Chapter 20

Going home!

The Star-Dotting season ended, and Xu Jin not only successfully performed Star-Dotting but also entered the Intermediate Academy as he wished, so he had to go home once.

First to report the good news, second to make an appearance, and third to think of a way to solve the family's most urgent debts, so as not to drag it out into a big problem.

Reporting the good news was very simple.

If he knew that he had not only successfully performed Star-Dotting but also cured his congenital heart disease, Xu Dajiang would probably be so happy he'd cry, and his younger sister Xu Jiang would definitely be so happy she'd jump up.

Making an appearance was Xu Jin's idea.

In this world, successfully performing Star-Dotting is considered a threshold of rank.

In a family, as long as one person successfully performs Star-Dotting, they will obtain relatively high income and social status in the future, and neighbors and local hooligans will not easily dare to bully them.

Xu Jin was now worried about the family's debt problem.

The bottle of Spirit-Awakening Pill that Xu Dajiang gave him eight days ago cost fifty taels of silver.

Xu Jin still didn't know how Xu Dajiang had obtained it, but it definitely wasn't borrowed from relatives or friends; there were no relatives or friends with that kind of strength.

Then Xu Dajiang's channel was estimated to be borrowing high-interest loans from pawnshops or gangs, which is usury.

The former was still okay; although the interest rate was very high, at least they only wanted money.

The latter was different.

So Xu Jin wanted to solve the family's hidden danger as quickly as possible.

The Jin Shan Academy Intermediate Academy, after completing the corresponding chores, would have a monthly salary of ten taels of silver, and would also issue two Spirit-Awakening Pills as cultivation resources; calculating it this way, it was twenty taels of silver a month.

In Jin Shan Prefecture, this was considered a high income.

This was also the reason why Xu Jin had spared no cost and tried every possible way to join the Academy's Intermediate Academy before.

But the family's debt was imminent.

Fifty taels of high-interest usury, even if borrowed from a pawnshop, "nine out, thirteen in" was a conscientious price.

Then the fifty taels of silver that Xu Dajiang obtained, when paying it back, it was highly likely that he would need to pay back over 72 taels.

This was still the least.

Last time he borrowed one hundred taels of silver from Ning Yuchan and bought elixirs for cultivation, he now had six taels and four maces of silver left, and one Blood-Replenishing Pill; this was all the assets Xu Jin had.

To pay off this debt, Xu Jin would have to save for four months in the Intermediate Academy.

Even with compound interest, he would have to save for five or six months.

Saving for five or six months was not scary; what was scary was accidents happening in the middle.

Xu Jin still wanted to pay off this debt as quickly as possible so he could be at ease.

But where could he obtain silver out of thin air?

After thinking for a long while, Xu Jin came up with a method.

If a person isn't ruthless, they can't stand firm.

If the skin is thin, there's no money to spend!

He had already borrowed the first time, so that Ning Jiaotou Ning should lend him a second time, right?

Xu Jin was a man of action; he did it as soon as he thought of it.

At worst, borrowing money would fail; what was there to be afraid of!

"Xu Jin?"

Ning Yuchan was somewhat surprised by Xu Jin's visit again; she didn't quite understand what Xu Jin was looking for her for.

"Ning Jiaotou, I have a question I would like to ask?"

"Hmm, speak." Ning Yuchan was very happy to help these disciples solve their doubts.

"Ning Jiaotou, within the Academy, every disciple must choose chores; I would like to ask for your guidance on which chore has the most 'money potential'?" Xu Jin asked.

"Chores? What kind of potential can they have?" Ning Yuchan was somewhat confused.

"Uh, no, Ning Jiaotou, I want to ask, which chore can earn the most silver?" Xu Jin added.

As soon as these words were spoken, Ning Yuchan immediately understood Xu Jin's meaning; he was short of silver and wanted to ask which chore could earn extra silver.

"Theoretically, every chore has the possibility of earning extra money."

"Among the Six Arts, if you choose chores related to killing and tracking, capturing bandits and hunting criminals all have rewards and spoils; the amount depends on luck."

"In the path of forging, the early stage is hard labor money, which consumes a lot of physical strength; if you achieve success in cultivation, it is possible to have a rolling source of wealth after more than ten years," Ning Yuchan said.

"Ning Jiaotou, I think in the short term, I am very short of silver recently," Xu Jin said with a bitter smile.

"In the short term, that would be medicine seeking and sea exploring."

"Especially since our Jin Shan Prefecture relies on mountains, and the Great River passes through the city, the chores of medicine seeking and sea exploring at the current stage are searching for various medicinal herbs and rare heavenly treasures containing Star Power; the harvest depends on your personal opportunity," Ning Yuchan said. "However, the item of sea exploring has always been the specialty of the Tian Yang branch, and the Jin Sha River is also their territory."

"Our Jin Shan Academy mainly focuses on medicine seeking," Ning Yuchan added.

"Does the Ning Jiaotou mean to recommend that I choose chores related to medicine seeking?" Xu Jin asked.

"Hmm, almost!"

"Chores related to medicine seeking basically won't delay cultivation, the danger level is relatively lower, and it is more suitable for you, whose cultivation is quite low now; there is also an opportunity to exercise actual combat ability, and earning extra money is also easier, but you need to be bold and careful, and memorize the Pharmacopoeia and the Ten Thousand Star Wonders Record," Ning Yuchan said.

Xu Jin heard several keywords: danger level, cultivation is quite low, actual combat.

Combining these factors, this was the best choice Ning Yuchan gave.

Listen to advice, eat your fill.

"Ning Jiaotou, I understand how to choose now."

"By the way, Ning Jiaotou, I came here today for another request," Xu Jin said.

"Speak!"

"Ning Jiaotou, I would like to ask to borrow some more silver..."

Xu Jin had just opened his mouth when Ning Yuchan's apricot eyes widened and looked over.

She really hadn't seen such a bold and thick-skinned disciple who came to borrow silver from his teacher again.

And it was the second time.

He hadn't even paid back the last one!

And he came again!

Xu Jin's old face felt hot, but he still braced himself and met her gaze.

The so-called "a good woman fears a pestering man"—whether it's chasing a woman or borrowing money, if the skin isn't thick, nothing will be accomplished.

"Ning Jiaotou, the silver you lent me before was basically spent on my breakthrough to the Intermediate Academy. I want to go home today, but regarding the Spirit-Awakening Pill last time, I suspect my father might have borrowed usury."

"I can pay back this money after saving for three or four months in the Intermediate Academy."

"But you know, those who dare to lend usury are not kind people; I want to ask the Ning Jiaotou to lend me some more silver to solve this hidden danger, so as not to have any accidents at home."

"Then I can cultivate with peace of mind and pay back the silver I borrowed from the Ning Jiaotou as quickly as possible."

Although he said he came to borrow silver with a thick skin, he had to speak with reason and evidence.

Otherwise, that wouldn't be called borrowing silver; that would be called cheating!

Ning Yuchan stared at Xu Jin with her large apricot eyes, while Xu Jin maintained an innocent look, but privately he was still somewhat wretched.

Although he would definitely pay it back, staring at one person to pluck wool was really...

However, staring eye-to-eye, Xu Jin discovered that Ning Yuchan was actually quite beautiful; her delicate features carried a different kind of heroic spirit, especially her skin, which was very white, and she was quite tall.

If it weren't for that large silver iron crutch, she would be goddess-level.

Suddenly, Xu Jin was somewhat curious about what was going on with Ning Yuchan's leg.

Was it congenital or acquired?

Thinking was thinking, but Xu Jin didn't dare to ask.

Because Xu Jin understood that physical disability might be the thing Ning Yuchan was most sensitive about and could not be easily touched.

Staring at Xu Jin for several dozen breaths with her large eyes, to show he wasn't feeling guilty, Xu Jin also looked back directly; Ning Yuchan suddenly realized something was wrong, as they seemed to be somewhat close.

Turning her head, Ning Yuchan directly pulled two hundred-tael silver notes from her bosom and slapped them onto the stone table in front of her. "Within two months, if you can break through to the fifth layer of the Meal of Mist Realm, in one year, I only want the principal."

"If you can't, pay me back ten times what you borrowed before."

"Do you dare to borrow?" Ning Yuchan stood up, looking down sternly at Xu Jin, who was sitting on the stone stool.

"Why wouldn't I dare!"

Xu Jin only considered it for one second before agreeing to this bet on the spot, and then grabbed the two hundred-tael silver notes into his hand with quick hands and feet, fearing that Ning Yuchan would go back on her word if he were slow.

"August 18th, fifth layer of the Meal of Mist Realm, no problem, right?"

"No problem, August 18th!"

After agreeing and thanking her, Xu Jin took his leave, but when he left the courtyard gate, Ning Yuchan's words made Xu Jin stumble.

"You had better strive to break through to the fifth layer of the Meal of Mist Realm; otherwise, if you can't pay back three thousand taels of silver in a year, I will definitely sell you to the mine; someone like you who successfully performed Star-Dotting should be able to sell for a good price!" Ning Yuchan tried hard to fill her delicate voice with threats!

Xu Jin, who was leaving, was flying high with joy.

Two hundred taels of silver, should be able to solve the family's debt, right?

Then should he bring some small surprises for his old man and Jiang Er?

(End of chapter)