You Can Rest Easy, I Know Exactly What I'm Doing

What had happened at Loyalty Hall was an internal matter.

But not long after Lin Fan left, rumors began to spread, one after another.

Lin Fan had stormed Loyalty Hall and swung a grand chair, smashing it into Hall Master Huang Wei.

He'd even pointed at Gang Leader Chen Qingshan and cursed him out, while Chen Qingshan hadn't dared utter a peep.

The rumors were true.

But anyone who'd ever spread gossip knew that the first person to pass it along would add a little personal color. By the second or even third retelling,

things would be completely out of hand.

After all, everyone in the underworld knew that if you didn't brag a little, no one would think your information was worth a damn. So embellishing the story was just standard practice—nothing to get worked up about.

One version claimed that Lin Fan couldn't stand the old geezer Chen Qingshan, so he rushed over and slapped him several times, and no one could pull him away.

Another claimed that Huang Wei got beaten because, while Lin Fan was negotiating with Chen Qingshan, Huang Wei kept picking between his toes off to the side. The stench wafted through the room, and that was why Lin Fan beat him up.

Most people who heard the gossip believed Huang Wei had been beaten for picking between his toes.

After all, they knew Huang Wei loved doing that.

And he never stopped, no matter what anyone said.

Some were happy, while others were worried.

The Fierce Tiger Gang was delighted. They hadn't expected their former allies to take down Loyalty Hall. What wonderful news! It meant that the Fierce Tiger Gang could dominate the city from then on.

The ones who were worried were Wang Changhai and his wife.

At dusk, at the hall master's home.

"Little brother, you can't act rashly over this. Your sister hasn't paid much attention to what goes on inside Loyalty Hall, but those people are all ruthless."

At the dinner table, Madam Wang couldn't bring herself to eat, her face full of worry.

Lin Fan, on the other hand, grabbed a chicken leg and stuffed it into his mouth. "Sis, it's fine. Hey, this dish is delicious. You must've cooked it yourself."

"Mm, I did. I put a lot of care into it. Wait, I'm talking to you about Loyalty Hall. You've only just joined the Security Bureau, and you haven't built a solid footing yet. There are people above you, too. This won't be easy to handle."

Madam Wang was genuinely worried. She couldn't shake the feeling that her little brother had really torn a hole in the sky.

"It's fine. I know exactly what I'm doing," Lin Fan said with a smile.

Wang Changhai sat beside them, draining cup after cup of wine. It wasn't that he wanted to drink; he just needed something to steady his nerves. His head was still spinning.

He thought of Huang Wei shouting and carrying on afterward, even pointing at his face and cursing him out. Wang Changhai had been seething, but there was nowhere to vent. Now the whole of Yong'an City knew that his underling, Wang Changhai, was an overbearing tyrant.

There were even rumors that Wang Changhai was plotting to seize the position of Gang Leader at Loyalty Hall.

He didn't dare act personally.

So he got someone else to do it for him.

Damn it, he had no way to explain himself. He wanted to say, "Stop spreading nonsense. My Brother Fan isn't that kind of person. He's fighting for the people and for justice."

But would anyone believe him even if he said that?

Of course not.

Just then, Madam Wang rose and went to the back room. When she returned, she was carrying a box, which she set down in front of Lin Fan.

Busy eating, Lin Fan freed one hand. "Sis, what's this?"

He opened it.

Inside were gold and silver ornaments, along with some jewelry.

Lin Fan's expression shifted slightly when he saw them. He put down the chicken bone, picked up a cloth napkin, and wiped his hands and mouth.

Madam Wang said, "I've saved all this up over the years. I'd planned to let your brother-in-law leave Loyalty Hall when he got old, so he could live a quiet life. But now, take it and use it to smooth things over. The clerk is sick and isn't handling any business, but he still has his position. You should send something to Steward Li, too. I heard he's being transferred, but he's still there for now. It won't hurt to take care of things. And there's..."

She rattled off a long list of people.

The connections in Yong'an County formed a vast web. As long as you were willing to grease a few palms, there was nothing you couldn't resolve.

Lin Fan closed the box. "Sis, there's no need. To be honest, I've already spoken with some people. Nothing's going to happen."

Madam Wang didn't understand what he meant.

But Wang Changhai did. He'd spoken with some people? Who had he spoken with?

Could it be...?

There were only a few people who could withstand the pressure.

Sure, Lin Fan was good in a fight, but that didn't mean he could talk things through with them.

If Lin Fan knew what Wang Changhai was thinking, he would've been delighted to say, "You guessed right. I settled it by being good in a fight."

"Are you sure nothing's going to happen?"

"I'm sure."

Lin Fan smiled, then looked toward Wang Changhai. That look made Wang Changhai's heart flutter with unease. He had a feeling it meant trouble.

The balance of power in Yong'an City had been settled long ago.

Trying to overturn it would cause trouble. Too many commoners relied on the existing order to make a living, and if the whole structure were knocked down, things could easily go wrong. So from the start, Lin Fan's plan had been to bring down the people within it and use their positions to advance, while leaving the structure itself intact.

"Hall Master, you've been with Loyalty Hall for a long time, haven't you?"

"Mm, a long time. It's been a rough road, full of twists and turns. I've been through so much. I'm tired."

He really was tired. Mostly, he was tired in his heart. Whenever he attended meetings within the gang, the other hall masters mocked him. If he disagreed with them, they ridiculed him. Some people were so good with their words—no wonder they'd risen by flattering everyone around them.

What could he say to that?

They weren't wrong.

How else was he supposed to get ahead without flattery?

Lin Fan picked up his teacup and rinsed the taste from his mouth. "When you're alive, you have to find a way to get ahead. Otherwise, how are you any different from a salted fish?"

Get ahead?

Wang Changhai froze.

The next step up would be the position of Gang Leader, wouldn't it?

At that thought, he stared at Lin Fan, mouth hanging open. Could Lin Fan be planning to put him in that position?

Lin Fan looked out at the night beyond the doorway and stood. "Sis, it's getting late. I'll head back first. And remember what I said: don't worry. I really know what I'm doing. I wouldn't do anything unless I was sure I could pull it off."

With that, he left.

Inside the hall,

"Are you sure nothing's going to happen?" Madam Wang asked again.

Wang Changhai sighed. "How would I know? There's no turning back now. He can only keep going down this road. Wife, a year ago you said we should retire and live quietly. I wasn't willing to listen back then. Now I wish I'd taken your advice. I'm on tenterhooks."

Beneath the night sky, Lin Fan walked alone through the streets.

It was quiet all around.

There wasn't the slightest sound.

Then he saw Little Fatty waiting by the doorway with a lantern. He glanced behind him and shook his head in disappointment. He'd thought someone might try to attack him from the shadows, but no one had.

It was a little disappointing.

If someone had tried, they would've been handing him a knife to use against them.

Too bad they hadn't given him the chance.

"Brother, have you eaten?" Little Fatty hurried over.

"Yeah, I have. Go get some rest."

Lin Fan patted Little Fatty on the shoulder, and they returned to the courtyard together.

Morning.

At the Security Bureau, in the room next to Chen's office.

Xu Ming had arrived early for work. He brewed himself a cup of tea, set out a few flatbreads, and read through case files as he ate.

He was a rookie officer who'd been at the Security Bureau for three years without ever getting promoted. He was one of the few people there who'd come from a poor family.

He'd gotten lucky back then. A high-ranking official had come to Yong'an City on an inspection tour. At the time, Xu Ming had been an ordinary citizen. By chance, he caught a thief in front of the official.

With so many people watching, the official must have wanted to put on a show. He'd called Xu Ming over, praised him, and asked him what he hoped to do. Xu Ming told him he'd applied to join the Security Bureau, but didn't know whether he'd get in.

The official had replied, "This young man has a strong sense of justice. Good. The court needs people like him."

Later, Xu Ming understood just how much those words were worth. A position that had already been filled had been made available for him.

But that was as far as it went. After that, promotion was never going to be an option for him.

Creak.

The door opened, and a full-fledged officer walked in.

"Good morning, Officer Huang," Xu Ming greeted him.

Officer Huang was a full-fledged officer. He'd joined the Security Bureau two years after Xu Ming, but had been promoted to a regular officer six months ago and now received a proper salary.

Xu Ming, by contrast, still only received a stipend.

Seeing that Xu Ming was alone in the office, Officer Huang said, "Xiao Xu, find a case we can pin on the tavern owner's kid. One that'll get him locked up for eight or ten years."

"Huh? Officer Huang, isn't that a bit harsh? Didn't that family already hand over the recipe?"

"They did, yes. We only meant to scare him, but that kid bit Young Master Hu in the middle of the commotion. Young Master Hu's furious and wants to make him suffer. All right, stop your damn whining and do as you're told. The squad leader will be here soon, and we still have to go take care of something with him."

Officer Huang was clearly impatient.

"Oh, understood."

Xu Ming didn't dare say more and nodded.