After moving into their new home, Lu Chen and Jiang Qingyu no longer had to worry about freezing at night.
Although their days were just as frugal as before, at least now they had a place of shelter.
During the day, Lu Chen still had to go to the docks to earn money by carrying goods. Jiang Qingyu stayed at home, tending to her flowers and fish.
This was a time of chaos and war. Rebel soldiers were looting, burning, and killing everywhere. The city was overrun by gangs, and violent turf wars broke out frequently.
Women and children rarely appeared on the streets.
Though Jiang Qingyu was only around ten years old, her features and figure had already started to blossom. Every time she and Lu Chen went out to shop, she would attract many greedy stares.
To keep her safe, Lu Chen constantly warned her not to leave the house.
Lately, Jiang Qingyu had learned to weave straw sandals from their neighbor, Aunt Li. During the day, she would sit at home weaving, making pairs for Lu Chen to wear. Any extras, she’d ask him to sell at the market.
Though it didn’t earn much, it was still better than idling at home.
Seeing that Jiang Qingyu had found something to do, Lu Chen felt more at ease whenever he went out for work.
“Hey! Stop right there!”
One day, as Lu Chen was heading to work like usual, two fierce-looking men blocked his path just as he entered the street.
At only twelve or thirteen years old, Lu Chen’s height barely reached their shoulders. Standing before them, he looked thin and weak.
“Is there something you need, sirs?” Lu Chen asked with a forced smile, trying to avoid conflict.
One of them scowled and said, “You look unfamiliar. Not a local of Luo City, are you?”
“That’s right, sirs. I just moved here from outside. My hometown was hit by disaster, so I came to Luo City hoping to survive.”
His reply was watertight, meant to prevent them from picking a fight.
But the other man snorted coldly and said, “Whether you’re a local or not, everyone in Luo City has to pay tribute to the Wild Wolf Gang every month.”
“Tribute?” Lu Chen frowned.
He had forgotten one important thing when moving in: every resident in Luo City had to pay tribute to the ruling gangs. If they couldn’t pay, the lightest consequence was being hounded for payment. The worst was being dragged off to the mines as laborers.
If these people found out about Jiang Qingyu at home, they would definitely sell her to a brothel or a rich household as a maidservant.
“May I ask, sirs, how much is the monthly tribute?” Lu Chen asked with a fawning smile.
One man held up a finger and said, “One hundred copper coins a month. That’s not much for you, right?”
Under normal circumstances, 100 coins wasn’t too much. Lu Chen could make that in seven or eight days at the docks.
But he had just moved in and spent all his savings on the deposit and rent. Right now, he didn’t even have ten coins left, let alone a hundred.
“Could you give me a few days?” he pleaded. “Ten days—no, five days! I promise I’ll pay the full amount by then!”
Now, Lu Chen was just a twelve- or thirteen-year-old boy. Aside from having a bit of strength to carry bundles, he had no skills. Challenging the Wild Wolf Gang was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
He could only yield.
The two men exchanged a glance. One of them said in a low voice, “Fine, five days it is. We know where you live. We’ll come collect it ourselves. If you don’t have the money then…”
He rolled up his sleeve to reveal a wolf-head tattoo and glared, “Don’t blame us for being rude.”
“Yes, sirs. Don’t worry, I’ll have it ready in five days,” Lu Chen quickly replied.
Seeing that his attitude was acceptable, the two men left.
After their figures disappeared, Lu Chen’s expression turned cold.
In times like these, wanting a peaceful life was a luxury. Even if the rebel soldiers weren’t killing and looting, gangs would bleed you dry.
“Looks like carrying bundles at the docks isn’t a long-term plan. I have to find a way to leave Luo City,” Lu Chen thought grimly.
But he had no real skills. In this world, he was at the very bottom.
Unlike other transmigrators who could rely on salt-making or metallurgy to earn money, he couldn’t even afford the initial silver needed to start. Even if he managed to produce salt, he might not be able to sell it—and could end up imprisoned for selling illegal salt.
As for copying poetry or ancient texts to earn fame? That was even more unrealistic. In these chaotic times, using poetry to take the imperial exams was no different from walking to your death.
Sigh… I’ll just save up for the Wild Wolf Gang’s tribute first. I’ll think about everything else after.
With that thought, Lu Chen headed to the docks, his mind heavy.
In the following days, Lu Chen worked even harder. He refused to go home until he carried at least 200 bundles each day.
Carrying 200 bundles earned him 20 copper coins. Working five full days would earn exactly 100.
As long as he paid the Wild Wolf Gang’s tribute, he could stay safe for a while.
“Young man, spare some food…”
Every day on his way home, he would be stopped by an old beggar asking for food.
But Lu Chen was too focused on saving money. He didn’t have the time or means to help others. So every time he saw the beggar, he would lower his head and rush past.
Until one day, the old beggar disappeared.
Lu Chen assumed he had either starved to death or gone somewhere else to beg.
But then people in the neighborhood began gathering and chatting about something bizarre they’d witnessed recently.
Apparently, the old beggar was actually a martial arts master. He had only come to Luo City to kill time out of boredom.
They saw it with their own eyes—a member of the Wild Wolf Gang picked a fight with the beggar and was killed by a single palm strike.
Later, when the gang’s deputy leader tried to retaliate, he too was killed by the beggar’s palm.
Just as the Wild Wolf Gang gathered their full forces to hunt him down, the beggar had already disappeared from Luo City.
“Who would’ve thought that old beggar was a hidden master!”
“If I had seized that opportunity, maybe I could’ve become his disciple and learned some martial arts…”
“Then at least I’d have some way to protect myself in this chaotic world.”
Thinking this, Lu Chen couldn’t help but sigh.
By his count, today was the deadline to pay the Wild Wolf Gang’s tribute.
“As long as I get paid today, I’ll be free of them for now.”
Seeing that it was getting late, Lu Chen squeezed out from the crowd and hurried toward the dock outside the city.