The choice

The offer Shopkeeper Wang of the Yam Herb Shop made was generous indeed.

A monthly salary of six taels of silver, plus a dose of Blood-Qi Powder worth another two taels on the market.

In addition, Lu Chen would receive a thirty-percent discount on all medicinal ingredients he bought from the Yam Herb Shop for his martial training.

When those terms were laid out, even Chen Chong, listening nearby, could not help raising his eyebrows, let alone Lu Chen.

"Shopkeeper Wang really is digging deep this time."

The martial path was not just about training, but nourishment as well.

Blood and qi never sprang from thin air.

Tempering the muscles and bones and circulating blood and qi every day took an enormous toll. Without medicinal soups, meat, and nourishing powders, the harder one trained, the more depleted one's body became.

Why did ordinary outer-courtyard disciples take so long to break through?

It was not because they lacked talent, nor because they did not work hard enough.

Often, they had no money for medicine or meat, and simply could not build up their blood and qi.

A thirty-percent discount on medicinal ingredients might seem like nothing more than spending thirty percent less silver, but over time, it would save Lu Chen a considerable sum.

Lu Chen naturally understood that.

The Huang Family's offer was certainly tempting, and they were a major Lineage in the county town. As the saying went, a great tree offered ample shade.

But even a small courtyard residence in town cost at least a hundred taels.

Although the Huang Family could advance half the purchase price, he would still have to pay the other half himself.

That would be around fifty taels.

He had only just broken through and did not have a penny to his name. If he took on a debt to the Huang Family just to buy a house, it might look as though he had stepped straight into town, but in truth, there would already be a rope around his neck.

I can't rush bringing Father and Mother into town.

Lu Chen thought to himself.

First, I need to save money and get a firm footing.

The Yam Herb Shop's offer may not sound as impressive as the Huang Family's, but everything they're offering is something I can actually get my hands on.

Silver, Blood-Qi Powder, and a discount on medicinal ingredients.

Those were exactly what he needed right now.

Lu Chen made up his mind to join the Yam Herb Shop.

Still, he did not agree immediately.

He had thought of Senior Brother Chen Chong and his family.

If not for the two taels of silver the Chen Family had provided earlier, allowing him to drink a bowl of Tiger-Bone Body-Strengthening Soup every day that month, he might not have reached minor mastery in the Azure Dragon Through-the-Arms Fist so quickly, nor ridden that momentum into the Blood-Moving Realm.

He had never forgotten that kindness.

Lu Chen turned to Chen Chong and said quietly, "Senior Brother Chen, about taking an affiliated post... I'd like to ask you something."

Chen Chong glanced at him, realizing that Lu Chen might be having trouble deciding and wanted to discuss it with him.

"Come on. Let's talk over there."

The two stepped back a few paces, away from the eyes of Wang Shouyi, Han Qi, and the others.

Lu Chen pondered for a moment before saying, "Senior Brother Chen, I've already accepted your family's support. If I turn around and take an affiliated post at Wang's Ginseng Shop now, would that..."

Before he could finish, Chen Chong raised a hand to stop him.

"Junior Brother Lu, if that's what's troubling you, there's no need to worry."

Chen Chong looked at Lu Chen with a smile.

"My family didn't give you those two taels to tie you down."

"We wanted to make a friend of you."

Those words eased the tension in Lu Chen's heart.

After all, the Chen Family certainly could not match the Yam Herb Shop's offer, leaving Lu Chen caught between gratitude and his future.

Chen Chong continued, "If you couldn't find a suitable place today, my family would naturally welcome you to take an affiliated post with us. But the terms Wang's Ginseng Shop is offering really do suit you better."

"They can give you discounts on medicinal ingredients and provide Blood-Qi Powder. Those are the things you need most right now."

Lu Chen said quietly, "Without the silver your family gave me, I might not have broken through so soon. Perhaps I would have..."

Chen Chong shook his head. "That was then. This is now."

"Helping you is one thing. Blocking your path to earning money is another."

His tone grew more earnest. "Junior Brother Lu, a martial artist needs both silver and medicinal ingredients to cultivate. You come from a mountain village, and you still have your parents to look after. Our family certainly won't make you throw away such a good opportunity."

Lu Chen looked at Chen Chong, deeply moved.

He had assumed that if he chose the Yam Herb Shop, the Chen Family would be at least somewhat displeased.

Yet nothing in Chen Chong's words suggested he meant to use their kindness to demand repayment.

Chen Chong patted his shoulder and added, "Besides, our family will continue supporting you."

Lu Chen's head snapped up. "What?"

Chen Chong smiled. "My father has already decided to pay you four taels a month from now on."

"But..."

Lu Chen was momentarily stunned.

The two taels a month the Chen Family had previously provided had already filled him with gratitude.

Now they were doubling it outright.

Moreover, Chen Chong's words carried no demand that he do anything for the Chen Family in return.

Lu Chen could not help saying, "Senior Brother Chen, that wouldn't be right. If I take an affiliated post at the Yam Herb Shop and still accept your family's silver..."

"What wouldn't be right about it?"

Chen Chong interrupted him, his tone relaxed but firm.

"Wang's Ginseng Shop is hiring you for your status as a martial artist and the work you'll do for them in the future."

"Our family is paying you because we believe in you as a person and want to sow the seeds of goodwill early."

He paused, then smiled. "Besides, we're fellow disciples to begin with. If I ask you for help someday, would you refuse?"

Lu Chen immediately replied, "Of course not."

"There you go, then."

Chen Chong said, "My father is a businessman. He's shrewder than either of us. If he's willing to pay, he has his reasons. If you really feel indebted, just train hard. Once you become a true expert, our family will bask in your glory too."

Filled with gratitude, Lu Chen solemnly clasped his fist toward Chen Chong. "Thank you, Senior Brother Chen."

Chen Chong stopped him. "We're brothers of the same school. Keep treating me like an outsider, and I really will get angry."

Lu Chen solemnly promised, "Right now, I have nothing with which to repay the Chen Family."

"But if you ever need anything in the future, Senior Brother, I'll do everything I can, so long as it doesn't go against my conscience."

Seeing his earnest expression, Chen Chong had been about to make a joke, but swallowed it before it left his lips.

He nodded with a smile. "All right. With that promise, I'll have something to tell my father when I get home."

Then Chen Chong tilted his head toward Wang Shouyi, who was waiting in the courtyard. "Go on. Shopkeeper Wang has nearly dug into his coffin fund to secure you today. Don't keep him waiting too long."

A smile appeared on Lu Chen's face. "All right."

The two returned to stand before the others.

Seeing Lu Chen return, Wang Shouyi hurriedly asked, "Lu Chen, have you made your decision?"

Lu Chen looked at him and clasped his fist. "Thank you for your generous regard, Shopkeeper Wang. I'm willing to take an affiliated post at the Yam Herb Shop."

Joy immediately spread across Wang Shouyi's face.

"Good! Good!"

He said it twice in succession, as though a great stone had finally been lifted from his heart.

Chen Chong added from beside them, "Shopkeeper Wang, every term you just offered needs to go into the contract."

Wang Shouyi immediately replied, "Of course! Six taels a month, one dose of Blood-Qi Powder, and thirty percent off medicinal ingredients. I'll write every last one into it."

Lu Chen nodded.

At that moment, he suddenly felt a sense of solid reassurance.

Six taels from the Yam Herb Shop, and four from the Chen Family.

Together, that made ten taels of silver a month, already matching the monthly salary the Huang Family had offered Shi Hao.

Since transmigrating into this world, Lu Chen had never had so much money.

It feels so good to have money! Lu Chen sighed inwardly.

Seeing that Lu Chen had ultimately chosen Wang's Ginseng Shop, Huang Jue snapped his folding fan shut with a crack, a cold glint surfacing in his eyes.

"A mud-legged peasant through and through. A poor man with a narrow outlook."

He sneered, his voice brimming with contempt. "Lu Chen, you turned away from the Huang Family's door today. If you want to come through it later, it won't be so easy."

With that, he swept his sleeve and left.