Chapter 23: Novice Constable

Another major incident had struck the South City Prison, and all the Prison Guards were groaning in misery.

The source of the Prison Guards’ suffering was, once again, Prison Chief Cheng Rui. He had started frequently patrolling the Prison again, his expression as grim as ever, his steps slow, and his legs spread wide apart.

Whenever Cheng Rui patrolled the Prison, he naturally wore those trousers of his with the inner pocket sewn into the pant leg. And the "Money Bag" in that pocket was always bulging and round.

Chen Cheng could tell at a glance that the "Money Bag" was clearly an Iron Ball. ’That guy is cultivating again.’

It wasn’t just Cheng Rui. When Chen Cheng walked down the street, he noticed many lavishly dressed young masters and gentlemen wearing trousers with inner pant-leg pockets, all with similar roundly bulging "Money Bags." Their walking posture was identical to Cheng Rui’s, with their legs spread wide. However, unlike Cheng Rui’s grim expression, these young masters and gentlemen looked hesitant, with a hint of excitement showing through.

At first, this trend was popular in Ruyi District, but it gradually spread to Guangfu District, where the South City Prison was located. As for other parts of the South City District, Chen Cheng rarely went there, so he had no way of knowing.

"Have you heard? There’s a new divine technique out called the ’Red Sun Root Technique.’ It’s supposed to be incredibly powerful."

"You mean that Inner Breath Technique Secret Manual sold at Luo’s Shop?"

"That’s the one! So you know about it too!"

"Know about it? I even bought it! The uses for this divine technique are endless... Heh heh heh..."

"I bought it too. Twenty taels of silver a copy. It’s a bit pricey, but Luo’s Shop guarantees you won’t run into any problems cultivating their Secret Manual."

The two lavishly dressed young men continued to whisper to each other as they headed toward a block lined with bright red lanterns.

Walking home down the street after his shift, Chen Cheng happened to overhear their conversation and couldn’t help but sigh.

’The ’Red Sun Root Technique’ Secret Manual is selling so well. Looks like Luo’s Shop is making a fortune!’

But it was just a passing thought. Chen Cheng had no other ideas about it.

He had no power and no influence. Even if he knew the Secret Manual would be a bestseller, he wouldn’t be able to capitalize on it.

Only a power like Luo’s Shop, with its established reputation and credibility, could sell this Secret Manual so successfully.

...

"Ah Cheng."

On Upper Street, Liao San was waiting on the path Chen Cheng always took home.

"Third Brother." Seeing him waiting, Chen Cheng’s heart leaped with joy. "Do you have news?"

Liao San nodded.

Chen Cheng quickly said, "Why don’t we find a place for a couple of drinks? We can talk while we drink."

"My wife’s waiting at home with dinner ready, so no drinks for me." Liao San shook his head with a smile, then got down to business. "The other day, you mentioned wanting a post in the City Guard Department. I spoke to Mr. Liu about it right away. He thinks highly of you and naturally agreed."

"The reason it’s taken this long is that there are limited spots for street patrol constables in the City Guard Department, and many Martial Artists want in. Everyone’s been pulling strings to get a position. It wasn’t easy for Mr. Liu to secure a spot for you."

"Thank you, Third Brother! I’ll treat you next time. We should have a good few drinks," Chen Cheng said joyfully.

Liao San waved his hand. "Hey, kid. You’re making things sound so distant, aren’t you? How could your small salary handle treating people all the time? Times are tough for everyone; we should save where we can."

"Once we’re brothers working together on duty, there will be plenty of chances to drink."

Chen Cheng smiled. "Then I’ll listen to you, Third Brother. By the way, Mr. Liu helped out so much. I should prepare a gift to thank him later."

Liao San shook his head again, his expression turning serious. "There’s no need to prepare any gifts for Mr. Liu, either. He’s a Chief Constable, after all, and he’s wealthy. He’s not like us small-time constables who have to live off our meager salaries."

"Isn’t that a bit improper?" Chen Cheng said thoughtfully.

"What’s improper about it? Just listen to me," Liao San said, patting his chest.

"Alright," Chen Cheng agreed.

Liao San continued, "The constables in our City Guard Department are divided into official constables and Preparatory Constables. There’s also a lower tier of temporary laborers conscripted from commoners or criminals. The laborers change all the time and aren’t entered into the Government Office’s official registers. Only Preparatory and official constables are registered."

"You’re already a Prison Guard and registered with the Government Office, so all you have to do is go to the Prison, resign from your post with the Prison Chief, and then you can come over to the City Guard Department and start as a Preparatory Constable."

"Normally, Preparatory Constables have to pass an assessment. You need to have cultivated one of the Skills to the Small Success level and have some decent strength to pass."

"But since you’re one of us, for the assessment, just perform a few Scattering Hand Techniques. It’s just a formality for Mr. Liu to see."

"Go to the Prison tomorrow and resign. Rest for a day, and then the day after tomorrow, come find me directly at the City Guard Department’s Ruyi District Sub-Department."

"Okay. Thank you, Third Brother."

...

「The next day.」

「South City Prison, Deacon’s Room.」

"You’d better think this through. Once you resign, it’ll be difficult to ever get your post at the Prison back."

Prison Chief Cheng Rui scrutinized the somewhat lean young man before him, a rare flicker of regret flashing across his stern face.

Ever since he’d arrived at the South City Prison, Chen Cheng had been honest and dutiful. He always stood his post properly when on duty and never slacked off, almost like he was invisible.

He had previously ordered his men to keep an eye on Chen Cheng because of the incident with Qin Kai, but it was obvious that such an honest and dutiful young man had no connection to Qin Kai whatsoever.

After a few days of observation, he had put the matter out of his mind and gradually forgot about it. If Chen Cheng hadn’t come to him to resign, he would have almost forgotten that such a Little Prison Guard even existed in the Prison.

In his opinion, for a weak young man from a Humble Family like him, being a Prison Guard was far better than being some whatever Preparatory Constable in the City Guard Department.

After all, the salaries for a Prison Guard and a Preparatory Constable were the same, but a Preparatory Constable had to patrol the streets, exposed to the wind and rain. If they ran into a scoundrel Cultivating Martial Dao, their life would be in danger.

How could that compare to the safety and comfort of the Prison?

As for the idea that a Preparatory Constable could improve their strength by Cultivating Martial Dao, earn Merit, get promoted to official constable, and thereby get better pay—that was even more of a fantasy for the young man before him.

For the son of a commoner, whose salary was barely enough to make ends meet, wanting to cultivate the Martial Dao was nothing short of a pipe dream.

Chen Cheng cupped his hands and said, "Mr. Cheng, I’ve thought it through."

"Since you insist on resigning, then so be it. Good luck to you." Cheng Rui hastily signed his name on the resignation letter.

’Plenty of people are fighting for a post like Prison Guard. With Chen Cheng’s resignation creating a vacancy, those seeking the position will inevitably have to bribe me, the Prison Chief.’

After leaving the Prison, Chen Cheng made a trip to the market, buying some meat and daily necessities before finally heading home.

Arriving at Locust Tree Lane, he happened to see Zhou Biao coming out of Widow Tian’s house.

That guy had been getting hot and heavy with Widow Tian lately. He often spent the night at her place, not leaving until the sun was high in the sky.

"Chen Er, no shift today?"

Zhou Biao, beaming, tightened his waistband and called out a greeting.

He, too, was wearing trousers with an inner pant-leg pocket. The spot where the Money Bag should be was also roundly bulging—he was clearly wearing an Iron Ball.

"I’m off today," Chen Cheng replied with a forced smile.

Zhou Biao sized Chen Cheng up, his gaze finally landing on the package in Chen Cheng’s hands. He said in a snide tone, "Lady Tian was right after all. Chen Er, you’ve been living pretty comfortably lately. I wonder where you’ve come into money?"

"Comfortably? It’s just a bag of coarse rice." Chen Cheng shook the package in his hand. He usually wrapped his meat purchases in a bag of coarse rice to hide them, but that guy Zhou Biao had a sharp eye and seemed to have noticed something.

"Looks like the coarse rice you bought is pretty heavy, Chen Er."

Zhou Biao’s words were loaded with insinuation. He suddenly put on a casual air and continued, "Have you seen Chief Liu recently?"

’He’s still probing!’ Chen Cheng said impassively, "I’ll be starting work under Chief Liu tomorrow."

"Working under Chief Liu? Don’t tell me you’ve become a street patrol constable?" Zhou Biao’s expression changed abruptly, as if he were quite surprised.

"That’s right," Chen Cheng said, his expression unchanged.

"Well then, congratulations, Chen Er!"

Zhou Biao cupped his hands, then turned and walked away. Because of the Iron Ball in his pant leg, his stride was wide, but his pace was hurried.

’That guy... It seems he’s not ready to let this go!’

Watching his retreating back, Chen Cheng frowned slightly.