Can't Lose Face, Slap Him Twice

The people's hearts.

The public's hope.

Lin Fan knew very well that in this world, power was like flowing water, and only the people's hearts were as solid as iron.

He was now using his current authority to do progressive things and win the hearts of the common people.

This was also leaving himself an escape route.

Did kings and generals have a different origin?

This was a killing move that every transmigrator had to have at all times.

The Hu Family's residence was not far from the Security Bureau, but he did not rush back. He wanted to stroll around Yong'an City. The people who were familiar with the eldest young master Hu saw that face and blinked in disbelief.

In a teahouse by the street, a young man holding a teacup squinted his eyes. With a casual glance, he suddenly choked and coughed violently, his fingers trembling as he pointed at the street.

"Cough, cough... That, isn't that the Hu Family's..."

"Which one?"

"Oh, holy crap!"

"It's Hu Yu?!"

The exclamations spread rapidly like ripples.

Many commoners who were initially confused, after seeing it through the shocked gazes and pointing fingers of others, also gasped and whispered to each other in disbelief.

Were the people from the Security Bureau so audacious?

They even dared to lay hands on someone from the Hu Family?

Hu Yu was very aggressive at first, threatening to kill their entire family or saying they were dead. After Lin Fan publicly slapped him several times, he immediately became obedient.

He didn't shout or curse.

He lowered his head obediently, his thoughts unknown.

But they were definitely not good.

Security Bureau.

Xu Ming stood at the entrance, looking out, not returning to the office to work. The person on duty at the gate came out to ask a few questions. Xu Ming waved his hand, indicating it was nothing.

He already knew that Shopkeeper Wang had found Lin Fan.

But he didn't know how things had turned out.

The Security Bureau was very unstable now. Headman Chen had been seriously injured and was undergoing treatment. Headman Chen's confidants were all focused on how to regain their honor and avenge Headman Chen.

"Xu Ming, why are you standing here like a door god? Did you do what I told you to do?"

The confidants who had sent the headman to the medical clinic returned. Seeing Xu Ming standing dazed at the entrance, they were already in a bad mood and were even more furious.

They rushed forward and kicked Xu Ming in the waist.

Xu Ming was caught off guard and stumbled to the ground, but he dared not make a sound.

It was normal for official officers to beat rookie officers. If you want to do it, do it; if not, get lost.

The young masters who had just joined the Security Bureau also trembled with fear when they saw this scene. They had known before that the Security Bureau was corrupt and chaotic, with severe bullying, but they hadn't expected it to be this bad.

Of course, due to their status, the old hands were quite friendly to them.

It was just that this friendliness was based on their money.

Xu Ming got up without a word, his trouser leg bearing the imprint of a shoe. He didn't speak. His only chance to turn his life around was today. He didn't believe in Headman Chen, nor did he believe in Captain Song. The only one who could bring him a glimmer of hope was Lin Fan, who was also a rookie officer like him.

He didn't know why he thought Lin Fan was his glimmer of hope, but his intuition made him feel that way.

"Are you mute? I'm asking you, did you do it or not?" Zhao Fu became even more furious when he didn't answer and raised his hand to hit him again.

He was already agitated.

Seeing Xu Ming being so unappreciative, he became even angrier.

Just then, a noisy sound of footsteps and commotion came from the street corner, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

Xu Ming's heart leaped with joy when he saw the approaching large group. He saw Lin Fan, and also saw Shopkeeper Wang excitedly gesturing and talking beside him, completely devoid of his previous despair and dejection.

He anxiously searched behind them. When he saw the familiar arrogant face being escorted like a dead dog, Xu Ming's heart skipped a beat, almost jumping out of his throat!

He really caught him. Brother Lin really caught him.

At this moment, Lin Fan walked to the entrance of the Security Bureau, his gaze calmly falling on Headman Chen's confidants. Then, his gaze shifted to Xu Ming. He had learned from Shopkeeper Wang that a rookie officer named Xu Ming had asked him to find him.

Yang Ming had told him about Xu Ming's situation: he had been in the Security Bureau for several years, was still a rookie officer, came from an ordinary family, and was a recommended candidate for a high-ranking official's inspection as a superficial effort.

"Young Master Hu."

Headman Chen's confidants were all stunned when they saw the detained Hu Yu.

Hu Yu heard the voices and suddenly looked up, saying ecstatically, "Zhao Fu, save me quickly! Where is Headman Chen? Hurry up and have him come out to release me. This son of a bitch dared to arrest me at the Hu Family's residence, I'll kill him."

Slap--!

Lin Fan didn't even look, casually slapping him, and said to Zhao Fu, "Did you handle the matter of Shopkeeper Wang's tavern? Did you frame the child?"

Facing Lin Fan's gaze, Zhao Fu's throat bobbed up and down, sweat breaking out on his back. He was a formal officer, while the other was just a commoner, yet he was terrified.

It was as if the person standing before him wasn't human, but a man-eating tiger.

That look, that aura.

It was suffocating him.

"Lin, Lin Fan, you're going too far," Zhao Fu stammered after a long pause.

Pfft!

Lin Fan chuckled and looked at Xu Ming, "Are you Xu Ming?"

"Brother Lin, I am Xu Ming."

"Shopkeeper Wang told me about you. Interested in working with me?" Lin Fan extended an olive branch. He was short on manpower; besides the headman and Yang Ming, he sometimes had to ask the dockworkers to drop their tasks to handle matters.

It was quite inconvenient.

Xu Ming hesitated for almost no time, stating resolutely, "I am willing, I am willing."

Zhao Fu's face turned cold. This was poaching Headman Chen's man right in front of him. Even if Xu Ming was not favored by Headman Chen, he was still Headman Chen's man.

"Who kicked you?" Lin Fan saw the footprints on Xu Ming's pant leg and the dust on his clothes, understanding the situation. "Never mind. Since you're working with me, you can't lose face for me. Give him two slaps."

"Yes, Brother Lin."

Xu Ming felt a surge of adrenaline rush to his head. He strode towards Zhao Fu.

"You dare."

Zhao Fu roared in anger.

Xu Ming's eyes sharpened, and he raised his hand without hesitation.

Slap! Slap!

Two crisp, loud slaps landed squarely on Zhao Fu's face. The force of the blows turned Zhao Fu's head to the side, leaving bright red handprints on his face.

The entire scene fell silent!

Zhao Fu was stunned by the two slaps. The burning pain on his face and the immense humiliation instantly overwhelmed his reason.

He never expected Xu Ming to actually dare to act.

"Xu Ming, you son of a bitch!" Zhao Fu roared, drawing his saber with a clang. The gleaming blade pointed directly at Xu Ming. "I'll kill you, you mongrel."

The surrounding officers were dumbfounded. They naturally wanted to shout, but the thought of Lin Fan's ruthless methods came to mind. Moreover, since the incident wasn't happening to them, they held back their anger.

Xu Ming held his head high, a slight smirk on his lips, completely unfazed, as if daring Zhao Fu to attack him if he had the guts.

Seeing the saber drawn, Hu Yu shrieked, "Zhao Fu, what are you waiting for? Cut him! Cut him! He's just a commoner, what are you afraid of?"

Lin Fan chuckled, "Young Master Hu, was he the one handling things for you?"

"So what if he was? Everyone in the Security Bureau works for me. Lin, remember everything you've done to me. I'll make you pay it all back, a hundredfold, a thousandfold, even tenfold thousandfold." At this moment, Young Master Hu still didn't grasp the severity of the situation and continued to bluster.

Zhao Fu's mind was in chaos, and he didn't hear what Hu Yu said. As he stood there stunned, Lin Fan kicked him to the ground. As Zhao Fu looked up, Lin Fan waved his hand.

"Take him down."

Xu Ming, receiving the order, didn't say a word. He grabbed Zhao Fu's wrist, placed his knee on his back, and pinned him to the ground. Zhao Fu cried out in pain, "Let me go! Lin, what do you think you're doing? I'm a formal officer, and you, a mere commoner, dare to assault a superior! What are you all standing there for?"

The surrounding officers stepped forward, their hands reaching for their saber hilts.

But as Lin Fan's gaze, like a cold blade, swept over each of them, the invisible pressure made their scalps tingle. Not a single one dared to step forward.

He had intimidated them.

Lin Fan said in a deep voice, "Zhao Fu, as an officer, you accepted bribes from Hu Yu, framed someone, and committed a crime against the law. Today, you will be arrested and sent to prison for interrogation. I advise you to think about how to confess."

"Take him away."

With a wave of his hand, they entered the Security Bureau.

Only the bewildered crowd remained, as if floating in the clouds, their minds filled with confusion and uncertainty.

The onlookers' mouths hung open, unable to close for a long time.

Was this a scene they were meant to witness?

It was something they had never dared to imagine in their lives.