Employment

Ping'an Ward

Chen Mu vaulted over the wall into the westernmost residence.

He changed out of his black clothes and mask.

Sitting before the Square Table, he slowly drank a bowl of cooled boiled water, calming his thudding heart.

"Thank goodness, thank goodness..." He had nearly killed someone tonight!

"It's all because of this malicious world." Chen Mu thought bitterly.

In his previous life, he had been a socially anxious shut-in. Now he actually dared to poison and kill people?!

I just want to live an honest life and practice martial arts in peace. Chen Mu felt a little wronged.

"I still need to keep a low profile. There's never any harm in being cautious."

Just a Second Tier Drawing skill had drawn one wave of malice after another.

If people discovered that he had learned the Body Tempering Technique so quickly, who knew what trouble it might bring?

"I absolutely can't let anyone find out about my martial arts training." Chen Mu became even more cautious.

Half a month later

The Chen Family residence in Ping'an Ward.

A plate of cold mixed vegetables, a serving of Crystal Pork Knuckle, and a bowl of White Wheat Rice.

This was Chen Mu's lunch.

He picked up a piece of Crystal Pork Knuckle and slowly chewed it, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.

"An unexpected surprise."

Not long ago, Chen Mu had discovered a new skill on the Gray Wall—Culinary.

Not long after it appeared, he had felt obvious changes.

When he ate meat before, he simply boiled it in plain water.

It was edible, but as for the taste, it could only be said to be salty.

Now, however, he truly understood what delicious food was.

With this ability, Chen Mu naturally would not mistreat himself.

He dug out recipes he had heard of and seen in his previous life, then began experimenting with making them.

The Crystal Pork Knuckle was one such experiment.

"I'll have plenty of good food from now on."

After the meal, Chen Mu cleaned up the dishes and chopsticks. He sat before the Square Table, drinking Sour Plum Drink to aid digestion.

He had been a painter at the Wonderful Painting Workshop for half a month.

The most obvious change was that his payment for paintings had increased. It had directly doubled, with each portrait earning at least twenty taels.

But the number of portraits had decreased accordingly.

In the past, he would paint at least three or four portraits every half month. Now, he had only painted two in total.

Yet the clients' demand for his paintings had instead grown higher.

"An ancient version of hunger marketing?"

The Wonderful Painting Workshop truly had influence. No wonder it occupied half of Qingshan County's calligraphy and painting industry.

"Apart from compulsory work for the County Office, I can earn eighty to a hundred taels every month."

That was enough to support his current expenses.

After eating and drinking his fill, Chen Mu changed into a Gray-White Long Gown.

This was the standard attire of poor scholars these days. Walking down the street in it, he did not stand out in the slightest.

For that reason, he had deliberately spent time observing how ordinary people in Qingshan County dressed.

I want to dress more stylishly too. Unfortunately...

If he dared to flaunt his wealth with fine clothes and rich food, bandits and thieves would come knocking that very night!

After tidying himself up using his reflection in the water basin, Chen Mu prepared to head out.

Today, he was going to help the County Office clerks paint wanted posters.

Chen Mu had not stopped his compulsory work just because he had joined the Wonderful Painting Workshop.

Although helping the County Office paint wanted posters did not earn him any payment, it brought intangible benefits.

At the very least, ordinary street thugs would not dare openly cause him trouble.

His income had risen, and no one disturbed him. Chen Mu had lived quite comfortably these past two weeks.

If there was one thing he was dissatisfied with, it was probably the two burly men at his door.

Chen Mu opened the door, and the two Tall Burly Men stood outside his home like door gods.

They were bodyguards arranged for him by the Wonderful Painting Workshop.

Chen Mu could not exactly refuse. They did indeed improve his safety.

But with two people following him around all day, many things became inconvenient.

For example, practicing the Body Tempering Technique and buying Secret Medicine.

"Luckily, I stocked up on medicinal ingredients beforehand."

Previously, he had buried himself in training and bought a large amount of medicine at once. It was still barely enough for now.

"But it'll run out eventually."

"I need to think of a way to buy medicinal ingredients without the two of them around." Chen Mu pondered inwardly.

Half a month later, Chen Mu ran wildly around the courtyard, his speed comparable to a hundred-meter sprint. The sound of his feet landing was almost nonexistent.

After a quarter of an hour, Chen Mu stopped running and took a deep breath to steady his slightly rapid breathing.

Writing: 1342/10000/Second Tier;

Drawing: 1079/10000/Second Tier;

Throwing: 2598/10000/Second Tier;

Red Falcon Body Tempering Technique: 7231/10000/Tier 1;

Culinary: 1326/10000/Tier 1;

A month had passed, and the Red Falcon Body Tempering Technique had gained over two thousand Proficiency.

Compared to last month, that was eight or nine hundred less.

"This is the downside of joining the Wonderful Painting Workshop." Chen Mu looked helplessly toward the entrance.

Two burly men stood outside the door, so he had to be extremely careful every time he trained.

To that end, he had specifically studied the Red Falcon Body Tempering Technique, reducing the noise produced by sprinting.

Now, he could run in complete silence. That counted as an unexpected gain.

But he still did not dare train without restraint, which truly affected the rate at which he gained Proficiency.

"The Secret Medicine is gone too. The results will only get worse from here."

To avoid being discovered, Chen Mu did not mind slowing down his rate of gaining Proficiency.

But without Secret Medicine, the effects would immediately be cut in half. That was something he could not accept.

"I have to find a way to buy medicinal ingredients."

Voices suddenly came from outside the door.

Chen Mu went to open it.

"Young Master Chen, where should I put these?" A dark-faced man in his forties stood at the door.

His clothes were patched, and his hands were rough and callused. He was a laborer who often did heavy work.

At that moment, he turned slightly to reveal the large bamboo basket on his back, filled with more than ten jin of fresh meat.

"Old Li, help me carry it into the room." Chen Mu smiled.

This man was a laborer who ran errands for the Xue Family Warehouse in the East Market.

After putting away the fresh meat, Chen Mu handed Old Li ten copper coins.

"Thank you, Young Master." Old Li accepted them with a smile.

"Last time, I heard that the errand runners at your warehouse are also divided into ranks?" Chen Mu asked.

"That's right. I'm a Straw Shoes. Above me are Copper Shoes and Iron Shoes, as well as Gold Boots and Silver Boots. Young Master Chen, are you..." Old Li looked at Chen Mu in confusion.

"I want to hire someone wearing Silver Boots. Go back and tell your boss to arrange for someone to come discuss it tonight." Chen Mu said softly.

He had already asked around. Xue's Trading Post mainly handled escort work, errands, and cargo transport.

Among them, Gold Boots held the highest rank and offered the best confidentiality. They even participated in escorting the County Office's tax silver.

But Gold Boots worked in teams, deploying more than ten people at a time.

Silver Boots came next. Their safety and confidentiality were also good, and they could be hired individually or in groups.

He intended to have the Xue Family Warehouse purchase Secret Medicine for the Body Tempering Technique on his behalf.

"Alright! Don't worry, Young Master!" Old Li was instantly overjoyed.

He only needed to pass this information to his boss. Once the contract was made, he would also receive a substantial commission.

"Have them come at night. I don't want too many people knowing about this." Chen Mu instructed.

"Of course, don't worry." Old Li hurriedly promised in a low voice.

After seeing Old Li off, Chen Mu shut the door and dealt with the fresh meat.

"With the warehouse buying medicinal ingredients for me, it won't be completely confidential, but at least I won't be showing my face myself. It should block the obvious scrutiny." Chen Mu could not help glancing at the front gate.

He did not want the Wonderful Painting Workshop to know that he knew martial arts.

"And there's Constable Lu."

The other party was a local power. If Chen Mu bought medicine himself, he might be noticed.

If Constable Lu learned of it, then Teacher Sheng Hong would learn of it as well.

That man habitually used the Red Falcon Body Tempering Technique as bait to earn silver.

Chen Mu had only gone once and had already entered the Body Tempering Technique. The man might not be willing to let that go.

And if he was unwilling, he might trip Chen Mu up.

Chen Mu was willing to spend money to eliminate potential trouble.

"No one knows I practice martial arts, so I can keep it as a trump card." Chen Mu thought happily.

"I can also move my training time to the evening."

At night, the two bodyguards at the door would leave. Then he could train to his heart's content.

"Then no one will know I practice the Body Tempering Technique!" Chen Mu thought happily.

He washed the fresh pork belly clean, cut it into square chunks, then rubbed it with salt and spices to marinate it.

Afterward, he simmered it until seven-tenths cooked with a spice packet he had just figured out, then deep-fried it in vegetable oil.

After all that work, the fresh meat's storage time was greatly extended, and it had become even more flavorful.

By the time he finished, the sky had gradually darkened.

He gave two chunks of pork to the two guards at the door. Amid their delighted thanks, he sent them away early.

Chen Mu then made a cold mixed vegetable dish, cooked a pot of White Wheat, and sat at the Square Table eating the freshly cooked pork chunks as he waited for the Xue Family Warehouse to send someone.