Martial Arts: Starting with Bajiquan, I will prove my divine power through the ultimate path!

"Are you sure you want to sell the land?"

"I'm sure."

"3 mu of land, sold for 98000 coins. The money and land are settled. If everything is correct, please sign and seal this document."

"If you can't write, just draw a circle on it."

County government office, notary office.

The clerk, leaning back in his chair, spoke calmly, "Once the county government's red seal is affixed, there's no going back!"

Two people were waiting in front of him.

One was a middle-aged man, looking strong and muscular, with snake and scorpion tattoos on his palms and a red rope knot tied to his left arm; he had a sleazy appearance.

The other person appeared to be a young boy.

He was wearing a gray-brown linen top, shorts, and straw sandals.

Their youthful faces are smoothed out by life's hardships; when they're not speaking, they're quiet and well-behaved.

Upon hearing this, Sanqingzi smiled obsequiously and said, "I have no problem with that, sir, this is the price!"

"Sir, this isn't right. I want to sell it for 9 strings of cash, not 98000 coins!"

"We originally agreed to settle in copper coins, but he's offering to settle in precious coins? I only want to settle in copper coins."

Shi Wen frowned and spoke.

Baoqian was a credit currency created by Emperor Gaozu of the Liang Dynasty, also known as lead coin.

In the early days, the government stipulated that ten precious coins could be exchanged for one copper coin.

The weight of the precious coins circulating among the people was only one-quarter that of copper coins.

Later, corruption became rampant in the Liang Dynasty, and the problem became so severe that it festered and festered.

The coins established by Emperor Gaozu were increasingly crudely made, weighing less than half the weight of those from his time, and were now worthless.

The government only collected copper coins, but there was no place to exchange them, thus restricting ordinary people from using copper coins for transactions.

Merchants or those who wish to purchase goods from foreign trade must use copper coins for transactions.

What to do if you don't have any copper coins?

Those officials and local gentry opened money exchanges in the black market, where the exchange rate reached as high as 20 to 1!

Those three acres of fertile land could have been sold for 14 strings of cash.

But now the government of the Great Liang Dynasty is corrupt.

Local officials and gangs colluded to divide the streets and alleys of Heiyun County into territories, and all kinds of business had already been divided up by the officials and gangs.

If you try to sell it to someone else, they simply won't dare to buy it.

9 strings and 8 coins is already below the market price.

They're even using precious coins for transactions now.

If you were to exchange these 98000 precious coins for even 5 strings of cash!

"The Emperor Gaozu's precious coins—that's the policy the entire Great Liang Dynasty was implementing. Transactions among the people also had to be conducted in precious coins. Are you perhaps showing contempt for the government?"

The clerk Liu Wen, who had been squinting and conserving his energy, suddenly slammed his hand on the table.

An angry expression appeared on his mustache. "If you keep yelling, believe me, I'll lock you in jail!"

The policies related to Baoqian collapsed decades ago.

Moreover, when land is traded, the settlement method is naturally decided by the buyer and seller.

But they just took advantage of the fact that this kid had no connections.

What can we do?

Shi Wen lowered his head, his voice somewhat silent, "This humble man dares not despise the government."

"Brother Xiao Shi, are you still going to sell it or not?" San Qingzi cracked his neck and chuckled, "If you don't sell it today, the price might not be the same tomorrow."

"You should know that the Red Lantern Gang has designated you to perform a ritual to appease the Dragon King on the third day of next month. No one else dares to take your land."

"It's only because you're from our alley that I'm taking your land. If it were anyone else, no one would dare take it even if you offered it up!"

He saw the young man fall silent.

Suddenly, he leaned down and chuckled softly, "Why don't you come with me? I have work to do on the boatmen's gang."

"If you come, you'll be guaranteed 20000 coins every month! I'll help you talk to the Red Lantern Gang leader and resolve that matter, how about it?"

Shi Wen's heart tightened, and he forced a smile as he replied, "No need, let's just go with this price."

How many of those who become tow carriers live long?

As for the Red Lantern Gang...

It was truly an unexpected disaster.

Due to an accident, he transmigrated into the body of a 15-year-old boy.

The original body drowned after saving a woman in Dragon Sorrow Gorge, but came back to life because he took over the body of a young boy.

This matter came to the attention of the boatmen known as the Red Lantern Gang in Longwangjiang.

They believed that he must have a connection with the Dragon King God in the river to survive being swept underwater. They decided to send him to Longchoujian next month, on the third day of the fifth lunar month, to offer sacrifices to the Dragon King!

This is clearly a death sentence for him.

Why would he be willing to go?

To make a living, he plans to sell his land today and go to a boxing academy to train!

Suddenly.

Shi Wen signed and affixed his seal to the contract.

He put the bag of precious coins in his basket and was about to leave.

Liu Wen, who was lying in the chair, suddenly coughed lightly and tapped the table with his fingers. "Don't you know the rules? Or are you trying to get a free meal from the government?"

"I have been presumptuous, please forgive me, sir."

Shi Wen took a deep breath.

He took out a string of coins from his money bag and forced a smile, saying, "Sir, this is the tax money. Please take a look."

"No need, get out."

Liu Wen waved his hand dismissively, as if shooing away a fly.

Shi Wen turned and left.

A bitter look appeared in his eyes.

The time travel only lasted a few days.

But the Great Liang Dynasty was the most ruthless place he had ever seen.

The exploitation by officials, the plundering by clerks, and the extortion by gangs—all these forms of extortion were things Shi Wen had never heard of before.

The government collects land tax, poll tax, commercial tax, transaction tax, water and rice tax, white money tax, and salt tax.

The clerks and their cronies demanded regular fees and tributes.

They also collect various taxes under different pretexts, such as river dredging tax, street cleaning tax, storage fee, and street vendor tax.

If you dare to refuse.

Clerks have plenty of ways to discipline people!

They'll either accuse you of "tax evasion," confiscate your goods, and put you in jail, or they'll send some thugs to harass you.

Some people might even come to your house in the middle of the night and throw feces, snakes, rats, or chicken blood at you.

If you really run into those ruthless people, they might wake you up in the middle of the night and then burn your house down. Whether you live or die depends on your luck!

"Only by becoming a martial artist can one find a way to survive in this chaotic world!"

Shi Wen took a deep breath.

This is why he sold the land on the third day after his transmigration, and his parents from his previous life agreed.

In early April, the sky was overcast and rainy.

Raindrops, like silkworm threads, dampened the streets and alleys. From some high walls came the sounds of young men reciting poems and laughing, praising the fine spring weather. Shi Wen felt that the rain made walking inconvenient.

He placed the precious money in an inconspicuous basket, covered it with a cloth, and weighed it down with potato cakes and other odds and ends.

He walked hurriedly towards the alley outside the county government office with his head down.

Heiyun County is home to a diverse population with numerous sects and factions.

Various petty thugs wandered aimlessly through the streets, while peddlers carrying their wares and hawking their wares were also plentiful.

A light drizzle fell, and the mud and dust from the street mingled with the peculiar stench of sweat emanating from the crowd.

Walking on the muddy streets, if you accidentally step on a mud brick, the mud and water from the gaps between the bricks will splash out and wet your trousers.

Walking in straw sandals, the splashed mud and water would wet your heels.

It gives you a very uncomfortable feeling, and you always want to wash the mud off your heels and the mud that has seeped into your soles.

Shi Wen lowered his head and remained silent.

He rushed toward Li the Headhunter's house.

In this world, only by mastering martial arts and becoming a martial artist can one be considered successful and able to protect oneself and remain stable in chaotic times.

Li the Head-Cutter was the county magistrate's top executioner, and also a formidable martial arts master.

of course.

Shi Wen sought out Li Kantou to become his apprentice because Li Kantou's tuition fees were much lower than those of famous martial arts masters and boxing academies.

There are people in Heiyun County who occupy large spaces to open martial arts schools.

But Shi Wen didn't even dare to think about it; the tuition was beyond his means.

The further out into the city, the more chaotic the situation became.

On the streets, there were many constables patrolling, as well as many local ruffians. They would spend a few copper coins in teahouses and taverns to order the cheapest things and sit there all day. This was the best form of entertainment to pass the time on rainy days.

Shi Wen walked forward with his head down, afraid of attracting attention.

If your money gets stolen, then you've been robbed for nothing!

Perhaps because it was raining today, no one paid any attention to the poorly dressed boy.

The journey was fraught with danger but ultimately safe.

Shi Wen jogged to the outside of that courtyard.

The fine, continuous rain fell like silken threads, dripping onto Shi Wen's head like grains of sugar.

He exhaled white breaths, panting slightly, and cautiously peered into the room through the door.

Inside the courtyard, a group of people were practicing enthusiastically. Shi Wen stood outside the gate watching them practice, a look of envy and longing on his face.

"Young man, would you like to become my apprentice?"

A young man sitting under a banyan tree, wiping his sweat, called out to him.