That is the way of the world; if one's strength is insufficient, one must accept it and not dream of Heaven-Defying fate. If one's status is not high enough, one must recognize it. Do not expect everyone to give you some Face.
Chen Ping'an, looking at the handprint on the table, clearly understood the situation.
Qi Blood Second Stage Perfection, successful in strength training! He had only known the concept before, but the handprint on the table clearly showed him the gap.
To make a handprint by accumulating strength is not the same concept as leaving such a handprint with effortless ease.
The latter represents strength that can be retracted and released at will.
With such strength, he was no match at all.
With just this amount of strength, if Young Master Hu slapped him, he, who only had Iron Cloth Minor Achievement, would not be able to withstand it. If he received a few more slaps, he would be severely injured even if he did not die!
Monthly fee!
The so-called monthly fee was just a nicer way of saying protection money.
It was indeed well-known that the Tiger Head Gang collected monthly fees in Lihua Lane and the surrounding streets every month.
However, since Old Chen established himself in the county town, he had never paid any such monthly fee.
Since Old Chen had never paid it, Chen Ping'an naturally would not have paid it either.
The last sentence Young Master Hu left was very clear: starting next month, Chen Ping'an would have to pay the monthly fee.
In those days, Old Chen could avoid paying the monthly fee because he was a registered Yamen Runner of the Nanquan Lane Garrison Office, with Martial Dao Qi Blood Second Stage Perfection.
Now, although Chen Ping'an was also a Yamen Runner of the Nanquan Lane Garrison Office, in the eyes of Young Master Hu and others, he had not even entered the Martial Dao, and was merely an unregistered, temporary Yamen Runner.
Compared to Old Chen back then, it was like heaven and earth!
The rules for the monthly fee were set by the Tiger Head Gang. Old Chen could break them back then, but the current Chen Ping'an could not.
In the eyes of Young Master Hu and others, the status of an unregistered Yamen Runner was not enough!
If one's strength is insufficient, one can only swallow insults! This is tyranny, and also the truth of this world.
Chen Ping'an walked forward and closed the courtyard gate, the smile on his Face slowly disappearing.
"Brother, are you alright?"
Noticing Chen Ping'an's changed expression, Chen Er'ya quickly stepped forward to comfort him. She had heard all of Young Master Hu's words just now.
"Nannan, your brother is fine! Now that the debt is repaid, your brother feels completely at ease."
Chen Ping'an waved the IOU in his hand.
"Mm! All the silver has been repaid. With brother working outside, our family's life will get better and better!"
Xiao Yatou spoke to herself, nodding as she spoke to add conviction to her words.
"I heard from the aunties next door that the Tiger Head Gang's monthly fee is based on the number of people. Able-bodied men pay one qian of silver, able-bodied women pay half a qian of silver, and elders and children all pay twenty small coins. Our family only has brother and me, so we'll only pay one hundred twenty small coins a month. With brother's monthly salary from his job, it'll be easy!"
Xiao Yatou feigned a relaxed tone.
In terms of currency, one tael of silver equals ten qian of silver. One qian of silver equals one hundred small coins.
Chen Ping'an patted Xiao Yatou's head and nodded in agreement.
"Mm, Nannan is right. A mere one hundred twenty small coins is no big deal for your brother."
"Mm." Xiao Yatou nodded heavily.
"Nannan, we've repaid all the debt. From now on, let's live well as siblings."
Chen Ping'an pulled Chen Er'ya into his embrace, a divine light flickering in his eyes.
"Monthly fee!? In at most one month, I will make this Tiger Head Gang break this rule for me!"
......
Inside the small courtyard, Chen Ping'an carefully comforted Chen Er'ya. Since it was a rest day, he didn't need to patrol the streets, so he additionally practiced Iron Cloth once in the afternoon.
It was still half an hour, and the experience value on the panel changed from 4 to 5.
Chen Ping'an wanted to try practicing Iron Cloth a second time, but found that his skin was faintly red and he was somewhat unable to continue. It was probably because the interval of his rest was not long enough.
"If every day were a rest day, I would get an extra practice opportunity during the day!"
Chen Ping'an thought to himself.
Unfortunately, there was only one such rest day every ten days.
After practicing Iron Cloth, Chen Ping'an wiped his body slightly. He stayed in the small courtyard all afternoon and did not go out.
For dinner, they planned to make braised pork trotters, which was a substantial dish. So, Chen Ping'an and Chen Er'ya started busy themselves in the small kitchen early. The siblings worked together, and their progress was extremely fast.
Today's dinner: a large bowl of braised pork trotters, a plate of stir-fried vegetables with meat slices, a bowl of steamed egg with small shrimp, and two bowls of white rice, one large and one small.
The entire small courtyard was filled with the aroma of meat, making one's mouth water.
Practicing Martial Dao consumed a lot, so Chen Ping'an ate this dinner completely clean.
This surprised Chen Er'ya.
The other dishes were fine, but this braised pork trotters...
Although it was called pork trotters, the meat above the trotters was all there!
"Brother, your appetite recently... is really good!"
Xiao Yatou stared at Chen Ping'an with wide, astonished eyes.
"Hahaha, yes, it's not bad, right!" Chen Ping'an picked at the remnants on the pig bones, saying with a smile.
"Brother is currently practicing martial arts and needs ample Qi and Blood supply. The body's hunger will naturally make one's appetite grow! Nannan, buy some more beef and lamb tomorrow, don't save money! As long as brother achieves success in martial arts and becomes a formal Yamen Runner, everything we should have will be there!"
Looking at Chen Ping'an, who still seemed unsatisfied, Xiao Yatou nodded repeatedly like pounding garlic.
After dinner, the siblings chatted idly. When they were halfway through tidying up the dishes, there was a knock on the courtyard gate.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
"Who is it?"
The two exchanged glances, and Chen Ping'an asked.
"Chen Xiaoge, it's me. Your Zhang Dabo."
A deep voice sounded from outside the door.
"It's Zhang Dabo!"
Chen Ping'an quickly opened the courtyard gate and saw a dark-skinned, strong and capable old man standing outside, who was indeed Zhang Dabo.
Zhang Dabo was carrying a basket of things on each side, which were the sand and stones Chen Ping'an had requested.
"Come, come, Zhang Dabo, come in quickly."
Chen Ping'an welcomed the old man into the house.
"Chen Xiaoge, where do you want these sand and stones?"
Upon entering the small courtyard, Zhang Dabo looked around.
"Just put them there!"
Chen Ping'an pointed to the corner by the courtyard gate.
Zhang Dabo responded, put down the baskets containing the sand and stones, and slowly poured them out onto the spot Chen Ping'an had indicated.
"Chen Xiaoge, what do you need these sand and stones for?"
Zhang Dabo asked curiously as he poured the sand and stones.
"Oh, it's like this. The Zhenfu Division passed down some grappling techniques, telling us to practice with sand and stones when we have nothing to do."
Chen Ping'an casually made up a lie.
"So that's how it is." Zhang Dabo nodded, then showed a hint of envy: "It really is good to work for the government; the benefits are great, and they even pass down martial arts."
"It's nothing, just some superficial techniques, better than nothing." Chen Ping'an chuckled. "Brother Zhang, you're doing well helping out in the restaurant kitchen too!"
"Ah, Chen Xiaoge, if my Tie Niu had half of what you have, this old man would wake up laughing from his dreams."
While the two chatted, the two baskets of sand and stones were quickly all poured into the small courtyard.