Being forced to grow like a pig? But I'm immune to the consequences!

(P.S.: This chapter has 3000 words, so it might be a bit long and filler.)

There were some vehicles parked in an open space ahead.

One of them was a large bread truck.

Sun Hong gestured, "This is my car, please get in. This place is too remote; we'd have to walk a long way to get a meal. Although we're all martial artists, why walk when we can drive?"

Afterwards, Zhao Dele and the others got into the car.

Sun Hong started the vehicle, and the group drove along the road. Before long, they left the construction area and arrived at a place with a large number of people.

Sun Hong parked the car in a parking lot, then called Zhao Dele and the others to get out. The group then headed to a restaurant.

The restaurant wasn't luxurious, but it was quite popular, so the food must have been good.

Sun Hong asked a waiter to book a private room, and the group entered and took their seats.

"I'm hosting today, and you're the guests. Since you're not familiar with this place, I'll just order a few things casually," Sun Hong said.

Zhao Dele chimed in, "Brother Sun, we can handle it. We're all martial artists, there's nothing we can't eat."

Sun Hong nodded and quickly ordered the dishes.

Then, he smiled at the group and said, "Don't let my quiet demeanor fool you; I like making friends."

I can tell that you guys are all nice people.

First and foremost, there's unity. The situation of you outsiders has already spread throughout Cloud City. You used to survive in such harsh conditions, and now that place is destroyed, you've also lost your homes. The fact that you've come here and are still able to support each other is truly remarkable.

Zhao Dele and the others said with a wry smile, "We're practically like stray dogs now. We've come to this unfamiliar place, with no relatives or friends around. What else can we do but stick together?"

"That's not necessarily true." Sun Hong shook his head with a smile. "I, Sun Hong, am over 30 years old this year. I've experienced quite a lot and seen far too many messy things."

"In your situation, unity is not always guaranteed."

Let me use myself as an example.

When I first arrived, I was full of ambition and anticipation.

but……

hehe."

At this point, Sun Hong smiled.

There was a hint of self-deprecation in that smile.

"My fellow villagers and I were saying that we were all from the same hometown, all brothers, and that we should take care of each other."

That's what I thought at the time too.

Later, we joined a small faction together.

In that small group, we initially supported each other.

But later, things gradually changed.

That small faction had other people, and we started to befriend those other people in that small faction as well.

My fellow villagers and I are relatively conservative, but one of them is more outgoing.

Soon, he became close friends with one of the leaders of that small faction and the people around him.

The rest of us were also thinking about whether we could get a share of the profits.

But what happened? That guy just used us as stepping stones.

That guy, in order to curry favor with that leader.

They repeatedly used us as tools to amuse their superiors. On one occasion, they even made us the scapegoats, shifting all the blame onto us.

At this point, Sun Hong sighed.

"Later, we were not only kicked out, but also cheated out of a lot of money due to the contract."

"After that incident, our fellow villagers completely dispersed. Some went back to their hometowns, while others sought other ways to make a living."

I was no exception; I was depressed for a long time afterward.

It wasn't until later that I slowly recovered.

Sun Hong gave another wry smile: "Actually, it's also our fault for being too naive. We could have seen the signs from the beginning, but we were too young and inexperienced back then, so we were unwilling to admit it or face it."

At this point, Sun Hong opened a bottle of wine.

"Alright, let's have one!"

Zhao Dele and the others poured themselves a drink, and then everyone drank it all in one gulp.

"Phew..." After downing a cup, Sun Hong felt much better.

"I tell you these stories of the past in the hope that you will learn from them. There are quite a few of you, several thousand in total."

You are destined to go your separate ways and develop your own paths in the future.

Therefore, don't take too much importance on relationships that seem impressive but are actually not very intertwined.

I, Sun Hong, am not a scholar, and there are some things I'm not good at saying.

But that's the gist of it, you get the idea.

At the same time, you should be more careful in the future and not easily trust anyone, even acquaintances from the same place as you.

"Of course, I, Sun Hong, am willing to treat you to dinner. There's another reason too." Sun Hong said, pouring himself another glass. "That is, I, Sun Hong, always feel that you are different from other people."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dele asked curiously, "How are they different?"

Sun Hong smiled and said, "I can't quite explain it either. There are dozens of martial artists in your group. But you few are different from the other martial artists. You are more organized and disciplined, unlike a bunch of scattered soldiers. Also, the fear of unfamiliar environments that you have is not as strong as the others."

"In short, I always feel that you will achieve something in the future and will not be limited to this construction site."

As he spoke, Sun Hong raised his glass and looked at Zhao Dele.

"Especially you, Deluo, someone as smart as you can get along well anywhere."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dele and the others all laughed.

"Haha, come on, Brother Sun, let me toast you!"

The group then downed their drinks in one gulp.

Afterwards, the food was served, and the group ate and chatted.

Sun Hong asked Zhao Dele and the others what the place they had been in was like, and Zhao Dele gave a brief account.

"That place is called Yangon, and its rulers call themselves nobles..."

Zhao Dele recounted life in the outer city settlement, the selection process for the Hyena Gang, and the training at the martial arts academy's training grounds...

"You guys are really living a miserable life," Sun Hong remarked.

"However, from some perspectives, you have also gained a lot of experience... although the two are not comparable."

Sun Hong picked up a piece of food and then said, "Since you call me Brother Sun, and I've treated you to this meal, then we're officially acquainted from now on."

As for me, that's about it for me in Yuncheng. I probably can't offer you any help.

However, I can still offer you a few pointers.

Of course, this only applies to life afterward.

"How should I tell you this... Let your brother Sun organize his thoughts."

First of all, we are all ordinary people.

Ordinary people have their own way of living.

Topics like those powerful forces are actually too far removed from us. So we don't need to care about them at all, and it's meaningless.

What ordinary people need to care about is how to make their lives better.

Let me use you guys as an example.

If you want to develop your career in Yuncheng long-term and live a stable life, there is one thing you must pay attention to.

That means settling down.

Your current status is actually similar to that of refugees. What you will be issued later will only be temporary identification, and you won't even have a clear place of origin.

The treatment of temporary residents in a city is quite different from that of local residents.

Of course, the authorities will definitely assign you a place of residence, but it is highly likely that the place of residence will not be Yuncheng, but rather one of the smaller cities surrounding or under the jurisdiction of Yuncheng.

Settling down in those small cities is not difficult at all, and it's even meaningless. You probably wouldn't go to live in those small cities anyway.

Because, frankly speaking, power and class are more solidified in small cities. You have no relatives or friends to rely on, so it's better to stay in a big city and live a comfortable life there than to go to such a place.

Yuncheng is, after all, a second-tier city, and just that title makes settling down in Yuncheng quite valuable.

Now I'll tell you about the benefits.

First of all, once you settle down, you will be considered residents of Yuncheng. Your information will be clearly recorded in Yuncheng, and you will be subject to more favorable protection under Yuncheng's rules.

Even if trouble arises in the future, no one in Yuncheng will dare to act recklessly. After all, the Yuncheng government is not just for show.

Secondly, there are the resources of Cloud City.

We need to consider all aspects of our daily lives, including food, clothing, shelter, transportation, and even the future of our children and grandchildren.

As a second-tier city, Yuncheng certainly has a stronger foundation in these public infrastructure resources.

However, to better enjoy these public infrastructure resources, one must settle down.

Take housing and work as examples.

If you are local residents of Yuncheng, employers will definitely give you priority in hiring under the same conditions. After all, this means that your employer will pay less tax each month, which is a real benefit-sharing relationship.

Furthermore, you can also enjoy a certain level of subsidy for the taxes you pay each month.

As for housing, before you buy a property, the government will give you a monthly allowance, which is not much, but it can save you a lot.

Furthermore, if you have children in the future, they can directly enter the schools run by the Yuncheng government when they reach a certain age. The tuition is low, the educational resources are high-quality, and the government will even give you priority in allocating their quotas for further education.

In short, there are many benefits.