Chapter 12: Constable Zhang’s Ambition, Taoist Master, I’m So Eager to Improve.

Translator: yikaii Editor: absbx

“Taoist Master! Taoist Master! I’ve finally found you. Mayor Wu is hosting a banquet at noon to treat you and Master Lianhua to a meal.” On the mountain path, Constable Zhang ran over, panting, and spoke.

This time, Constable Zhang used a respectful form of address for you.(Editor’s Note:你, pronounced “ni” is the more casual you while 您, pronounced “nin” is way more formal and has a hint of respect, usually used for those older or held higher positions)

“Oh? Mayor Wu wants to treat me to a meal? Just in time, I wanted to thank Mayor Wu for his hospitality yesterday.” Upon hearing this, Yi Chen’s mouth opened wide, and he couldn’t help but laugh.

“Let’s go, lead the way ahead!” Yi Chen gestured grandly with his hand.

Watching Yi Chen’s tall figure, Constable Zhang felt a sense of dizziness in his heart. He had a strange feeling: how come, after just a few hours of not seeing him, Taoist Master Yi seemed even stronger?

“Could it be that Taoist Master was holding back before? Geez! How strong is Taoist Master actually?” Constable Zhang’s pupils dilated.

This is truly a golden thigh to hold on to.

Hidden Dragon Temple really is a gold-standard brand.

After thinking it over, he reluctantly took out a silver ingot and sneakily handed it over.

Yi Chen glanced at it; it was heavy, around twenty taels by his estimate, but he didn’t immediately reach out to take it.

Some silver is too hot to handle.

“Constable Zhang, what does this mean?”

Constable Zhang smiled humbly: “In a few days, the county magistrate will probably host a banquet to treat Taoist Master, and at the same time, pay the remaining three hundred taels for the evil spirit incident.”

“I was hoping Taoist Master could say a few good words in front of the county magistrate.”

“The previous Chief Constable died in Qingyuan Town, didn’t he?”

“Taoist Master, I’m so eager to advance.”

Yi Chen: “……” Ah, bah, ah, bah.

Actually, Yi Chen had a favorable impression of Constable Zhang. Pursuing advancement is not a bad thing, but you need to do your job well, and Constable Zhang did not drop the ball during the evil spirit incident in Qingyuan Town. He was involved throughout the entire process.

He may not have made a notable contribution, but he did put in the effort, and being the only Constable from Fengyun County to do so is commendable. It’s just that his political wisdom is too low.

Direct bribery? What kind of person does he think I, a righteous Taoist Master, am? I have promised my master to follow the path of benevolence and righteousness.

With this thought, Yi Chen’s expression became stern:

“Constable Zhang, what kind of person do you take me for?”

“How can you see me like this, blessed be the Immeasurable Heavenly Lord.”

“If you are truly devoted to the Tao, you can donate some money to the merit box at our Hidden Dragon Temple. I have seen your effort this time.”

Yi Chen made his point clear. From here on, it was up to Constable Zhang’s understanding.

Sure enough, Constable Zhang showed good comprehension and had the makings of a Chief Constable. He quickly said:

“Taoist Master, I misspoke.”

“I am devoted to the Tao, I can be devoted to the Tao.”

“I didn’t make myself clear just now, look at this clumsy mouth of mine. My devotion to the Tao is firm, and as Hidden Dragon Temple is a pillar of the Taoist community in Fengyun County. This silver ingot is a donation to the temple as incense money, to prove my sincere heart towards the Tao.”

“Is that so.” Upon hearing this, Yi Chen’s expression softened slightly, and he nodded, “Since it’s for the Taoist temple’s incense money, then I shall reluctantly accept it on their behalf.”

“Don’t do this again, okay?”

Constable Zhang nodded repeatedly.

As the two continued along the mountain path, Yi Chen couldn’t help but decide to give a few pointers.

“Constable Zhang, it’s good to be brave in your duties, but you must not engage in illegal activities. We can completely earn clean money through legal means.”

“Taoist Master, I understand, I understand.”

“You understand nothing!”

“An excellent Chief Constable should not always focus on the meager possessions of the poor. The highest realm of making money is to pluck feathers without making the goose squawk, do you understand?”

“Your predecessor was a fool, not making much but causing a stench and igniting hatred, leading to his untimely death as his karma.”

“I wouldn’t even recite a prayer for his rebirth.”

“Come closer, I’ll teach you a few tricks.”

Constable Zhang leaned in eagerly, and after a while, his expression became more and more confused, and he said with a mournful face: “Taoist Master, I don’t understand any of what you’re saying.”

Now Constable Zhang’s mind was full of terms like empowerment, grasp, benchmarking, sedimentation, central platform, funnel, closed-loop, tactics, compliance, alignment, through-put, pressure, implementation, ties, matrix, cognition, collaboration, feedback, linkage, compatibility, packaging…

Impressively incomprehensible, but like listening to a divine scripture.

“Ah, what a blockhead.” Yi Chen sighed.

He decided to make his advice more transparent.

“Fengyun County has a Treasure Street under your jurisdiction, with dealers of fake antiques, unscrupulous baiting, and counterfeit medicine vendors. Is there a single good person among them? Even if there’s someone selling genuine goods, it’s ‘not earning for three years, earn once to match three years ,’ with profits so high even I am tempted, but alas, my master forbids it.”

Yi Chen wore an expression of regret at this point.

“These people are not short of money and constantly fight over spots, disrespect hygiene, and litter. Is this acceptable?”

“You, get some lime, draw several stall spaces, and charge them stall fees.”

“Hire some of the elderly, infirm, and disabled for sanitation, charge a sanitation fee, and pay them a full wage as if they were fully able, but only hire the most pitiable, honest, and kind people, as if accumulating virtue.”

“This way, you’re more likely to have healthy sons.”

Upon hearing this, Constable Zhang looked up to Yi Chen with admiration: “Taoist Master, I understand now, I’ve realized it.”

“You’ve realized nothing.”

“How will the collected money be distributed?”

“Huh?”

“The waters here are deep, can you handle it?”

“You team up with a few friends who are also constables, and of the money you collect, you keep twenty percent, give thirty percent to the county magistrate, and fifty percent to the county governor.”

“Figure out on your own why thirty percent goes to the county magistrate and fifty percent to the county governor.”

“Also, don’t be too harsh when collecting stall and sanitation fees. Aim for a steady flow, pushing people just to their limits.”

At this moment, Constable Zhang was utterly admiring Yi Chen: “Taoist Master, I’ve truly understood now. The reason thirty percent goes to the county magistrate is because he controls the military force and needs to step in during conflicts, while fifty percent goes to the county governor because many of the stall owners are major local businessmen who require the county governor’s mediation.”

“A steady flow is to prevent those people from banding together and overturning the tables, which would then make us scapegoats for those above.”

“With this round of operations, I’ve taken care of colleagues and superiors alike. Who else should be the chief constable if not me?” Constable Zhang was all smiles, as if he had heard heavenly music.

“You’ve finally got a bit of an idea. Remember, in a lucrative industry, target those with money, not the poor devils for scraps. Let them go.”

“Remember, after everything is settled, anyone still selling chicken or counterfeit goods on Treasure Street, smash their stalls for me. Without innovation, just copying, such people ruin the industry.”

Yi Chen said furiously.

If not for too many following his lead and copying his methods, he could have made even more easy money.

Only those who have been rained on know to break others’ umbrellas when it rains.

If I can’t sell, then no one should.

Yi Chen had heard news that the spread of people selling chicken using his tactic was increasing.

Blatant piracy, without even paying him royalties, was excessive!

Constable Zhang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead… So, you are that legendary master.

“Taoist Master, rest assured, I will definitely crack down hard,” Constable Zhang promised, patting his chest.

“Taoist Master, can I become your disciple?”

“No, a master leads you to the court, the sentencing is up to the individual.”

“Ah???”

“My mistake, a master leads you to the door, cultivation is up to the individual. You lack insight, I can’t teach you. Just stick to running your business on Treasure Street, spend less time in brothels listening to music, do more good deeds, and use your influence to accomplish a few real tasks.”

“If you mess up later, using my name to say I taught you, then I will have to perform funeral rites for you.” Yi Chen smiled kindly.

Constable Zhang: “……”

“Taoist Master, don’t worry, I definitely wouldn’t dare. I want to improve to do more for the people of Fengyun County. Without your approval, I’ll just stick to Treasure Street.”

Heeding advice fills one’s stomach, a principle Constable Zhang understood.

Hearing this, Yi Chen smiled. Constable Zhang was beginning to seem like a real chief constable. He looked at Constable Zhang and nodded slightly:

“Little Zhang, I’m assigning you a task. After you go down the mountain, investigate the life of Boss Shi from Fushou Hall, see if he’s a person who enjoys doing good deeds.”

“Also, the reputation of Mayor Wu Changshou of Qingyuan Town, and an incident from two months ago about a girl named Xiao Cui who committed suicide by jumping into a river. Investigate these for me.”

“Moreover, anything big or small, or anything odd that happens in Fengyun County, if you find it strange, you can send someone to tell me at Hidden Dragon Temple.”

“Alright, Master, I’ll make sure to handle it well for you,” Constable Zhang suddenly had a moment of clarity, catching on quickly.

Yi Chen looked at Constable Zhang unexpectedly and smiled:

“You’re progressing fast.”

“Well then, from now on, you are my informal disciple. If anyone gives you trouble in the future, or you encounter something strange, come find me at Hidden Dragon Temple.”

“As long as it’s not your fault, I want to see who dares not to give some face to this poor taoist.”

“Disciple, the more I see you, the more you seem like Fengyun County’s chief constable.”

Constable Zhang: “All thanks to Master’s help.”

Yi Chen: “It’s all due to your own performance, there’s not much I can help you with.”

Half a tea time later.

Constable Zhang couldn’t help but ask: “Master, why do you, so young, understand so many schemes? Could it be that there really are people born with knowledge?”

“Blessings from the immeasurable Heavenly Venerate, disciple, there’s no such thing as being born with knowledge. It’s mainly because you lack spiritual awareness.”

“Not like your master, who has so much spiritual awareness it’s almost overflowing.”

“How can one gain such spiritual awareness then?”

At this, Yi Chen’s face took on a nostalgic look, and he said softly:

“Simple, experience more, observe more, learn more.

Get tricked every day, but make each trick a different one. As long as you persist for some time without dying, you will understand.”

Constable Zhang: “……”

“I’d better just do whatever Master tells me to do.”

Hearing this, Yi Chen paused: “Actually, you do have some spiritual awareness, I almost missed it.”

Yi Chen’s sudden decision to take Constable Zhang as an informal disciple was also an impulsive move to place a piece on the board.

Having a trusted person at the yamen could greatly benefit him in gathering information, especially to keep an eye on anyone targeting Hidden Dragon Temple.

After all, it cost him nothing, like planting a seed by chance, and let fate decide if it bears fruit or not.

As for the issue of Constable Zhang betraying him, he hadn’t considered it, because he would guide him back on the right path with the principles of righteousness.

Is the Taoist Master’s ship a pleasure boat? Come and go as you please, even dogs barking at Hidden Dragon Temple have to face the consequences, let alone betrayal? Hmph, even the Taoist Master himself can’t bear to think of the consequences.

(End of the chapter)