Change!

"Junior Brother Fang, not only do you have exceptional comprehension, you're also so diligent and hardworking. Truly, you're worthy of admiration."

"Senior Disciple Fang, I also have mediocre bone roots. I already regard you as my role model. I hope I can successfully break through too!"

"Junior Brother Fang, when we have the time, we can exchange pointers more often."

Ever since Fang Chen broke through, some things had indeed begun to change.

At the very least, these disciples had never come over to greet Fang Chen before.

Although his bone roots were still mediocre,

some people no longer thought Fang Chen's potential was limited. Instead, they had begun showing him goodwill.

Fang Chen couldn't help feeling a little expectant.

What kind of scene would surround him when he broke through to the Sinew and Bone Realm?

Today, Zhou Hai left rather early, while Yang Hua stayed unusually late.

Only the two of them remained in the martial arts hall. Fang Chen guessed that Yang Hua probably had something to say,

and sure enough, when Fang Chen was about to leave as well, Yang Hua immediately hurried over, clasped his hands, and said, "Senior Disciple Fang, congratulations on successfully breaking through."

Fang Chen's impression of Yang Hua was fairly good. He smiled and replied, "You're so diligent, and your bone roots are better than mine. You'll successfully break through later too."

Yang Hua shook his head without a word.

He had originally thought Senior Disciple Fang would definitely fail today.

Yang Hua had even thought of how he would help Senior Disciple Fang. In the end, the situation suddenly took a sharp turn, leaving Yang Hua astonished for a long while.

Thinking about it afterward, Senior Disciple Fang had such remarkable comprehension and had broken through so quickly.

His own superior bone roots instead seemed rather laughable!

He had actually thought of going to help Senior Disciple Fang. That truly would have been gilding the lily.

For some reason, Yang Hua felt a little jealous.

They were both from poor families, yet Senior Disciple Fang was now so dazzling that Yang Hua simply couldn't compare.

Yang Hua sighed inwardly.

In the end, he still smiled at Fang Chen and said, "Then I'll borrow your auspicious words, Senior Brother."

Fang Chen nodded and stopped chatting. He left the martial arts hall directly.

He had left relatively early today, so he planned to buy some meat and take it home, while also stopping by to see where his father worked.

At that moment, at the Three Rivers Gang's headquarters,

Zhou Hai was carefully listening to a gang member report on the matter before him.

"Young Gang Leader, Young Master Fang's father works at the docks, while his elder sister works in a laundry. Both places are currently within our territory. Should we do something to help them?"

Hearing this, Zhou Hai asked seriously, "What work are they doing respectively?"

The gang member respectfully answered, "Young Master Fang's father is a porter, meaning he carries goods. It's usually very exhausting work, and at the docks, it's considered the lowest-level job."

"Young Master Fang's sister washes clothes in a laundry. She's also the lowest-ranking washerwoman, usually washing particularly filthy and messy clothing."

Zhou Hai nodded. Without thinking too much, he ordered, "Raise the status of Senior Disciple Fang's two relatives by one level, and instruct the people below to treat them well."

The gang member below respectfully replied, "Yes, subordinate will go inform them immediately!"

The sky gradually darkened.

At the docks,

several porters had just finished moving the cargo, and it was nearly time to knock off.

But they had no intention of leaving yet. They continued discussing the topic from before.

"Heh heh, my son has been an apprentice at a blacksmith's shop for several years. A few days ago, his master finally started teaching him the craft. Once my son becomes a blacksmith, it'll be much better than this work of mine, no matter how you look at it!"

One of them spoke with undisguised pride.

After all, these days, for commoners like them, becoming a skilled craftsman was already extremely respectable.

Not only was the income stable, but their social status was also higher than that of laborers like them.

Another man beside him began talking about his own son as well.

"My son works as a waiter at a restaurant. A few days ago, he told me the proprietor even praised him for being clever!"

Then another man sighed. "Ah, I can't compare with you. Mine joined a gang. Who knows, maybe he'll end up dead in some deserted alley one day..."

The others immediately offered words of consolation and sympathy.

But honestly, after comparing them like this, it was impossible for them not to feel a little superior.

Their own sons were more promising than other people's, so naturally they felt proud.

At this moment, the porter who had sighed looked toward Old Fang beside him and asked curiously, "Old Fang, didn't you say your son went to learn martial arts? How's he doing now?"

Old Fang smiled honestly and said, "The boy said it feels pretty good. I've seen him training quite diligently too. Maybe he really will make something of himself!"

Hearing this, the others all felt rather surprised.

After all, Old Fang's previous assessment of this son of his had not been very favorable.

In the past, whenever Old Fang brought up his son, he would sigh endlessly, saying things like how he had gone gambling again or gotten into another fight...

In short, they had all felt that Fang Chen was nothing but trouble for Old Fang.

But now, Old Fang was actually smiling?

Someone said worriedly, "Old Fang, I've heard that learning martial arts is incredibly difficult. That boy of yours isn't deceiving you, is he?"

"Maybe he never went to learn martial arts at all. He took the money and went gambling somewhere again."

Another man chimed in, "Exactly. Learning martial arts costs money in all sorts of places. I heard it's a bottomless pit. With the few taels of silver we earn, you could throw it in and not even hear a splash!"

"If you ask me, Old Fang, you'd better have your boy learn a trade. Then he won't have to work himself to the bone earning money like us in the future!"

Old Fang shook his head.

He had watched all of Fang Chen's changes and didn't believe Fang Chen was deceiving him.

On the contrary, he truly had some expectations for Fang Chen.

He hoped Fang Chen could lead their family to a better life!

Leaving everything else aside, Fang Chen had at least dealt with the matter concerning Zhao San cleanly!

If not for Fang Chen, Fang Ting might have married that local bully.

Father Fang loved all his children dearly. He would never send Fang Ting off to marry a bully for a little money.

But relying on his own strength alone, he would have been powerless against something like that.

Fortunately, he had agreed to let Fang Chen learn martial arts earlier, allowing him to resolve the trouble cleanly.

Not to mention what happened on the day the head tax was collected.

He had already prepared the money, but in the end, those gang members had actually brought over a pile of gifts!

In the past, those gang members had been fierce and ferocious toward them.

Yet that day, every one of them had been smiling, looking so warm and friendly!

Then he learned that Fang Chen and the Three Rivers Gang's Young Gang Leader were friends!

Amid his immense shock at all these things, what Father Fang felt even more strongly was joy and pride.

This made him believe even more firmly that Fang Chen had definitely made something of himself through martial arts!

Seeing that Father Fang still showed no reaction, the others thought they should continue persuading him.

"Old Fang, I'm serious. Don't let that boy of yours deceive you..."

At this moment, a voice suddenly came from behind.

"Dad, I've been looking for you for ages. I didn't expect you to be here. You should've already finished work, right? Why haven't you gone home yet?"

The person who had arrived was none other than Fang Chen.