Chapter 40: How Much Is Still Missing?

Chen Sao, you speak first.

Jiang Cheng said hurriedly.

Alright.

Chen Sao smiled and said, "Didn't you bring a catty of meat and a catty of eggs last night? I cooked them in the evening; come over for dinner tonight. And Jiang Nainai, come together as well."

I won't go.

The Old Man smiled and shook his head, looked at Jiang Cheng, "Xiao Cheng, just go over in the evening."

Chen Sao was unsurprised and looked at Jiang Cheng again.

About this matter.

Jiang Cheng thought for a moment, but still refused.

"Chen Sao, those things aren't many; I bought them especially for you and Xiao Yue. If I still go over to eat, what's the point? Also, actually I'm planning, after some time, to find a chance for our two families to sit down together and have a big feast."

Hearing this, Chen Sao instantly understood Jiang Cheng's meaning.

A big feast.

That feast would probably cost not tens, but maybe hundreds, even two or three hundred.

Xiao Cheng.

Chen Sao's smile vanished, and she said worriedly, "Sister-in-law knows you're making good money selling Roasted Sweet Potato, but you can't spend lavishly like this. A big feast is for the rich; we ordinary folks just need one meat dish on the table."

"Chen Sao, I understand your point, but I'm not the type who gets reckless after earning money. These past two days I've indeed made a lot, yet the pressure is growing, and that's also a matter I need to discuss with you, Chen Sao, and Grandma."

Jiang Cheng's expression grew serious.

"W‑what's the matter?" Chen Sao's heart thumped.

The Old Man beside them also looked tense.

"It's like this: in the past two days many people saw me open two stoves, realized I'm making money, and want to borrow money from me."

"You lent?" Chen Sao's heart rose to her throat.

Lending money is easy; getting it back is hard.

"How could that be? Chen Sao, you specifically reminded me before; I haven't lent a single one." Jiang Cheng said, sighing, "But the trouble is later, because my business is too good, I've already attracted many thugs watching me in secret."

"These past two days I've been lucky and avoided them, but in the coming days I don't know if I'll stay that lucky, to keep evading."

If they catch me, the money on me will surely be taken away.

Hearing this, the room fell silent.

After a moment, Chen Sao advised, "Xiao Cheng, if they catch you, just give them the money; don't act rashly, don't clash with them."

"Yes, Xiao Cheng." The Old Man's eyes showed deep worry.

When business was average, being robbed of a hundred or two, she felt heartache.

Not to mention Jiang Cheng now earns four to five hundred a day; losing that much would break her heart.

But compared to money, she worries more about her grandson's safety.

Money can be earned again; a person lost is truly gone.

"Chen Sao, I get your point, but I'm worried they won't stop after one time. When my business was average, they'd come every few days; now my business is good, they might come every day, and not just one group. If they come daily, I'm basically working for them; in a month I might not even gather enough for the Stall Fee."

Jiang Cheng felt helpless.

Chen Sao fell silent.

That was one of her earlier worries.

People fear fame as pigs fear getting fat. When business is average it's fine; when it's good, all kinds of monsters will notice you.

"How about restoring the cart?" Chen Sao glanced at the three-wheeled cart beside them.

Earning less when money is scarce is better than having it all taken by others.

"I've thought about it, but since those people have already noticed me, doing that might not help."

…

Chen Sao's face was full of anxiety.

Now she didn't know what to do.

Jiang Cheng saw this and knew the moment was near.

"Chen Sao, Grandma, I've thought of a method that seems workable; I want to discuss it with you both."

"What method?"

"I heard the few martial arts schools on the street are constantly recruiting students. If we become their members, we won't have to worry about being bullied by those thugs outside, not even the Wild Wolf Gang."

"Really?"

The Old Man asked eagerly, like a drowning person clutching a lifeline.

"I've heard my husband mention this before."

Chen Sao recalled, "According to him, martial school members are divided into two types: ordinary and Senior. If you're a Senior Member, you can learn kung‑fu there and don't have to pay the Wild Wolf Gang at all. The problem is the money; we couldn't afford it then. Xiao Cheng, you mean you want to join a martial school?"

"I have that idea."

Jiang Cheng nodded and repeated what Bai Wei had said before everyone.

"That's right, it's like this."

Chen Sao took a deep breath; to become a Senior Member requires a five‑thousand monthly fee, and unless absolutely necessary, it cannot be interrupted.

Because if it's interrupted, you have to start paying the Wild Wolf Gang again.

And what would the Wild Wolf Gang do then?

Imagine someone has been paying you Protection Fee, and one day he pays someone else; shortly after, he wants to pay you again. Would you let him pay the same amount as before?

If it's an Ordinary Member.

Then there's not much point.

Both sides have to pay.

The advantage is you don't have to worry about being robbed by thugs on the way back; if one day you don't renew your membership, the Wild Wolf Gang won't do anything to you.

"Xiao Cheng, you want to become a member of that Martial Arts Hall, right?"

Chen Sao asked.

"Yes."

Jiang Cheng nodded and said, "In that case you won't have to worry about those thugs targeting you on the way back and stealing your money. If you're a Senior Member, you won't have to pay the Wild Wolf Gang any more. Chen Sao, you don't know that the Wild Wolf Gang is currently in a heated fight with the Iron Fist Gang outside. If the Wild Wolf Gang loses, then the Iron Fist Gang will be in charge here, and you might have to pay the dues again. If you pay the Martial Arts Hall directly, it's not just the Wild Wolf Gang; even any new gangs that take over later won't require you to pay them dues."

After speaking, Jiang Cheng looked at Chen Sao, not knowing what reaction she would have.

"Yes."

Chen Sao digested the information in her mind, nodded and said, "For others, becoming an Ordinary Member of a Martial Arts Hall doesn't have much benefit; it actually adds to the burden. Becoming a Senior Member, if one day you have no money and can't renew, it's easy to be made to suffer small grievances,"

"but Xiao Cheng, you're different. You now earn over four hundred a day, reaching ten thousand a month is not hard, so you won't have to worry about lacking money to renew. Sister supports you finding a Martial Arts Hall to join as a Senior Member; then, regardless of which gang manages this place, you won't have to pay them any money. However, you should have about five thousand on you now, right? How much are you still short?"

(End of chapter)