Chapter 74: Leveraging the Situation

Chen Ping’an was unmoved by the menacing glare.

"Big Steel Fang, don’t try your usual tricks on me. That act of yours might work on other constables, but with me, I advise you not to humiliate yourself. My background is beyond your imagination!"

Seeing Chen Ping’an’s fearless demeanor, Big Steel Fang immediately calmed down.

But things had already gone this far; he couldn’t just back down at once.

"Lord Official, aren’t you afraid of biting your tongue with such big talk?"

"If you don’t believe me, you’re welcome to try," Chen Ping’an said, looking as if he had nothing to fear.

Seeing Chen Ping’an’s expression, Big Steel Fang was already eighty or ninety percent convinced. Just then, a thuggish servant finished brewing the tea and brought it over.

Big Steel Fang glanced at the tea and thought, ’I, Big Steel Fang, know when to yield and when to stand firm!’

"Lord Official, it was I, Big Steel Fang, who got ahead of myself. Please don’t take offense. Come, have some tea! Drink up!"

After speaking, he gave a signal with his eyes, and a thuggish servant respectfully handed the tea to Chen Ping’an.

"Hmph." Chen Ping’an nodded slightly, took the tea, and used the lid to wipe the rim a few times before taking a sip.

’The Tiger Head Gang sure knows how to live well!’

’He didn’t have a tea set or tea leaves of this quality at home!’

Chen Ping’an sighed to himself.

He glanced at the faint cracks that had appeared on the wooden table, a feeling of satisfaction rising in his heart.

He still remembered the scene when the Tiger Head Gang had come to his house and slammed their fists on his table. Now it was his turn. He’d finally returned the favor!

The way he, Chen Ping’an, did things was simple: an eye for an eye!

Watching Chen Ping’an slam the table, berate the Tiger Head Gang’s Protector, Big Steel Fang, and then calmly sit back and sip his tea...

Zeng Jihe’s admiration had reached its absolute peak.

Clout!

This was Master Chen’s clout!

’Now this is what you call tactics! This is what you call audacity! Master Chen has truly taught me a solid lesson!’

After another sip of tea, Chen Ping’an set down the cup, reached into his robes, and pulled out a collection notice.

SLAM!

Chen Ping’an slapped the collection notice onto the table.

"See for yourself!"

Big Steel Fang picked up the collection notice. After a few glances, his expression changed completely.

"Lord Official, this year’s quota for the donation silver has gone up by a tenth! Surely this isn’t appropriate!"

"Whether it’s appropriate or not isn’t for you to say! This donation silver is a rule set by the Garrison Commandant’s Office. I came here today to collect the amount written on this notice."

Chen Ping’an’s tone was unquestionable.

After what had just happened, Big Steel Fang didn’t dare to turn hostile toward Chen Ping’an. He had only said one thing, and the man had slammed the table. If he tried anything else, who knew what this official would do.

Guts and composure weren’t things an ordinary person could fake. Chen Ping’an’s reaction had undoubtedly convinced him that the constable had a significant background. It was even possible his actions today were authorized by the person backing him.

’If it weren’t for the person behind Chen Ping’an,’ he thought, ’I, Big Steel Fang, wouldn’t give a damn. Anyone who dares to piss me off gets crippled!’

"Lord Official, can we discuss this? If we can keep last year’s donation silver quota, I have the authority to hand it over to you directly."

Although Big Steel Fang’s words sounded pleasant, they concealed a hint of probing.

Big Steel Fang was watching. If Chen Ping’an easily agreed to his request, other ideas would sprout in his mind. He would then progressively test him further to determine his bottom line and see if he could get an even bigger discount.

By past convention, the Tiger Run Gambling Square’s donation silver was always discounted. If they could collect the amount agreed upon last year, it would still be much more than the amount actually received then. If they brought back such a sum, even Constable Zheng wouldn’t have a good reason to criticize them.

So, Big Steel Fang’s words made Zeng Jihe’s heart soar.

’Are we done!? Just like that? How could it be so smooth!’

Zeng Jihe’s thoughts were simple. As long as Chen Ping’an agreed, they could smoothly and successfully complete their mission to collect the donation silver.

’Agree! Master Chen, just agree!’

Zeng Jihe watched Chen Ping’an with an eager gaze.

"The amount of the increase was decided by the Garrison Commandant’s Office! Big Steel Fang, you say you want to negotiate? I advise you to drop that idea immediately! Otherwise, you’ll only be hurting yourself!"

Chen Ping’an didn’t yield an inch to Big Steel Fang’s attempt to negotiate.

’Ah!’

’Master Chen, what are you doing...?’

Zeng Jihe was stunned once again! He carefully observed Big Steel Fang.

’Don’t get angry! Please don’t get angry!’

Zeng Jihe prayed silently.

"Lord Official, in past years the donation silver quota was always negotiable. Why is it that with you, it can’t be changed at all!" Big Steel Fang demanded.

"What others do is their problem. With me, everything is done by the book! You will pay the amount written on the collection notice! Big Steel Fang, if you’re not happy about it, you can accompany me on a trip to the Garrison Commandant’s Office right now! I’d love to see who in the Garrison Commandant’s Office will listen to your reasoning!"

Chen Ping’an’s attitude was domineering.

Seeing Chen Ping’an’s assertive stance only made Big Steel Fang more certain.

’Chen Ping’an must have backing!’

However, he was truly unwilling to hand over such a large sum of donation silver.

For a moment, the scene was at a stalemate.

Chen Ping’an picked up his teacup, tapped the lid against the cup, and took another sip.

"Big Steel Fang, my patience has its limits! Don’t try to apply past conventions to me. Other constables might have the time to haggle with you, but I have no such interest!"

With that, Chen Ping’an slowly rose to his feet.

"If I simply hand over this increased amount of donation silver, I won’t be able to answer to the Gang Leader! Lord Official, how about this? I have a brother here. If you can defeat him, I’ll hand over the full amount on the collection notice, not a cent less! But if the Lord Official should happen to lose, I, Big Steel Fang, will still pay the donation silver! But the amount won’t be what’s written on this notice!"

Big Steel Fang turned slightly to look at a powerfully built man in his thirties behind him, dressed in gray fighting clothes. This sturdy ruffian looked up at Chen Ping’an with a provocative expression on his face.

Chen Ping’an didn’t even glance at the man. His cold gaze swept over Big Steel Fang.

"Big Steel Fang, do you think a collection notice from the Garrison Commandant’s Office is some kind of child’s game! Today, I will collect the full amount of the donation silver! This is not up for discussion!"

Big Steel Fang smiled at Chen Ping’an, sitting in his chair as steady as a mountain.

"Lord Official, let’s exchange a few moves!"

The powerfully built man in gray fighting clothes behind Big Steel Fang stepped forward, his body swaying as he looked at Chen Ping’an with utter disdain.

He’d been annoyed by the sight of Chen Ping’an for a while now.

’This skinny bag of bones... if it weren’t for that official’s uniform he’s wearing, I’d have beaten him to a pulp already! Now that I have Lord Ya’s signal, I’m certainly not going to miss this chance.’

"Big Steel Fang, are you serious?" Chen Ping’an’s gaze turned icy.

Big Steel Fang turned a deaf ear to Chen Ping’an’s words.

’A hidden background alone isn’t enough to take the full amount of donation silver!’

’If you want to take donation silver from me, you’d better have the skills to back it up!’

WHOOSH!

A strong gust of wind erupted as the powerfully built man threw a vicious punch, whistling toward Chen Ping’an.

An expert’s skill is known the moment they strike.

This was a Martial Dao expert at Qi Blood First Level Perfection!