Observing Wanfa from the martial arts school servants

Chapter 2 Martial Arts School

By the time we returned to Willow Leaf Village, it was already getting dark.

Several villagers were squatting at the village entrance chatting idly.

Seeing Lin Mu walk by, he deliberately lowered his voice, but his eyes glanced over.

"Look, you're back. Is there any work in town?"

"What kind of work could he possibly do? With that build..."

"I heard that his second uncle wanted him to vacate the house, but he refused."

"Tsk, these young people are so naive. What's the use of guarding two dilapidated houses..."

Lin Mu didn't stop walking, his face expressionless, but his heart clenched.

He knew that these people weren't necessarily all that bad.

But the fact that my second uncle asked the village chief to rent his house is probably known to everyone in the village.

Fifty coins in rent was no small sum for the village. Since it was handled by the clan or the village, some people would always get a cut.

With interests at stake, who would speak up for this lonely young man?

Lin Mu felt considerable pressure.

He quickened his pace and walked back to his dilapidated little courtyard.

"Bang!"

The courtyard gate closed behind him.

It was darker inside than outside, with only Lin Mu's breathing heard.

Or... should we just forget about it?

The thought popped into my head.

Should we rent out a room, as my second uncle suggested?

Even just leave yourself a room to stay in.

They could get a sum of money temporarily, which would also silence the gossip in the village.

At least, we can get through this hurdle.

The next moment, Lin Mu extinguished that thought.

No.

The cheapest houses in town cost at least 100 coins a month.

To establish yourself in the town, you not only need a household registration, but also a guarantor to prove that you are not a migrant.

For a commoner like myself living in the village, if I want to move to the town permanently, I either have to spend a lot of money to buy a residence permit, or I need to have a decent job and an employer to vouch for me.

This is all money.

What we lack most right now is money.

Not to mention, getting rid of their status as commoners and becoming legitimate townspeople or law-abiding citizens would require even more money to bribe officials.

If we can't even get through this current predicament, how can we talk about the future?

Lin Mu stood up, calculating the eighty coins he had left.

Too little.

He made up his mind.

If all else fails, just rent out one room.

I'll hold onto the other place myself, which will give me a month or two to tide me over, and I'll have some money in hand, which will give me more confidence to look for work in town.

At least, they won't be immediately kicked out and forced to sleep on the streets.

This decision brought Lin Mu a little relief, but it was followed by a deeper sense of powerlessness and humiliation.

They have to give away their own homes, room by room, like misers.

He hastily ate a hard biscuit and lay down fully clothed.

My mind was a mess, and I didn't fall asleep until very late.

The next day, Lin Mu woke up just as dawn was breaking.

After tidying up quickly, I went out the door.

The gate to the neighboring courtyard opened at the same time, and it was Aunt Zhou, who lived not far away.

She came out carrying her seven- or eight-year-old son, her voice shrill and loud:

"Lazybones, all you do is sleep! Look at the time! Did the wind blow our food away? Have you no sense of propriety? Will you end up like your father, stuck with two acres of barren land waiting to die? Or will you be like some people who can't even hold onto their houses..."

The child was dazed and shrank back as he was scolded.

As Aunt Zhou cursed, she glanced at Lin Mu, who had just left the house, out of the corner of her eye.

Lin Mu didn't stop walking; he kept his head down and walked past the mother and daughter.

His face remained expressionless, as if he hadn't heard the veiled insults at all.

He just instinctively tightened his fingers inside his sleeve.

We arrived in town early.

There's not much activity at the dock; I guess no ships have arrived yet.

Just as Lin Mu was wondering whether he should take another stroll through the alley behind the restaurant, he heard two peddlers carrying loads on their shoulders chatting as they walked ahead.

"Have you heard? A new martial arts school opened at the end of East Street!"

"I've heard about it before. It's called Changfeng Martial Arts School. The plaque was officially hung up yesterday. It was quite a grand affair, and they invited a lot of people to a banquet."

"That's right. I heard the master is a skilled fighter from the south. That's why he's recruiting today."

"Hiring apprentices? That would cost a fortune, wouldn't it?"

"It's not an apprenticeship, it's for odd jobs. I just passed by there, the notice was still up. It said they need someone quick and efficient, with good eyesight. The monthly wage is about fifty coins, plus a meal..."

The two talked as they walked away.

Lin Mu stopped in his tracks.

There are two martial arts schools in town now?

Are you still hiring odd jobs?

Fifty coins a month, including one meal.

Lin Muxin was startled. This was about the same as what he usually earned from odd jobs, but it was relatively more stable.

More importantly—do odd jobs at the martial arts school!

This means that he can now legitimately and for extended periods stay in the martial arts school.

Every day you can watch the apprentices practice martial arts, see the instructors giving guidance, and you might even see the master occasionally demonstrating.

Isn't this the observation opportunity I've been dreaming of?

As long as you can get in, you're guaranteed to get something from the panel.

Even if it's just basic stance training and crude punches and kicks, it's still the first step into martial arts!

Will the news be accurate?

The notice has been posted, so it shouldn't be fake, right?

Lin Mu took a deep breath.

An opportunity, this is absolutely a godsend.

I can't miss this opportunity; I just hope I'll be blessed with good fortune.

Lin Mu immediately turned around and walked towards East Street.

Zhao Meng quickly followed.

Changfeng Martial Arts School is located at the end of East Street, in a slightly out-of-the-way location.

The storefront isn't as grand as Zhenshan Martial Arts School, but the courtyard looks quite large.

Sure enough, there was a red notice posted at the door, which said that two handymen were needed, and that they should be diligent, honest and quick.

A dozen or so people were already peering in from the doorway.

A middle-aged man dressed as a butler stood at the door, his gaze sweeping over the people who came to apply for the job.

Soon, the screening process began.

The process is simple: they just go up to you, ask your name, address, age, and what you did before.

It mainly depends on whether the person seems honest and whether they speak fluently.

Lin Mu was at the back of the line, feeling a little uneasy.

When it was his turn, he tried to straighten his back and answer the questions clearly.

"Lin Mu, from Willow Leaf Village, is sixteen years old. He has worked as a cook in a restaurant and as a porter at the docks. He has done many odd jobs and is quite nimble."

The butler glanced at Lin Mu a few times, seemingly thinking he was too young and not strong enough, and frowned slightly.

But in the end, he nodded and pointed to the side:

"Go wait over there."

Lin Mu felt relieved.

In the end, only five people, including Lin Mu, were left behind.

The butler cleared his throat and looked at the five of them.

"You guys have passed the first hurdle, but this menial job looks simple, but there's a trick to it."

"The next three days will be a trial period. The five of you will stay and work at the martial arts school. After three days, the school will retain two of you. There will be no wages for these three days, only one lunch provided. Those who are willing can stay, and those who are not can leave now."

Three days of work for nothing, only one meal provided?

Two people hesitated for a moment, then turned and left.

There are three left. Besides Lin Mu, one is a kind-hearted man who looks to be in his early thirties, and the other is a dark-skinned boy who is about the same age as Lin Mu.

The butler nodded: "You three, come in. Remember, a martial arts school has its rules. Keep your hands and feet clean, keep your eyes on the line. Don't look at what you shouldn't look at, don't ask what you shouldn't ask. Talk less, do more."

"Yes," the three replied.

Lin Mu followed them through the gates of the martial arts school.

A strong smell of sweat hit me.

In the spacious courtyard, only a few teenagers dressed in matching gray training uniforms were shouting and practicing their boxing, their movements synchronized and powerful.

Beside him, a sharp-looking coach stood with his hands behind his back, his keen eyes scanning everyone.

Lin Mu's heart began to beat faster involuntarily.

He quickly glanced at the booklet in his mind.

Name: Lin Mu

Martial Arts: None available.

[Skills: Measurement (Beginner), Carpentry (Unskilled), Knife Skills (Unskilled), Wok Flipping (Unskilled)...]

[Currently available replicable slots: 1/3]

The opportunity is right in front of us.

I must stay here for the next three days.