Chapter 88 : Chapter 88
Chapter 88. The Medicinal Field Guard Commandant
After hearing Zhao Qiusheng describe the two possible postings, Xu Yuan almost did not hesitate at all.
“I’ll take the medicinal field guard commandant post.”
The medicinal fields?
At that, Zhao Qiusheng looked up at him in surprise.
“Guard duty at the medicinal fields is stable enough, but it’s out beyond the city and quite remote. You’ll also have fewer people under your command. It’s nowhere near as lucrative as a Street Guard position. Have you really thought it through?”
Xu Yuan replied calmly, “I have. Lately I’ve been feeling rather worn out. It’s quiet outside the city, which is just right for resting and recuperating for a while. It’ll also spare me a lot of pointless trouble.”
Zhao Qiusheng gave him a long look, then stopped trying to persuade him and nodded.
“So be it. To put it plainly, this medicinal field guard commandant job isn’t all that different from being a Street Guard.
“Ordinarily, you sit at the center and oversee all security matters for the medicinal fields. You command two guard squads under you. Common matters are handled by those below, and only when high-level spirit beasts attack would you need to step in personally. It’s actually a fairly leisurely post.”
He took out a specially made token engraved with the two characters yao jia—“medicinal guard”—and handed it to Xu Yuan.
“This is the command token for the guard commandant post. There are three medium-sized medicinal fields outside the city in total. As for which one you’ll be assigned to, that still depends on the unified transfer order from above. Stay in the manor for a few days first. Once the order arrives, you can take up the post.”
“Many thanks, Uncle Zhao.” Xu Yuan accepted the token and put it away.
“Oh, right.”
Zhao Qiusheng took a red envelope out of the drawer and pushed it toward Xu Yuan, a genuine smile on his face.
“Your promotion to the Fifth Meridian is a joyous occasion. Take these five taels of silver as a congratulatory gift. Please don’t think it too little.”
Xu Yuan felt warmth in his heart. Zhao Qiusheng might be smooth and worldly, but he had always looked after him quite a bit and was also someone who knew very well how to conduct himself.
“You’re too courteous, Uncle Zhao.”
“There’s one more thing.” Zhao Qiusheng lowered his voice, his expression turning serious.
“To break through to the Fifth Meridian in such a short time—your talent is truly astonishing... Those above may very well make new arrangements for you.
“For the next few days, don’t go too far from the manor. Just stay quietly in the residence assigned to you and wait at ease, so you don’t miss any news.”
Xu Yuan’s gaze shifted slightly, and he understood at once.
What Zhao Qiusheng meant was most likely the matter of “marriage” he had mentioned before.
Back when Xu Yuan had advanced to the Fourth Meridian, Zhao Qiusheng had clearly told him that within three months, he would need to choose a maid of suitable age to marry, in order to deepen his ties to the main family.
Now, however, he had broken into the Fifth Meridian before those three months were even up. His status was no longer what it had once been, and the attitude and arrangements from above would likely change accordingly.
“I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Uncle Zhao.”
...
After leaving the Service Hall, Xu Yuan walked along while calculating the actual benefits of being promoted to a Five-Stripe Servant Chief.
In terms of clothing, his white-trimmed black brocade uniforms had increased to five sets. As for food, he could now purchase treasure meat from the Third Transformation stage without restriction.
His housing had also improved quite a bit. Anywhere within the Shangyang family’s sphere of influence, he could possess a small residence with three rooms and its own courtyard. That was a real, tangible place to settle down and build a life.
As for travel, however, nothing much had changed.
In addition, his number of personal servants had increased to three. They would specifically handle his meals, daily needs, cleaning, and message-running. Though the number was somewhat small, it was still a symbol of status and dignity.
“But the most important thing is still silver... now it’s fifteen taels a month.”
At that thought, Xu Yuan could not help nodding in satisfaction.
After all, one portion of Heqi Powder now cost one tael of silver, and after breaking through to the Fifth Meridian, the amount he needed would only increase. His spending in that area would certainly not go down.
Then there was treasure meat—Third Transformation treasure meat also cost one tael per jin.
Although it could be exchanged for battle merit, unless absolutely necessary, it was obviously more cost-effective to use silver.
“So...”
Xu Yuan touched the money pouch at his waist and thought, “At the moment I still have nearly one thousand battle merit points, while my silver stands at a little over one hundred sixty taels. That’s fairly ample.”
“Let’s see what benefits I can get from a post at the medicinal fields.”
Putting those thoughts away, Xu Yuan strode forward in long steps. The five elegant horizontal stripes on his shoulder shimmered faintly under the sunlight.
Along the way, every servant, steward, and even low-rank martial artist he encountered stopped, lowered their heads, and saluted respectfully, their eyes full of awe and envy.
A Fifth Meridian martial artist was already part of the backbone of the Shangyang family’s internal strength, enough to place him beyond the reach of the vast majority.
By now, Xu Yuan felt hardly any emotional ripples at such treatment.
He passed through layer upon layer of courtyards, walked out through the towering gatehouse of Shangyang Manor, and leisurely made his way toward his elder brother’s home.
Come to think of it, it had been quite some time since he had last seen them.
...
At the Xu family’s small courtyard, it was just around noon.
Mrs. Zhang had prepared a simple but steaming-hot meal, and the three of them sat together around the table.
During the meal, Xu Yuan asked about his elder brother’s recent situation at Fuji Cloth Shop.
“The cloth shop is doing quite well.”
Xu Zheng’s face was full of unconcealable delight, and his spirits were far better than before.
“The shopkeeper takes very good care of me. I’m also gradually getting the hang of the accounting work. On top of that, the cloth shop’s business is doing well, and the pay is quite good too.”
At that point he paused, his tone turning emotional.
“A’Yuan, your brother knows this is all face you earned for me. I often hear the shopkeeper mention you, and every word out of his mouth is praise.”
“Isn’t that right?” Mrs. Zhang beside him chimed in with a smile.
“Ever since your brother started at the cloth shop, even the way the neighbors look at our family has changed.
“Some time ago, there were even people we didn’t know who took a roundabout way to send mountain goods to the house, saying they were... saying they were ‘showing respect to Accountant Xu.’”
As she spoke, her tone was full of joy but also a little at a loss. “Life really is so much more open and bright than before.”
Hearing this, however, Xu Zheng’s face fell. “Didn’t I tell you not to accept those things?”
“How was I supposed to refuse? Some of those people are still relatives from my Zhang family side. They came this time to strengthen ties a bit.”
Mrs. Zhang sighed. “There are hardly any people left in our branch of the family anymore.”
“A woman’s short-sighted view!” Xu Zheng snorted.
“Oh? Xu Zheng, so your wings have grown hard now, have they?” Mrs. Zhang exploded at once and immediately grabbed him by the ear.
“No, that’s not it—I was just afraid it might affect A’Yuan...”
Watching from the side, Xu Yuan felt quite gratified.
There was not much he could give his family. A stable and prosperous ordinary life was the best return he could offer them for now.
After the meal, Xu Yuan did not stay long. He bid farewell to his elder brother and sister-in-law, then returned once more to Shangyang Manor.
And when news of his breakthrough to the Fifth Meridian spread, it immediately stirred up no small commotion.
Xu Yuan’s reputation as a martial fanatic with exceptional talent had long been known within Shangyang Manor.
There had also been quite a few narrow-minded people who predicted that he would get stuck at some realm sooner or later. Yet instead, he had become like a runaway wild horse, impossible to rein in, once again shattering everyone’s imagination.
Not long after Xu Yuan returned to the small courtyard arranged for him within the manor, Feng Xiao sent someone over with a congratulatory gift of three taels of silver.
Right afterward, those who had caught wind of the news began arriving one after another without end.
There was Chen Ze, the martial instructor from the old training compound, along with fellow martial trainees from the same intake; there were other stewards from the Service Hall with whom he had some acquaintance; there were even unfamiliar low-rank martial artists who found excuses to come and offer congratulations.
For a time, the little courtyard was packed with visitors.
Every single one of them wore a beaming smile. Their congratulatory words were flowery, and their compliments came in endless succession, as though Xu Yuan were already a rising star of a great clan, with boundless prospects ahead.
Xu Yuan endured it patiently and received them one by one. His manners were impeccable, but they remained only manners.
His heart was clear as a mirror. Most of this enthusiasm was aimed at his Fifth Meridian cultivation and his seemingly bright future. How much of it was sincere was very hard to say.
After entertaining people for an entire day, he found it tiresome and dull. So he simply used “quietly consolidating my cultivation” as an excuse and shut his doors to visitors, leaving only one servant outside to await orders.
As for himself, he stayed in the quiet little courtyard, cultivating alone while waiting for news from Zhao Qiusheng.