IDWBE -Chapter 303 Orphan

The water on the stove began to boil. Steam pushed the lid of the kettle up with a gurgling rattle.

Luo Han filled the teapot, tossed in a handful of tea leaves, and before it had even cooled properly, gulped it all down. Then he lay back on the bed and fell fast asleep.

When he woke up and opened his eyes, a face was suddenly right in front of him—a bald head, big round eyes. It was unmistakably Tao Yingyi.

Luo Han snapped angrily, “Damn it, you’re going to scare someone to death doing that, you know?”

Tao Yingyi grinned. “Let’s go.”

“Go where?” Luo Han asked curiously.

“You’re a night watchman now,” Tao said. “Once it’s dark, you patrol the streets with me.”

Luo Han glanced at the dim sky outside. “It’s not even dark yet. What’s the rush?”

“We’ll eat first,” Tao replied. “By the time we’re done, it’ll be just right to head out. Also, those men from your escort agency—you should contact them. The constables are desperately short-handed. We can’t do without people.”

Luo Han stretched lazily. “That’s true, but your constables’ pay is too low. Even the regular soldiers aren’t keen on it. If my old brothers come over, will they really stick around?”

Escort guards earned far more than soldiers or constables.

Tao smiled. “Have them come over temporarily. We’re recruiting anyway. After the three-month training period, manpower will be sufficient. Then your old brothers can leave if they want—free to come and go.”

Most of the new recruits didn’t know martial arts. Against petty criminals, they were helpless.

But the men from Luo Han’s escort agency were different—experienced fighters who had traveled widely. Though unfamiliar with constable regulations, they could be used like soldiers for now. As long as they understood human speech, that was enough.

“Fine. It’s settled then.”

Luo Han changed into the black constable uniform Tao had brought him and followed him to the mess hall reserved for constables and soldiers.

He squeezed into the noisy line, filled a big bowl with rice, sat at a long table, and picked up a rib that barely had any meat on it.

“You lot are really living rough,” he muttered. “Not even a bit of green vegetables?”

“You think this is Sanhe?” Duo Mazi couldn’t help retorting. “In winter here, nothing green survives—not even weeds, let alone vegetables. And when they do sell them, they cost more than meat. The mess hall only gets so much money a month. If we ate vegetables every day, we’d run out of funds.”

Luo Han sighed. “Same as Ankang City.”

In Ankang, people stored vegetables in cellars before winter, or salted and dried them. Even so, fresh greens in the market were outrageously expensive—only officials and nobles could afford them.

Just as Tao Yingyi had said, by the time they finished eating, night had fallen completely. Lanterns hanging on both sides of the Provincial Administration Office glowed faintly in the darkness.

“Sigh… old friend, I still can’t let you go.”

Luo Han stroked the small bronze gong in his hands.

It wasn’t large—small enough to tuck into his chest. He carried it everywhere. Once, it had blocked a blade and saved his life. He treasured it dearly and polished it often.

“Stay sharp!” Tao Yingyi shouted from horseback to the hundred or so soldiers behind him. “These days the streets are crowded. Keep your eyes open and ears sharp. No carelessness—or military punishment awaits!”

“Yes, sir!”

They responded in unison.

Three days before and after New Year’s Eve, the Provincial Administration Office had lifted the curfew per Lin Yi’s orders.

Now, red lanterns hung from shops lining both sides of the street, brilliant lights illuminating the night.

The streets teemed with people—street performers, acrobats, singing and dancing troupes packed tightly together. Music and laughter echoed for over ten li.

The citizens barely noticed the passing constables anymore. As long as one obeyed the rules, the constables were known to be disciplined.

Duo Mazi sighed, “Damn, this really is a big city. In Sanhe during New Year, at most there are some monkey shows, a bit of singing, and fireworks.”

Luo Han scoffed. “This is nothing. If you ever get the chance, go see Ankang City—that’s real grandeur.”

He still carried a sense of superiority as someone from the imperial capital, looking down on these country bumpkins.

Tao Yingyi snorted. “No one’s calling you mute.”

Seeing Tao’s cold expression, Luo Han dared not speak again. Irritated, he struck the gong hanging at his chest. Its crisp sound echoed down the street for a long time.

They continued circling the city on patrol. Gradually, they reached emptier areas—pitch dark all around, guided only by the light of their torches.

In the darkness, Tao spotted a gleaming bald head.

“A monk.”

He stepped forward and saw an old woman curled up beside the monk. After a glance, he sighed. “She’s gone.”

“Amitabha.”

The monk gently lowered the old woman’s shriveled hand. “If only this humble monk had arrived a step earlier.”

Tao dismounted, holding up his torch to look at the raggedly dressed old woman on the ground. “She was already at the end of her oil and her lamp. Even if you’d come a day earlier, she might have lived one more day at best. No need to blame yourself.”

He gestured, and the soldiers behind him stepped forward to lift the old woman onto the corpse cart.

“Wait,” the monk said hurriedly.

As he spoke, he picked up a bundle from the ground.

Tao looked closer—it was a swaddled infant. The baby’s face was rosy, and its black eyes darted about under the torchlight.

“Pitiful.”

Tao had seen such things too often to be surprised. “Hand the child to me. In a few days, we’ll send them back to Sanhe together.”

In the vast city of Jinling, there was only one charitable hall, and it was already overcrowded. The Provincial Administration Office lacked the manpower to establish new orphanages.

So all such children were sent back to the Qidian Orphanage in Sanhe.

“Thank you.”

The monk carefully handed the child to a soldier. Only after watching the baby placed safely in the carriage did he withdraw his gaze.

“You’re Han Nian?”

Luo Han stared at the monk’s face, almost not recognizing him.

“It is you, benefactor. This humble monk has yet to thank you for saving my life back then.”

The monk pressed his palms together and bowed. “I have since entered the monastic path. My Dharma name is Ji Hai.”

“Heh, such a fine young lad—why become a monk?” Luo Han laughed. “Damn it, I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Back when they had followed the Prince south and a hurricane struck Songyang, Han Nian had been pulled from the ruins by Luo Han himself. The memory was vivid.