Need to Keep Them in Check

He had just been worrying about money... and now the money had arrived.

Xie An carefully stroked the familiar silver ingots, feeling an immense sense of pleasure.

Since the money was his, the person waiting outside to be registered as a deputy officer must be the Li Manor's eldest young master, Li Shaoyun.

After the New Year's Eve dinner, Xie An had seen Li Shaoyun and Zhang Biao leave together intimately, heading to Feiyun Restaurant for a small gathering. He had also overheard their conversation as they left the restaurant, and now there was this money...

A little deduction led to the conclusion:

Li Shaoyun, in preparation for the provincial martial examination three years later, had sought Zhang Biao to pull strings and secure a nominal deputy officer position for him at Tiger Wolf Gate. The intention was to leverage White Feather Hall's martial arts resources to help him pass the provincial exam.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Biao had died.

And Xie An had taken Zhang Biao's place. Through a twist of fate, Li Shaoyun had become his subordinate...

Li Shaoyun, you were so harsh and difficult before, cutting me deep with your blade, and colluding with Zhang Biao to have Li He arrest He Chunli and interrogate him severely, attempting to force a confession.

Little did you know that the new officer was me. And you have become my subordinate.

This is fate.

Xie An couldn't help but sigh at how fate played tricks on people.

Liang Zhi, with his sharp eyes, saw Xie An smile and assumed that Xie An was also fond of money, unlike the upright persona he presented earlier. This would make future interactions much simpler.

With this thought, Liang Zhi let out a sigh of relief. He most feared encountering stubborn, rigid, and blindly upright individuals; such people were the most difficult to deal with and communicate with.

"Esteemed Officer, the visitor is the eldest young master of the Li Manor in Wuqiao Town. He has passed the Martial Scholar exam and is not far from entering the Bronze Skin Realm. He's someone worth cultivating. Moreover, the Li Manor is wealthy, and they will undoubtedly continue to show you respect in the future."

Xie An acknowledged Liang Zhi's flattering remarks and nodded slightly, "I will accept this money. I won't see him; just arrange some tasks for him."

Liang Zhi asked, "Should I arrange things as usual, or give him preferential treatment?"

Xie An recalled how Li Ru had suppressed and made things difficult for him in the past, so he decided to do the same. "This person is young and likely arrogant and overly ambitious. If he receives preferential treatment right from the start, it will be difficult to manage him in the future. We need to suppress him first. Arrange some heavy work for him."

As he said this, Xie An felt a surge of pleasure.

When he was buying his own freedom, Li Ru and Li Shaoyun had also adopted a strategy of suppression towards him. If it were just for that, Xie An, remembering Madam Li's kindness, might have let it slide.

However, Xie An had overheard the conversation between Li Shaoyun and Zhang Biao outside Feiyun Restaurant. Li Shaoyun had also assisted in beating his disciple He Chunli so badly that his backside was ruined.

If Xie An hadn't been strong enough at the time and killed Zhang Biao promptly, and if Zhang Biao had continued to instigate Li He to cause trouble, He Chunli might not have even survived.

He Chunli was his good disciple who would see him through his old age and funeral!

This was what truly bothered Xie An.

Now, using his own methods to suppress Li Shaoyun, Xie An felt it was still too lenient. If it weren't for Madam Li's kindness, Xie An would have already sent Li Shaoyun on his way.

Liang Zhi's eyes widened in disbelief.

He accepted the man's money, and not only did he not offer preferential treatment... he intended to suppress him?

Although Xie An's reasoning was self-consistent, Liang Zhi still found it unreasonable. It seemed the new officer harbored a personal grudge against the Li Manor's young master.

"Yes. I will arrange it now. If he is dissatisfied and resists..."

Xie An said coldly, "Then deal with him according to the sect rules. Show no mercy."

"Your subordinate understands."

Liang Zhi didn't dare to say more and cupped his fists before withdrawing from the living room.

Furthermore, Liang Zhi made a decision in his heart: the officer said to suppress Li Shaoyun by thirty percent, but he should suppress him by seventy percent; that was the way a subordinate should conduct himself.

After Liang Zhi left, Xie An's face broke into a relaxed smile.

However, Xie An didn't dwell on this matter too much, considering it merely a seasoning to his life. Whether it was Li Ru's suppression and obstruction back then, or his own minor retaliation against Li Shaoyun today, these were not the most important things to Xie An.

He wouldn't waste his energy dwelling on these trivial matters. The pressing priority was to improve his strength as quickly as possible.

"With this money, I can focus on my martial arts training for a while."

Xie An cleared his mind, sat down cross-legged, and began to cultivate the Health Cultivation Technique with all his might.

Outside the courtyard.

Li Shaoyun, dressed in fine silk brocade, stood rigidly in the snow, quietly awaiting an audience with the new officer, his heart filled with apprehension.

Actually, he hadn't intended to give the new officer 180 taels of silver all at once. He had only planned to give 50 or 60 taels to show his sincerity. However, after inquiring with some disciples, he learned that this new officer was ruthless and forceful, and difficult to deal with. He had subdued Zhang Biao's unruly subordinates within his first morning.

This made Li Shaoyun feel guilty, believing that 50 or 60 taels of silver would not be enough to please the new officer. So, he gritted his teeth and gave all 180 taels his parents had given him.

In this regard, Li Shaoyun even sighed, "Fortunately, my father was wise a few days ago and took a deep cut from Old Man Xie. It perfectly serves my purpose of giving gifts today."

Just then, a sound of footsteps approached.

It was Liang Zhi emerging from the courtyard. Li Shaoyun quickly stepped forward, cupped his fists, and put on a fawning smile, "Elder Liang, when will the new officer see me?"

Li Shaoyun had met Liang Zhi before when he was trying to pull strings through Zhang Biao, so they had interacted. When giving the gift earlier, Li Shaoyun hadn't forgotten to slip Liang Zhi some loose silver.

At that time, Liang Zhi had been all smiles.

Now, Liang Zhi's expression immediately turned cold, "The officer is busy with official duties and cannot see you."

Li Shaoyun was greatly shocked.

He accepted 180 taels of silver from me, and still wouldn't see me?

This...

Li Shaoyun grumbled internally but didn't dare show the slightest displeasure. He lowered his stance and pleaded, "Elder Liang, please help me speak to him again..."

Before Li Shaoyun could finish, Liang Zhi returned the silver pieces he had previously accepted. "Young Master Li, I'm sorry, but I can't help you with this."

Liang Zhi had thought that if the new deacon was pleased after receiving Li Shaoyun's money and gave him preferential treatment, then him accepting a little money himself would be fine. However, the situation clearly wasn't going in that direction, and Liang Zhi, no matter how desperate for money, wouldn't dare accept it.

Li Shaoyun took back the silver pieces, stunned.

"Here's what you can do: follow Xiao Liu and help clean the Black Market, carry things, and so on. We'll see if the Deacon has any new arrangements for you after some time." Leaving that sentence behind, Liang Zhi said no more and turned to leave.

Li Shaoyun hurried to catch up and ask, "Elder Liang, please enlighten me. Was the gift I sent too meager?"

Liang Zhi suddenly stopped, taken aback. He probably hadn't expected Li Shaoyun to think in that direction.

He then considered that the new deacon was clearly someone who would do anything for money. If he could hint to Li Shaoyun to send more money to the deacon, it would undoubtedly earn him praise from the new deacon for being a capable person.

Having served under a brute like Zhang Biao for five years, Liang Zhi was adept at understanding and catering to the intentions of his superiors.

With this thought, Liang Zhi turned back to size up Li Shaoyun, his gaze resembling that of someone looking at a plump, oil-dripping sheep.

Li Shaoyun, unaware of Liang Zhi's thoughts, believed he had guessed correctly. He offered silver again, humbly saying, "I'm new here and don't know the rules of this place. I also don't know the new deacon's preferences, so I hope Elder Liang can offer some guidance."

Liang Zhi raised his hand to refuse the money. "You can try. But I haven't said anything; you're just figuring it out yourself."

Li Shaoyun was overjoyed, convinced his assumption was correct. "Thank you for your guidance, Elder Liang."

"Mm."

Liang Zhi nodded and left, feeling a sense of pity for Li Shaoyun. He knew the new deacon intended to suppress Li Shaoyun, and it wasn't about the amount of money. He suspected there was a personal grudge.

Even if Li Shaoyun sent more money, it would be useless.

But what did that matter?

He had only given such a hint for his own future prospects.

"Sigh."

Li Shaoyun watched Liang Zhi's retreating back and then looked at the imposing courtyard, his heart filled with emotion. "It seems I'll have to go back and have Father prepare more money for gifts..."