"Then Wude Street is in your hands, young Pavilion Chief Zhang." Fang Yun smiled, as though he were truly congratulating Zhang Jing'an.
Zhang Jing'an chuckled. "Watch me put my learning and talents to use, elder Pavilion Chief Zhang!"
"I'm heading to the street pavilion on Jiangjin Street now. Farewell." Fang Yun boarded the carriage and told the driver to set off. After a moment's hesitation, the driver flicked his whip.
Zhang Jing'an froze for a moment. Seeing the carriage slowly move away, he shouted, "Why aren't you taking me with you?"
"We're both pavilion chiefs. You'll have to stand on your own two feet!" Fang Yun's voice came from inside the carriage.
Zhang Jing'an glared at the carriage in embarrassed anger, snorted, and muttered to himself, "I can live perfectly well without you. It's only one street! In Jingzhou City, I count as something of a local snake myself! Don't think I don't know you're trying to put me in my place. I'll go to South City right now and find my brothers. They'll help me be pavilion chief!"
The sun hung high, making Jingzhou City even more languid that afternoon.
At the end of Wude Street stood a small, two-story building with its own courtyard facing the street. Above the courtyard entrance were the words "Wude Street Pavilion."
Though the street pavilion was small, its jurisdiction was equivalent to that of a township or town, and its wealth and population exceeded those of most such places. The chief of a pavilion in such a prosperous area wielded considerable authority.
Everything on the street-public order, taxes, corvée labor, disputes, commerce, and civil affairs-fell under the pavilion chief's administration. Only major matters were referred to the City Guard or the prefect of Jingzhou for a decision.
Wude Street was somewhat quiet