My Promotion Story Through Time Travel

Chapter 65 Arrest

A total of thirteen bandits were captured this time. Chai, the patrol officer, left ten constables to handle the aftermath, while the group of men escorted the bandits away in a hurry.

Lin Ziping was still riding the same mule he had come on.

"Young Lin, you're much more steady than at the beginning," Inspector Chai said with a laugh. "This kid almost crashed into someone just now, hahaha..."

The others burst into laughter.

Lin Ziping maintained an awkward yet polite smile.

Bai Xin rode his mule to Lin Ziping's side and whispered, "Don't worry about it. Inspector Chai was just joking. The others don't have any bad intentions. You'll understand once you get to know them better."

Something felt off. Lin Ziping seemed to smell a refreshing aroma of tea. He stepped back, revealing a simple smile, and said, "Brother Bai, where did you get the idea that you care? Are you very familiar with these constables?"

Bai Xin was taken aback, scratched his head, and said, "I...I didn't mean that."

"Bai Xin, what do you mean by that?"

Lin Ziping silently gave Xiao Jiazheng a thumbs up for his sharp tongue, then blinked his big, bright eyes at Bai Xin.

"I...I...I'll go ask Inspector Chai what his orders are." After saying that, Bai Xin tightened the reins, kicked the mule with both feet, and sped up.

After Bai Xin left, Xiao Jiazheng said, "Stay away from Bai Xin. He grew up in the county government office since he was a child."

Wow, that's a lot of information, and it opens up a lot of possibilities!

"How did you know?" Lin Ziping still looked confused.

"Hmph, don't worry about it, just remember what I said," Xiao Jiazheng sneered.

It feels like a workplace drama now, with the villain in Lin Ziping's heart swaying.

"Why did you and Bai Xin both choose to stake out the checkpoint in Maomao Village after looking around?" Lin Ziping raised an eyebrow at Xiao Jiazheng.

Xiao Jiazheng lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then looked around and leaned closer to Lin Ziping and whispered, "I don't know how Bai Xin knows, but the locals all know that Maomao Village is at the foot of Maomao Mountain. Over the years, bandits have been to other villages around Maomao Mountain, but not that village. If there's nothing fishy going on here, I'm afraid no one will believe it."

Lin Ziping nodded, understanding the mystery behind it.

"Were the dozen or so people who came down the first time mostly from Maomao Village?"

“Yes, they were just scouting ahead.” Xiao Jiazheng nodded.

"No wonder their behavior and clothing were completely different from the two people who were arrested. Luckily, I didn't rush up then. The villagers and the people coming down the mountain outnumbered us. If they had been pushed too far, we wouldn't have been able to escape either." Lin Zi thought back to his thought of rushing up just now, feeling lingering fear.

“I still maintain that no one is born wanting to be a bandit. They might have originally been ordinary, law-abiding citizens. Becoming bandits in the mountains might just mean doing the hardest work, barely surviving, and still suffering oppression. We see them as bandits, but in their eyes, it's just a job, a way out when the world won't let them live.” Xiao Jiazheng sighed and continued, “Do you remember how many people came down the mountain the first time?”

Lin Ziping didn't want to engage in a pointless argument with him. After pondering the number of people who had started descending the mountain, he said after a moment, "Sixteen people?"

Xiao Jiazheng gave Lin Ziping an approving look: "Good eye. Pay more attention when you go to Maomao Village in the future, and go with more people."

"Not going to tell Inspector Chai?" Lin Ziping asked, somewhat surprised.

Xiao Jia looked at Lin Ziping with the kind of eyes one would use to care for someone with intellectual disabilities: "Do you think Inspector Chai didn't know there was a problem with Mao Mao Village?"

Um... Lin Ziping remained silent. It seemed that the bandits of Maomao Mountain were an open secret in Fuchun. These few might just be scapegoats. Without facial recognition and ID card matching, who knew if the bandit leadership had infiltrated the mountain? Besides, Maomao Mountain wasn't an isolated mountain. It was part of a continuous mountain range, so they might have already hidden on other mountains.

Let's stop here and not delve too deeply.

Looking at the boy beside him, Lin Ziping recalled his repeated statements that "no one is born wanting to be a bandit," and teased, "You seem to know a lot about bandits, and you always speak up for them. Could it be that you are...?"

Xiao Jiazheng felt a little uncomfortable under Lin Ziping's gaze and swallowed hard: "What is it?"

“You’re an undercover agent for the bandits!” Lin Ziping said.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Isn't what I said the truth? Unlike some people who appear to be upright gentlemen on the surface, who knows if they are human or ghosts?" Xiao Jiazheng rolled his eyes at Lin Ziping. "You should think about how to tell Lu Shuyin when we get back about being taken out by Inspector Chai."

Lin Ziping didn't take it seriously: "What are you thinking? What's there to think about? Just tell the truth. It's not like they're fighting like gods and we little devils are the ones who suffer. I'm just someone who does the work, not even a formal staff member. How can I refuse Inspector Chai on the spot?"

Xiao Jiazheng gave a thumbs up: "Scholars really know how to talk a lot about things. They have a whole set of theories. When I get back, I'll tell Inspector Chai that you did the most work in capturing those two bandits today. Don't worry, your own brothers won't let you get punished."

Upon hearing that Xiao Jiazheng was about to attribute the credit for catching the bandits to him, Lin Ziping's alarm bells went off. There's no such thing as a free lunch. Everyone wants something for themselves. The two were not related, and there was no evidence to suggest that Xiao Jiazheng would tell Inspector Chai that he had contributed more. Either it was a case of flattery to kill, or there was a trap to be set up later!

Thinking of this, Lin Ziping waved his hands repeatedly: "Thank you very much, Brother Jiazheng, but there is no need to exaggerate. Bai Xin contributed the most today, followed by Brother Jiazheng. I was just doing odd jobs behind you. I am grateful that I did not hold you back."

“You rushed in when they were catching the bandits, that’s a fact, isn’t it? The injury on your face proves it!” Xiao Jiazheng suddenly raised his voice.

People around turned to look, and even Inspector Chai turned to look at Lin Ziping.

Lin Ziping's heart tightened, and he gave Inspector Chai a smile.

Inspector Chai asked, "Are you two alright?"

"Officer Chai, we are fine. I am seeking guidance from Brother Jiazheng," Lin Ziping said with a smile.

Inspector Chai nodded and turned around.

Lin Ziping glared at Xiao Jiazheng, gritting his teeth in hatred. That little bitch! She's caused her father so much trouble!

"Then thank you very much, Brother Jiazheng!" Lin Ziping suppressed his anger and said calmly, then stepped forward and moved away from Xiao Jiazheng before he could reply.

It was already getting dark.

Lin Ziping, Bai Xin, and Xiao Jiazheng returned to the county government office. Seeing that Inspector Chai had not made any arrangements for the three of them, they followed him around.

Inspector Chai arranged for the yamen runners to lock up the bandits for interrogation the next day. He also made arrangements for the remaining yamen runners. By this time, it was completely dark. Seeing that the three men had not yet left, he said, "It's getting late. You three should go back quickly. You've worked hard today. I will report to Magistrate Feng and Magistrate Feng later."

The three men said nothing more and simply clasped their hands in agreement.