After leaving Niu Family Village, Shen He had Yuan Lang drive the carriage to the county yamen, where he carried down Patrol Leader Huang's corpse.
Then he had Yuan Lang send Old Wang and the other two back home.
This time, Old Wang and his companions were injured in the line of duty, so Shen He had to help them claim their reward money.
He also needed to secure a pension for Patrol Leader Huang.
However, Patrol Leader Huang had no other relatives besides his mistress.
This pension would be used to supplement Old Wang and the others.
The many Yamen Runners in the county yamen were stunned when they saw Shen He carrying Patrol Leader Huang's corpse inside.
Even colleagues who had been at odds with him in the past dared not speak, fearing bad luck.
They all suspected that Shen He had gone mad, killed County Commandant Wang's loyal dog, and was now carrying the corpse to present County Commandant Wang with a 'grand gift.'
The Yamen Runners under Shen He were quite good, diligent and well-trained by him.
They were currently on patrol in the streets; if they had been present, they would have certainly tried their best to stop Shen He.
Shen He carried the corpse to Wang Gui’s duty room, stepped forward, and knocked on the door.
“Enter!”
Creak.
Shen He pushed the door open and entered.
Wang Gui looked up and saw Shen He, his face filled with surprise.
He had just assumed it was Patrol Leader Huang knocking, as, calculating the time, Shen He should have already died at the hands of those Weasels.
Patrol Leader Huang should have been coming to report back with the Yin Sha Blade Technique Secret Manual.
But instead, he saw Shen He.
Shen He dropped Patrol Leader Huang’s corpse from his hands and said with a sorrowful expression, “County Commandant, Patrol Leader Huang… he saw the tragic state of that family of seventeen, and couldn’t help but draw his blade, cutting down three demons before dying from a desperate attack by one of them.”
Wang Gui looked at Patrol Leader Huang’s corpse and listened to Shen He’s words, trembling with anger.
Bang!
He slammed the brush in his hand onto the desk, gritting his teeth, “Detective Shen, do you know what you are saying?”
Patrol Leader Huang was his loyal dog, so he knew his character very well.
What nonsense about seeing a tragedy and drawing his blade in anger to slay demons.
With Patrol Leader Huang’s meager strength, Shen He could beat ten of him; he would be scared to pee his pants just seeing a demon.
He never treated the common people as human beings, so how could he sacrifice his life for demons?
Wang Gui stared intently at Shen He.
Shen He said, “Of course I know. This Official has come to report back this time, not only to request medical expenses for Old Wang and the other two, but also to ask for a pension for Patrol Leader Huang’s family. Patrol Leader Huang died fighting for the people, and he should rightfully receive a pension.”
Wang Gui, exasperated, laughed, “You still want a pension for him? Shen He, Detective Shen, have you gone mad, or have I?”
Shen He spread his hands, saying, “This Official is certainly not mad.”
Wang Gui suddenly stood up, gritting his teeth, “Shen, do you really think I wouldn’t dare to kill you?”
Shen He’s eyes narrowed slightly, saying, “Does the County Commandant intend to kill me? For what reason?”
Wang Gui heard this, then suddenly chuckled softly, and then slumped back into his chair, saying, “I agree to Old Wang and their medical expenses. Old Wang gets two taels of silver, and the two young Yamen Runners get one tael each. As for this fellow’s pension, ten taels of silver, for a total of thirteen taels.”
With that, he took out a money bag and threw it to Shen He.
Shen He took the money bag with a look of suspicion, carefully checking it. It was indeed thirteen taels of silver.
He cupped his hands and said, “Thank you, sir.”
Wang Gui smiled and said, “Don’t thank me. However, with the death of those Weasels in Niu Family Village, Huang Daxian will undoubtedly be enraged. You should think about how you’re going to survive!”
Shen He said, “This Official will not trouble you, sir. These past few days, This Official has heard a rumor that the Demon Suppression Division is coming. I wonder if it’s true or false.”
Wang Gui’s face froze for a moment, then he said, “You don’t need to concern yourself with this matter. You may leave!”
Shen He smiled and acknowledged, then left directly with the money bag.
Wang Gui watched him leave Patrol Leader Huang’s corpse in the room, and the smile on his face instantly turned grim.
He summoned a Yamen Runner and ordered him to throw the corpse into the mass grave.
Then he sat back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the desktop, and immediately wrote a letter, which he had a trusted subordinate deliver to Huangpizi Grave.
That place was Huang Daxian’s origin, the location of a tomb from who knows how many years ago.
So now everyone called that place Huangpizi Grave.
Wang Gui’s face grew colder, and he muttered to himself, “Shen He, who gave you the guts to provoke This Official? When it’s time to die, wouldn’t it be better to just die obediently?”
...After leaving the county yamen, Shen He walked towards Old Wang’s home.
Old Wang’s family consisted of five people: him and his wife, and three children.
He valued his children greatly; both of his sons were sent to a private school to learn to read and study, with the intention of entering an academy or becoming officials in the future.
His daughter was educated at home; besides learning to read and write, she also had to learn needlework.
Logically speaking, it would be easy for him, a patrol leader, to support three children.
But Old Wang was similar to the original body; he couldn’t bring himself to do things like swindling, bullying the common people, or exploiting the villagers.
So, besides his income, his wife’s needlework also contributed to the family.
Arriving at Old Wang’s home, that fellow Yuan Lang was actually there too, and the two injured young Yamen Runners were still lying in the donkey cart.
Although he didn't know why it was so slow, it saved him from having to run further.
Yuan Lang looked at Shen He and quickly said, “Boss, why are you here?”
Shen He weighed the money bag in his hand and said, “To bring Old Wang and the others their medical expenses. Why are you so slow?”
Yuan Lang scratched his head.
Old Wang quickly said, “Boss, don’t blame this boy. It’s my two good-for-nothing apprentices; they cried out in pain if the donkey cart went a little faster, so Yuan Lang drove very carefully.”
Shen He nodded.
Then he took out the silver, giving Old Wang two taels, and the two young Yamen Runners one tael each.
He said, “These are the medical expenses approved by County Commandant Wang.”
Old Wang’s wife took the money, a look of joy on her face.
Although Old Wang’s limbs had been reattached, he still needed to drink herbal medicine afterwards.
With three children to support, where would they get the money for herbal medicine?
The two taels of silver Shen He brought now were simply a godsend.
The two young Yamen Runners in the donkey cart also showed a smile on their pale faces.
Immediately after.
Shen He then gave each of the two young Yamen Runners two taels of silver, saying, “This is Patrol Leader Huang’s pension. Take it and spend it.”
Old Wang was given three taels.
He took two taels for himself and threw one tael of silver to Yuan Lang.
After all, he also needed to eat.
Yuan Lang grinned, holding the silver in his hand, and said, “I didn’t expect that Patrol Leader Huang, who committed so many evil deeds in his life, would do something good after his death.”
“Boss, what did you say to the County Commandant to make him hand over so much money?”
Old Wang and the others also looked at him with curiosity.
After all, these were not small sums.
Shen He said with a smile, “Of course, I reasoned with him and moved him with emotion. Don’t dawdle, quickly send these two youngsters home and let them recover well.”
Yuan Lang immediately responded, “Alright!”