On the carriage, Zhong Lin held a small cloth bag with a joyful expression on his face. Inside was the commission fee given to him by the steward of the Liu family—a full ten taels of silver.
Committing murder and arson on Zhang Kun's family, plus the silver taken from the bandit leader's corpse, all together amounted to no more than nine taels, which cost several lives.
And now, with just two paintings, he earned a full fifteen taels of silver, which converts to over ten thousand large coins. In Black Mountain County, three hundred large coins were enough to cover a month's expenses for a family of three, and that was with enough to eat.
Fifteen taels of silver, spent frugally, could support a family of three for four or five years—a significant fortune.
"Finally, I can afford to eat meat freely, and I can also pay for tuition to learn to read," Zhong Lin's joy was evident on his face.
Reaching East Market early, Zhong Lin got off the carriage and ran to the meat shop to buy two pounds of pork belly, then bought a large rooster on the way home.
Zhong Lin had set his plan: as long as conditions allowed, he must eat well, never allow himself to go hungry, and he must nurture his body to the best condition in the shortest time possible.
As he walked by a Martial Arts School, Zhong Lin couldn't help but stop and watch the shouts from within.
The gate of the Martial Arts School wasn't closed, and standing at the entrance, one could clearly see the plaza where the apprentices were. Some were lifting stones, others brandishing long spears, some wielding swords, all in a heated frenzy.
This Martial Arts School was called "Qingfeng Martial Arts Academy." Zhong Lin had inquired about it before. The fee was high, thirty taels without negotiation, and it covered only three months. If one wanted to continue learning after three months, they would have to pay again.
Zhong Lin couldn't help but recall the saying from his previous life, "Poor in literature, rich in martial arts"—thirty taels of silver! Most people truly couldn't afford it.
"No rush, take it slowly."
After returning home, Zhong Lin made an iron pot stew, adding some dried beans and sun-dried pumpkin slices as side dishes, surrounding it with some unleavened bread made from miscellaneous flour.
The moment the pot was uncovered, the rich aroma instantly filled the entire courtyard. Zhong Lin and the little boy crouching by the pot almost drooled.
"Time to eat, time to eat."
After eating to satisfaction, Zhong Lin, carrying his writing supplies, went to set up a stall at Shi Ding Lou again. After all, he had rented the tables and chairs for a day and couldn't let them go to waste.
After hanging another painting of "Nie Xiaoqian," a crowd quickly gathered around him once more.
The novel three-dimensional painting gave an impression as though it might walk out of the frame at any moment, attracting more and more onlookers. Though Zhong Lin's fee was a bit high, that didn't stop curious people from trying it out. In the end, everyone left satisfied, holding their paintings.
In just one day, Zhong Lin made a name for himself throughout Black Mountain County.
Outside the crowd, the scholar Xu Heng gazed at Zhong Lin as he painted with a sullen expression, coldly snorting: "A tree that stands out in a forest is sure to be destroyed by the wind, a heap of earth upon the shore is sure to be swept by the current. Do you really think talent alone will make you rise in Black Mountain County?"
In the evening, Zhong Lin returned to Sweet Water Alley, carrying his writing supplies in his left hand and the pig's head meat he had just bought from the roadside in his right, looking light-hearted and relaxed.
The Sweet Water Alley where Zhong Lin lived was located in the southeast of Black Mountain County, with houses that were all low clusters, belonging to a civilian district with winding, twisting alleyways.
At this moment, describing Zhong Lin with the phrase "thrilled with a spring breeze" wouldn't be excessive. He had painted six paintings beside Shi Ding Lou in the afternoon, charging three taels of silver for each. In just one afternoon, he earned eighteen taels of silver.
Adding in the fifteen taels from the morning, he made thirty-three taels of silver in just one day—enough for the Martial Arts School fee.
"Paint for another two days and then stop, find a scholar to learn reading, then go to the Martial Arts School. When the money runs out, I'll continue painting—perfect."
Zhong Lin made a short-term plan for the future. He hadn't forgotten that he was earning money to engage in Martial Arts. Being reincarnated, he intended to live freely and enjoyably.
While thinking, he turned a corner and encountered a tall, hefty man walking toward him.
The man's eyes were fixed on Zhong Lin, with a face full of aggressive meat, making one's heart tremble.
Zhong Lin instinctively felt something was wrong. He halted, intending to exit the alley.
Behind him, another short man appeared out of nowhere, grinning as he blocked the exit, with a playful and mocking expression.
Trapped by the two men.
Zhong Lin's mind raced instantly. He was new to Black Mountain County and had no chance to build enmities. He had never seen these two people before, so there was only one explanation.
Zhong Lin's expression darkened. He reached into his chest, took out a cloth bag, and placed it on the ground, saying, "The commission is all here. Can you let me pass?"
Confronted by the two thugs, and without a bow and arrow, the best strategy to ensure his safety was to avoid disaster by relinquishing his funds.
He would find an opportunity to settle the score later.
The short, sturdy man behind him moved closer, playing as he spoke, "Tsk tsk, kid, you're quite savvy. Daring to do business on my turf without paying respect to the local boss—are you looking for death?"
Zhong Lin took a deep breath and bowed, "Brother, I'm new here and ignorant of the rules. I've been neglectful of you two gentlemen. Please forgive me. I give up the entire commission today as an apology. In the future, I will honor both of you gentlemen with daily earnings."
"Haha, Xing San, do you hear this? This kid is indeed talented and has good eyes. I like it," the short, sturdy man expressed satisfaction, grabbing the cloth bag Zhong Lin had placed on the ground and weighing it in his hand, smiling broadly at the heft.
He tucked the money bag into his waist, then reached out to pat Zhong Lin's cheeks, each pat resonating loudly, quickly reddening Zhong Lin's face.
"Remember, my name is Qin Yong, known as Qin Er. Seeing how well your business went today, I won't ask for more. Just provide twenty taels of silver daily in the future. Don't think about running; I know where you live, and you have a younger brother, right?"
Qin Yong bared his yellowed teeth at the door, with a fierce look on his face.
Zhong Lin's heart instantly chilled, a fire of anger rising from within, as cold murderous intent swept over him.
Lowering his head quickly, he said, "Yes, yes, I wouldn't dare forget."
"Good, and don't think of twenty taels as much. Since you're paying tribute, you're my person, Qin Er's man. If someone troubles you, just mention my name, understand?"
"Yes, thank you, Second Master."
"I'll wait for you here tomorrow. Don't be late."
"How could I let Second Master wait? I'll deliver it right to your home, so I can also seize the opportunity to get closer to you," Zhong Lin said with a smile.
"Haha, sensible, not bad at all. Then deliver it to my house, Huaihua Alley, No. 6 Jia—don't forget."
With that, Qin Yong laughed heartily, turning and leaving in great strides, followed closely by the silent burly man, Xing San, who patted Zhong Lin on the back of his head as he passed by, making Zhong Lin stagger and almost fall face-first to the ground.
"Haha, a little chick."
Only after the two men left the alley did Zhong Lin get up from the ground. His face no longer wore the previous obsequiousness, and his eyes were filled with coldness and murderous intent.
"I still underestimated the darkness of this world! I just want to live well, why are so many people forcing me?"