The Fate of a Family Heirloom

Sixty silver dollars.

That price.

It was roughly several months' income for an ordinary rickshaw puller. But income did not equal savings. Scraping out a living in the high-priced concessions, ordinary laborers at the bottom rung might not save up that sum even after seven or eight years of pinching pennies.

That was the helplessness of those at the bottom. Their income basically equaled their expenses; once illness or some other accident struck, they might even end up saddled with debt.

If it had been the old Jiang Jingnian, even though he earned more than an ordinary rickshaw puller, he would still have needed another month to save up, then leverage small sums to borrow several loans before he could possibly scrape together those sixty silver dollars.

But now that he had become an escort master.

His status and standing had instantly become worlds apart.

Not only had the bookstore owner's manner become extremely friendly, Jiang Jingnian's money pouch now held a considerable amount of disposable income as well.

Jiang Jingnian pondered for a moment, then nodded. Stepping over the threshold, he walked deeper into the bookstore. "All right, but I need to confirm the phonograph's condition first."

"That won't be a problem."

Seeing how straightforward he was, the bookstore owner did not waste words.

He merely turned and went to the sales counter, then carried over the phonograph displayed on the low shelf behind it and set it directly on the counter.

After fiddling with it a couple of times, the record inside began to turn slowly.

A somewhat melodious woman's voice flowed from the phonograph, echoing continuously through the bookstore.

"I can't give you the record, though. This is Zhou Xiangyu's Drunken Wind Fragrance, released by Pathé Company three years ago. It's out of print now."

The bookstore owner pointed at the record as though displaying a treasure, then added, "Well? My phonograph is good quality, isn't it? I've had it for two or three years now. I'm rather reluctant to sell it to you, so I hope you'll treat it well from now on."

He had bought it secondhand for sixty-eight silver dollars.

So selling it on to Jiang Jingnian for only sixty silver dollars was an extremely reasonable price.

After all, even within the concessions, such imported goods from the Western Ocean remained precious because they were scarce, no matter how many hands they had passed through.

"Of course. Something this expensive, I'll definitely take good care of it."

"From now on, this phonograph will be one of my family heirlooms."

Jiang Jingnian could not hide the delight on his face as he looked at the trait entries appearing on the phonograph.

Seeing the treasure-like look in his eyes, the bookstore owner nodded in great relief.

This little brother Jiang truly was a fellow enthusiast.

People who loved musical arts never had terribly bad luck. Even someone from the bottom rung could turn their life around like little brother Jiang.

Once he had confirmed there were no issues, Jiang Jingnian pulled out his money pouch from his clothes and took several dozen silver dollars from it. "Count them."

The bookstore owner looked at his bulging money pouch and secretly clicked his tongue. He had climbed out from the bottom rung at such a young age. The owner hurriedly counted the silver coins on the counter.

He picked up several of them, flicked them lightly with his fingers, then held them beside his ear to listen. "No problem. Money and goods are both settled. The phonograph is yours now, but you must take good care of it when you get home. It's a precious thing."

"No problem."

Jiang Jingnian nodded solemnly.

Then, carrying the phonograph packed inside its cardboard box, he returned all the way to the apartment courtyard beside the escort agency.

The escort agency provided free double rooms for its apprentices and runners. Servants could live there too, but they had to pay two and a half silver dollars in rent each month, and could only stay in six-man communal bunks.

Even so, it was better than the room layouts in those slums, and the environment was far safer.

As for escort masters, they generally did not live in the escort agency's apartment courtyard. After all, after only a few years in the trade, an escort master's status and income were enough to buy a residence in Miqiao District.

After all, as an administrative district controlled by Chen State, housing in Miqiao District cost only around one-fifth as much as in the concessions.

Of course, Jiang Jingnian had only just entered the trade and had nowhere else to go, so the escort agency assigned him a room in the apartment courtyard as a place to stay.

"Greetings, Escort Master Jiang!"

"Hello!"

After entering the apartment courtyard, Jiang Jingnian encountered servants and apprentices going up and down the stairs from time to time. All of them greeted him respectfully when they saw him.

Of course, several young people brushed past Jiang Jingnian with cold expressions.

They had all passed the escort agency's assessment a few days ago and had entered at roughly the same time as Jiang Jingnian.

"This man isn't even a Martial Master yet. What right does he have to snatch my elder brother's escort master slot?"

A youth dressed in a white short martial outfit watched Jiang Jingnian's retreating figure as he went upstairs, his face full of indignation.

The number of escort masters the agency could certify each month was limited.

For a medium-sized escort agency like Tongda Escort Agency, the Foreign Ministry of Industry only granted one escort master slot per month. Any more than that had to wait in line until the following month. They had truly pushed the Martial Restriction Order to its utmost limit.

These regulations that restricted people at every turn.

At first, they had naturally provoked great dissatisfaction among martial artists. But after several rounds of suppression, the martial halls, sects, escort agencies, gangs, and other civilian organizations involving martial artists that remained were all obedient now, daring to rage but not to speak.

Or perhaps they had simply grown accustomed to it.

The rules set by the foreigners no longer drew public protest from the martial community, but internal conflicts had only grown fiercer.

Because resources were limited.

Take the escort master slots at this agency, for example.

The moment Jiang Jingnian arrived, he merely exchanged a few moves with Escort Master Yu before Duan Escort Chief directly appointed him a new escort master. He did not even need to begin as a runner.

Naturally, this displeased some people whose interests were involved.

"The escort agency said Jiang Jingnian has excellent talent for martial arts and will soon advance to Martial Master, so they gave him the slot early."

"If you ask me, Duan Escort Chief must have taken some benefit. Everyone knows that between a Quasi-Martial Master and a Martial Master, there seems to be only a thin line, but in truth they are as different as heaven and earth. My elder brother reached the Qi-Blood Apex two months ago, yet even now he hasn't broken through the Blood Tempering Aperture."

"Brother Qian, when it concerns the escort chief, you should watch your words. Don't bring trouble to your elder brother."

The young woman beside him, ordinary-looking but powerfully built, repeatedly shook her head and stopped the youth surnamed Qian from continuing his complaints.

"Hah! At the meeting two days from now, my elder brother will definitely challenge this so-called 'good seedling.' I refuse to believe that a rickshaw puller by birth can compare with wealthy families like ours, who have practiced martial arts since childhood."

"No matter how extravagantly they boast, it doesn't count. The truth must be sought through real skill. Otherwise, if he becomes the escort master leading us on assignments, I'll be the first to refuse."

The youth surnamed Qian came from a wealthy family in a county below Peace City. He naturally carried a measure of arrogance toward people from the bottom rung.

The several young people beside him all wore different expressions, but their eyes held a hint of anticipation for a good show.

Most young martial artists loved courage and combat. What they valued was hot blood and pressing onward without retreat.

Jiang Jingnian knew absolutely nothing about the discussion behind his back, nor was he interested in knowing.

He had merely returned to his room, holding the phonograph he had just bought, his gaze blazing as though he were looking at a treasure.

"Fine treasure, truly a fine treasure!"

The smile on Jiang Jingnian's face could no longer be concealed as he slowly extended both hands.

His palms pressed against the phonograph's wooden casing.

Crack—

The [Taotie] trait activated instantly, thoroughly refining this "family heirloom" he had only just acquired.

Not even a speck of ash remained.