"Ping'an, this outfit of yours... tsk, tsk, tsk. You really look imposing!"
Chen Ping'an had just arrived at the South Spring Neighborhood Pacification Office when Monkey Head circled him once, lavishing him with praise.
Chen Ping'an was no longer wearing the Soap Uniform of a temporary constable. Instead, he wore the official uniform of a Formal Constable: Cyan cloth, a cross-collared, narrow-sleeved robe, with a red ribbon tied around his waist.
Among the temporary constables, most of whom still wore Soap Uniforms, he stood out tremendously.
The South Spring Neighborhood Pacification Office had over a hundred temporary constables, but fewer than forty Formal Constables.
Da Shan, standing nearby, also revealed envy in his eyes.
"Ping'an, not bad at all! Work hard. From here on, it'll all be you young people's world."
Qin Head came over and praised him as well. Ever since that day, Qin Head had rarely slacked off, never missing roll call.
While they waited for the constable heads to arrive, quite a few constables came over to speak with Chen Ping'an.
Previously, Chen Ping'an had been half-transparent within the South Spring Neighborhood Pacification Office. Aside from their own little circle, practically no constable paid attention to him. But now that he had been promoted to Formal Constable, things were different.
When he went out, he could at least call himself a head. Once Chen Ping'an grew a little older, people would be calling him Head Chen this and Head Chen that.
Seeing Chen Ping'an being so eagerly fawned over, Zheng Shiyong's eyes flashed with a trace of unwillingness.
"A mere brat who hasn't even entered the gate of martial arts, and he's stepped in dog shit to get this lucky!"
They did not wait long before a constable head entered the Town Pacification Office. It was Head Constable Zheng. The moment he came through the door, he saw a temporary constable gathered around Chen Ping'an, currying favor.
"Making such a racket—what kind of behavior is this!"
Though Head Constable Zheng spoke to everyone, his gaze was fixed in Chen Ping'an's direction.
The temporary constable under that gaze instantly went stiff-faced, as though frozen.
"Get back already!" Head Constable Zheng looked displeased.
The temporary constable who had been trying to ingratiate himself with Chen Ping'an immediately ran back upon hearing this.
Getting chewed out by a constable head was no small matter.
As Head Constable Zheng entered, the discussions in the field subsided as well.
"Brat! So what if you're a Formal Constable? You'll still be at my uncle's mercy!" Zheng Shiyong thought smugly.
Though Head Constable Zheng had not stated it outright, this gesture was a subtle warning to Chen Ping'an, while also telling everyone else that he did not particularly like Chen Ping'an.
Any temporary constables who had wanted to curry favor now had to weigh things carefully before making a decision after seeing Zheng Shiyong's attitude.
Watching Head Constable Zheng's retreating figure as he climbed the platform, Chen Ping'an narrowed his eyes slightly.
This Head Constable Zheng...
Since the matter of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect had yet to be resolved, the Constable Director and Deputy Constable Director did not come today. However, the five constable heads still reported as usual, with Head Constable Zheng presiding over the pre-shift meeting.
After the pre-shift meeting ended, Chen Ping'an received his newly assigned duty.
Now that he was a registered Formal Constable, he naturally could no longer follow Qin Head around. He needed to lead three temporary constables and stand on his own.
Whether by coincidence or deliberate arrangement, two of the three temporary constables under him were people he had encountered not long ago.
Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu. Besides them, there was also a newcomer who had joined less than two months ago, named Zeng Jihe.
Chen Ping'an did not know about the others, but he knew that Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu were relatively veteran temporary constables, the sort who were good at clinging to powerful thighs. They seemed to belong to Head Constable Zheng's faction.
Chen Ping'an could not help but become secretly wary.
In his past life's workplace, there had been far too many things like making people wear small shoes. Could it be that after transmigrating, he would have to go through it all again in the South Spring Neighborhood Pacification Office?
However...
Unlike his past life, his abilities could now be clearly displayed and quantified. They could not be twisted at will by pointing at a deer and calling it a horse, turning black into white, shifting blame, and keeping him under control.
Since Chen Ping'an's new assignment had only been decided today, it would officially begin tomorrow. Everything remained as usual for today.
That day, Chen Ping'an patrolled Willow Leaf Street with Qin Head, Monkey Head, and Da Shan. He and Qin Head each wore the official uniforms of Formal Constables, looking exceptionally intimidating as they walked down the street.
Quite a few hooligans who had once been careless and fearless around Chen Ping'an now revealed ingratiating smiles upon seeing their official uniforms.
Formal Constables were different from temporary constables. If they truly set their minds on dealing with some hooligan or scoundrel, they would succeed eight or nine times out of ten.
Therefore, to these hooligans and scoundrels, Formal Constables were people best left unoffended!
"Ping'an, starting tomorrow, you'll be standing on your own as well!" Qin Head's face held a trace of gratification. "Your father and I were colleagues for many years. By seniority, I count as half an uncle to you. So many years have passed, and I haven't left behind much, but I do have some lessons learned from experience."
"Please tell me, Qin Head," Chen Ping'an said respectfully.
He still respected Qin Head's character. Although he was a Formal Constable, he never threw his weight around or bullied the small with the big. Apart from the minor flaw of occasionally slacking off, there was nothing else to criticize.
"A Formal Constable is different from a temporary constable. As long as you don't make some major mistake, it's an iron rice bowl for life. But sometimes, it isn't enough for you to say you haven't made a mistake. Ping'an, remember this. The you in the Constable Director's eyes may not be the real you—it may be the you from the mouth of a Lord Constable Head. So maintaining a good relationship with the constable heads is one of the core tasks. Take me, for example."
Qin Head began telling Chen Ping'an about the lessons and experience of his half a lifetime. Monkey Head and Da Shan also pricked up their ears and listened from the side.
"Sometimes, a constable head gives an order and needs you to carry it out promptly. But the people below prove inadequate—what do you do then? Sometimes it isn't that they're inadequate, but that their mindset has gone a bit wrong. Then you need to..."
"."
For the entire day, Qin Head held nothing back, pouring out all his experience and lessons. Chen Ping'an listened earnestly. Though he would not use all of this information, it would undoubtedly help him avoid many detours. Combining Qin Head's lessons with the many insights from his past life, Chen Ping'an gained many unexpected rewards.
"Ping'an, Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu are Head Constable Zheng's people. Be careful yourself. Not just with them—keep an extra eye open in everything you do."
As the end of the shift approached, Qin Head earnestly cautioned him.
Clearly, Qin Head had grown wise with age and had seen Head Constable Zheng's hostility toward Chen Ping'an.
"Mm, I understand." Chen Ping'an nodded.
He had that much caution.
"Of the three under you, Cheng Yuan has entered the gate of martial arts. Pay more attention to him."
Still uneasy, Qin Head added another reminder.
In his eyes, Chen Ping'an was still merely an ordinary person. Though he had become a Formal Constable through his merits, he had neither backing nor strength. It would be somewhat difficult for him to make the people under him, especially Cheng Yuan, sincerely submit. He could only be more careful himself.
"I'll be careful," Chen Ping'an replied.
However, with his current strength, if they wanted to use a few temporary constables under him to keep him in check, he truly was not afraid. Head Constable Zheng coming personally would be more like it!
As it happened, he had now obtained the Public Gate Thirteen Blades and could slowly reveal his talent in martial arts.
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