Scouting Around

He entered Baishan District.

Most pedestrians wore shabby clothes, their faces yellow and bodies thin.

Songyi City was fairly stable, but most commoners were not well-off and could only barely scrape out a living.

Lin Zheyu wore a clean long robe, making him seem somewhat out of place here.

Evening was approaching, and many people were returning from work.

Lin Zheyu could see pedestrians in twos and threes, their gazes upon him somewhat unusual.

"I've watched this kid for days. His complexion's getting better and better. He must have gotten himself some benefits in the city."

Not far away, a man as skinny as a monkey said to his companion.

There were four of them, sitting on roadside stones and shooting the breeze while watching passersby.

"I know him. He's a refugee who came a while back. He's literate, so he was allowed into the city to work."

"I heard this kid came from a wealthy family in Jiunan City. Too bad Jiunan City was occupied by rebel troops, and he became a refugee."

"What money could a refugee have? I broke into the place he rents a few days ago. There was nothing there. He was cleaned out by robbers long before he got here."

Another companion curled his lip.

They were often especially bold with people like this—those without companions, all alone.

So long as no one died, the authorities generally did not bother to pursue the matter.

Even if someone did die, if no one stood up for you, perhaps nobody would even know. You could die without a sound.

"Damn it, what bad luck."

From afar, Lin Zheyu spotted the four men and inwardly cursed his bad luck.

These fellows were the local hooligans. They loafed around all day, doing nothing but petty theft and bullying the weak.

Lin Zheyu switched to another route from a distance, avoiding them as he walked.

With his slight frame, he could not withstand much rough treatment.

"Yo!"

"That kid's guilty. He's avoiding us—he might have something good on him!"

Their eyes lit up at the sight.

"Come on, let's go take a look."

The largest man said.

His name was Gao Yu. He stood one meter eighty-three tall and was twice Lin Zheyu's size.

They loved picking on cowards who were fearful and had no one to back them up.

"Kid, stop right there. What are you hiding from?" Gao Yu shouted at Lin Zheyu from afar.

Lin Zheyu stopped helplessly. Even avoiding them would not work?

"I've seen you heading into the city every day lately. Did you stumble upon some good opportunity? Why not give us brothers a hand too?"

Gao Yu said with a snicker.

His eyes swept over Lin Zheyu, sizing him up.

"What good opportunity could there be?"

"You know how hard it is to find work these days. I learned a little, so I wanted to make a living telling stories in the city. But my skills aren't good enough, and the crowds have been terribly sparse."

Lin Zheyu forced a bitter smile.

"You? Telling stories?"

"Hahaha!"

The men could not help bursting into laughter.

Skinny Monkey, however, kept studying Lin Zheyu before suddenly snatching the bag from his hand.

"Tsk, tsk. Looks like you did make a little money after all, buying meat and everything."

Skinny Monkey clicked his tongue with a grin.

The piece of meat was not large, just a small chunk streaked with fat and lean.

"My body has been weak lately, so I gritted my teeth and bought this tiny bit of meat. This is already everything I own."

Lin Zheyu turned out his empty pockets.

After being robbed last time, he had divided his money into several portions and hidden them in concealed places along the way.

A cunning rabbit had three burrows. Even if one hiding place was discovered, he still had silver hidden elsewhere.

The men looked at the thin Lin Zheyu and felt that he truly did not look like someone with money.

"Alright, get lost. Next time you see us, come over and greet us first, understand?" Gao Yu said, waving a hand.

"Yes, yes, I understand."

Lin Zheyu said, not mentioning the meat.

The situation was stronger than the man. With no relatives or companions, even if he was beaten, he would only suffer for nothing.

"Phew..."

Lin Zheyu let out a long breath and swallowed the bitterness in his heart.

The King of Hell was easy to meet; petty demons were hard to deal with.

When the situation was unfavorable, keeping a low profile and developing quietly was the hard truth.

"I'll move first thing tomorrow morning. Rent in the city is expensive, but at least public security is better than here."

Lin Zheyu pondered.

Order in the Inner City was far better than in the Outer City slums. Large and small gangs, along with the yamen constables, maintained order.

Those hooligans did not dare act recklessly. If caught, they could easily receive a vicious beating.

He returned home.

Lin Zheyu's stomach growled.

Tonight's meat dish had been snatched away, so he could only drink thin porridge.

After asking the aunt next door for some pickled vegetables, Lin Zheyu drank five large bowls of thin porridge in a row.

This was the time for his body to recover, so he needed to keep his nutrition up.

The next day, Lin Zheyu rose early.

After explaining the situation to his landlord, he left carrying a small bundle. He did not have much to pack.

"Morning, Steward Wu!"

Lin Zheyu arrived at Bidan Tea House.

It was early in the morning, and the tea house was very quiet.

"Huh, why did you come so early today?" Wu Yinghe asked curiously.

"Well, I'm planning to move somewhere else. The Outer City is too chaotic, and Baishan District is too uncomfortable to live in."

Lin Zheyu pointed at his bundle and asked, "Steward Wu, do you have any recommendations?"

"Baishan District truly isn't suitable for living."

Steward Wu nodded, pondered for a moment, then said, "I know several brokers. Some handle rental properties, and their prices are cheap."

"Then I'll trouble you, Steward Wu." Lin Zheyu said with a smile.

"Why be so polite between us?"

Steward Wu said with a smile.

Lin Zheyu was now his god of wealth.

After giving a few instructions, he personally took Lin Zheyu to find a place.

With Steward Wu's help, Lin Zheyu moved to a quiet place three streets away from Baiwei Street.

It was a small courtyard, five hundred copper coins a month—quite affordable.

A single small room would have been cheaper still, only two hundred copper coins.

The small courtyard was in a relatively secluded location, with few households nearby.

But that suited him perfectly.

He would certainly practice martial arts in the future. A secluded location was ideal, since he would not disturb the neighbors.

Baiwei Street.

At Qingsu Restaurant, Steward Wu was treating.

Qingsu Restaurant was a fairly famous restaurant on Baiwei Street. Not only were its prices reasonable, its food was also excellent.

Lin Zheyu had originally planned to treat Steward Wu to a meal in thanks, but Steward Wu refused no matter what, and in the end, he became the host instead.

"Little sir, do you still plan to pursue official honors in the future?"

Steward Wu asked, his eyes fixed intently on him.

This little sir was the tea house's god of wealth. Whether the tea house could remain this prosperous in the future depended on him.

If Lin Zheyu truly planned to continue pursuing official honors, then he would have no way to tell stories at their tea house.

"No."

"With my current circumstances, regaining a recommendation and obtaining the qualifications to sit for the examinations would not be easy."

"Besides, earning official honors is far too difficult."

Lin Zheyu shook his head.

After arriving in Songyi City, he had reapplied for a temporary identity plaque and been registered under temporary collective household records.

With such temporary collective household records, obtaining the qualifications to pursue official honors was troublesome. He needed to find a clan willing to take him in, settle his student registration anew, or earn the favor of an important figure.

Phew...

Steward Wu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Little sir, your stories are so wonderful. I believe it won't be many years before you become a storyteller known in every household throughout Songyi City."

Steward Wu flattered him.

"May your words come true!"

Lin Zheyu said with a smile.

The two ate and chatted. After taking a few bites to fill his stomach, Lin Zheyu brought up the real matter.

"Steward Wu, do you know any experienced masters who teach martial arts?"

"Little sir, are you planning to practice martial arts?" Steward Wu asked in surprise.

"Yes, I want to learn some martial arts for self-protection."

"You know, I'm making my way alone in Songyi City, with no relatives by my side. It's easy for petty scoundrels to bully me."

"I figured I'd be better off learning some martial arts to protect myself." Lin Zheyu said.

"Indeed."

Steward Wu nodded in agreement.

The legal system in this world was not as complete as in his previous life. The authorities were not very effective, and many matters among the people were handled by the gentry and clans themselves.

People like Lin Zheyu, alone and without relatives behind them as support, often could only become targets for bullying.

"If you want to learn martial arts, I do know someone. You've met this person before."

Steward Wu said with a smile.