Chapter Thirty-Five: A Favor (Part Two)

In the end, Lu Baiyi left while grumbling, as if she were scolding a certain military officer for being ungrateful, asking why it was so bad to keep owing her favors.

Afterward, Bai Yu found Platoon Leader Qian and requested half a day off for the following day to attend to some private business.

Platoon Leader Qian did not ask what the private business was; he simply urged, "Get the *qingci* (daoist prayer essays) written first. That cannot be delayed."

"That is a minor matter!" Bai Yu felt no pressure at all. "Let’s start now. You write while I dictate."

In less than half an hour, the two had polished off several drafts of *qingci* to be presented to the Western Park.

Platoon Leader Qian remarked with deep emotion, "I never imagined I would be involved in the *qingci* industry chain. I’ve truly benefited from your light."

Bai Yu replied, "If there is trouble in the future, just make sure you don't reveal my name."

At that moment, Platoon Leader Qian could not have foreseen that years later, as the political climate shifted, ministers would often attack each other by shouting: "You wrote *qingci* for the late Emperor!"

And the retort would be: "You are the one who wrote *qingci* for the late Emperor! Your whole family wrote *qingci*!"

With some time left before the end of the shift, Bai Yu patrolled the streets outside the Xi'an Gate to get a feel for the area.

As he passed the entrance to the Goulan Alley in the Western Court of the Jiaofangsi (Music Bureau), dusk had fallen, and the place was beginning to liven up.

Bai Yu glanced into the alley when, suddenly, something hit his red-tasseled felt hat. He caught it and saw it was a piece of preserved fruit.

Looking up, he saw two women behind a second-floor window covering their mouths as they giggled. One of them winked at him before they disappeared behind the shutters.

The unromantic Officer Bai turned and walked away. With pockets emptier than his face, how could he dare to enter such a den of extravagance?

On his way home, passing through the narrow lane in Yingzi Alley, he saw Brother Liu, who was still living the life of a beggar.

Bai Yu comforted him, "I’ve already found a lead. Hang in there for two more days, good brother. I will surely bring you out of the darkness and into safety!"

Brother Liu mentioned that a local gang leader was looking for a son-in-law, and if Bai Yu didn't take action soon, he would consider applying himself. If that happened, whenever anything came up for the Bai family, he would definitely bring his beggar brothers over to sing dirges at their doorstep.

Back home, there was nothing left to do but practice calligraphy furiously, laying the foundation for the upcoming exams.

He was grateful that his previous life’s country had valued traditional culture so highly; Bai Yu had taken calligraphy classes in primary and secondary school, so he wasn't starting entirely from scratch.

The next day, instead of reporting for duty, Bai Yu headed toward the Wanping County Magistrate’s Office, located north of the Imperial City.

He left the alley with a few neighbors heading to work, walking north together. Suddenly, Bai Yu noticed a perimeter of exceptionally high walls that looked unusual. He asked casually, "What place is that?"

A neighbor replied, "The Wanggong Factory, the gunpowder depot."

*Damn it? The Wanggong Factory?* Bai Yu's anxiety about being a victim flared up instantly!

How could he live in such a place? Had he never heard of the Great Wanggong Factory Explosion?

Move! He had to move as soon as he made money! What kind of decent person would live next to a gunpowder depot?

He couldn't even sleep soundly here! If an explosion occurred, it would all be over!

In the capital, the County Magistrate's office was a curious entity; its sole function seemed to be providing logistical support for the imperial court. The experience of being a county magistrate in the capital was something only those who held the position could truly understand.

Song Jiyuan, the Magistrate of Wanping, was sitting in the back hall of the office, fretting over the work orders sent by various imperial departments.

His attendant reported from outside the door, "Sir! A Jinyiwei (Embroidered Uniform Guard) investigative officer is here to see you!"

In a foul mood, Magistrate Song cursed, "Get out! You have to report every single thing? There must be thousands of Jinyiwei officers; if I saw every one of them, I’d never finish before my term ends!"

The attendant did not dare to talk back and continued, "The secretary says this officer recently did something major—he managed to get two Ministers dismissed during the court debate. It can be inferred that this officer has significant connections, so it is better to see him than to offend him!"

Magistrate Song cursed again, "You dog, why didn't you say so earlier! Invite him in immediately!"

Not long after, Bai Yu walked in and said to Magistrate Song, "I have come to visit today for some private business."

Magistrate Song replied wittily, "In this office, I fear hearing about official business; if it is private, I actually feel a sense of relief."

Bai Yu chuckled along before stating his purpose. "There is a woman in the Lu family who was engaged since childhood, but over a decade ago, her fiancé passed away..."

After hearing him out, Magistrate Song asked, "This Lu family—is it *that* Lu family?"

Bai Yu replied, "Who else could it be, if they can command Jinyiwei officers?"

Magistrate Song agreed readily. "Easy! This costs nothing; it’s just a few sheets of paper!"

At the same time, in his heart, Magistrate Song bumped Bai Yu up two levels in status. Being able to handle private business for the Lu family was a clear sign of one's position.

After finishing the "Lu family private business," Bai Yu smoothly transitioned to another "private matter."

"Speaking of which, I will be participating in the county examinations next month. Perhaps I will have the opportunity to call you 'Teacher'!"

Out in the world, one defines their own status—Bai Yu finally understood the meaning of this and was putting it into practice.

Lu Bing would not help with the imperial examinations, so Bai Yu had to find another way to pull strings himself.

Magistrate Song was quite surprised. "Officer Bai is so ambitious? That is truly commendable. We should exchange ideas more often."

After finishing his talk with Magistrate Song, Bai Yu returned to his post at the Xi'an Gate.

Two days later, Platoon Leader Qian was standing at the doorway of the office giving instructions to about fifty men—presumably the personnel deployed by Deputy Thousand-Household Feng.

Bai Yu stepped forward and asked, "I plan to start work tomorrow. Can these men be used?"

Platoon Leader Qian was fairly satisfied. "Most of them are capable. With a little guidance, they can be assigned tasks."

Bai Yu asked again, "Do they have the resolve and perseverance to stand up against Thousand-Household Yan Hu of the Southern Investigating Bureau?"

Platoon Leader Qian: "..."

*Is your standard for "capable" a bit too high?* Throughout the Jinyiwei, how many people would dare say they could definitely stand up to Yan Hu?

Bai Yu sighed. "It seems that won't work. Chief Qian, borrow a few of your trusted confidants to help. I need to ensure absolute loyalty."

Just then, the door curtain of the office was yanked open forcefully, and Lu Baiyi appeared in the doorway.

Worse yet, she was holding a precious sword, shouting angrily, "Bai Yu! Prepare to die!"

Platoon Leader Qian jumped from his seat in shock. What was happening? Would this place turn into a crime scene?

Facing Lu Baiyi, who was armed, Platoon Leader Qian didn't know whether to stop her or not. He eventually gathered his courage to block her path and hurriedly asked, "What on earth is going on?"

Lu Baiyi pointed her sword at Bai Yu outside and accused, "He actually went to the magistrate's office and applied for an imperial commendation on my behalf!"

Platoon Leader Qian's brain couldn't process this immediately, and he blurted out, "That's a good thing. Why resort to weapons?"

Lu Baiyi, her anger reaching its peak, shouted, "The commendation he applied for was a Chastity Citation! The kind that honors widows for remaining chaste and leads to the erection of a chastity archway!"

Platoon Leader Qian silently stepped aside, feeling that if Bai Yu were hacked to death, he would deserve it.

To apply for a chastity archway for a woman in her twenties—he really had a creative mind!

No sooner than it was said, as Platoon Leader Qian turned his head, Bai Yu had already jumped out the window, evading Lu Baiyi's surprise attack.

"Just tell me, did I or did I not stop that marriage arrangement for you? Besides, you didn't want to get married anyway!" Bai Yu's voice drifted in from outside the window.