Buying Medicinal Herbs, Cheng Yu's Surprise

Seeing Wu Wen and Wu Wu step forward to disgust him, the other menial workers nearby joined in the fun.

"Brother Zhou is doing well now, earning several qian of silver a month. It wouldn't hurt to treat his brothers to some fun, would it?"

"Exactly. This is a joyous occasion, worth celebrating."

"If you don't treat us to music and entertainment, then you clearly don't consider us brothers who suffered together."

The crowd put Zhou Qiming over the fire to roast, while the Wu brothers sneered coldly.

At that moment, Chen Ping stepped out and said indignantly, "Pah! If you want to have fun, spend your own money. Qiming's money wasn't blown in on the wind either. He still needs to save up to marry a wife!"

These people had never stopped mocking and excluding Zhou Qiming in the past. Now that they saw him doing well, they jumped out to cling to him, leaving Chen Ping thoroughly annoyed.

"Ping Tou, ignore them. Some people simply can't stand seeing others do well. Come on, let's go have a drink."

Zhou Qiming gave Chen Ping a gentle smile, without the slightest hint of distance between them.

As for what the others thought, he never paid any attention to it. They were merely clowns leaping about on a stage.

His mind was now wholly focused on grinding out progress in the Iron Cloth Skill. He had no spare time to fool around with these people; they were no longer on the same level.

Watching the two of them leave, the Wu brothers stomped their feet in fury, yet there was nothing they could do.

"The wheel of fortune turns! You're jumping around happily now, but sooner or later I'll make you understand what pain is!" Wu Wen cursed viciously.

"Once Second Uncle returns from the Luoshan Army, this brat will know regret. In this world, strength is king. Even if he becomes a chef, if he's a dragon, he'll still have to coil up!" Wu Wu gritted his teeth.

Their Second Uncle, Wu Hui, was a Squad Leader in the Luoshan Army. He had both strength and status, and a thousand ways to deal with Zhou Qiming.

The other menial workers all kept silent, feeling that Zhou Qiming was about to suffer. They had not expected him to refuse to give Wu Wen face. It was only the cost of treating everyone to a meal, yet he had ruined the relationship so badly. This would likely end poorly.

After returning home, Zhou Qiming made two small dishes and brought out a jar of wine to entertain Chen Ping. At the same time, his Cooking proficiency rose by several more points. It was sweetness in hardship.

"Qiming really does love cooking. He truly has the makings of a chef." Chen Ping watched him, picked up some minced pork and eggplant with his chopsticks, and smacked his lips as he tasted it.

What surprised Chen Ping was that Zhou Qiming's cooking now did not lose to that of his mother, a full-time housewife. He was even not far behind an ordinary chef at a restaurant.

Zhou Qiming had always lived alone, normally making do with coarse food and plain tea. In other words, he had only studied under Liu Fu for a short while, yet had improved so dramatically. It was truly unbelievable.

"Chen Ping, thank you for speaking up for me earlier. What are your plans for the future?" Zhou Qiming asked after glancing at the Martial arts panel.

"My family has already paved the way for me. I probably won't make anything of myself in a restaurant. My two older sisters married out and helped save up a sum of money for me. I'm planning to study under a master at a martial arts school and learn some skills, so I can marry a wife afterward," Chen Ping answered.

The world was this cruel and straightforward. Fortunately, Chen Ping had two older sisters ahead of him, giving him more paths than others his age.

Whether one studied martial arts or took the imperial examinations to earn a civil title, money was needed to pave the way. Chen Ping's starting point was already far higher than most, though he still could not compare to Zhou Qiming, who had a cheat.

"Not bad. It's not too late for you to learn martial arts at your age. If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me." Zhou Qiming nodded with a smile, without mocking him for living off his sisters.

Chen Ping lowered his head and smiled, thinking Zhou Qiming was merely joking. The Iron Clothes Martial Arts School's martial arts were not easy to learn, and the Hall Master's requirements were extremely high. Even if he paid the silver, he likely would not become a Confidant.

As for Zhou Qiming offering him guidance and help, that was even more impossible. Chen Ping did not want to dampen the other man's goodwill.

"We'll take it one step at a time." Chen Ping sighed.

After a while, the two parted ways, and Zhou Qiming immediately began that day's training.

[Iron Cloth Skill Beginner 10%!]

The Iron Cloth Skill focused on tempering the skin membrane. Once the membrane became sufficiently tough and could bear the power of the Muscle Cultivation level, force would gradually emerge.

Once that force covered the body, even clothes as thin as paper would become sharp and hard as blades when swung. Striking a Martial Artist with them would surely break bones and snap tendons.

In its early stages, aside from externally grinding the skin with sand and stones, the Iron Cloth Skill also included foundational movement and fist techniques such as Iron Stone Fist and Iron Arm Skill. It was an extremely comprehensive art.

After performing a set of Iron Stone Fist, Zhou Qiming's chest heaved like a bellows as he panted heavily. Sweat poured from his entire body, and every muscle and fascia felt as though it had been stretched to the limit, producing a sore, numb sensation of force.

With my current Root Bone and physical condition, I can practice another one or two times tonight.

Zhou Qiming struck while the iron was hot and continued practicing. The Iron Cloth Skill's progress shot upward throughout the night.

By the time he had washed up, scrubbed the clothes he had changed out of, and hung them up to dry, it was already midnight. He boiled the remaining ginseng into soup and drank it before hurriedly going to sleep.

The next day, the sun rose and roosters crowed.

Zhou Qiming flipped over and sat up neatly, immediately checking the Martial arts panel.

[Realm: Skin Grinding]

[Root Bone: 3.7/6 points]

[Iron Cloth Skill Beginner 80%!]

[Cooking Beginner 99%]

After consuming a large ginseng root, his Root Bone Value had recovered a full 0.6 points after one night's sleep!

Yet there was still no plus sign beside the Woodcutting Saber Technique. It seemed the second Limit Breaking would consume even more Root Bone Value, but Zhou Qiming was not worried.

Perhaps by the time he saved enough Root Bone Value, he would also have cultivated the Iron Cloth Skill to perfection and could use it for Limit Breaking.

With the same resources consumed, breaking the limit of the Iron Cloth Skill was undoubtedly more important, and the improvements it brought would be comprehensive.

I have to find a way to make more money. The twenty taels of silver I took aren't nearly enough. The Brute Ox Skin Grinding Paste is already running low.

Zhou Qiming felt the urgency of earning money. The meager monthly wages of an apprentice were nowhere near enough.

Without the Brute Ox Skin Grinding Paste to help restore his skin membrane, he could only practice the Iron Cloth Skill once or twice a day. Forcing himself to train more would only lead to injury, greatly slowing his Skin Grinding and Iron Cloth Skill progress.

He had no Martial Master to personally guide him, nor did he have the fixed resource allotment of the Iron Clothes Martial Arts School. Everything depended on himself!

That morning, Zhou Qiming clocked in and went to work as usual. He successfully raised Cooking to the Minor Success level and gained 1 point of Root Bone Value.

"Qiming's progress is far too obvious. It won't be long before he becomes an official chef." Liu Fu was overjoyed and confidently handed even more tasks to his disciple.

Chef Li hurried over and teased him.

"Qiming, you're about the age to start a family, aren't you? How about meeting my daughter, Li Qian? She's fair and plump, sure to bear children easily."

"Get out of here, you shameless old fool." Liu Fu glared fiercely at Old Man Li. Zhou Qiming had only been in the kitchen for a day or two, and this man was already arranging a marriage.

The other chefs' eyes all lit up, secretly cursing Old Man Li for being despicable. Why had none of them thought of drawing him in this way?

They had all seen Zhou Qiming's improvement. Combined with the fact that Boss Xu had personally named him for promotion, his future livelihood would certainly be secure, with no worries over food or clothing.

In their eyes, Zhou Qiming had already become the prized morsel of the kitchen. He was young, hardworking, and full of potential. He also had no burdens such as parents or sisters to support; all the money he earned would go toward helping his own household. He was the perfect son-in-law.

"No need, Uncle Li. I have no plans to marry yet." Zhou Qiming smiled and scratched his head, surprising everyone, yet making them value him even more.

Zhou Qiming was clearly determined to master his craft. He had no thoughts of pleasure or women at all. He truly was remarkable.

If it had been them at his age, how could they have resisted such temptation? Besides, after changing from menial workers to apprentices, they would have long since become puffed up, wishing to marry several wives and spread their branches and leaves.

Ignoring the looks from those Old Hands, Zhou Qiming ate lunch and then made a trip to Cheng's Herbal Shop on West Street to buy the ingredients for Brute Ox Skin Grinding Paste.

"Qiming, have you broken through to Skin Grinding?"

Cheng Yu hurried over to receive him, staring Zhou Qiming up and down in shock.

The recipe for Brute Ox Skin Grinding Paste was fairly common. Since her family dealt in medicinal herbs, the moment she heard what ingredients he wanted to buy, she knew he was tempering his skin membrane.

Only two days had passed since he obtained the Iron Cloth Skill manual, yet without anyone's guidance, he had forcibly broken through into the Skin Refining Realm. What astonishing talent was this?

In Cheng Yu's memory, even the fastest-progressing disciple at the martial arts school had taken more than ten months to enter Skin Grinding!