Making Inquiries

Lin Zheyu walked into Bai Shan District.

Most of the pedestrians wore shabby clothes, their faces sallow and their bodies thin.

Songyi City was fairly stable, but most commoners were not well-off and could only barely scrape out a living.

Lin Zheyu wore a clean long robe, making him seem somewhat out of place here.

Night was approaching, and many people were returning from work.

Lin Zheyu could see pedestrians in twos and threes, looking at him with strange expressions.

"I've been watching that kid for days. His complexion keeps getting better and better. He must have made some kind of gain in the city."

Not far away, a man as skinny as a monkey spoke to his companions.

There were four of them, sitting on stones by the roadside and shooting the breeze while watching the passersby.

"I know him. He's a Refugee who came here a while back. He's a scholar, so he was allowed into the city to work."

"I heard the kid came from a wealthy family in Jiu Nan City. Too bad Jiu Nan City was occupied by the Rebel Army, and he became a Refugee."

"What money could a Refugee have? I already slipped into the place he rents a few days ago and searched it. There was nothing there. He'd been cleaned out by robbers long ago."

Another companion curled his lip.

When dealing with people like this—alone, with no companions—their courage was often much greater.

So long as no one died, the authorities generally could not be bothered to pursue it.

Even if someone did die, if no one stepped forward for you, perhaps no one would ever know. You could die without a sound.

Damn it, what bad luck.

From afar, Lin Zheyu spotted the four men and silently cursed his luck.

These fellows were local thugs, idle all day long and doing nothing but petty theft and bullying the weak.

Lin Zheyu changed routes from a distance, avoiding them.

His small frame could not withstand much roughing up.

"Oh-ho!"

"That kid's feeling guilty—he's avoiding us. He might have something good on him!"

The men's eyes lit up at the sight.

"Come on, let's go take a look."

The largest man spoke.

His name was Gao Yu. He stood one meter eighty-three tall and was twice Lin Zheyu's size.

They loved bullying cowards like this—people who were afraid and had no one backing them.

"Kid, stop right there. What are you hiding for?" Gao Yu shouted at Lin Zheyu from afar.

Lin Zheyu stopped helplessly. He could not even avoid them?

"I've seen you heading into the city these past few days. Did you come across some good opportunity? Why not give us brothers a leg up too?"

Gao Yu said with a snicker.

His eyes swept over Lin Zheyu, sizing him up.

"What good opportunity could there be?"

"You all know how hard it is to find work these days. I thought that since I had some learning, I could make a living telling stories in the city. But my skills aren't up to par, and it's been extremely quiet."

Lin Zheyu revealed a bitter smile.

"You? Tell stories?"

"Ha ha ha!"

The men could not help laughing aloud.

Skinny Monkey, meanwhile, kept examining Lin Zheyu before suddenly snatching the bag from his hand.

"Tsk, tsk. Looks like you did make a little money after all. You can even bear to buy meat."

Skinny Monkey chuckled.

It was not much meat, just a small piece streaked with fat and lean.

"My body's been weak lately, so I gritted my teeth and bought this tiny piece. This is already everything I own."

Lin Zheyu turned out his empty pockets.

After being robbed last time, he had split his money into several portions and hidden them in concealed places along the way.

A cunning rabbit had three burrows. Even if one hiding place was found, he still had silver hidden elsewhere.

The men looked at the thin Lin Zheyu and felt that he indeed did not look like someone with money.

"Fine, get going. Next time you see us, come over and greet us first. Understand?" Gao Yu said, waving a hand.

"Yes, yes, I understand."

Lin Zheyu said nothing about the meat.

Momentum was stronger than a man. With no relatives or companions, even if he got beaten, he would only suffer for nothing.

"Haa..."

Lin Zheyu let out a long breath and swallowed the bitterness in his heart.

King Yama was easy to meet, but his little devils were hard to deal with.

When the situation was unfavorable, keeping a low profile and quietly building strength was the only hard truth.

I'll move first thing tomorrow morning. Rent in the city is expensive, but at least the security is better than here.

Lin Zheyu mused.

Order in the Inner City was much better than in the Outer City slums. Large and small gangs, as well as the government yamen's constables, maintained order.

Those local thugs did not dare act recklessly. If caught, they could easily receive a vicious beating.

He returned home.

Lin Zheyu's stomach rumbled.

Tonight's meat dish had been snatched away, so he could only drink thin porridge.

After asking the auntie next door for some pickled vegetables, Lin Zheyu drank five large bowls of thin porridge in one go.

Now was the time to restore his body, so he had to keep his nutrition up.

The next day, Lin Zheyu rose early.

After explaining the situation to his landlord, he left carrying a small bundle. He did not have much to pack.

"Good morning, Steward Wu!"

Lin Zheyu arrived at Bi Dan Teahouse.

Early in the morning, the tea house was quite quiet.

"Eh? Why did you come so early today?" Wu Yinghe asked curiously.

"Well, I'm planning to move somewhere else. The Outer City is too chaotic. Living in Bai Shan District is unbearable."

Lin Zheyu pointed at his bundle and asked, "Steward Wu, do you have any recommendations?"

"Bai Shan District truly isn't suitable for living."

Steward Wu nodded, pondered for a moment, and said, "I know a few brokers. Some handle house rentals, and their prices are cheap."

"Then I'll have to trouble Steward Wu."

Lin Zheyu said with a smile.

"Why be so polite with me?"

Steward Wu said with a smile.

Lin Zheyu was his god of wealth now.

After giving some instructions, he personally took Lin Zheyu to look for a house.

With Steward Wu's help, Lin Zheyu moved to a quiet place three streets away from Hundred Tastes Street.

It was a small courtyard, five hundred copper coins a month—quite affordable.

A single-room shack would have been even cheaper, only two hundred copper coins.

The little courtyard was rather secluded, with few households nearby.

But that suited him perfectly.

He would definitely practice martial arts in the future. A more remote location was ideal, since he would not disturb the neighbors.

Hundred Tastes Street.

Green Simplicity Pavilion, with Steward Wu hosting.

Green Simplicity Pavilion was a fairly famous Wine House on Hundred Tastes Street. Not only were its prices affordable, but its food also tasted excellent.

Originally, Lin Zheyu had intended to treat Steward Wu to a meal in thanks, but Steward Wu refused no matter what, and in the end, he became the host.

"Will Little Sir continue trying to earn scholarly honors in the future?"

Steward Wu asked, his eyes fixed intently on him.

This Little Sir was the tea house's god of wealth. Whether the tea house could continue prospering like this in the future depended on him.

If Lin Zheyu truly intended to keep pursuing scholarly honors, then he would not be able to tell stories at their tea house.

"No."

"With my current circumstances, it won't be easy to obtain another recommendation and gain the qualifications to sit for the examinations."

"Besides, earning scholarly honors is far too difficult."

Lin Zheyu shook his head.

After arriving in Songyi City, he had reapplied for a temporary identity plaque and registered under temporary centralized household registration.

With this sort of temporary centralized registration, gaining the qualifications to seek scholarly honors was extremely troublesome. He would need to find a clan willing to take him in and settle his student registration again, or earn the favor of an important figure.

Haa...

Steward Wu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Little Sir tells stories with such brilliance. I believe that within a few years, you'll become a Storyteller known in every household of Songyi City."

Steward Wu flattered him.

"Then I'll accept your auspicious words!"

Lin Zheyu said with a smile.

The two ate and talked. After taking a few bites to fill his stomach, Lin Zheyu brought up the real matter.

"Steward Wu, do you know any old masters who teach martial arts?"

"Little Sir wants to practice martial arts?" Steward Wu asked in surprise.

"Yes, I want to learn some martial arts for self-protection."

"You know that I'm making my way alone in Songyi City, with no relatives by my side. It's easy for petty scoundrels to bully me."

"I thought learning some martial arts for self-protection would be better."

Lin Zheyu said.

"Indeed."

Steward Wu nodded in agreement.

The legal system in this world was not as well-developed as in his previous life. The authorities were not very effective, and many matters among the common folk were handled by the gentry and clans themselves.

For someone like Lin Zheyu, alone and without relatives behind him as support, he could often only become a target for bullying.

"If you want to learn martial arts, I do know someone. You've met this person before."

Steward Wu said with a smile.