Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 130 - 129: Do Well, and You’ll Be the Next to be Promoted!

Chapter 130: Chapter 129: Do Well, and You’ll Be the Next to be Promoted!

Zhang San emerged from the meeting with the two Principal Officers, only to run into Wei, who was out for a stroll with Xu.

Wei immediately sidled up to him, whispering with a chuckle, "From now on, old Xu and I will be clinging to your coattails, kid."

After Wei finished speaking, he noticed that Zhang San’s face was devoid of any joy. On the contrary, there was a hint of gloom between his brows that would not dissipate.

"What’s wrong?"

"Senior Wei, I haven’t had the chance to practice the Eight Techniques of Hidden Ground you mentioned. It shouldn’t be too hard to learn, should it?"

"That depends on your aptitude. Why? You don’t need to learn it now, do you?"

While Wei was speaking, he realized that Zhang San hadn’t responded to him at all and was walking away, lost in his thoughts.

Xu leaned in and asked, "What’s the matter?"

"Why do I always feel like the kid is planning to skip town?"

Xu chuckled, "I’m not running away, why would he? A proud disciple of the Legalist school will be strutting down Chuan-Yu Road in no time—you’re overthinking it."

Zhang San had almost reached the entrance to his living quarters when he remembered the two Principal Officers had asked him to call Lu Qingquan over after they dismissed him.

So Zhang circled back to find Lu Qingquan.

When Lu Qingquan heard that the two Principal Officers wanted to see him right after meeting with Zhang San, it was pretty obvious what it was about!

Excitedly, Lu Qingquan pulled out a small piece of gold the size of a thumb joint and thrust it into Zhang San’s hand.

"Brother Zhang San, thank you. I’m on my way."

With those words, Lu Qingquan ran off toward the direction of the two Principal Officers, jumping for joy.

Zhang San had no idea why Principal Officer would be so happy to see him. Could there really be some good news?

Lu Qingquan ran excitedly toward the two Principal Officers waiting ahead.

Upon seeing Lu Qingquan’s urgency, Principal Officer Yue patted his shoulder and said softly, "Lu Qingquan, your accomplishments on Chuan-Yu Road are clear for all to see. Personally, I have always been very satisfied with you."

That settled it!

Lu Qingquan understood this routine all too well.

If it was about a promotion, then it was the leader’s personal satisfaction.

Conversely, if it was about punishment, then it would be the Town Martial Office that had some complaints.

Judging by the tone and intent, it looked like his position as Deputy Officer was about to be made permanent!

"By the will of the emperor, peaceful in our martial might, daring to serve the world justly! In life, I am a man of the Town Martial Office, in death, I will be its ghost!"

Seeing Lu Qingquan’s high resolve, Principal Officer Yue felt much more reassured.

"With that in mind, I will now announce the recent appointments within the Town Martial Office on the Chuan-Yu Road side."

Here it came! Here it came!

Lu Qingquan was so excited his face was flushed red.

"Third Miss Gan is hereby designated Acting Officer of the Town Martial Office’s Chuan-Yu Road division, and Lu Qingquan as Deputy Officer, fully assisting Third Miss Gan in handling the affairs of Chuan-Yu Road for the near future."

"Third Miss Gan... Acting Officer?"

The voice of Lu Qingquan carried an unfamiliar mix of confusion and pity.

Principal Officer Yue patted Lu Qingquan’s shoulder with a look of entrusting heavy responsibility, saying, "Although I am very fond of you personally, this is the decision from above at the Town Martial Office, and there’s nothing I can do. If it were up to me, I would definitely promote you."

Lu Qingquan pursed his lips, feeling like this was the taste of reality at last.

"But don’t lose hope, an Acting Officer is just that—acting, not official. This shows that you still have great potential. Keep up the good work, and you’ll be the one getting promoted next time!"

Lu Qingquan could only utter some trite and clichéd pleasantries.

When Lu Qingquan emerged somewhat dazed and confused from the residences of the two Principal Officers, Wei and Xu, who were still loitering outside, glanced over and couldn’t shake the feeling that these two officials seemed somewhat ominous.

Why did everyone look fine going in, but come out as though they’ve been dumped?

Just then, Third Miss Gan happened to pass by and called out to Lu Qingquan.

"Zhang San just told me he wants to rest for a while, so I’ve already approved three days’ leave for him. You go back and approve his leave paperwork."

Lu Qingquan was feeling irritated, especially at the sight of Third Miss Gan—the one who suddenly came out of nowhere to pick fruits—his irritation surged.

He had considered every possibility for a Military Chief to rise to the position of Officer, but never in his wildest dreams had he anticipated Third Miss Gan, that Hidden Martial practitioner, would be the one to advance.

"But... recently, many masters on the martial path from Chuan-Yu Road have gone missing, and there are even rumors linking this to the Dragon Serpent Gang. The Town Martial Office is very busy these days, and I fear that granting Zhang San leave at this time might leave us short-staffed..."

Third Miss Gan glanced at Lu Qingquan and harshly said, "In any case, I’ve approved the leave for Zhang San. If you think we’re short on people, go talk to the two Principal Officers about it."

Already in a foul mood, Lu Qingquan grew even more irate at Third Miss Gan’s arrogant attitude.

Especially since Third Miss Gan was giving Zhang San leave, while he was considering the situation from the Town Martial Office’s work perspective, from a big-picture point of view.

Lets just talk about it!

Surely the two Principal Officers can’t neglect the big picture just to speak on behalf of you and Zhang San, can they?

In that moment, the promotion-failed Lu Qingquan, like one who had lost his reason, turned around to meet the two Principal Officers and recounted the issue of Zhang San’s request for leave.

Even, to make the two Principal Officers sense the gravity of the situation, he didn’t mention how many days Zhang San wanted off but merely stated that he requested leave—and that Third Miss Gan had approved it without regard to the current situation on Chuan-Yu Road—asking how the two Principal Officers would handle this matter.

Principal Officer Yue and Principal Officer Ximen exchanged glances.

"Approving leaves is your duty. Although we are the Principal Officers, it isn’t appropriate for us to intervene too much. Moreover, I will have to go with Principal Officer Ximen to inspect the relics in Bai Yucheng afterward. Thus..."

After pondering for a moment, Principal Officer Yue continued, "I can’t remember exactly how long a martial artist of Zhang San’s rank is allowed to take leave for, but as long as it doesn’t exceed three months, it shouldn’t be a problem."

At that moment, Lu Qingquan was stunned.

A leave of up to three months isn’t a problem?

Have they gone mad?

Does Zhang’s Family run the Town Martial Office?

But then, the increasingly rational Lu Qingquan also realized that Zhang San was a disciple of Pharaoh, a man of Legalism, a man who would be rewarded with sixty jin of brass even if he killed his superior... so perhaps a longer vacation wasn’t all that strange?

Fortunately, Principal Officer Yue was merely suggesting granting Zhang San a longer vacation, which wasn’t too biased.

It dawned on Lu Qingquan only then that he should not have come to discuss this matter.

"Is Zhang San about to leave Xiongfeng Manor right after his leave begins?" Principal Officer Ximen suddenly seemed to recall something and asked.

"That seems to be the case, especially since Bai Yucheng did what it did. Now that Zhang San is in a bad mood, it’s understandable."

Lu Qingquan acutely realized that he actually couldn’t afford to provoke either Third Miss Gan or Zhang San himself. Since they were untouchable, it was better to go along with them.

Principal Officer Ximen nodded, got up, and muttered to himself, "Zhang San doesn’t seem very strong, just having entered the True Core Realm. I’ll go give him something; you all keep talking."

Saying that, Principal Officer Ximen left for Zhang San’s location.

Lu Qingquan watched Principal Officer Ximen’s retreating figure, and it dawned on him.

When Bai Yucheng was here, he was the second in command of the Town Martial Office in Chuan-Yu.

Now that Bai Yucheng is gone, he’s the third.

Bai Yucheng, why did you have to dig your own grave!?