Chapter 53: Salary Increase |
After the martial examination ended, life returned to tranquility.
Chen Qing's daily routine remained unchanged, following a three-point routine: practicing martial arts, patrolling, and returning home, as regular as clockwork without the slightest ripple.
On this day, he had just arrived at the River Office when Cheng Ming hurried over to greet him, "Ah Qing, quickly follow me to meet the Chief River Officer! He's in the front signing room and specifically asked to see you!"
"See me?"
Chen Qing was slightly surprised.
Cheng Ming smiled and patted his shoulder, "Cheer up, it's good news."
Cheng Ming led the way, and the two soon arrived at the signing room, the core of the River Office.
Chen Qing straightened his back and strode across the high threshold with large steps.
The room was spacious but somewhat dim. Behind the large sandalwood desk, Ke Yunqi, dressed in official robes with blue egret patches, sat upright reviewing documents.
Ke Yunqi looked up at the sound, his gaze falling on Chen Qing, and smiled, "Not bad, I didn't expect our River Office to produce such talent."
Chen Qing replied humbly, "Your Excellency is too kind, this humble officer was merely lucky."
"Could one achieve high success in the martial examination through luck alone without real ability?"
Ke Yunqi waved his hand, his eyes showing appreciation, "You need not be so modest. I heard from Cheng Ming that you are a disciple of Master Zhou from Zhou's courtyard, and you have faithfully performed your duties during your temporary appointment. Our River Office is precisely in need of talent like you."
He shifted his tone, "Would you be willing to formally take the position of River Inspector? Your responsibilities would be specifically to patrol dangerous river sections, supervise fort soldiers along the river, assist in flood prevention, and capture river bandits. Especially regarding the perennial hidden danger of Black Stone Beach, if you can eliminate it, this official will reward you handsomely."
If others in the River Office had heard this, they would certainly be moved.
River Inspector was an official military position with formal government status. For children from poor families, it was no different from a carp leaping over the dragon gate.
However, upon hearing this, Chen Qing's brow furrowed slightly.
This was asking him to change from temporary to permanent employment.
Although River Inspector seemed to hold certain authority, not only did it come with much more responsibility, but it was also far more dangerous than ordinary river patrol duties.
Most importantly, it required directly confronting river bandits.
Even if the monthly salary increased tenfold, it would only be twenty to thirty taels, hardly worth risking one's life for.
"Thank you for your guidance, Your Excellency!"
Chen Qing clasped his fists, his tone earnest, "Although this humble officer was fortunate enough to pass the examination, my foundation is shallow and martial skills crude. I fear I lack the ability and would bungle affairs, disrupting the peace of the canal."
He paused slightly, observing Ke Yunqi's expression before continuing, "Secondly, the dangerous works at Black Stone Beach are of great importance. If there were even the slightest mishap, this humble officer's death would be a small matter, but if it implicated Your Excellency's reputation, ten thousand deaths could not atone for the guilt!"
The signing room fell silent for a moment, with only the sandalwood incense curling from the burner.
"Very well."
After a long while, Ke Yunqi finally spoke, "Forced melons are not sweet. Since you consider yourself lacking in talent and learning, unable to shoulder such responsibility, this official will not force you."
Chen Qing felt slightly relieved.
"However."
Ke Yunqi changed his tone, "With your current strength, serving as a patrol guard would be beneath your abilities. Then let's promote you to Acting River Officer, with triple monthly salary. Don't disappoint this official again."
Acting River Officer could even be exempt from daily patrol duties in the future. Unless there were major incidents like the captain's assassination, daily life would be quite leisurely.
Chen Qing clasped his fists, "Thank you for Your Excellency's grace! This humble officer Chen Qing will certainly do his utmost and not fail Your Excellency's cultivation!"
"Mm, you may go."
Ke Yunqi waved his hand, his tone returning to indifference, no longer looking at Chen Qing.
"This humble officer takes leave!"
Chen Qing respectfully bowed and slowly withdrew from the signing room.
"How did it go?"
Cheng Ming hurried over with a smile and asked.
Chen Qing briefly described the latter half, and Cheng Ming nodded repeatedly after hearing it.
Chen Qing clasped his fists, "Thank you, Chief, for your kind words."
Cheng Ming must have said many good things about him in front of the Chief River Officer.
"Ah, it's nothing."
Cheng Ming waved his hand, then showed a troubled expression, "Ah Qing, this month's financial support, I'm afraid it will have to be delayed..."
Chen Qing asked in a low voice, "Chief, are there difficulties?"
A family's operations could never be repeatedly delayed over "trivial matters." Could something have happened to the Cheng family?
"It's nothing."
Cheng Ming waved his hand, "Business is difficult, and the clan's expenses are also large. We'll get through this period and see."
Seeing that Cheng Ming was unwilling to say more, Chen Qing didn't ask further.
The two chatted briefly before Cheng Ming hurriedly left.
Chen Qing also packed up and headed home.
This area was close to the inner city, so the streets were quite lively.
In the distance, disciples from Tianju and Guangchang Martial Halls were beating gongs and drums, holding up plaques to recruit students.
Chen Qing glanced over and saw that the leaders were hidden strength disciples, leading several obvious strength apprentices, drawing passersby to stop and watch.
It seemed that competition between martial halls was becoming increasingly fierce.
Along both sides of the street stood medicine halls and weapon shops.
The medicine halls not only practiced medicine but also sold blood qi powder, blood qi pills, and other supplies for martial artists. The prices were not cheap, and ordinary people could only look but not afford them.
It was said that in the inner city's Treasure Hall, they specialized in selling treasure fish and precious medicines, and even entering required verification of qualifications.
At this moment, the medical halls were crowded with people. Besides those buying supplements, many martial arts practitioners were going in and out.
"It seems that studying medicine would also be good in these times."
Seeing this, Chen Qing pondered methods to make money.
Financial support and temporary positions belonged to steady, long-term income.
Within Gaolin County, the paths to making big money had long been monopolized by wealthy families and gangs.
The fastest remaining method would be murder and robbery but this was ultimately not the righteous path, with extremely high risks. If one kicked an iron plate, it would be a dead end.
His gaze turned to another place where people gathered, the wanted notice board.
Various people gathered in front of the board: burly strong men, wanderers with bamboo hats covering their faces.
They were bounty hunters, specializing in capturing those on the wanted notices for the rewards. If the price was right, they would sometimes take on "private jobs."
All those posted on the board were major criminals wanted by the dynasty, such as flower-picking thieves, forest bandits, and even notorious ruthless figures from the martial world.
The bounties were set by the court, with victims sometimes adding additional rewards.
If one could complete a big job, it would be enough to live comfortably for several years.
Among them were many fierce and ruthless people who had taken the lives of both government officials and bounty hunters.
"This bounty hunting is also very dangerous."
Chen Qing shook his head inwardly.
Those who could make it onto the wanted list were no ordinary people, all desperados who lived by the blade.
Of course, besides capturing criminals, bounty hunters also searched for precious medicines in deep mountains and treasure fish in great marshes.
Both were guarded by strange beasts, extremely perilous.
How many people painstakingly found treasure locations, only to end up as meals for strange beasts.
Chen Qing strolled while contemplating.
Small vendors gathered along both sides of the street, selling all kinds of items: chipped and cracked coarse porcelain bowls, thread-bound books with yellowed pages, oddly shaped wooden carvings and stones, and even someone selling old belly bands.
Chen Qing squatted down to take a look.
The vendor was a thin old man who immediately broke into a full smile when he saw Chen Qing stop, "Oh my, young master, take a look, these are all old items left by ancestors. Who knows which one might be a family treasure hiding secrets!"
He squatted down, his gaze falling on a small booklet with a worn cover.
"Good eye! This young master is clearly knowledgeable!"
The vendor immediately put on a mysterious air.
"Don't let its shabby appearance fool you. These days, worn doesn't necessarily mean old, but old, heh, that's where the real knowledge lies!"
While speaking, the vendor brought the booklet closer to Chen Qing, his words like honey-coated hooks, "Look more carefully at this paper. Could ordinary waste paper last so many years without rotting to shreds? And this thread, it's still tough! Who knows what might be hidden inside, some lost... what-do-you-call-it?"
He deliberately emphasized the words "lost what-do-you-call-it" with heavy and vague pronunciation.
"I'm just looking casually."
Chen Qing stood up and left.
Did people really believe they could randomly buy some broken item on the roadside and find peerless martial arts hidden inside?
At least he didn't believe it.
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