"Dishes are coming!"
The waiter brought out plate after steaming plate of food.
There were over twenty dishes covering the entire table: live fish in soy sauce, steamed river shrimp, honey-glazed char siu, braised pork knuckle, and more. The meat was rich and succulent, the aroma wafting through the air. Just the smell alone made everyone's mouths water.
Everyone swallowed, but no one reached for their chopsticks.
Chen Mo said, "Eat. What are you all sitting there for?"
One of the junior flag officers asked cautiously, "Sir, didn't we order too much?"
"There are eight of us, and we're all martial artists. If we don't eat our fill, how are we supposed to work?" Chen Mo saw their concern and chuckled. "What, are you worried I can't afford to pay?"
Everyone looked a little awkward.
They all knew the Magistrate Office's financial situation. There was no money in the accounts at all.
Back when Yan Liang led them on investigations, they had always skipped out on the bill. But after Li Yuan took charge of the affairs, she strictly forbade such behavior. So whenever they went out on official business, they generally brought their own provisions—
Chen Mo shook his head.
The Ding Fire Bureau was the only branch of the Heavenly Qilin Guard that had fallen this far.
Yan Liang and Chu Zhuo had lined their pockets extravagantly, while the people under them could barely afford a meal—
Just then, Qin Shou cleared his throat and said, "Don't worry. Lord Chen never shortchanges the brothers under his command! As long as you do your jobs well, you'll get to eat and drink your fill, feast on the finest food—and even have your pick of the pretty girls at the Music Bureau!"
"During the last Heavenly Demon case, the brothers