General Security Department

2024-07-31

Chapter 28

There were distinctions even among Blue-striped Azure Water Silkworms.

With each year of molting, the more blue-striped rings they had, the rarer they were and the higher their value.

He had looked into it. A single one-striped Azure Water Silkworm could sell for five to eight hundred copper coins. Compared with the unstriped Azure Water Silkworms that sold for mere dozens or a hundred-odd copper coins each, the price gap was obvious.

A two-striped Azure Water Silkworm cost two or three strings of copper coins apiece, and the prices would only grow more outrageous from there.

If they could expand production and sell a certain number of Blue-striped Azure Water Silkworms every month, Song Changming would have a guaranteed source of money for Practicing Martial Arts.

"These five are treasures. Don't let them die," Father Song said with a beaming smile.

Over this past year of raising Azure Water Silkworms, Song Changming had provided the money, while Father Song had put in no small amount of effort. Their current results also contained his painstaking labor.

"According to what that method says, the eggs laid by striped Azure Water Silkworms are better. Their survival rate is higher, and they have a greater chance of growing into striped Azure Water Silkworms," Father Song said.

He had basically mastered the rearing method inside out.

The reason they had not simply bought multi-striped Azure Water Silkworms to raise was, first, that the cost was too high; second, Azure Water Silkworms had extremely poor adaptability. Once their growing environment changed, they were easily weeded out one after another by the new surroundings.

The Azure Water Silkworms in their vat of water had also gone through several batches of elimination before these silkworm stock had ultimately survived and could continue to be raised.

"To produce Blue-striped Azure Water Silkworms in the very first year, this rearing method truly has something unique about it. Father, don't spread word of this matter, lest someone with ulterior motives set their sights on it," Song Changming reminded him.

"I know that much. Your father has lived more than half his life; do you think I wouldn't understand? I haven't said a thing to anyone outside," Father Song said, waving a hand.

Song Changming felt reassured after hearing that and glanced into the vat again.

Looking carefully, one could see clusters of transparent mucus floating in the water, containing tiny, crystalline grains.

Those were the eggs laid by the Azure Water Silkworms. Before long, new Azure Water Silkworm larvae would hatch.

As for how many would ultimately survive, that was hard to say.

Judging by this trend, they would at least have to wait until next year before they had surplus Azure Water Silkworms to sell. There were still too few silkworm stock in the vat.

After watching the silkworms his family raised for a while and resting enough, Song Changming took a packet of Bone Tempering Powder from his room and swallowed it.

The moment he felt his muscles, tendons, and bones begin to heat up, he immediately assumed a stance to temper his body.

On the first day after taking Bone Tempering Powder, its medicinal effects were at their strongest. They would gradually weaken afterward, until the next dose of Bone Tempering Powder.

Therefore, he could not waste today.

That afternoon, someone knocked on the door.

A patrol guard hurried over.

"Captain Song, there's an urgent matter at the Patrol Guard Headquarters."

The patrol guards below had quite a few ways of addressing Song Changming—Captain Song, Deputy Team Leader, Deputy Patrol Captain, and the like.

"I understand. Go back first," Song Changming said, ending his stance practice and wiping down his body.

This was not the first time such a thing had happened.

Sometimes, when an urgent assignment came up, they would be summoned even on their rest days. It was perfectly normal.

After putting on his armor and changing into his official uniform, Song Changming did not delay and headed straight for the Patrol Guard Headquarters.

Once inside the Patrol Guard Headquarters, he quickly learned what was going on.

A batch of prisoners from the General Security Department would be escorted here for detention that afternoon. At the same time, several major criminals were to be beheaded on Houli Street.

As patrol guards of this district's Patrol Guard Headquarters, they had to assist with the prisoner handover, maintain order, and prevent any accidents.

"This matter has been assigned to us?" Song Changming looked at Liang Chuanshan and asked. "No. This matter is jointly handled by Qian Wen, Zhao Dezhi, and me, the three Patrol Captains. The prisoners held in the General Security Department's prison usually have no small background. They cannot possibly be mere hooligans and petty thieves, so there can be no mistakes," Liang Chuanshan said.

"Alright." Song Changming nodded, silently muttering to himself that the old Director's arrangement truly did not want to offend anyone.

Knowing full well that the three Patrol Captains had recently been fiercely competing for the Director's position, he still had the three of them cooperate to complete the task.

If there was merit, all three would receive it together. If there was blame, all three would be punished together. He favored none of them.

"Alright, it's about time. Let's wait outside the General Security Department."

Liang Chuanshan did not waste any more words. He directly led the Patrol Guard Team out of Houli Street and headed for the General Security Department under the County Governor's Mansion.

Besides bringing a group of patrol guards, they also had to bring five prepared prisoner carts to transport the designated prisoners.

The General Security Department was located in the best-developed district of Jinxiu Street, where the County Governor's Mansion also stood.

Song Changming had lived in this Prefecture City for many years, yet the number of times he had visited this stretch of Jinxiu Street could be counted on one hand.

Looking at it again now, the place was truly extravagant. Official residences and grand mansions stood one after another, as though built from golden bricks and jade tiles, displaying every inch of splendor and magnificence.

It truly deserved to be called the foremost district. Compared to it, the Houli Street district appeared much plainer and more mediocre.

"The bustling scene on Jinxiu Street is not the least bit inferior to the streets of the Capital City," Liang Chuanshan casually remarked as they walked.

"Brother Liang has been to the Capital City?" Song Changming could not help asking.

"I went once in my early years. I don't know what the Capital City looks like now, but with your talent and potential, Changming, perhaps you'll be able to serve there someday. When that time comes, you'll know," Liang Chuanshan said with a smile.

"You flatter me, Brother Liang. I've barely even begun," Song Changming said, shaking his head.

He had not even left the tiny stretch of Houli Street in Donglai Commandery City. How could he think so far into the future?

Liang Chuanshan did not say anything more. Who could know what the future held?

Before long, the group arrived outside the General Security Department.

Four imposing stone lions stood on either side, while two huge red-lacquered doors bore two great iron rings.

The towering gate pillars on both sides were also wrapped in carvings of dragons and serpents.

Two armored guards wearing Side Sabers stood watch outside, their expressions solemn. They briefly swept their eyes over Liang Chuanshan and the others' uniforms and armor without saying a word.

Beneath the steps outside the gates, Zhao Dezhi and Qian Wen had already arrived earlier with their teams and were quietly waiting.

When Liang Chuanshan arrived, Zhao Dezhi merely nodded calmly in greeting.

The two had previously been on good terms and had counted as a small clique within the Patrol Guard Headquarters.

But as the competition for the Director's position grew increasingly heated, a rift had formed between them, and their former friendship had been cold for quite some time.

Instead, Qian Wen and Zhao Dezhi had grown closer. The two were talking there, chatting and laughing.

"Let's wait here. The prisoners should be coming out soon," Liang Chuanshan said with his arms folded across his chest.

About half an hour later, the General Security Department's gates opened, and a group of patrol guards emerged. Their official uniforms were slightly different from those worn by Song Changming and the patrol guards from other districts.

Several golden bands were woven around their sleeves and trouser legs, signifying that they were patrol guards of the General Security Department.

Generally speaking, those who could serve as patrol guards in the General Security Department either had deep backgrounds or were genuinely formidable. Compared to patrol guards from other districts, they always had something exceptional about them.

(End of Chapter)