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16: The Si Mansion was alarmed and suspected that power had fallen into the wrong hands; undercurrents surged and their resolve was strained.

“Qingfeng, how is your consideration?” After waiting for a moment, Steward Qiu's patience had worn out, so he asked for Zhou Qingfeng's decision.

Cold sweat had appeared on Zhou Qingfeng's back; he steadied his emotions and then said: “I want to go to the Night Patrol Bureau.”

Following the principle of choosing the peaceful if there is peace, and the auspicious if there is auspiciousness.

Knowing the danger, one should seek luck and avoid misfortune, naturally not choosing the worst lot.

Steward Qiu nodded slightly: “Good, from today onwards you will report to the Night Patrol Bureau and serve as a Banner Lieutenant.”

Zhou Qingfeng bowed and cupped his fists: “Yes, Steward Qiu.”

Steward Qiu looked at the others: “What about you?”

“Wherever Zhou Qingfeng goes, I go!” Ye Tingxiu was persistent, deeply afraid of being separated and losing the chance for a fair contest with Zhou Qingfeng; if they went to the same place, there would be more opportunities for competition.

Zhou Qingfeng: “...”

Steward Qiu said: “Fine, Ye Tingxiu, you will also go to the Night Patrol Bureau to serve as a Banner Lieutenant.”

Xiao Hongyun scratched his head: “I don't know where to go either. Every place seems good, but since Zhou Qingfeng chose the Night Patrol Bureau, he must have seen that it's the best place.”

“I believe a Genius like him shouldn't choose wrongly, so I also choose to go to the Night Patrol Bureau.”

Zhou Qingfeng lowered his head and remained silent. He had no feelings or relationship with these nominal colleagues. Whether their future was good or bad, he wouldn't speak up to remind them; everything was up to them.

The others successively chose to go to the Alchemy Workshop, the Artifact Refining Workshop, and the Brewery Workshop according to their own wishes.

Regarding serving in the Merchant Caravan, they were all well aware of the danger, so they tacitly chose to avoid it.

Until Lin Yi and Chu Tian appeared; they chose to go to the Merchant Caravan.

This move not only surprised the colleagues present, but even Steward Qiu showed a look of surprise.

However, Lin Yi and Chu Tian had their own ideas.

To stay after a year, one must produce results sufficient to stand out.

But Zhou Qingfeng, Xiao Hongyun, and Ye Tingxiu's talents were each stronger than the last, pressing down on them until they could hardly breathe.

If they couldn't compete in talent, it would be difficult to get ahead.

Without taking risks and taking unconventional paths, they would surely be sent out of the city in a year.

Rather than that, it was better to take a risk, take a gamble, and face the difficulties head-on.

Following a Merchant Caravan on a trade route once, earning a large amount of wealth to produce results, they could also experience actual combat on the way to quickly improve their strength, and perhaps even gain unknown surprises and unexpected Opportunities.

“Commendable courage.” Steward Qiu didn't say much, just looked at the two with a word of praise, then said: “You have all made your choices, so pack your things and follow me out of the manor; the carriages are already prepared at the gate.”

The group of nineteen followed Steward Qiu out of the City Lord's Manor. After leaving the manor this time, except for Zhou Qingfeng who had the privilege of entering and leaving the City Lord's Manor, the others could no longer enter without permission and a summons.

Four carriages lined up in a queue, carrying Zhou Qingfeng and the others toward the Night Patrol Bureau.

A moment later, they arrived at the Night Patrol Bureau.

Steward Qiu took Zhou Qingfeng, Xiao Hongyun, and Ye Tingxiu into the Night Patrol Bureau.

“I didn't know Brother Chengde was visiting, please excuse my lack of greeting, please come in...” The Road Administration Office of the Night Patrol Bureau cupped his fists and greeted with a smile from afar, looking flattering and familiar.

Steward Qiu smiled slightly: “Road Administration Office, the City Lord has assigned a task that must be completed today. Forgive me, I have official business and cannot stay long, so I won't go in to sit.”

Outside he called her City Lord, inside the manor he called her Madam. Steward Qiu's sense of propriety was very accurate; he knew what to say in what setting, his words never overstepping in the slightest, and he certainly wouldn't call the Road Administration Office 'brother' when handling official business.

The Road Administration Office looked puzzled: “Brother Chengde, your visit this time...”

Steward Qiu stepped aside, revealing the three behind him—Zhou Qingfeng and the others—and said: “The City Lord orders that Zhou Qingfeng, Xiao Hongyun, and Ye Tingxiu shall join the Night Patrol Bureau as Banner Lieutenants starting today, to assist the Road Administration Office in presiding over the Night Patrol Bureau.”

The Road Administration Office's expression changed slightly: “What does the City Lord mean by this? Could it be that she doesn't trust me? I am utterly loyal to the City Lord, with no second thoughts. No, I must personally go and explain to the City Lord.”

Steward Qiu pulled him back and said with a smile: “The Road Administration Office has misunderstood. Considering the busy affairs of the Night Patrol Bureau, the City Lord feared you might be overwhelmed, so she specially arranged for a few excellent young people to help you.”

“This... fine. Brother Chengde, please send my regards to Madam and thank her for her consideration.” Having reached this point, even if the Road Administration Office was unwilling, he could only comply.

Steward Qiu saw through it, but still maintained a smiling face, remaining calm.

Previously, the Night Patrol Bureau was controlled by the Road Administration Office alone, with all matters great and small decided by him. The two Banner Lieutenants in the bureau were also trusted aides he had personally promoted. Recently, he had also been getting very close to Eldest Young Master Ma.

Moreover, he was somewhat feigning compliance with Madam's words while secretly engaging in small maneuvers.

It wasn't certain that the Road Administration Office had disloyal intentions, but Madam felt he was getting a bit ahead of himself, so she sent her own people to be parachuted into core positions in the Night Patrol Bureau to split his power and plant a stake.

Furthermore, the five major workshops and four major Merchant Caravans were managed by Eldest Young Master Ma and Second Young Master Mao respectively, but problems had arisen in all of them, with profits shrinking daily over the past three years, getting worse each year.

If there were no fishy business involved, it would be impossible.

These Household Slaves were appointed to key positions because they had no Foundation, being just a group of refugees who had fled famine. Now as Household Slaves, the only one they could rely on was Madam. To produce results, they would work desperately.

“Let go of your inhibitions and work boldly to produce results.” Steward Qiu exhorted Zhou Qingfeng and the others with hidden meaning, then said with a smile: “Road Administration Office, I'll leave these three young men to your guidance.”

“They are all talents. If any problems arise, I will hold you accountable.”

The Road Administration Office forced a smile: “What are you saying? I guarantee no problems will arise here.”

“That's good.” Steward Qiu nodded, cupped his fists, and took his leave.

Seeing Steward Qiu turn to leave, the Road Administration Office immediately followed: “Brother Chengde, let me see you off. We haven't eaten together in a long time. Tomorrow I will host a banquet on a Painted Boat, and we brothers can have a good drink.”

Steward Qiu said with a smile: “Official business is busy, we'll see. Thank you for your kindness, Road Administration Office.”

Hearing this, the Road Administration Office had to give up and watched with a face full of smiles as Steward Qiu boarded the carriage and left.

Immediately after, his expression darkened, and he turned to walk back into the Night Patrol Bureau.

Seeing the Road Administration Office return, Zhou Qingfeng and the others bowed and cupped their fists to greet him.

The Road Administration Office acted as if he hadn't heard, ignoring them and walking straight into the main hall.

“I can't help but feel that things are taking a turn for the worse...” Ye Tingxiu was a bit flustered, but didn't know why.

Xiao Hongyun glanced sideways: “If even a blockhead like you can feel something's wrong, then it really must be wrong. I'm starting to regret coming; I feel like life won't be very easy in the future.”

Zhou Qingfeng was thoughtful and could roughly guess the Road Administration Office's current thoughts. If he were the boss of a department and several executives were suddenly parachuted in from above to carve up his power, it would be strange if he were in a good mood.

Now, it was as if they had just arrived at the Night Patrol Bureau and had already thoroughly offended their immediate superior.

Their very existence in the Night Patrol Bureau was an eyesore and a crime in the eyes of the Road Administration Office.

Recalling Steward Qiu's words before leaving: “Let go of your inhibitions and work boldly to produce results.”

This sentence was quite thought-provoking.

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