At five in the morning, Zhao Lin and Liang Song arrived at the Receiving and Issuing Office, where roll call was taken.
A long table was set up at the entrance, with the Room Officer seated behind it. Beside his hand was a pile of bamboo slips, and on the ground was a bamboo basket.
People came one after another for roll call. The Receiving and Issuing Official would pick up a bamboo slip with a name on it and toss it into the basket. This method of taking attendance saved paper; any slips not in the basket belonged to those who were late or absent.
"Zhao Lin, constable captain of the Swift Class; Liang Song, constable of the Swift Class."
Since it was Zhao Lin and Liang Song's first day, the Receiving and Issuing Official took two blank bamboo slips, wrote down their names and positions with a brush, and tossed the slips into the basket.
After roll call, they waited for the County Magistrate to hold court and assign the day's duties.
