Chapter 40: Three Hundred Points (Please follow, bookmark, and vote with monthly tickets and recommendation votes)

Su Mu slowly put the last soup dumpling into his mouth, chewing and swallowing with deliberate care.

After finishing, he wiped his mouth clean.

Only then did he speak slowly, "You're looking for me?"

His tone carried the effortless nonchalance of a superior.

He had seen many great figures in his previous life; who among them hadn't watched a few emperors in TV dramas?

With a bit of casual imitation, he could crush the other party's clumsy posturing into dust.

The other party clearly had not expected Su Mu to appear so composed.

However, on second thought, the man didn't seem to know him, so such a reaction was understandable.

"Let me introduce myself."

He brushed off his sleeve, casting a somewhat disdainful glance at the greasy table, and spoke, "I am the steward of the Xu residence. You may call me Steward Xu."

He looked proud, as if the surname Xu added significant prestige to his person.

"The Xu family?"

The documents Su Mu had flipped through yesterday flashed through his mind, and he understood immediately.

There weren't many wealthy gentry in Guangfu Ward, and the Xu family stood head and shoulders above the rest, practically acting as the largest power in the ward.

The various gangs entrenched in Guangfu Ward were all intricately linked to the Xu family.

"I know them," Su Mu nodded. "Does Steward Xu have business with this Squad Leader?"

Su Mu's expression remained as calm as still water.

Steward Xu did not speak; instead, he pulled a banknote from his sleeve, placed it on the table, and then pressed down on it with his right index finger, pushing it toward Su Mu.

"Five hundred taels."

After doing this, Steward Xu finally spoke, "A banknote from Datong Money Exchange. Any Datong branch can redeem it for silver. From now on, it will be this amount every month."

Su Mu's gaze fell upon the banknote, and a look of surprise crossed his face.

A constable of the South City Division earned two and a half taels of silver a month; a Squad Leader earned four.

A Captain earned fifteen.

Even for a Captain of the South City Division, the official annual salary was only one hundred and eighty taels of silver.

Five hundred taels was what a Captain would take three years to earn.

For a Squad Leader like Su Mu, it would take ten years.

To offer ten years' worth of salary in a single move—tsk tsk, what a grand gesture.

Seeing the shock on Su Mu's face, Steward Xu felt a secret sense of triumph.

A peasant born of refugees who had gotten lucky enough to become a Squad Leader—how much silver had he ever seen?

Five hundred taels was enough to knock him senseless.

"I assume this money isn't meant to congratulate me on becoming the Squad Leader of Guangfu Ward."

The shock on Su Mu's face lasted only a blink before his eyes regained their clarity. He did not touch the banknote, instead looking at Steward Xu.

"You can treat it as a congratulatory gift if you wish."

Steward Xu frowned. Su Mu's attitude was somewhat off. Was it true what the Master said—that these people from peasant backgrounds, once they thought they had a bit of skill, all possessed this kind of self-righteous integrity?

"You should just tell me what you want me to do. Otherwise, I won't feel at ease taking this money," Su Mu said nonchalantly.

"First, in Guangfu Ward, you are not to interfere in whatever the Xu family does. Furthermore, when we need you to step forward, you must step forward."

Steward Xu held up three fingers, then folded one down.

"Second," he curled his second finger, "you must enter the Inner City once a month to deliver goods."

Su Mu laughed helplessly. This man truly didn't view grassroots personnel as government officials.

He reached out and made a gesture for him to continue.

Steward Xu folded his third finger. "Third, there are several unruly factions in Guangfu Ward. You will eliminate them for us."

"That's it?"

Su Mu suddenly smiled. "Do you want to add a few more conditions? For example, should I kill the Sima so your Master can become the Sima of the South City Division?"

Steward Xu's brow furrowed. "That won't do. Although He Yuxing himself lacks great ability, he has the He family of the Inner City behind him. While the forces behind our Xu family are not lacking, there is no need to fall out with the He family."

Su Mu was somewhat speechless. *You actually considered it?*

"You might not have understood my meaning," Su Mu said, looking at Steward Xu. The man's intelligence likely couldn't handle anything too complex, so he decided to be blunt.

"Unless your Master becomes the Sima of the South City Division, he has no right to command me."

Su Mu spoke seriously, "I, Su Mu, am a constable of Great Xuan. I receive the salary of Great Xuan and perform the duties of Great Xuan. Since this is your first offense, I will not hold it against you, but the silver shall be confiscated for the public treasury."

Su Mu pocketed the banknote and said unhurriedly, "Remember for next time: an official is an official. When you speak, make sure you know your place."

With that, he stood up to leave.

Steward Xu finally reacted. His face turned pale and then flushed with anger, his eyes filled with the fury of being mocked.

"Squad Leader Su, are you planning to oppose our Xu family?" Steward Xu said coldly.

"You said it yourself," Su Mu laughed loudly. "In my life, I only oppose lawbreakers. Unless your Xu family commits crimes, there is no need to worry about anything."

"Very well! The Master was right; a man like you truly cannot see reality!"

Steward Xu's expression darkened, his eyes filled with murderous intent as he sneered, "You rejected Sima He Yuxing, and now you dare to reject our Xu family. Do not regret this."

Su Mu had already walked quite a distance away. With his back to Steward Xu, he waved his hand and walked off, laughing heartily.

*I walk out laughing at the heavens; how could I be a mere commoner?*

*I haven't had enough of being a man; why would I choose to be a dog?*

Watching Su Mu's silhouette disappear around the corner, Steward Xu kicked over a long bench in rage and stormed off under the terrified gazes of the shopkeepers.

***

Su Mu finished his day's duty and returned home.

As soon as the hour of the Rat arrived, the data on the system panel refreshed once again.

【Points: 160】

Looking at the latest points, Su Mu was somewhat surprised.

The base points for a Squad Leader should have been twenty, yet today it had increased by twenty-five.

*Was it because I refused the Xu family's bribe today?*

"Refusing to compromise with criminal elements is, in itself, the duty of a Squad Leader," Su Mu thought to himself.

Perhaps because his actions perfectly aligned with what a Squad Leader ought to do, he had earned an extra five points of "performance."

"The system is encouraging me to love my profession," Su Mu muttered to himself.

Thinking of the bountiful "performance" rewards, an impulse to sweep through and pacify Guangfu Ward surged in his heart once more.

However, considering the strength of both sides, he rationally suppressed the thought.

The first stage of Body Tempering was only at the minor success level; it was still not quite enough.

***

For several consecutive days, Su Mu left early and returned late.

He was either leafing through documents in the South City Division's office or patrolling Guangfu Ward.

Theoretically, a Squad Leader did not need to patrol the streets.

But since Su Mu had no subordinates under him, he naturally had to do everything himself.

Fortunately, every task he performed yielded "performance" points, so he did so with tireless enthusiasm.

His Squad Leader badge had not yet been made; currently, aside from his duties as a Squad Leader, he could not enter the Inner City.

The only thing that disappointed him was that Guangfu Ward had been unusually peaceful these past few days, without a single disturbance.

It was as if everyone was giving face to this newly appointed Squad Leader.

Even so, on the seventh day, Su Mu, who had been working diligently, finally reaped his rewards.

Late at night, inside his room.

Su Mu's eyes were bright and piercing.

【Name: Su Mu】 【Identity: Constable Squad Leader (Official)】 【Points: 305】 【Cultivation Method: Golden Scale Skin Tempering Method (Minor Success /+)】 【Martial Arts: Wave-Subduing Saber Technique (Perfection), Archery (Beginner /+)】

Finally, it was time to level up!

(End of Chapter)