Chapter 57: Nerves

The crowd talked while walking toward here.

In the blink of an eye, they had Bai Wei surrounded in the middle.

……

Jiang Cheng was at a loss, unable to laugh or cry.

But he also understood that everyone has a love for beauty.

"Alright, I get it. Everyone, don't be impatient; we'll address questions one by one."

Bai Wei, already accustomed, smiled and said to the people around her.

Her gaze passed through the gap, and upon seeing Jiang Cheng not far away, she called out, "Jiang Cheng."

With a swish, everyone's eyes turned toward Jiang Cheng.

After hearing Sun Xiaoli's explanation, the few understood that this newcomer had no real connection with Senior Sister Bai; at most they'd shared a Roasted Sweet Potato and seemed vaguely familiar.

But now that the few of them gathered around, Senior Sister Bai instead called Jiang Cheng's name, causing them to feel a bit jealous.

"Senior Sister Bai called me?"

Jiang Cheng was also a little surprised.

"Hmm."

Bai Wei smiled and nodded, "Today Zhao Shidi had something to attend to and didn't come to the Martial Arts Hall. Last night he specifically asked me to look after you. Since today I'm guiding everyone, have you encountered any problems lately?"

"That's it."

Jiang Cheng nodded, then shook his head, "I haven't encountered any so far."

"Really?"

Bai Wei expressed doubt, then said seriously, "Jiang Cheng, junior brother, if you have any questions, feel free to ask me; don't be embarrassed."

"Got it, Senior Sister. If I have any questions, I will definitely ask," Jiang Cheng replied earnestly.

"Alright."

Bai Wei felt a bit helpless.

She wasn't foolish; she could see the other party was deliberately keeping distance from her.

Is it a bit of inferiority?

That possibility can't be ruled out; after all, among the Senior Members present, Jiang Cheng's family situation was indeed the worst.

She shook her head and didn't dwell on the issue further.

After about ten minutes, another figure descended from the third floor.

It was Senior Brother Xiao Yuanqing.

Seeing Bai Wei hand‑teaching a male member the movements, his eyes narrowed slightly, and a hint of gloom flashed in his gaze.

A moment later, his smile returned, and he walked over.

"Correcting the force application? Let me handle it."

"Senior Brother Xiao!"

The male Senior Member seemed startled, quickly withdrew his hand and stood aside.

Nearby members watching this also turned away.

"Senior Brother, why did you come?" Bai Wei furrowed her brows slightly, looking a bit displeased.

"Aren't I just worried that junior sister you might be overexerting?" Xiao Yuanqing said with a smile, "With me here to help, you can take it easy."

"Senior Brother, this is within my duties; I don't need your help. You can go upstairs."

Bai Wei shook her head.

"Junior sister…"

Xiao Yuanqing wanted to say something else, but seeing her displeasure, he gave up, feeling quite unwilling.

He had thought that after going shopping together a few days ago their relationship might improve, but now it seemed unchanged.

Just before leaving, he glanced at everyone present, and even Jiang Cheng, ten thousand eight hundred li away, couldn't escape.

"Nerve."

Jiang Cheng watched the back of the person climbing upstairs and muttered to himself.

After this little incident, the atmosphere on the second floor became much more stifling.

"Senior Sister Bai, Senior Brother Xiao…"

The Senior Member being instructed looked up at the second floor with some worry.

This was the first time encountering such a situation. In the past, when Senior Sister Bai instructed everyone, Senior Brother Xiao had come, but his gaze had never been this frightening.

"Ignore him."

Bai Wei said.

She felt a bit irritated inside.

She knew the other party was interested in her, constantly pestering her; everyone was in the Martial Arts Hall, constantly seeing each other, making it hard to break things off. Overwhelmed, she finally agreed to go out for a meal alone with him, then explained that she wanted to focus her main energy on training and the Martial Arts Hall, and hadn't considered romantic matters yet.

But now it seemed he hadn't taken it at all; he thought that her going out alone with him meant she had agreed.

"Where were we just now?"

"Oh, just now…"

Two hours passed quickly; during that time, Bai Wei came once to instruct Jiang Cheng.

Seeing Jiang Cheng maintain the Standing Post for seven or eight minutes, she was slightly surprised.

According to Zhao Xiangyu, this junior brother Jiang had never done the Standing Post before; yet in just three days he could hold it that long with standard movements.

Aside from a higher angle, there were no other faults.

But for a beginner, this wasn't a problem at all.

"Jiang Shidi, before you joined our Martial Arts Hall, you really never did a Standing Post?" Bai Wei couldn't help but ask.

Even she, under the master's guidance, took more than a week to achieve Entry, and she was also young at that time.

"Yeah, Senior Sister Bai, what's up?"

Jiang Cheng's face showed confusion.

"Nothing, nothing."

Bai Wei thought to herself, perhaps Jiang Shidi does have a bit of talent? Moreover, the Standing Post relies mainly on leg strength.

People who often do physical labor squat more, so their leg muscles are stronger than average, and practicing post technique improves much faster.

Later it becomes normal.

"Alright, Jiang Shidi, keep practicing, and if you have any questions, you can ask me anytime."

"Okay, Senior Sister Bai."

Jiang Cheng nodded, watched the other leave, then turned around and noticed a silhouette on the staircase leading to the second floor staring intently at him.

It couldn't be Senior Brother Xiao; who else could it be?

Jiang Cheng quickly averted his gaze, walked to a nearby rack, and drank water strategically.

During the whole morning, he alone noticed that Senior Brother Xiao appeared at the stairwell at least five times.

Truly impressed.

If you like it, go after it.

If they don't like you, withdraw.

What are you doing like a pervert?

After a short rest, Jiang Cheng packed away his belongings and left the Martial Arts Hall.

He went home, ate lunch, and, under the Old Man's and Chen Sao's reminders, pushed the cart onto the street.

He didn't know if it was an illusion, but he felt that today's street vendors on both sides wore solemn faces, sighing from time to time.

He feared that if he went to ask, they'd try to borrow money, so he dismissed the idea of approaching them.

Moreover, if there truly was something, Lu Zicheng would definitely know.

Sure enough, just as he reached the stall and hadn't even caught his breath, Lu Zicheng, standing nearby, hurried over with an anxious expression.

"Jiang Cheng, something's wrong."

Jiang Cheng's heart gave a thump, "What is it?"

"When I arrived, I heard someone say that the Wild Wolf Gang came this morning, announcing that next month's Stall Fee will increase by thirty percent, to be collected three days later, and that those present should inform later arrivals; anyone who wants to keep vending next month should prepare early, and those who don't pay shouldn't come."

After Lu Zicheng finished speaking, he let out a heavy sigh.

Stall Fee rises every year.

But in previous years it was only a rise of a few hundred.

Now it's a straight thirty percent increase!

Last month it was two thousand, next month it'll be two thousand six! (End of chapter)