Chapter 4

Zhang Meng sat somewhat embarrassedly at the table, with an array of delicacies spread out before her, their fragrant aromas wafting up. Since her transmigration, she had never seen so many dishes at once.

Xu Lu Cha sat across from her and said shyly, “Please forgive Lu Cha’s poor hospitality, Officer Zhang. This is just a small token of Lu Cha’s appreciation…”

Zhang Meng quickly waved her hand: “No, no, no, you’ve spent too much. I feel quite embarrassed.” Even in modern times, she had never let a man treat her to a meal, let alone in this matriarchal world where Xu Lu Cha, a man, was treating her. It was truly too shameful.

Zhang Meng had never liked taking advantage of others. Looking at this table full of dishes, it must have cost at least a hundred taels. She thought to herself that she didn’t even have a hundred taels saved up in a year, and she might have to ask the superior for an advance on her wages.

However, just looking at this table of food made her heart bleed.

Zhang Meng picked up her chopsticks and began eating. As she ate, she felt heartache and silently vowed to never again go to a teahouse with these wealthy young masters.

Seeing that Zhang Meng was only focused on eating and not paying him any attention, Xu Lu Cha’s pretty face sank. However, he quickly replaced it with a coy expression.

“Officer Zhang, to thank you, Lu Cha personally carved a jade piece for you. Please accept it.” He took out an exquisite box and opened it. On the red velvet cushion inside lay a transparent and delicate piece of jade.

A miniature version of bamboo, a small house, a little bridge, and flowing water – everything was captured on this small piece of jade, lifelike in every detail.

Zhang Meng was shoveling rice into her mouth when she heard Xu Lu Cha’s words. She raised her head, and when her eyes fixed on the jade piece, she opened them wide in surprise: “You carved this yourself?”

“Mm-hmm.” Xu Lu Cha smiled shyly.

Zhang Meng finally put down her chopsticks and picked up the box, examining it closely while exclaiming in admiration.

Xu Lu Cha lowered his head in apparent shyness, but his downcast eyes couldn’t conceal his contemptuous gaze.

She truly was inexperienced, to be so easily placated by a mere piece of jade.

“I’m sorry, I can’t accept this.”

Zhang Meng returned the box to him.

Xu Lu Cha was stunned and raised his eyes to look at her.

Zhang Meng smiled and said, “I appreciate your kind intentions, but as a constable, I’m rough and clumsy. What use would I have for such a delicate object? I’m afraid I might accidentally break it, which would ruin the young master’s good intentions.” With that, she lowered her head again and continued eating.

A flash of darkness passed through Xu Lu Cha’s eyes. But in an instant, he put on a smile again.

“I’m sorry, Lu Cha was thoughtless.”

“Not at all.”

“Officer Zhang, to be honest, Lu Cha has always admired you. You are so warm-hearted and kind, Lu Cha has always wanted to get to know you.” Zhang Meng nodded vaguely without looking up: “I suppose we’ve gotten acquainted today.” Xu Lu Cha said: “Lu Cha means, could we be like this in the future, eating together, chatting, just like real friends?” “Cough cough…” Zhang Meng choked and hurriedly drank some water. When she felt a bit better, she opened her mouth to refuse: “Young Master Xu, because my work is quite busy… so…” She would absolutely not go to teahouses with wealthy young masters.

She lowered her head and shoveled a few more mouthfuls of rice, feeling that her stomach was already full. Then she stood up to say goodbye.

She went downstairs to find the proprietor and asked to put it on credit, promising to come back another day to settle the bill.

Thinking about having to ask her superior for an advance on her wages, which meant she had to please her, Zhang Meng didn’t mind spending a little more since she was already bleeding money.

“Boss, please pack a box of pastries for me as well.”

“Young master…”

Zi Yi looked at Xu Lu Cha somewhat nervously, he had never seen his young master’s face look so displeased.

“Zi Yi, do you think she’s blind? Ignoring a beauty right in front of her and just focusing on eating, like a starving ghost reincarnated.” Zi Yi didn’t know what to say. His young master had always been successful with women, but he didn’t expect to hit a wall with Officer Zhang. It was normal for the young master to be in a bad mood.

Xu Lu Cha stood up angrily, his beautiful eyes filled with annoyance and unwillingness.

“Zi Yi, if it weren’t for Zhong Huo, I wouldn’t even look at someone like her.” Zi Yi hesitated for a moment but didn’t say anything. He took out his purse and spoke to the proprietor not far away.

“Boss, we’d like to settle the bill.”

The proprietor of Yingyue Teahouse was a middle-aged woman with a kind face. Hearing Zi Yi’s words, she smiled and said, “Officer Zhang has already paid, young master.” Zi Yi was stunned and turned his head to look at Xu Lu Cha.

Xu Lu Cha disdainfully looked away.

“Zhang Meng, I have something to tell you, don’t get excited.”

As soon as Zhang Meng returned to the yamen, Jin Yue came up to her.

“What is it?”

“The superior docked half a month of your wages.”

“What?!”

Zhang Meng felt her vision go black, the whole world turned gloomy.

“Go beg her, maybe you can still salvage the situation,” Jin Yue suggested.

Zhang Meng walked to Zhong Huo’s study carrying a box of pastries, feeling too weak even to knock on the door.

“Who is it?” Zhong Huo’s voice came from inside.

“It’s Zhang Meng.”

As Zhong Huo’s footsteps approached, Zhang Meng quickly pinched her own thigh, letting her physiological saline fill her eye sockets.

The door opened, and Zhong Huo stood there with a cold face: “So you deigned to return to the yamen? I thought you had a date with a beauty and wouldn’t be back tonight.” Zhang Meng’s eyes were red and brimming with tears: “Superior, I’m burdened with enormous debt, my spirit is fragile, I want nothing more than to climb to the roof of the yamen and jump to my death.” Zhong Huo was stunned. She raised her hand and patted Zhang Meng’s head, her voice gaining some warmth: “What happened?” When Zhang Meng and Zhong Huo’s relationship was good, Zhong Huo always liked to pat Zhang Meng’s head, but in the past few months, Zhong Huo had unilaterally engaged in a cold war and never made this gesture towards Zhang Meng again.

Now, feeling the familiar pressure on her head, Zhang Meng was a bit slow to react.

Zhong Huo also realized her action and quickly withdrew her hand.

Zhang Meng continued: “Today, Young Master Xu invited me to dine at Yingyue Teahouse. He ordered many, many dishes, and I couldn’t possibly let a man treat me to a meal, so I took on the bill myself. But it was over a hundred taels of silver, which is more than all my savings.” Zhong Huo snorted coldly: “Aren’t you just suffering the consequences of your own actions?”

“Superior, I’ve truly learned my lesson. I will never casually go to teahouses with men again, it’s too terrifying.” Zhong Huo raised her eyes to look at her, her cold expression easing slightly: “Is that so? Don’t lose your head at the sight of a pretty face.” “Superior, you’re wise. This humble one has never cared about appearances, only the heart matters.” Zhang Meng raised the box of pastries in her hand: “Although I’m already heavily in debt, I know that the superior is wise and brilliant, and will surely be able to guide me out of this predicament. So, I specially spent half a month’s wages to buy the superior’s favorite pastries.” Zhong Huo’s expression finally softened considerably.

Although Zhong Huo still maintained a stern face, there was warmth in it.

Just like in modern times, when Zhang Meng’s mother would clean her room with a stern face while scolding her for being careless.

Zhong Huo was cold on the outside but warm on the inside. Even if she disliked her, seeing her in trouble, she would surely help.

“Superior, this humble one’s fate is in your hands.” Zhang Meng pushed the pastry box into Zhong Huo’s hands, “Please advance me two years’ worth of wages, I beg you.” Zhang Meng walked out of Zhong Huo’s study, her mood marginally improved.

Zhong Huo had agreed to lend her money and promised not to dock her wages.

The sun blazed fiercely on the earth, and the streets of Cloud City were bustling with activity.

In a deep alley, a rough female voice rang out.

“Don’t worry, Young Master Xu. I’m most skilled at the trick of harassing men. I definitely won’t let Zhang Meng see through the ruse.” Xu Lu Cha frowned in disgust: “You’d better act well. If you so much as touch a hair on my body, be careful or I’ll chop off your hand.” “Of course, I swear I won’t touch the young master at all. I’ll act very well.” The woman raised three fingers in promise, then showed a lewd smile, “But about the payment…” Xu Lu Cha closed his eyes briefly, suppressing his nausea, and turned his face, his gaze indicating to Zi Yi.

Zi Yi took out a purse and threw a silver ingot to her: “This is the deposit. If you perform well, there will definitely be a generous reward.”

Zhang Meng held her sword listlessly, following behind Zhong Huo.

Today, she had finished preparing breakfast early and was about to go on patrol, but Zhong Huo informed her that her duty had been changed to the afternoon. Because Zhong Huo was going out in the afternoon to inspect the people’s conditions, and she was to act as Zhong Huo’s guard.

Zhang Meng didn’t understand. Didn’t Zhong Huo become unhappy at the sight of her? Why did she personally name her to go and protect her?

Zhong Huo was like a person with split personality all the way. She would smile at the common people, but as soon as she turned back to look at Zhang Meng, her face would darken.

Even if Zhong Huo wasn’t uncomfortable, she was.

Just then, Zhang Meng noticed that many people had gathered ahead. Upon inquiry, she learned that a bully was harassing a civilian man.

Zhang Meng thought, this was her chance to perform. She would definitely beat the bully to a pulp and then arrest her, letting Zhong Huo see that she was a competent constable.

Zhang Meng stepped forward quickly, parting the crowd with her hands, and kicked down the female ruffian who was spouting obscenities and about to pounce on the innocent civilian man.

The female ruffian lay on the ground, looking fierce: “Damn it, who dares to ruin my fun?” Without a word, Zhang Meng rushed forward, grabbed her collar, twisted her arms behind her back, and tied them with a rope.

“Broad daylight, and you dare to harass a civilian man. Come with me to the yamen.”

“You dare!” The ruffian struggled desperately, “My big sister is the leader of the Blue Tiger Gang. If you dare arrest me, I’ll have her chop you to pieces!”

Zhang Meng was about to speak when Zhong Huo’s voice rang out: “Then this official would like to see how your Blue Tiger Gang intends to chop up this official’s constable.”

Zhang Meng saw Zhong Huo standing not far away in her white robes, and nodded to her: “Superior.”

Zhong Huo nodded slightly: “Take her back.”

Finally able to escape from Zhong Huo, Zhang Meng cheerfully escorted the criminal, just about to leave when Zhong Huo called out to her.

“I didn’t mean you. You stay.” Zhong Huo turned her head to instruct Jin Yue standing beside her, “Jin Yue, you take her back.”

Watching Jin Yue escort the criminal away, Zhang Meng’s heart was about to break.

☆