Period drama: Old Cao's carefree life

Chapter 128 I hope you won't go back on your word.
Cao Weida, both amused and exasperated, saw the Japanese soldiers off to their car before turning to Xian Yi and asking, "Miss Xian, where are you going? Shall I give you a ride?"

"Oh, Brother Cao, please don't call me Miss Xian, it sounds too formal. Just call me Bawan, that's my nickname, that's what people who know me call me."

"Are we that close? Never mind, it's just a nickname, and calling each other 'Eight Thousand' doesn't make us that intimate."

"Where are you planning to go with that 80,000? I'll take you there."

"Hehe, no need, I'm going for a job interview, there will be a car to pick me up."

"Oh? What are you planning to do?"

"I want to be a glorious reporter!" Xian Yi proudly raised her neck. She glanced at the departing Japanese military vehicle, wanting to say something, but ultimately didn't, and waved her hand with a smile:

"Alright, Brother Cao, I'm off to my job interview now. Remember to come visit me at my house!"

"Okay, definitely." Cao Weida waved his hand with a smile, watching Xian Yi skip away, and smiled knowingly.

This girl really does act on a whim, but Cao Weida quite likes her lively, cheerful, and innocent personality.

After arriving at the police station and clocking in, Cao Weida called Xiao Erduo over and asked, "Have you arranged for all of Sang Liuji's confidants to leave?"

One move can make an emperor, and another can make his ministers. Now that Cao Wei is in power, he naturally has to get rid of all of Sang Liuji's confidants.

This includes Xiao Zhou, who had previously criticized him.

"Brother Cao, don't worry, they've all been removed from the team."

"Alright, gather all the brothers together."

Before long, all the brothers in the team gathered together, chatting quietly among themselves, not knowing why Cao Weida had asked them to come.

"Little Ears, is everyone here?"

"Brother Cao, everyone is here."

“Alright,” he said, handing him a bag from the side of his feet. “Go, give everyone a month’s salary according to their wages.”

Ah this
Little Ears was stunned for a moment, then quickly nodded and distributed a month's salary to each patrolman as instructed.

The patrol officers who received the money were a little confused. They looked at each other, wondering what Cao Weida was doing and why he suddenly started giving out money.
Before understanding the reason, many people felt that the money was too hot to handle and didn't even dare to put it in their pockets.

After all, there's no such thing as a free lunch, and no such thing as free money!
"Ahem, everyone's received their money, right?" After the salaries were distributed, Cao Weida coughed twice, drawing all attention to him.
“Most of you follow Sang Liuji, so I know your situation a little. You’re either locked up for three days and go hungry nine times a week, or you’re starving one time a week and full the next.”

"But now I am your captain, and I will not mistreat you like Sang Liuji did, nor am I someone who likes to eat alone."

"I prefer sharing good times and bad times to enjoying them all by myself! I'll be receiving this kind of allowance every month from now on!"

Upon hearing this, the patrol officers present became excited.

"Master Cao, is everything you're saying true?"

"That bastard Sang Liuji should have stepped down long ago!"

"Exactly! He only cares about making money for himself and doesn't care about the lives of his brothers at all!"

Cao Weida was quite satisfied with their reaction. He gestured for silence and smiled slightly.
"Rest assured, Cao Weida is a man of his word, and what he says goes."

"However, let me make this clear from the start: I can give you the money, but there are conditions."

The patrol officers' hearts sank. They knew there was no such thing as a free lunch; how could they possibly be given so much money for no reason, especially every month?
Are you suggesting we're asking them to risk their lives?
They looked at Cao Weida with trepidation, unsure of what he was about to say.

Cao Wei Da sensed their unease, smiled slightly, and reassured them:
"Don't worry, I'm not asking you to kill or set fires, nor am I asking you to do anything dangerous."

"My requirements are actually very simple. First, after taking this money, you must never again extort money from street vendors or take bribes, and you must never again bully the good people."

Anyone I discover will be removed from the team! You are all my subordinates, and in the end, the people will hold me accountable too! I don't want to be cursed behind my back by the villagers because of some people's selfishness.

Upon hearing the first request, the patrol officers breathed a sigh of relief. They weren't inherently bad; if they hadn't been desperate and needed to support their families, they wouldn't have wanted to bully and oppress their fellow villagers.

But circumstances are beyond their control; if they don't extort some money, their whole family will starve.

If Cao Wei Da could give them a monthly allowance every month, with that money, why would they need to extort small merchants?

To put it bluntly, you can't really make much money from frying them; in most cases, it's not even half of the allowance Cao Wei Da gave you.

No one is born a masochist, and no one wants to be cursed behind their back every day.

"Secondly, no one other than me is allowed to accept money from outside sources, especially illicit funds." Cao Weida leaned back in his chair, his eyes sweeping over them with lightning speed.

“I know that some shady businesses often give bribes to certain people, and some people say they’ll give them money to cover things up. We’ll let bygones be bygones, but from now on, if I find out anyone again, especially if they’re involved with those who sell opium, I’ll break their legs immediately!” The group of patrol officers trembled under his gaze, especially a few of them who lowered their heads deeply in guilt.

They had no idea that Cao Wei Da possessed such a powerful aura; his cold gaze alone was enough to instill immense pressure in them.

Cao Weida ignored their reactions. He had already made his point clear: if anyone dared to misbehave, he wouldn't mind making an example of them!
It will also let them know that what Cao Weida said was definitely not just empty talk!

"Third, and most importantly, if you take my money, you have to work properly and obey my orders!"

Cao Wei Da stood up and said with a serious expression:

“If you take my money, you’re eating my food. I don’t expect you to be grateful to me, but at least on the surface, you have to obey me!”

"I won't ask you to risk your lives for me, but please don't give me the runaround when it comes to things within your job scope!"

"I like to be a villain first and a gentleman later; I like to say the ugly things upfront."

"If anyone breaks my rules, then I can only apologize in advance."

The way to manage subordinates is nothing more than a combination of kindness and severity. Giving money is like giving land and dates, but without the rod of discipline, people will only think you are easy to bully.

After giving them a deep look, Cao Weida asked loudly, "Did you all hear me clearly?"

"Listen carefully!" No matter what they were thinking, no one dared to disagree at this moment, and they all shouted it out crisply.

Cao Wei Da nodded in satisfaction, "I have remembered your words, and I hope you will not go back on your word."

After they left, Cao Wei Da summoned Xiao Erduo.

"Have someone keep an eye on Zhou Si'er and Chen San'er. If they pretend to comply but actually disobey, then tell me."

"Okay, I'll send someone to keep an eye on it right away."

After Xiao Erduo left, Cao Weida lit a cigarette and leaned back in his chair to smoke.

The vast majority of patrol officers are relatively honest, but that doesn't mean all patrol officers are honest.

In a large forest, you'll find all sorts of birds, let alone people with complex minds; there will always be some greedy and ambitious individuals.

There's a saying that goes something like this: once a person loses their conscience, they can make a lot of money.

Some patrol officers were already making a fortune while others were struggling to make ends meet.

For example, as Cao Weida just mentioned, Zhou Si'er and Chen San'er colluded with certain shady businesses when Sang Liuji was in power, and they could earn at least several tens of silver dollars every month.

For them, the monthly stipend given by Cao Wei was nothing compared to the money they earned.

Once they comply with the new regulations, their income will shrink significantly, and anyone with even a little ambition would be unwilling to give it up.

That was exactly the result Cao Wei Da wanted. He kept these people around so that they could be used as a warning to others.

Sure enough, just two days later, news reached Cao Wei Da's ears.

Two veteran patrol officers accepted bribes from the gang and helped them smash up a silk shop, extorting a large sum of money.

This shop had previously sent gifts to Cao Wei Da.

Upon hearing this news, Cao Weida immediately laughed, "Little Ear, go and arrest those two patrolmen!"

Little Ears was incredibly efficient; in no time, he led his men in, escorting two patrol officers in. It was Zhou Si'er and Chen San'er.

"You two are quite bold. I just set the rules, and you dare to defy them. Your courage is commendable!" Cao Weida patted their cheeks with a smile, showing no interest in listening to their explanations, and directly gestured to Xiao Erduo.

Little Ears understood, and without saying a word, he went up and gave him a good beating.

The two policemen were being held captive and had no chance to fight back; they were being beaten and screaming in pain.

"Scream! Scream your mother's ass!" Little Ears was furious and kicked him twice. "You think Brother Cao's words are nothing but farts?! I'll beat you to death!"

The two were beaten so badly they screamed repeatedly, and soon they were beaten so badly their own mothers wouldn't recognize them.

Seeing that he was about to be beaten to death, Cao Weida gently waved his hand and said, "Alright, little ear, don't really beat him to death."

"Brother Cao, they deserve to be beaten to death!" Little Ears stopped, panting, but his eyes were still fixed on the two men, clearly wanting to continue.

(End of this chapter)