My Promotion Story Through Time Travel

Chapter 72 Income

Lin Ziping was conflicted. Although he had been in this era for many years, he had received many years of ideological and moral education and had participated in many anti-corruption education activities after starting work. He still found it hard to accept that bribes were being offered and accepted right in front of him.

"This is a new guy from our county government office, surnamed Lin."

Shi Yong's voice interrupted the internal struggle that Lin Ziping was going through.

Lin Ziping tilted his head back and smiled absentmindedly.

"Master Lin." The man gave Lin Ziping a fawning smile and bowed deeply.

"Alright, I'm here today to tell you not to stay here for a while," Shi Yong said, glancing sideways at the man.

“Uncle Shi, what… what’s wrong? Our whole family is counting on this. The harvest hasn’t been good these past two years, and not many people come to Fuchun County. I… we… we’re all relying on this.” The man said anxiously after hearing Shi Yong’s words, his voice trembling with tears. “Is it because we don’t have enough money? Uncle Shi… please talk to the higher-ups… don’t send us away. We can give 80% of what we get to the county government. This… this… what do you think…”

"Is this money for the county government?" Lin Ziping was stunned. Looking at the ragged man and the equally tattered, unkempt men and women huddled not far away, arms crossed, glancing in their direction from time to time, and listening to the conversation between Shi Yong and the man, it was clear that the man in front of the people not far away was part of the same group. This was an organized group of beggars who had received official recognition. Thinking of the term "professional beggar" that he had heard before, it now felt perfectly fitting to apply it to this group.

Shi Yong said with a gloomy face, "Zhang Ershun, what have I done to you? Just leave when I tell you to, and stop talking nonsense."

"This...Master Shi, you know we're all counting on this. How are we supposed to survive if you ask us to leave? You...for the sake of my connection with your grandfather, please talk to the higher-ups and see if they can make an exception..." Zhang Ershun pleaded.

"Pah! What connection do you have with my grandfather, you mud-covered wretch? If you have any connection, go find him in the underworld!" Shi Yong suddenly sprang up and slapped Zhang Ershun across the face, causing Zhang Ershun to lose his footing and fall to the ground.

Lin Ziping was startled and quickly said, "Brother Shi, let's talk this out."

"Master Shi, let's talk this out." A young man dressed in tattered clothes, just like Zhang Ershun, hurriedly stepped forward and said to Shi Yong with a smile, even fawningly stuffing something wrapped in oil paper into Shi Yong's hand.

Shi Yong's expression softened somewhat, but he pursed his lips and remained silent.

The young man said, "Master Shi, please calm down. We'll leave tomorrow, but you have to give me a reason for leaving so I can give these dozens or hundreds of people an explanation when I get back."

"Hmph, I'm doing this for your own good. Some important people are coming to Zezhou these days, and what if they come to our Fuchun?" Shi Yong paused and said, "We've known each other for many years. We're all just trying to make a living. Normally, if you stop a stranger, the county government will just turn a blind eye and let it go. But if you're not careful and offend an important person, you'll suffer physical pain at best, and at worst, you could lose your life."

"Thank you for the reminder, Master Shi. We'll save it." The young man bowed repeatedly to Shi Yong and handed him another oil paper package.

Shi Yong glanced at Zhang Ershun, threw the oil paper package at him, and said, "Find a doctor to take a look at my Uncle Zhang. Don't say that our county government is bullying people."

After speaking, he glanced around at the people around him, and they all lowered their heads, not daring to meet Shi Yong's gaze.

"Ziping, let's go."

"Master Shi, Master Lin, please be careful on the road." The young man smiled obsequiously.

After the two walked away, the young man helped Zhang Ershun up, and the people who had been watching from the side also came forward and surrounded the two.

"Father, are you alright?" the young man asked, looking Zhang Ershun up and down.

"Xiao Wu, Dad's alright," Zhang Ershun said, his face red and swollen.

The young man, Zhang Xiaowu, breathed a sigh of relief: "Dad, what is your relationship with Shi Yongpan? How did his family get rich? His grandfather was Zhou Bapi, a notorious scoundrel and rogue in the surrounding area. What connection do we have with his family?"

“Sigh, this isn’t just a momentary lapse of judgment. How are we supposed to survive if we leave here? We’ve already sold the land, and even if we hadn’t, no crops would grow.” Zhang Ershun looked dejected. “Son, why don’t you secretly go to Huaizhou? Staying here will only lead to your death.”

“Father, what nonsense are you talking about? Without a household registration, where can we go?” Zhang Xiaowu said. “Let’s go outside the city first and see if we can survive.”

"Didn't we just finish suppressing the bandits?" the person next to him said timidly.

Zhang Xiaowu lowered his eyes: "We can always survive."

The voice was soft and dissipated with the wind; it was unclear whether it was meant to persuade others or to comfort oneself.

Seeing that Lin Ziping hadn't spoken, Shi Yong asked, "Ziping, do you think I went a bit too far just now?"

Although Lin Ziping felt resistant, he knew he couldn't say it directly, so he said sullenly, "No."

“They are all villagers from various villages in Fuchun. They are lazy and like to eat, so they gathered here. County Magistrate Feng did not stop them from blocking the carriage, so he did not stop them much.” Shi Yong explained, “They are a bunch of troublemakers. If we don’t teach them a lesson, they will turn the world upside down.”

If this were Shi Yong's personal behavior, Lin Ziping could still object, report it to higher authorities, and resist it. But since it involved County Magistrate Feng, it might be the unspeakable "hidden income" of the entire Fuchun County government, affecting the interests of too many people. Lin Ziping fell silent, took the bag that Zhang Ershun had handed over, and gave it to Shi Yong, saying, "Brother Shi, this is for you."

"This needs to be taken back and recorded in the books." Seeing that Lin Ziping did not speak, Shi Yong explained earnestly, "Fuchun County is poor. This is all the income of the villagers. You may not know this since you just arrived. Submitting this is a merit. These are the kinds of things that others are fighting to do. I'm doing you a favor. You can submit it today."

Lin Ziping pursed his lips and remained silent, thinking about the humility of Shi Yong and Chai Xunli when he first met them at Maomao Mountain, the gentle smile Shi Yong gave him in the county government office, the furious look Shi Yong had just made, and then seeing the kind and caring older brother in front of him. He couldn't help but marvel at how many faces a person could have.

"Ziping?"

"Brother Shi, no need, you should hand it in. Today's success is all thanks to you. I've learned a lot from you. This... this isn't appropriate," Lin Ziping refused.

Shi Yong stared intently at Lin Ziping.

Lin Ziping suppressed his discomfort and tried to make his eyes look innocently foolish.

"Good brother, I'll protect you from now on." Shi Yong put his arm around Lin Ziping's shoulder, looking like good buddies.

"Hehe." Lin Ziping gave a professional fake smile and flattered, "Thank you, Brother Shi."