A person sacrifices himself to become a saint in a chaotic world of martial arts.

The area around Daqianmen is located in the southeast of Fenjiang County and covers a large area.

Looking around, most of the houses are low and compact, with crisscrossing streets and alleys. The ground is mostly paved with yellow earth or gravel. Clothes drying in the sun, piles of miscellaneous items, and the occasional chicken or dog running by create a typical picture of ordinary people's life.

Against this gray backdrop, a small area stands out—on both sides of the smooth cobblestone street are shops and restaurants with upturned eaves and bright facades, including silk shops, silver shops, teahouses and restaurants lined up one after another.

Most of the residents here are wealthy or well-off families who are prominent figures in the city.

This is naturally the most prosperous and prestigious area of ​​Qianmen.

The patrol area of ​​Su Bai, Sun Hou, and Lao Wang mainly focused on the main streets and the area around important shops in this "rich area".

As for the larger and more complex civilian settlements, they generally do not proactively conduct patrols unless there is a major case requiring assistance in the investigation.

Their responsibilities are very clear.

To maintain order in this "respectable" area, deter thugs who might sneak in to steal, extort, or fight, and ensure that merchants can do business with peace of mind and the wealthy can live comfortably.

The owners of these restaurants and shops were well aware of the principles of "harmony brings wealth" and "spending money avoids disaster." Every month, they would send a "fixed amount" to the Zhenfusi Yamen through a specific channel, ostensibly as "subsidy" or "reward."

Su Bai and his two companions did not receive a single penny of this money.

They had no money, but they provided the labor.

As for those areas where ordinary people live, they can't squeeze any money out of them either.

These days as a temporary official are really not good.

Su Bai followed Sun Hou and Lao Wang on a leisurely tour of the area.

Sun Hou and Lao Wang were clearly familiar with the place; when they passed by some shops, the shop assistants would even nod and bow to greet them.

After walking around, Sun Hou stretched and winked at Lao Wang. The two then turned into a slightly quieter alley and stopped in front of a small shop with a sign that read "Zhang Ji Braised Food".

Sun Hou and Lao Wang casually lifted the hem of their robes and plopped down on the simple wooden table propped up at the shop entrance.

The shop owner was a slightly overweight middle-aged man. Hearing the noise, he peeked out and immediately put on a smile that was both ingratiating and a little helpless. Without them having to ask, he quickly brought over a plate of shiny peanuts, a small pot of local cloudy wine, and three rough earthenware bowls.

"Boss Zhang, the usual rule, put it on the tab." Sun Hou grabbed a few peanuts and threw them into his mouth, mumbling as he spoke.

"I know, I know, please enjoy your meal, Master Sun and Your Highness." Boss Zhang nodded repeatedly, glancing at Su Bai, who was following behind and was a stranger, but only giving him a second look without asking any further questions.

Su Bai saw all of this and knew that this was probably a "regular activity" during their patrol.

Unable to afford the hospitality at those restaurants

We ate and drank at shops in these alleyways.

As for the so-called outstanding debt, he suspects that no money was ever paid.

Su Bai didn't pretend to be aloof or eccentric. He silently pulled over a stool and sat down at the table.

However, when Sun Hou pushed the earthenware bowl full of wine in front of him, Su Bai gently pushed the bowl back and smiled apologetically: "Brother Sun, Brother Wang, you drink. It's my first day on duty, so I won't touch the wine, lest I make a mistake."

He still needs to be cautious and follow the rules, especially in this unfamiliar environment.

Sun Hou paused for a moment, then waved his hand dismissively: "Alright, whatever you want. Old Wang, let's drink."

Old Wang merely lifted his eyelids, picked up the bowl, took a sip, and let out a satisfied sigh.

And so, with a plate of peanuts and a pot of turbid wine, the three of them chatted idly, passing the time.

The morning patrol went smoothly, except for a few walks around the streets and a stop at a braised food shop. Nothing happened.

Around noon, the three of them got up and symbolically strolled around a few nearby streets to complete their morning patrol. Then they leisurely returned to the Zhenfu Division.

The Zhenfu Division provides a free lunch in the canteen in the backyard of the yamen.

The food standards were considered quite good for those working at the lower levels of the government.

One large wooden bucket contained a mixed grain rice of brown rice and a small amount of millet, while another large basin contained boiled seasonal vegetables. There wasn't much oil, but the portion was large and filling.

The most anticipated item was the earthenware pot containing the "small meat dish"—stir-fried, glistening cabbage stalks mixed with a limited amount of "precious" shredded fatty pork.

The cook serving the food had a steady hand; each person received a spoonful, and the number of shredded fatty meat varied between three or four and five or six strands, depending entirely on luck.

This treatment is much better than that of many ordinary people, since it's free.

The two meat buns and bowl of porridge that Su Bai ate that morning had long been digested, and the few peanuts from the braised food shop were just a drop in the ocean.

The aroma of the food immediately made my stomach rumble.

He didn't care about his image at all. Holding the huge, rough earthenware bowl, he first scooped out three large spoonfuls of mixed grain rice and piled it into a small mountain, then poured on plenty of vegetables. Finally, he kept his eyes fixed on the spoon in the cook's hand and was lucky enough to get five strips of oily, fatty meat.

He found a corner to sit down with his bowl in hand and immediately began to shovel the food into his mouth like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey.

The mixed grain cake weighed more than a pound, which he devoured in no time. He then got up and added half a bowl of vegetables and rice, finishing it off in a flash.

This hearty eating style contrasted sharply with the skinny monkey Sun Hou, who ate slowly and deliberately with a much smaller appetite.

"Wow! Brother Su, your appetite... is impressive!" Sun Hou stared in disbelief, swallowed a small mouthful of food, and couldn't help but click his tongue in admiration. "You've really gotten a good deal by working here as a servant. This meal alone has saved you a lot of money and grain."

"Ahem... I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Brother Sun." Su Bai swallowed the last mouthful of rice, let out a small burp, and smiled somewhat embarrassedly.

"I didn't eat much this morning, and I've been walking all morning, so I'm really hungry. I'll just grab something to eat."

"Just grab a bite?" Sun Hou rolled his eyes, pouted, and pouted as he fiddled with the half-eaten food in his bowl.

"Anyway, I can't eat much. It's the same few dishes every day, over and over again, and even the best ones get boring. Brother Su, after you work here for a few months, I guarantee you won't have an appetite for these cabbage stalks."

Su Bai could only nod in agreement, not saying anything more.

Before the golden finger arrived, this kind of food was really good for him.

After the arrival of the "golden finger" (a powerful cheat system), his life improved.

But now is the time when he needs money, and he really doesn't have much money to eat and drink well.

"Look over there," Sun Hou suddenly pointed with his chopsticks towards the small kitchen at the back of the canteen, lowering his voice with undisguised envy.

"They took it from the kitchen. Tsk tsk, look at that braised pork trotter, so glistening with oil, and that whole stewed chicken, you can smell the aroma from miles away... It smells fucking good!"

Su Bai looked in the direction he pointed and saw a middle-aged man who looked like a cook carrying two large trays covered with wooden lids, carefully walking from the side door to the second floor of the cafeteria.

The rich aroma of meat wafted from the gaps along the edge of the tray.

The taste of the mixed grain rice that Su Bai hadn't completely lost in his mouth suddenly became much bland.

Now he agrees with what Sun Hou said.

The food in this cafeteria is indeed not very good.

He also wanted to eat pig's trotters and stewed chicken.