Collecting Supplies

Zhuang Jin and Xiong Lei entered the Shen Family together. The moment they passed through the main gate, the sight before them changed completely. A pebble-paved road stretched ahead, flowerbeds on either side overflowing with golden chrysanthemums, while covered corridors, pavilions, and streams lay scattered in graceful arrangement farther off.

"What grandeur! And this is only the Outer Courtyard!" Xiong Lei's eyes widened as he exclaimed.

"Indeed. Even the Outer Courtyard is like this—I wonder what the Shen Family's Inner Courtyard looks like?" Zhuang Jin nodded as well.

The two had no time to take in the scenery. Following those who had entered after registering, they passed through a moon gate and arrived before a booth, behind which sat two middle-aged men in gray robes. "Those who have registered, line up here to collect your bedding!"

Zhuang Jin and Xiong Lei stepped forward at the sound and joined the line.

I'd already asked around. Once those recruited through the Shen Family's Martial Student Recruitment entered, they were placed under closed management. Bedding and all other necessities were provided by the Shen Family.

They said it hadn't been this way during the first Martial Student Recruitment. Back then, recruits had to bring their own bedding and could leave every day. Because of that, several Martial Students returned drunk and nearly started a fire. Having learned that lesson, the Shen Family imposed closed management for the second recruitment and began providing all bedding themselves.

This is the third time. The bedding was used by the previous batch of Martial Students, so some is newer and some more worn. These two gray-robed men hold the power to distribute it. If you want something better, you'll probably have to grease their palms. Zhuang Jin pondered inwardly.

"Look!" Xiong Lei suddenly nudged Zhuang Jin's arm and pointed with his lips.

Zhuang Jin followed his gaze and saw that at the very front of the line, a Martial Student receiving his bedding slipped over a handful of Copper Coins—more than ten in all. The gray-robed man handling registration accepted them with a beaming smile, then gave the other man a look. That Martial Student was given a set of bedding as clean as new.

"Tsk, the Shen Family's threshold really is high. Even a One-Striped Servant can rake in this much oil and water." Xiong Lei's tone carried an indiscernible mix of resentment and envy.

"A One-Striped Servant? Brother Xiong, what's the meaning behind that?"

As Zhuang Jin asked, he thoughtfully glanced at the shoulders of the two gray-robed men. The gray-robed man at the gate earlier had also borne a silver stripe on his shoulder. He had vaguely guessed then that it might be related to their status within the Shen Family, but with too little evidence, he had not dared to be certain.

Sure enough, Xiong Lei said, "The Shen Family's servants wear gray. Look at their shoulders—there are silver stripes there. One stripe means a One-Striped Servant, two means a Two-Striped Servant, and three makes a Three-Insignia Servant. Corresponding to the servants are the Outer Courtyard Maids. They wear lake-green clothing and are likewise divided into three ranks, though third rank is the lowest and first rank the highest. The Willow Leaf Patterns on their clothes increase from few to many..."

"Above the servants are the Household Retainers in black robes. Above the Outer Courtyard's First-Class Maids are the Inner Courtyard Maids, who wear pink. Those people have standing and status within the Shen Family; outside, they are even more formidable figures. They're far too distant from people like us."

Xiong Lei rattled on, explaining it all to Zhuang Jin with a hint of showing off. It was not exactly boasting, though, more the instinct of someone who liked teaching others.

Xiong Lei had learned all this from his father, who wanted him to develop some discernment and avoid offending people he should not after entering. As for such deeper information about the Shen Family's inner workings, Zhuang Jin, with his former identity as one of the Beggars, naturally had found it difficult to hear.

As they spoke, Zhuang Jin noticed another Martial Student who seemed short of funds. With embarrassment and unease written across his face, he handed over only two or three Copper Coins. The gray-robed man registering them curled his lip in disdain. Sure enough, the bedding brought out by the other gray-robed man was much worse, marked by several patches of filth and even a hole. The Martial Student did not dare argue. He accepted it with his head lowered and left.

Seeing that their turn was nearly upon them, Zhuang Jin's thoughts turned, and he made his decision. This money cannot be withheld, or we may be made examples to cow the others. We can't be the nail that sticks out. But we can't give too much either—it would be too much of a loss and too conspicuous, likely to mark us as fat sheep. Too little won't do either; it would only anger the two gray-robed men, and the bedding we receive would be far too poor.

After weighing it over, Zhuang Jin took five Copper Coins from his robes and turned to signal Xiong Lei.

Xiong Lei had still been hesitating. On one hand, he hated to part with the money and disliked the gray-robed men taking such benefits; on the other, he did not dare give nothing. Caught in this conflict, he saw Zhuang Jin's signal and immediately recalled his father's warning from the night before—to be perceptive and quick-witted. At once, he made up his mind and took out five Copper Coins as well.

"Trouble yourselves, sirs." When it was Zhuang Jin's turn, he spoke as he discreetly passed over the five Copper Coins. The registering gray-robed man glanced at them and accepted them, then slightly raised his chin. The other gray-robed man understood and brought over a set of bedding. Its quality was neither good nor bad. There were two or three dirty spots, but at least no holes.

"Press your thumbprint. Go to the communal sleeping platform in Barracks Room E2. In one incense stick's time, report to Training Field Y1!" The registering gray-robed man recited the instructions mechanically, then impatiently waved him away.

"This youngster will remember. Many thanks, sirs." After pressing his thumbprint, Zhuang Jin respectfully cupped his hands in salute before leaving with his bedding in his arms.

Xiong Lei likewise gave five Copper Coins, and the bedding he received was about the same. He caught up to the waiting Zhuang Jin, and the two walked on side by side while he continued muttering complaints. "The bedding we're using belonged to the last batch of Martial Students. The Shen Family only started supplying bedding last time, which means this stuff has only been used once, yet it's already like this... Those Martial Students last time really didn't know how to cherish things. Just look at these stains... And ours is considered good! I saw some with holes in them..."

Zhuang Jin listened in silence, then suddenly remarked, "It might not necessarily have been the previous Martial Students."

In his view, Martial Students came to the Shen Family to learn martial arts. Having entered such a grand household, judging others by himself, they would surely not dare mistreat its belongings. So why had the bedding ended up like this?

There could only be one explanation: if all the bedding were clean and tidy, how could certain people collect benefits? Only by separating the bedding into clean, dirty, and torn grades could certain people turn the little authority in their hands into the greatest possible profit!

Xiong Lei was not stupid. He understood the implication Zhuang Jin had left unspoken. His eyes immediately went wide, his face wearing an expression that said, It can work like that? Still, he had some sense and did not cry out in shock. Yet inside, his thoughts churned like rivers and seas. Father was right after all. Away from home, people's hearts are treacherous. I need to grow more Mind's Eyes!

Carrying their bedding, Zhuang Jin and Xiong Lei reached the lodging area. They were both assigned to Barracks Room E2. Upon entering, they saw a room three zhang long and two zhang wide. Taking up most of it was a large heated sleeping platform pressed against two walls, a communal bed for fifteen people.

One Martial Student had already arrived. He had chosen a spot near the door and was laying out his bedding. The two of them claimed spots farther inside by the window, their bedding side by side. They had just finished arranging everything when shouting and curses suddenly came from outside. Exchanging a glance, they went out.

It turned out that a Martial Student farther back had not offered any benefits and had been made an example by the two gray-robed men. He had been given a set of torn, moldy bedding. The Martial Student tried to argue, but the gray-robed man handling registration slapped him, and he immediately became obedient.

Seeing this, Xiong Lei said thankfully, "Good thing we knew which way the wind was blowing and gave them something. Being slapped and losing face would have been a small matter. Getting that torn, moldy bedding and falling sick would be the real problem. How could we practice martial arts then?"

"Yes. The weather has been turning colder lately. If that bedding made us sick, this Martial Student Recruitment would be ruined." Zhuang Jin agreed, sighing inwardly. Money was a good thing. He thanked Tan San and the others for their gifts, which had allowed him to enter the Shen Family to learn martial arts with far greater ease and avoid many unnecessary troubles.

After the two gray-robed men killed a chicken to scare the monkeys, the Martial Students behind them all obediently offered benefits. They only dared give more, never less. Before long, they had all collected their bedding and settled in. About one incense stick later, a voice rang out from outside: "All Martial Students, proceed to the Training Ground according to your assigned groups and prepare for Martial Practice!"