Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Hearing this, the clerk stopped moving his abacus beads and took a careful look at Shen Yuan. Finding him unfamiliar, he guessed this must be the newly arrived Registrar.

Knowing the other party had connections and probably wasn't aware of how things worked in the public canteen, he smiled and explained, "Not everyone, sir. The Blade Clerks and the clerks without official positions need to pay for their meals. The senior officials work hard on official business; how could we charge them for a meal?"

Shen Yuan let out an "oh" and asked the clerk seriously, "Don't you work hard too?"

The clerk was slightly taken aback and instinctively replied, "It's not hard."

"Blade Clerks, regardless of their family background, need to patrol the streets. The weather is so hot; they work hard." Shen Yuan looked at his fingers. "Although you are a clerk and don't need to go out in the sun, your fingertips are calloused from the work. While others eat, you have to do the accounts without making a single mistake. How could that not be hard work?"

The clerk's hand gave a slight tremble. He looked down at the red marks worn into his knuckles, sweat beading on his forehead from the heat.

Although his family had money, they were only small merchants. So even though he worked as a clerk in the county office—unlike the Blade Clerks who had to patrol the streets, only having to work an abacus—he was stuck with all the trivial, miscellaneous tasks. Every official above him could pressure him and run him off his feet.

Before sitting down to collect money, he had spent the entire morning being run back and forth on errands within the office.

His legs seemed to ache from walking all morning.

Hard work? How could it not be?

He hadn't even eaten yet; he had to record the accounts first, waiting for another clerk to finish eating and relieve him.

Physical exhaustion and hunger seemed to burst forth in an instant. For some reason, he felt like crying, as if he had suffered a great injustice.

Shen Yuan pushed the money forward. "Here's my payment for the meal."

If Shen Yuan didn't pay these 225 copper coins, what he ate today wouldn't be food, but human flesh and blood.

Fighting back the sting in his nose, the clerk accepted the copper coins and jotted down the portions and the payment received.

Whatever the reason, he could not disobey his superiors' orders.

Shen Yuan and his two companions carried their wooden trays, preparing to find seats.

He didn't want to go to the screened-off area. He hesitated, his steps wavering between the civil and martial sides, thinking he would go wherever he saw an empty seat first.

Li Baozhu looked at Guo Mingchen and finally realized who had arrived.

It was Registrar Shen, the very man he wanted to curry favor with!

A chance like this wouldn't come again; he couldn't let his ten gold ingots go to waste.

Realizing Shen Yuan was about to find a seat, he immediately stood up and waved, "Lord Shen! There's a seat over here!"

Hearing this, Shen Yuan looked over. Erpang, sitting next to Li Baozhu, got so excited his face flushed red, and he also shouted, "Registrar, you can't smell the stink over here. Come sit with us!"

This wasn't false; that spot indeed couldn't smell the stench of the slop by the wall.

But the words, spoken innocently, were taken to heart.

Especially by the two sides who had long been suppressing their anger and disliked each other.

Qin Shisong had also been observing Shen Yuan. Sharp-eared and sharp-eyed, he saw that Shen Yuan didn't need to pay but insisted on paying for the meal anyway.

He even said those words about whether it was hard work or not.

Such words—only that young kid would believe them and be moved to tears.

To Qin's ears, it was simply a joke.

Who would have thought the newly arrived Registrar, though young, was so fake and hypocritical to the core.

Seeing how moved the clerk was, Qin Shisong thought the man's loyalty was probably secured.

Then he remembered the message passed on this morning about the new summer official uniforms—buy them if you want, don't if you don't.

That was probably another one of his tricks to win them over.

As for what he wanted to gain by winning them over, Qin Shisong couldn't see for now.

In any case, it was to get them to risk their necks; that much was certain.

When Li Baozhu jumped up and shouted, Qin Shisong snorted coldly.

Weak and incapable, only knowing how to bow and scrape.

When Erpang said it didn't stink over there, the coldness on Qin Shisong's face deepened.

One of the martial officers beside him looked displeased. "You can grovel like dogs all you want; no one says anything. But what's with bringing up the stink out of nowhere?"

They might not have the financial means to curry favor, but that didn't mean they'd take a public insult lying down.

They were all low-level Blade Clerks, just from families with a bit of merchant money. If it really came to fighting, those guys would be worse off than those with land to farm. Who looks down on whom?

The civil side refused to back down. Regardless of Shen Yuan's presence, their blood was up, and they immediately retorted, "Who said we were talking about you! Who the hell are you calling dogs!"

"Whoever answers is who we're talking about!"

"Damn it! Believe it or not, we'll tear your mouths off!"

"A bunch of plague-ridden chickens, and you'll tear our mouths off? Come on then, let's see you try!"

Mentioning "plague-ridden chickens" made Li Baozhu unable to stay still. He had been grabbed by the collar and scolded by Qin Shisong before.

He couldn't fight back, making him utterly unable to stand hearing that term. Hearing it now, his rage spiked, with no outlet for his fury. His mind was filled with the humiliating memory of being grabbed and scolded without being able to retaliate.

Seeing Shen Yuan was here, his eyes shifted, and with an angry expression, he roared at Qin Shisong, "Registrar Shen is right here! Don't you know how to control your men, Qin? Have you no shame!"

Shen Yuan might not see through deep, cunning schemes, but he could certainly understand Li Baozhu's facial expressions.

If this were a play, Li Baozhu right now would be full of malicious intent—either wanting to use another's hand to kill or to bully others by flaunting borrowed authority.

Shen Yuan, holding his tray, took a step back, not forgetting to remind Guo Mingchen and Xu Kangfu to move back as well.

That Qin Shisong clearly looked like a fierce man, and the two sides had long-held grievances. Today probably wouldn't end peacefully.

He just wanted to eat a meal; he couldn't settle this old, long-standing dispute.

Sure enough, Qin Shisong, who had been keeping a stern face and remaining silent, was stirred by Li Baozhu's shout. He pushed aside the people blocking him, took long strides, and quickly walked up to Li Baozhu.

Looking down at him with a contemptuous gaze and a mocking tone, he said, "Shameful? Weren't you the ones who started shouting?"

Li Baozhu laughed angrily. "Qin Shisong, are all of you out of your damn minds? Taking everything personally! Erpang was talking about the stench of that dog-shit swill!"

Qin Shisong reached out and grabbed Li Baozhu by the throat, his eyes fierce. "Didn't you say that when we were registering for the official uniforms? Did you really think we had left and heard nothing?"

Li Baozhu’s fierce, determined gaze instantly wavered and mostly dissipated. His eyes darted around, clearly guilty.

He immediately retorted stubbornly, "Are you insane? Why didn’t you settle it back then? Why make a scene now?"

As he spoke, Li Baozhu became more certain. "I see you’re really scheming. Are you just trying to make me lose face in front of the Chief Clerk?"

The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Being choked like this, he felt he had lost all dignity and face.

Who knows what the Chief Clerk must think of me now—he probably thinks I'm a total pushover.

Li Baozhu said fiercely, "Qin Shisong, I’m warning you, if my days ahead are tough, yours won’t be any better either!"

He had spent ten gold pieces—that was half his life! If today’s incident really made Registrar Shen look down on him, he’d drag Qin Shisong down with him even if it meant death.

Shen Yuan watched the situation between the two sides grow increasingly tense and couldn't help feeling a bit worried.

Xu Kangfu glanced at Shen Yuan before finally speaking. "Brawling while wearing official uniforms is prohibited; otherwise, you’ll be removed from the official register. You’re all old hands in the yamen; surely you know this rule?"

Qin Shisong and Li Baozhu turned to look at Xu Kangfu.

Qin Shisong’s cheek twitched slightly, the long scar on his face moving oddly.

Li Baozhu, on the other hand, was filled with gratitude.

Xu Kangfu was Registrar Shen’s man. He spoke for the Registrar, which meant Registrar Shen was getting him out of a tight spot—his attempt to get close had succeeded!

That business with the ten gold pieces was well spent!

Not only did he think so, but Qin Shisong thought the same.

Sure enough, officials were all the same—only caring about money. Everything else was just an act!

Furious, Qin Shisong released Li Baozhu’s neck and snarled a warning as he left. "If I ever hear any of you say we stink again, I’ll definitely tear your mouths apart!"

Li Baozhu was used to being threatened. With the crisis resolved, he was no longer afraid.

With Shen Yuan "protecting" him, his courage knew no bounds, and he snorted dismissively.

Qin Shisong didn’t want to look at these corrupt officials entangled in money and interests. Having finished most of his meal, he led the Blade Guards away in a noisy rush.

With the crisis completely over, Li Baozhu bounded up to Shen Yuan, beaming brightly, though his voice was a bit hoarse. "Lord Shen, let’s go eat."

Shen Yuan and the other two followed Li Baozhu to sit down. Li Baozhu was overjoyed, thumping his chest as he introduced himself.

"Sir, my name is Li Baozhu. My family runs a jewelry business. My mother said that on the day I was born, the family unexpectedly obtained a high-quality precious pearl, which they sold to a merchant from Westmoon Country. Because of this, the family gained a supply channel for Westmoon jewelry. They considered it an auspicious sign, so they named me Baozhu."

"Among the blade officers, I’m a bit of a head honcho. But I’m different from that Qin Shisong—my temper's really good. He’s no good; none of those Blade Guards are. You can’t talk to them; they fly off the handle at the slightest provocation."

After bad-mouthing the others, Li Baozhu pointed to his reddened neck as evidence. "The Chief Clerk saw it just now. Qin Shisong is truly a madman—he choked me out of the blue. If you hadn't stepped in, I might have been strangled to death."

Shen Yuan listened to Li Baozhu’s chattering without getting annoyed. While eating, he followed Li Baozhu’s lead and looked at his neck. After swallowing a bland mouthful of vegetable leaves, Shen Yuan leaned in for a closer look.

But when Shen Yuan actually leaned in, it startled Li Baozhu.

Li Baozhu leaned back, looking somewhat panicked.

Shen Yuan got a clear view of the condition of the man's neck. "I have some ointment over there. After the meal, I’ll have someone bring it for you to apply. It should be fine by tomorrow."

Li Baozhu stiffened, not immediately understanding what Shen Yuan meant.

When it finally dawned on him, Li Baozhu looked utterly flattered, inwardly shouting, *It's worth it, totally worth it!*

"Thank you, Chief Clerk!"

Shen Yuan rubbed his ear, somewhat amused and exasperated. "I can hear you. Don’t shout so loudly; it’s not good for your throat. My ears can’t take it either."

Li Baozhu’s eyes sparkled. *Hey! The Chief Clerk is concerned about my throat!*

Shen Yuan believed food shouldn't be wasted. Although the public kitchen’s dishes were truly awful, he still ate everything clean.

On the way back, Guo Mingchen and Xu Kangfu almost couldn’t compete with Li Baozhu and his group, nearly being squeezed away from Shen Yuan’s side.

In just one meal, Li Baozhu’s heart and eyes were completely filled with Shen Yuan, overflowing with joy at having successfully latched onto a golden thigh.

Even after receiving the small pottery jar of ointment and heading back, he still felt an unreal, floating sensation.

He said decisively to Erpang, "Remember, this isn’t just ordinary ointment. This is the stepping stone to success for my Li family."

Erpang couldn’t help but roll his eyes, wanting to bring Li Baozhu back to reality. "It was Clerk Xu who intervened. Registrar Shen didn’t say a word."

Li Baozhu clicked his tongue. "What do you know? Clerk Xu is the Registrar’s deputy, the Registrar’s man. What’s the difference between his words and the Chief Clerk’s? Besides, the Chief Clerk was concerned about me and gave me ointment. Doesn’t that prove that I, Li Baozhu, have successfully latched onto the Chief Clerk’s thigh?"

Erpang was left speechless. That was one way to look at it, but he felt their Boss Li had misunderstood something.

Right now, the man was on an excited high, so it wasn’t the time to say more. If he made him unhappy, he’d be the one to suffer.

There were no secrets in the yamen. What Shen Yuan said in the morning reached Magistrate Pang’s ears in no time.

Nothing in the county yamen could be hidden from him.

After listening to his subordinate’s report, Magistrate Pang dismissed him and sat alone in his armchair, deep in thought.

Collecting money for official uniforms had always been a lucrative task in the yamen. Whoever handled it could turn even the poorest circumstances into a surplus; there was that much oil in the pot.

Having been an official for many years and having seen much since childhood within his clan, he could roughly guess the reason behind Shen Yuan’s move.

He was not fond of wealth.

An official who isn't greedy for money is not a good sign.

It meant he was difficult to please and hard to find leverage against.