Chen Ku escorted his sister home.
Before leaving, his sister complained, "That was too expensive. You’re not yet married. You absolutely can’t be so reckless with money in the future. I know you wanted to treat your sister to something good, but we can’t be so extravagant."
Chen Ku smiled and agreed.
After seeing his sister home, upon seeing their two-story building now in shambles, she exclaimed in shock, "What has happened to the Wu Family? It’s as if someone tore the house down..."
Only when she heard that her own husband had led the men who captured the notorious thief—and that this was the cause of the destruction—did she cover her mouth in surprised excitement. Grasping Chen Ku, she said, "Your brother-in-law has achieved a great feat!"
She had long heard from her husband that if he could capture Ni Kun, this achievement would allow him to reclaim his position as Deputy Constable.
She was moved to tears. Looking at her brother, he, too, had become an apprentice at Medicine King Hall.
"It feels like everything has suddenly gotten better for our family."
Chen Ku didn’t tell her what role he had played in Li Yuancheng’s accomplishment; that would surely have scared her. Especially if she had known that someone had been watching her for the past few days, intending to harm her, she certainly wouldn’t have been able to feel happy.
"Yes, everything is getting better," Chen Ku consoled his sister, then said, "I must go back to work now."
His sister gripped his arm, tearfully reluctant to let him go. "I know you’re busy, but I hope you can visit more often. I’ll cook for you."
「Back at Medicine King Hall.」
He went to report his absence. He had been out for half a day, which counted as unauthorized absence from work.
Although Ke Yansheng admired Chen Ku, this talented apprentice, he could not show undue favoritism with so many others watching in the courtyard. So, he intentionally put on a stern face and said, "You have no respect for the rules. Even if there truly was an urgent matter, you should have asked for leave in advance. Absenting yourself from work without reason will be noted in your evaluation, do you understand?"
An evaluation... it was akin to demerits. Apprentices didn’t receive a salary, and since they were eager for promotion to Disciple, their standing in the courtyard was extremely important.
Ke Yansheng’s stern reprimand caused all the apprentices and workers in the courtyard to look over.
Many anticipated a spectacle. After all, as long as they themselves weren’t being scolded, it was a scene worth watching, especially since it involved the one who had placed first in two categories during last month’s examination.
Although some workers didn’t dare show it on their faces, they were secretly pleased. Such blatant disregard for work! No matter how talented he is, he still has to be knocked down a peg. An apprentice is not a Disciple. Does he really think he’s entitled to special treatment just because he got lucky a few times? How presumptuous!
Chen Ku certainly couldn’t allow his evaluation to suffer, so he came clean immediately, saying, "Master Ke, the matter I was dealing with today was indeed of special importance. I was delayed in returning to work because I provided the Yamen with a clue."
"Provided the Yamen with a clue?" Ke Yansheng raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"
Suddenly, shouts erupted from outside the courtyard:
"Where is Chen Ku of Medicine King Hall? Come out quickly to receive the Imperial Court’s reward silver!"
An instant later, a stir went through Butcher Court.
What? Reward silver from the Imperial Court?
At that moment, a worker rushed in from the outer hall and said to Ke Yansheng, "Master Ke, three constables have arrived from the outer hall. They say Senior Brother Chen provided an important clue. This clue helped the county government office capture Ni Kun, the notorious smuggling bandit who had been wanted across the county for three months. That’s why they’ve come to distribute the reward silver from the wanted posters."
"The notorious smuggling bandit Ni Kun?" Ke Yansheng’s expression turned serious.
The apprentices and workers in the courtyard were all astonished, their gazes turning towards Chen Ku.
Wanted posters for the notorious bandit Ni Kun had been displayed throughout the county for months, and the reward money had increased repeatedly. It wasn’t that no one had daydreamed of providing a clue and claiming that immense reward, but they all knew it was just a fantasy.
Besides, what kind of person was this great bandit Ni Kun? Just two days ago, word was that the Yamen had lost six more men. The very next day, the reward on the wanted posters increased to ’Eight Hundred Taels of silver for assistance in capture’ and ’One Hundred and Fifty Taels of silver for providing clues’...
Anyone could see that Ni Kun was repeatedly challenging the authority of the county government office, having bested government officers time and again. Lord County Magistrate was truly furious.
Unexpectedly... Chen Ku had actually managed to stumble upon this windfall.
As everyone in the courtyard stared at Chen Ku, their expressions a mixture of shock and awe, the three government officers had already entered.
"Who is Chen Ku?" the tall government official in the lead asked.
Ke Yansheng cleared his throat and pointed at Chen Ku. "That’s him."
"Come forward to claim your reward. The government keeps its word. For providing the clue about Ni Kun, the reward is one hundred and fifty Taels of silver. Come over, affix your seal to this document, and the silver is yours." As the official spoke, another government officer approached, holding a money pouch and a document.
Chen Ku walked forward. Following the government official’s guidance, he affixed his seal to the reward document and then accepted the heavy money pouch.
They actually didn’t short-change me? A full one hundred and fifty Taels? This clashed somewhat with his impression of these blood-sucking Yamen officials.
Seeing Chen Ku take the silver and affix his seal, the government official gave him a rare smile and said, "Also, your brother-in-law asked me to pass on a message. He said that, thanks to you, he’s going to be promoted back to his old post. He hopes you’ll visit his home when you have time so your sister can cook a meal for you."
"Thank you, Officer, for relaying the message," Chen Ku said, cupping his hands in a salute. Now I understand why the reward silver wasn’t skimmed.
Watching the government officials leave, Chen Ku surreptitiously glanced at Ke Yansheng.
"Stop trying to read my expression," Ke Yansheng said irritably. "Since you were assisting the Yamen, there’s nothing more to be said. Get back to work."
Chen Ku whispered, "Then, my evaluation...?"
Ke Yansheng waved his sleeve dismissively. "Don’t push your luck! Are you expecting the courtyard to mark this as ’Excellent’ on your record? You assisted the Yamen in capturing a criminal; you haven’t done anything meritorious for our Medicine King Hall. Get back to work!"
"Heh!" Chen Ku chuckled. Then, weighing the heavy pouch of silver in his hand, he walked towards his workshop, keenly aware of the envious and jealous gazes of the other workers and apprentices, and began to busy himself.
He had received another windfall. Without even exerting much effort—just by running an errand and saying a few words—he had not only recouped the money spent on the White Ape but also had a surplus. How could this not be a wonderful turn of events?
Perhaps it was true that good things came in pairs.
News arrived about the White Ape. Someone from Hunter’s Forest in Centennial Fang sent a messenger: they had caught a White Ape.
After work, Chen Ku headed straight for Hunter’s Forest in Centennial Fang.
It was the same attendant as before. Upon seeing Chen Ku, he said with a beaming smile, "You’re truly lucky, sir! In just five days, our archers from Hunter’s Forest have lived up to expectations and already captured two apes. However..."
When Chen Ku heard the ’however,’ he knew things weren’t so simple. He frowned and asked, "However what?"
"I’m not sure if it’s your good fortune or something else, sir. We did catch apes, but they aren’t ordinary White Apes. Instead, it’s a Spirit Ape mother and her child. So, therein lies the issue. If you don’t want the Spirit Apes, there are still five days remaining. Hunter’s Forest guarantees to deliver a White Ape before the deadline. But if you do want these Spirit Apes..." The attendant cleared his throat and said, "That will cost extra."