Chapter 4: Experience Points?

In the stunned moment, a girl's hurried voice rose from the house next door.

"Mom, Mom, Jiang Cheng brother is awake, he's right outside the door."

"Is that so?"

A somewhat familiar voice sounded.

Immediately after came a set of footsteps; Chen Sao, whom we saw last night, appeared before Jiang Cheng.

"Xiao Cheng, awake? How do you feel?"

In the morning she glanced twice, but at that time Jiang Cheng was still sound asleep and didn't notice.

A girl with long hair, about 1.6 meters tall and somewhat frail, hid behind Chen Sao, occasionally stealing glances at Jiang Cheng.

"I feel much better, Chen Sao, thank you."

Jiang Cheng said sincerely.

Three hundred yuan, for everyone living here, is not a small sum; converted to pork, it could buy ten catties.

Chen Sao makes a living by mending others' clothes and has a daughter; life is not easy.

As for the girl hiding behind Chen Sao, she is naturally her daughter, named Lin Yue, two or three years younger than him.

When she was little she clung to him; as they grew older, the gender difference made their relationship a bit more distant.

"It's nothing."

Chen Sao smiled knowingly; she understood what Jiang Cheng was thanking for.

"Your Grandma went out; let me tell you, the pot contains cooked porridge and an egg, just heat it up, and it seems she'll be back in a while."

"I see, I understand."

Jiang Cheng patted his stomach; indeed he was starving.

"Chen Sao, I would like to ask you for a favor."

"What favor? Speak."

Chen Sao laughed.

"Here's the thing: after I have breakfast later, I'll go to the street to fetch Grandma, and in the meantime I ask you, Chen Sao, to watch the house for me."

During daytime in the Poor District, few dare to rob, but thieves still exist; if no one is home, it's easy for them to slip in and steal things.

Though, there isn't much of value inside the house, after all.

"I see."

Chen Sao was startled, her face showing worry, "But you just broke a fever, going to the street to do business now—aren't you being too hasty? It would be better to rest more."

"Mm-hmm."

Lin Yue nodded heavily from behind.

Jiang Cheng smiled at Lin Yue, then looked at Chen Sao and said, "Chen Sao, I feel much better; most importantly, something happened last night..."

He recounted the robbery of his Grandma last night.

Chen Sao's complexion changed instantly.

Lin Yue's little face turned even paler with fear.

"So, it's better if I go."

"Alright." Hearing that, Chen Sao didn't dare to say more, urging him to be careful on the road, return early at night, and she would watch from the doorway.

He returned to the room and lifted the pot lid.

Inside the pot sat a Large Bowl, filled with porridge and a peeled egg.

Jiang Cheng took a deep breath.

He ate quickly, locked the door, greeted Chen Sao, then walked along the alley toward the street.

Along the way, he met many people.

Among them were some who didn't look like good people; when they saw Jiang Cheng's empty hands, they casually averted their gaze.

"It seems even daytime isn't very safe."

Jiang Cheng's brows twitched slightly.

After walking several hundred meters, he finally emerged from the alley onto a street.

People came and went; it was bustling.

The street before him was called Pingxi Street, three to four meters wide, with many stalls on both sides, and just enough space in the middle for two vehicles to pass.

Further to both sides were numerous shops and two- or three-story buildings, including clothing stores, grain sellers, furniture shops, restaurants, casinos, and so on.

Except for a few powerful shops, the others also have to pay the Wild Wolf Gang a monthly Protection Fee.

"Eh?"

Jiang Cheng's pupils dilated slightly.

Not far away, there were two Martial Arts Halls, not far apart, and opposite them, a swordsmanship hall.

He was a bit puzzled, but soon learned from the original body's memory.

Whether a Martial Arts Hall or a swordsmanship hall, they teach self‑defense techniques, which have nothing to do with Secret Martial Arts that can open human acupoints and absorb cosmic primal force.

Even so, these places did good business; after all, the Poor District is chaotic, and being able to protect oneself is the best.

Unfortunately, the fees are too high.

One class lasts an hour, starting at 100 yuan.

Twelve classes a month cost 1,200 yuan.

However, learning martial arts isn't a one‑day matter; at least it requires yearly calculation, and ordinary people simply can't afford it.

"When I have money someday, I could go take a look."

Jiang Cheng thought to himself.

Secret martial arts are too far out of reach; ordinary people can't even get their hands on firearms.

Learning some close-combat weapons is a good choice.

If you have some skill, you needn't fear facing two or three people.

"Let's go find Grandma first."

Jiang Cheng moved forward while looking around.

Only then did he notice that there were also many other roasted sweet potato vendors.

Along the way, he found three of them.

"No wonder selling forty or fifty a day is considered good."

Jiang Cheng was torn between laughter and tears.

He also felt helpless.

As fellow lowly people, none of them have it easy.

Unless you have connections, like the grain shop on the street—the only one on the whole street, supposedly owned by a local with background, so even the Wild Wolf Gang wouldn't dare offend them.

Or if you have strength, like those few martial arts halls, the Wild Wolf Gang likewise dares not offend them; rumor has it they even recruit the halls' skilled fighters to seize territory from other gangs.

"Roasted sweet potato, fragrant roasted sweet potato."

A familiar voice drifted into Jiang Cheng's ears.

He hurriedly looked toward the source of the sound.

An old man with a full head of silver hair was loudly hawking his wares to passersby.

However, most people turned a deaf ear.

"Roasted sweet potato, roasted sweet potato, fragrant roasted sweet potato..."

The old man continued hawking.

"Grandma."

Jiang Cheng quickly walked over.

"Xiao Cheng?"

The old man startled, his tone urgent: "How did you come? You..."

"Didn't we agree that I'd sell today?"

Jiang Cheng interrupted her.

The old man gave an embarrassed smile.

He then asked concernedly: "Have you eaten breakfast? I've warmed it up and put it in the pot."

"I've already eaten; Chen Sao told me I asked her to watch the house. Grandma, you can go back—I'll handle things here."

Although he hadn't roasted sweet potatoes in many years.

But this isn't hard to roast, and he still has the original owner's memory.

The old man smiled kindly: "All right, then I'll go back and bring you lunch later."

"Just wait a bit longer; I'm not hungry yet."

Jiang Cheng was torn between laughter and tears.

"All right, then wait a bit more. By the way, these few are almost done—ten minutes and they'll be ready. The others I just put in need a bit longer."

The old man gave a few instructions, glanced around, shoved some change into Jiang Cheng's hand, and then left.

After watching the old man disappear from sight, Jiang Cheng finally withdrew his gaze and looked at the oil drum before him.

On top of the drum lay a circle of roasted sweet potatoes; below was a layer of soil. To ensure even heating, the position needed occasional adjustment.

"Roasted sweet potato, fragrant roasted sweet potato."

He shouted, and his old face flushed.

Although the original owner was used to it, this was still his first time doing it.

But he couldn't not shout.

There were also many other vendors; some used stoves with a dozen holes, far more advanced than the oil drum.

Fortunately, he got used to shouting after doing it a while.

During that time, a customer came and bought two.

Jiang Cheng quickly bagged the two roasted sweet potatoes the grandmother had already cooked and handed them over.

"Twelve dollars."

Looking at the bill in his hand plus two coins.

Jiang Cheng's mood was somewhat complicated.

Could this be considered his first pot of gold since crossing over?

He quickly put the money away; on the drum, two or three were about to be done.

A minute or two later, he took down a roasted sweet potato, and suddenly several pieces of information appeared before him.

Roasted sweet potato experience +3.

Roasted sweet potato skill unlocked.

Memory initially merged, roasted sweet potato experience +100.

Roasted sweet potato proficiency increased, reaching the entry level.

【Roasted Sweet Potato: Entry (103/300)】

(End of chapter)