The Fate of a Family Heirloom

Sixty silver dollars.

That price...

was about several months' income for an ordinary rickshaw puller. Yet income did not equal savings. Making a living in the high-priced concessions, an ordinary laborer at the bottom of society might not save up that sum even after seven or eight years of scrimping and saving.

That was the helplessness of those at the bottom. Income basically equaled expenses. Once illness or some other accident struck, they might even end up saddled with debt.

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

But now that he had become an escort...

His status and standing were instantly worlds apart.

Not only had the bookstore owner's manner become exceedingly friendly, but Jiang Jingnian's money pouch had also gained a considerable amount of disposable income.

Jiang Jingnian pondered for a moment, then nodded. Stepping over the threshold, he walked deeper into the bookstore. "Fine, but I still need to confirm that the Phonograph works properly."

"That won't be a problem."

Seeing how straightforward the other party was, the bookstore owner did not waste any words.

He merely turned and went to the sales counter, then carried over the Phonograph sitting on the low shelf behind it and placed it directly on the counter.

After fiddling with it twice, the record inside began to turn slowly.

A somewhat melodious female voice drifted out from the Phonograph, echoing continuously through the bookstore.

"You can't have the record. 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 presenting a treasure, then said, "Well? My Phonograph is good quality, isn't it? I've had it for two or three years now. It pains me a little to sell it to you, so I hope you'll treat it well in the future."

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

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

After all, even within the concessions, such imported Western goods 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 surfacing on the Phonograph.

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

This young Brother Jiang truly was a kindred spirit.

People who loved musical art were never terribly unlucky. Even someone from the bottom rung could turn their life around like young Brother Jiang.

After confirming everything was in order, Jiang Jingnian took out his money pouch from his clothes and pulled out several dozen silver dollars. "Count them."

Looking at the bulging money pouch, the bookstore owner secretly clicked his tongue. This young man had already climbed out of the bottom rung at such an age. He hurriedly counted the silver dollars on the counter.

He picked up several coins, lightly flicked them with his fingers, then held them to his ear to listen. "No problem. Money and goods are settled. This Phonograph is yours now. Take good care of it when you get back; this is a precious thing."

"No problem."

Jiang Jingnian nodded with a solemn expression.

Then, carrying the Phonograph packed in its paper box, he returned all the way to the courtyard residence beside the escort agency.

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

Even so, it was still better laid out than the rooms in the slums, and the environment was far safer.

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

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

Naturally, Jiang Jingnian had only just entered the trade and had nowhere else to go, so the escort agency assigned him a room in the courtyard residence as a temporary foothold.

"Escort Jiang, hello!"

"Hello!"

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

Naturally, a few young people also brushed past Jiang Jingnian with cold expressions.

They had all passed the escort agency's assessment a few days earlier 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 position?"

A youth dressed in white short martial clothes watched Jiang Jingnian's retreating figure ascend the stairs, his face full of indignation.

The number of escorts 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 slot per month. Any additional ones had to wait until the next month. The Martial Restriction Order had truly been enforced to the utmost.

Such rules and regulations that restricted people at every turn...

had naturally caused great dissatisfaction among martial artists at first. Yet after several rounds of suppression, the surviving private organizations involving martial artists—martial halls, schools, escort agencies, gangs, and the like—had all become obedient, daring to be angry but not daring to speak.

Or perhaps they had simply grown used to it.

The rules set by the foreigners no longer drew public complaints from martial artists, but internal conflicts only grew fiercer.

Because resources were limited.

Take the escort positions at this agency, for instance.

Jiang Jingnian had only exchanged a few moves with Escort Yu after arriving, yet Chief Escort Duan directly appointed him a new escort. He did not even need to start as a runner.

That naturally stirred dissatisfaction among some people whose interests were involved.

"The agency said Jiang Jingnian is a promising martial arts talent who will soon advance to Martial Master, so they gave him the slot in advance."

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

"Brother Qian, when it concerns Chief Escort Duan, you should watch your words. Don't cause trouble for your elder brother."

The plain-looking, sturdily built young woman beside him repeatedly shook her head, stopping the surname-Qian youth from continuing his complaints.

"Hah! At the regular meeting two days from now, my elder brother will definitely challenge this 'promising talent.' I refuse to believe that someone born a rickshaw puller can compare to great families like ours, who have practiced martial arts since childhood!"

"No matter how good he really is, boasting until the sky is strewn with flowers doesn't count. The truth has to be seen beneath one's fists. Otherwise, if he becomes the escort leading us on assignments, I'll be the first to refuse."

The surname-Qian youth came from a wealthy family in a county beneath Peace City. He was instinctively somewhat arrogant toward people born at the bottom of society.

The few young people beside him wore varying expressions, but each of their eyes held a trace of anticipation for a good show.

Most young martial artists were fond of bravery and fighting. What they prized was hot-blooded vigor and charging forward without hesitation.

Jiang Jingnian knew nothing at all about the talk 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.

"Good treasure, truly a good treasure!"

Then Jiang Jingnian could no longer hide the smile on his face and slowly extended both hands.

His palms pressed against the Phonograph's outer casing.

Smack—

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

Not even a speck of ash remained.