Daily Intelligence System: Don't Kill Me, Honey!

After walking for another quarter of an hour, Chen Jie felt Doctor Bai growing heavier and heavier...

He had to admit, his body was still too weak. Just as he was about to give up, he suddenly remembered the Yang Chun Skill and immediately adjusted his breathing, switching to its breathing technique.

At first, there wasn't much change, but gradually, Chen Jie felt his breathing becoming much smoother, no longer laborious. As his breathing eased, so did the fatigue in his body, and he even began to slowly recover.

He found walking increasingly easier.

*This Yang Chun Skill isn't bad at all!*

They continued on, finally descending the mountain and returning to the village, where Chen Jie delivered Doctor Bai to his home.

At home, only Doctor Bai's daughter was there; his son-in-law had not returned due to some matters at the fishery.

Seeing Doctor Bai so badly injured, his daughter was terrified and quickly asked if he was okay. Doctor Bai waved his hand and said, "It's fine, just twisted my ankle."

Chen Jie helped Doctor Bai into the house and onto the bed, where Doctor Bai finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The daughter, of course, went to get water to serve Doctor Bai.

Seeing everything was alright inside, Chen Jie stepped outside and noticed many grindstones of various sizes, apparently used for building strength.

He remembered that Doctor Bai's son-in-law was Wu Zhong, a Ming Jin Martial Artist who had passed the barrier.

*It seems these are for building strength.*

While Chen Jie was thinking this, inside, Doctor Bai called his daughter over.

"Go to the cabinet and get three taels of silver to give to him."

The daughter paused and looked at Doctor Bai, saying, "Dad, isn't that too much?"

Doctor Bai replied, "Isn't my life worth three taels of silver?"

The woman hesitated, then quickly said, "No, Dad, that's not what I meant."

Doctor Bai said, "Do you know who he is?"

"Who?"

The Bai family had just recently moved back to Xiantao Village, so some of the younger generation were not familiar.

"Chen Yongwang's grandson."

"Ah! Could it be Chen Jiusi, that gambling addict!"

"Shh, quieter."

Doctor Bai gestured for silence and continued, "Ah~ I lost to Chen Yongwang back then. I wasn't convinced, but his medical skills were impressive. This Chen Jiusi must be considered a descendant of a famous doctor."

"It's a pity he got addicted to gambling, but today I noticed his understanding of medicine was quite novel and he has some talent..."

"Dad, you don't want to take him on as a disciple, do you?"

Doctor Bai said, "Why not? Back then, I lost to his grandfather. Now I'll take him as my disciple, and let the deceased Chen Yongwang see Bai Wenjing's magnanimity."

"But... hmm, go give him the silver first. If he accepts it, we won't mention this again, as a way of repaying the favor. If he doesn't, go to his house tomorrow and say I'm busy here and looking for an apprentice. Ask if he's willing."

After speaking, Doctor Bai sent his daughter out.

Soon, the daughter came to the courtyard and saw Chen Jie patting a grindstone. Seeing this, the woman smiled, "Jiu Si, right?"

"Hello, Auntie."

Chen Jie walked over. The woman said, "Mm, thanks to you, our old man was saved today. I won't say much, for great kindness requires no thank you. Here's three taels of silver for you."

"Ah, no, I can't accept it."

Chen Jie immediately declined. The woman said, "Take it."

Seeing this, Chen Jie quickly jumped back, saying, "Auntie, I've delivered him, so I won't stay longer. Please give my regards to Doctor Bai, I'm leaving first."

Chen Jie left as if escaping.

Inside the house, Bai Wenjing was watching through the window. When he saw Chen Jie leave without taking the money, he smiled and nodded, saying nothing more.

The woman also watched Chen Jie's back, raising her estimation of him. *Chen Jiusi didn't seem as bad as they said.*

Returning to the house, the woman said, "Dad, he didn't take the money."

Bai Wenjing said, "When Ah Zhong returns, have him prepare a bigger fish. Tomorrow, go to his house and see if he's willing to apprentice with me."

"Yes, Dad."

After leaving the Bai family, Chen Jie looked back at the few large tile-roofed houses made of blue bricks in the village, feeling a bit envious.

*Chen Jie absolutely would not accept the money given to him today.*

*Accepting it would have meant ending this favor, but his goal wasn't the three taels of silver; it was to use Doctor Bai as a stepping stone to ultimately join the big tree of the Fishing Guild.*

*You should never underestimate the Fishing Guild.*

*Daqian was founded by foreign peoples, who were very guarded against the Han people. Thus, although there were government offices and County Magistrates everywhere, most were house slaves of the Mulan people, or appointed by them.*

*Therefore, the real local power was held by the Darugachi, sent by the Mulan people to oversee the area.*

*To limit the power of these Han County Magistrates who were promoted, the Darugachi made heavy use of local guilds to manage the area, thus maintaining a balance while also making money.*

*Thus, local guilds held great power, with gang leaders able to stand equal to the County Magistrate.*

*In the local area, guild power was certainly more intimidating than the government's officials.*

*So in this world, joining a guild was still very promising.*

*Similar to joining the Green Guild in Shanghai at the beginning of the last century.*

After leaving the Bai family, Chen Jie thought for a moment and went straight to town. Soon, he arrived in town and found a pharmacy, which was also an affiliated business of the Fishing Guild.

Chen Jie sold the ten-year-old ginseng he had today, getting three taels and eight maces of silver for it.

The price wasn't high, but it wasn't a rip-off either.

With money in hand, Chen Jie began purchasing supplies. His house was practically bare, with food insecure, so he had to first solve the basic needs.

Chen Jie first bought a hundred pounds of sorghum rice, then some fatty pork, which was perfect for making lard at home.

Then, he bought oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar.

As the saying goes, "The seven necessities when opening the door: firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea."

Chen Jie bought all of them, then went to the pawnshop to redeem something.

Chen Jie remembered Su Yunjin had pawned a hairpin given by her mother to buy arsenic. The hairpin was silver-plated copper, not valuable, yet the damn shopkeeper demanded one tael of silver from Chen Jie.

Chen Jie thought for a moment and decided to pay.

Originally, Chen Jie wanted to make new clothes for the two girls, but he'd already spent nearly all his money, only having eight maces of broken silver left.

Chen Jie borrowed a wheelbarrow from someone in the village to carry these things home.

On the way, he suddenly encountered a group of people, led by a man with a face full of smallpox scars. Upon seeing Chen Jie, and especially the cart of goods, he smiled broadly and came over, shouting from a distance, "Brother Jiu Si!"

Chen Jie recognized him, Ma Liu, a lackey of Yu's Treasure House, a type of Betting Agent in Macau.

Among the intelligence Chen Jie had refreshed yesterday was information on Ma Liu conspiring with the Young Master of Yu's Treasure House.

It said that Yu Sanliu, that fat pig, had taken a fancy to his wife and wanted to set a trap to make Chen Jie lose Su Yunjin to him.

And Ma Liu was his accomplice. Chen Jie squinted his eyes and smiled, "Oh, it's Brother Ma Liu."