by for a few months, but it wasn’t a sustainable solution. He needed to replenish his ranks.

Dai Qingfeng agreed without a moment’s hesitation. Not only that, but he also readily offered to transfer eight constables to Chen Cheng to bring the Qingshui Pier area back to full strength.

"To be honest, Mr. Chen, I have too many men on my hands right now, and they’ve all become incredibly lazy."

"This is especially true for the district where the Zhou Family is. The Zhou Family has its own Hospital Martial Artists on patrol, so the constables assigned to that area do nothing but slack off all day. They even sneak home to sleep during the night shift."

"They’ve taken who knows how many bribes from the Zhou Family behind my back, and they think I’m completely unaware. I’ve been wanting to discipline them for a long time. Imagine if Lord Ji discovered such dereliction of duty among my constables—as their Chief Constable, I would undoubtedly face a harsh reprimand."

"So, I’m planning to pull the constables from that district. The Zhou Family are Jianghu people, after all. Even if something happens, the blame can’t be placed on our City Guard Department."

"Oh? In that case, thank you very much, Mr. Dai," Chen Cheng said, raising his cup.

In truth, transferring constables from Dai Qingfeng’s unit to reinforce the Qingshui Pier area was only one of his goals.

Chen Cheng’s main goal was to make a further move against the Zhou Family. Once there were no City Guard Department constables in the vicinity, it would be much more convenient for him to act.

Dai Qingfeng was decisive. That very afternoon, he assigned eight constables to Chen Cheng. Naturally, the five men Chen Cheng had previously dismissed were not among them.

Ji Jingbei did not interfere with this. As for the eight constables, they were all delighted and expressed their willingness to serve under Chen Cheng.