Godson?
A mere steward at the Chai Market Charcoal Workshop acting like a wealthy gentleman by adopting a godson?
Bai Qi had heard there was a rule in the city: commoners could not keep slaves.
Many large households used the guise of adopting godsons to conceal this.
In name, a godson, but in reality, a household slave!
This old dog has truly applied what he's learned!
"Brother Quan..."
Bai Qi squinted his eyes, his hand gripping the string of coins tightly:
"This is no small matter. Let me go back and discuss it with Ah Di before giving you an answer, alright?"
Yangquan, with a face full of fleshy muscles, like a black bear, readily agreed:
"Alright! Let's talk again at the end of the month.
I see, Ah Qi, you're having a hard time making a living with your younger brother.
Lin the Sixth is also sincere. His wife hasn't borne a seed for years.
Adopting a godson would at least leave him with someone to provide for him in old age.
Ah Qi, brother would never harm you.
Once your younger brother takes on the Lin surname, even if it's not always a feast, he'll at least have good rice and decent meals.
Surely better than suffering poverty with you, right!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the ruffians behind Yangquan swiftly chimed in—
"Yeah, Steward Lin with his lucrative post at the Chai Market Charcoal Workshop is willing to adopt your sickly brother as a godson. It's practically a great act of kindness!"
"Three square meals a day, eating good rice and noodles—how comfortable and free!"
"Brother Quan is looking out for you. With someone else, you wouldn't even have a way to find a godfather!"
The crowd was clamorous, speaking over one another.
Bai Qi was expressionless, only lowering his head and saying nothing.
Watching for the right moment, Yangquan slapped his big hand heavily on his shoulder, laughed twice, and walked out of the shop.
"Ah Qi, heed my advice. Don't be the egg that clashes with the stone—suppress your anger; it's better than losing your life."
The earlier conversation was clearly heard by Liang Sanshui, who sighed:
"Yangquan probably took some benefits from Lin the Sixth to act as the intermediary.
He's eyeing the position of East Market Steward eagerly, needing money to grease the wheels.
The arm can't twist the thigh, not much can be done!"
Bai Qi still said nothing, turned his head to say thanks, then quietly picked up his fish basket and left.
"Dad, that bastard Yangquan is too arrogant.
He knew you were here, but pretended not to see, didn't even greet you."
After Bai Qi left, Liang Sanshui raised his abacus, grumbling.
Behind the half-human-height wooden counter was a wide rocking chair.
An old man with a face of deep wrinkles sat there, swaying gently, his eyelids drooping as if he was asleep.
"Chen the Lame's steward post is a fat one, and he's intent on getting it.
He came to show who's boss, no need to put on an act.
In the end, it's because you're not successful!
Couldn't make it in martial arts, now just a junior steward juggling numbers.
No match for that wolf Yangquan!"
Liang Sanshui was obviously unwilling, muttering softly:
"What's so great about Yangquan? Just learned that Yaozi Fist?
He relies on his father's reputation to hold sway over the market.
If you had worked hard in your younger days, Dad,
you could've stepped over Yangquan's dad, and now, your son wouldn't be ridden by his son!"
The old man kicked at him, opening his eyes to scold:
"You little bastard! Always talking nonsense!
With so many henchmen in the fishery, how many are actually top fighters?
You need Muscle Training Great Success, Golden Flesh and Jade Veins to sit securely! Think it's easy?
At least I excelled at the 'Eagle Flipping Eighteen Techniques.'
But you, lazy with martial arts, complained about standing stances, don't know who you take after!"
Liang Sanshui hunched his neck, quickly changing the topic:
"Ah Qi is quite unlucky, so young without parents to care for him.
And now to encounter scoundrels like Lin the Sixth and Yangquan conspiring together!"
The old man's eyelids moved, regretful:
"That child is nice, works hard, and sturdy.
It's a pity his parents passed early, he comes from a poor fishing family.
Destined for a life of toil, hardest to rise in Black River County."
Liang Sanshui was silent, inevitably reflecting on his own relatively fortunate birth.
Otherwise, life could have been full of suffering.
...
...
"Xiaotou, come here."
With a few strings of coins in his pocket, Bai Qi found Xiaotou, busy unloading fresh fish at the dock.
"Ah Qi? What is it? I just heard you landed a big haul!"
Xiaotou called out to his mates and eagerly ran over:
"A ten-pound snakehead, worth quite a bit, right?"
Bai Qi smiled without a word, pulling Xiaotou, who reeked of fish, to squat by the riverside and wash their hands:
"Come on, I'll treat you to a good meal, a feast for the Five Viscera Temple!"
Being able to eat for free is naturally a blessing, Xiaotou quickly agreed.
The two of them found a cheap tavern nearby.
They ordered a serving of sliced pork, two plates of stewed pork knuckles, a dish of broad beans, and a large bowl of rice.
Less dish, more rice, heavy oil and salt.
As the saying goes, a growing boy can eat his father poor.
Bai Qi and Xiaotou, at seventeen or eighteen, were at the prime age for growing.
It was rare to have meat, so naturally, they hungrily devoured the food.
"By the way, your father was planning to send you to the Martial Arts Hall? How much does apprenticeship cost?"
Bai Qi poured the oily broth into his bowl, stirring it with his chopsticks.
Mouthful of rice, mouthful of meat, it was an endless satisfaction.
Fish, shrimp, and crab do not fill the belly; for proper nutrition, oil and water are essential.
"My father inquired at many places; the famous ones with big names in the Inner City are definitely out of reach.
Just the fee for honoring the master with tea costs twenty taels of silver!"
Xiaotou, eating like a starved ghost reborn, was only concerned with eating meat and muttered vaguely:
"I never thought of learning highly skilled techniques; knowing a few tricks to impress others is enough!
There are two Martial Arts Halls in the Outer City: White Rainbow Sect trains 'Golden Cicada Skill,' Songshan Sect practices 'Panshi Fist.'
Apprenticeship isn't expensive, five taels of silver is enough.
Accommodation is included, meals are calculated separately, for a term of three months.
Ah Qi, do you also want to learn martial arts?
I've always said, it should have been long ago!
Fishing only leads to bullying; becoming a Martial Artist will make others call you 'master'!"
Bai Qi's eyes flickered; though he wasn't too sure of the Martial Arts Hall's details in Black River County,
he felt most good things often have one flaw: they're expensive!
Especially martial arts, a unique skill to make a living!
One tael of silver is a thousand copper coins.
Of course, when actually exchanging copper coins, it usually doesn't equate to that amount.
After all, silver is much rarer.
Martial Arts Hall apprenticeship honors with tea.
Five taels of silver is probably just the entrance fee.
To really master powerful martial techniques, it surely costs more.
"Where did you originally plan to go?"
Bai Qi ordered a pot of coarse tea and chewed on the crispy broad beans.
"Songshan Sect."
Xiaotou licked the rice grains clean from the bowl, touching his round belly:
"They teach 'Iron Crotch Skill' there; my father said if you learn it, you'll handle your wife well and can have sons in the future!"
Bai Qi's face twitched, glancing at the dry and scrawny Xiaotou:
"Your father sure is foresighted."
Xiaotou comfortably burped, poured himself a cup of tea, and chuckled:
"Ah Qi, you should join me at Songshan Sect.
Inside, every senior brother is honorable and will have your back if anything happens."
Bai Qi realized that Xiaotou had no real intention of properly training to achieve anything; he was just looking for protection.
But most of Black River County's common folk sought martial arts apprenticeship mainly for "strength in numbers."
Whether it's a Martial Arts Hall, fishery, Chai Market, or Fire Kiln,
it's no different from the "gangs" of the past life.
Most people just want to band together to avoid bullying.
"I can't save up that much silver; the fishery stall prices are going up, and I need to prepare for winter. Where would I get money to apprentice?"
Bai Qi deliberately showed a worried expression. Xiaotou saw it, his small eyes turning, and he added:
"Actually, if you want to train in martial arts, there are other ways.
A senior brother from Songshan told me many small Martial Arts Halls in the county had their signs smashed and can't recruit apprentices, struggling to survive, they secretly sell fist manuals for money."
Bai Qi raised an eyebrow, quite surprised.
He thought martial arts halls should guard cultivation techniques and secret manuals more than their lives.
How could they sell them cheaply?
Seeing Bai Qi's shocked expression, Xiaotou chuckled.
Satisfied, he no longer kept things secret:
"That's where you're an outsider, Ah Qi.
Martial arts aren't just about fist techniques and moves; it includes a complete set of how to train, fight, and supplement.
For example, Songshan Sect's Panshi Fist.
To practice, you have to insert your hands into a pot filled with iron sand or stones, wearing away several layers of skin before your fists become tough.
That's why they're experienced in treating injuries; otherwise, without training, your fists won't harden, but your hands will be wasted.
These unique teachings are the essence taught individually by the master.
Fist manuals are just fancy moves anyone can learn, even farmers know them.
Finding a secret manual and mastering it is all nonsense, only exists in storybooks."
Bai Qi's eyes shifted slightly, and he asked:
"For martial arts mastery and powerful fist techniques, is there any specific term?"
Precisely being aware of Xiaotou's frequent presence at the pier, hearing all the news, Bai Qi invited him to this "feast" intentionally.
Xiaotou scratched his head, repeated the idle talk of Songshan Sect's senior brother:
"Seems like it's divided into... training muscles, bones, skin, and qi—the four stages.
They call these four trainings 'Golden Flesh and Jade Veins,' 'Mercury Blood Silver Marrow,' 'Water and Fire Immortal Robe,' and 'Circulation of Qi.'"