Chapter 23

In a world like this, if you lack strength, you have to accept it. Don't dream of defying fate. If your status isn't high enough, recognize it. Don't expect everyone to give you face.

Chen Ping'an, looking at the palm print left on the table, understood the situation clearly.

Peak of the second level of Qi and Blood, mastery of strength! He had only known this as a concept before, but the palm print on the table made the gap painfully clear.

Leaving a palm print with a deliberate strike and leaving one effortlessly were two entirely different things.

The latter represented control over one's strength, the ability to exert force with precision.

With such strength, he was no match for Little Tiger.

If Little Tiger were to strike him with that kind of force, even with his minor achievement in Iron Shirt, he wouldn't be able to withstand it. A few more strikes, and he'd either be dead or severely injured!

Monthly fees!

The so-called "monthly fees" were just a polite term for protection money.

It was common knowledge that the Tiger Head Gang collected monthly fees from households in Pear Blossom Lane and the surrounding streets.

However, ever since Old Chen had settled in the city, he had never paid a single coin of this so-called protection money.

Old Chen hadn't paid, and naturally, Chen Ping'an hadn't either.

The meaning behind Little Tiger's final words was clear: starting next month, Chen Ping'an would have to begin paying the monthly fees.

Back then, Old Chen could refuse to pay because he was a registered official constable of the Nanquan Lane Town Guard Office, with his Qi and Blood cultivation at the peak of the second level.

Now, although Chen Ping'an was also a constable of the Nanquan Lane Town Guard Office, in the eyes of Little Tiger and his gang, he was just an unregistered temporary constable with no martial arts foundation.

Compared to Old Chen, it was like comparing heaven and earth!

The rules of the monthly fees were set by the Tiger Head Gang. Old Chen could break them, but the current Chen Ping'an couldn't.

In the eyes of Little Tiger and his men, the status of an unregistered constable wasn't enough!

If you lack strength, you can only swallow your pride. This is the law of the strong and the truth of this world.

Chen Ping'an walked over and closed the courtyard gate, the smile on his face slowly fading.

"Brother, are you okay?"

Seeing the change in Chen Ping'an's expression, Chen Erya hurried over to comfort him. She had also heard Little Tiger's words.

"Erya, I'm fine! Now that the debt is paid, I feel a huge weight lifted off my shoulders."

Chen Ping'an waved the IOU in his hand.

"Yes! With the debt cleared and you working as a constable, our life will only get better!"

The little girl spoke confidently, nodding her head as if to convince herself.

"I heard from the aunties next door that the Tiger Head Gang's monthly fees are based on the number of people in the household. Adult men pay one tael, adult women pay half a tael, and the elderly and children pay twenty small coins each. With just you and me at home, we only need to pay one hundred and twenty small coins a month. With your salary, it's nothing!"

The little girl tried to sound casual.

In the Great Qian currency system, one tael of silver was equal to ten qian, and one qian was equal to one hundred small coins.

Chen Ping'an patted the little girl's head and nodded in agreement.

"You're right, Erya. One hundred and twenty small coins is nothing for me."

"Mm!" The little girl nodded vigorously.

"Erya, now that the debt is paid, we'll live our lives well from now on."

Chen Ping'an hugged Chen Erya tightly, a glint of determination in his eyes.

"Monthly fees? In at most a month, I'll make the Tiger Head Gang break their own rules for me!"

In the courtyard, Chen Ping'an spent some time comforting Chen Erya. Since it was a rest day and he didn't have to patrol, he took the opportunity to practice Iron Shirt once more in the afternoon.

After another half-hour session, the experience value on the panel increased from 4 to 5.

Chen Ping'an wanted to attempt a second session of Iron Shirt practice, but he noticed his skin was starting to turn red, indicating he had reached his limit. It seemed the rest interval between sessions wasn't long enough.

"If every day were a rest day, I could squeeze in an extra practice session during the day!"

Chen Ping'an thought to himself.

Unfortunately, rest days only came once every ten days.

After finishing his Iron Shirt practice, Chen Ping'an wiped himself down and spent the rest of the afternoon in the courtyard.

For dinner, they planned to make braised pork trotters, a hearty dish. So, Chen Ping'an and Chen Erya started preparing early in the small kitchen. Working together, they made quick progress.

Tonight's dinner: a large bowl of braised pork trotters, a plate of stir-fried vegetables with meat, a bowl of steamed egg with shrimp, and two bowls of white rice—one large and one small.

The aroma of meat filled the courtyard, making mouths water.

The physical demands of martial arts training were immense, so Chen Ping'an ended up eating every last bite of the meal.

This shocked Chen Erya.

The other dishes were one thing, but the braised pork trotters...

Although they were called trotters, there was plenty of meat on them!

"Brother, your appetite has really grown lately!"

The little girl stared at Chen Ping'an in amazement.

"Haha, yes, it's quite good, isn't it?" Chen Ping'an said with a smile as he picked at the remaining bits of meat on the bones.

"Brother is training in martial arts now and needs plenty of energy. The body naturally craves more food! Erya, let's buy some beef and lamb tomorrow. Don't worry about saving money! Once I master my training and become a full-fledged constable, we'll have everything we need!"

Seeing Chen Ping'an's satisfied expression, the little girl nodded eagerly.

After dinner, the siblings chatted idly as they cleaned up. Halfway through washing the dishes, there was a knock at the courtyard gate.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Who is it?"

The two exchanged a glance, and Chen Ping'an called out.

"It's me, Uncle Zhang."

A deep, hearty voice came from outside the gate.

"It's Uncle Zhang!"

Chen Ping'an quickly opened the gate to find a sturdy, sun-tanned old man standing there, carrying two baskets filled with sand and gravel—exactly what Chen Ping'an had asked for.

"Come in, Uncle Zhang, come in!"

Chen Ping'an ushered the old man inside.

"Where should I put these, young Chen?"

Once inside the courtyard, Uncle Zhang looked around.

"Just over there is fine!"

Chen Ping'an pointed to a corner near the gate.

Uncle Zhang nodded and began to pour the sand and gravel from the baskets onto the spot Chen Ping'an had indicated.

"Young Chen, what do you need this sand and gravel for?"

As he poured, Uncle Zhang asked curiously.

"Oh, it's for some grappling techniques the Town Guard Office taught us. We're supposed to practice with the sand and gravel."

Chen Ping'an made up an excuse on the spot.

"I see," Uncle Zhang nodded, a hint of envy in his voice. "It's good to have an official job. You even get to learn martial arts."

"It's nothing special, just some basic techniques," Chen Ping'an said modestly. "Your son, Iron Ox, is doing well too, working in the kitchen at the restaurant."

"Ah, young Chen, if my Iron Ox could be half as capable as you, I'd be laughing in my dreams."

As they chatted, the two baskets of sand and gravel were soon emptied into the courtyard.