The next day, the first of February.
As he had the previous month, Zhuang Jin went to the General Affairs Department. He first visited the Pay Office and collected this month's monthly stipend of three taels of silver, along with one tael for last month's assignment.
The Martial Arts Instructor assignment itself paid one tael of silver. This month, only one Formal Martial Artist had emerged from the martial students under his charge, so he had received no reward—but neither had any money been deducted. It was passable, at best.
He left with four taels of silver and quietly calculated his savings. Eight taels and eight qian of silver remained from the month before last. Master Ping gave me two taels as a congratulatory gift. At the start of last month, I collected six taels in double monthly stipends. Subtract seven taels and five qian spent on cultivation provisions last month, as well as two qian for the Black Fiend Palm medicinal packet, and I had nine taels and one qian left. Add these four taels, and that makes thirteen taels and one qian... This month, before breaking through to the Third Meridian, I truly won't have to worry about money.
After the Third Meridian, I may be short on money next month. Whether I borrow some or do something else, I'll see when the time comes. When mountains block the way, carve a road through them; when water bars the path, build a bridge over it.
After collecting his monthly stipend and assignment pay, Zhuang Jin came to the Task Office to choose an assignment. The moment he arrived, he heard a commotion. It turned out that the Merit Points system had been reformed.
At the window where Chang Hetong sat, the other man gave a slight nod and