"How about this: you come back to the county office with me first, draw the appearance of that person, then we'll issue a wanted notice in the city, and send people to search the surrounding countryside. Once we catch this person, how does that sound?"

"Alright!"

The rough man laughed, "You're going to earn a merit this time! I remember you're closest to Mr. Foster, right?"

"Yes, he has no family, and treats me as his own..."

"Good! Then let's avenge him!"

The rough man put his arm around his lackey and left the scene.

At the mouth of a distant alley, a pair of eyes was watching them.

Evening.

Outside the county office, Grace Foster and the others were reading the latest wooden notice post.

The content of the notice was quite simple.

It told of a thief who had an affair with a certain scholar's maid, and after being discovered, killed someone and fled.

Fortunately, the thief had already been caught and had confessed to his crimes.

The good people of Cheng'an could once again sleep soundly at night.

Chapter 10: I Am Thomas Lane from Yangping

"I'm here to apply for a school badge."

At the familiar desk, there was now a different person.

This was a man with a fat head and big ears, but his obesity was completely different from that of David Bolton from the countryside.

He was fair-skinned all over, and perhaps because of the heat, he had pulled up his sleeves, revealing his pale, almost pinkish flesh.

Sweat trickled down, sparkling and clear.

He squinted his eyes, holding a fan, and his smile was especially kind and benevolent.

Standing beside him were two guards, both exceptionally burly, with strong builds, thick eyebrows, and big eyes. Their physiques were in no way smaller than Grace's.

The man looked over Grace in front of him and asked with a cheerful smile, "Han Chinese? What's your background?"

"A descendant of the former Han Prince Jing of Zhongshan."

"Pfft~"

The attendants on either side almost couldn't hold back their laughter.

But the fat man didn't laugh. He asked in surprise, "Then aren't you related to Lord Anle?"

Grace Foster pursed his lips, momentarily speechless.

The man was very pleased. He said to those beside him, "This shows how prosperous the current literary culture is! In the past, even minor officials had to be forcibly recruited—how improper! Now, with civil and military governance, we finally see such a flourishing scene!"

Both attendants nodded, but dared not laugh again.

The man asked again, "So, how is your family's situation? Can you afford the three hundred coins?"

"Do you need my help?"

"I have enough money."

"Good, that's good. I handle the classics here at the county office. My surname is Fei. If you need anything, come find me."

The man spoke generously, took the money, and efficiently had his attendant process the school badge, handing it to Grace Foster.

Grace Foster bowed, took the school badge, and headed toward the county school.

The man gazed longingly at the departing Grace, his eyes roaming up and down his back, his whole body growing hotter and drier.

"What a fine, vigorous young man..."

The burly man behind him frowned and gruffly questioned, "Mr. Grant! Are you thinking of changing your heart?"

"Haven't the two of us served you well enough?!"

Hearing their questions, George Grant gave a guilty laugh, "How could that be? I just saw a talented youth and wanted to promote him a bit."

He once again snuck a glance at the departing young man.

His gaze was deep.

It was the look of a hungry wolf eyeing a lamb.

This time, with the school badge, the official at the gate finally stopped blocking him.

He looked at the badge, glanced at Mr. Grant in the distance, then gave Grace a deep look, signaling him to follow.

The residence was enormous, with roads crisscrossing in all directions, shaded by green trees on both sides. A main road led straight to the tall inner courtyard opposite, but the main gate was tightly locked.

That wasn't Grace Foster's destination anyway. The old official led Grace Foster slowly along several small paths, finally stopping outside a courtyard in the far western corner.

The door here was open, the courtyard walls pitch-black and filthy, and just from its aura, it was clearly a notch below the other courtyards.

Grace Foster looked at the courtyard before him, his gaze calm.

This was a brand new starting point.

"Grace brother!"

Someone came out of the courtyard in surprise, and the moment he saw Grace Foster, his eyes lit up.

Seeing this person, the old official took a few steps back. "This person is here to study law."

With that, the old official hurried away without looking back.

Standing before Grace Foster now was the very official who had helped him with his registration at the county office not long ago.

He warmly grabbed Grace Foster's hand, "This is fate! Grace brother! Why didn't you say earlier that you were here to study? I would have brought you here directly!"

"Come, come, let's go in!"

He pulled Grace Foster by the hand and walked into the inner courtyard.

A foul stench hit them head-on.

The inner courtyard was extremely filthy, the ground covered in a mix of old and new stains.

The smell was enough to make anyone who just entered choke instantly.

The ground was almost black.

In the middle of the courtyard was a well, with rows of small rooms on three sides, all quite tiny, much like the ones Grace Foster had lived in before. A few people peeked out from the doors at the newcomer, their faces full of wariness.

"Grace brother, my surname is Lu, given name Qubing, courtesy name Rongzu."

"Currently... acting as the clerk of the law studies room."