From Beggar to Emperor: My Profession Has Its Own Characteristics

Within Qingyang County, there are numerous gangs of varying sizes.

The Water Moon Gang at the dock and the Black Bull Gang here are both members of it.

These gangs brazenly collect protection money, not because the government doesn't care, but because some people within the government are the beneficiaries.

These weren't things that Zhang Cheng, the beggar leader, taught Zhu Yuan; they were just Zhu Yuan's own rough guesses.

In his previous life, he lived in an era of information overload, and he was exposed to many things. Even if he didn't know the details and intricacies of the transactions, he still understood the general situation.

Therefore, choosing the right location when renting a house is very important.

Zhu Yuan had learned about some of the small gangs in the Qingshui Street area from the old beggar.

Among these small gangs, the Black Bull Gang is considered one of the better ones.

"This is my monthly lucky money," the old woman said, handing over a small string of coins.

"Hmm, this is yours." The Black Bull Gang's underling took the money, weighed it in his hand, and casually tossed it into the cloth bag carried by his henchman beside him, making a tinkling sound.

He raised his eyelids and glanced around the courtyard. "I heard you rented someone here."

Before the old woman could reply, the wooden door of the little house creaked open.

Zhu Yuan had already walked out quickly from inside.

It's hard to hide something like his renting a place from the Black Bull Gang, who are based in this area.

Zhu Yuan, who had just come out, quickly glanced at the three people standing outside the door.

The one in the lead, with a somewhat fierce-looking face, was a minor leader of the Black Bull Gang. Behind him, on his left and right, were two nonchalant-looking henchmen.

Zhu Yuan didn't hesitate for long and quickly walked over.

"I know the rules, this is my peace money." Zhu Yuan held the thirty-five coins with both hands and steadily handed them to the small leader.

The Black Bull Gang collects protection money: seventy coins for each adult, and half for the elderly and children.

Zhu Yuan is not yet an adult; he is still a child and will not come of age until he is sixteen years old in three more years.

The foreman didn't take the money immediately. Instead, he looked Zhu Yuan up and down, his gaze lingering for a moment on Zhu Yuan's shoulders, which were noticeably thicker than those of an ordinary teenager, and his brows furrowed slightly.

Zhu Yuan now looks quite robust.

After staring at Zhu Yuan for a while, the foreman finally reached out and took the thirty-five coins, casually tossing them into his cloth bag. Then, staring at Zhu Yuan's face, he asked in a deep voice, "Do you have a household registration in Qingyang County?"

"Yes," Zhu Yuan nodded, his expression calm.

"Let me see it."

"it is good."

After handing over thirty-five coins, Zhu Yuan immediately turned around and jogged back to his house to retrieve the household registration.

The Black Bull Gang's underling had been staring at him intently, and that scrutinizing gaze made him slightly uneasy. He had thought he had encountered a heartless person, but it turned out that wasn't the case.

Not long after, Zhu Yuan took out the light yellow household registration paper from Qingyang County and handed it over with both hands.

The Black Bull Gang leader took it, unfolded it, glanced at it, and then his gaze swept over the words "Not a Ding Yi Kou, Zhu Yuan, age 13" and the official seal below. After confirming that everything was correct, he handed it back to Zhu Yuan, his expression softening somewhat.

"Okay, let's go." The leader waved to his two henchmen, then turned and walked into the depths of the alley.

They didn't linger here, as they were on their way to the next place.

The fee is 70 coins for adults and 35 coins for the elderly and children. This is the normal rule. If you don't have a household registration in Qingyang County, you have to pay double the fee.

One adult costs 140 coins.

The old woman had to pay thirty-five coins every month, which was exactly the amount of rent he paid after bargaining.

"Mother-in-law, you weren't trying to deny it just now, were you?"

The old woman remained silent upon hearing this.

"It's too dangerous to do that. Paying to ensure our safety is what's important to us."

"I know, I know."

Understanding the old woman's good intentions, Zhu Yuan didn't say anything more. After seeing the old woman into the house, he returned to his own hut to prepare for sleep.

The "peace money" at the dock will also be collected in about half a month.

This is not a pressing matter for Zhu Yuan.

...

Time flies.

Six days later.

After unlocking the second characteristic of the porter profession, his daily income at the dock is either 91 or 98 coins.

If he worked a little harder, he could earn even more.

But people think he's already working incredibly hard; they don't know how relaxed he is.

Having taken this into account, Zhu Yuan restrained himself.

With a higher income, one can eat better and make their body stronger.

Therefore, his daily food expenses are now basically more than fifteen coins.

Yesterday morning, he had saved enough money, but if he converted it into silver, he probably wouldn't even have ten coins left.

So he worked another day, taking the opportunity to shower, wash his clothes, and dry them in the evening.

There are many ways to exchange copper coins for silver.

Zhu Yuan planned to go to a legitimate money shop.

There are no money shops on Qingshui Street; only the more bustling Shuainan Street has them.

Soon, Zhu Yuan arrived at the money shop on Shuainan Street.

This money shop has a small storefront, with a faded signboard hanging on the door frame.

He pushed open the door and went inside. The room was dimly lit, and there was a smell of rust mixed with the scent of ink.

Behind the counter sat a middle-aged man in a long gown, with a balance scale and a small copper scale in front of him, and stacks of neatly arranged copper coins next to him.

Zhu Yuan stepped forward, gently placed the money bag in his hand on the counter, and said, "Shopkeeper, I'd like to exchange some silver."

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man in the long robe raised his eyelids and glanced at Zhu Yuan. His gaze lingered on Zhu Yuan's neat and tidy short brown clothes before falling on the slightly heavy money bag in his hand. His face remained expressionless.

"How much are you planning to exchange?"

"How's the market now?" Zhu Yuan didn't answer immediately, but asked first.

"One hundred and three coins can be exchanged for one qian of silver," the middle-aged man in the long gown stated the price in a calm tone.

Zhu Yuan quickly calculated in his mind, then nodded: "Then give me one tael of silver."

"Um."

The middle-aged man in the long gown responded, took out a small balance scale from under the counter, and then took out a silver ingot of about one ounce and placed it on the scale pan. He adjusted the weights as he spoke.

"One thousand and thirty coins, plus five coins for fire loss, totaling one thousand and thirty-five coins."

"OK."

Zhu Yuan responded, then reached out and untied the money bag. He first took out ten strings of copper coins that he had prepared beforehand, then carefully counted out another thirty-five loose coins and pushed them all in front of the other party.

The middle-aged man in the long gown took the money, first weighed the ten strings of coins in his hand, then quickly counted the thirty-five loose coins. After confirming that everything was correct, he handed the small silver ingot and the loose silver on the scale to Zhu Yuan, holding them together in a clean, soft cloth.

Zhu Yuan took the silver; it felt cool and heavy in his hand.

He carefully examined its quality before gently tucking it into the innermost pocket of his body.

Just as he thought, if he had come here yesterday, he would have less than ten coins left today.

He still has seventy-seven coins on him.

He nodded slightly to the middle-aged man in a long gown behind the counter, then turned and walked out of the money shop.

With this one or two taels of silver, I can go to the Dongyun Martial Arts School.