Those with the Jia designation have already been given their money in one lump sum up to the end of the month; there’s no way they’ll get any more.

Those people aren’t fools either—if they fail to pass the three-month assessment and get eliminated, the extra money would just go down the drain.

If there were no assessment, Nathaniel Clark wouldn’t be anxious, because even if he didn’t eat beef, his strength would steadily increase by three jin a day, and after a year he’d gain a thousand jin.

The key is that the academy has an assessment—if he doesn’t reach five hundred jin, it means he’ll have to pack up and leave.

Packing up and leaving means he can’t work at the yamen, and can’t obtain the last three levels of “Bull Demon Strength.”

“Do I really have to go to Instructor Foster and cheat again?”

Nathaniel Clark muttered to himself, but immediately dismissed the idea.

If the instructors hadn’t seen through him, maybe he could have pulled it off by relying on Chief Harris’s influence, but all the instructors know he doesn’t have a close relationship with Chief Harris, so the academy won’t let him cheat again.

……

……

The Harris Estate.

Edwin Harris rode back to the residence. A servant came forward to take his horse, and the steward walked alongside him, reporting on the major events that had happened at the residence and in the county during the month he’d been away from Danning County.

After the report, the steward hesitated a bit. Edwin Harris noticed the hesitation on his face and asked, “Is there something else?”

“Master, the academy sent another letter from Nathaniel Clark.”

The steward hesitated because a month ago, the gatekeeper had brought a letter from the academy, saying it was sent by Nathaniel Clark. The master glanced at it and then nothing more was said.

“Oh? Bring it here and let me see.”

As Edwin Harris spoke, he walked inside, and the steward hurriedly handed over the letter.

Edwin Harris opened the letter, and after just a few glances, his steps halted, his face showing emotion.

“Master?” The steward saw his master stop in his tracks and was curious about what was written in the letter to move him so much.

“This boy has great determination!”

Edwin Harris sighed with emotion, and instead of going to his bedroom, he turned and walked toward the study.

Chapter 8: The Reward of a Letter

Day 85.

Nathaniel Clark’s strength had reached 470 jin, but “Bull Demon Strength” still hadn’t broken through to the third level.

These past few days, he’d come several times to Instructor Foster’s courtyard, wanting to go in and sound things out, but every time he stood at the door, he didn’t go in.

He was still holding onto a sliver of hope.

Maybe tomorrow “Bull Demon Strength” would break through to the third level.

Now, that hope was completely shattered.

Once again, he came to the courtyard where Instructor Foster lived. This time, Nathaniel Clark didn’t hesitate and went straight up to knock on the door.

But just as he was about to lift the knocker, the door opened by itself.

Instructor Foster stood inside the doorway, holding a package in his hand, quietly watching Nathaniel Clark.

Even though in his previous life he’d trained his face to be thick-skinned enough, facing Instructor Foster’s eyes that seemed to see through people’s hearts, Nathaniel Clark’s face gradually grew hot.

After a long while, just as Nathaniel Clark was about to speak, James Foster said calmly, “Here’s a letter from Chief Harris for you, and the things in this package were also sent by Chief Harris.”

The academy doesn’t allow things to be sent in from outside, otherwise those expensive herbs and meats wouldn’t sell, but Chief Harris’s status is different—if he wants to send something, the academy won’t stop him.

Nathaniel Clark’s pupils widened slightly, then he reacted: “Thank you, Instructor Foster.”

“Take it back.”

Taking the letter and package from Instructor Foster, Nathaniel Clark thanked him and turned to leave.

“If you have questions you don’t understand, seek out your instructor. Even if you’re scolded, be even more respectful and polite, and don’t dare to talk back; wait until he’s in a good mood, then ask again. Your writing is quite good—if you don’t understand something in the future, just come ask me directly.”

Ten meters away, he heard Instructor Foster’s voice drift over from behind. Nathaniel Clark’s body stiffened—he knew that Chief Harris had told Instructor Foster about the contents of his letter.

Instructor Foster misunderstood.

He thought Nathaniel Clark had been wronged by Instructor Brooks, but Nathaniel Clark had only wanted to pay tribute to the original author.

Nathaniel Clark turned back and bowed respectfully: “I understand, Teacher.”

Watching Nathaniel Clark’s departing figure, Instructor Foster narrowed his eyes slightly. At first, he hadn’t thought much of Nathaniel Clark; he’d only given him a pointer because he seemed clever, and hadn’t thought about it since.

It wasn’t until today, after receiving Chief Harris’s letter—in which Chief Harris told him about Nathaniel Clark writing to him, and even included a few heartfelt passages from Nathaniel Clark’s letter—that he was moved.

That line moved Chief Harris, but after reading it, it resonated with him as well.

Unlike Chief Harris, who was born into privilege, when he was learning martial arts, his family was poor, so he could better understand the feelings in Nathaniel Clark’s letter.

The hardships endured in private can be overcome, but dignity in public is extremely fragile.

Of course, most importantly, Nathaniel Clark’s progress was obvious—from just over a hundred jin at the start, to nearly five hundred jin now. This growth already surpassed half the students at the academy.

With excitement, Nathaniel Clark returned to his dormitory and immediately opened the package. When he saw the herbs inside, his eyes grew slightly red.

It had been so many years since his emotions had fluctuated so intensely.

In his previous life, only when he earned his first bucket of gold and when his company went public did he feel such a surge of emotion.