Chapter 3: Another Promotion

As he walked into the courtyard, the members of the Patrol Guard stood up and saluted.

"Hmm, no need for formalities. Do as you did before. If tasks come down from above, I will inform you," Song Changming said with a gentle smile, not much different from when he served as an assistant.

The patrol guards eased up a bit, breathing a sigh of relief.

Their tension wasn’t without reason; they’d heard or witnessed numerous instances of newly appointed officials and their actions.

Many new Patrol Captains often sought to establish authority by randomly finding fault and punishing subordinates to inspire fear and respect.

Some even wouldn’t consider past relationships, imposing harsh penalties or directly dismissing one or two, causing widespread fear.

In contrast, since Song Changming’s appointment, he has been much gentler, refraining from tormenting his men over unfounded charges.

For them, this was undoubtedly favorable.

Once the Patrol Guard members returned to their usual duties, Song Changming remained in the courtyard of the Patrol Armor Bureau.

As the Patrol Captain, there was no need for him to handle daily street patrols or other trivial matters personally.

Unless there were tasks assigned from above, he had the freedom to manage his schedule, even taking a nap in the courtyard if he wished, with no one to interfere.

This was a privilege of being a Patrol Captain.

He usually spent his days at the Patrol Armor Bureau, drinking tea and practicing his saber, enjoying significantly more freedom than when he was a patrol guard.

Meanwhile, the matter involving Liu Xiangnan had gradually faded away in the city after unsuccessful investigations over time.

Liu Xiangnan and the revealed Xiaoyao Sword Zhao Dongming had both been placed on the government’s wanted list.

Each with a reward of ten thousand silver!

This sum demonstrated the government’s considerable attention to these two individuals.

Without any obligations on one day, before dusk, Song Changming dismissed his Patrol Guard, clocking out on time.

As he exited the courtyard, he instinctively turned his head.

He spotted someone silently retreating from the corridor on the other side of the Patrol Armor Bureau.

The person was Wang Xianwen, formerly Sun Wenyan’s assistant.

After Lv Gang’s appointment, Wang became his assistant.

In the past, Song Changming had some conflicts with him, but following Sun Wenyan’s death, Wang Xianwen became more reserved, not daring to trouble Song Changming anymore.

Now, Song Changming had been promoted to the new Patrol Captain, suppressing Wang’s status by one level.

If they conversed now, Wang would have to salute him respectfully, deterring any further trouble.

Song Changming paid little mind to him and walked home after leaving the Patrol Armor Bureau.

Currently, Liang Chuan Mountain had just become Director and had many administrative affairs to handle, so they hadn’t shared a drink in a while.

"Hmm?"

Passing beneath the withered tree, he spotted two little puppies still there.

With the sun setting and the temperature dropping, the small puppies shivered with cold, huddling tightly together.

Hearing Song Changming’s approaching footsteps, the puppies, unable to open their eyes, perhaps mistook him for their mother, barking excitedly.

Song Changming glanced at the sky, bent to pick up the puppies, and returned home.

"Ah?" Father Song, near the water tank spreading food, noticed Song Changming bringing back the puppies and remarked curiously, "I remember you were afraid of dogs as a child."

"As you said, that was when I was a child. I’m not afraid now," Song Changming replied, smiling, putting the puppies on the ground, and heading to the kitchen for some leftover goat milk from yesterday.

"True, you are a Patrol Captain now, quite impressive indeed," Father Song said, grinning broadly.

Recently, upon hearing of Song Changming’s role as Patrol Captain, he laughed even in his sleep, reflecting an almost dreamlike elation.

Song Changming, his youngest child, consistently brought him great joy and surprises.

He felt the fortunes of the Song Family had truly turned.

"These two little puppies are lucky too, coming through our doors and won’t worry about food and drink anymore," Father Song crooned, teasing the puppies, feeling joy in everything he saw.

Song Changming set down the goat milk, and the hungry puppies immediately buried their heads, licking fervently, their short tails held high, trembling unsteadily.

"Alright, when you’re not around, I’ll watch over them too," Father Song chuckled.

"Dinner’s ready!" Song’s Mother placed the dishes on the stone table beneath the old locust tree in the courtyard.

With the house stifling in the summer, the family generally had their evening meals in the courtyard.

As Song Changming rose through the ranks, the family diet improved accordingly, always featuring meat, and ample seafood.

A table full of dishes provided enough nutrition for Song Changming’s daily martial arts practice.

Now that Song Changming was a Patrol Captain, his rank entitled him to a salary of silver rather than copper coins, pure silver coins.

Thirty silver monthly, three thousand catties of rice yearly, far exceeding the standard rewards for regular patrol guards.

This was only his basic salary, excluding the annual gift and reward money.

Originally, Song Changming thought he’d have to wait until raising the Bisho Silkworm into a sizable operation for sufficient funds to support intensive martial arts training.

Yet, upon becoming Patrol Captain, he calculated and found that the monthly imperial salary alone could suffice for his training needs.

A monthly Wild Ginseng, a biweekly medicinal bath, Bone Forging Powder every five days, daily meats and vegetables—all could now be afforded.

He even had extra means to select older Wild Ginseng and superior medicines.

This allowed him to further enhance his body refinement efficiency.

Additionally, in just a few days, he would turn twenty, marking another annual evaluation.

Recently, he awaited this annual evaluation, potentially a direct opportunity to enhance his power.

Post-meal, while practicing martial arts, Song Changming constructed a small wooden kennel for the puppies, placing it under the locust tree with dry grass for warmth.

The puppies ate and slept, surviving another night.

Several days later.

Father Song intended to throw a grand ceremony for Song Changming’s coming of age, given his newfound status.

But Song Changming felt it unnecessary, opting for a simple affair as his brothers had done before.

That night, Song Changming practiced his saber deep into the night and, upon checking the sky, finally sat on a stone stool in the courtyard, opening his panel to review.

[Annual Evaluation: This year has been rewarding. In martial arts, Soul-breaking Saber has reached great perfection, and two high-level martial arts have been mastered.

Social influence: Assisted Liang Chuan Mountain to the Director position and become his ally, acquainted with Great Knight Liu Xiangnan, promoted to Patrol Captain at Houli Street Patrol Armor Bureau.

Family: Parents are proud of you, bringing honor to the family...]