...
Mr. Wo felt a bit anxious, watching Lin Zheyu walk up to the storytelling stage.
Xu Jingwu sat silently below, listening to the story, always keeping a smile on his face.
When the story reached its climax, he couldn't help but applaud and cheer, looking like he wasn't there to cause trouble.
But Jia Yanrong, with a hostile expression, squinted with his swollen eyes to glare at Lin Zheyu.
...
Bang—
Time passed, the wooden block was slapped, "To know what happens next, please listen to the continuation in the next episode."
The nostalgic voice sounded as usual.
Lin Zheyu bowed and stepped down from the storytelling stage.
"Mr. Lin, our Gang Leader requests your presence."
Just as he stepped off the stage, two burly men stopped Lin Zheyu.
Mr. Wo signaled for Lin Zheyu to be polite and not to anger Mr. Xu.
Endure a moment of peace, take a step back to see the vast skies.
"Okay."
Lin Zheyu nodded slightly at Mr. Wo and followed the two burly men.
"Haha, Mr. Lin is here, have a seat."
Xu Jingwu laughed heartily, generously inviting Lin Zheyu to sit down.
"I'm not sure what important matter the Gang Leader has called me over for?"
Lin Zheyu sat opposite Xu Jingwu, asking with a smile.
"No wonder you wrote The Legend of the Condor Heroes, you indeed have courage." Xu Jingwu said with a smile, seeing Lin Zheyu unfazed.
"Is Mr. Xu suggesting I should act afraid?" Lin Zheyu countered: "Is the Gang Leader planning to use force here?"
"What if I really want to use force?"
Xu Jingwu's smile faded as he looked at Lin Zheyu expressionlessly.
"You're joking, Gang Leader. This is the inner city of Songyi City, where fighting is strictly prohibited." Lin Zheyu said.
"Haha, well said."
Xu Jingwu smiled again: "Inviting Mr. Lin here, I wanted to ask if Mr. Lin would perform storytelling at my residence."
"Yesterday I sent Jia Yanrong to invite Mr. Lin, and not only did you refuse him, you nearly blinded him, quite unfriendly."
"Today I came in person, I wonder if Mr. Lin would give me face?"
Xu Jingwu brought his smile back in, calmly looking at Lin Zheyu.
"Will you pay?" Lin Zheyu asked confidently.
"Interesting."
"There are many who want to tell stories for me, Xu, but you're the first to openly ask for money."
Xu Jingwu smiled, looking at Lin Zheyu: "I can pay, but do you dare accept it?"
"Why not dare?"
"Storytellers receive payment, you listen and happily tip, it's only natural!" Lin Zheyu asserted seriously.
"Haha, Mr. Lin indeed is a remarkable person."
"Mr. Lin fled here from Jiunan City, without support or family in Songyi City, are you interested in working for me?"
Xu Jingwu said with a smile.
In recent days, yesterday he had his men gather information about Lin Zheyu, and after understanding, he still appreciated him.
Lin Zheyu's background was clean; although a scholar, he loved the martial world, and his stories carried the rich flavor of the martial wilderness.
He was really admired.
Moreover, from Jia Yanrong, it was known that Lin Zheyu was righteous, grateful and repaid kindness.
To repay kindness, he refused his brother's offers multiple times, demonstrating his good character.
Such a person, without reliance in Songyi City yet knowing how to repay, is perfect to be recruited as a subordinate.
"Oh?"
This time, Lin Zheyu was truly surprised.
Previously, influenced by preconceived impressions, he felt Xu Jingwu wasn't a good person.
But now, upon contact, the impression Xu left was great, looking even somewhat refined.
"What are the benefits of joining the Feihong Gang?"
Lin Zheyu became interested, asking: "Will you pay?"
He was currently worried about expanding his income channels.
Lin Zheyu had only a few stories memorized, saying each one meant one less.
Expanding the storytelling team was also difficult.
With expansion, selling a story to more people meant the silver taels each storytelling gentlemen would be willing to pay would continue to decrease.
Finally, the total price accounted for would be less than it previously was.
Jia Yanrong: "???"
Upon hearing the Gang Leader wanted to recruit Lin Zheyu, Jia Yanrong was filled with question marks.
His eyes, swollen to slits, suddenly widened, full of confusion.
What's going on?
The Gang Leader wasn't here to regain his standing?
What is this Lin Zheyu, already being able to work for the Gang Leader is an incredible opportunity.
Yet, before joining the Feihong Gang, he's already thinking about money, is he obsessed with it?
"Haha, I, Xu Jingwu, never treat my subordinates unfairly."
"As long as your skills are outstanding and strength sufficient, here with me, you'll gain rewards beyond your imagination." Xu Jingwu said with a laugh.
He found Lin Zheyu really interesting, even growing to appreciate him.
"How can one's strength be considered sufficient, skills outstanding?" Lin Zheyu asked Xu Jingwu.
"With Mr. Lin's learned and literary talent, you can handle the gang's logistics, tell stories during leisure, and if the storytelling is good, that's considered outstanding skills."
Xu Jingwu sipped tea as he spoke.
"Then how is strong enough determined, by competition?"
Lin Zheyu inquired.
He was more interested in this.
Simply story-telling and handling logistics wouldn't earn much money.
Most of his income currently came from selling stories for others to tell.
If he could join the Feihong Gang, leveraging its influence to implement a copyright system in Songyi City, anyone telling his stories would have to pay.
This way, the income obtained would be maximized!
"So Mr. Lin means you don't want to do logistical work, but aim to make a name for yourself through martial prowess in the gang?"
Xu Jingwu found it extremely interesting.
In his impression, Lin Zheyu was someone with decent literary skills, capable of writing good stories, with an interesting character and grateful nature.
Though he heard Lin Zheyu had practiced martial arts, he'd only been practicing for less than two months. What achievements could he have?
"Yes."
"Compared to scholarly matters, I prefer the lifestyle of eating meat in large bites, drinking alcohol in big bowls, wielding a sword in the martial world, and having swift vengeance."
Lin Zheyu said with a smile.
"Haha, Mr. Lin truly is a remarkable person, it's no wonder he wrote such an interesting story like The Legend of the Condor Heroes."
Xu Jingwu laughed heartily.
The more he interacted, the more he felt Lin Zheyu was really interesting.
There was no real animosity between him and Lin Zheyu, just Jia Yanrong and Lin Zheyu had some conflict.
But it was no big deal, his eyes weren't even blind yet.
In the gang, carrying a few injuries is a commonplace matter.
"I heard Mr. Lin practiced martial arts for a while, so you must have some skills." Xu Jingwu politely used the phrase 'some skills' for evaluation.
"When Jia Yanrong invited Mr. Lin earlier, you had a conflict, his eyes were discomforted, but his overall skills are quite good."
"If you can defeat Jia Yanrong honorably, then you can prove your abilities."
"After this exchange, your enmity can also be written off, how about that?"
Xu Jingwu proposed.
After all, Jia Yanrong's eyes suffered because of Lin Zheyu's ambush, he should give his subordinate a chance to regain his stature.
The chance was given, whether he could regain stature was entirely up to Jia Yanrong.
Upon hearing, Jia Yanrong was eager to try.
This scoundrel Lin Zheyu, if not for his sneak attack with chili powder, he would have pressed Lin Zheyu to the ground and rubbed him up!