Chapter 28: Is It You?

One night passed.

This time, Jiang Cheng didn't sleep well.

Perhaps what he thought about during the day turned into dreams at night.

He dreamed more than once that, because of a clash with those well‑connected thugs, he offended the Wild Wolf Gang and ultimately met a gruesome death on the street.

And Grandma was also driven out of the house.

That was only one version; there were even worse ones.

So when he woke up at the crack of dawn, Jiang Cheng was still a bit drowsy.

"Xiao Cheng, didn't you sleep well last night?"

The old man had just finished cooking congee, and seeing Jiang Cheng's appearance, asked concernedly.

"It's okay."

Jiang Cheng looked up and glanced at the wall clock.

It was past seven o'clock.

He got up, washed up, ate breakfast, and by a little past eight, he could practice the Short Staff for an hour or two before heading out to set up his stall.

"If you're sleepy, sleep a bit longer; when it's time, Grandma will call you."

The old man's eyes ached.

Earning money by selling Roasted Sweet Potatoes truly brings in hard‑earned cash.

"It's fine, just wash your face."

Jiang Cheng shook his head.

He would rather skip a breakfast than give up some time to practice the Short Staff.

However, moving the Short Staff from Mastery to Great Completion inevitably takes a week.

Even if it didn't take that long, achieving Great Completion with the Short Staff and taking on an entire Wild Wolf Gang isn't realistic. Earlier, Lu Zicheng had mentioned that the Iron Fist Gang has several masters who can take down a dozen opponents; even if the Wild Wolf Gang is at a disadvantage, they should have two or three such people.

Not to mention, if they can also produce bows, crossbows, or even Firearms, and who knows whether anyone in the Wild Wolf Gang has cultivated Secret Martial Arts? "It would be best to devise a plan in advance."

Jiang Cheng thought to himself.

In the blink of an eye, three hours passed; after saying goodbye to the old man and next‑door Chen Sao, Jiang Cheng pushed his tricycle toward the street.

The alley's scenery remained as usual, with no major changes.

At his stall, Jiang Cheng, proficiently, began roasting Roasted Sweet Potatoes.

When the roasting was halfway done, gradually people started gathering around.

"Boss, how much longer?" someone asked impatiently.

"About twenty more minutes."

Jiang Cheng smiled at the person, "Brother, if you have business, you can wait a bit and come back later."

"If I come back later, will I still be able to buy it?" the person shook his head.

Hearing that, the surrounding crowd laughed.

"It's mainly because the boss's Roasted Sweet Potato skill is truly unmatched; waiting a bit is worth it."

"Exactly, I've never had such delicious Roasted Sweet Potatoes before."

A few people exchanged remarks back and forth.

As time passed, more people gathered, constantly saying things like "I'm the ___th person."

"So fragrant!"

Suddenly, a woman's voice rang out.

Accompanying that voice, the surrounding noises fell silent at once.

Jiang Cheng instinctively looked up and saw a slender woman in a white training uniform, smiling gently at him.

On the left side of the uniform was an illustration of a soaring eagle.

"Is that you?"

Jiang Cheng was quite surprised.

That woman was the one from the Flying Eagle Martial Arts Hall who had come yesterday.

The difference was that yesterday she came with a man, but today she was alone.

The people around, still wary of the Martial Arts Hall, kept a two‑meter distance even though it was a woman, while a few braver ones covertly glanced at her face and figure.

"Boss, you have a good memory, you still remember me."

Bai Wei seemed in a good mood, lowered her head toward the Roasted Sweet Potatoes in the bucket, and asked, "How much longer?"

"Almost done, a few minutes."

Jiang Cheng replied.

He hadn't expected the customer to return a second time.

But on reflection, it made sense; after all, his Roasted Sweet Potatoes truly have two tricks.

Logically, street vendors aren't fond of people from Martial Arts Halls coming over, because they eat without paying.

However, this person, though also from a Martial Arts Hall, seemed decent—knowing to pay for food—but liked to cut in line.

"A few minutes, that's quick."

Bai Wei nodded, a smile at the corner of her mouth, "Your Roasted Sweet Potatoes really taste great; in a moment I'll take two, twelve yuan, right?"

"Yes."

Jiang Cheng apologetically glanced at the people around.

Fortunately, the surrounding people didn't mind; perhaps they were all distracted by the sight and didn't notice Jiang Cheng.

One or two minutes passed.

A thought suddenly sprang to Jiang Cheng's mind.

He looked at the woman before him, took a deep breath, and asked, "Miss, you're from the Flying Eagle Martial Arts Hall, aren't you?"

"Yes, what's up?"

Bai Wei blinked.

"May I ask, Miss, how much it costs to join your Martial Arts Hall to learn self‑defense?"

At hearing this, the people around cast surprised glances at Jiang Cheng.

He wants to enter a Martial Arts Hall to study kung fu? No way. Training there isn't cheap.

The point is, it requires daily, month‑by‑month effort to see results, which makes the expense even greater.

"Oh? You're interested in our Hall's Fist Technique?"

Bai Wei's face showed surprise; she glanced at Jiang Cheng, then at the shabby tricycle before him.

Those who come to the Hall to study kung fu generally come from families whose financial situation is far better than that of most people in the Poor District.

It's like the shopkeepers lining both sides of the street— they are the majority, and of course they aren't there just to learn kung fu.

There are also elite members of gangs and some wealthy individuals.

But the person before us is merely a street vendor; mastering kung fu takes daily, month‑by‑month dedication, and the cost is probably beyond his means.

"Alas!"

Jiang Cheng sighed and said, "Everyone knows the situation in the Poor District. Every night when I go home and pass the corner, I'm on edge, fearing those thugs, yet I still run into them many times, and my money gets robbed clean."

Hearing this, many nearby turned pale, and some murmured in agreement, but dared not say more.

Because who knows if there are members of the Wild Wolf Gang nearby; if they hear the complaints and try to settle scores, what then? They can only be angry without speaking.

Bai Wei let out a light sigh as well.

She naturally understood the Poor District's situation, and once was fiery‑hearted, wanting to eliminate the evils for the people, but later realized the entanglement was too deep, far beyond what one or two Martial Arts Halls could change.

"You want to learn a couple of self‑defense skills so that when you meet those thugs you can repel them, lose no money, and even get revenge?"

She asked.

"Yes."

Jiang Cheng nodded repeatedly.

In his heart he thought, of course it isn't that simple; those petty thugs are a piece of cake for him, the truly troublesome ones are those with backing.

But the questions must be asked piece by piece.

When it's about right, he'll raise the question he most wants to ask.

What he didn't expect was that Bai Wei would voluntarily speak up next.

(End of Chapter)