President Qian truly wielded considerable influence in these parts. Once he made the arrangements, everyone from top to bottom complied, and soon, as quietly as rain nourishing all things, they had taken charge of Li Chen's food, clothing, lodging, and transportation.
When Li Chen woke up, he discovered that he could now eat and stay here for free, and even had two charming maidservants at his beck and call. He could not help feeling surprised.
But on closer thought, President Qian Wanli, who had risen to become the head of the Merchants' Association, could hardly be a simple man who knew nothing but fawning.
He's humbling himself before me because he wants something. If I really let him win me over and corrupt me, I'll probably end up just like those Rogue Cultivators.
Only then did Li Chen begin to dimly grasp why He Ran had taken him to meet those people.
I have my own hands and feet. I can earn my own living. Am I really going to let him keep me until I turn into some greasy Rogue Cultivator who drinks and plays cards all day?
Li Chen still did not know what sort of person President Qian truly was, so he could not fairly judge this behavior. He could only remind himself in secret that he had come to study String-Puppet Theater under Artisan Zhao, not to put down roots.
Three years-once he finished learning, he would leave and have nothing more to do with this place.
That being the case, he was better off having as little involvement as possible in the affairs of the local powers.
Over the days that followed, he began studying String-Puppet Theater, starting with the most fundamental Silk-Threading Art.
To guide threads, one first had to form them. This was