Journey to the West: The Immortal Clan Begins by Feeding Monkeys at Five Elements Mountain

Chapter 26 Allocation and Housing
Jiang Liang stepped into the county magistrate's office. Before the dust had even settled on his feet, he could already smell the presence of people.

Inside, the courtyard was crowded with people, all dressed in coarse clothes and short jackets, some leaning, some sitting, yawning and chatting idly.

Most of them came from the countryside, and their eyes still held a hint of youthful naiveté.

As for those from the county, they would often wait until the next morning before leisurely showing up to report for duty.

Jiang Liang glanced at the crowd, raised an eyebrow, picked out a few familiar faces, and rushed over to greet them.

A slight smile played on his lips, which was considered a polite exchange of glances.

Without saying much, he bent down to untie the bulging bundle on his back, reached in, and pulled out several packets of dried meat and candied fruit.

Regardless of the quantity, they would grab a handful and stuff it into the hands of familiar boys.

Others also came prepared, taking out their own dried biscuits, dried radishes, and coarse steamed buns, and laying them out all at once.

Several teenagers huddled together, taking turns eating and laughing loudly, which somewhat eased their homesickness.

They were laughing and shouting enthusiastically.

Suddenly, a well-informed person looked at Jiang Liang, a grin spreading across his face, and said in a leisurely tone:

"I'm afraid we won't have such leisure time in the future."

Upon hearing this, everyone slowed down their eating.

A few people who were close by clicked their tongues and asked in low voices:
What do you mean?

The man didn't answer immediately; he first wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth before slowly speaking:

"According to my father, every year after Qingming Festival, the newly recruited martial arts students in the department are always divided into three groups to train separately, and they don't follow the same path."

His father also came from this county command.

When I was young, I used to practice kicking and horse stance, but unfortunately, I lacked the aptitude to do so and didn't develop any real skills in martial arts.

Later, he was transferred to a small town and became a village head, barely making ends meet.

Because of this, he was considered to have seen a bit of the world among this group of country bumpkins, and he was more astute in hearing the latest news than the others.

Seeing that everyone had perked up their ears, he cleared his throat and continued:

"This first batch is naturally the best seedlings. They are strong and skilled in martial arts. They are fed the best and trained in the most advanced techniques. They are specially raised to lay the foundation for the selection of candidates for the prefecture."

As he spoke, he glanced at Jiang Liang imperceptibly, his eyes filled with a mixture of envy and resignation.

"The second wave, you know."

He changed the subject and softened his tone.

"Although my martial arts skills aren't top-notch, at least I have a solid foundation. If I learn some skills in arresting people and catching thieves, investigating cases and questioning people, I can become a constable or jailer in the future, and I'll be doing a job in the county."

As he spoke, he shifted his position and lowered his voice, as if he were bringing up some old grudge.

"As for the third wave..."

He shook his head, a slight smirk playing on his lips, a hint of mockery in his smile:
"That's my dad's kind of guy, all those trivial skills he practiced over and over again, just so he could go back to the village and become a village head or a pavilion chief, managing all the messy, rural stuff like collecting grain and conscripting men."

Everyone fell silent for a moment, unsure whether they were being influenced by the future or simply choking on the dry biscuit.

"Among our group, I'm afraid only Liang has a slight chance of being selected to be among the top members."

As he spoke, the man's gaze swept over everyone's faces.

Finally, the question fell on Jiang Liang, his tone carrying a mix of emotion and admiration.

Upon hearing this, the surroundings fell silent for a moment, followed by several voices of agreement.

The city's young masters and the country peasants are fundamentally different from the moment they enter a household.

Those from wealthy families had servants attending to them from a young age, feeding them medicinal soups, preparing bone marrow decoctions, and teaching them martial arts stances. Famous teachers were always by their side, and if they made a mistake, they would be hit with a ruler.

As for these peasants, being able to eat their fill is already a blessing; all they're good at is wielding a hoe.

Compared to this, the difference is naturally more than just a little bit.

That is, Jiang Liang, who has good bone structure and high talent, and he managed to catch up with the team by sheer grit.

After only a few months of training, he was already able to hold his own against the sons of wealthy families, which surprised everyone.

It's hard to say what everyone was thinking, but they all showed a bit of admiration on their faces.

Jiang Liang just smiled, too lazy to reply, and simply said:
"It's hard to say. Besides, we all practice in the same courtyard, so we'll run into each other all the time. We can just visit each other more often."

Inside the county magistrate's office, the paper windows shone brightly, and wisps of tea smoke rose from the windows. Several clerks and the instructor were sitting around a table, on which lay a newly copied roster.

The group looked at each other, some frowning and sighing, while others smiled.

Once the Qingming Festival is over, the newly arrived group of martial arts performers will be divided into groups, rooms, and instructors.

Although it was an official government establishment, the instructors' martial arts skills and the clerks' writing skills were not bottomless pits.

Ultimately, resources are limited, but personal connections are plentiful.

When it comes to dividing the spoils, we must be reasonable and courteous.

The important matter they're discussing right now, sitting around the table, is what's on their minds.

"The Liu family donated three sums of silver and attached a land deed, saying they would help the department expand its courtyard."

"Yesterday, the Li family again asked their son-in-law to intercede on their behalf..."

"Although that boy from the Han family is useless, I heard that his uncle recently presented the county magistrate with a pair of jade rings..."

The message was passed between the teacup and the sleeve; with a slight upturn of the lips, the names on the few pages of the register rose and fell.

Some played the old acquaintance card, while others delivered real goods; each had their own connections and methods.

As for the results on the roster, they were already mostly finalized long ago.

As usual, those at the front of the line were mostly sons of several wealthy families in the county.

It wasn't entirely due to favoritism.

These sons of wealthy families have been drinking medicinal soup to strengthen their muscles and bones since childhood. They can practice boxing and kicking as smoothly as drinking porridge. They can understand the principles of boxing and can also perform the moves.

They are indeed a cut above the children of farmers; that is the truth.

At this moment, the most eye-catching controversy in the yamen was about the young man named Jiang Liang.

Instructor Lin's old face was flushed red as he argued fiercely with the others beside him. His tone was not urgent, but every word he said was sharp and pointed.

He insisted on including Jiang Liang in the first group, but the others shook their heads, their faces smiling slickly while their words were vague.

Try to persuade him indirectly to slow down and take a step back.

The people present all know perfectly well which of these young men has a weak foundation and which has a strong backbone, based on their daily punches, kicks, stances, and postures.

If we only consider the skill of boxing, that kid does have some potential.

With firm stances and controlled breathing, he practiced his boxing for two months and was already chasing after the second young master of a wealthy family all over the place.

To put it bluntly, this level of progress is not what an ordinary farm boy should look like.

If we were to call on Jiang Liang to lead the charge, it wouldn't be without basis.

But there are only so many spots available, and for every one that gets in, another has to squeeze in.

Those originally selected boys were either the nephews of the county magistrate or the grandsons of some wealthy family. Even the county constable himself had mentioned them in a roundabout way.

Moreover, he has already laid a foundation at home, so at least at this stage, he is no worse than that farm boy.

But Coach Lin wouldn't have any of that.

In his opinion, Jiang Liang had never taken any traditional Chinese medicine and had no master to guide him.

Through hard work and perseverance, he was able to hold his own against those pampered young masters in sparring.

This isn't just about having an edge; it's about being fundamentally different.

"If we're really talking about the selection process for the prefecture, I think this kid has more potential and better destiny than those born with silver spoons in their mouths."

His words, though spoken in a low voice, carried the weight of a stone, leaving a lingering unease in everyone's hearts.

The discussion grew louder and louder. Three rounds of tea were poured, and the pen was almost broken from pressing the button, but the conversation still hadn't reached a conclusion.

Just then, the curtain was lifted, and someone came in, handing over a letter.

The clerk took it, glanced at it, his lips twitched slightly, but he didn't say much. He then picked up his pen and made a mark on the register.

Yet another name has faded into obscurity.

Of those vacant spots from the first round, only one remains.

(End of this chapter)