My Promotion Story Through Time Travel

Chapter 177 Gang Members

Lin Ziping had his back to the city gate and was facing the main street.

A commotion arose at the city gate, followed shortly by a series of "bang bang bang" sounds.

The wind and snow grew stronger, so strong that it was hard to open one's eyes. Lin Ziping kept stamping his feet, trying to ward off the cold.

This darn weather, I must have a good bowl of ginger soup when I get back.

The image of Li Zhen and the others outside the city gate flashed through his mind, and a sense of worry inevitably arose in his heart.

Then I started to miss the air conditioning, floor heating, and down jackets I used to wear, and I regretted not taking better care of my health.

Sigh, I wonder if I'll get a bigger year-end bonus because of my dedication to my job?

Sigh, I wonder if county governments still give out year-end bonuses these days?

Isn't it time to give out year-end bonuses?

……

Filled with anticipation for his year-end bonus, Constable Qi returned with his men in a menacing manner.

Lin Ziping adjusted his facial muscles and quickly went to greet him: "Captain Qi..."

Officer Qi didn't reply and walked straight towards the city wall.

This……

Lin Ziping awkwardly withdrew his hand and shrank back with a blank expression.

The constables who had gone out with Constable Qi filed in.

Lin Ziping remained calm and collected, though he was torn between going forward to ask about the situation.

"Ziping, come and lend a hand."

Just then, Old Huang's voice came through.

"Okay." Lin Ziping turned and walked towards Lao Huang.

The city gate was slowly closing, and through the crack in the gate, Lin Ziping could see the people standing outside.

In the wind and snow, they looked like rows of standing tombstones.

“Here!” Old Huang said.

Lin Ziping looked over and saw that Old Huang was supporting Qi San.

Qi San was covered in sweat, his face was deathly pale, his brows were furrowed, and there was blood at the corner of his mouth.

Like Qi San, Gou Sheng and the others behind him were supporting each other, their foreheads covered in sweat.

"What's wrong?" As he spoke, Lin Ziping went over and supported Qi San's other arm.

"Hiss—" Qi San let out a muffled groan.

"What's wrong?" Lin Ziping was so frightened that he quickly let go.

Old Huang said, "Don't make a fuss. It's just a broken hand from being hit with a board. It'll be fine in a few days."

"Oh—" Lin Ziping responded, but seeing Qi San's injured appearance, he was flustered and didn't know where to start.

"Lord Lin, I'm fine," Qi San said, swallowing hard.

"Qi San, take your brothers back and heal your wounds. We'll need you guys later," Old Huang said. "Don't resent the county government or Constable Qi."

"How dare we!" Qi San immediately knelt down.

Upon seeing this, Gou Sheng and the others immediately knelt down.

Old Huang sighed: "Qi San, we've known each other for so long, do you think I don't know what kind of person you are?"

"Don't worry, Officer Huang. My brothers and I know what we should and shouldn't say," Qi San hurriedly said.

Old Huang helped Qi San up: "Of course I believe you."

Seeing this, Lin Ziping stepped forward and helped Gou Sheng up.

Gou Sheng avoided Lin Ziping and struggled to his feet.

"Thank you, Officer Huang. We'll head back now. Call us anytime if you need anything." Qi San stood up with Old Huang's help, then took two steps back to avoid him.

"Should I have someone give you a ride?" Old Huang asked.

Gou Sheng stepped forward and said, "We'll go back ourselves."

Qi San used the hand that Lao Huang had been supporting to tug at Gou Sheng's clothes, and said with a forced smile, "Officer Huang, Officer Lin, is there anything else you need? If not, we'll head back."

Old Huang waved his hand.

Qi San and the others clasped their hands in greeting, then helped each other and limped away into the snowstorm.

"Alright, they're already gone. They were just a few lackeys, and the county government even paid them. Why are you so concerned?" Old Huang said coolly when he saw Lin Ziping staring blankly in the direction Qi San and the others had left.

A servant?!

Lin Ziping was somewhat surprised: "Then arrange for them to requisition grain?"

Old Huang said, "They were originally there to collect grain. We're all from this village, and everyone has relatives. If a few people were to die like this year, it would be hard for anyone to explain."

"But they're locals too," Lin Ziping asked.

“There are so many people who want to do this in this world. A few copper coins and a little grain are enough for many people to fight over. If it weren’t for Officer Qi, how could this matter have fallen to Qi San?” Old Huang lowered his voice. “Don’t tell anyone.”

Under Lao Huang's eager gaze, Lin Ziping nodded and promised not to tell anyone else.

Suddenly, it dawned on him that Qi San and the others were just servants, which explained all the previous inconsistencies.

No wonder they say they are familiar with the tax collection process; a professional tax collector must have a wealth of work experience.

They're still a bunch of temporary workers, cheap and easy to use, they don't take up permanent positions, and they're the best scapegoats when something goes wrong.

The problem is that even with all this, a bunch of people are still eagerly vying to take the job.

"Then what are they doing?" Lin Ziping asked again.

Old Huang glanced at Lin Ziping and said, "I just gave them a beating to vent my anger on the people outside the city, but unfortunately it had little effect."

"Ah—" Lin Ziping exclaimed in surprise, "Don't the people outside the city need grain?"

“All the grain has been handed over to the prefectural government. Where would the county government get grain? Besides, weren’t Qi San and his men the ones who collected the grain? They know best how much it was and where it went,” Old Huang said.

"Chief Constable Qi is not—" Lin Ziping looked at Old Huang's gaze and awkwardly shut his mouth.

"Xiao Lin, you've been at the county government office for almost half a year now. I think you have some ideas about things. No matter what, you must take care of yourself first. Only when you're alive can you think about the future." After saying that, Old Huang patted Lin Ziping on the shoulder and strode away.

As they walked, they said, "This snow is going to keep falling."

Outside the city, the cold wind howled. Lin Ziping looked at the white expanse and suddenly couldn't see the road under his feet.

The lights on the city wall stayed on for a long time before finally going out in the latter half of the night.

Seeing Magistrate Wei and his entourage come down from the city wall, Lin Ziping shivered his frozen body and looked at them with eager anticipation.

Under the firelight, it seemed as if the weariness on people's faces had been swept away.

"You've all worked hard!" Magistrate Wei waved his hand and said, "The bandits are currently outside the city, so we must all stay alert."

Bandits?!

Aren't they villagers from the surrounding area?

How did this get defined as bandits?

Lin Ziping concealed his surprise and held his breath, trying to hear what Magistrate Wei was saying.

“The wind and snow are very heavy today. I’m sure the bandits will disperse on their own. Leave a few men to keep watch, and the rest of you can go back,” said Magistrate Wei.

Magistrate Feng said, "The magistrate is kind-hearted and compassionate, and he couldn't bear to drive away the bandits. He is truly a role model for us all."

"A role model for us all..."

He was surrounded by compliments, and Lin Ziping clasped his hands and bowed.

I couldn't help but feel a little disheartened. After discussing it all afternoon, this is all?

Amidst the compliments of the crowd, Magistrate Wei and Assistant Magistrate Feng left with smiles on their faces.

Patrolman Chai and Constable Qi stayed behind to arrange the follow-up matters.

Lin Ziping was lucky; he wasn't assigned to guard duty. He went home in high spirits, drank a bowl of ginger tea, soaked his feet, and then quickly lay down in bed.

In a daze, I heard dogs barking outside, and a donkey braying in fear not far away.

Lin Ziping quickly got up.

There was also some noise coming from inside the courtyard.

"What's wrong with Zhu Zi?" Lin Ziping called out through the door.