Chapter 59: Inside Scoop

When buying fresh sweet potatoes, Jiang Cheng grew more shrewd and bought about twenty fewer jin than usual.

If tomorrow's business shows no change, that would be best; if sales drop, at least we'll have a bit more cash on hand.

On the way back pushing his cart, Jiang Cheng saw the residents on both sides gathering in small groups—some worried, some angry, some even with eyes reddened from crying.

"Wild Wolf Gang, are you driving us into a dead end? The management fee was already a thousand a month, enough to kill us, and next month it doubled to two thousand—who can afford that!" A choking voice rang out, full of sorrow and anger.

"Two thousand, even if I sold myself I wouldn't get that much?"

"Damn Wild Wolf Gang!"

"Lower your voice! Don't you want to live? What if the Wild Wolf Gang hears you?"

"Enough, stop talking about it. We should think about how to save up next month's fee. There are five days until the end of the month; if we can't gather it after five days, we'll definitely be kicked out."

"Sigh, what should we do?"

Jiang Cheng sighed at this, confirming his suspicion: the management fee had indeed risen, doubling outright—worse than the stall fee.

He guessed the Wild Wolf Gang anticipated that some vendors would pause their stalls until this emergency passed; however, while stall fees can be evaded, the management fee cannot.

In his impression, this period is also the Poor District's bleakest time.

Those who can't or won't pay have everything valuable in their homes seized; if that's still insufficient, they are expelled. Dare to resist? They're truly willing to kill.

Jiang Cheng silently pushed his tricycle past.

People, startled, cast glances his way.

In the next moment, a variety of emotions flashed in their eyes.

Jiang Cheng stared back at them without fear, and only then did the crowd shift their gaze elsewhere.

"What a world."

Jiang Cheng muttered inwardly that even honest folk are being forced into a dead end.

The Old Man still stood at the doorway as always, gazing toward the direction Jiang Cheng returned.

"Grandma, I'm back."

Jiang Cheng said with a smile.

"Good to be back; you didn't encounter any danger on the way, right?"

"No, even if I ran into those people, I have a Martial Arts Hall membership card on me, so nothing will happen."

"That's good."

The Old Man nodded appreciatively, then his face filled with worry: "Xiao Cheng, while you were away this afternoon, the Wild Wolf Gang came and announced that next month's management fee will be double."

"I heard about it on my way back."

Jiang Cheng nodded and reassured, "Grandma, we've already paid the Martial Arts Hall, so we don't need to pay the Wild Wolf Gang any more; no need to worry."

"Really? We really don't have to pay them anymore?" the Old Man asked repeatedly.

"It's true, rest assured, Grandma; that day I'll be waiting for them at home."

"Xiao Cheng is back."

Chen Sao stepped out of the house, her brows also bearing sorrow.

"Chen Sao."

Jiang Cheng quickly greeted, "I already know about the afternoon matter; a few days ago I borrowed your money, let me repay part of it now."

Over the past few days, he had saved a little over a thousand.

Chen Sao had borrowed three thousand for herself; normally that would be fine, but at this moment the pressure is high.

"It's fine."

Chen Sao shook her head.

"Keep your money for now; business will definitely be tough ahead. As for next month's fee, I can still come up with it, but I don't know how long the two-thousand-per-month fee will have to be paid—if it's two or three months..." she sighed, unsure what to say.

Jiang Cheng couldn't give an answer either.

Based on past experience, this turbulent period might end in a month, or it could last two or three months; the former is manageable, the latter…

"Chen Sao, tomorrow morning I'll go to the Martial Arts Hall to inquire; they should know some inside information."

"Alright."

Chen Sao's eyes showed a hint of delight upon hearing that.

Indeed, how could I have forgotten? Those few Martial Arts Halls must have some information.

After returning, Jiang Cheng still took out a thousand and gave it over.

Originally Chen Sao didn't want to accept, but Jiang Cheng persisted, saying he was already a Senior Member of the Martial Arts Hall and unaffected, so she finally took it.

Back home again, the Old Man's smile was far fewer than yesterday; when he heard today's income was over four hundred, his smile returned.

After dinner, Jiang Cheng continued practicing Stance Practice and Double Staff.

He wished he could instantly raise both skills to the highest level, but even with proficiency panel bonuses, he still has to honestly spend time and effort to grind them up.

Early the next day, Jiang Cheng went to the Martial Arts Hall.

He was eager to wait for Senior Brother Zhao to appear so he could practice Stance Practice, though he was a bit out of shape.

The other Senior Members seemed to know something about the Wild Wolf Gang, but were vague, speaking a few words before changing the subject.

Come to think of it, they're all Senior Members, likely having renewed for years; as long as the Flying Eagle Martial Arts Hall remains, whether it's the Wild Wolf Gang or the Wild Dog Gang outside, it doesn't affect them.

Jiang Cheng hesitated briefly, but still didn't rashly ask.

Finally at nine o'clock, Zhao Xiangyu appeared with a smiling face.

"Senior Brother Zhao!"

"Senior Brother Zhao!"

Everyone greeted him in turn.

"Senior Brother Zhao!"

Jiang Cheng also shouted, his voice still a bit loud, so after he shouted, the entire second floor fell quiet.

Zhao Xiangyu was also startled, then chuckled, "I'll give Jiang Shidi some guidance first, you all wait a moment."

"It's fine, it's fine."

The crowd waved their hands, all indicating they didn't mind.

Only the gazes toward Jiang Cheng were a bit strange.

This guy usually looks pretty composed; what's with him today? "Jiang Shidi."

Zhao Xiangyu walked over, smiling: "I heard Senior Sister Bai that your pillar skill has already entered Entry, right? Before you could barely hold out five minutes, now you can manage seven or eight minutes, not bad, not bad, very promising."

As he said, he also gave a thumbs‑up.

In his view, Jiang Cheng's haste to find him must be to tell him the news and then get his praise.

Since they all came over like this, he gets it.

"Senior Brother Zhao, you flatter me, actually I want to ask Senior Brother Zhao a question." Jiang Cheng forced a wry smile, then got to the point.

"Oh? What question? Speak." Zhao Xiangyu still wore a full smile.

"Just yesterday, the Wild Wolf Gang raised the Stall Fee by thirty percent and doubled the management fee; everyone complained endlessly. I want to ask Senior Brother Zhao, what's really going on? Is the Wild Wolf Gang about to run away?" Jiang Cheng asked in a low voice.

Senior Brother Zhao heard that, his smile faded, then he nodded.

(End of Chapter)