Chapter 118: Taking Office and Soon to Light the Fire

So, a clear-minded grassroots official is truly important.

If one is honest and fair, the government office Runners dare not act recklessly.

If one is the greedy kind, naturally, if the beam above is crooked, the beam below will be too.

"That is to say, two strings of cash, divided among you forty or fifty people, less than forty wen each."

Captain Fang smiled bitterly: "I can manage, but my brothers are indeed working hard, yet they can still survive. One wen can buy seven liang of rough rice; if we eat sparingly, a family of three won't go hungry."

Li Lin thought for a moment and said: "I will set aside three taels of silver from my monthly salary and give it to you to divide."

Captain Fang was greatly alarmed: "This cannot be done."

Li Lin smiled: "I also receive seventy jin of blood rice every month; if I sell some on the black market, I won't lack money. Just today, my salary was issued, and it seems I have a share too. Follow me."

Li Lin arrived at the 'Household Office' and happened to meet Huang Ying working there.

Upon seeing Li Lin, he smiled: "Eldest brother-in-law."

Captain Fang looked at Li Lin in surprise, then seemed to understand something.

Li Lin asked: "May I ask, are you the County Lord's..."

"I am Huang Ying, courtesy name Ziqing." The youth stood up and smiled: "The youngest child in the family."

"Ziqing... are you now the Registrar?"

"Yes." Huang Ying asked with a smile: "Is Eldest brother-in-law here to collect your salary? I have already prepared it for you."

Having spoken, he took five strings of cash from the side and placed them on the table.

Each string of cash consists of one thousand copper coins.

It doesn't sound like much, but when actually displayed, it is very conspicuous.

It is also quite heavy; one string of cash weighs about seven or eight jin.

Li Lin said to Captain Fang beside him: "Help me hold three strings."

"Oh? Oh!"

Captain Fang held the three strings of cash.

At this moment, Huang Ying approached and said: "Eldest brother-in-law, I have been feeling a bit unwell lately; could you spare me one or two bottles of Body-Strengthening Pills?"

Li Lin understood with a smile: "No problem. Tomorrow I will have Hong Luan deliver them to the Huang Manor."

"Thank you, Eldest brother-in-law." Huang Ying clasped his fists and said: "Tonight I will host; shall we have a little wine at the Red Sleeve Pavilion?"

"I will not go." Li Lin waved his hand: "I still need to cultivate the mental technique tonight."

So diligent?

Huang Ying was somewhat surprised.

"Then another time, I will invite Eldest brother-in-law to drink wine."

"We shall see."

Afterwards, Li Lin led Captain Fang back to the Military Office.

Along the way, Captain Fang, carrying the three strings of cash, frequently looked at Li Lin, as if he had many questions to ask.

But in the end, he did not ask them.

Upon reaching the Military Office, Captain Fang had all the government office Runners assemble there.

Fifty-three government office Runners stood in the courtyard outside the Military Office, looking at the three strings of cash in Captain Fang's hands with great surprise.

Captain Fang looked at Li Lin and said: "From now on, every month, County Lieutenant Li will subsidize three strings of cash from his own salary to distribute among everyone; please thank County Lieutenant my lord."

A group of government office Runners instinctively clasped their hands, their minds too stunned to turn.

"The money is not much." Li Lin said slowly: "I also hope everyone does not disdain it."

The government office Runners finally reacted, looking at Li Lin with great excitement.

The money they could receive each month was too little; now with three strings of cash to divide equally among them, life would be much easier.

"Divide the money." Li Lin said: "After dividing the money, go out to patrol the streets."

The three strings of cash were broken up, and everyone came forward to receive some copper coins to take back.

As for the few extra wen, Li Lin collected them.

He then placed the two strings of cash in his own hand onto his official desk.

Afterwards, he went out and said: "Set out according to the usual patrol routes; the team patrolling the market will be led by me."

In the past, the market route was the one most people wanted to take, because even if no money was collected, they could still scrounge some food and drink in the market.

The government office Runners quickly split into five teams and set out.

Li Lin led the way, taking eleven of them to circle around the market; by noon, he treated these people to some cheap cool tea at a small stall.

A total of twelve people, costing only six copper coins; one could say it was quite cheap.

Li Lin coming out to lead the patrol, and on this particular route, also had a reason.

Not many people in the city knew about the new County Lieutenant, so he had to walk around to let more people know about this matter.

To facilitate the unfolding of future 'work'.

And the market is the place with the most foot traffic, and also the easiest place to spread news.

The small stall vendors served the twelve people cool tea with trembling fear; although they were very afraid, they did not dare to run.

Usually, a group of government office Runners was scary enough; now there was also someone in a different uniform, obviously an 'official'.

Li Lin slowly drank the weak tea; the taste was very average, but it did quench thirst.

The sun was somewhat scorching; Li Lin also wanted to let this group of government office Runners rest a bit longer.

The government office Runners drank the weak tea, looking at Li Lin with great admiration.

On the surface, Li Lin appeared fair-skinned and frail, much like the former County Lieutenant.

But the identity of a Spirit Hunter also made these people understand that Li Lin was not a weak scholar like Huang Qi.

Moreover, Li Lin was quite handsome.

Do not think men dislike another man for being handsome... If a man is handsome, capable, and very approachable, men are actually more likely to worship him and make him the center of attention.

The current situation was exactly that.

A younger government office Runner suddenly said, "Commandant, have you heard of the beggar gang in Xingzhuang?"

Upon hearing this, several government office Runners nearby had strange expressions, yet said nothing.

Li Lin shook his head: "Is there a story behind it?"

"It is rather... troublesome." The young government office Runner gritted his teeth and continued, "You can go take a look."

Li Lin nodded and said, "Finish the tea first, then we will go see it together."

He felt this young government office Runner seemed to be poking at something.

Soon, the tea was finished.

Li Lin led eleven government office Runners to Xingzhuang.

Pedestrians hurried here as well, and people shouted while setting up stalls; it looked no different from an ordinary street.

Li Lin looked at this young government office Runner, but the young man kept his head down, said nothing, and did not meet Li Lin's gaze.

Li Lin seemed to understand something.

Then Li Lin led them away without lingering.

By nightfall, Li Lin came here alone.

He moved stealthily on the rooftops, watching.

Unlike during the day, at night, many houses here had their doors left with a crack.

Then pedestrians would sneak inside, closing the door behind them.

Soon, strange sounds came from within.

Secret prostitutes?

To be honest, such things cannot be banned.

After all, not everyone can afford to go to the brothels; they are too expensive.

Nor can all women work as prostitutes in brothels; only the top tier have that chance.

It was just that Li Lin felt the matter was not that simple; otherwise, that young government office Runner would not have spoken so haltingly.

He lifted a tile to look, his expression solemn.

Because the women inside... were blind; it was clearly visible that their eyes were empty voids.

After replacing the tile, he jumped to the roof of another house and lifted a tile again.

The secret prostitute here was a woman who had lost her left arm.

The third was a woman with a broken leg.

The fourth, the fifth...

Before long, he understood: the entire Xingzhuang was a den of secret prostitutes.

All were disabled women.

Secret prostitution alone was nothing, but so many disabilities absolutely suggested coercion, trafficking, and the sale of human beings.

Without a protective umbrella, it could not exist so stably.

Then who was it?

Li Lin made no noise and was preparing to leave when he suddenly felt a chill attack from behind.

He immediately flipped over to hide behind a roof eave.

Then he saw an ugly female apparition float past on the roof ahead.

Li Lin was greatly surprised; this female apparition had not possessed a body yet moved in her true form. How had she evaded Taowu Zhenjun's 'detection'?

But shortly after, he knew the reason.

This female apparition possessed only Yin Qi, not resentment Qi.

At least, Li Lin could not sense her resentment Qi.

Then this female apparition found a house and did not enter; shortly after, the muffled sounds of a man's cries came from within the house.

This female apparition had joined in.

Li Lin did not act but left the place; he needed to find someone to ask what exactly was going on here.

Why did the Magistrate not care?

Did he not know, or did he simply not want to manage it?

(End of this chapter)