Chapter 5: The Imperial Envoy

After successfully practicing the Iron Shirt technique and gaining another point of experience, Chen Ping'an had intended to strike while the iron was hot and continue training.

However, the sensations in his body told him he could not go on.

He had taken a day off, and he was due to report for duty tomorrow. The work would require a significant amount of energy and effort, so after some thought, Chen Ping'an decided to leave it at that for today and continue tomorrow.

After tidying up the undergarments he used for training and washing up, Chen Ping'an prepared to go to bed.

Chen Er'ya had finished washing up early and was waiting for him on the bed.

In an ordinary household with limited space, there wasn't much formality between siblings. From childhood to the present, Chen Ping'an and Chen Er'ya had always slept on the same bed frame.

Of course, their bedding was laid out separately.

"Brother, you're done practicing martial arts?"

Chen Er'ya asked excitedly.

"Yeah."

Chen Ping'an replied as he climbed onto the bed and slipped into his own bedding, which Er'ya had laid out for him in advance.

"Nannan, I have to report for duty tomorrow. Don't just settle for anything for lunch while you're home alone; remember to eat something good. There are still plenty of eggs left from what we bought today, so feel free to eat them tomorrow. And the leftover beef—don't save any for me, just eat it all."

Knowing Er'ya's personality, Chen Ping'an instructed her.

"We have to pay back the debt in ten days. You're already under so much pressure earning money to support the family. If I really eat like you said, how are we going to make ends meet?"

Paying back the fourteen taels of silver to Master Xiaohu, principal and interest included, in ten days had undoubtedly become Er'ya's greatest worry.

"Nannan, don't worry, just eat. The family isn't short on that little bit. As for the money, I already have a plan."

Chen Ping'an reassured her.

Under the moonlight, Er'ya looked at Chen Ping'an with an expression of disbelief.

"Really, I'm not lying to you! How could I joke with you about something like this?"

Chen Ping'an lay half-propped up and reached out to pat Er'ya's head.

In truth, he really did have some ideas on how to scrape together the remaining silver. However, if he wanted to put those ideas into action, he would have to take some risks.

There were still ten days left; there was no rush. He would wait until he had made some progress with the Iron Shirt technique first!

"Really?"

"Really!"

"I knew Brother would have a way."

Er'ya beamed with joy.

"Oh, right, don't feel bad about the money tomorrow. Go buy some more pork leg meat, and then..."

Chen Ping'an rambled on.

After the siblings chatted for a long time, Er'ya finally grew sleepy and gradually drifted off.

Moonlight spilled over them, and Er'ya’s face wore a peaceful and serene expression, her breathing steady and rhythmic. It was as if she were sleeping in her mother's arms. This was the feeling of having someone to lean on; it was the embrace of a home. It was having someone who would always stand by her side to face the chaos of the world together.

The crossbar on the door latch had been kicked off during the day. When he went to work tomorrow, he would look to see if he could find a suitable replacement. Using a firewood stick to prop it up was ultimately too flimsy.

Hmm... Old Uncle Pan in the alley still owed their family half a tael of silver. It had been a while; he should find a time to go and collect that as well.

Now that he had started practicing martial arts, the family's expenses for food, clothing, and daily necessities would be higher than before.

Also, Master Xiaohu had agreed today to grant him a ten-day extension to pay back the silver. But he couldn't rule out the possibility of him changing his mind. While the chance of him going back on his word was slim, he couldn't ignore the possibility; he still needed to make preparations and contingency plans.

Furthermore, he had intentionally shown a hint of hesitation during the day for Master Xiaohu to see. Unlike the average gang member, this Master Xiaohu looked rough and boorish but was actually quite shrewd; otherwise, he wouldn't be valued by Master Hu and groomed as his successor.

He could show a bit of courage, but not too much. That trace of hesitation should be just right. Too little, and he would seem too calculating; too much, and he would seem too useless and prone to being bullied...

Under the moonlight, on the bed, Chen Ping'an calculated everything carefully.

Early the next morning, Chen Ping'an drank a bowl of rice porridge and headed to the Nanquan Alley Town Pacification Office to report for duty. Although he was an unregistered bailiff, he still had to follow the same regulations as the official ones. In fact, the enforcement of certain rules was even stricter for him than for the official bailiffs.

When Chen Ping'an arrived at the office, many bailiffs had already arrived. The social hierarchy among them was quite obvious; they stood in groups of three or five, and at a glance, one could see their respective factions.

However, this had little to do with Chen Ping'an. His relationships at the office were neither good nor bad; no one went out of their way to befriend him, but no one went out of their way to cause him trouble either.

After greeting a few people he knew, Chen Ping'an found a corner and waited quietly.

"Ping'an, you're a bit later than usual today. You used to always arrive before me."

A short, thin young man who looked as sharp as a monkey walked toward Chen Ping'an.

"Monkey. I slept late yesterday, so I dozed off a bit longer this morning."

Seeing the man, a smile appeared on Chen Ping'an's face.

The man's name was Hou Fugui, nicknamed "Monkey," and he was one of the few people Chen Ping'an had a decent relationship with at the office.

Like him, Hou Fugui was an unregistered bailiff. His family ran a blacksmith shop, and his father was a burly, sturdy man. It was a mystery how he ended up looking the way he did.

After the two exchanged a few words, another man walked in from outside the office. He looked around a few times before spotting the two standing in the corner.

"Dashan, over here!"

Monkey called out to the newcomer.

"Ping'an, Monkey."

The man called Dashan smiled and greeted them as he walked over.

Dashan had rugged features, dark skin, and a sturdy build; he looked like he had plenty of strength.

"Morning, Dashan."

Chen Ping'an greeted him with a smile.

"Morning, Ping'an," Dashan replied with a simple, honest smile.

Unlike Monkey, Dashan's family were just ordinary farmers outside the county town. Years ago, he had accidentally helped the Town Pacification Office solve a case, and because he had some raw strength, he had ended up becoming an unregistered bailiff by a stroke of luck.

Although he wasn't officially registered, for Dashan's family, it was a source of great pride. After generations of digging in the dirt for food, they hadn't expected that in Dashan's generation, they would finally be able to break free.

Come to think of it, Dashan's "raw strength" was no ordinary feat.

Once, Chen Ping'an had seen him lift a millstone-sized rock over his head with ease.

As time passed, more bailiffs walked in through the office gates one after another.

Most of these late arrivals were official bailiffs.

With the entry of the next person, the noisy chatter inside the Nanquan Alley Town Pacification Office instantly died down.

"Head Bailiff Zheng is here."

Monkey whispered, then stopped talking, following the others in staring straight ahead at the man who had just entered.

PS: Hey, hey, hey~ Is anyone reading this?

If so, give me a shout!

The feeling of writing to an empty room is truly damn bitter!