Chapter 122: Leaving Home

The Southern Office cannot remain without someone in command for long.

Ma Tianshou also understood that Xu Yuan needed to leave home to take up his post, with many trivial matters to handle, so he only sent Yu Yunhang to wait for him without urging.

Xu Yuan gave a bitter smile: "Then let's simply leave tomorrow."

"Very well, this subordinate will wait at the inn; if Your Lordship has any orders, just come and inform me."

After Yu Yunhang left, Xu Yuan went inside to check; Lin Wanmo's door was still closed. Well, he would have to fend for himself at noon again.

In the afternoon, Xu Yuan went to speak with Uncle Mao Si and Aunt Wang, asking them to look after Old Lady Ying in the future.

Shortly after, Yu Yunhang returned: "The County Commandant of this county wishes to invite Your Lordship to a meal."

The County Commandant was still trembling in fear, awaiting the court's judgment, but recently he had been handling all the various affairs regarding the resettlement of the disaster victims.

The County Commandant thought for several days and finally realized that the court's decision regarding him depended entirely on how Ma Tianshou wrote in his memorial.

But the old master Ma Tianshou's attitude toward him was lukewarm; the County Commandant knew his position was too low to reach the old master, so he thought again of seeking a path through Fu Jingyu.

But obviously, the eldest young master Fu also looked down on him.

Just as the County Commandant was at a loss for whom to beg, he suddenly heard that Xu Yuan from He Gong Lane was valued by the old master and had been promoted to the position of Deputy Inspector of the Filth-Removal Office.

So he immediately went to the inn and entrusted Yu Yunhang.

Xu Yuan glanced sideways at Yu Yunhang: "How much benefit did he offer?"

Yu Yunhang chuckled, not embarrassed at all; such matters were just the norm in our Great Ming, weren't they?

"He sealed one hundred taels of silver, plus a jade carving."

"He really is willing to part with it."

"It concerns his life and livelihood," Yu Yunhang said plainly: "He wants Your Lordship to speak a few good words for him before the Commanding Lord."

Xu Yuan thought for a moment; this County Commandant had an average reputation in the county, and no one had heard of any heinous crimes committed by him.

Of course, one shouldn't expect a good reputation either.

"How has he performed these past few days?"

Yu Yunhang said: "He has been diligent and devoted, probably trying hard to show his worth."

"That will do," Xu Yuan said: "Tell him I won't be eating the meal; let him settle the disaster victims well, and I will speak a few flattering words to the old master on his behalf."

"Very well." Yu Yunhang left.

The most important thing now is to settle the disaster victims well.

Xu Yuan didn't expect such a local official to truly love the people like children or be as clean as water.

Xu Yuan ate something casually at night, fed Dafu, and then Lin Wanmo finally came out, looking exhausted, her face darkened, not looking as pretty as usual.

"Here."

Lin Wanmo tossed over two items.

One was the original war chariot, repaired.

Xu Yuan inspected it; the great spear seemed even more powerful than before. The mechanism that originally launched the great spear had been replaced with a device similar to a Divine Machine Crossbow, capable of firing twelve arrows consecutively from beneath the chariot body.

But its power was several times stronger than the Saint Maiden's Divine Machine Crossbow.

And the greatest change was the carriage, which had integrated the ability of the "Ghost Temple"!

The other item was a shadow puppet.

Made from the skin on the belly of the Haikou Toad.

It was also in the shape of the Haikou Toad; Xu Yuan tried it and found it actually retained the two sinister techniques of the Haikou Toad:

One was spewing a five-colored poisonous mist, and the other was opening its eyes; anyone who saw it would become completely stiff and unable to move!

These two sinister techniques were certainly not as powerful as the Haikou Toad itself, but they were still no small matter!

Xu Yuan exclaimed with joy: "Lin Wanmo, your craftsmanship has improved."

The stepmother slumped onto the table: "Get me something to eat."

"Sure thing."

Xu Yuan quickly made a bowl of noodles with four poached eggs.

Lin Wanmo wolfed it all down, let out a huge burp, showing no trace of ladylike grace.

Lin Wanmo pushed the bowl away: "Go wash the dishes."

"Sure thing."

Xu Yuan quickly washed the dishes and returned; only then did Lin Wanmo say: "With these two added, you probably can't suppress it anymore. Bring out all the craft items and see which one to remove."

Xu Yuan brought out all the craft items, tried them, and found that removing the lifting spear was just right.

What Xu Yuan wanted to remove was the three-eyed fire gun.

The power of this craft item was already somewhat insufficient.

Lin Wanmo said: "When you go to the Filth-Removal Office, you can apply for a new fire gun to replace this one."

The old craftsman's disdain for the new craftsman was evident; even when Lin Wanmo mentioned the fire gun, she frowned and refused to say another word.

The warehouse of the Filth-Removal Office certainly had various top-quality fire guns; given Xu Yuan's merits, he could choose freely once he arrived.

"I'm tired," Lin Wanmo went back to her room again: "I need to sleep well. Tomorrow you leave on your own; don't wake me up."

"Very well."

Xu Yuan also returned to his room, first converting the two craft items into Craft Pills, then refining the tongue tendon of the Haikou Toad into the Tendon Pill. He cultivated for a while and prepared to sleep, but after tossing and turning several times, he couldn't fall asleep.

He simply lay flat on the bed, staring wide-eyed at the ceiling.

It wasn't the first time leaving home, but for some reason, this time there was a bit more sorrow of parting.

Perhaps because last time he went to Qihetai Town, it wasn't far from home.

This time, however, he was going hundreds of li away.

And also because... his state of mind this time was completely different; he was preparing to leave home and stand on his own.

He also thought of the crisis lurking in his family for generations; how he should get along with his colleagues at the Purification Office, and how to rise fastest to the rank of "Chief Inspector"… All these matters seemed chaotic and without direction.

But Xu Yuan did not feel troubled—he was eager to begin!

Da Fu shifted on the bed, curled back into a ball of white snow, and slept even more soundly.

Xu Yuan rolled over a few more times, faintly hearing something pass along the distant stone-paved street, then drifted off into drowsy sleep.

…

"Cock-a-doodle-doo!"

Ah Hua crowed, alerting the neighbors in the alley that dawn had come.

Another day of hard labor was about to begin.

Da Fu leapt up in fury, darting in two rapid circles around the room, as if determined to go out and fight that chicken again.

Xu Yuan opened his eyes and called out, "Da Fu," calming it down.

Today's prohibitions:

Night travel, riverside activity, burial, execution!

Xu Yuan rose to wash and groom himself, deliberately making noise; he listened closely at Lin Wanmo's room—still no sound, as if she slept deeply.

Xu Yuan sighed.

Yi Yunhang came over to meet Xu Yuan, riding one horse and leading two others.

Xu Yuan placed all his belongings on one of them, then quietly opened the courtyard gate and stepped out.

Da Fu waddled along behind them.

Still refusing to be held in Xu Yuan's arms.

When Xu Yuan reached the stone-paved street, the four stood together at the alley's mouth, watching from afar.

Lin Wanmo's eyes were red, her lips tightly pressed.

Aunt Wang patted her back and said, "It's better this way—perhaps now the affairs of this alley won't drag him in."

Lin Wanmo gave a slight nod.

Several laborers who had come early for their breakfast porridge urged, "Aunt Wang, why aren't you opening yet?"

Aunt Wang snapped, "What's all this noise? We're not opening today!"

The laborers feared the yamen runners and dared not provoke those in silk robes, but they had no fear of an old woman running a porridge stall.

After being rebuked, a few laborers glared and advanced: "You old hag, we're doing you a favor by buying your food—how dare you be so ungrateful?!"

Aunt Wang was usually mild and gentle, but today her face turned grim, as if ready to transform once more into "San Huo Niangniang"!

"What's going on?!" A sharp cry came from nearby—the county magistrate, clad in official robes, arrived with six newly recruited Yamen Runners, striding forward with authority.

The laborers turned pale, their knees buckling as they fell to the ground: "My lord! We—we aren't doing anything! We just wanted to buy something to eat…"

The county magistrate spoke sternly: "Do you think I'm blind? You're bullying an elderly good soul, assuming her household has no one? I warn you—all these elders are close relatives of my dearest friends!"

"Huh?!" The laborers turned ashen, bowing their heads frantically: "We didn't know! Please, my lord, spare our lives!"

The county magistrate ordered without mercy: "Take them back—"

"No need," Aunt Wang spoke up. "They're all poor souls—let them go."

The county magistrate quickly bowed: "If Auntie says so…" He turned to the laborers, his tone turning fierce: "I'll spare your miserable lives—now get out before I change my mind!"

The laborers scrambled away, stumbling and falling several times along the way.

Aunt Wang and the others stared at the county magistrate in confusion; he beamed, clasping his hands: "Xu Yuan, the young lord, has done me a great favor. When he left home for his post, I vowed to protect his family."

"If any of you elders need anything in the future, just send word—I'll brave fire and water without hesitation!"

The four understood, exchanged glances, and silently thought: Even just entering the Purification Office has changed him already.

The county magistrate then took a red lacquered box from one of his Yamen Runners and respectfully handed it to Lin Wanmo: "A small token—barely worthy of your acceptance."

Then the county magistrate took his leave; as he walked away, he deliberately instructed his Yamen Runners in front of the four: "From now on, patrol more often through He Gong Alley. If anyone causes trouble again, arrest them immediately and punish them severely!"

"Yes, my lord!"

Lin Wanmo hadn't reacted yet; after the county magistrate left, she opened the red lacquered box and found five silver notes inside—each worth two hundred taels!

"This?!" Lin Wanmo gasped.

The local magistrate sent us a lavish gift?!

Three chapters today—let me take two days off; daily bursts are truly unsustainable.

I'm organizing my thoughts and carefully planning the next plot arc—I'll burst again mid-month!

Also, as usual—I beg for monthly votes!

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(End of Chapter)