Chapter 62

Su Wangchuan held his identity token as he left the hall entrance. By the time he stepped outside, the sky had already darkened, and today’s recruitment had ended.

Instructor Yu was still waiting in the distance.

When he saw Su Wangchuan come out, he could not help complaining, “Why did it take so long? You did not run into any trouble, did you?”

“I’m sorry to keep you waiting.” Su Wangchuan told him about the sparring match in the weapon room, including the fact that he had already secured two tasks there.

Instructor Yu’s eyes immediately lit up, and the displeasure in his heart vanished at once.

“Good!”

“Well done.”

“On your very first day in the gang, you’ve already established your footing in the weapon room and taken two orders. That means your strength has been recognized…”

“This month, even if you only take these two tasks, the pay is already quite decent. It will be enough to report back to the studio.”

Instructor Yu was, after all, the head of the gold-farming department. As long as the performance numbers rose, he would receive a bonus.

What did waiting an hour matter?

With twenty-eight taels of silver as a baseline, Su Wangchuan had already secured his position in Huishui County. His future prospects would not be inferior to Blackstone Village.

“However.”

“I have four helpers under me.”

“These people should probably get a share of the silver as well.”

Su Wangchuan reminded Instructor Yu.

Instructor Yu pondered for a moment, then nodded.

“A Yulong Gang helper only gets two taels of silver a month in wages. Just distribute it according to that amount. I’ve heard that the weapon room actually has plenty of other hidden profits. Their iron ore is intercepted from ships, and privately, Room Master Zhang also has his people forge extra weapons to sell quietly, both inside and outside. There’s also another portion of income. In any case, handle it as you see fit.”

“So that’s how it is!”

Su Wangchuan thought of the weapon room’s front hall shop and finally understood.

If that was the case, these four helpers did not actually need him to support them. As long as he assigned them forging tasks every day, they could earn enough to feed themselves, and moreover…

If he truly filled the schedule and packed their time to the brim, these four helpers would become four draft animals working for him—while still bringing him tribute.

“Alright.”

“It’s late.”

“Take your things, go back and settle in properly. If anything comes up, contact your elder brother Lin Xun. With him looking out for you, no one in the Yulong Gang will dare to target you openly. But you still need to be careful of that Zhang fellow.”

“Alright.”

Su Wangchuan took back his bundle and the Hundredfold Steel spear, and bid Instructor Yu farewell.

Instructor Yu led his horse away.

Su Wangchuan returned to the gang hall and went back to the weapon room’s west wing room.

The spacious room had a bed, a stool, a window, and even candles and bedding. It was far more comfortable than Blackstone Village.

From now on, he could log off in his own room.

Su Wangchuan was delighted.

He set down his bundle and stepped outside.

Chen Ergou, Zhang San, Dali, and Tiedan were waiting there.

“Master!”

“Come in. Talk with me about the weapon room.”

The four immediately showed delighted expressions.

They knew their livelihood and earnings were now tied to Su Wangchuan, so they answered every question he asked, holding nothing back.

Su Wangchuan quickly learned the weapon room’s usual operations from them.

When the gang had tasks, they would be extremely busy.

On ordinary days, they repaired various weapons for the gang’s disciples and collected some silver for it, slightly cheaper than market prices.

But repairing weapons did not earn much, so everyone would also privately forge some ironware to sell in the shop, or else look for buyers outside.

The weapon room never lacked iron ore.

Because the Yulong Gang handled transportation, they could casually intercept a bit of iron ore and coal from cargo ships, and it would last them a long time.

Everyone was well aware of it.

No one said anything.

Because those ores were essentially “free gifts,” almost every finished product from the weapon room had no real cost. It was pure profit.

The gang only paid ordinary compensation when it issued tasks, and on regular days, aside from Room Master Zhang, no one received wages at all.

As a blacksmith, Su Wangchuan was on the same level as Room Master Zhang, and he could receive a certain monthly wage.

“On ordinary days, do you take many tasks? How are the earnings?”

Su Wangchuan asked.

The four exchanged a glance and answered honestly.

“There are many forging tasks, but the earnings are usually only about two taels of silver a month.”

“Two taels isn’t much, but in Huishui County, it’s enough to live on.”

Su Wangchuan nodded silently.

“The things people forge privately—when they’re sold, do they keep the money themselves, or does everyone get a share?”

“Those are all Room Master Zhang’s.”

“But now… you’ll definitely have a share, Master.”

“In the future, you can take over part of the counter and put what we forge up for sale. You can stamp it with your exclusive mark, and then all the silver will belong to you alone.”

“…”

Su Wangchuan’s heart trembled.

Only now did he truly understand what kind of lucrative position Lin Xun had recommended him into.

No wonder Room Master Zhang had looked at him with such hostility and helplessness.

From now on, the weapon room would be decided by just two people—him and Room Master Zhang.

And Room Master Zhang’s income would be reduced by at least one-third, taken over by him.

The Yulong Gang’s weapon room was also a massive hub for information.

All kinds of inner disciples came and went here every day. Sometimes even a helm leader, a hall master, an elder, or the gang leader would come take a look.

Whose weapon was damaged, which convoy had been ambushed, whether the gang was making a large-scale move—these things could all be reflected here in the weapon room.

“Impressive.”

The clearer Su Wangchuan’s understanding of the weapon room became, the more certain he was that Room Master Zhang would never let this go.

He absolutely could not let Room Master Zhang seize any handle against him, or the man would do everything in his power to drive him out.

While suppressing his excitement, Su Wangchuan asked about Chen Ergou and the others’ abilities. He then learned that the four could only forge ordinary ironware.

For example, crude long sabers and arrowheads.

Because Room Master Zhang trusted no one, he would not teach the 《Hundredfold Steel Forging Technique》 to any apprentice.

Everyone’s daily routine was simply forging ordinary arrowheads, because it was currently one of the weapon room’s largest sources of income.

Relying on this single stream alone, they could eat well and keep warm.

“Then do not waste time.”

“Everyone, start working.”

“From now on, you will focus on taking turns forging iron arrows. I need two people to assist in forging Hundredfold Steel arrowheads and in assembling armor-piercing arrows. Each one will earn you a profit of ten copper coins.”

“From now on, your earnings will definitely be more than two taels of silver!”

As soon as Su Wangchuan finished speaking, Chen Ergou and the others’ eyes immediately lit up.

Motivated by money, everyone’s spirits soared. They sprang to their feet and followed Su Wangchuan toward the rear courtyard.

In the rear courtyard, the other twelve helpers watched Chen Ergou and the others, who were brimming with fighting spirit as if filled with hot blood, and their expressions turned strange.

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