Chapter 217: Chapter 130: Sugar-Coated Bullet
"Why?" Constable Wang asked, confused.
The other constable kept him in suspense. "After Lord Ji announces the results, I’ll tell you."
...
Not far away, Li Sheng overheard their conversation and turned to Ma Zehua beside him, full of curiosity. He asked, "Brother Ma, why are they so sure that one of those three Chief Constables will be chosen for first place?"
Ma Zehua leaned close to his ear and said in a low voice, "Chief Li, Captain Hu, and Chief Fang are all young talents cultivated by the Jiang Family. Lord Ji is also backed by the Jiang Family, so of course he has to look out for those they’ve nurtured."
"You mean it’s already been decided?" Li Sheng asked in surprise.
Ma Zehua quickly shot him a look and said, "Quiet! This is business for the higher-ups. It’s best we don’t speculate."
"Oh." Li Sheng had a sudden realization. ’So Chief Constable Ji Jingbei always puts on an act of being fair and impartial at the Lishui Sub-Department,’ he thought, ’but it’s all just for show. He’s a real hypocrite.’
He then felt indignant on Chen Cheng’s behalf and said in a low voice, "It’s a shame. At the Lishui Sub-Department, Mr. Chen is more dedicated than any other Chief Constable. If you ask me, he should be the one to get first place."
Ma Zehua sighed softly. "There’s nothing to be done about it," he said leisurely. "Mr. Chen may be outstanding, but Lord Ji can always find a reason to keep him from getting first place."
...
On the stage, seeing that Ji Jingbei still hadn’t made a move, the Chief Constables all began to murmur amongst themselves.
The Chief Constables were all individuals cultivated by the Four Great Clans of the Inner City, so they naturally split into four groups.
Yan Jian exchanged a few quiet words with Sun Xinyang, another Chief Constable cultivated by the Shen Family, also speculating on who would be named the top Chief Constable this year.
Chen Cheng couldn’t be bothered with them. He glanced at Ji Jingbei, lost in thought.
If this were a fair assessment, Chen Cheng would have a good chance of ranking first and receiving an extra Low Grade Muscle Strengthening Pill.
But seeing the look on Ji Jingbei’s face, who knew what crooked scheme he was hatching? Chen Cheng’s chances of getting first place were looking slim.
"Mr. Chen, you’re not actually thinking you can rank first in the assessment and get an extra Low Grade Muscle Strengthening Pill, are you?" Yan Jian sidled up to him at that moment, a smirk on his face.
Chen Cheng shot him a glance and retorted, "And you, Mr. Yan? Don’t you want to rank first and get an extra Low Grade Muscle Strengthening Pill?"
Yan Jian chuckled. "Of course I want it. But I know my own limits. I can’t get first place."
"Mr. Chen, the requirements for first place in the Lishui Sub-Department’s annual assessment have always been strict. We shouldn’t even think about it," Sun Xinyang chimed in.
At twenty-four, he had already been a Chief Constable at the Lishui Sub-Department for over two years and clearly knew something.
Chen Cheng knew there was a hidden meaning in his words but paid it no mind. "It would be best to get first," he said lightly, "but it doesn’t matter if I don’t."
"Sigh... In the end, first place only gets you one extra Low Grade Muscle Strengthening Pill. It’s not that big a deal." Yan Jian let out a long sigh, then suddenly puffed out his chest and said proudly, "Besides, four Low Grade Muscle Strengthening Pills a year are enough for cultivating the Muscle Strengthening Technique. Those of us under Miss Shen won’t be lacking."
Sun Xinyang gave a wry smile. "Mr. Yan, you’re engaged to a young lady from the Shen Family’s direct lineage, so of course you can get more Low Grade Muscle Strengthening Pills.
I can’t compare to you. My family were originally servants to the Shen Family, so I could never hope to marry a lady from their direct lineage.
Miss Shen Qingshuang gives me two Low Grade Muscle Strengthening Pills each year. With the one from the Lishui Sub-Department, I’m still one short.
However, my natural aptitude is limited, so three Low Grade Muscle Strengthening Pills a year is barely enough for my cultivation."
"It just means you’ll reach Muscle Strengthening Realm Perfection a year or two later. No need to be discouraged, Brother Sun." Yan Jian smiled, then turned to Chen Cheng. "Oh, Mr. Chen, I forgot to tell you. I’ll be marrying the young lady from the Shen Family’s direct lineage soon. Please come and have a celebratory drink when the time comes."
"Alright. I’ll be there if I have time," Chen Cheng replied casually, giving a slight nod.
"Excellent, excellent." Yan Jian’s smile grew even wider. "Mr. Chen, there’s no need for you to worry about the Low Grade Muscle Strengthening Pills."
Chen Cheng shrugged. "Senior Sister Shen gives me three Low Grade Muscle Strengthening Pills a year. I can’t even use them all at the moment."
"Three?" Yan Jian was stunned.
Sun Xinyang was also shocked.
But Chen Cheng couldn’t be bothered with them anymore. He turned to look toward the gate of the Government Office Hall, where a squad of officials from the City Guard Department was striding toward the square.
The man in the lead was none other than Zhou Xu, an Official from the South City District City Guard Headquarters.
Ji Jingbei quickly called for everyone to go and greet them.
Zhou Xu had come to supervise the assessment. After reviewing the documents recording the on-duty performance of each Chief Constable, he consulted with Ji Jingbei in a low voice.
After their discussion, Zhou Xu smiled and had Ji Jingbei announce the results of the assessment.
"Everyone, silence, please!"
Ji Jingbei waved his hand with a serious expression. Once everyone on the grounds had fallen silent, he announced in a clear voice:
"This year, all the Chief Constables of the Lishui Sub-Department have been diligent and dedicated in their duties...
...I announce that in this assessment, the Chief Constable ranked first is... Chief Chen Cheng! If anyone has any objections, you may voice them now. This official and Lord Zhou will consider your opinions and conduct a re-assessment.
Does anyone have any objections?"
After speaking, Ji Jingbei swept his gaze over the Chief Constables, then looked out at the several hundred constables on the grounds.
For a moment, everyone was utterly shocked. This result was clearly far beyond anyone’s expectations.
Chen Cheng, of course, had no objection. And after their initial shock, the other Chief Constables and constables all chose to remain silent.
The entire area was silent.
After waiting for a long moment and seeing no objections, Ji Jingbei continued, "Very well. Then for this year’s Lishui Sub-Department assessment, Chief Chen is ranked first."
...
Having successfully ranked first in the assessment and received two Low Grade Muscle Strengthening Pills, Chen Cheng still found it hard to believe even after he returned home.
Both Zhou Xu and Ji Jingbei had grudges against him, so why would they help him?
’This seems to be a sugar-coated bullet. Can it be? Is the Zhou Family about to make a move against me?’
...
「Chief Constable’s Government Office Hall.」
Yang Xingyao found Ji Jingbei and asked in confusion, "Uncle, what on earth did Zhou Xu say to you? How could you agree to give the first-place spot in the assessment to Chen Cheng?"
Ji Jingbei stood at the window, gazing out toward Jishui Lake. His expression was grim, and he remained silent for a long time before finally speaking. "It’s best you don’t inquire about Chen Cheng’s matter. You just need to prepare yourself and wait for your promotion to Chief Constable."
A look of understanding dawned on Yang Xingyao’s face. "Uncle, can it be that the Zhou Family is going to make a move against Chen Cheng?"
Ji Jingbei suddenly turned his head, his eyes filled with ferocity. "Do I have to say it a second time?"
"Yes!" Yang Xingyao jumped in fright and quickly took his leave.
...
「Lishui District, in a private room of a certain restaurant.」
Wang Xiongjie’s face was dark as he looked at Zhou Xu. "Zhou Xu," he said coldly, "you’ve got some nerve, daring to stir up trouble between the Shen Family and the Wang Family. Do you have any idea you’re playing with fire?"
Zhou Xu was extremely deferential. "Young Master Wang, please calm your anger. I have investigated thoroughly. In the case of the Wang Family massacre in Ruyi District and the murder of Chief Constable Wang Li, there can only be one true culprit: Chen Cheng.
That bastard hid his martial arts power before, which is how he deceived Young Master Wang Xiongying. But based on the strength he has shown at the Lishui Sub-Department, it’s proof enough that he had the ability to commit this crime.
Furthermore, Young Master Wang Li previously went by the alias of Ding Mo, an assassin from the Wind and Rain Tower, and attempted to assassinate Chen Cheng.
Chen Cheng is the type to seek revenge for the smallest grievance. He absolutely cannot be left alive. I implore Young Master Wang to see this clearly."
Wang Xiongjie snorted. "If you wanted to kill Chen Cheng, why bother helping him get first place in the Lishui Sub-Department’s assessment?"
Zhou Xu revealed a mysterious smile. "Young Master Wang, for ranking first in the assessment, Chen Cheng’s reward is an extra Low Grade Muscle Strengthening Pill.
If he were to be killed, in whose hands would that Low Grade Muscle Strengthening Pill end up?
Chen Cheng thinks he’s gotten an extra Low Grade Muscle Strengthening Pill and is surely overjoyed, letting his guard down. Little does he know that in the end, he’s just paving the way for us."
Wang Xiongjie gave Zhou Xu a deep look. "Zhou Xu, you truly are a schemer! Are you using this Low Grade Muscle Strengthening Pill to get our Wang Family to kill Chen Cheng for you?"
Zhou Xu hurriedly replied, "I wouldn’t dare. By ranking first and getting two Low Grade Muscle Strengthening Pills, Chen Cheng is bound to attract the covetous eyes of people from the Jianghu.
When the time comes, even if he’s assassinated, it will be the work of those desperate fugitives from the Jianghu who covet the Low Grade Muscle Strengthening Pills. What would it have to do with me, or with the Wang Family?
Even the Shen Family and Shen Qingshuang won’t be able to trace it back to us."
"Hehehe!" Wang Xiongjie suddenly laughed. "Zhou Xu, you really are a schemer. But in this matter, you can’t possibly expect to just talk and stay out of it."
Zhou Xu quickly replied, "Young Master Wang, please rest assured. I will have someone keep an eye on Chen Cheng and will inform you the moment an opportunity arises."
