The Elixir is for You, The Poison is for Me

July's fiery heat, the city filled with the fragrance of osmanthus.

On the Jinming River, official boats and merchant ships, stern to bow, were linked together, their sails like a forest, stretching endlessly. Along the riverbanks, restaurants and taverns, colorful buildings and welcoming gates, embroidered banners fluttered in the wind. Charming courtesans, vying for attention, leaned on railings to beckon, while inside the entertainment venues, wrestling, guessing games, monks preaching scriptures, storytelling, acrobatics, and other performances unfolded in turn, attracting onlookers.

On the streets, precious carriages and fragrant cars mingled with throngs of people. Various snack vendors, toy sellers, and fortune-telling stalls had all set up their blue cloth umbrellas, stacking stools and benches, either shouting enthusiastically or looking around…

However, the hustle and bustle belonged to others, having nothing to do with Lu Jing.

Lu Jing had just spent half the day carrying goods at the docks, feeling like his body was no longer his own. He was now slumped under an osmanthus tree, staring blankly at a drink stall not far away.

So-called 'yinzi' were beverages, with recipes varying, but basically made by mixing herbs, fruits, and flowers in certain proportions and boiling them. The taste was somewhat similar to the Wanglaoji herbal tea Lu Jing had bought in convenience stores before. It wasn't particularly delicious, but having a bottle while eating hotpot or after exercising was quite refreshing.

Lu Jing really hadn't imagined that one day he would be reduced to craving even Wanglaoji, which even made him recall the terror of being dominated by Little Raccoon snacks in elementary school.

And like a one-yuan bag of Little Raccoon, a bowl of yinzi in front of him cost only two copper coins.

This price was truly not expensive, so the yinzi stall was thriving, with many people surrounding it since early morning, but Lu Jing still couldn't bear to spend the two coins.

It had been six months since Lu Jing's transmigration, but he was still largely ignorant of the world he was now in. He only vaguely knew that this was a novel dynasty unseen in history, named Chen, but not the Chen of the Northern and Southern Dynasties. In fact, it was closer to the Song Dynasty in history.

An alternate history? Lu Jing didn't care. Anyway, with his half-baked historical knowledge, it was all the same wherever he went.

Moreover, he wasn't the kind of person who was good at maneuvering relationships or liked to socialize. Before, he just buried himself in work at the office, going straight home to play games and watch movies after work, rarely cozying up to the leaders or frequently socializing like other colleagues. So, if he really transmigrated to some famous dynasty, he wouldn't be able to rally heroes from all over the world with a shake of his body, and he probably wouldn't be able to latch onto any decent big shots.

However, among the millions of people in the world, everyone has their own way of living.

Lu Jing reluctantly withdrew his gaze from the yinzi stall and looked at the waist tag on his belt.

Unfortunately, this was not some magical artifact that could bring people across time or come with its own system.

In contrast, Lu Jing, who worked as a porter at the dock, only had an income of about forty to fifty copper coins a day. Each piece of cargo had to be carried on his shoulders and hands. Because it was a piece-rate system, he could receive a corresponding number of tallies for each piece he moved, and finally settle the salary based on the tallies. It was impossible to slack off even if he wanted to.

However, Lu Jing gritted his teeth and persisted, and he had been doing it for six months.

During this period, he tried to improve his listening and speaking skills, and finally overcame the language barrier, getting rid of the embarrassing state of being half-mute, and was able to communicate normally with people. However, Lu Jing did not leave the Green Bamboo Gang afterwards.

It wasn't that the Green Bamboo Gang didn't want to let people go. This industry originally had a high turnover rate. It was very common for porters to save enough money, not be able to bear the hardship, or be too old to continue working. Except for some core members, the Green Bamboo Gang had always adhered to the principle of easy entry and easy exit, and it was more like a labor intermediary, relying on the freight commission from the porters to maintain operation.

This was also the reason why Lu Jing, who had nothing before and stammered when speaking, was able to successfully join the Green Bamboo Gang, but it was not the reason why Lu Jing had been working in this clearly unpromising industry for half a year.

The reason Lu Jing hadn't left until now was because—there were people in the Green Bamboo Gang who knew martial arts!

And not the traditional kung fu that Master Ma could only do to a limited extent, but real martial arts, just like those described in martial arts novels.

On the first day Lu Jing joined the gang, he was fortunate enough to catch a big show. The leader of the Green Bamboo Gang led people to the dock to welcome people from the Canal Gang, supposedly to discuss raising freight rates. Unexpectedly, the steward of the Canal Gang actually jumped ashore directly without the aid of any tools.

You must know that the canal boat he was riding on was not completely docked at the time, and it was about two zhang away from the shore. As a result, the steward tapped his toes on the bow of the boat, and then, like a swallow spreading its wings, lightly landed in front of everyone, causing the faces of the Green Bamboo Gang members on the dock to change.

Fortunately, the new leader of the Green Bamboo Gang also took action in time, taking a deep breath, taking half a step forward, pretending to meet him, and leaving a shallow footprint on the bluestone slab where he was originally standing.

When the steward of the Canal Gang saw the footprint on the ground, he also restrained the smile on his face, cupped his fist and praised, "Gang Leader Xie has good internal energy."

"Where, Steward Lin's lightness skill is really eye-opening for me and others." Gang Leader Xie also quickly replied, his tone neither humble nor arrogant.

"I heard that your gang has booked a banquet at Gonglou. It just so happens that this old man is also hungry. Let's go, let's eat and chat." The steward of the Canal Gang had received the invitation early on, but had been dragging his feet without expressing his position, but at this time he took the initiative to mention it again.

Hearing his words, the members of the Green Bamboo Gang couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, their faces filled with joy, and they all flocked around the steward of the Canal Gang and walked towards Gonglou.