Settling Down in the Prefectural City

Hearing this, Zhou Ye finally understood. Since ordinary people lived in deep waters and scorching flames, faced with the gangs' oppression, the only thing they could do was band together to survive. If they could not rely on their clans or fellow townsmen, they had to join some gang.

So it was true that the wisdom of the working people was boundless.

In the end, this rather absurd situation emerged—since your gangs wanted to oppress us common folk, then us common folk would simply all join gangs.

That way, since everyone was gang-affiliated, who was afraid of whom?

In the end, it formed a bizarre balance. After commoners paid protection money to their own gangs, they could at least keep surviving.

Thus, for the common people at the bottom, becoming an outer member was the norm. Those who joined no gang at all were instead rather rare.

Come to think of it, the gangs were willing too! At the very least, it meant another source of income. Take the Woodcutter Gang—its monthly protection fees alone amounted to several thousand taels. As for needing the gang to step in? That cost extra! Which meant yet another source of income.

As for wanting to join the core members? What sweet dream were you having?

Not only did core members not need to pay protection fees, they also had to be assigned work. Were there that many jobs? So they not only had to dare to fight and struggle, but also had to withstand the Woodcutter Gang's long-term tests.

But core members also had to charge into battle for the Woodcutter Gang. They were the real thugs. To put it more plainly, outer members did not really count. The Woodcutter Gang's true core fighting force was these three thousand-odd core members!

At this moment, Zhou Ye listened with great interest, feeling as though he were studying History of Gang Evolution.

Putting that aside for now, after finding the broker surnamed Wang, Zhou Ye discovered that he was actually an official broker. In other words, he was a broker registered with the authorities and was relatively trustworthy.

Broker Wang asked with a smile, "Brother Zhou, do you want to live in the outer city or outside the city?"

"Hmm?"

Seeing Zhou Ye's blank look, Broker Wang continued explaining, "Our prefectural city is divided into the inner city, outer city, and outside the city. The inner city is where the wealthy and noble live. Not only is the rent high, but you also need a certain status. The outer city is the area between the city walls and the inner city. The authorities maintain public order there, so it is relatively safe. Outside the city, the rent is cheaper, but it is comparatively chaotic."

Broker Wang stopped there.

After a slight hesitation, Zhou Ye decided it was better not to flaunt his wealth. That would not suit his identity as a "mountain savage," either. Besides, without city walls, he had nothing tying him down. No matter how chaotic it was, if something happened, could he not just run?

"Outside the city, then."

"What requirements do you have for the house?"

"The living quarters need not be fancy, but the courtyard should be a little larger. Preferably a standalone residence. It will be convenient for storing mountain goods in the future." After all, only a larger courtyard would meet his needs, and he could practice martial skills there later.

"Alright!"

It had to be said that Broker Wang was quite professional. When they arrived at the first house for rent, Zhou Ye took a liking to it at first glance.

The house's orientation truly was not very good, and as for the environment outside... better left unmentioned. But the courtyard was spacious enough. Moreover, the neighbors would not disturb this place.

"Old Wang, this one."

"Fine! If you rent it by the year, it'll be ten taels of silver, plus two taels as commission. Give me your identity certificate, and I'll handle the contract deed and register it with the authorities. As for the commission, pay it after you receive the contract deed."

"Identity certificate?" Zhou Ye suddenly heard a new term.

Broker Wang and Big Dog could not help exchanging glances. He asked in surprise, "So you're unregistered?"

Fortunately, Big Dog explained from the side, "Old Wang, do me a favor. Give me some face. From now on, he'll be one of our Woodcutter Gang."

Broker Wang frowned slightly. "This isn't a matter of giving face. I can indeed help arrange household registration. But this is very troublesome, and I'll need to grease palms all the way through the yamen. Brother Zhou, no bargaining—ten taels! Do you have it?"

At that moment, Zhou Ye had already been riding a tiger and could not get off. Still, his unregistered status had to be resolved sooner or later. He did not mind revealing a little wealth, so Zhou Ye said, "Old Wang, I really don't have much left on me, and I still need to buy quite a few things. Could you make it a little cheaper?"

"It really can't be any cheaper. If you don't believe me, you can ask around outside. Look, every year quite a few refugees come to settle in our prefectural city, and they all have to register their household with the yamen. Otherwise, they're unregistered. That's why there are more and more people outside the city. Ask anyone you like—this is the going rate."

Big Dog also urged him from the side, "Brother Zhou, Old Wang is genuinely helping you. Besides, if you're lucky enough to come across precious herbs or wild beasts, wouldn't a few trips into the mountains earn it back?"

Zhou Ye could not help but smile bitterly. "To be honest with you both, I'm timid. I only dare chop wood around the outskirts. I want to get rich too, but I don't have the ability. Forget it. I'll just make a few more trips into the mountains lately!"

Amid laughter, Zhou Ye first paid twenty taels of silver. He and Broker Wang agreed that the contract deed, household registration, and identity certificate would take around ten days to process. So they would remain with Broker Wang for now, and Zhou Ye would collect them after returning from the mountains.

Besides that, Zhou Ye gave each of them one tael in broken silver and a wild chicken as thanks. He also agreed to join the Woodcutter Gang immediately.

It was only an identity, anyway. He would not go around doing those blackhearted things gangsters did. In the end, he was still just a poor, suffering commoner.

After putting away the money, Broker Wang bade farewell in high spirits.

Big Dog was delighted as well. He introduced Zhou Ye to a nearby butcher shop. The butcher shop's owner was also an outer member of the Woodcutter Gang. His name was Old Gao, and he took the remaining three wild chickens.

Because they had spent the whole winter keeping warm indoors and were fed every day without lack, these wild chickens had all grown plump, each weighing a little over two jin. In the end, all of them were sold to Old Gao at fifty coins each. Zhou Ye received one hundred and fifty coins.

Half an hour later, Big Dog emerged from one of the Woodcutter Gang's halls and smilingly handed Zhou Ye a wooden token. A black character for "Woodcutter" was engraved on it.

Big Dog said, "Brother Zhou..."

"You're being too polite. Just call me Little Zhou or Ah Ye."

"Alright. Ah Ye. Keep this wooden token safe. From now on, you belong to our Azure Character Hall. Remember this well: the incense master of our Azure Character Hall is Brother Jiao. I'm Brother Jiao's man too, so from now on, you'll follow me. If anything happens, give them Big Dog's name."

"Understood, understood."

"Also, I know mountain folk like you are all ruthless people. If you weren't vicious and fierce, you couldn't survive in the mountains. So if you perform well, I can recommend you to Brother Jiao. Maybe you'll become one of the gang's brothers in the future." As he spoke, Big Dog flaunted a copper token of his own.

So outer members carried wooden tokens, core members carried copper tokens, and mid-to-high-ranking members of the Woodcutter Gang like Brother Jiao carried silver tokens. Only the Woodcutter Gang's leader and elders held gold tokens.

But Zhou Ye completely ignored Big Dog's words.

"Definitely, definitely! Thank you for your help, Brother Big Dog!"

"Hehe."