Chapter 13: Danger must be nipped in the bud

Twenty days passed in the blink of an eye.

No common people ever entered the police station again.

Residents in the town and the village resolve disputes internally. If the conflict becomes too serious to resolve, the respected elders in the village or clan will come forward to resolve it.

Chu Ning didn't stay in the police station all day. Every morning he went to the mountains to catch silver-backed vipers.

He caught more than twenty snakes in total. It’s not that he couldn’t catch more, but he simply released those young snakes that were obviously only a few years old.

We cannot exhaust the resources to fish out the pond, we must pursue sustainable development.

In addition to catching silverback vipers, Chu Ning also caught some other wild game. After several experiments, he concluded that the silverback vipers were the most helpful for the practice of "Bull Demon Power".

Now he is steadily gaining six kilograms of strength every day.

Unfortunately, the progress of the Bull Demon Fist was not great, and it was still a long way from being a minor success. Chu Ning estimated that he had to wait until the Bull Demon Power was cultivated to the fifth level before the Bull Demon Fist could achieve a minor success.

Early this morning, Chu Ning did not go to the back mountain again.

Today is the day to collect taxes.

Taxes are collected once every half month in the city and once a month in the town.

The town does not have as many streets as the city. All the businesses are on one street, which also accounts for the bulk of the tax. As for the farmers in the village, they only need to hand over grain. There are regulations on how much grain each household can collect. Of course, Chu Ning can collect more, but Chu Ning has no intention of making any profit from it.

Chu Ning arrived at the commercial street. The shops and vendors on both sides had prepared the tax money, each placed in a small bag. As Chu Ning approached them, they handed it over.

They are all merchants who know the rules.

As for the rumor that some vendors are cunning and avoid setting up stalls today and then set up stalls tomorrow, this does not happen.

Because Chu Ning would come here occasionally to shop, he knew how many businesses there were.

At the same time, other merchants are also watching us. We have all paid, but you don't want to pay. I feel unbalanced and just report you. Once reported, all items on the stall will be confiscated, and you will be driven off the street and will never be allowed to set up a stall again.

If you dare to do it again, you will be thrown into jail and eat public food if you are caught.

In general, the collection of protection fees was very smooth. Some vendors paid less tax silver, but Chu Ning did not hold it against them. He just asked them to make up for it next month.

Soon, only a few shops were left. Chu Ning walked to a stall that had some straw sandals and woven mats. The stall owner was a big man.

The man had a ferocious expression on his face: "I...my cousin is from the Sanzhu Gang..."

"Excuse me."

Chu Ning smiled and turned to walk to the next house.

The Sanzhu Gang is the number one gang in Daning County and we cannot afford to offend them.

When it comes to collecting protection fees, Chu Ning has a principle: to be stable first.

Those with backgrounds can charge as much as they can, but it doesn’t matter if they don’t charge.

It’s okay to charge less if you have no background, but don’t push them into a corner.

The big man was stunned when he saw Chu Ning turn around and leave. He still had a purse in his hand. He just wanted to say that his cousin was from the Sanzhu Gang, so could he pay less.

The reason why he attacked the old constable with a club was because the old constable was too ruthless and did not leave him any profit. When he revealed that his cousin was from the Sanzhu Gang, he was beaten up by the old constable.

If he hadn't been severely bullied, why would he choose to join the gang?

Back at the police station, Chu Ning counted his income, which was six taels and five cents plus two thousand four hundred copper coins.

This money was pure profit for him.

He sent the five taels of silver to his great aunt. Anyway, he didn't have to pay for food and drink in Xiafeng Town, and the merchants in the town were very hospitable. Not only did they give him free meals, but they also gave him discounts on his purchases, with the lowest discount being 50% and the highest being 10%.

Next month.

This was Chu Ning's last time collecting protection money this year. The end of the year had arrived and the town's commercial street had become more lively. People from many villages below had come into the town to buy New Year's goods.

The main focus is still on stability, and the Buddhist way of collecting protection fees.

"Sir, thank you for your forgiveness last month. This is what I owe you this month and last month. Here is also a fish that I just caught today. You can take it home and make soup."

"Old Li, you are so thoughtful."

Chu Ning was deeply moved. He thought of what it meant for officials and the people to be one family. This was the true sense of officials and the people being one family.

Look at the people in this town, how simple and honest they are.

Soon, Chu Ning's hands were full of things.

"Master Chu, according to your request, this is my improved chili powder, which is finer, lighter and spicier."

In front of a shop selling soy sauce and seasonings, the shopkeeper took out a bag of chili powder. Chu Ning pinched it with his fingers and found that it was indeed finer than the ones he had bought before. Then he dipped his fingers in the chili powder and put them into his mouth.

Spicy! The shopkeeper beside him quickly brought water and said, "Master Chu, this chili powder uses chili peppers from Tiannan Prefecture. It is several times spicier than our local chili peppers. Not to mention eating it, even if you put it on your skin, you will feel some spiciness."

After several attempts and confirming that the boss was not exaggerating, Chu Ning left the store very satisfied.

Soon they reached the end of the street again, and the vendor selling shoes and woven mats was also there. Chu Ning was about to walk straight past him.

"Master Chu, please wait a moment."

Chu Ning stopped and asked, "Why, I'm not charging you protection money, but you're still asking for more?" "Here's the tax money for this month." Liu Da took out a purse.

This surprised Chu Ning. He had never seen anyone voluntarily pay protection fees. Are the people of Xiafeng Town so conscious? "I have another piece of news to tell you, sir. The Sanzhu Gang is coming to our Xiafeng Town."

Chu Ning was startled. Those gangs usually take root in the county town or some more developed towns, but Xiafeng Town doesn't have much money. Why would the Sanzhu Gang come here to plant their flag? "You are a good detective. I won't hide it from you. My cousin is a thug of the Sanzhu Gang. He has been doing well in the Sanzhu Gang over the years. But each branch of the Sanzhu Gang has a leader. If my cousin wants to make more money, he can only open his own branch. The last time I went to the city, my cousin said that he planned to open a branch in Xiafeng Town."

After listening to Liu Da's explanation, Chu Ning finally understood what was going on.

Liu Da's cousin joined the Sanzhu Gang, and fought his way to the position of a small leader. He also had a few men under him, but to be a gangster, you had to be rich, otherwise you wouldn't have brothers to follow you. The money-making business in the county had long been occupied by the top leaders of the Sanzhu Gang and other gangs. Liu Da was thinking of bringing his men to Xiafeng Town to plant his flag and collect protection fees from the people of Xiafeng Town to strengthen himself.

"Does the leader and higher-ups of the Sanzhu Gang know about this?"

"No, the leader of the Sanzhu Gang doesn't think highly of Xiafeng Town, and won't care about such a small matter. My cousin said that he will report to the leader after he has planted the flag and set up a branch here."

"Thank you, Mr. Liu, for telling me this. From now on, you won't have to pay protection... or business tax on this street."

Chu Ning patted Liu Da's shoulder. He didn't want to hang around any longer, so he went straight back to the yamen and started thinking about countermeasures.

Xiafeng Town is so small, and the protection fee is so little every month. If Liu Da's cousin comes here, the people will pay him protection fees, so where will the money be left to pay for himself?

Under the double exploitation, who knows what kind of ruthless person will emerge if they are pushed to the limit.

If I had two acres of land in Luoyang, how could I be as good as Su Qin, the prime minister of six countries?

Don’t say that the stone man has only one eye. He stirred up the Yellow River and caused the whole world to rebel against Han Shantong and Liu Futong.

And Zhu Chongba, who started with a bowl...

The latest novel is published first on Liu9shuba!

In history, all the founding emperors rebelled because they were forced into a desperate situation.

If he chose to ignore the Sanzhu Gang, he would be looked down upon by his colleagues in the police station. The most important thing was that some of the captains knew that Chief Huang was looking after him.

Such a shameful performance also brings shame to Director Huang.

I have accepted someone's favor. Even if I don't have to repay them right away, at least I can't embarrass them.

Being stable is right, but it does not mean unconditional concession.

In my previous life, I read those novels about the protagonists who had golden fingers and immortality, and chose to be servants or live as a pauper for decades and be exploited by others. Those were all written by people with holes in their brains.

It’s okay to be afraid of death, and it’s also okay to live a life of shame, as long as you can at least give yourself a decent life.

"Hey, you forced me to do this. I just wanted to be a captain of police safely." Chu Ning had a plan in mind.

…

…

It was a dark and windy night.

Even the wind tonight was much stronger than usual, bringing with it a hint of solemnity.

In the brothel of Shangning County, several figures staggered out. The one in front was a burly man with a face reeking of alcohol.

"Boss, these women in the brothel are really cool."

"It's great, but it's also expensive. I only have one tael of silver left this month."

"It's still those guys in the gambling house who make the most money. I heard they make one or two taels of silver every day."

The man in the front snorted coldly, "Don't worry, brothers. I'll take you to Xiafeng Town in a few days. We'll go there to plant flags and collect protection fees. It's better to be a local tyrant there than to suffer in the city."

"Boss, I heard that Xiafeng Town is very poor, and even the detectives from the police station are unwilling to go there."

"It's because they don't want to go that it's easier for us. The detectives from the police station don't want to go because they are not ruthless. We can collect 50% or 70% of the protection fee, and the money will be more. Then we can sleep with any girl in the town we like. These girls from decent families who don't have any brothels are fun but they are young."

Hehehe! The four of them fantasized about the days when they would be the kings of Xiafeng Town again, while walking towards the yard where they usually lived.

As soon as I entered the alley, a gust of hot wind blew towards me.

"Boss, this wind is not cold, it's a bit hot."

"Damn, there's something in my eye that's so spicy!"

"We've been ambushed, everyone be careful." The big boss Liu Wei shouted. Although he couldn't open his eyes, he had fought for many years and had been stabbed more than a dozen times over the years, so he had some experience in the underworld.

"Don't be afraid, everyone. Usually, those who resort to such despicable means are not strong enough... I..."

Before Liu Wei could finish his words, he felt a pain in his chest.

It hurt so much! Then he lost consciousness because the punch broke his heart.

In the alley, a masked man killed Liu Wei and four others, then quickly ran deeper into the alley.

After turning three alleys, Chu Ning came to the river and took off his mask and black clothes. Then he went around to the other side of the river, crossed a street, and then slowed down.

The first time Chu Ning killed someone, he found that he did not feel uncomfortable.

It may also be because he was killed in one blow, so there are not too many bloody scenes.

"My strength can crush Liu Wei and the other three, but if I hadn't used the chili powder to confuse them, I'm afraid that when I kill one or two of them, the remaining two will shout and cause unnecessary trouble."

"It was because I used chili powder that Liu Wei felt that he was not strong enough. It seems that chili powder can not only catch the enemy off guard, but also confuse the enemy."

Chu Ning summed up his first battle experience in this world and was more certain that Chili Powder's strategy was correct.

When facing someone with similar strength, Chili Powder can catch the opponent off guard. If the opponent is weaker than himself, he can also paralyze the enemy.

Facing someone stronger than you...

I am so stable that I won't offend those who are stronger than me.

"Chili powder has its disadvantages, which is that you have to stand in the upwind direction, otherwise it is very likely to fly onto your face. If you can overcome this disadvantage, chili powder can be regarded as your trump card."

(End of this chapter)