Chapter 6 Whose Money

  The assessment for intermediate archers is held in the Imperial Capital. Although there are examination venues in various provinces of the Empire, since our village belongs to the Imperial Capital, the examination is also held in the Imperial Capital. There are still many archers learning archery techniques in the Empire. If an archer enters the intermediate level, they have the opportunity to join the Imperial Army. The treatment of the Imperial Army is considered good for ordinary poor people, with a monthly salary of one gold coin, including food and accommodation. However, most people who learn archery come from families that are relatively well-off, as the cost of purchasing a decent set of bows and arrows is still quite expensive. Only slightly affluent commoners have the ability to afford it.

  The first time I came to the Imperial City, I was almost overwhelmed by its prosperity and noise. Uncle Rock knew that it was my first time in the Imperial City, so he took me on a tour of the city. The tall city walls, the bustling streets, the densely packed houses, the magnificent imperial palace, and the elegant clothes of the people on the street all made this country boy who had just arrived in the Imperial City feel incredibly novel. Although I was shocked in my heart, I also tried to learn the expression of the people in the Imperial City, who were used to seeing such things every day. I wandered around calmly, as if all of this was a matter of course, although my eyes definitely revealed my freshness and excitement. However, Uncle Rock gave me an approving glance for trying to suppress my emotions. The primary assessment was conducted by imperial officials in various places, but the intermediate assessment finally gave me the opportunity to experience the bustling side of this world.

  I, who was used to a quiet life, soon felt extremely tired. The noisy sounds still made me quickly annoyed, and I couldn't help but sigh that although the capital is good, my own home is more warm and quiet.

  Seeing my tired look, Uncle Locke gave up the plan to take me on a tour and found an inn with moderate price for me to stay. He also instructed me to rest well and prepare for tomorrow's assessment.

  As soon as I entered the room, I fell asleep with my head covered and didn't wake up until nightfall. When I walked out of the room, I happened to see Uncle Locke looking down at the floor below with his head bowed. It was only then that I noticed it seemed quite noisy downstairs, so I curiously looked down.

  All I saw was a crowd of people gathered downstairs, a rough man grabbing a thin middle-aged man and loudly scolding him about something, the thin middle-aged man also flushed with anger and violently resisting.

  "Uncle Locke, what's going on? Why are they quarreling?" I curiously asked Uncle Locke.

  "That man said he lost a bundle of copper coins, which was picked up by that middle-aged man. However, the middle-aged man claimed that the money belonged to him in the first place. Since neither side had any evidence, they couldn't come to an agreement." Locke briefly told me what happened.

  At this moment, the patrolling guards came over and both of them immediately went to find the officer in charge to lodge a complaint. The situation became chaotic for a while.

  "Shut up! One at a time, what's going on here?" The officer was driven mad by their noise and shouted loudly, and the surroundings quickly fell silent.

  The man and the middle-aged person also stopped arguing, looked at each other, and the middle-aged person spoke first: "Officer, I am the owner of the medicine store in the east of the city. Today's business was good, and I made some money. I took this package of money to buy clothes for my wife, but this man suddenly rushed over, grabbed me, and said that this package of money was his, and he must take it from me. Officer, you be the judge, why did he rob me of my money on the way?" The middle-aged person seemed very wronged, with a tone that sounded like crying, and his expression immediately won the sympathy of most of the onlookers, who accused the man of being a thief.

  The officer listened to the middle-aged man's words and turned his head to ask Hanzi: "You say, why did you rob someone on the way? If you can't explain the reason, I'll arrest you immediately."

  The man's face immediately turned red, and he said loudly: "Officer, you mustn't believe his words! This money was clearly dropped by me. I'm a butcher from the street up ahead, and this is the money I made from selling meat today. He picked up my money but claims it's his own, and even says I robbed him of his money. I really want to punch him to death!"

  The officer's eyes widened: "You dare! In the imperial capital, you also dare to commit murder? Are you tired of living?" After a moment's thought, the officer asked: "Since it was you who dropped it, tell me, how much money is here?" The butcher rubbed his greasy hands on the back of his head and said: "Sir, I haven't counted today's meat sales yet, I don't know how much there is. Every time I take it home and let my wife count it. If I don't bring this money back today, my wife will go crazy." When they heard the butcher's words, the people around them burst out laughing. It was unexpected that this fierce-looking man was actually afraid of his wife.

  The officer looked at Han with disdain and said, "You don't even know how much money you've sold? And yet you say it's your own money? Bring him back to me, he's a highway robber. Lock him up for now." The soldiers nearby immediately stepped forward to seize him.

  The man immediately became anxious and said loudly, "Officer, that's really my money! Ask the boss if he knows how much is in there? He doesn't know either!" After hearing his words, the people around also said, "Yes, let's ask the boss again. Maybe he doesn't know either. The matter isn't clear yet." The officer turned to ask the boss, "Tell me, how much money is inside?" The owner of the pharmacy smiled wryly and said, "Officer, I just grabbed a handful of money from the drawer without noticing how much it was, but that money really is mine."

  Upon hearing the owner of the pharmacy's words, the officer immediately became embarrassed. Both sides claimed that the money was their own, but neither had any evidence to prove it. It was impossible to determine whose money it actually was. The crowd was at a stalemate for a moment, and no one had a good way to prove it.

  "What a simple thing, why make it so complicated, can't you see that? It's really boring..."

  For some reason, Uncle Locke heard what I said and turned to me and asked, "Do you know whose money it is?" I nodded and said, "Yeah, it's simple, just take a look."

  Uncle Luo heard my words, hesitated for a moment, and said: "Alek, when you're out in the world, if you can help someone's family, you should try your best to help. It's not about showing off, but if you have a good method, go ahead and help them out, don't let good people suffer injustice."

  After listening to Uncle Locke's words, I nodded and said: "Well, then I'll go down now. It won't take long to find out whose money it is." After finishing speaking, I turned around and walked downstairs to the street, pushing through the crowd of onlookers and shouting at the officer: "Officer, I know whose money it is! Just open the pouch and you'll see!"