Chapter 6 Making Money without Being Shabby

A month had blinked by.

Chu Ning and Ji Yang's daily life was a straight line between two points.

Mealtime at the academy's canteen for food, after eating head back to the dorm courtyard to train in martial arts.

The entirety of the academy's students did likewise, everyone's first goal was to pass the three-month 500 jin assessment.

On the 15th day, Ji Yang's "Bull Demon Strength" practice reached the second layer.

Chu Ning, however, was still stuck on the first layer.

This made Chu Ning realize that his martial talents were not considered high, yet he did not get discouraged, because he had a cheating device.

With a lifespan of ten thousand years coupled with the strength increasing every day, he could make up for his martial shortcomings.

Having broken through to the second layer of "Bull Demon Strength," Ji Yang's strength had already reached 320 jin, whereas his "Bull Demon Strength" was still at the first layer, but his strength had already reached 280 jin.

Keep in mind that when he joined the academy, it wasn't the starting value of 200 jin, but a starting value of 100 jin.

In terms of strength growth, he had surpassed Ji Yang.

By the 35th day, Chu Ning's "Bull Demon Strength" finally broke through to the second layer.

At this time, his strength had already reached 300 jin.

...

The 63rd day.

Chu Ning's strength had reached 390 jin, while Ji Yang was only at 380 jin.

With one more month to go, Chu Ning understood that as long as he broke through to the third layer of "Bull Demon Strength," reaching 500 jin wouldn't be a problem.

On the contrary, Ji Yang was becoming anxious.

...

The 65th day.

"Chu Ning, let's go buy some beef at the canteen," Ji Yang suggested, wanting to supplement his diet with food after running out of medicinal herbs. Relying on the canteen's free meals alone, although including some meat, provided such a meager amount of it that he feared he couldn't reach the requirement of 500 jin in three months.

Beef was known to strengthen bones and increase strength; his older cousin had told him before coming, that one could spend money to buy beef at the canteen.

"You go ahead, I'll pass. My family didn't prepare that much money," Chu Ning said with a smile, shaking his head.

The academy did offer meat and herbs, and he had seen many students making purchases, but the prices were nearly ten times those outside. He only had a couple of silver coins on him, which in the academy couldn't even buy the amount of beef found in a bowl of Lanzhou noodles.

Ji Yang fell silent, knowing what Chu Ning said was true. Having spent over two months together every day, he had come to know Chu Ning's family situation.

...

...

At dinner time in the evening, Ji Yang didn't come to the canteen with Chu Ning.

Normally, Chu Ning would eat about eight bowls, but this time he ate ten, filling himself up completely.

After dinner, Chu Ning didn't rush back to the dormitory but walked behind the canteen to the 'A' class dormitory area.

The students who could live in the 'A' class dorms were those who had recorded a weight of over 250 jin during the assessments and each person had a room to themselves.

For the seven students living in the 'A' class dorms, reaching 500 jin in three months was not a difficult task. Therefore, unlike the desperate training of Chu Ning and the others in the 'B' class dorms, the 'A' class students often visited each other for conversations.

Chu Ning pondered for a moment then knocked on the door of room number 'A6'.

"Is it Brother Lin? Please wait a moment."

A voice came from inside the door, and shortly after, it opened, revealing a young man dressed in silk clothes. When he saw Chu Ning standing outside, the smile vanished from his face.

"Who are you and why are you knocking on my door?"

"Brother He, I'm a student from the 'B' class dorms..."

"Stop there!" He Jin interrupted Chu Ning sharply: "I'm not familiar with you to be called 'Brother He.' What do you want—speak quickly."

Chu Ning understood then that, in the hearts of the 'A' class students, they probably never considered those from the 'B' class as their equals.

"Young Master He." Chu Ning changed his form of address, "Someone of your esteemed status should focus on training, how could you be bothered with menial tasks like carrying water? I can serve in your stead, for one silver each time."

Ji Yang chose to supplement his diet with beef, and Chu Ning too needed to plan ahead. If the "Bull Demon Strength" failed to break through to the third layer, he would also need to resort to nutrients and medicine.

After much consideration, he decided to earn money by offering to carry water for the 'A' class students.

The servants who did odd jobs at the school were not allowed to enter the dormitory area where the students lived; this was something Chu Ning had learned from the gatekeeper when he last sent a letter home.

Even if those in Yi-numbered rooms had money, they would probably spend it on themselves, while those in Jia-numbered rooms felt no pressure and were not short of money.

"One tael of silver?" He Jin frowned slightly, he certainly didn't lack one tael of silver, but the servant responsible for cleaning his entire courtyard didn't make one tael in a month.

"One tael of silver is surely nothing to young master He, just like Zhang Song from Jia 5 room has also entrusted this task to me."

Chu Ning added a sentence, and this time He Jin didn't hesitate, because he didn't get along with Zhang Song from Jia 5 room. Their families had some competing businesses in Daning County, and since Zhang Song had agreed, if he didn't, wouldn't it imply that the He family was inferior to the Zhang family?

"Come every day from now on, here is ten taels of silver."

To outdo Zhang Song, He Jin immediately threw a silver ingot to Chu Ning, who caught it with a smile, "Thank you, young master He."

Chu Ning had learned about the rivalry between He Jin and Zhang Song while eating in the dining hall when he had chanced upon them almost coming to blows. He had noted this scene, and now it had come in handy.

After receiving the money, Chu Ning began his work on the spot, filling He Jin's water tank and four buckets to the brim, then he went to knock on the other Jia-numbered students' doors following the same pattern.

Jia seven, Jia five, Jia four, Jia three...

Jia two room.

Chu Ning knocked on the door.

No response.

Chu Ning frowned, could this person be out?

The Jia two room was occupied by the only female student in their batch, and also the one who ranked second in the assessment, Tang Ruowei.

"Stop knocking."

A woman's voice came from behind, and Chu Ning turned around to find Tang Ruowei, dressed in a purple martial outfit that accentuated her fine figure, standing ten meters behind him looking at him with a complicated expression.

Tang Ruowei observed Chu Ning. She had gone to the backyard earlier to ask Instructor Liu a question about martial arts and saw a man loitering in the Jia dormitory area on her way back, which piqued her curiosity. Not saying a word, she wanted to see what the man was up to.

Then she watched as the man talked his way into He Jin's room, sweet-talked ten taels of silver out of him, then twenty from Zhang Song, and then silver from other students.

"Young Master Zhang, there's something I need to tell you first, I have to carry water for young master He before I can do it for you, he gave ten taels of silver upfront."

"Young Master Zhu, I need to clarify something with you. Young Master Zhang and young master He have given thirty taels altogether, so I must finish carrying water for them first. Don't worry, I work quickly and will get it done fast."

...

...

With such a patter, he had already collected over a hundred taels.

Chu Ning was not the least bit embarrassed to be seen hustling; making money is nothing to be ashamed of.

"Ah, I had no choice; we're poor at home, I don't have the strength to meet the standard, and I fear I won't complete the three-month, five-hundred catty assessment if I don't make some money." Chu Ning wore a worried expression and then suddenly said, "Miss Tang is kind-hearted, I wonder..."

"Do you think you can enter the girls' dormitory?" Tang Ruowei knew what Chu Ning was about to say and interrupted him directly.

Chu Ning was at a loss for words, having forgotten this detail in his eagerness to do business—this was not modern times where a single widow could just call a plumber to unclog the drain.

"I was presumptuous."

"Also, I advise you not to knock on Zhao Qin's door. Zhao Qin dislikes being disturbed during martial arts practice; if you knock on that door, you might not only fail to get any money, but you might also get a beating."

"Thank you for the warning, Miss Tang." Chu Ning gratefully clasped his fist, "To show my gratitude, I can deliver the water to your door for just half a tael of silver."

Tang Ruowei: ...

"That's already a fifty percent discount," Chu Ning earnestly said.

"I don't need your discount. Here's one tael of silver."

Tang Ruowei tossed over a purse, which Chu Ning caught and weighed with delight.

"Rest assured, Miss Tang, I guarantee you'll be the first to use the water."

Tang Ruowei: ...

So should I feel honored by this?

...

...

PS: I've seen many readers comment earlier that the protagonist is charging too much for cleaning services at the school. Let me explain, in his previous life, the protagonist was a chairman of a listed company, not an ordinary citizen. He understands the wealthy too well.

Even in small cities, where the average wage is four to five thousand, there are rich second-generation kids who can spend tens of thousands or even over a hundred thousand in one night at nightclubs. If they spend so much on entertainment, let alone supporting their expenses in the school.

The protagonist knows these young people are used to spending money lavishly. Moreover, he uses his persuasive speech to play on these youngsters' pride. Everyone's family situation is similar—if you can afford it, so can I.