From a tuberculosis patient to a martial arts master

Dusk was falling.

The lanterns in front of the examination hall lit up one by one, and the crowd on the viewing platform scattered like birds and beasts as Magistrate Shen left.

"You, and the six of you, take it."

Captain Liu Kui snapped the wooden box in his hand shut, flicked it with his fingertips, and the tin boxes seemed to be guided by a clever force, each heading towards one of the six men with equal force.

"Thank you, Chief!"

Zhu Hong and the others caught it steadily and immediately bowed in respect.

The box contained the Blood Marrow Strengthening Paste.

With this box of precious medicine, he could take a big step closer to the Martial Life Realm and break through to the Minor Completion Realm in no time.

"If you want to thank someone, thank Magistrate Shen. We haven't been this generous in previous years."

Having said that, Liu Kui crossed his arms, glanced at the twilight descending on the horizon, and continued, "Tomorrow at 9:00 AM, go to the prefectural yamen's police station to register your names and be recorded. Once your place of origin and age are recorded, you will be officially on duty and can collect your monthly salary and official uniform from the accounting office. Furthermore," he paused slightly, then added:

"You will also be given five days of rest."

"Five days?" Iron Palm Lear was overjoyed. Now he had plenty of time to go back and prepare a banquet, and have a good time.

Liu Kui glanced at him, startling Li Er into lowering his head. "Five days later..." His eyes sharpened, and the smile vanished from his face: "Attend the police station at dawn. Latecomers will not be waited for, especially this first time. Those who are late need not come again." His gaze swept over the six men's faces.

"Any objections?"

In unison, everyone shouted: "No!"

Liu Kui nodded slightly, his expression still indifferent, then turned to the constables standing quietly to the side: "It's getting late, each of you should take your men back and settle them properly."

After saying that, he turned around and strode away.

……

After Liu Kui had gone far away.

The constables each called to their new subordinates, and they set off one after another.

Wang Zhenshan stood before Zhu Hong, his black constable uniform neat and imposing, his brows furrowed, and he slowly spoke: "Tonight, are you planning to return to Chicken and Goose Lane, or come with me to the prefectural yamen's police station?"

Zhu Hong lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment.

go back?

He was all alone, and his humble abode in Chicken and Goose Alley had little of value, except for half a rather fragrant tiger leg. Moreover, Jian Ba ​​had just made an enemy of Zhao Biao, a narrow-minded and vindictive man who was probably waiting at the alley entrance for revenge. If he went back rashly tonight, he might not be able to protect himself.

After I officially join the government tomorrow, I'll retrieve the tiger meat early in the morning.

As for 'fairness':

It will all be dealt with sooner or later; burn the seedlings and eradicate the root.

Thinking of this, Zhu Hong looked up and said, "Officer Wang, I am all alone. I can return to the yamen tonight and familiarize myself with the rules as soon as possible."

"it is good."

Wang Zhenshan nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. He raised his hand and patted him lightly on the shoulder. "Come with me. Let's meet our brothers and sisters from the second branch of the family, get acquainted, and remember we're all family from now on." With that, he turned and walked away, his black boots clicking on the ground.

As he passed the stone pier, he saw that the man was all alone, and quickly asked:

Aren't you going back to the yamen?

Shi Dunzi scratched his head and chuckled, "I'll go back tonight; someone's waiting for me. I'll give them some good news." Then he asked in return:

Aren't you going back?

"I'm not going back," Zhu Hong shook his head.

"First, go with Constable Wang to the jail to familiarize yourself with where you'll be working from now on."

"Alright!" Shi Dunzi grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth, and waved his hand, saying in a simple voice, "See you at the prefectural police station tomorrow."

……

Not long after.

Zhu Hong then followed Wang Zhenshan to the main gate of the government office.

The government office was built against the mountain, with towering gray brick walls and a plaque with four black characters in gold on a black background hanging above the gate: "Jinyang Government Office".

The lanterns lit up one after another, reflecting off the verdigris of the door knocker.

The two entered through the side gate and walked several feet along the west corridor until they arrived at a courtyard, which was the office of the second constable.

The courtyard was small, with three main rooms. Two rows of weapon racks stood under the eaves, filled with waist knives, iron rulers, and chains, the scabbards gleaming with a subdued, dark light. Inside, charcoal fire crackled, and several long tables stood against the wall, stacked with books and inkstones. Scattered firecrackers and talismans were also on the tables.

Several men in dark blue constable uniforms were busy with their own tasks, some wiping their knives, others flipping scrolls. Seeing Wang Zhenshan enter, they all stood up and called out in deep voices:

"Boss, you're back!"

His gaze naturally fell on Zhu Hong, with the usual scrutiny of an old man: "This is the new recruit?"

"This junior is Zhu Hong."

Zhu Hong stood ramrod straight, cupped his hands in greeting to the crowd, and said in a respectful but not servile tone: "I am new here, and I hope that you seniors will take good care of me when I am on duty."

"Ha!"

With this boisterous greeting, a figure of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with fair skin, stood up from behind the long table: "To think such a sensible person has arrived." His gaze swept over Zhu Hong, and seeing that the man's bowing was proper and his speech refined, he smiled and teased:

"Kid, did you used to read books?"

"Chewd the book?" Zhu Hong frowned slightly, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes.

He considered himself to be fairly well-educated, but when asked this question, he was unsure how to respond.

"Ji Zhi, stop making fun of the newcomer."

Old Zhou, who was wiping his waist knife, glanced up at Zhu Hong and casually explained, "These are all rough men who do menial things. They always find reading boring, like chewing wax, so they jokingly call literacy 'chewing books.'" As he finished speaking, he raised his face slightly, revealing a weathered face.

There is an old, closed scar on his left eye, the eye socket is sunken, and he has lost his eyeball, leaving only his right eye, which has a cloudy gaze.

"Thank you for your guidance, senior."

Zhu Hong paused slightly, then composed himself and nodded, saying, "I knew a few characters before and had a rudimentary understanding of literature, but I can't be considered a scholar."

As for his appearance, it wasn't unusual for someone in the public service, a profession fraught with danger and injury. If he didn't even have that much self-control, he wouldn't be a constable.

"Oh? You know how to read. Good, it's good that you know how to read."

Lin Jizhi nodded, his smile becoming more genuine. He turned to Wang Zhenshan and grinned, "Boss, this time he's a different kind of talent." His tone now carried a hint of casualness, as if he were one of his own.

"From now on, someone else will take over the work of writing!"

Wang Zhenshan, who had been watching with his arms crossed, nodded slightly and said to Zhu Hong, "This is Lin Jizhi. Besides you, he's the 'newest.' If you have any questions in the future, or if I'm not around, you can ask him." With that, he gestured to the remaining people in the room in turn.

"Old Zhou, Zhou Dao, you're a master knife wielder."

"Old Cao, Cao Wanhai, has the best footwork."

……

"To put it bluntly, it's about being quick to run away when trouble arises."

Lin Jizhi chuckled and waved his hand at Zhu Hong, who was clutching his stomach, saying, "Don't mistake it for legwork."

"Fuck your mother!"

A curse immediately erupted from the crowd. Cao Wanhai, a stocky man with a dark complexion, slammed his hand on the long table and stood up, his large, round eyes glaring. "Ji Zhi, are you getting cocky?" he shouted. He strode forward, blocking Lin Ji Zhi's path, and turned to Zhu Hong, saying:

"Don't listen to this son of a bitch's nonsense; he never tells the truth." With that, he turned to Lin Jizhi and gave a cold snort.

"Have you forgotten how pathetic you were when you first arrived?" Suddenly, Cao Wanhai deliberately shrank his neck, softened his voice, and imitated the old days: "Brother Cao, I'll have to trouble you to take care of me. I can't read all the words on the case files, and I don't know the streets and alleys of the city. I'll have to rely on you to guide me from now on."

This incredibly lifelike performance caused the jail room to erupt in laughter.

"Old Cao, it has to be you again!"

"Absolutely, even more authentic than Ji Zhi himself, hahaha..."

"Ji Zhi, we've all remembered this embarrassing incident. Why didn't you bow down to us back then?" A constable, with half a straw dangling from his mouth and his eyes crinkling with laughter, slapped the table and chuckled incessantly.

"Who knows, he might be so pleased that he'll pass on his true teachings to you."

"..."