Chapter 7: Good Thing I Don't Play by the Rules Either

"Our Black Water Gang is a big gang, so the share we hand over is fixed and rarely changes."

Mei Yongning only looked young, but he had already been in the Black Water Gang for many years.

All these things, when spoken of, sounded perfectly reasonable.

"We hand over the take once every three months—the gang takes five parts, the noble houses take three parts."

Having just followed Mei Yongning into a room, Ye Tian's footsteps paused for a moment upon hearing this.

"Meaning, after all that effort, I only get two parts?"

How is this any different from begging on my knees?

"Actually, it's only one part."

Mei Yongning continued explaining.

"The brothers under you also receive a monthly allowance each month. If Fist Master Ye wants to recruit more people, the money spent may be even more."

Although registered members don't get paid, Official Members, and Strongmen, all receive a monthly allowance each month. If you don't pay them, what right do you have to expect them to risk their lives for you?

So this money doesn't come from the gang— whoever manages the territory pays it?

"..."

In other words, he could only get one part of the revenue share each month.

And that was still the better-case scenario.

Ye Tian suddenly laughed—a laugh born of anger. So that's how you want to play it? Then don't blame me for skimming. Coincidentally, that was his old specialty.

But before that, there were still some things that needed to be clarified.

"What's the deal with the noble houses?"

It wasn't strange for the gang to take five parts, but why did they have to share money with the noble houses?

"Fist Master Ye just arrived in Linshui City, didn't you?"

Mei Yongning didn't seem surprised by Ye Tian's reaction, and instead followed up with another question.

"Fist Master Ye, who do you think calls the shots in Linshui City now?"

"The gang?" Ye Tian grew interested.

They all said the government of Linshui City didn't govern, and that it had become an era where gangs ran rampant.

Now it seemed the waters of this era were even darker than he had imagined.

"It is the gang, but the gang also has to read the noble houses' expressions."

Mei Yongning shook his head, then explained the reason to Ye Tian.

Not only Linshui City, but the entire Hao Country, and even the entire Thirteen Provinces, could be said to be the noble houses' world. The noble houses, who controlled most of the economic lifelines between heaven and earth—even the king of a dynasty had to be polite and courteous when meeting them.

They all said dynasties flow like water, but the noble houses are forged of iron.

If an ordinary person wanted to enter officialdom, with good luck they could marry into a noble house as a son-in-law; with bad luck, they could only become a retainer for a noble house, and only then would they have a chance to rise. The prejudice of birth in this era had been carried to the extreme.

Ye Tian understood.

This world not only lacked a First Emperor, but also a Huang Chao.

For now, he'd first fully take over this street's territory before anything else.

"We'll talk about handing over the take later. First, bring me the account books for this street."

"Fist Master Ye knows how to read?"

Mei Yongning was somewhat surprised. It wasn't that he looked down on Ye Tian—in fact, basically all gang members couldn't read. Books and such had always been firmly controlled by the noble houses.

For ordinary people, even reading a book was difficult, let alone being literate.

"..."

This actually stumped Ye Tian.

He hadn't paid attention to this before, only now remembering that since arriving here, the only character he had seen was the word 'Black' on the waist token.

"I learned some a few years ago, but I've probably forgotten most of it now. If Scholar Mei has time in the future, I hope you can teach me."

Ye Tian didn't want to be a thug who lived only for today, so literacy was necessary.

"If Fist Master Ye is willing, I naturally wouldn't mind."

As he said this.

Mei Yongning looked at Ye Tian with a somewhat strange gaze. After so many years in the Black Water Gang, this was the first Fist Master who had actively wanted to learn to read.

After briefly discussing a few matters.

Ye Tian had Mei Yongning arrange Official Member status in the Black Water Gang for his several brothers. Just as Ye Tian had said, this really wasn't a big deal, and Mei Yongning agreed without any hesitation.

"When tomorrow comes, have everyone else on this street come and meet me."

Since he had taken over here, he naturally had to firmly grasp it in his own hands.

After Ye Tian went downstairs and left.

Looking at Mei Yongning who had followed down, the shopkeeper in charge of the tavern suddenly sidled over quietly.

"Is this the new Fist Master? He looks pretty sturdy, but who knows how long he'll last."

The last Fist Master in charge of this place didn't even last two months before he died.

"Mind your tavern." Mei Yongning merely swept a cold glance at the other party.

"Yes, yes, yes!"

He quickly shrank his neck and retreated back.

Don't let the scholarly air fool you—being able to climb to the position of a xiucai, Mei Yongning was certainly not the type who couldn't shoulder a load or lift a hand.

Watching the direction Ye Tian had left in.

Recalling the matter of the other party asking to learn to read, a strange look flashed in Mei Yongning's eyes, but he ultimately said nothing.

,,,

With a street under his belt, the problem of food and lodging would no longer be a worry from now on.

The gang could arrange housing for everyone, and it was spacious enough, with a small courtyard of its own.

"If only we could give out a little less money, that would be even better."

Thinking that, according to the rules, he could only take a ten percent share, his good mood instantly vanished. Fortunately, he wasn't the sort to play by the rules.

"Boss, how about us brothers go and kill that so-called Bāngzhǔ, so Boss won't have to worry anymore."

Brains, but not many.

Hearing Wei Wu's suggestion, and then looking at those brothers whose faces were written all over with eagerness to give it a try.

Ye Tian gave him an irritated slap.

"Settle down. The time for that hasn't come yet."

A dozen or so men wanting to kill the Bāngzhǔ of the Black Water Gang was clearly still too early; even multiplying that by ten would probably be difficult.

Although Wei Wu and the others were strong and sturdy, it was obvious the Bāngzhǔ wouldn't be short of skilled Fist Masters by his side.

"This street is only the first step. In the future, I want the entire territory of Linshui City."

Wei Wu and the others exchanged a glance.

Then said in a deep voice at once.

"We are willing to die for Boss."

,,,

The next day.

Mei Yongning called everyone over, still at that same restaurant.

Apart from Ye Tian, there were two other Fist Masters on this street. One looked tall and thin, nicknamed Gui Tou; as for the other one, he hadn't arrived yet.

As for the rest, even adding the thirteen Ye Tian had brought, there were only fifty or sixty people in total.

"That's all you've got?"

Gui Tou sat on the chair with an imposing, legs-apart posture, and apart from nodding at Ye Tian at the very beginning, he showed no reaction at all.

As for the others, Ye Tian hadn't expected much from them to begin with, but this number was just too few.

"Fist Master Ye may not know this, but half a month ago, we had just had a bloody clash with the Earth Dragon Gang, and we haven't started recruiting yet."

The Earth Dragon Gang — Ye Tian knew about them.

The three biggest gangs in Linshui City were the Black Water Gang, the Earth Dragon Gang, and lastly the ThreeSeaGang.

However, the ThreeSeaGang did business on ships, with their territory concentrated at the docks. Only the Earth Dragon Gang, from time to time over territory disputes, had the deepest grudge against the Black Water Gang.

With so few people, Ye Tian couldn't even be bothered to make polite small talk.

He said directly.

"From now on, the BlackWaterGangMonthlyAllowance goes up by ten percent. Also, when I'm talking, if anyone dares to drink again, I'll skin you alive."

The Strongman, who had just picked up his wine pot, quietly put it down after hearing those words.

,,,,,,,