blueteamnovel Chapter 10 Water Head
Chapter 10 Water Head
In the evening, Jiang Qi bought a pound of braised pork and three kinds of seasonal vegetables at the market and took them to Zhao Xiaoqi's house.
At the dinner table, Zhao's mother sighed repeatedly: "Although Cui Shuitou was... alas, a perfectly healthy person, gone just like that."
And that kid Luo Yue, so young…”
Zhao Xiaoqi silently ate her rice, occasionally glancing at Jiang Qi, hesitant to speak.
Jiang Qi ate his meal as usual, and while adding soup, he secretly dripped moonlight water into Zhao Xiaoqi and Zhao's mother's soup bowls.
After the meal, Zhao Xiaoqi saw Jiang Qi to the door, took out a small cloth bag, and stuffed it into Jiang Qi's hand: "Brother Qi, this is three hundred coins, take it first. As for the one tael I owe you, I... I will definitely pay it back."
Jiang Qi had previously paid back one tael of silver for Xiao Qi from Pang Zhan of Litong Money Shop, and Zhao Xiao Qi had been worried about it ever since.
I just saved up some money at Zuixianlou and I was thinking of paying some back as soon as possible.
Jiang Qi knew Zhao Xiaoqi was stubborn and there was no point in refusing, so he nodded and accepted the money: "The rest isn't urgent. Save some money and buy some food for yourself and your aunt."
"Don't worry, Qi-ge'er, I wouldn't skimp on myself."
Zhao Xiaoqi smiled broadly, "I'm doing really well at Zuixianlou. The manager said I'm diligent and wants to make me a full-time employee. Then I'll earn an ounce a month, and meals will be provided."
"Once I've saved up enough money, I can go to the Zhenyuan Martial Arts School to practice martial arts, just like Qi-ge."
"If you want to learn martial arts, I can..."
"Qi-ge'er, it's getting late, you should head back quickly."
......
By the time we returned to the water shop in Sweetwater Lane, it was already dark.
Besides Tan Ming, there was another person by the well.
The man was lean and wiry, with an ordinary face, but his eyes gleamed with a sharp light, clearly indicating that he was no ordinary person.
Jiang Qi felt a chill run down his spine.
This person appears to be a martial artist who has cultivated his internal energy and blood.
Upon seeing Jiang Qi return, the other party took two steps forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Are you Brother Jiang Qi? My name is Guo Meng. I have been sent by Steward Li to help out at the water shop temporarily. I hope you will take good care of me in the future."
At this moment, Manager Li of the Ironclad Gang also walked out of the water room with a serious expression.
He glanced at Jiang Qi and Tan Ming, and said in a deep voice, "The gang already knows about Cui Shuitou's matter."
From today onwards, the waterworks will be under my direct jurisdiction for the time being.
Guo Meng is someone I sent to assist in managing the well. From now on, you two will be responsible for all matters concerning the well.
After giving his instructions, he left in a hurry, clearly busy with other matters.
As soon as Manager Li left, the seriousness on Guo Meng's face eased.
He took the initiative to say to Jiang Qi and Tan Ming, "Brothers, please don't stand on ceremony. I'm new here and not familiar with well management and water delivery. I'll have to rely on your guidance in the future."
As he spoke, he took out two small paper packets and handed them to Jiang Qi and Tan Ming, saying, "A little something to say to each other, nothing special."
"I heard that you all practice martial arts at the Zhenyuan Martial Arts School. This is a blood-strengthening powder distributed internally by the Ironclad Gang, which is helpful for cultivating qi and blood."
Tan Ming took the paper package, overjoyed, and repeatedly bowed his head in thanks: "Thank you so much, Brother Guo! Thank you so much, Manager Li, for your care!"
He had heard of the Ironclad Gang's Blood Strengthening Powder, which had similar effects to the Blood Qi Powder of Zhenyuan Martial Arts School, but one dose of Blood Qi Powder cost one tael of silver.
This guy from the Ironclad Gang is so generous!
"Thank you, Brother Guo." Jiang Qi also accepted the paper package and bowed respectfully.
Guo Meng waved his hand: "No need to be so polite. The water store can't be left without someone in charge. Manager Li is very busy, so I'm just here to lend a hand."
The gang hopes that you two can develop your inner strength and blood circulation soon and take over the position of water leader.
Cultivating Qi and Blood is the essence of this waterside workshop.
Tan Ming was overjoyed to hear this.
Don't underestimate the power of just one well; it supplies water to the surrounding three streets, from ordinary households to martial arts schools and restaurants.
If we take over the water source, will we still lack money to find a wife and practice martial arts?
Let alone marrying one wife, he could easily marry three.
Not only Tan Ming, but also Jiang Qi's eyes narrowed slightly upon hearing this.
If we can take control of the water source, it's equivalent to controlling the Sutaki Well. Then we'll have a reason to do whatever we want with the well.
"It's getting late, and I still need to familiarize myself with the waterworks' accounts. Please make yourselves at home, brothers."
After Guo Meng finished speaking, he slightly bowed and then turned and went into the water room, where he actually took out a booklet and began to read it.
It seems they have no intention of leaving anytime soon.
Tan Ming, carrying the blood-strengthening powder, left happily, probably wanting to try it out.
Jiang Qi glanced at the door of the water room, then looked at the old well under the night sky, and his heart sank slightly.
With Guo Meng here, he cannot, as usual, use the pretext of fetching water to draw moonlight tonight.
"Controlling the well... the water source..." Jiang Qi's eyes sharpened. "Cultivating qi and blood is the key to controlling the water source..."
He has almost finished refining his first batch of Qi and Blood, and now he can go and try to get the water from the Suolong Well.
but...
After a moment's thought, Jiang Qi put the idea aside.
Since Cui Yuan and Luo Yue have just died, if he were to reveal his vital energy, he might easily attract attention.
The Ironclad Gang is not a charity; it controls several neighborhoods, and its methods are far more complex than they appear.
"Don't rush," Jiang Qi warned himself. "The situation is tense right now; we need to calm down and reflect."
With Guo Meng nearby, obtaining Moon Essence Water is inconvenient. So, I'll focus on practicing martial arts to improve my [Martial Artist] class. The [Moon Essence Water] I have will last me for a while.
"Wait until no one cares anymore, then we can focus on the water source."
He glanced in the direction of the water room and then left.
......
Time flies, and a month has passed in the blink of an eye.
After Guo Meng of the Ironclad Gang arrived at the waterworks, he was indeed quite attentive to the well affairs for the first few days, often wandering around the well platform and asking about old matters.
But not long after, he came less often. When he did appear, he would only briefly explain some matters and then leave.
Tan Ming muttered to himself that Guo Meng seemed to have other venues to look after and was very busy.
As a result, the daily task of fetching and delivering water at the waterworks basically fell back on the shoulders of Jiang Qi and Tan Ming.
Tan Ming was preoccupied with his health and well-being, and rarely visited the water shop except for his daily water deliveries.
Jiang Qi then naturally had more time to spend at the well.
Drawing water to accumulate experience, drawing "moonlight water" at night...
......
Zhenyuan Martial Arts School, training ground.
Jiang Qi moved steadily, his breathing long and even, practicing the "Zhenyuan Body Strengthening Exercise" in an orderly manner.
There are two streams of qi and blood in the body. One is solid and thick, about the thickness of a little finger, and the second is about the thickness of a chopstick.
In his mind, the experience points for the [Martial Artist] profession had jumped to '99/100'.
"I should be able to level up today." Jiang Qi looked at the [Book of a Hundred Professions] and pondered, "I wonder what new profession skills will appear."
According to the previous [Hydraulic] profession, once you reach level two, you will be able to unlock the profession skills.
I was just thinking about it.
"Jiang Qi!" Tan Ming approached, looking somewhat nervous. "I have something to tell you, something happened at Ruifeng Rice Shop last night!"
Since Luo Yue's mysterious death, Tan Ming and Jiang Qi have been talking more.
Jiang Qi slowly withdrew his stance and regulated his breathing: "What's wrong?"
Ruifeng Rice Shop is a shop located two streets away from Tianshui Lane. It has a large business, and he has bought rice there before.
"An evil spirit!" Tan Ming lowered his voice, his face still showing lingering fear. "A whole family of fifteen, including the young master who had cultivated two streams of qi and blood, were all devoured. Their remains weren't even fully recovered!"