Speaking of the Underworld (Thanks to Qing Ning Zi Alliance Leader for the reward)

The group bantered for a while, discussing the increasing presence of the Incense Gathering Cult in the outer city.

They also talked about the recent unusual activity at Hong Family Fort outside the city, two major factions.

Cheng Shaojiu then spoke about the terrifying monster his caravan guard team had encountered, which had instantly dragged away a skilled and strong caravan guard.

Everyone was amazed and expressed their wonder.

Upon hearing about the monster, Jiang Su recalled something.

"Senior Brother Cheng, you said you encountered that monster, the Black Madman, with your junior brother Wei He?"

"That's right," Cheng Shaojiu nodded, lowering his head to eat a piece of braised pig ear.

"Wei He has always been with you. Speaking of which, I'm a bit curious. He comes from an ordinary background, has average talent, and is even somewhat mediocre. He's not much different from other ordinary junior brothers and sisters. Why do you treat him so specially?" Jiang Su asked casually.

She had always only valued talent and family background, or someone with at least one outstanding trait. She couldn't understand why Cheng Shaojiu would lower himself to befriend Wei He.

Before Cheng Shaojiu could reply.

Jiang Yan, on the other side, fanned himself and said with a smile, "Su Su, you don't know the reason. When winning people's hearts, the most important thing is to help them in their time of need. Senior Brother Cheng is cultivating Wei He's loyalty."

"Loyalty?" Jiang Su pondered.

"Exactly. Think about it, Wei He comes from a poor background, has a reserved personality, and is taciturn. What kind of insight could he have? But let me tell you, the more someone is like that, the more they will value kindness and favors from their benefactors.

Think about it again, if it were someone not so poor, would Senior Brother Cheng's efforts yield such good returns? Would they earn Wei He's deep devotion?

Don't underestimate this tactic. If used well, Senior Brother Cheng might gain a loyal protector who would die for him in the future!"

Jiang Yan spoke as if he had deep personal experience.

He had seen many of his elders employ similar tactics and immediately understood Cheng Shaojiu's intention.

Xiao Ran and Jiang Su suddenly understood. Compared to Jiang Yan, their families' backgrounds were significantly weaker.

In these matters, they were naturally not as mature as Jiang Yan.

"In my opinion, Senior Brother Cheng probably learned this experience from Head Caravan Guard Cheng. And judging by Wei He's current situation, he's likely devoted to Senior Brother Cheng, and success is not far off," Jiang Yan said with a smile.

"If that's the case, then the two guard masters around my father now seem to have been won over in a similar way years ago," Jiang Su said, seemingly having an epiphany by comparison.

"My family too. Although it's not as impressive as yours, my mother has a maidservant who was brought up this way. She does whatever she's told, very obedient," Xiao Ran added with a smile.

"If I hadn't accidentally gone too far and caused her to jump into a well, I probably wouldn't have..." He still felt a lingering fear.

"But that incident was also good. After that, my father beat me soundly. Afterward, I realized that indulgence in alcohol and women is truly poison to cultivation. If you don't control the frequency, you'll regret it later.

So from then on, I joined Master Zheng's tutelage, in this all-male courtyard, abstaining from alcohol and women, and diligently practicing martial arts. Now, it has proven my thoughts at the time."

Taking a bite of food, Xiao Ran smiled again. "Don't you all think that my recent daily banquets are just for show? Heh, even while eating and drinking, I never forget to practice. Do you really think I know nothing? That I'm unaware that alcohol and women will hinder progress? I even bought special tonics."

"It seems that Junior Brother Xiao's current achievements are not solely due to talent. Talent alone, without perseverance, would never lead to the level Junior Brother Xiao has reached," Jiang Su sighed.

"I haven't had such experiences since childhood. Is that why my talent is insufficient?"

As she said this, she couldn't help but laugh.

"Talent is innate, I can't help that. But if one can win over a few loyal individuals for protection, wouldn't that be just as comfortable?

Why don't you, Su Su, ask Brother Shaojiu for advice? Even Senior Brother Jiang praises Brother Shaojiu's skills. He must be excellent in this regard," Xiao Ran said with a smile.

Jiang Su heard this. Although she was strong-willed and believed that her own strength was paramount, if she could win over a few people for her own use, her sense of security would greatly increase, and she was immediately tempted.

Moreover, she had originally asked Cheng Shaojiu from the beginning, but the other two had sidetracked the conversation. She immediately turned her head to look over.

However, the group had been talking happily and hadn't noticed Cheng Shaojiu's situation.

When she turned to look now, she realized that Cheng Shaojiu was quietly eating and drinking, not saying a word, as if he hadn't heard their conversation at all.

"Senior Brother Cheng? You haven't answered my question yet?" Jiang Su called out.

"Oh, I was just too focused on the food. I was hungry, sorry, sorry, that was rude," Cheng Shaojiu finally looked up, realizing what had happened, and apologized repeatedly.

"Senior Brother Cheng, do you have any good methods?" Jiang Su continued to ask, reiterating what they had just discussed.

"Good methods...?" Cheng Shaojiu lowered his head again and was silent for a moment.

He picked up his chopsticks neatly and placed them horizontally on the spoon.

Then, he looked up again.

"I've actually always had an idea."

"What idea?" Jiang Su asked.

"I hope that one day I can make friends all over the world, everywhere I go, and be able to turn conflict into peace. To resolve all troubles without having to lift a finger."

Cheng Shaojiu smiled.

"So, I don't have any special intentions towards anyone. It's best to treat everyone with sincerity.

Wei He, I treat him as a friend, so he treats me as a friend. There's no other meaning behind it."

As he said this, the expressions on Jiang Yan and the others' faces slowly subsided.

Because what he said felt a little off.

Once Cheng Shaojiu said this, everyone knew that he had a wide circle of acquaintances and could talk to people from any social stratum.

Hearing him say that, his meaning was: I, Cheng Shaojiu, consider Wei He a friend, just like you all.

Wasn't this comparing them to people like Wei He, lumping them all together?

"Brother Cheng seems a bit drunk," Jiang Yan said with an unchanged smile, fanning himself with a stack of paper fans.

"Let's put this topic aside for now. How about we go see the new items at the Hundred Treasures Tower? To be honest, it's quite inconvenient now that silver can't be used and everything is converted to gold leaf."

Jiang Yan was the first to stand up and called the waiter to settle the bill.

However, after the scene just now, the three of them had some thoughts about Cheng Shaojiu.

The four of them split into two teams, two in front and two behind.

Xiao Ran and Jiang Yan walked behind. In the crowded street, they were slightly further away from the two in front.

Xiao Ran glanced at Cheng Shaojiu's back.

"I never knew Brother Shaojiu was so... so pure before."

"You mean naive, don't you?" Jiang Yan chuckled. "Where in this world is there truly equal friendship? You treat people with sincerity, and they treat you with malice; there are many such examples."

"Are you saying Senior Brother Jiang has encountered such examples?" Xiao Ran asked.

"Heh, Brother Shaojiu has lived in the city for a long time and has a better understanding of people's hearts. Those he associates with, like Zhou Yishi, Wei He, and the like, seem to be devoted to him now. But do you believe that if I offered a large sum, none of them would be tempted?" Jiang Yan said calmly.

"Senior Brother Jiang's insight is profound," Xiao Ran nodded. "I believe it."

"Therefore, Brother Shaojiu is completely wasting his time. Winning people over isn't done this way.

At first, I thought he had some skill, but after hearing him say it himself...

Treating everyone equally, with sincerity, this sincerity, when used too much, becomes worthless. Just like money nowadays.

He treats the poor and humble the same as the rich and noble. If this spreads, it will surely make the poor and humble grateful and fearful, while the rich and noble will be displeased.

In time, while he gains the gratitude of the poor and humble, what good will it do? The rich and noble will all distance themselves.

At that time, relying solely on those impoverished individuals, can he truly rise in status? How many people can he interact with in his lifetime?

In this world, who holds more power: the poor and humble, or the rich and noble? It's like buying a casket and returning the pearl.

Just watch. If Brother Shaojiu continues like this, while it seems benevolent, he will regret it in the future." Jiang Yan unfolded his fan and quickened his pace, saying no more.

Xiao Ran seemed to understand, his admiration for Jiang Yan growing. He felt that Jiang Yan was on a completely different level from Jiang Su and Cheng Shaojiu. He quickly caught up.

At this moment, Cheng Shaojiu was unaware that Jiang Yan and the other person behind him had already categorized him as someone not to be deeply associated with.

Time passed, and a week went by in the blink of an eye.

The weather grew hotter. Despite it being the golden autumn, there was no sign of cooling.

After receiving his wages, Wei He immediately took Second Sister and began searching for a location to open a steamed bun shop for her.

A steamed bun shop didn't require much space, but it needed to be in a place with high foot traffic.

Initially, Wei Ying didn't know that he was buying a property for her to open a steamed bun shop. According to her younger brother Wei He, he was getting a junior disciple to help him open a small shop.

She felt envious but actively offered various ideas and suggestions.

In the end, after Wei He, based on her suggestions, selected a shop, negotiated the price, and bought it outright.

It was only when she saw the deed that she realized it was bought for her to open a shop, and she was deeply moved.

Wei He was now considered an elder in the courtyard. He and Cheng Shaojiu had separated, each taking a new disciple to train with them.

This was also an obligation for the elders.

His status was also different from before. After a few words with Old Zheng, Wei Ying was allowed to leave the courtyard to prepare for her steamed bun shop.

As for Old Zheng's side, someone in the courtyard saw Wei Ying's connection and also sent in a new young woman to work for free, with only room and board provided.

This way, not only could safety be ensured, but it could also help them get acquainted with Old Zheng and leave a good impression. It was a win-win situation.

The benefits gained from this were far beyond the meager remuneration.

As for Old Zheng himself, having become accustomed to Wei Ying's care, he found himself missing her when someone else took over.

Whenever a new person made a mistake, it always reminded him of Wei Ying's meticulousness. He would always mutter a few words.

After a while, Wei Ying heard about this and couldn't help but return to visit and care for him every few days, fulfilling the old man's wishes.

However, this also caused many people in the courtyard to look at Wei He with even more peculiar expressions.

Jiang Su was the primary among them.

They all believed that this was all meticulously planned and calculated by Wei He beforehand.

Now, by using his Second Sister, he had made a good impression on the elder and could receive considerable care.

Thus, under the rumors spread by Jiang Su and others in the courtyard, many people's perception of Wei He changed. They believed he was deeply calculating and not to be easily befriended.