The hall was abuzz with constables. Some congratulated the probationary constables who had inherited official constable posts, while others, like Chen Cheng and his group, gathered together to speculate over who would ultimately claim the final official constable vacancy. The latter made up the majority.
Ruyi Ward had a population of tens of thousands, yet only a little over two hundred official constables in total. They might not wield much power, but they were at least members of Linji City's government. Both they and the younger generations of their families had secured an iron rice bowl, along with the possibility of climbing further upward.
Only a handful of people became official constables through external recruitment each year. Anyone who passed layer upon layer of assessments to attain such a post could hold their head high and bring glory to their family.
Never mind official constables—just the probationary constable assessment a few months ago had caused quite a stir. Liu Yunfeng and Zhao Yongfeng, the two most influential head constables of the Ruyi Ward Branch Office, had even fallen out over it, becoming fodder for the constables' idle chatter for quite some time.
The Ruyi Ward Branch Office had six head constables and six squads, each with quite a few probationary constables. Chen Cheng was the strongest probationary constable in Liu Yunfeng's squad, and the other squads clearly each had their own strongest probationary constable as well.
The strongest probationary constables of every squad received treatment much like Chen Cheng's. Their fellow squad members subtly clustered around them, either currying favor in advance or offering words of encouragement. After all, having one more official constable in their own squad was something that gave them face before the other squads.
The constables were not the only ones thinking this way. The six