landbeastnovel Chapter 26 Quotas
Chapter 26 Quotas
As Zhou Tong and Ji Chang carried the gift boxes, they turned into the alleyway leading to the Dragon Tiger Martial Arts School and could hear the commotion coming from inside.
Amidst laughter, pleasantries, and the gentle clinking of dishes, a warm, bustling atmosphere wafted out against the cold wind.
The two entered the martial arts school.
The large front yard, with its compacted earthen floor swept clean, now houses rows of gleaming black round tables, which were previously used for practicing martial arts.
There were hundreds of people, some sitting and some standing, a dark mass as far as the eye could see.
According to the rules of the martial arts school, only those who become formal disciples and wear the "Dragon and Tiger" wooden plaque on their waist are considered to be "people of the martial arts school" and are qualified to kowtow to Ni Dongting on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year.
Zhou Tong glanced around the field and noticed many unfamiliar faces, especially a dozen or so people whose auras were condensed and deep, and who had a demeanor that was different from that of ordinary disciples.
He realized that these were probably the senior brothers of the Bone Forging Realm who were usually out working and rarely showed their faces, and they had all gathered together today.
On the field, the group with the largest number of people and the strongest aura undoubtedly revolves around Liu Qing and Zheng Hao.
Most of the dozen or so senior brothers who were practicing bone forging surrounded the two of them.
Liu Qing wore a moon-white satin cotton cheongsam with fur trim, over which she wore a silver fur vest. She was still as beautiful as ever, with a smile on her lips.
Zheng Hao, dressed in a dark red silk robe with floral patterns, was saying something, which occasionally elicited bursts of laughter in agreement.
As soon as Zhou Tong and Ji Chang entered, many ordinary disciples near the door saw them and immediately put on warm smiles, bowing repeatedly to Ji Chang: "Senior Brother Ji, Happy New Year!"
While greeting Ji Chang, their gazes quickly swept over Zhou Tong, and they nodded and smiled in acknowledgment.
The martial arts school is full of clever and shrewd people.
Who can't understand the underlying meaning behind Zheng Hao and Liu Qing's public "praise and concern" last time?
These days, Zhou Tong has been treated coldly in the hall, not to mention that even Ji Chang has not enjoyed the kind of adulation that someone in the Bone Forging Realm should receive.
Of course, everyone maintained appearances and showed the proper etiquette when meeting Ji Chang, with just the right smile, but no one actually approached them for a deeper conversation.
Normally, when a disciple breaks through to the Bone Forging stage, a large number of people would swarm around to flatter and fawn over him.
Ji Chang returned the greeting with clasped hands, and together with Zhou Tong, they walked through the crowd and headed straight for the main hall in the center.
Thick cotton curtains hung at the entrance to the lobby. When you lifted them, the warmth mixed with the scent of sandalwood wafted out.
Senior Brother Chen Zong sat alone in a grand chair below the main seat, still wearing a slightly worn dark blue cotton robe, holding a white porcelain covered bowl in his hand, slowly skimming off the tea foam.
As the head disciple of the martial arts school, he not only taught his students, but also managed most of the school's affairs, including holiday greetings and other social matters.
"Happy New Year, Senior Brother! I'm here to wish you a Happy New Year."
Ji Chang and Zhou Tong stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and placed the gift boxes they were carrying on a table set up for receiving gifts.
Chen Zong looked up, his gaze lingering on the two faces for a moment. He nodded slightly, his expression remaining calm: "Yes, thank you for your thoughtfulness. Go on, it's lively outside."
The two responded and stepped out. Just as they stepped out of the hall, a rough and loud voice came from the side:
"Junior Brother Ji! It's so good to see you! I heard you broke through to the Bone Forging Realm before the New Year. Good heavens, such a joyous occasion! Why didn't you come and greet your senior brothers sooner, and have a couple of drinks?"
The speaker was a bearded man in his early thirties with a square face and a wide mouth, dressed in an ochre-colored outfit, standing next to Zheng Hao.
He turned his head and waved to Ji Chang with a loud laugh, which immediately attracted the attention of many people nearby.
A shadow crossed Ji Chang's eyes, but a smile instantly bloomed on his face. As he strode over, he repeatedly said:
"Senior Brother Zhao! Happy New Year! I just put my things down and was thinking about going over to wish all the senior brothers and sisters a Happy New Year!"
"My fellow disciples are usually very busy, rarely seen, so it's rare to see them all gathered together today..."
His voice was crisp and humble. In the blink of an eye, he squeezed into the inner circle and greeted Liu Qing, Zheng Hao, and the other senior brothers in bone forging with clasped hands.
Zhou Tong didn't stop walking. He walked to a corner near the old locust tree on one side of the courtyard and found a less conspicuous spot to stand.
No one approached him to talk, and he had no intention of getting close to any circle; he simply watched the commotion in the courtyard quietly.
His face showed neither the dejection of being isolated amidst the hustle and bustle, nor the eagerness to force himself to fit in; rather, it was a calm and serene expression, like a pine tree growing on a cliff, standing there by itself.
In this world, there are many people who can put on a good show and maintain a harmonious atmosphere.
However, there is no shortage of people who like to chime in for others and act as human megaphones.
Not long after Ji Chang arrived, he saw the bearded senior brother Zhao, looking very friendly, pat Ji Chang heavily on the shoulder with his large, fan-like hand. The loud sound could be heard throughout half the courtyard.
"Junior Brother Ji! I'm straightforward and don't mince words, so please don't take offense! But if you ask me, you've probably gone a little bit astray!"
He held up his little finger to indicate his name, his smile undiminished:
"You've seen it with your own eyes, business isn't that easy these days. The waters are deep and the waves are turbulent; one wrong step and you're capsized!"
Why not learn from me and take a position at Junior Brother Zheng's Zhenwei Escort Agency? With a powerful backer, you can have a steady monthly salary. That's the safest way for us martial artists to make a living in chaotic times! Don't you think so?
After he finished speaking, he stared intently at Ji Chang with his bright, round eyes. The surrounding laughter and chatter subsided, and many people perked up their ears.
Before Ji Chang could speak, Zheng Hao, who was standing to the side, waved his hand with a smile and said in a gentle tone:
"Senior Brother Zhao, you flatter me. Junior Brother Ji is young and has his own ideas and ambitions, which is a good thing. Everyone has their own aspirations, and we cannot force them."
My door is always open for Junior Brother Ji; you are welcome to come anytime you wish. This matter is not urgent.
Ji Chang's smile remained unchanged. He swayed slightly as Zhao Shixiong patted his shoulder, and sighed:
"Brother Zhao's words are invaluable; I'll keep them in mind."
Sigh, these days are indeed getting harder every day. Take the Wuyou Sect, for example, which caused quite a stir in the city a while ago.
Good heavens, they dared to go against the police in broad daylight! I heard quite a few people were injured, and now everyone in the city is in a state of panic…
He transitioned to the topic naturally and smoothly.
The Worry-Free Cult has been causing trouble in the city recently, clashing with the police several times and creating a huge uproar, making it the hottest topic right now.
As soon as Ji Chang took the lead, others immediately chimed in, discussing the strangeness of the Worry-Free Sect, the government's response, and the rumors circulating on the streets, and the atmosphere became lively again.
The subtle targeting just now seemed to have been drowned out by the clamor of the crowd.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Ji Changcai found an excuse to leave the inner circle and walk to Zhou Tong's side. He exhaled a long, silent breath, as if he had unloaded some invisible weight.
Zhou Tong turned his head, his voice tinged with apology, and said in a low voice, "My cooperation with my family has caused my senior brother to suffer."
Upon hearing this, Ji Chang waved his hand dismissively, his arm naturally wrapping around Zhou Tong's shoulder, giving him a firm squeeze, his voice revealing a sense of magnanimity:
"Hey! We're brothers, why are you talking like that? This is our business, and I chose this path myself. I'm happy with it!"
It's perfectly normal to have a tough start, encounter some setbacks, and hear a few sarcastic remarks. No business is ever completely smooth sailing.
He paused, then his tone shifted to genuine admiration:
"Besides, thanks to my uncle's connections and skills, our medicinal herb trading business is about to open. This speed is astonishing! It's all thanks to my uncle's abilities; I admire him immensely."
Zhou Tong smiled and nodded.
Just then, the originally noisy sounds in the courtyard suddenly seemed to be smoothed down by an invisible hand, and then became even more intense.
All eyes turned toward the gate.
Those who were sitting also stood up.
Even Liu Qing and Zheng Hao wore unusually respectful expressions.
"Happy New Year, Third Senior Brother!"
"Greetings, Third Senior Brother!"
"Third Senior Brother, you've arrived!"
Greetings rose and fell, filled with eagerness.
It was the third senior brother who worked at the police station who had returned... Zhou Tong's heart stirred, and he followed everyone's gaze.
A young man was strolling in unhurriedly through the gate.
He looked to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, tall and well-proportioned, wearing a very well-tailored light gray tweed hunting suit, with a snow-white stand-up collar shirt underneath, the top two buttons undone.
His hair was cut short and neat, his nose was high and straight, and his eyes were bright and spirited, with a free and unrestrained air about him.
Faced with a barrage of greetings, the third senior brother smiled, waved casually, and spoke in a clear voice:
"Dear fellow disciples, Happy New Year! Please sit down, please sit down, don't be shy. I'll go and wish our eldest brother and master a Happy New Year first, and we can chat again later when we have time."
He walked briskly through the automatically parting crowd toward the lobby.
"Third Senior Brother is really handsome, he looks just like one of those movie stars," Ji Chang exclaimed.
Zhou Tong nodded slightly. Compared to his appearance, what truly surprised him was his third senior brother's temperament. Unlike the composure of ordinary officials, his third senior brother exuded a free and unrestrained air, which was quite rare.
The sun was rising higher, and it was almost lunchtime.
Dishes and wine were gradually placed on each round table. Although not extremely lavish, the large bowls of stewed meat, whole steamed fish, and glistening seasonal vegetables were plentiful, steaming hot, and very much to the liking of martial arts practitioners.
Everyone took their seats.
At this moment, Ni Dongting came out, accompanied by Chen Zong and his third senior brother on either side.
Today, Ni Dongting changed into a brand-new dark purple satin robe with floral patterns. He walked to the main seat in the courtyard, said nothing, took a cup of wine from Chen Zong, raised the cup slightly to everyone in the courtyard, and then drank it all in one gulp.
Then, Chen Zong stepped forward and said a few words of goodwill, wishing the martial arts school prosperity and the fellow disciples to work hard and make progress. The three of them then turned around and went back to the backyard.
At the same time, under the envious gazes of everyone, Liu Qing and Zheng Hao were signaled by their senior brother with a glance and followed him inside.
Zhou Tong and Ji Chang sat at a table in a corner.
Zhou Tong looked towards the backyard, then suddenly remembered something and asked in a low voice, "Senior Brother Ji, why haven't we seen Second Senior Brother show up yet?"
Ji Chang picked up a piece of braised pork with alternating layers of fat and lean meat and stuffed it into his mouth, mumbling:
"Second senior brother... I only know that there is such a senior brother. I heard that his kung fu is unfathomable and that he was Master's disciple in his early years."
It's incredibly mysterious. I've been at the martial arts school for over two years and I've never seen it once. I don't even know if it's fat or thin, old or young.
"You haven't seen him either, Senior Brother?"
Zhou Tong was genuinely surprised this time.
He had heard about his second senior brother's mystery from Song Jie, but he never expected that even an old man like Ji Chang, who had been in the academy for more than two years, had never seen him.
Halfway through the banquet, when the atmosphere was at its most lively, figures moved about in the backyard. The eldest brother, Chen Zong, and the third brother had once again come to the front yard.
Chen Zong walked up the slightly higher steps in the courtyard and cleared his throat.
His voice, though not loud, calmly drowned out the noise at the table, clearly reaching every corner: "Everyone, please be quiet."
The courtyard quickly fell silent, and all eyes turned to it.
Chen Zong turned to his third senior brother and gestured, "Your third senior brother has something to tell everyone."
The third senior brother, still sporting that dashing smile, stepped forward, his gaze sweeping across the entire room, and began to speak:
"Things haven't been peaceful in the city lately, as you all probably know. The trouble with the outside gangs seizing territory hasn't even died down yet, and now this 'Worry-Free Cult' has popped up, causing quite a stir. The police station is really short-handed."
He paused, his tone relaxed yet weighty:
"I negotiated with the bureau and managed to get a few spots for our Dragon Tiger Martial Arts School to join the police force. The exact number will depend on the subsequent arrangements, but I estimate it will be finalized in about a month."
At that time, our martial arts school will hold a small competition for disciples at the Muscle Refining Realm to select the best candidates. Those selected will be able to become squad leaders directly after entering the police station.
"boom--!"
These words caused a commotion in the courtyard, as if a hornet's nest had been disturbed. Exclamations and discussions erupted instantly.
Entering the police station! That's a legitimate official position!
Although Cangzhou City is currently in chaos, with bandits, gangs, and cults emerging one after another, the framework of the government and basic order are still intact.
In this chaotic situation, having an official position, especially being a squad leader who can command a dozen or so patrol officers, carries a significantly different weight, whether it's for getting things done, protecting oneself, or seeking benefits for one's family.
This identity might not be very attractive to the top families in Cangzhou, but it is an excellent opportunity for the majority of ordinary wealthy families present!
Zhou Tong's heart skipped a beat, and a burning light flashed in his eyes.
He knew all too well what such an identity meant, and for him, who urgently needed to expand his living space and acquire resources, the temptation was immense.
After a brief commotion, everyone realized what had happened and quickly expressed their gratitude.
"Thank you, Third Senior Brother."
"Third Senior Brother is righteous and benevolent!"
The third senior brother smiled, reached out and pressed down, his voice clear and bright: "When there's a good job, we should naturally prioritize the junior brothers of the martial arts school."
At this moment, a disciple at the Body Refining Realm couldn't contain himself any longer and stood up, clasping his hands in a fist salute, and asked, "May I ask, Third Senior Brother, what are the criteria for selecting candidates for this minor competition?"
The third senior brother's smile remained unchanged as he replied, "Entering the police station means doing real work, maintaining order, and dealing with bandits. The primary standard, naturally, is practical combat ability—whoever is better at fighting."
Upon hearing this, many disciples at the Flesh Refining Realm, especially those who had just entered the field and were still hovering around the "Wooden Muscle" or even "Stone Muscle" stages, immediately lost most of their excitement and became dejected.
Those disciples whose aura was deep and whose eyes shone brightly, clearly having reached the "Iron Muscle" stage, were greatly invigorated, and their backs straightened involuntarily.
"Of course," the third senior brother changed the subject, his gaze sweeping across the entire room:
"If someone excels in other areas, the requirements for strength can be relaxed a bit. However, there must still be a bottom line; their skills cannot be too poor, and they must at least be able to command respect."
He looked at Chen Zong one last time, his tone becoming more respectful:
"I'm often away from home, so I don't have a deep understanding of the progress of my fellow disciples. When the time comes, it will be up to the senior disciple to decide which disciples are qualified to participate in the selection."
Chen Zong nodded slightly, accepting the responsibility.
After announcing the matter, the two did not linger and went to the backyard.
But this news was like a boulder thrown into a pond, and the ripples it created did not subside until the banquet was over.
People discussed, speculated, and weighed the options, each with their own thoughts.
"It's a pity, it's a good job, but with my abilities, it's hard to get one," Zhou Tong thought to himself with regret.
In the following days, Ji Chang became busy preparing for the journey to transport medicinal herbs to surrounding towns.
Zhou Tong then resumed his arduous training life, going back and forth between the martial arts school and his home.
The numbers on the transparent panel gradually decreased.
Finally, the day has come when the Dragon-Tiger Ruyi Blade will be fully mastered!