Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Inquiry
Chen Ping’an nodded slightly after listening to Xu Jin-kui’s story.
"So that’s how it is."
Xu Jin-kui’s face fell. He said, "My son is wayward. He caused trouble this time, and a proper punishment would be a good lesson for him. But being locked up in the South City Prison... his fate is uncertain, and his life is in danger. I am truly uneasy. I just hope everything goes smoothly today."
"Then I wish you success, Landlord Xu," Chen Ping’an said. "But you shouldn’t worry too much. The South City Prison isn’t a dragon’s den or a tiger’s lair. A few days inside shouldn’t be a major issue."
Hearing this, Xu Jin-kui waved his hands frantically. "Young Master Chen, you don’t understand! The South City Prison is a dreadful place, filled with dangerous criminals who are quick to beat and curse their cellmates. The prison guards are brutal; they’ll resort to torture over the slightest displeasure. Besides, the place is a labyrinth of unspoken rules and connections. One wrong step, and you’re doomed beyond recovery!"
Chen Ping’an couldn’t help but chuckle at Xu Jin-kui’s words.
’To think that in Xu Jin-kui’s eyes, the South City Prison is such a terrible place.’
’Why haven’t I felt that way in the slightest?’
’Brutal prison guards? Really?’
’They’re all as meek as lambs in front of me.’
Seeing Xu Jin-kui’s earnest expression, Chen Ping’an realized he had been mistaken. Perhaps in the eyes of an outsider, the South City Prison really was such a place.
The reason he didn’t feel it was because, compared to an ordinary person, his position was high enough.
The meek lambs in his eyes were likely ferocious tigers in the eyes of others.
One’s position determines one’s perspective.
"It seems I have been ignorant. Thank you for enlightening me, Landlord Xu."
Xu Jin-kui was preoccupied, mentally rehearsing what he would say when he met the constable later. As he spoke with Chen Ping’an, his face was clouded with worry.
Just then, Xu Jin-kui bowed slightly, his hands clasped. "Young Master Chen, you’re a man of the government with extensive connections. If this doesn’t work out, I must ask you to trouble yourself with my son’s case. Afterward, I will be sure to reward you generously."
Running into Chen Ping’an like this, Xu Jin-kui was grasping at straws. In his mind, Chen Ping’an was just an ordinary government constable who probably couldn’t be of much help. But every new person was a new connection; perhaps through Chen Ping’an, he could find another way.
Xu Jin-kui’s face was etched with sorrow. He seemed to have aged several years since they first met.
For some reason, at that moment, Chen Ping’an found himself thinking of Old Chen.
’A father’s love is as vast as a mountain!’
’So be it!’
Chen Ping’an helped Xu Jin-kui up with both hands. "Landlord Xu, our meeting is fate. I am aware of this matter now."
"Thank you, Young Master Chen."
Xu Jin-kui clasped his hands and bowed.
To him, Chen Ping’an’s response was undoubtedly a good omen. He felt that his request to the constable at the banquet would likely go very smoothly.
Chen Ping’an exchanged a few more pleasantries with Xu Jin-kui, then left without disturbing him further.
Not long after Chen Ping’an left, a dignified man in plain clothes arrived at the restaurant’s entrance. Beaming, Xu Jin-kui welcomed him inside.
With money paving the way and years of practice in the art of flattery, Xu Jin-kui got the result he wanted.
This Constable Min of the South City Prison agreed to release his son, Xu Renchang.
With the constable’s guarantee, Xu Jin-kui was finally able to relax. He immediately began toasting and fawning over him.
...
The first thing Chen Ping’an did after reporting for duty early the next morning was to inquire about Xu Renchang.
He quickly learned that there was indeed a prisoner named Xu Renchang in the South City Prison. He had been locked up on the ground floor of the prison a few days prior.
Furthermore, Chen Ping’an did some more detailed digging. The reason Xu Renchang was imprisoned in the South City Prison was that the other person in the brawl had a grand-uncle who was a constable on duty in the South City Lane. This man was an extremely senior constable, who had even mentored a constable of higher rank.
Through these winding connections, Xu Renchang had ended up in prison.
"A street brawl... according to the law, for a case like this, how many days should he be detained?"
"Replying to Lord Chen, the standard detention is seven days."
The Prison Guard Squad Leader, who had been summoned to the office, answered cautiously with his head lowered.
To be honest, when he was first summoned by Lord Chen, his heart had been a whirlwind of anxiety. He hoped he might be given an important task, but also worried he had done something wrong and was about to be reprimanded as an example to others.
"How long has he been detained?"
"Replying to Lord Chen, it has been five days."
"Mm."
Having understood the situation, Chen Ping’an waved his hand, dismissing the Squad Leader.
He and Xu Jin-kui were merely passing acquaintances with no deep connection. He had only been willing to look into the matter because Xu Jin-kui’s plight reminded him of Old Chen.
After understanding the situation, Chen Ping’an made a decision.
Xu Renchang’s street brawl hadn’t caused any serious harm, so the standard punishment should be seven days of detention. ’In that case, let him serve the full seven days in South City Prison before he leaves!’
’That way, there is no favoritism, nor is the law bent!’
All he was doing was ensuring Xu Renchang received the same punishment as the other party in the brawl.
After leaving the office, the Squad Leader spent the entire walk back mulling over Lord Chen’s questions.
’Who is this Xu Renchang? To think he’s drawn Lord Chen’s attention.’
’When Lord Chen spoke, did he mean I should look after Xu Renchang, or *look after* him?’
’Lord Chen asked me what the standard detention period was. Then he asked how long he’s been detained. What does that mean? Does he think seven days is too long? Or not long enough?’
’Mmm... such profound meaning!’
’I can’t figure it out, can’t guess his meaning at all! His Lordship is truly unfathomable.’
The Squad Leader mulled it over and over, chewing on the memory of the conversation, turning it every which way in his mind, but he still couldn’t grasp the true essence of Lord Chen’s words.
Not long after he returned to the ground-floor cell block, he saw Constable Min walk in.
’What’s Constable Min doing here?’
The Squad Leader was puzzled.
Normally, Constable Min would have no reason to make a special trip to his section.
Puzzled or not, it didn’t stop him from offering a greeting.
"Constable Min, good morning."
Constable Min walked over with a smile.
"Mm, Old Li, I wanted to ask you about something."
The Squad Leader asked curiously, "What is it, Constable Min?"
"You have a young man named Xu Renchang locked up here, right?"
"Xu Renchang!"
Hearing the name, the smile on the Squad Leader’s face froze.
’What’s going on?’
’Why is Constable Min also asking about this Xu Renchang?’
Noticing the change in the Squad Leader’s expression, Constable Min immediately asked, "Old Li, what’s the matter?"
At Constable Min’s prompting, the Squad Leader explained the reason.
"What? Lord Chen asked about Xu Renchang’s case?"
Constable Min’s face changed.
’Who did this Xu Renchang offend to have Lord Chen himself look into it?’
’That damn Xu Jin-kui, he almost dragged me down with him!’
"Damn it! He nearly got me into trouble! Old Li, pretend I was never here!"
Constable Min left with those words, rushing off in a hurry.
He left the Squad Leader standing there, completely baffled.
’What is even happening today?!’
...
That evening, Xu Jin-kui waited at the restaurant for Constable Min’s arrival as agreed.
Seeing Constable Min approaching from a distance, Xu Jin-kui’s face lit up, and he hurried forward to greet him.
"Lord Min, Lord Min."
It was only when he got closer that Xu Jin-kui saw Constable Min’s face was dark and extremely displeased.
His heart couldn’t help but sink.
Constable Min was burning with rage, and he let it all out. "Xu Jin-kui, what the hell were you thinking? You almost got me killed!"
"Lord Min, what...?"
Xu Jin-kui was completely bewildered.
"Do you even know who your son offended?! You blind fool!"
Constable Min unleashed a torrent of abuse, chewing Xu Jin-kui out.
Xu Jin-kui didn’t dare to argue back, simply enduring Constable Min’s scolding with a meek and wronged expression.
After a while, he finally understood what had happened. And once he understood, he was utterly stunned.
"The top man in the South City Prison asked about it?"
To Xu Jin-kui, a constable was already a powerful figure. The top man of the South City Prison? That was unheard of. That was practically a god-like figure.
A figure like that had personally inquired...
Xu Jin-kui felt a wave of despair wash over him, and his world turned gray.
’Renchang, who on earth did you provoke?’
’How did you manage to involve a figure of that stature?’
