From Beggar to Emperor: My Profession Has Its Own Characteristics

early morning.

Dongyun Martial Arts School.

Zhu Yuan arrived at the martial arts school early today.

When he arrived at the martial arts school, it was still early morning, and the training ground was shrouded in a thin layer of mist. The school's doors had only just opened.

He came so early today mainly because he had something to ask his senior brother Zhou Ping.

This is related to the new job he wants to pursue.

"Senior Brother Zhou."

Zhu Yuan strode to the edge of the small training ground, and respectfully clasped his hands in a salute to Zhou Ping, who was stretching his muscles, with a look of seeking guidance on his face.

"Zhu Yuan, you're here very early today. Is there something you need?" Zhou Ping turned around upon hearing this, stopped what he was doing, and looked at Zhu Yuan, who had clearly come early on purpose, with a hint of inquiry on his face.

"There's something I'd like to ask you for guidance on, senior brother." Zhu Yuan nodded.

Seeking guidance from others can help you avoid taking unnecessary detours.

He understands this principle very well.

"Speak, what is it?" Zhou Ping asked directly.

"It's like this, Senior Brother Zhou. I'll probably stop being a porter in the future and want to start a small business, becoming a peddler to earn some money. So I'd like to ask you, what should I pay attention to when going to the tax office of the county government to complete the procedures?" Zhu Yuan clearly explained his purpose.

"Oh, you can even run your own small business now, not bad, not bad." Zhou Ping nodded with a look of approval on his face, and then solemnly instructed, "When you go to the tax office, just follow the normal procedures."

"However, be careful not to mention that you are a registered disciple of our Dongyun Martial Arts School."

Zhu Yuan was puzzled and subconsciously asked, "Why?"

Zhou Ping didn't explain much, but simply lowered his voice and gave a brief reminder.

"The Tax Bureau has a very good relationship with Tianhuang Martial Arts School."

With just this one word of guidance from Zhou Ping, Zhu Yuan immediately understood the key point and a look of realization appeared on his face.

"Understood, thank you for reminding me, Senior Brother Zhou."

The relationships between the five major martial arts schools in Qingyang County are complex and not monolithic.

Among the other four martial arts schools, Tianhuang Martial Arts School and Dongyun Martial Arts School had the worst relationship and frequent friction.

Zhu Yuan had already learned about this information more than a month ago.

"Okay, go cultivate." Seeing that he understood, Zhou Ping said no more.

"Yes, Senior Brother Zhou."

Zhu Yuan responded and stopped disturbing Zhou Ping. He turned and walked to a familiar open space in the small training ground, calmed his mind, assumed a stance, and began to practice the horse stance seriously, coordinating it with the basic breathing method he was already familiar with.

Zhou Ping glanced at Zhu Yuan one last time, and seeing that he quickly immersed himself in focused cultivation, a look of appreciation flashed in his eyes. He then looked away and prepared to begin his own daily cultivation.

Zhu Yuan relied entirely on himself, working hard to earn a living while also diligently practicing martial arts, which was truly not easy.

Zhou Ping felt that such a person, once he grew up, would become even more persevering and tenacious.

Until noon.

After lunch.

Zhu Yuan glanced at Zhao Tiezhu, who was still practicing his stance in the training ground not far away, sweating profusely. After thinking for a moment, he decided not to disturb him.

He needs to go to Zhao Tiezhu's house now.

It would be better for Zhao Tiezhu to stay at the martial arts school and focus on his training. If this matter were mentioned to him, given Zhao Tiezhu's enthusiastic nature, he would most likely follow him without hesitation.

Zhu Yuan went to Zhao Tiezhu's house to find Zhao Dazhu and ask him to write a guarantee.

From Dongyun Martial Arts School to Zhao Dazhu's house on Xiaoyang Street, Zhu Yuan still used the familiar way of traveling.

trot.

After unlocking the third characteristic of the porter profession, he could jog with more deep and powerful breathing, and he hardly felt tired. Before long, he arrived at Zhao Dazhu's butcher shop on Xiaoyang Street with ease.

"Uncle Zhao."

At this moment, Zhao Dazhu was tidying up the meat stall.

"Huh, Zhu Yuan?" Zhao Dazhu looked up at the sound of his voice, and when he saw Zhu Yuan standing in front of his stall, his face showed obvious surprise. "What brings you here at this hour?"

According to his agreement with Zhu Yuan, Zhu Yuan was supposed to come and help him slaughter the pig the next morning.

"I have something to ask of you, Uncle Zhao," Zhu Yuan said with a sincere smile after catching his breath.

"Perfect timing, I'm about to close up shop here." Zhao Dazhu nodded, deftly putting the last few pieces of meat on the cutting board into his basket, casually covering it with a damp cloth, and then beckoning to Zhu Yuan, "Come on, let's come in and talk."

"Um."

Following Zhao Dazhu into the house, and after Zhao Dazhu sat down at the table, Zhu Yuan didn't beat around the bush and directly stated his purpose.

"Uncle Zhao, I'd like to become a peddler, and I need your help to write a guarantee."

The guarantee requires a merchant to act as guarantor; without a guarantee, he cannot apply for city residency through the normal procedures.

City registration is equivalent to an operating license.

If Dongyun Martial Arts School had a good relationship with the Tax Bureau, he might be able to obtain city residency without even going through the proper procedures.

"That's easy." Zhao Dazhu agreed without hesitation, a cheerful smile spreading across his face. "I thought it was something serious."

Not long after, Zhao Dazhu wrote him a guarantee, which basically said that Zhu Yuan was of good character and that he was willing to vouch for him.

"Zhu Yuan, take this." Zhao Dazhu blew the ink dry and handed the guarantee to Zhu Yuan, his face showing the concern of an elder. "Peddlers sell all sorts of things, they can get a little bit of everything."

"If you ever need pigskin for leather work, just come to me, and I'll give you the lowest price."

"Thank you, Uncle Zhao."

Zhu Yuan accepted the certificate with both hands, carefully folded it, and put it in his pocket, a grateful smile on his face.

He knew in his heart that he did not yet have the skill to process pigskin into leather.

Moreover, he won't stay a peddler forever; he'll probably quit once he unlocks all the peddler's job features.

Therefore, being a peddler was unlikely to last long for him.

The two sat and chatted for a while longer. Then Zhu Yuan got up, solemnly thanked Zhao Dazhu again, and said goodbye. Afterward, he walked towards the Qingyang County Tax Office.

The county government office of Qingyang County was located in the center of Qingyang County, while the tax office was located not far to the east of the county government office.

A black sign with the words "Taxation Department" hung at the entrance.

Zhu Yuan arrived here, took a deep breath, composed himself, and then pushed open the door to go inside.

The interior was dimly lit, with only a sliver of daylight filtering in through two narrow windows.

Behind the counter sat a thin man in a blue official robe, his head bowed, one hand supporting the account book and the other holding a pen, intently sketching something on the account book, making a soft rustling sound.

Hearing the door open and footsteps approaching, the thin man in the blue official robe didn't even look up, his gaze still fixed on the account book, and asked a question as if it were just a formality.

"What for?"

"To occupy a place of residence."

Zhu Yuan stepped forward and stood in front of the counter.

This is jargon used for obtaining city residency.