On the Second Floor.
Li Xiuwen sneered. "Don't those rich boys and girls from outside The Enclave have their own Crossing River Association? Why come here and compete for our places?"
Chen Jia sighed. "They do, but the competition is fiercer there. The Enclave has more poor people, so fewer people practice martial arts."
"Doesn't the Learning Society do anything about people like that?" Li Xiuwen asked.
Chen Jia said, "Those outsiders spend lavishly. Their gifts to their new masters often cost a fortune. Half the Martial Arts Hall's income comes from them."
"Fair enough." Li Xiuwen stopped worrying about things that were none of his business. Competition for the Crossing River Association was fiercer than he had imagined.
"Junior brother, I'm heading to the Club." Chen Jia left for Hesheng Tu.
Li Xiuwen could see it now. Second-Floor Disciples seemed to enjoy a higher status, but in reality, they worked even more like beasts of burden.
They had glimpsed the hope of becoming powerful. With that goal in their hearts, they dared not slack off.
They were unlike the First-Floor Disciples, many of whom only wanted to train a little so street thugs would stop bullying them.
New to the Second Floor, Li Xiuwen felt at loose ends. While wandering around, he discovered a locked rosewood bookcase.
The cabinet door read: [Miscellaneous martial arts books. Borrowing fee: one yuan. Return within one day.]
Li Xiuwen immediately took an interest and put one yuan into the wooden box beside it.
Everyone knew Old Huang loved money as much as his own life. No one dared sneak a look without paying.
The key lay on the table. Li Xiuwen opened the cabinet.
"Record of Northern and Southern School Battle Methods, by Mr. Ming. A summary of decades of experience fighting opponents