The next day, Tran Mac took his Tang Dao, its body wrapped in black cloth, tied it to his back, went to the village entrance, dug up the money chest, took some money from within, and went into the city.
He went to a trading house, found a shop assistant inside, and, using pigskin according to specified dimensions, had a scabbard and hilt wrap made for his Tang Dao.
After the scabbard was made, Tran Mac went to Wu Family Alley in the west of the city and knocked on the main door of the last courtyard in the alley.
After a short wait, the main door finally opened.
The one who came out was an old woman. After sizing Tran Mac up, she said, "Who are you looking for?"
"Is this Wu Shan's home?" Tran Mac asked politely.
The old woman didn't answer but instead glanced at the exposed hilt of the dao behind Tran Mac, her eyes showing vigilance, and said, "Who are you?"
Tran Mac cupped his hands towards the old woman and said, "This humble one is Tran Mac from Phuc Trach Village. I have some business to discuss with Brother Wu."
The old woman, seeing Tran Mac was quite polite, pondered for a moment and then said, "I am his mother. He is on duty today and not at home."
"Then when does Brother Wu get off duty?" Tran Mac inquired.
Learning that he wouldn't be off duty until the Hour of You, Tran Mac frowned. He couldn't wait that long; he could only go to the yamen to find Wu Shan.
The people in the yamen were even more arrogant than the Thanh Ha Bang members and couldn't be bothered to pay him any attention.
It wasn't until Tran Mac spent some money to ask someone to pass on a message that he finally got to see Wu Shan.
Coming with Wu Shan was Head Constable Banh from the yamen. Tran Mac had met him once before and had some impression.
What surprised him, however, was that last time, the red number on Head Constable Banh's forehead was "55+6".
Now, this number had changed to "63+8".
"Is this a breakthrough..."
Tran Mac muttered to himself inwardly.
Wu Shan who had arrived had already taken the lead in greeting: "Brother Tran, long time no see. How have you been lately?"
"Brother Wu." Tran Mac cupped his hands towards Wu Shan, then said, "Same as usual."
His gaze shifted to Head Constable Banh beside Wu Shan: "This esteemed sir is?"
"Brother Tran, let me introduce you. This is our yamen's Head Constable Banh Thanh." Wu Shan then looked at Banh Thanh and said, "Head Constable, this is the Brother Tran Mac I mentioned to you before."
"Greetings, Head Constable Banh," Tran Mac cupped his hands towards Banh Thanh.
Wu Shan said from the side, "Brother Tran, I've spoken to the Head Constable about you. The Head Constable quite admires you and wants to witness your strength."
Tran Mac put on an expression of not daring to accept the compliment, saying, "Brother Wu is joking. With my meager abilities, how would I dare to embarrass myself in front of Head Constable Banh?"
Tran Mac was subtly flattering Banh Thanh.
"Are you practicing a military cultivation technique?" At this moment, Banh Thanh spoke, his voice robust.
As a yamen Head Constable, he naturally had the authority to view the case files of the commoners under his jurisdiction.
Banh Thanh was relatively clear about Tran Mac's background.
Tran Mac's elder brother had achieved merit on the battlefield, was promoted to Baihuzhang, and was awarded the Blood Nurturing Technique cultivation method by his superiors. Because Tran Dai was from Binh Dinh County, the yamen also received commendation from above, which was recorded.
The Blood Nurturing Technique was a basic military cultivation method, often used to reward meritorious officers and soldiers.
The awarded officers and soldiers could pass it on to their own family members but could not teach it to outsiders. Once taught to an outsider, if investigated, the lighter punishment was the annulment of cultivation, while the heavier one, on top of cultivation annulment, also included the disaster of imprisonment.
However, in this current era, it was likely no one cared.
Tran Mac knew this kind of matter couldn't be hidden and nodded.
"Military cultivation techniques emphasize killing power. Compared to other techniques, the cultivation method is the most arduous, but if successfully cultivated, one's strength will be much higher than martial artists of the same realm. For you to have entered a rank at such a young age shows remarkable perseverance," Head Constable Banh said.
"Head Constable Banh overpraises me. I only have a bit of brute strength."
As Tran Mac was speaking, he suddenly sensed Banh Thanh make a move, grabbing for his shoulder. Tran Mac instinctively dodged.
A flicker of surprise appeared in Banh Thanh's eyes. He then used his best grappling technique and grabbed again.
Tran Mac, realizing it was a probe, relaxed a little, then put on a panicked expression, his reaction slowing down. He was caught by Banh Thanh on the shoulder, then with a reverse grip, he was "captured."
"Not a bad reaction, but your footwork is messy, you have no techniques, poor combat experience, and your strength is a bit lacking. Barely qualified," Banh Thanh criticized, then released Tran Mac.
Tran Mac rubbed his shoulder, looking as if he had been hurt by the grab.
When one is in a relatively dangerous situation, one doesn't need to hide their true abilities; appropriately displaying one's strength can avoid some unnecessary trouble.
But when one has established strength, one can then relatively hold back a portion of their strength. This can be of great use at critical moments.
Like now, there was no need to display his full strength.
"Head Constable Banh is absolutely right," Tran Mac smiled embarrassedly.
"But in any case, you are an initiated martial artist. Are you interested in becoming a bailiff? The yamen is short-handed right now. If you are willing, there's no need for a recommendation; you can become our colleague on the same day," Banh Thanh patted Tran Mac's shoulder, intentionally recruiting him.
"Not to make Head Constable Banh laugh, but my mother's wish was for me to achieve high honors in the examinations. This humble one naturally dares not disobey and must diligently study, just waiting for the imperial examinations to reopen, to strive for official rank and fame," Tran Mac declined.
"Good, you have ambition," Banh Thanh said with an appreciative look.
In this world, more people still yearned for official rank.
However, Banh Thanh still didn't want to give up just like that. He said, "If you change your mind, you can come to the yamen to find me at any time."
"Many thanks, Head Constable Banh," Tran Mac cupped his hands.
"Then you two chat." Since Tran Mac was here to find Wu Shan, and Banh Thanh had made his recruitment offer, he didn't stay much longer.
Tran Mac nodded.
...
After Banh Thanh left, Wu Shan sighed, "A pity. I thought I could become colleagues with Brother Tran.
However, since Brother Tran has such great ambition, as a brother, I naturally want to support him. I wonder, Brother Tran, what matter brings you to find me?"
"Didn't I say last time that I would invite Brother Wu for drinks another day? I came into the city today and happened to have time. It's almost noon now. Brother Wu and I hit it off so well; we should drink heartily."
Wu Shan's eyes widened. After pondering, he also smiled, "Well said, we should indeed drink heartily. Brother Tran, wait a moment, I'll go ask for leave from the yamen."
...
As the saying goes, one doesn't visit a temple without a reason.
Tran Mac sought out Wu Shan, naturally, because he wanted to ask about something.
And when asking someone to do something, one naturally cannot be stingy.
Before Tran Mac transmigrated, when he needed someone's help or was talking business, it was either at a wine shop or a "clubhouse."
And this world's "clubhouse"...
Zi Jin Lou.
Binh Dinh County's brothel.
It was also a Thanh Ha Bang enterprise.
Before entering Zi Jin Lou, a small interlude occurred at its entrance.
A man had lost money at a gambling den and then borrowed from the casino's loan sharks.
Now unable to repay, Zi Jin Lou had seized the man's wife and daughter to settle the debt.
The man was naturally unwilling, claiming he was tricked and set up by the Thanh Ha Bang, who had exchanged the money he earned from fishing in Dai Dong Lake at double its value for casino chips.
Yes, the casino was also a Thanh Ha Bang enterprise.
Zi Jin Lou said, "Who told you to gamble? We didn't force you. When you were winning before, we didn't see you stop either."
The man refused to yield no matter what and was ultimately beaten nearly to death by Thanh Ha Bang members. His wife and daughter were taken into Zi Jin Lou.
Tran Mac frowned but paid it no mind.
Although Thanh Ha Bang was in the wrong in this matter, the man mentioned had also been unable to resist the temptation of double returns and had sunk deep into gambling.
Gambling dogs die without peace.
It was just a pity for the wife and daughter.
Tran Mac asked Wu Shan, "Doesn't the yamen care about this matter?"
After all, under Dai Song law, Zi Jin Lou's act of taking a wife and daughter to pay off debts was illegal.
Wu Shan smiled, put an arm around Tran Mac's neck, and said, "He's not a city resident, why bother? Besides, paying one's debts is a matter of unalterable principle."