The warrant from the Chief Constable Xu Hongyu was indeed effective immediately.
Chen Mu, carrying the warrant for a three-hundred Patterned Silver reward in his arms, made his way to the Chief Officer's warehouse. The Head Constable in charge merely glanced at it before promptly fetching six large silver ingots, each weighing fifty taels for a total of three hundred taels, and handed them to Chen Mu.
He was also exceptionally polite to Chen Mu, subtly probing the relationship between Chen Mu and Xu Hongyu and, just like the officer who had led him there, he was beaming with smiles as he took the initiative to make acquaintances.
It was common for people to come to the City Guard General's office to claim capture rewards, but those presenting personally endorsed notes by Xu Hongyu himself were exceedingly rare, let alone for three hundred Patterned Silver taels concerning Tang Quan, who was somewhat renowned. Naturally, this prompted speculation.
After handing over the silver taels,
the Head Constable even laughed as he personally escorted Chen Mu outside.
The entire process was effortless and straightforward, vastly different from the last time he went to jail to handle Zhang Hai's affair, making Chen Mu reflect on how power and influence could effect such changes.
He had gained strength, thus winning Xu Hongyu's favor, and from there on, thanks to this connection, he rubbed shoulders with Xu Hongyu's "influence," ensuring smooth proceedings everywhere within the City Guard General.
He weighed the heavy silver in his arms.
Three hundred silver taels was a lot, but perhaps even more precious was the "Golden Jade Skin Toughening Technique." Coming from Xu Hongyu, it was bound to be of a higher caliber than anything found in pawnshops. The most expensive at the pawnshops could go for three to four hundred taels, so this one, as Xu Hongyu claimed, could indeed be worth its weight in gold.
"First, I'll go back home, secure the silver, and then make another trip to the City Defense Division to meet Prefecture Chief Min."
Chen Mu's thoughts were clear.
Prefecture Chief Min Baoyi, who oversaw the Ninth District's City Defense Division, ranked above the five Head Constables and was arguably a major figure in the Ninth District and even throughout the whole South City District.
For someone like him, a low-ranking officer, the number of times he had seen the other party over the past few years was very limited. Usually, any orders were conveyed by the Head Constables, and it was rare for Min Baoyi to make a personal appearance.
Xu Hongyu had mentioned greeting this Prefecture Chief, likely arranging many subsequent matters for him.
Looking at the still early sky,
Chen Mu pocketed the silver and returned home.
...
At his cousin Chen Hong's home.
Today happened to be the day when Zhang Hai's son was born. Butcher Zhang had brought a set of intestines and some offal, and Chen Hong, cooking, had prepared a table full of dishes, a feast by common standards, seldom enjoyed more than once in a few years.
Butcher Zhang, along with Chen Hong and Zhang Youying, were already seated. However, Zhang Hai had gone out in the morning and hadn't yet returned, causing them to wonder about his whereabouts at mealtime.
"Where has that boy run off to again?"
Butcher Zhang, looking at the table full of dishes, spoke somewhat displeased.
It would have been fine on any regular day, but today he had gone through the trouble of getting some meat and liquor, partly to celebrate his son's birth, and partly because the frightful jail ordeal from a few months ago had been narrowly avoided; it was fitting to celebrate the anniversary, yet the man of the hour was nowhere to be found.
"This child really, I already told him this morning, asked him not to wander off."
Chen Hong helplessly shook her head.
Zhang Youying glanced outside, silently worrying if her cousin had gotten into trouble again.
Just as Butcher Zhang was growing increasingly impatient, hurried footsteps were heard outside, and Zhang Hai came bounding into the house, plopped down in his seat, and immediately grabbed a cup and gulped down its contents.
"So restless, what's the meaning of this!"
Butcher Zhang slammed the table and rebuked.
Zhang Hai was not intimidated by his father; after quenching his thirst, he grinned and said, "Mom, guess what I just heard outside?"
Chen Hong placed a slice of meat on Zhang Hai's plate, asking, "Did you come across some good news?"
Grinning, Zhang Hai replied, "Your nephew has abducted someone's granddaughter and taken over their residence. He's even alleged to have killed someone. Right now, they're gathering a group to confront him in a grand manner."
Nephew?
Which nephew?
Chen Hong was initially startled, then suddenly her face changed as she said, "Little Mu? You child, talking nonsense. I know Little Mu's character; he couldn't possibly do such a thing."
Zhang Hai waved his hand and said, "Mom, haven't you heard that saying, what's it again..."
"You can know someone's face but not their heart."
Zhang Youying, sitting on the side, blinked and quietly added a line.
"Right! You can know someone's face but not their heart. How can you be so sure he's not a villain? Are there any good people these days who work as officers? I felt that he was hoping something bad would happen to me last time, and this time it's his turn to be in big trouble."
With a grin, Zhang Hai continued, "That family in the south with the surname Wang, though they're all destitute, can easily gather a group of ten or twenty people. For him, just a minor officer, to dare do such heaven-defying and immoral acts, he's probably in over his head now."
Chen Hong, hearing this, was alternately shocked and frightened, and seeing Zhang Hai laughing non-stop, she couldn't help but scold, "What's there to be happy about? You're just laughing away; think of a solution!"
"Think of what solution? He didn't think of any solutions for me last time! I'm going to go enjoy the show."
Zhang Hai hastily gulped down a few bites of rice and stuffed some meat into his mouth before rushing out.
"This... this..."
On the other side, Chen Hong stood up anxiously, at a loss for what to do.
Butcher Zhang, however, showed a thoughtful expression. Looking at Chen Hong, who was eager to rush out, he said, "Alright, you better not go. This is your nephew's matter; it's not your place to interfere. If he truly did something so heaven-defying and immoral, he won't be justified even if it reaches the district head. You'd better not add to the chaos."
"But how could Little Mu possibly do such a thing... "
Chen Hong looked towards Butcher Zhang urgently.
With deliberate slowness, Butcher Zhang said, "If he didn't do it, then there's even less need for you to go. What's there to fear from mere rumors?"
Zhang Youying silently sat in a corner, putting a piece of meat in her mouth and chewing slowly, without joining the conversation. She appeared thoughtful; she actually didn't believe Chen Mu could engage in such actions either. In fact, if he truly had the nerve to act this way, she might even respect him more. But given Zhang Hai's attitude, whether true or false, Chen Mu seemed to be in big trouble.
Fortunately, last time Chen Hong spoke to her about the matter, she had found ways to refuse.
Otherwise, if she were now married to Chen Mu, wouldn't she be caught up in this trouble as well?
...
In the alley.
Twenty to thirty people gathered mightily, heading towards Chen Mu's home.
Leading them was Wang Zhao, with a stern face, accompanied by two individuals who resembled him slightly, followed by a large group of men, some of whom were carrying axes, poles, and pickaxes.
"Old Four, I'll ask you one more time, are you sure about what you said? He's an officer; if we don't have the upper hand, it'll look bad if this goes to the district head," someone asked Wang Zhao in a deep voice.
Wang Zhao hesitated for a moment and then said, "Uncle's death might not be related to him, but he did steal the property deed and has taken over my cousin granddaughter; that's indeed a fact. I checked earlier; Ni'er wasn't officially recorded at the city government office, she's neither a slave of his family nor is there any adoption document."
"Then that's enough!"
Upon hearing this, Wang Zheng immediately snorted in response.
Seizing the granddaughter, killing the old man, taking over the house—whether these accusations were true or false didn't matter; all that was needed was a justifiable reason to proclaim. As long as Wang Ni currently wasn't registered as a slave of the Chen Family nor had any adoption paperwork, she was still rightfully a member of the Wang Family, and the two old houses should likewise belong to them.
As long as they had justification, they need not fear; he had also inquired before, Chen Mu was merely relying on his father's influence to become a low-level officer, without power or wealth, even impoverished.
What does it matter even if he is an officer then?
As long as they don't kill or cripple anyone, even if this reaches the district head, it wouldn't matter. If worse comes to worst, they could also seek help from the clan elders; after all, he is just a minor officer, how much influence could he have?
The group moved mightily through, leading to every family within the neighborhood shutting their doors, with many peering through the cracks, unsure of what Wang Zheng and Wang Zhao's group was up to. Though not resembling members of a gang, their menacing demeanor clearly indicated they were up to no good.