SNT Chapter 15: Inner City

"What's happening?"

Lady Han pushed aside the cloth curtain and saw fishermen gathering in small groups on the shore, whispering to each other.

Neighbor Uncle Gao lowered his voice, "Aunt Han, don't you know? Song Tie from the Golden River Gang is dead."

"What?!"

Lady Han's eyes widened like copper bells.

Song Tie was a local tyrant of Mute Bay, reportedly able to take down four or five strong men barehanded. How could such a ruthless character be dead?

Aunt Cuihua had somehow approached at some point and patted her chest, "I heard it was the Tiger Gang's doing, hacked to pieces with random blade strikes, what a gruesome sight."

The surrounding fishermen were all shocked upon hearing this, fear showing on their faces.

"These times..."

Lady Han let out a long sigh.

Uncle Dachun looked at Aunt Cuihua and couldn't help saying, "Aunt Cuihua, you've been looking much better lately."

Her face was glowing with health, much more spirited than usual.

Aunt Cuihua smiled so widely she couldn't close her mouth, "It's all because Er Ya has gained favor at Master Zhao's house and often brings back pastries."

When the neighbors heard this, their eyes went straight with envy.

For these poor people, wheat flour pastries were extremely precious rarities.

Uncle Gao swallowed and said, "I heard those pastries are fragrant and sweet..."

Aunt Cuihua said with slight pride, "Next time I'll have Er Ya bring more for everyone to taste."

Uncle Gao rubbed his hands, "How could we be so presumptuous..."

Though his mouth said it was presumptuous, his eyes were shining.

Aunt Cuihua turned to Uncle Dachun, "By the way, how has Xiao Chun been lately? I haven't seen him around for a long time."

Uncle Dachun waved his hand, "The manager at Treasure Hall thinks highly of him and often takes him out, so he's rarely home."

Aunt Cuihua said sourly, "Xiao Chun has been smart since childhood, so worry-free."

Lady Han listened from the side, feeling somewhat uncomfortable in her heart.

"Xiao Chun has indeed saved me and his mother a lot of worry."

Uncle Dachun said with relief, "This child mentioned before about settling down in the inner city and bringing us old folks over."

The inner city was an unreachable place for common people.

Uncle Gao sighed, "Xiao Chun is not only promising but also filial. You're truly blessed."

Er Ya working as a servant in a wealthy household could hardly achieve much in her lifetime but once Xiao Chun became a manager, he wouldn't have to worry about food and drink.

Lady Han said nothing and silently turned to walk home.

Aunt Cuihua's voice called out, "Aunt Han, when there are pastries, I'll share some with you."

Lady Han gave a dry laugh and quickly walked back home.

"Show-off! Who cares about those table scraps!" She had just finished muttering when she saw Chen Qing coming out from the inner room, "Mother, what are you grumbling about?"

"Song Tie, the Golden River Gang leader, is dead. They say he was hacked to bloody pieces."

Lady Han pulled him into the room and whispered, "Song Tie was killed by the Tiger Gang, you must be careful..."

Chen Qing nodded, "I understand."

Indeed, just as he had expected, the Tiger Gang couldn't wait to help him take the blame for this.

For ordinary people like Chen Qing, this was a murder case, but for the Tiger Gang, it was a rare opportunity to establish their authority.

Lady Han counted on her fingers, "The grain at home is almost gone, and we still need to buy pickled vegetables, tooth powder..."

Since Chen Qing began practicing martial arts, his appetite had increased dramatically, and they often needed to prepare dried food as well.

"Mother."

Chen Qing took out a money pouch and said quietly, "From today on, add more fish and meat to our meals at home."

Consuming meat daily would strengthen his qi and blood, helping him break through to hidden strength faster.

Lady Han took the silver, her expression changing, "Where did this silver come from?"

Chen Qing said, "You don't need to worry about that, just listen to me."

"Alright."

Lady Han rubbed the silver and finally nodded.

In these times, being able to get money showed capability.

She was already calculating in her mind which morning market to shop at and how much to buy each time to avoid drawing attention.

A woman who had struggled for survival in these chaotic times for many years understood the ways of survival best.

Chen Qing returned to his room and took out the "Swift Wind Blade Technique" he had obtained last night.

This manual not only contained fighting techniques but also fundamental diagrams of force application, making it extremely complete.

Chen Qing thought to himself, "I can practice this blade technique more in my spare time."

...

Time flew by, and half a month passed.

Since his last agreement with Cheng Ming, Chen Qing had become a river patrol guard.

Except for patrol duties at the fourth and ninth hours of the day, most of his time could be freely arranged.

He spent most of his time at Zhou's courtyard diligently practicing through-arm stance work and boxing.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence, Success Guaranteed]

[Through-arm Stance Work: Minor Achievement (161/1000)]

[Through-arm Boxing: Minor Achievement (132/1000)]

With meat and blood qi powder for nourishment, his qi and blood grew increasingly vigorous, his physique became stronger, and his progress improved at twice the previous rate.

This also meant constant consumption of his silver, and sitting idle while eating away his savings was not a long-term plan.

Chen Qing thought to himself, "If I had sufficient meat and medicinal supplements, perhaps I could attempt my second breakthrough in less than half a year."

The power of obvious strength was strong and dominating, which made Chen Qing even more eager for hidden strength.

This day, Chen Qing was patrolling the dock with Cheng Ming.

Cheng Ming looked across the river and sighed, "Across this South River lies the inner city."

Across the river, the outline of the inner city emerged in the twilight, with lights scattered like broken gold throughout the city walls.

Gaolin County was divided into inner and outer cities. The inner city was where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold, home to prominent families and wealthy merchants. The streets were wide and clean, pedestrians were energetic, and martial artists were everywhere.

Because all the major households maintained guards, gangs had disappeared here, making it a hundred times safer than the outer city.

He sighed wistfully, "While people in the outer city are still worrying about having enough to eat, these masters have long been living in wine pools and meat forests, indulging in pleasure."

Chen Qing remained silent.

Which era wasn't like this? The so-called upper class merely enjoyed themselves by stepping on the bones of common people. Those extravagant practices, feeding pigs with human milk, coating walls with pepper mud, cooking rice with candles, using silk to block wind, were beyond ordinary people's imagination.

Chen Qing recalled scenes from operas in his previous life, where an official wanted to rest, servants would attend to the official's rest, and when going to bed, there would be two little maids to warm the bed. After the official lay down, they would use their bellies to warm the official's feet. Of course, this was artistic exaggeration.

In reality, bed-warming maids wouldn't be wearing clothes.

"While people in the outer city are still fighting desperately for half a bowl of rice bran."

Cheng Ming's voice carried a trace of barely perceptible fatigue and self-mockery, "The masters in the inner city have probably grown tired of bird's nest and shark fin, wondering how to feed ginseng to pigeons."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the dock workers in tattered clothes, and said quietly, "Save enough silver and bring your mother to the inner city, even if it means renting the cheapest small room. In these times, the two words 'peace and safety' are worth ten thousand gold."

Chen Qing nodded.

For the people of these times, safety was most precious.

Just then, an unusual commotion came from the dock entrance, accompanied by exclamations and the restless snorting of horses.

"Make way! All of you damn well make way!"

"Are you blind? Get to the side!"

Several men in gray martial attire with fierce faces roughly pushed aside the laborers and vendors blocking the way, clearing a path.

Their eyes were menacing, their temples slightly bulging, with knives at their waists, clearly all martial artists.

Clop! Clop! Clop!

Clear and rhythmic hoofbeats struck the bluestone slabs, unhurried but carrying an unquestionable majesty.

A magnificent jet-black horse slowly walked into the dock area.

On the horse's back sat a person.

"Ah Qing."

Cheng Ming grabbed Chen Qing, his brow furrowed tightly, quickly pulling him into a nearby secluded alley.

"Chief, who was that...?" Chen Qing looked at the departing figure, uncertain and suspicious.

"That was a military examination graduate."

Cheng Ming lowered his voice and slowly exhaled, "With this military examination degree, he doesn't need to bow or kneel even when meeting the county magistrate, and his family's fields and commercial goods are all exempt from taxes!"

"He can also receive an official military position from the court and draw a salary."

"How many poor families compete to serve as servants to military examination graduates, just to benefit from this tax exemption... the advantages are truly numerous."

Cheng Ming's tone was complex, containing both reverence and a trace of barely perceptible longing.

If a small family like the Chengs could produce a military examination graduate, everything would be completely different.

Chen Qing felt his heart burning with excitement.

Passing the military examination was not only a way to reach heaven in one step, but also brought tremendous wealth and fortune!

"But to pass the military examination, one must first pass the military imperial examination." Cheng Ming heavily patted Chen Qing's shoulder and shook his head with a sigh, "Difficult, as difficult as ascending to heaven!"

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