Chapter 83: Appointment

With all eyes upon him, Shen Shikang, the Chief of the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office, ascended the high platform. Tian Fuliang stood a step behind Shen Shikang, and the other Constables, knowing their place, stood behind them both.

Shen Shikang’s gaze swept across the crowd. The constables who met his eyes, their faces filled with awe, quickly lowered their heads. His gaze finally landed on Chen Ping’an and remained there.

Chen Ping’an, in turn, showed a hint of appropriate awe and respect, a faint smile on his face.

Shen Shikang, whose face was usually stern, broke character and offered Chen Ping’an a slight smile.

"I haven’t attended the pre-patrol assembly in some time. It seems the culture of neglecting duties and failing to reward merit has run rampant here in the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office!"

From the moment he spoke, his tone was one of accusation.

"Constable Zheng, you tell me. What’s been going on lately?"

Hm?

Hearing his uncle called out by the Lord Chief, Zheng Shiyong’s expression stiffened.

’What’s going on?’

Hearing his name called so suddenly, Constable Zheng’s heart sank. He knew what this was about and could only brace himself to answer. "My Lord Chief, it is true that some constables have recently neglected their duties and shirked their responsibilities, leading to a rather unhealthy atmosphere!"

"Hmph!" Shen Shikang snorted. "So you knew about it all along!"

To be reprimanded like this in front of so many constables... Shen Shikang wasn’t sparing Constable Zheng any face at all.

"My Lord Chief, please forgive me!"

Cold sweat broke out on Constable Zheng’s back as he bowed low again and again. A flash of resentment crossed his mind.

’Chen Ping’an!’

"Here in Nanquan Lane, we will not tolerate dereliction of duty, nor will we allow merit to go unrewarded! This trend ends now. I’m fining you three months of your Monthly Allowance and sentencing you to three days of solitary reflection. Do you accept this punishment?"

Shen Shikang said grimly.

"My Lord Chief, this subordinate accepts wholeheartedly." Constable Zheng bowed low, his posture one of absolute deference.

This sudden turn of events on the platform caught the constables below completely off guard. Some still hadn’t figured out what was going on.

"The temporary constables Cheng Yuan, Zhao Hu, and Fan Lin have neglected their duties, shirked their responsibilities, and nearly jeopardized the crucial collection of the donation silver. They are hereby stripped of their status as constables and expelled from the Garrison Commandant’s Office! Let this serve as a warning to you all!"

As soon as he said this, even the slowest constable in the crowd understood what was happening.

Instantly, the entire courtyard fell silent.

’This... What is going on?’

Zheng Shiyong felt like his head was spinning.

’Everything was arranged so perfectly yesterday! How did it turn into this scene today? And the Lord Chief himself is presiding over it!’

’Even my uncle, who’s always been so powerful, was reprimanded by the Lord Chief, fined three months’ Monthly Allowance, and sentenced to three days of solitary reflection.’

’What in the world is going on?’

Looking at his uncle on the platform, Zheng Shiyong felt his world spin.

Tan Huacong was in no better state. He also had yet to figure out what was happening.

But however they felt, for Cheng Yuan, Zhao Hu, and Fan Lin, it felt as if the sky itself was collapsing.

’Stripped of our constable status and expelled from the Garrison Commandant’s Office!’

’This punishment was worse than death!’

With the status of temporary constables, everything they did was so much easier. Even their families were treated with more respect. When dealing with gangsters and ruffians, the uniform was the best protection.

If they were stripped of that status, the consequences would be unimaginable.

The news struck them like a bolt from the blue, leaving the three men looking as if their souls had fled their bodies.

Fan Lin was the first to break down, wailing.

"My Lord Chief, it’s a setup! A setup! I didn’t mean to! It was Constable Zheng! Constable Zheng told me to do it!"

Beside him, Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu also snapped out of it and started yelling, "My Lord Chief, it was Zheng Shiyong! He told us to do it! He said if we took down Chen Ping’an and followed him, he’d guarantee us all cushy jobs where we could eat and drink well!"

"Shut your mouths! What nonsense are you spouting!"

Zheng Shiyong bellowed. He wished he could personally gag them and sever all ties to this mess.

On the platform, Constable Zheng’s expression turned exceedingly grim upon hearing this.

"Someone, drag them out of the Garrison Commandant’s Office already!"

Shen Shikang glanced at Constable Zheng but said nothing.

Several nearby constables reacted quickly. They seized Cheng Yuan, Zhao Hu, and Fan Lin and began to drag them away.

"It’s a setup! My Lord Chief, a setup!"

"Spare me! Spare me, I was wrong!"

"Master Chen! Master Chen, I beg you, please say something for me! It was all a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding!"

"Master Chen, give me another chance! I’ll follow you and work hard, I swear!"

"Zheng Shiyong, you bastard! Ptooey!"

"..."

They were a pathetic sight, dragged away kicking and screaming.

Chen Ping’an watched them in silence. Beside him, an excited Zeng Jihe whispered in his ear, "Master Chen, this is fantastic! The Lord Chief is serving us justice!"

’This foolish kid.’

Chen Ping’an sighed.

’Looks like he’s never taken a real beating from the world. His thinking is still so naive.’

He knew full well that Shen Shikang wasn’t stepping in to uphold justice for justice’s sake. It was more likely out of consideration for his connections to the Chief of the Patrol Office. There was no way Shen Shikang didn’t know about his visit to the South Town Garrison Command.

Cheng Yuan, Zhao Hu, and Fan Lin were quickly expelled from the Garrison Commandant’s Office. With this as a precedent, the remaining constables stood silent as cicadas in winter, each one terrified they might be next.

’What a pity.’

Chen Ping’an glanced at the ashen-faced Constable Zheng on the platform.

’This punishment is far too light for Constable Zheng.’

A fine of three months’ Monthly Allowance was a mere formality. For a Constable, the official Monthly Allowance was pocket change. The real money came from all sorts of gray income.

As for three days of solitary reflection, that’s more of a blow to his pride than a real punishment.

’But I’m in no rush. This is only the beginning.’

Chen Ping’an sneered to himself.

Just when he thought the matter was settled, Shen Shikang’s voice rang out once more.

"Constable Chen Ping’an is a steady and reliable man, meticulous in his duties, hardworking, and uncomplaining. He is well-regarded by all. Furthermore, for his meritorious service in collecting the donation silver, he is hereby promoted to Preparatory Constable!"

The entire courtyard went dead silent.

Countless gazes, all filled with shock and astonishment, snapped to Chen Ping’an.

Mr. Qin, Monkey Head, Da Shan—their eyes were wide, their jaws hanging open in disbelief.

Zheng Shiyong and Tan Huacong were in utter disbelief, their eyes filled with confusion and bitter resentment.

’Preparatory Constable!’

’He... on what grounds?’

Even the other Constables on the platform couldn’t help but stare at Chen Ping’an.

A Preparatory Constable. It was a rank higher than an official constable, essentially putting one in the reserves to become a full Constable. Anyone who received this title was virtually guaranteed a future promotion to Constable.