Honey, you didn't really drugged me, did you?

After walking for a quarter of an hour more, Chen Jie felt Doctor Bai growing increasingly heavy, heavier and heavier...

His body had to admit, it was still too weak. Just as he was about to give in, he suddenly remembered the Yang Chun Skill and immediately adjusted his breathing to employ the breathing technique of the Yang Chun Skill.

At first, there wasn't much of a change, but gradually, Chen Jie felt his breaths becoming much smoother, not at all strained. And as his breathing eased, his body also didn't feel as worn out as before; it began slowly recovering.

It even got easier as he walked.

This Yang Chun Skill really had some substance to it!

And so, he continued on his journey downhill, finally returning to the village, where Chen Jie brought Doctor Bai home.

At home, there was only Doctor Bai's daughter. The son-in-law hadn't come back as he was busy at the fishery.

Seeing Doctor Bai so severely injured, the daughter was terrified and hastily inquired if everything was okay. Doctor Bai waved his hand and said, "It's nothing, just twisted my foot."

Chen Jie helped Doctor Bai into the house and settled him on the bed. Only then did Doctor Bai breathe a sigh of relief.

Naturally, the daughter was quick to serve Doctor Bai water.

Deeming nothing else needed his attention in the house, Chen Jie stepped outside where he saw many grinding stones of various sizes scattered about, seemingly used for strength training.

He remembered that Doctor Bai's son-in-law was named Wu Zhong, a Ming Jin Martial Artist who had broken through the ranks.

It must be part of his strength training regimen, he thought.

While he pondered, Doctor Bai called his daughter inside.

"Go to the cabinet and get three taels of silver to give to him."

The daughter was startled and looked at Doctor Bai, "Father, isn't that too much?"

Doctor Bai said, "Is my life not worth three taels of silver?"

The woman was taken aback, then immediately followed up, "That's not what I meant, father."

Doctor Bai asked, "Do you know who he is?"

"Who?"

The Bai family had just recently moved back to Xiantao Village, so the younger generation was not well acquainted.

"Chen Yongwang's grandson."

"Ah! It can't be Chen Jiusi, that gambling addict!"

"Shh, keep your voice down."

Doctor Bai made a silencing gesture, then continued, "Sigh~ I lost to Chen Yongwang back in the day, and even though I didn't accept it in my heart, his medical skills were certainly extraordinary, and Chen Jiusi should be considered a descendant of a famous doctor."

"It's a pity he got involved with gambling, but today I saw that his understanding of medicine is quite innovative, and he has some talent…"

"Father, you're not thinking of taking him as an apprentice, are you?"

Doctor Bai replied, "Why not? I lost to his grandmother, and now taking him as an apprentice, even Chen Yongwang who has passed away should know the breadth of my heart, Bai Wenjing's."

"However... well, give him the silver first. If he accepts it, then leave the matter at that and consider the debt repaid. If he doesn't accept, go to his house tomorrow and say I'm too busy here and want to take on an apprentice. Ask him if he'd like to."

Having said this, Doctor Bai sent his daughter out.

The daughter soon came to the courtyard and saw Chen Jie slapping a grinding stone. Smiling at the sight, she said, "Jiu Si, isn't it?"

"Hello, Auntie."

Chen Jie walked over, and the woman said, "Hmm, we owe you a big one today. Without you, our old master would have been in danger. I won't say too much—great kindness doesn't need thanks. Here, take these three taels of silver."

"Ah, no, I can't accept this."

Chen Jie immediately refused, but the woman insisted, "Take it."

Chen Jie immediately jumped aside and said, "Auntie, I've brought the person here, so I won't stay any longer. Please tell Doctor Bai for me that I'm taking my leave."

Chen Jie left as if fleeing.

Inside the house, Bai Wenjing was watching through the window. Seeing that Chen Jie had left without taking any money, she smiled and nodded, choosing not to say anything more.

The woman also watched Chen Jie's retreating figure and couldn't help but look up to him a bit more. It seemed that Chen Jiusi wasn't as bad as people said.

The woman went back inside and said, "Father, he didn't take the money."

Bai Wenjing replied, "When Ah Zhong returns, tell him to prepare a bigger fish. Tomorrow you go to his house and ask if he's willing to take me as his apprentice."

"Yes, Father."

Chen Jie left the Bai family and looked back over his shoulder at the few large tile-roofed houses made of green bricks in the village, feeling a bit envious.

He would absolutely never accept the money for what had happened today.

Accepting the money would mean that he had repaid the kindness, but his goal wasn't the three taels of silver; it was to use Doctor Bai as a platform to eventually climb the big tree of the Fishing Guild.

You must not underestimate the Fishing Guild.

Daqian was a nation founded by foreigners who were very wary of the Han people. Therefore, although there were government offices and county magistrates everywhere, most were house slaves of the Mulan people or Han people who had risen to their positions through the Mulan's recommendation.

Therefore, the real holders of local power were the Darugachi sent by the Mulan people to oversee the locals.

In order to limit the power of the Han county magistrates who had risen through recommendation, the Darugachi made heavy use of the local guilds to help manage the localities, achieving a balance of power and, incidentally, making a profit.

As such, these local guilds had great power, and a gang leader could sit on par with the county magistrate.

And locally, the influence of a guild was definitely more intimidating than the government officials at the yamen.

So in this world, being involved in a guild had quite a promising future.

This was similar to joining the Green Guild in early 20th century Shanghai.

After leaving the Bai family, Chen Jie headed straight for the town; soon he arrived there and found a pharmacy, a subsidiary industry of the Fishing Guild.

Chen Jie sold the ten-year-old ginseng he had today for three taels and eight maces of silver.

The price wasn't high, but it wasn't a rip-off either.

With money in hand, Chen Jie began to shop. His own home was as bare as could be, having food for one meal but not the next, so he had to first address his basic material needs.

Chen Jie started by purchasing a hundred catties of sorghum rice, then some fat pork to render into lard at home, which would be superb.

Next came oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar.

It is often said that to start a household you need the seven necessities: firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea.

Chen Jie bought all of these items before he went to the pawnshop to find the shopkeeper and redeem a pawn.

Chen Jie remembered that Su Yunjin had pawned a hairpin her mother had given her to buy arsenic. The hairpin was made of copper, silver-plated, and not particularly valuable, yet that damn shopkeeper was demanding one tael of silver from him.

Chen Jie thought it over and still decided to pay the money.

Originally, Chen Jie had also wanted to make new clothes for his two daughters, but after spending most of the money, all he was left with was eight maces of broken silver.

Chen Jie borrowed a wheelbarrow from someone in the same village and started to push these items toward home.

But unexpectedly, on the way, he ran into a group of people. The leader had a face full of smallpox scars and immediately smiled and came forward when he saw Chen Jie and especially the cartload of goods, shouting from afar, "Brother Jiu Si!"

Chen Jie recognized him, Ma Liu, the lackey of Yu's Treasure House. In places like Macau, such men are called Betting Agents.

In the information update from yesterday, there was also the news of his collusion with the young master of Yu's Treasure House.

It said that Yu Sanliu, that fat pig, had taken a fancy to his wife and planned to set him up so that he would lose Su Yunjin to him.

And this Ma Liu was his henchman. Chen Jie squinted and smiled, saying, "Oh, Brother Ma Liu, huh."