Water elemental became a god, ultimately becoming the master of heaven, earth, mountains, and rivers

Chapter 5 Class
Before long, Shui San'er and the others arrived.

Instructor Lin stood silently outside the shed, closest to the shopkeeper, with his arms hanging down.

Several tall, imposing men stood beside him, their auras far surpassing that of the other Shui San'er's.

San Dezi stood beside Chen Shunan, his eyes fixed on the tip of his nose.

"You've all probably heard about what's been happening lately."

Under the well cover,
Manager Li stood up, his eyes crinkling with a smile, like an old fox.
"The nine landlords from the county met at Tianlangxuan. We don't know the specifics of their discussion, but the gist is that if the sky falls, the landlords will hold it up; if the landlords can't hold it up, they have people above them!"

"We from the well-dwelling village have always been the ones who bully others, but we don't have the habit of swallowing insults and turning a blind eye when someone steps on our face."

After listening to what Manager Li said, Chen Shunan understood what he meant.

Although there is currently no direct evidence to suggest that the series of deaths of watermen who fell into wells were caused by the urging house.

But Jingwozi has lost face so badly, he definitely has to get his revenge.

and so……

This must have been done by Usui!

Chen Shunan estimated that Inoue was already planning how to retaliate.

“Starting tomorrow, the task of patrolling the well at night will be assigned to two quick-thinking brothers. There’s no need to deliver water during the day. Instructor Lin will take care of this.”

Manager Li looked at Instructor Lin, his tone seemingly questioning, but somewhat forceful.

Coach Lin said expressionlessly, "Okay."

"Okay, then hurry up and deliver the water."

Manager Li waved his hand, walked back into the shed, tucked the account book under his arm, and made as if to leave.

"Oh, right." Manager Li suddenly remembered something. "From today onwards, except for those few large restaurants, all other customers must settle their water bills on the spot, and monthly subscriptions will be temporarily canceled."

Upon hearing this, many of the "water san'ers" exchanged bewildered glances.

How could rules that have been in place for so many years have changed?
How can I explain this to my regular customers?

Coach Lin's expression remained unchanged, clearly indicating that he had known about this for some time.

He led the way, bent over, and gripped the handlebars tightly, then pushed the cart out of the alley.

Even Coach Lin didn't say much, so naturally the others didn't dare to comment.

They all pushed their carts to deliver water.

……

"How can we lightly alter the foundations laid by our ancestors? My mouth is already clumsy; how can I possibly open it?"

"Exactly! This would be worse than killing me!"

"Has something happened up there? Is the company short of money because they canceled the monthly subscription plan?"

Several Shui San'er were talking in hushed tones around Chen Shun'an.

As dawn broke, the streets and alleys gradually came to life.

Shop assistants on both sides were removing door panels, and street vendors were selling various breakfast foods such as soy milk, fried cakes, and mutton offal soup.

When these people saw Shui San'er, some covered their faces and avoided her, some looked at her with disdain, and some took the initiative to strike up a conversation.

"Uncle Chen, are you feeling better? I went home yesterday but didn't see you."

A loud, clear voice rang out.

A tall young man pushing a water cart caught up from behind and called out to Chen Shunan.

This tall guy is called Ahua. He's in his early twenties and has already skipped decades of detours by coming here early to deliver water.

However, unlike Chen Shunan, who holds a "real" position, Ahua has a "nominal" position, meaning he is a temporary worker.

Whether it's wages or other benefits, they are not as good as Chen Shunan and others.

Chen Shunan smiled and said, "I'm much better now, thank you for your concern, Brother Ahua. When you get off work this month, you must come to Erhunpu in Guaizao Alley for a drink."

"Hey! I'll definitely come, I'll definitely come!"

Ahua flashed a row of bright teeth, then turned around and went to deliver water again.

When they reached the crossroads, the group of Shui San'er went their separate ways.

Seeing that everyone else had left, San Dezi pulled Chen Shunan into an alley.

The alley was deserted and secluded, with overflowing puddles and a strong smell of urine.

Chen Shunan glanced suspiciously at the mysterious San Dezi, then silently moved to stand on the side closer to the alley entrance.

"Brother Chen! Do you know why the boss is short of money?"

San Dezi lowered his voice, which was hoarse and carried a hint of excitement about sharing gossip.
Chen Shunan frowned slightly and said, "You know?"

San Dezi chuckled and said,
"Of course! There is a foreign barbarian country called 'Qianning Kingdom' that sent the Qianning delegation to visit the Holy One! They said they wanted to exchange goods and engage in free trade, but of course I don't know the specifics."

"But the key point is that since there is an envoy visiting the emperor, someone must be there to receive them! From the etiquette and banquets, to the construction of bridges and roads, to the reception by officials and the delivery of tribute to the capital... there is a lot to learn in all of this!"

San Dezi tried hard to recall something, and said in a measured tone...

“I heard that the Court of Colonial Affairs has already established the ‘Court of Colonial Affairs for Qianning’ to handle the foreign affairs of the Qianning Kingdom, and has also set up the ‘Court of Four Translators’ to translate official documents.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Shunan immediately understood.

When the Changbai Holy Dynasty was first established, there were more pits than carrots.

Now, there are more radishes than holes.

Any position where one can make a profit requires paying money to buy the vacancy and waiting in line to fill it.

So now that so many positions like "the Court of Colonial Affairs" and "the Bureau of Translation and Interpretation" have suddenly appeared, naturally a lot of people want to grab them and quickly move to their seats.

Could it be that the owner also wants to make a quick buck by buying out a vacancy?

One can imagine that many people in the capital had similar thoughts.

Chen Shunan wanted to too!

But he wasn't even qualified to buy a position, let alone had the connections!

and many more!

Chen Shunan narrowed his eyes and said,
"This matter is so important... did you pay for information?"

San Dezi rolled his eyes and said, "Nonsense! Who would tell you this information for free?"

"How much did it cost?"

San Dezi casually remarked, "It's all spent."

"All spent?!"

Chen Shunan's tone suddenly rose.

"Yeah, I've already spent all my money for a wife."

San Dezi's actions were perfectly reasonable.

Chen Shunan looked San Dezi up and down carefully, as if he were seeing him for the first time.

Others spend twenty taels of silver to buy a powerful medicine, while you spend your entire fortune on information?
Chen Shunan said in astonishment,

"So what are you going to eat?"

San Dezi said seriously.

"Hey! But we still have you, Brother Chen! We're brothers, why are you saying such things? You have food to eat, shouldn't you take pity on your brother?"

Chen Shunan had a headache. After thinking for a moment, he took out two taels of silver from his pocket.
"Okay, I heard the news too, so count me in. If you really can't afford to eat..."

Upon hearing this, San Dezi's face immediately tightened, his eyes widened, and he became furious. "Brother, do you look down on me, San Dezi? I'm happy to tell you this news. If it were anyone else, I wouldn't even want ten thousand taels of gold!"

As soon as San Dezi finished speaking, all traces of anger vanished from his face, and he smiled squintingly again.
"Brother, I was just joking with you. Your illness isn't completely cured yet, how could I, San Dezi, possibly freeload off you? I have connections!"

Chen Shunan keenly noticed that San Dezi's attitude towards him had become much more friendly.

After all, there's some money that San Dezi can do without.

But Chen Shunan couldn't refuse.

……

The sweat poured down like melting snow, the gentle breeze felt like boiling water.

Summer has just begun this year, but the weather is getting hotter and hotter. After delivering two truckloads of water, Chen Shunan sought refuge in the shade of a locust tree.

Chen Shunan was soaking wet, with not a single dry spot on his body, and his water bladder was empty.

Even so, Chen Shunan did not take off his short shirt or roll up his sleeves.

Shui San'er must not expose his arms, lest he bump into and frighten the women and children.

This is one of the rules of the well dwelling.

After wiping his eyes with a towel, Chen Shunan carefully took out a piece of ginger candy wrapped in oil paper from his pocket and put it in his mouth.

Ginger candy is thin as a cicada's wing and coated with a layer of fine white sugar icing.

It has a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture, but it's not purely sweet like honey. Instead, a hint of ginger spiciness emerges after the initial sweetness.

This ginger candy is a specialty of Lianhua Port in Nanhai Prefecture. In previous years, it was a tribute to the imperial court and was exclusively purchased by the imperial kitchen.

However, it has now spread to the streets and become a kind of snack that is not uncommon.

Even so, this candied ginger is not cheap.

Even a small jar costs nearly half a string of cash.

Chen Shunan could only afford to eat a small piece each day, which not only restored his energy but also reminded him of those clear, bright eyes that stared straight at him.

We had lunch at Erhunpu in Guaizao Alley.

When Chen Shunan arrived, the shop was already filled with two tables of Shui San'er.

The shop is small, with two storefronts. The outside is the main hall and the kitchen, while inside there is a private room separated by a curtain.

The patina-covered elmwood table, the long bench with the tung oil varnish worn away, and several wine jars were placed in front of it, all indicating that it had been around for quite some time.

When the two tables of Shui San'er saw Chen Shun'an, they greeted each other warmly, though they didn't get up, complaining about how the damned weather was getting worse and worse.

Chen Shunan always smiled warmly, sometimes echoing the conversation, and sometimes pretending not to hear, just drinking tea without saying a word.

Wan Niang worked as a helper at this meat shop.

Upon seeing Chen Shunan, she emerged from behind the stove and handed him a clean embroidered handkerchief, washed with soapberry leaves, to wipe away his sweat.

"It's all thanks to our Brother Chen that he lives such a comfortable life, with people waiting on him wherever he goes!"

"That's right! Wan Niang, I'm all sweaty too. Do you have a handkerchief? Can I borrow it to wipe myself?"

"Hahaha...you rascal, you can't keep your mouth shut, or Brother Chen will break your legs!"

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Brother Chen, I'm just a straightforward person, please don't take it to heart!"

At another table, a burly man with thick eyebrows and large eyes bowed to Chen Shunan with a fawning smile.

His eyes darted around, gleaming with a restless light.

Chen Shunan smiled.

Just as everyone was enjoying their meal, several figures walked in through the shop entrance.

Shui San'er, who was holding a bowl of rice, immediately put down her bowl and chopsticks. Many people even stood up, their expressions eager.
"Instructor Lin is here?"

"Instructor Lin is a little late today, did you run into some pretty young lady?"

Instructor Lin exchanged a few casual pleasantries with everyone before leading the few burly men closest to him directly into the private room behind the curtain.

The shopkeeper of the two-meat restaurant hurried over, his face beaming, and personally took orders for Instructor Lin and his companions.

In the lobby,
Chen Shunan, who was eating offal, soon saw all kinds of big fish, meat, ribs and medicinal herbs being brought into his private room like a flowing stream.

Many of the other men looked on with envy.

Instructor Lin and the several burly men around him were all second-rate martial artists, but they were also the most respected figures in Weiheng Street.

Not only was the water delivery job less demanding, but they were only responsible for supplying turbid water to a few large households and shops and restaurants on Weiheng Street.

They can also come to Erhunpu for a daily meal of meat and fish, which Jingshang will reimburse.

Chen Shunan heard that the employer had offered some extra benefits, which is why Instructor Lin was willing to serve him.

It's a truly lucrative job!
Elderly people like Chen Shunan, or regular employees with average skills, are responsible for customers who live a little further away, requiring them to go around a few more streets.

With a monthly allowance of half a string of cash for meals and housing, being able to come to the Erhunpu restaurant for a treat every day is quite good.

As for temporary workers or those with limited skills, the water delivery area is even farther and more tiring!

For example, Ahua.

I make at most two or three round trips a day, and I take care of all my own food, clothing, accommodation and transportation.

I rarely eat at the Erhunpu restaurant; I usually go to eat the "staring food," where you pay a coin for each bite you pick up with your chopsticks, and you have to stare wide-eyed as you pick from the boiling pot!
Although they earn more than street vendors in January, it is still extremely hard work.

The social order was inconsistent, with distinctions between the noble and the lowly.

Even among this seemingly united and harmonious group of Shui San'er, he was still faintly visible.

"Oh my god! This soup is so salty, it's making my tongue taste bitter!"

A sharp sound rang out.

But the burly man with thick eyebrows and big eyes from before had a ferocious expression and was snarling as he hurriedly got up to find some herbal tea.

But they found that the teapot was completely dry.

Wan Niang then calmly brought out a pot of tea.

Wan Niang laughed and said, "It's my fault for being careless and knocking over the salt jar. Brother Fusheng, salt is a scarce commodity, so you actually got a good deal!"

"Haha, Wan Niang is right!"

"Yes, don't waste it, swallow it quickly!"

A burst of cheerful laughter immediately filled the shop.

The shopkeeper of the two meat stall stood by the stove, glanced at the burly man, and then at Chen Shunan.

Seeing that Chen Shunan was expressionless, he smiled silently and then lowered his head again.

……

Night fell, and the sky grew dark.

Travel-worn Chen Shunan, carrying a bowed anchovy and with lotus leaves, cinnabar, yellow paper, and other miscellaneous items tucked into his arms, hurried home.

It took Chen Shunan a lot of persuasion to barely quell the dissatisfaction of his customers regarding the cancellation of the monthly subscription.

boom!
The doors were locked and the windows were closed.

Chen Shunan stood in the bedroom and took another 'Gold Foil Bezoar Pill'. The medicine spread, and the coldness in his body was almost completely gone.

Then, looking at the divination tools in front of him, his heart, which had been calm for a long time, began to burn.

The Great Emperor of the Upper Abyss of the Sea will today reclaim the first authority that belongs to Him.

It all started with the small-time Qingji!
(End of this chapter)