"Constable Zheng!"

Old Fan’s eyes lit up as if he’d just seen his savior.

"Greetings, Constable Zheng."

The surrounding constables cupped their fists in salute one after another, clearing a path for Constable Zheng.

’How did we draw Constable Zheng out?’

Zeng Jihe, Monkey Head, and the others felt their eyelids twitch, a sense of dread creeping into their hearts.

"Constable Zheng."

Chen Ping’an cupped his fists in a slight bow, his tone neither servile nor overbearing.

"What do you think the Garrison Commandant’s Office is? A wet market? All of you, crowding around here? Now scatter!"

Constable Zheng completely ignored Chen Ping’an. He strode into the Task Room and immediately seized the initiative with a loud roar.

As his gaze swept over them, some constables couldn’t help but shrink back. Without waiting for another word, they immediately dispersed. In a few moments, only a handful of constables remained. Only Monkey Head, Da Shan, and Zeng Jihe’s group were still there.

Watching the crowd scatter to the winds, Constable Zheng felt a sense of satisfaction. But when he saw that a few people were still there, his eyes shot open in a fierce glare.

"And you? What are you still doing here?!"

Cold sweat beaded on Monkey Head’s back. He’d never truly experienced a Constable’s imposing presence before, so he hadn’t really known what it was like. Now, after feeling it firsthand, he couldn’t help but admire Chen Ping’an.

"Constable Zheng, you seem to be in a great hurry to drive everyone away. Are you worried about something?"

Chen Ping’an took a small step forward, positioning himself in front of the others. He looked Constable Zheng directly in the eye and spoke in a calm, unhurried tone.

"Chen Ping’an, you’ve contradicted me time and again. Do you have any respect for me at all?"

Constable Zheng’s Qi Blood boiled. Like a tiger descending a mountain, he radiated an intimidating aura without even being angry.

"Chen Ping’an, do you realize that for your attitude alone, I could have you tied up, and no one would say a word!"

"My conduct is for the Daqian Law to judge! There’s no need for you to threaten me, Constable Zheng."

Chen Ping’an’s tone was light, his expression nonchalant.

"I have successfully collected the donation silver. Next, it’s time for you to deal with Old Fan, Cheng Yuan, and Zhao Hu, Constable Zheng."

"Hm?"

Constable Zheng turned his gaze to Old Fan. Old Fan then shuffled forward, trembling, and whispered a few words to the Constable. When Old Fan finished speaking, Constable Zheng’s expression changed.

’Chen Ping’an actually collected the donation silver from the Tiger Run Gambling Square?’

Constable Zheng’s first reaction was to wonder if there was some trickery involved. He immediately ordered Old Fan and a few others from the Task Room to count the donation silver.

They counted it several times, but the result was the same: the amount matched the collection receipt to the very last coin.

’How did he do it?’

’The donation silver was increased by ten percent. How could the Tiger Head Gang possibly accept that?’

’If I recall correctly, the one holding down the fort at the Tiger Run Gambling Square should be the Tiger Head Gang’s Protector, Big Steel Fang. That guy is no easy mark!’

’His Martial Arts Realm is at the Qi Blood Third Layer. Even if a regular Constable went and tried to throw his weight around, that guy wouldn’t necessarily give them any face!’

’This kid...’

Chen Ping’an watched Constable Zheng with a calm and unhurried demeanor, waiting for his explanation.

"The matter of the donation silver is a task assigned by the Garrison Commandant’s Office every year. And every year, it’s completed smoothly. Chen Ping’an, you’ve only collected a bit of donation silver. Why make such a big fuss, as if you’re afraid no one will know about it? Does this behavior look like that of an official constable!?"

Listening to Constable Zheng, Chen Ping’an felt like he was going to vomit.

’What a classic case of workplace PUA. I’ve already transmigrated, and I still have to deal with this kind of thing.’

’How interesting!’

"You’re right, Constable Zheng. The matter of the donation silver is indeed not worth mentioning! However, while the issue I reported this morning was small, it concerns the operational effectiveness of the Garrison Commandant’s Office. The Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office’s standing in Nanquan Lane is built on the principle that when an order is given from above, it is carried out below.

You, Constable, learned of this matter but did not give it enough importance. If this trend of delay and procrastination is allowed to continue, it will only grow worse! In the long run, I fear it will shake the very foundations of our Garrison Commandant’s Office! As the saying goes, we must nip it in the bud! By acting this way, Constable Zheng, I fear you will become the greatest sinner in the history of our Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office!"

Chen Ping’an said with a solemn expression.

’So you want to play the PUA game, huh? Here’s a reverse PUA to teach you a lesson!’

"What a sharp-tongued brat!"

Constable Zheng looked at Chen Ping’an with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

"I have my own judgment regarding the priority of this matter. It’s not for a mere constable like you to lecture me!"

"Then I wonder when you will have a result, Constable Zheng, so that I may be informed," Chen Ping’an said with a slight smile.

"I have my own plans! Chen Ping’an, you’ve crossed the line!"

Constable Zheng berated.

"Then I’ll have to trouble you to put more thought into it, Constable Zheng. I will continue to report on this matter at tomorrow’s pre-shift meeting."

Chen Ping’an’s smile didn’t waver.

His words made Constable Zheng’s expression shift slightly. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

’Good! Good! Good!’

’He’s really determined to go against me!’

’Report it again tomorrow? He really doesn’t know his place!’

Constable Zheng looked at Chen Ping’an, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"If there’s nothing else, Constable Zheng, then I’ll be taking my leave." Chen Ping’an gave a slight bow with cupped fists and turned to leave without waiting for a response. As he left, he happened to flash a small smile at the nearby Zheng Shiyong and Tan Huacong.

Watching Chen Ping’an leave, Zeng Jihe hesitated for a moment, then chose to follow him directly without bidding farewell to Constable Zheng.

As for Monkey Head and Da Shan, they looked in the direction Chen Ping’an had gone, then back at Constable Zheng. Finally, after bidding farewell and apologizing to Constable Zheng, they too left.

Watching their retreating figures, Constable Zheng made a decision in his heart. At tomorrow’s pre-shift meeting, he would teach Chen Ping’an a proper lesson, one that he would never forget for the rest of his life.

As for why tomorrow and not today, it was because there were still things about the donation silver that he didn’t understand and needed to investigate thoroughly. Additionally, he needed to have a word with Old Fan, Cheng Yuan, and Zhao Hu to get their stories straight.

’With my planning, I’d like to see what Chen Ping’an can do tomorrow!?’

’This will also let the other constables know that I, Constable Zheng, am not to be trifled with! People like Chen Ping’an must pay a heavy price!’

"Go investigate what happened with the donation silver from the Tiger Run Gambling Square,"

Constable Zheng ordered.

"Yes, sir."

Old Fan and the others responded in unison, accepting the order.

"You two, come with me."

Constable Zheng said to Zheng Shiyong and Tan Huacong.

"Yes, sir."

"Understood."

Zheng Shiyong stared venomously in the direction Chen Ping’an had disappeared.

’That mud-legged peasant dares to provoke them again and again. I’ll make him pay!’

...

Chen Ping’an wasn’t surprised that Zeng Jihe had followed him. After all, the two of them were now grasshoppers on the same rope.

"Master Chen," Zeng Jihe greeted with a smile.

"Mm."

Chen Ping’an patted Zeng Jihe’s shoulder. He saw that Monkey Head and Da Shan had also followed him, and he was quite moved.

After all, those two could have stayed out of it completely.

"Monkey Head, Da Shan, if you do this, Constable Zheng will hold a grudge against you too."

"It’s fine! Ping’an, I, Monkey Head, am not a man who lacks loyalty! Worst comes to worst, I’ll just quit this damn constable job."

Monkey Head pounded his chest, which resounded with a loud THUMP, looking as if his loyalty could pierce the heavens.

"It’s fine, Ping’an," Da Shan said in his deep, booming voice. As succinct as ever.

Seeing the two of them act this way, a warmth spread through Chen Ping’an’s heart. But some things were best kept in mind and not spoken aloud.

"Really quitting? Aren’t you afraid your old man will beat you to death?"

At these words, Monkey Head couldn’t help but shrink back. He no longer looked anything like the righteous, loyal big brother from a moment ago.

Seeing this, the group burst into laughter.