Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Su Bin smiled without uttering a word.
Mr. Chen recognized that it was his cue to step in, and he gestured with his hand. âIt appears there might be some confusion regarding the governorâs instructions.â
Poxed Face Wangâs expression turned fierce as he inquired, âMr. Chen, could you please clarify what Iâve misunderstood?â
âThe governorâs message was quite straightforward: You only need to replicate 24 announcements today,â Mr. Chen replied calmly.
Poxed Face Wang grew increasingly agitated, his tone taking on a threatening edge. His true deceitful nature became evident as he deliberately feigned ignorance of Mr. Chenâs explanation.
He intended to employ the same tactic he had used with the previous governor to pressure Su Bin and Mr. Chen into making concessions, but they were not so easily manipulated.
Mr. Chen spoke slowly, âThe governorâs statement was crystal clear. Poxed
Face Wang, did you not hear it accurately? Allow me to reiterate it for you.â
âThe governorâs intent was that if you copy both announcements on a single sheet of paper, you only need to produce 24 copies. However, if you choose to separate the two announcements and copy them individually, youâll be required to produce 48 copies.â
âIsnât this a straightforward and logical directive?â
Mr. Chenâs words took on a reprimanding tone naturally.
Poxed Face Wang, accustomed to asserting his dominance, was about to lose his temper when two others intervened, firmly pressing down on his shoulders.
âBrother Wang, thereâs no need to get upset. Anger wonât help us resolve this issue. Letâs approach the governor and discuss the matter amicably.â
What was the most valuable thing in the world? Undoubtedly, it was money!
For the sake of this wealth, these individuals were absolutely unwilling to see Poxed Face Wang quarrel with the governor.
If Poxed Face Wang failed to complete his task, wouldnât the money promised by the governor vanish into thin air?
Nevertheless, these individuals still wished to support Poxed Face Wang. They aimed to help him negotiate with Su Bin and compose just one announcement. By doing so, Poxed Face Wang could swiftly accomplish the dayâs mission, enabling all of them to fulfill their duties.
They collaborated with Poxed Face Wang to strategize and engage in discussions with Su Bin.
âGovernor Su, itâs worth noting that both announcements are squeezed onto a single sheet of paper. Itâs quite cramped.â
âThatâs correct. The paper is overcrowded, necessitating smaller text. If the text becomes too small and is posted high on the wall, it might go unnoticed by those with poor vision. Wouldnât that render our efforts pointless?â âThus, Poxed Face Wangâs interpretation is not unfounded. Letâs craft one announcement today.â n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âWe can save the other announcement for tomorrow.â
âAfter all, there are very few cases reported in this region. Thereâs hardly any work to be done.â
âGovernor Su, please donât doubt our words. Despite the rumors of chaos in Shanglin Prefecture, the reality is quite different. Just take a look for yourselfâ there hasnât been a single report made here! Even if you inspect the holding cells, youâll find that few people have committed crimes.â
Su Bin chuckled. âYour arguments do seem reasonable.â
âConsidering how idle everyone appears to be, should we perhaps consider reducing your salaries by half?â
How could he even contemplate such an idea?
The objections were unanimous. âAre you kidding? Our salaries are already meager. This is absolutely not acceptable!â
âWe have elderly and young family members relying on this money for support!â
Su Bin observed their expressions. âI donât mind reducing my own salary. Iâll even forfeit half of it. Small amounts can add up over time. Half a year from now, it will amount to a substantial sum.â
âMr. Chen, could you calculate the potential savings over six months?â
Mr. Chen nodded and took a moment to perform the calculation. âThere are 12 bailiffs. Each one receives four taels of silver per month, except for Constable Liu, who gets six taels. That means you can save 27 taels per month..â