What? He bullied me this much, and I still have to thank him?

The Steward's Mansion, courtyard.

Sunlight filtered through the sparse branches and leaves, but couldn't dispel the subtle stuffiness in the courtyard.

"Headman Chen, you, how did you end up like this?"

Steward Li sat on a stone bench, looking at Headman Chen, whose face was as pale as paper. He was only wearing a thin undershirt, a robe haphazardly thrown over it, and was still trembling slightly. Steward Li raised his voice in feigned surprise.

Although he was about to be transferred, his sources were still quite reliable.

The major events that occurred would all reach him.

"Lord Li, you must do justice for me." Headman Chen's voice was hoarse and tearful, as if he had suffered immense injustice.

Steward Li said, "Don't panic. Tell me everything slowly, don't rush. First, tell me what happened."

He led Headman Chen to the stone table, had him sit down, picked up the teapot, and poured him a cup of tea. Headman Chen, upon receiving the tea, took a large gulp. It seemed to touch a sore spot, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead, his face contorted in pain.

Steward Li took all these expressions into account.

Good heavens.

He's been bullied this badly. I don't think I've ever seen Headman Chen in such a wretched state.

"Sir, it's not that I, Chen Xingzhi, like to report things, but Song Qing has a subordinate who is utterly arrogant. He defies superiors, disregards hierarchy, acts tyrannically, and is lawless. I implore you to do justice for me, dismiss him from his post, and have him punished."

Headman Chen hated Lin Fan to the bone. Even while recounting Lin Fan's crimes, he couldn't hide his anger.

Steward Li frowned, deep in thought, seemingly pondering the matter. This only fanned the flames for Headman Chen. He suddenly stood up, took off the outer robe he was wearing, and spun around abruptly, exposing his entire back to Steward Li.

"Sir! Look! Look with your own eyes! This was all caused by that Lin fellow! He, a mere commoner, dares to inflict such a vicious blow on me, a Headman. His arrogance is unbearable. If he is not severely punished, how will we lead the Security Bureau in the future? Will we still have rules? Will we still have hierarchy?"

Hiss~

Upon seeing the horrifying whip marks crisscrossing Headman Chen's entire back, his skin broken and flesh torn, swollen and purplish-black, even Steward Li, who had been mentally prepared, couldn't help but gasp.

That ruthless?

Is he butchering a pig?

Even when I play with my concubines, I'm not this brutal.

When Headman Chen woke up and saw the doctor applying medicine, he immediately stopped him. He struggled to get up, holding his breath, and came straight to the Steward's mansion. He wanted the Steward to see his injuries.

He wanted the Steward to know that the Security Bureau had a madman.

Steward Li stood up and, with feigned concern, draped the robe back over Headman Chen's shoulders. "Headman Chen, calm down, don't get agitated. You should rest well. You can come back after you've recovered."

As he spoke, the image of Lin Fan appeared in his mind: the domineering force of that blow, and the confident expression of the man saying he would take on another great deed before leaving.

At first, Steward Li had scoffed at it, dismissing it as empty boasting. But then came that blow, and he believed.

Is this something a human can do?

Headman Chen sat down again. Although furious, he subconsciously glanced at the open living room not far away. Logically, since he had arrived, the Steward should have led him into the hall. Why were they talking in the courtyard?

As he was lost in thought...

Steward Li slowly said, "First, tell me why he hit you."

Thinking of the humiliating events, Headman Chen was reluctant to elaborate, but he recounted being knocked unconscious on the street, entering the Security Bureau the next day to find the man, drawing his saber...

"You're saying you drew your saber and intended to kill him?"

Steward Li seized on the key point, interrupting Headman Chen's rambling and getting straight to the heart of the matter.

"Yes, Your Excellency, I was blinded by rage at the time, but..."

Steward Li raised his hand to interrupt, shaking his head. "You were foolish. You drew your saber to kill him, and you expect him not to retaliate? Setting aside the facts, have you not considered how wrong your actions were?"

"Drawing a saber in the Security Bureau and threatening to kill a colleague – if this were anywhere else, you'd have your skin stripped off. Moreover, you should know how capable he is. The fact that he didn't counter-attack with his saber means he was showing consideration for a colleague. Otherwise, you wouldn't be here. You should be thanking him."

"Ah! I should thank him?"

Headman Chen was a bit stunned, not expecting the Steward to say such a thing.

Suddenly, he had a bad premonition.

Could it be that the Steward took money?

He's speaking up for that Lin fellow.

"Sir, I made mistakes, but let's not discuss that. Let's talk about recent events. He captured He Sen, caused chaos in Loyalty Hall, and arrested people indiscriminately, causing widespread panic. This is affecting stability," Headman Chen said.

Steward Li waved his hand. "No, I don't think so. He Sen, Loyalty Hall, they are all essentially tumors in Yong'an. But they have been entrenched for many years, their roots too deep to be easily shaken. The common people have many grievances about this. Now that someone capable in the Security Bureau has taken action, it's also a way to save face for us."

As he spoke, he stood up, hands behind his back, appearing to be concerned about the country and its people.

"You must remember, our Security Bureau is the Security Bureau of the court, the Security Bureau of the people. We must stand on the same line as the people. When the people applaud, it means we are doing the right thing. When the people complain, it means we are not doing enough."

"In these years, although Yong'an has become much more stable under my diligent governance, it is still far from enough."

This set of righteous, morally superior pronouncements completely stunned Headman Chen. He opened his mouth, speechless for a long time.

Headman Chen was both anxious and angry. He couldn't care about anything else and said tearfully, "Sir, then you really won't do anything about him? You'll just let him humiliate me? Sir, Xingzhi has been with you for many years. Even without merit, there's hard work. You can't just ignore this."

"Alas," Steward Li sighed lightly. "Xingzhi, the palm and the back of the hand are both flesh. Whether it's you, Song Qing, or that Lin Fan, it's all the same. Favoring one over the others looks bad and is not conducive to unity."

He walked over to Headman Chen and patted his shoulder. "Let's just let this matter go. You are colleagues. It's normal to have conflicts and disagreements. Have a drink together in private, chat, and clear up the issues. That will be fine."

"You are the Headman, you need to consider the bigger picture."

As soon as these words were spoken.

Headman Chen exploded.

It completely ignited his long-suppressed anger and grievance.

Blood rushed to his head, and a thoughtless sentence blurted out.

"Sir, how much silver did you take from him?"

After saying it, he regretted it, his face instantly turning deathly pale.

Slap--

Steward Li was furious, slamming the table and reprimanding, "Chen Xingzhi, how dare you speak such nonsense? Who doesn't know that I, Li, am clean and upright? You are slandering me, what is your intention?"

Headman Chen, startled, quickly stood up, "Sir, your subordinate didn't mean it that way, your subordinate was impulsive, your subordinate deserves to die."

Steward Li's expression grew cold, his eyes piercing Chen Xingzhi's heart like blades. "You have disappointed me too much. I originally wanted to see your diligence over the years and put in a good word for you after my transfer, recommending you as Steward. But now, as Headman, you are arguing so fiercely with a Rookie Officer. If you were truly promoted to Steward, would you still have me in your eyes?"

Thump!

Headman Chen knelt on both knees, kowtowing like pounding garlic.

"Sir, please calm your anger, your subordinate knows he was wrong! Your subordinate will never dare again! Please give your subordinate another chance!"

He raised his hand and slapped himself in the face.

He wanted to advance too much.

After so many years, he was still just a Headman. The position of Steward was like a great mountain pressing down on him. If the mountain didn't move, he would have no chance of advancement. He had also considered finding connections to become a Clerk.

But he was unwilling.

A Clerk was a civil position, how could it compare to the position of Steward?

The County Office and the Security Bureau were separate.

The County Office was responsible for the entire city's construction, taxation, household registration, education, and so on.

The Security Bureau was responsible for maintaining public order and stability throughout the city.

He was in the Security Bureau, his network had been expanded to its limit, but if he became a civil servant or transferred to the County Office as a civil servant, those who had given him some respect might not recognize him anymore.

"Enough, go back and rest properly, and tend to your injuries. I don't want to hear any more news about this matter." Steward Li waved his hand in disgust, as if shooing away a fly.

"Yes, yes."

Headman Chen felt as if he had been granted a general amnesty. He scrambled to his feet, ignoring the sharp pain in his back, and scurried away.

After Headman Chen's figure completely disappeared, Steward Li tapped his fingers on the table and looked back at the living room. He could see craftsmen coming and going. The lingering impact of that blow remained in his mind, refusing to dissipate.

But what bothered him more was that the money for the repairs would have to come out of his own pocket.

A moment later.

Steward Li stood up, preparing to go see how the repairs were progressing, when a hurried voice called out.

"Steward Li..."

Damn it!

Who is it now?