Chapter 1
Ding’an
Dafeng, Ding’an City, Chundu District.
The sun was setting in the west. In the ancient and heavy Ding’an City, rows of yellow-brimmed buildings were no longer as noisy as in the morning.
In the Fugui Rice Shop, Lin Yan quickly wrote.
“On the third of July, Li Yan from Liaoqian District bought 20 catties of rice for 100 copper coins.”
“…”
“On the eighth of July, Chen Dong of Black Ink District bought ten catties of rice for sixty copper coins.”
“…”
“20th of July. The w.a.n.g Family of Eternal Autumn District bought 50 catties of rice for one tael of silver.”
“…”
“A total of 5,400 catties in July. The cash register is 40 taels of silver and 700 copper coins.”
After comparing the accounts, Lin Yan put down his pen and sighed slightly.
Over the past month, the price of grain had been getting higher and higher. At the beginning of the month, it was only five copper coins per catty, but at the end of the month, it had already doubled. It was more than ten copper coins per catty.
He only earned 300 copper coins a month as an accountant. After deducting 50 copper coins to pay taxes, it was only enough to buy more than 20 catties of white rice.
If the price of grain was higher, he would not even be able to make a living.
“Lin Yan! It’s payday. Come over quickly!”
“Here they come!”
Lin Yan stood up and went out. Wu San was waiting at the door. When he saw him, he quickly dragged him to the accounting room.
Wu San was the Fugui Trading Company’s laborer. He was in charge of transporting rice and grains. He was burly, straightforward, and a chatterbox.
He was quite familiar with Lin Yan.
“Let’s go, let’s go. I heard that there’s an increase in taxes again! F*ck, what does the Dingdeng Battle have to do with us? This group of old b.a.s.t.a.r.ds have already increased our taxes for the fourth time this year!”
Upon hearing the tax increase, Lin Yan was also shocked and followed Wu San forward quickly.
As he was walking too quickly, Wu San accidentally b.u.mped into a tall and strong man with a fierce face.
“F*ck! Are you in a hurry to die!”
The burly man slapped Wu San, causing him to roll on the ground. Half of his face was swollen.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Master Geng, after you, after you!”
Wu San grimaced in pain, but he still smiled obsequiously and nodded.
He was already burly, but the burly man in front of him was even stronger than him. His arms could practically run horses, and he was extremely fierce.
“Pui! You two suckers. I’m so unlucky!”
The burly man spat and swaggered into the accounting room.
Old Chen, who was in charge of distributing the monthly money, chuckled and said, “Master Geng, you’re here. This is your monthly money. Please keep it well!”
Master Geng deliberately took out a few taels of silver and said loudly, “Didn’t you say that there was a tax increase? Why is it still three taels?”
“Master Geng, you must be joking. How would I dare to raise taxes on you?”
“Not bad, you’re very sensible!”
After the guard surnamed Geng left, Lin Yan helped Wu San, who was grimacing, over and lined up at the back.
When it was finally their turn, Old Chen’s wrinkled face was stiff. He took out the name list and said, “Put your thumbprint on your name!”
“Yes, yes, yes!”
Wu San pressed his thumbprint and hurriedly spread his hands. A handful of copper coins was casually thrown into Wu San’s hands.
Wu San counted them one by one and said anxiously, “Isn’t it 230 copper coins? There are only 200 copper coins here. Uncle Chen, did you count wrongly!”
“Pfft! What nonsense are you spouting! How can I be wrong when I’m counting!”
“Yes, yes, yes. However, this number is indeed too little…”
“Didn’t you hear? The government has increased taxes again! This time, it’s even higher than before. If you have 200 copper coins left, go home and feel happy!”
“But Master Geng, he…”
“Master Geng? Master Geng is a martial arts pract.i.tioner, a Strength Realm martial artist! You’re just a b.u.mpkin who works hard. How dare you compare yourself to him?”
“You…”
Lin Yan quickly pulled him back. “Forget it!”
After persuading Wu San, Lin Yan also received his monthly salary. 220, a total of 30 less than last month.
Old Chen’s att.i.tude towards Lin Yan was slightly better. They were both accountants.
“Xiao Lin, have you signed the contract?”
Lin Yan shook his head.
“Xiao Lin, don’t blame me for being nosy. What’s the most important thing about accounting? It’s not doing math quick or good, but it’s the trust of the main family!
“Look, there are only three people in charge of the rice bill. The other two are in their fifties. You’re the youngest, and your calculations are fast and accurate. But why is it that their monthly salary is five hundred copper coins, but you only have three hundred?”
Lin Yan remained silent.
“Listen to Uncle Chen. Don’t be stubborn. Sign a contract with the boss and your monthly salary will immediately double.
“As long as you sign the contract, even if you don’t have the same status as me in the future, you will at least be the number one figure in the accounting room.”
Lin Yan only nodded. “Thank you for your reminder, Uncle Chen.”
Seeing that Lin Yan had been perfunctory, Old Chen could not help but feel a little embarra.s.sed. He said in an old-fashioned manner, “It’s not easy to find a good job these days.
“In the outer circle, there are beggars who starve to death and refugees who die of illness every day.
“Don’t think that you can make a name for yourself just because you have some ability. Such thoughts are the most dangerous!
“People like us only have a few chances in our lives. If we miss it, we’ll really miss it!”
Lin Yan nodded again. “Thank you for your guidance, Uncle Chen. I’ll leave first.”
Looking at Lin Yan’s back as he left, Old Chen snorted. “Another arrogant person!”
He was already in his fifties. He had seen too many young people who were so proud. They felt that their brain was alive and they were full of hope for the future. They always felt that they could make a name for themselves, but they were unwilling to sign a contract.
In the end, they would either be depressed and poor, or they would die an unnatural death.
Shaking his head, he shouted, “Next!”
——————
At the door, Wu San was both envious and jealous.
It was as if he expected better from him. “You, I really don’t know what you’re thinking. That’s five hundred coins. Double of what you earn right now!”
Lin Yan sighed woodenly. “Then go and sign it.”
“If I had your accounting ability, I would have signed it long ago!”
Lin Yan shook his head.
Although the contract was not a slave contract, the content was not much different.
Once he signed the contract, not only would his life and death be in their hands, but he would also be like this for the rest of his life.
The two of them walked all the way to the River Surveillance Bridge, one to the left and the other to the right.
Ding’an City was not big. Its layout was similar to Chang’an in his previous life, but it was much smaller. The streets were divided into more than 30 districts. It was divided into the inner, middle, and outer circles.
Lin Yan was now at the Chundu District in the central ring.
He was going to the Muqing Book House in the Liuying District to pick up his sister, Lin Xiaozhi.
Along the way, Lin Yan pa.s.sed by a sugar shop. He hesitated for a moment before entering the shop.
There were two or three customers in the shop, and business was bleak. Lin Yan carefully picked out a small bag of sweets.
“Boss, how much is this?”
“Thirty coins.”
“That expensive?”
“Take it or leave it!”
The boss rolled his eyes.
Lin Yan hesitated for a moment before pouring out more than half of the sweets. He only left three small pieces before counting out ten copper coins and handing them to the boss.
Suddenly, there was a commotion on the main road outside.
“Tiger Camp recruitment! Tiger Camp recruitment!”
The boss’s expression changed drastically. “Close the door, close the door, close the door!”
Lin Yan did not understand. Hearing the boss’s anxious shout, his heart skipped a beat. He quickly pushed the door closed with the two customers.
Someone outside continued to shout, “Tiger Camp recruitment! Tiger Camp recruitment!
“Those with healthy limbs and a strong physique can become soldiers. They will receive ten taels of family allowance when they enter the camp. Their monthly salary is two taels!
“Anyone who enters the Tiger Camp can enjoy the Spring Jade Club for a night!”
Through the crack in the door, Lin Yan saw a few leather-armored soldiers shouting as they rushed over from the central square of Liuying District.
Along the way, some commoners stopped to watch the commotion. There was no panic.
In the sugar shop, a customer was puzzled. “Boss, why are you closing the shop? It’s just the Tiger Camp recruitment. This is the fourth time this month.”
“Lower your voice!” The boss scolded in a low voice. “What do you know? The Tiger Camp hasn’t recruited many soldiers this month. They’re definitely going to capture commoners now!”
Lin Yan’s heart tightened as he looked through the crack in the door.
Many people who did not know what was going on were watching the commotion when they saw the few leather-armored soldiers suddenly rush out and punch several people in the crowd unconscious!
Everyone cried out in alarm, scaring the birds and beasts into scattering.
However, the leather-armored soldiers were even faster and knocked out a few more in a row.
Seeing that everyone had run away, the leather-armored soldier picked up a few people and left without looking back.
“Phew, they’re finally gone.” The boss heaved a sigh of relief.
The surrounding customers were all shocked. “How dare they capture people on the streets!”
The boss snorted. “The Tiger Camp is specially built for the Dingdeng Battle. It happens once every four years and is directly managed by the city lord. What’s wrong with capturing a few of you?”
“But, but… the payments they offered are very high! Two taels of silver is almost enough to hire a martial artist. Why should they capture people on the streets?”
The boss pursed his lips. “What is the Dingdeng Battlefield? That’s the war that happens once every four years. Dozens of cities are fighting each other for the rankings.
“Only a fool would send himself to his death with a slim chance of survival.
“This battle concerns the future of the City Lord. He can’t recruit anyone. He’s in a hurry. What’s the big deal about capturing people on the streets? I saw someone break into the door more than ten years ago…”
The few of them chatted with each other. Soon, there was no movement outside the door.
Lin Yan walked out cautiously. There was no one on the street outside.
“Another Dingdeng Battle…”
Suppressing his panic, Lin Yan looked up at the sky. After being delayed by the Tiger Camp, it was a little late.
In order to shorten the time, he decided to take the Black Ink District in the outer ring and take a shortcut there.
Walking out carefully, he did not know where the boundary was, but the surrounding environment suddenly changed.
The road was covered in yellow dust, and there were all kinds of rotting trash piled up in the corners. There was also yellow and black air-dried excrement.
The Ink Lake in the center of the Black Ink District was even more foul-smelling. A thick layer of black oil floated on it. It was unknown if it was excrement or trash. Occasionally, one could see humanoid objects bobbing up and down, like corpses.
When they pa.s.sed through a dark and narrow winding alley, Lin Yan saw a few skinny beggars lying in the rancid trash.
The moment they saw him, their eyes lit up like wild beast’s, and their bodies trembled like zombies in a movie.
He was terrified. He covered his mouth and quickly ran past.
It was not until he left the Black Ink District and walked onto White Tiger Avenue that he heaved a long sigh of relief.
Recalling what he had just seen, a hint of melancholy flashed across his eyes.
If he was really just a young man who knew how to settle accounts, if he hadn’t awakened his wisdom three months ago, or if that golden finger hadn’t appeared when he awakened his wisdom…
After witnessing that scene just now, he might also sign a contract with the Fugui Rice Shop and be an accountant in peace from now on, living an ignorant life, right?
He was actually not from this world.
In his previous life, he grew up under the red flag. For some reason, he reincarnated into this world that was similar to an ancient dynasty. His intelligence was covered in dust, and he forgot his previous life. He spent 17 years in a daze.
It was not until three months ago that he was able to solve the mystery and recover his wisdom from his previous life. He even awakened a magical divine item called the Golden Bodhi Scripture.
Thinking of the Golden Bodhi Scripture, Lin Yan focused and an ancient page immediately appeared in his mind.
The function of the Golden Bodhi Scripture was very simple. It could nurture the Black Jade Bodhi. It could sublimate a skill with 100% proficiency and give birth to a strange special effect ability.
When he awakened, the Golden Bodhi Scripture came with a Black Jade Bodhi. Coincidentally, his original body had a skill with 100% proficiency, so he used it directly.
Now that two to three months had pa.s.sed, the new Black Jade Bodhi was only less than 10% nurtured. At this speed, he might not even be able to acc.u.mulate one in a year or two.
Thinking of this, Lin Yan sighed slightly and walked much faster.
According to the remaining information, the speed at which the Black Jade Bodhi was being nurtured seemed to be related to his mental state.
The better his life was, the more energetic he would be, and the faster he would be able to nurture it.
For the past three months, he had been running for his life every day. He barely had enough food to eat, and he was constantly on tenterhooks.
In such a life situation, it was naturally extremely slow to nurture it.