Chapter 120: Hot Commodities and Competitive Hiring

Zhou You carried ten jin of meat and two jars of lard, with seven or eight bottles and jars hanging from his waist, all containing things like oil, salt, sauce, and vinegar.

He didn't need to bring anything back to his own home, but there was no reason to return empty-handed either.

Looking at the scenery along the street, he felt the houses were becoming increasingly dilapidated, and the wind blowing through the street carried wisps of ruinous gray air.

There were more and more vacant houses along the street, as many families had moved away.

The residents who moved away generally followed two paths:

Those with savings usually moved to the Inner City area, where rents were higher and the environment safer.

Those who were bankrupt and lived hand-to-mouth left the city entirely to make a living in the countryside.

The inside story was complicated and not something a single flower-plucking thief could have caused.

Zhou You looked at the things in his hands; prices had been rising rapidly lately, and the commoners could not bear it!

Pedestrians were scarce, and he did not see Li Guafu's wine stall open at the corner.

When he arrived at his front door, he discovered that guests had come again.

"You'er is back!"

His mother complained about Zhou You buying things blindly while taking the bottles and jars from him, her gaze signaling that there were guests.

Zhou You thought they were his father's guests and was about to turn and duck into his room.

"You'er, the guest is here to see you."

The guest had a fair complexion and was dressed decently; he was clearly in his early forties, though he looked to be in his early thirties.

"Master Zhou, I am the owner of the grain store in the east of the city. I have come today to offer a large sum of money to hire you as the head of our estate guards."

"The monthly wage is 100 taels, and you will be in charge of our 50 servants."

He introduced himself as the steward of the grain store owner, having come with sincerity; the 1,200 taels for the first year's salary were placed at the door, waiting only for Zhou You to nod for them to be moved inside.

Zhou You pondered; the grain store in the east of the city—right, their daughter was Wang Yan's best friend.

Good heavens, they were even hiring people all the way to his place.

He immediately declined, "You have found the wrong person; our martial arts hall has many capable Senior Brothers."

"I have not found the wrong person, Winged Tiger Master Zhou. Last night you stopped the flower-plucking thief at Zeng Fu; no one had ever done that before."

The steward said politely, "If you are dissatisfied with the monthly wage, we can discuss it."

His attitude was very respectful.

Zhou You Niang, standing to the side, was stunned; 100 taels a month—was their You'er worth that much?

She hadn't paid attention to the chest at the door earlier, thinking it was just food or clothing; she hadn't expected it to be filled with gleaming silver.

She felt uneasy and whispered to Zhou Laodie, "His father, won't there be trouble?"

"Clack, clack!"

Zhou Laodie had a gold cigarette holder in his mouth, "It's the child's business; he can make his own decisions. Don't you and I meddle blindly."

Just yesterday, he had been promoted again, from a head clerk to a junior steward of the firm.

His wages had tripled, and his under-the-table income had increased as well.

Business had been poor lately; other colleagues were either dismissed or had their wages cut, and the dividends of several senior stewards had been reduced.

Why was he the only one standing out?

Steward Xu had hinted to him in private: Old Zhou, you have a good son.

The owner of the grain store in the east of the city had come personally carrying silver to hire him, offering 1,000 taels right off the bat.

Zhou Laodie suddenly felt his gold cigarette holder wasn't as satisfying; a son surpassing his father—what was the need for money? Even more shocking things were yet to come.

Zhou You refused without hesitation.

"I apologize, I am still learning at the martial arts hall and have not finished my apprenticeship, so I cannot accept the offer. I appreciate your family's good intentions."

The steward sighed and cupped his hands, "I have disturbed you."

No sooner had he left than others came to the door, all wealthy families in the city looking to hire him as a guard.

Zhou You had self-awareness; they were interested in his Lightness Skill, as they could easily afford to hire Qi-blood martial artists with their financial resources.

It was nothing more than valuing the nickname Winged Tiger, wanting to invite Zhou You to sit in their homes so that if the flower-plucking thief attacked, Zhou You could use his Lightness Skill to entangle him, allowing the Hunting Team to arrive in time.

He was not tempted by these positions.

Guarding a house was a good job with generous provisions, and generally, nothing happened. This time the flower-plucking thief was a special case; usually, the guards of wealthy families were essentially security guards standing at the gate of a villa.

However, for an ambitious martial artist, being a guard was a waste of one's future.

Pan Jinshan had only joined Zeng Fu as an estate guard to repay a debt of gratitude to his ancestors.

Captain Chang was a high-ranking member of the City Gate Guard with extraordinary power, which was why he could command Yang Xi to serve him.

The sky grew dark.

After sending off the last group of guests, Zhou You and his parents were all hungry.

"I'll go cook."

His mother turned to the back of the stove to get busy.

Suddenly, a voice came from outside, "City Gate Guard Zheng Qing, here by order to visit Zhou You."

City Gate Guard? Zhou Laodie's hand shook, and his pipe almost slipped from his grasp, "Quick, quick, invite him in."

Commoners and the City Gate Guard had nothing to do with each other; usually, the ones they dealt with were the Constables patrolling the streets.

Zhou Laodie had heard many rumors about the City Gate Guard while in the merchant caravan.

The power this group possessed could make any family disappear without a sound, with no one daring to ask questions afterward.

There were eight high-ranking members of the City Gate Guard, known as the Eight Great Ghost-Catching Captains.

This title was very strange, yet it had been passed down to this day; those who knew it dared not speak of its meaning.

The door curtain was lifted, and a cold-faced young man walked in; his expression was rather stiff, and his gaze landed on Zhou You like a nail.

"Zhou You?"

"Captain Chang has a word for you: if you agree to join the City Gate Guard, you needn't worry about anything else; just report to the drill ground tomorrow."

The implication was that the situation at Jian Xiong Martial Arts Hall would not be a problem.

Captain Chang, the one who took his anger out on his guards after his daughter died a tragic death?

This man was ruthless and turned against others without a second thought; although Yang Xi had failed in his duty, he had fought to the death, yet the Captain had still destroyed his entire family.

Whenever the common folk in the city mentioned his name, they felt a chill run down their spines.

He was trying to poach Zhou You! Right, he was hunting down the flower-plucking thief and was in dire need of an expert in Lightness Skill.

Zhou You had once heard Li Hao mention the City Gate Guard and knew a few scattered details about them.

The City Gate Guard and the garrison were two different systems, and the former held direct jurisdiction over the official Constables.

If one were to compare them to familiar terms, they were more akin to the likes of the Six Gates or the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

As for the term "Ghost-Catching Captain," it was hard not to associate it with... Void Phantoms.

Zhou You secretly guessed that the City Gate Guard had been established specifically to deal with the phantom creatures running rampant in the human world.

Coming into close contact with phantom creatures was still too dangerous.

Zhou You positioned himself as a little rookie (Apprentice) who hadn't even left the newbie village (Outer Courtyard) yet.

It was too early to get involved in such dangerous matters.

"My apologies, I appreciate Captain Chang's kind offer."

Zhou You cupped his hands and politely declined; he weighed the pros and cons and felt that the Hall Master, Wang Jianxiong, might not be happy to see him jump ship to the City Gate Guard.

Captain Chang, no matter how formidable, was a distant concern; Wang Laohu was the immediate threat looming right before him.

The cold-faced youth, Zheng Qing, remained expressionless upon hearing this and cupped his hands, saying, "The message has been delivered; I will take your reply back exactly as it is."

"Captain Chang has a piece of news for you: his colleague, Captain Ye, recently adopted a godson named... Zhang Shiyu."

Zheng Qing left these words behind and decisively walked out the door, departing.

Dazhuang Fist Zhang Shiyu?

Zhou You gazed at the pitch-black night outside the door and fell into deep thought.

"Father, Mother, finish your meal and pack your things; we need to move house tonight."

"Don't ask yet; I will explain everything once we are settled."

(End of chapter)