Joining (Part 2)

"No need to be so polite."

"Put away that scholar act; we martial artists don't care for so many formalities."

"Right, look at my memory. You lad value silver the most, and I almost forgot to mention it."

Xu Jingwu laughed.

Back then, when he had Jia Yanyong invite Lin Zheyu to tell stories, the lad had refused simply because he wasn't offering any pay.

"Ha, ha..."

Lin Zheyu laughed, feeling a bit awkward.

He had held a preconceived notion that anyone involved with gangs couldn't be a good person.

Coupled with the fact that Jia Yanyong said there was no pay, Lin Zheyu's impression had been even worse, so he refused on the spot.

Who asks someone to tell stories without offering payment?

However, as they interacted, Lin Zheyu discovered that Xu Jingwu wasn't the fierce, villainous thug he had imagined.

Xu Jingwu gave off a refined and easygoing vibe, and he was extremely generous with his money.

Just a moment ago, Lin Zheyu saw him tip the opera singer a tael of silver just because he was in a good mood.

He figured that if he had agreed back then and told stories that satisfied Xu Jingwu, he could have earned quite a bit in tips as well.

"Your strength is a bit higher than Jia Yanyong and the others, but since you haven't made any contributions yet, the silver I'm giving you will be the same as theirs: five taels of silver per month. How does that sound?"

Xu Jingwu said.

An ordinary underling usually made about 1,300 copper coins a month.

Those with stronger skills, like Jia Yanyong and Xie Jiang, could earn five taels a month.

"Mm, I'm already very satisfied with five taels of silver."

Lin Zheyu said with a smile, then added jokingly, "But if the Gang Leader wants to hear stories next time, you'll still need to pay extra for the labor."

"Hahaha!"

"I will, I certainly will."

"It's a deal, and I'll even reward you handsomely!"

Xu Jingwu laughed heartily.

Lin Zheyu stayed to watch one more play with Gang Leader Xu before leaving.

Gang Leader Xu was a very busy man; he had an afternoon garden stroll scheduled with Miss Wang and Miss Chen, and an evening arranged at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion.

His daily life was busy, fulfilling, and yet remarkably simple.

Baiwei Street.

Honglai Restaurant.

Jia Yanyong, Xie Jiang, and Lin Zheyu sat at a table together.

"Come, I'll toast Brother Lin a bowl to welcome him to the Flying Rainbow Gang," Xie Jiang said, raising his wine bowl.

Lin Zheyu picked up his bowl, clinked it against Xie Jiang's, and downed it in one gulp.

He refilled his bowl and said to Jia Yanyong, "I'll toast Brother Yong a bowl. From now on, we're brothers, and all past grievances are wiped clean."

"Haha, it was my fault before; this bowl should be me toasting you!" Jia Yanyong laughed heartily. When it came to being a brother, he was a man of his word.

The two clinked bowls and downed the wine in one go.

After a few bowls of wine, the atmosphere livened up.

"After we finish eating, I'll take you to meet the other brothers," Jia Yanyong said.

"I have to tell stories later, so let's make it tonight," Lin Zheyu replied.

He could earn six or seven taels of silver a month telling stories, which was no small amount, so he didn't plan on giving it up just yet.

"That works out perfectly. Many of the brothers enjoy listening to your stories too, so we can all gather at the Bidan Tea House then," Xie Jiang said with a smile.

After they were wined and dined, Jia Yanyong picked up the tab.

From the conversations with Jia Yanyong and Xie Jiang, Lin Zheyu gained a deeper understanding of the Flying Rainbow Gang.

The Flying Rainbow Gang had many experts; there were over thirty martial artists at the Bone Forging Realm like Lin Zheyu, and about twenty at the peak of the Bone Forging Realm.

There were eight at the Organ Refining Realm, two of whom had reached the peak of that realm.

Once one reached the Organ Refining Realm, they were considered a top-tier expert in Songyi City, earning at least fifteen taels of silver per month.

Above the Organ Refining Realm was a Blood Energy expert, and that was Gang Leader Xu.

It was extremely difficult for ordinary people to practice martial arts; having outstanding talent alone was not enough.

Every day, one must not only spend a vast amount of time training but also have enough silver to support it; the expenses involved are truly staggering.

Therefore, those who achieve success in cultivation are mostly from well-off backgrounds.

And people with substantial family wealth rarely join gangs.

Thus, Jia Yanyong, Xie Jiang, and Lin Zheyu are considered quite capable hands within the Flying Rainbow Gang.

Arriving at Bidan Tea House.

Lin Zheyu stepped onto the storytelling stage and scanned the audience, spotting many familiar faces.

That new top donor was there as well.

This wealthy young master passing through Songyi City was incredibly generous with his money.

It was a pity that ever since he tipped one tael of silver last time to make Lin Zheyu tell an extra segment, he hadn't tipped that much again.

Each time, he would only tip around one hundred copper coins.

Still, that was not bad at all.

"Last time, we left off with Huang Rong using gourmet food to entice Hong Qigong, finally getting him to agree to guide Guo Jing..."

Lin Zheyu spoke fluently on stage, and the audience below listened, completely enthralled.

As the plot unfolded, the story became increasingly exciting.

"That was told so well!"

"Brother, let's stay a while longer before we leave."

Lu Zhenfang listened to the storytelling, feeling a bit reluctant to leave.

Compared to Baohe City, Songyi City was not as bustling.

But the stories told in Songyi City were absolutely brilliant!

In Songyi City, Lu Zhenfang had become obsessed with the tales of fox spirits and scholars at Yixiang Tea House, as well as the passionate martial arts world at Bidan Tea House.

In Baohe City, she could never hear such exciting and fresh stories; they were all old and stale.

"Uncle's business is almost finished. We have to leave in four days at most. If we delay any longer, we'll get scolded by Uncle," Lu Qihui said helplessly.

He didn't want to set off so soon either; he wanted to play in Songyi City for a few more days.

Once they set off, the journey would be long, and they would be traveling for another month or so.

Sleeping in the open and eating in the wind—that kind of life was extremely miserable.

"I'll send an invitation to Mr. Lin later, asking him to come with us so the road won't be too dull."

"Will he really agree?"

Lu Zhenfang was worried; in this era, few people were willing to leave their hometowns.

The reason they were leaving Baohe City was out of necessity; the rebel army was not far from there.

If they conquered two more cities, they would head straight for Baohe City.

For the sake of safety, the Lu family had already sent most of their clansmen ahead to scout the path, and they were part of the second group.

"He will."

"I heard that Mr. Lin's hometown isn't Songyi City; he fled here as a refugee from Jiunan City."

"He has no relatives or connections here. As long as the pay is good, why wouldn't he tell stories anywhere else?"

Lu Qihui was full of confidence.

He wasn't worried at all that Lin Zheyu wouldn't want to hit the road with them.

How much money could one make telling stories in Songyi City for a month?

With daily wages and tips, at most it would be five hundred copper coins, totaling about ten taels of silver a month.

He didn't believe that if he offered twenty taels of silver, the other party would be reluctant to leave Songyi City.

After finishing the story.

Just as Lin Zheyu stepped off the stage, Steward Wu walked over.

"Mr. Lin, a guest says they would like to meet you."

"I won't see them."

Lin Zheyu refused immediately.

Lately, more and more people wanted to see him, and he was getting a bit annoyed.

"The other party is very sincere; they gave one tael of silver."

Steward Wu took out a piece of silver and handed it over. "I thought that for the sake of the silver, you might be willing to meet them, so I went ahead and agreed on your behalf."

"This guy is quite sensible, isn't he?"

"Then let us meet."

Lin Zheyu took the silver and grinned.

He liked these kinds of fellows who knew how to handle things; they were sensible.

When it came to social graces, Jia Yanyong was far inferior.

If Jia Yanyong had been more polite and sincere in his speech back then, and had explained clearly that although he wouldn't pay, a good word would lead to a larger reward from Gang Leader Xu.

Then so many things wouldn't have happened later on.

Guided by Steward Wu, he met the other party, who was the generous young master that had tipped him one tael of silver earlier.

"I am Lin Zheyu, greetings to you all."

Lin Zheyu cupped his hands toward the group and said with a beaming smile.

Those who pay are the masters.

As long as they were willing to spend money, Lin Zheyu was very enthusiastic and easy to talk to.

"I am Lu Qihui, and this is my younger sister, Lu Zhenfang."

"Master Lin is truly a great talent to be able to write such a brilliant and stirring story as Legend of the Condor Heroes!" Lu Qihui praised.

"Not at all, you flatter me, young master."