touchnovel Chapter 21 Bestowing Favors
Chapter 21 Bestowing Favors
It had gotten dark.
Meng Chen stood on the stake all day, without eating or even drinking a drop of water.
He put his bundle back in his dormitory, then went to fetch water from the well, drank half a bucket dry, and then washed himself.
A gentle breeze blew through the night, causing the lanterns to sway. The apprentices ate their meals, practiced their martial arts, some peeked at Meng Chen, and others whispered amongst themselves.
"Why did Senior Brother Gao leave? He didn't look quite right." Qi Yun approached. He had finally managed to get on the good side of this son of the scribe, and he didn't want anything to happen to Gao Yuan.
"Master Du drove Gao Yuan away, so he won't be learning martial arts here anymore," Meng Chen said, wiping his crotch without hiding anything.
Qi Yun was stunned upon hearing this, and said blankly, "Those two constables were really summoned by him specifically to mess with you? So all the time I spent washing his clothes, massaging his back, and flattering him these past few days was for nothing?"
"My six taels of silver were also stolen." Meng Chen was also very troubled. He was not the type to cause trouble and had no intention of being enemies with Gao Yuan.
This time, however, Gao Yuan was truly brainless. In order to humiliate himself and to impress Master Du, he colluded with outsiders to smear him, an innocent person, with fabricated charges, turning a perfectly good martial arts school into a mess.
After this incident, unless the owner of the museum is a pushover, it's impossible for Gao Yuan to stay.
Having worked in the martial arts world, escorted goods, and seen bloodshed, how could he be a pushover? And how could he not see through Gao Yuan's petty schemes!
"He's a good-for-nothing, you should find someone else to associate with," Meng Chen whispered to his close friend.
"I know he's a good-for-nothing," Qi Yun said bluntly, his voice even lower. "I just want a peaceful life, maybe make a little money on the side. If he's always thinking about making a name for himself and conquering battlefields, I'm not going to work for him!"
"You...you really are a man of principle." Meng Chen couldn't help but laugh.
"After Master Du drove Gao Yuan away, what arrangements were made for you?" Qi Yun asked.
"He hasn't said yet." Today's incident wasn't Meng Chen's fault, but since it was caused by him, Meng Chen felt that Master Du would probably keep him for a few more days.
When Meng Chen came to the martial arts school on June 11, he only paid two months' tuition. Today is August 9, and it will soon be two months!
At that point, without even needing Master Du to mention it, he'll have to slink away in disgrace.
"Your money was stolen too, what are your plans now?" Qi Yun's tone was also disappointed.
This question was asking Meng Chen if he had any way out. In fact, even if the six taels of silver hadn't been stolen, Meng Chen probably wouldn't have been able to stay at the martial arts school.
Although he has now unlocked the first barrier of martial arts, he is still a mortal, stronger than ordinary people, but not by much.
Moreover, there are second and third levels afterward, with varying difficulty and even higher costs.
Most of the people who come here to learn martial arts are not from wealthy families, and very few of them take time off work to learn martial arts.
Therefore, after passing the first hurdle, most people will learn some self-defense skills, whether it be swords, spears, halberds, or fist and palm techniques. This gives them a means of survival and allows them to seek a way out.
Of course, there aren't many good options, since he's only just entered the world of martial arts and isn't much stronger than ordinary people.
They could become constables in the third shift of the yamen, or work as lowly guards in wealthy households, or even be the most hardworking and tiring porters in a security escort agency. The worst option was to join a gang in the muddy ditch of the southern city.
Even if these options are less desirable, they're still better than farming. Plus, you can make some friends, and if you save up some money, you can even come to the martial arts school for a second chance to learn the skills.
Just like the Du family martial arts school, most of the apprentices failed to pass the first test. Those who passed the first test and then tried to pass the second test were either from wealthy families, like Gao Yuan, or they were exceptionally talented and could pass the test within half a month. Even if they were poor, they would still have someone to help them.
Meng Chen could have gone out and found a job, and at least earned some money. But now he has offended Gao Yuan to the core, and he's afraid not only will it be difficult for him to find a way out, but he might also have to go to another place to lay low for a while.
"I haven't decided yet. What are your plans?" Meng Chen genuinely hadn't decided.
"I still have some silver left. I plan to study for another two months and try my best to pass the second stage." Qi Yun sighed repeatedly. "I had agreed with Senior Brother Gao that if I couldn't pass the second stage, he would find me a job in the government. Earning a hundred or eighty taels a year wouldn't be a problem, much better than going back to selling pork. But now..."
Gao Yuan's father was a clerk, in charge of apprehending thieves and handling criminal cases. The job was very lucrative, and you could easily get full just by following along.
In Qingshui County, an income of one hundred taels a year is considered a very comfortable life!
But Gao Yuan has already been kicked out of the martial arts school, so he probably can't keep his promise to Qi Yun.
"You don't need to worry about me. I can find other ways out anyway. It's you who needs to think about what to do." Qi Yun didn't blame Meng Chen. Instead, he offered Meng Chen some advice.
"Junior Brother Meng, come here!" Just as the two were sighing to each other, they heard Du Ren beckoning them from the front of the hall.
Meng Chen knew that this was how Du Ren and Master Du had arranged things for him.
Qi Yun patted Meng Chen on the shoulder to encourage him.
As night deepened, only one lamp was lit in the lobby, casting a dim, yellowish glow.
There were two fat chickens on the table.
"Senior brother, I've caused you trouble," Meng Chen said.
"Why say all this?" Du Ren said nonchalantly. "Once you open this place, you're not afraid of trouble coming your way; you're afraid of not being able to handle it!"
He pointed to the plump chicken on the table and said, "You've been up all day and haven't eaten anything, have you? Come sit down and have something to eat first."
Seeing that Meng Chen didn't move, Du Ren said, "Gao Yuan promised to treat us to wine this morning, but he didn't buy any. I bought three fat chickens early on. Cui Butong came in third. He's only been here for half a month and he's already passed the first test. He's someone important. Gao Yuan came in second, but he definitely didn't want them. You came in first, so these two are yours."
Meng Chen was starving, and when he heard Du Ren say that, he sat down, grabbed a chicken, and started gnawing on it.
After eating several large bites of fatty chicken, Meng Chen felt his body come back to life, but he couldn't help but think about the future.
As a mere farmer's son with no wealth or power, I've somehow offended the son of the magistrate; it's probably no longer safe for me to live in Qingshui County.
Therefore, Meng Chen planned to go home to give instructions to Old Chen and his grandson, and then find an opportunity to go to another place to avoid trouble.
Moreover, after today's events, Meng Chen discovered another wonderful use of the Yin-Yang symbol: the bright Yang fish could actually feed back to itself.
That's not all. Meng Chen discovered that after the Yang Fish dimmed, as long as he squeezed out more of his own power, his flesh and bones would tremble, which was a sign of breaking through the barrier.
Although Meng Chen had not yet found a way to light up the Yin Fish, he saw a shortcut that would allow him to quickly pass the level.
Therefore, Meng Chen thought of going to another place to avoid trouble for a while, and then try to break through the two barriers. At that time, he would find a job and find a teacher to learn a skill. In the end, he would be able to get better day by day.
While Meng Chen's mind was racing, Du Ren wasn't idle either. He chuckled and poured a cup of tea, saying, "Doesn't it smell good? Yang's roast chicken is a century-old brand in Qingshui County!"
"Delicious!" Meng Chen munched on the food, memorizing the shop's name, thinking that if he could get through this period, he would buy two more for Old Chen and his grandson to try.
"What are your plans?" Du Rencai asked after Meng Chen finished eating a chicken.
"Senior brother, I've offended Gao Yuan, so I have to go to another place to avoid trouble." Meng Chen didn't lie to Du Ren.
"Where else can you go? Do you believe Gao Yuan has sent people to watch our door? The moment you leave my house, Gao Yuan will intercept you before you even step out of the city gate."
Du Ren poured Meng Chen more iced tea and said, "Besides, you've already paid two months' tuition, isn't that enough time yet?"
"It won't be long," Meng Chen said.
"This happened in my house after all. How about this, you stay here for a month or two and see how things go. In my house, I can still protect you." Du Ren spoke earnestly, his face showing some difficulty, yet he seemed to have made up his mind, truly appearing as a righteous and chivalrous man.
Meng Chen hadn't expected Du Ren to be so kind. If he could stay at the martial arts school, he would indeed be protected by the Du family father and son, and Gao Yuan would have no choice but to break down the door and arrest him.
Even if they only provide food and refuse the medicinal baths and pills, that would still be an immense favor!
"But senior brother, I have no money left," Meng Chen said.
"Forget about money," Du Ren waved his hand and said seriously, "You were recommended by my elder brother. I grew up in his family's security escort business. He taught me to read and write, and taught me how to be a good person. Anyone he recommends is one of my people!"
Du Ren was very generous. "You need medicine and a bath every three days for your second breakthrough. I'll prepare everything for you! There will be no shortage!"
Meng Chen thought he could just get by here, but he never expected Du Ren to be so righteous!
"You just focus on learning martial arts here. Don't worry about the money; I'll talk to my father!"
Du Ren's expression was serious, as if he were speaking from the heart. "You've called me 'Senior Brother' for two months, and I haven't been that senior brother for nothing. From now on, whether you go back to farming or do better than Yan Long, remember this: I will always be your senior brother, and you will always be my junior brother!"
"Senior Brother..." Meng Chen was deeply moved. He had always thought Du Ren was worldly and slick, and liked to make dirty jokes, but he never expected him to be such an extraordinary man!
Du Ren, seeing that he had done his duty, took a sip of his cold tea, thinking to himself, "I'll be thankful if you don't cause me any more trouble in the future!"