They say when one grown older, one will lost something and gain another.

What was gain and what was lost?

Is it worth it in the end?

There is a saying that goes Time wait for no man.

And how true it is. Life has pass ten years now.

I have change from the easygoing and loud mouth youth that I once was.

But somewhere along the way, I felt something inside of myself change.

I dislike it.

While other told me it was maturity.

Still I look back now and shake my head at the person that I became.

If you ask me if I am a good person. I would say yes.

But…

I was a better person before.

The three government officer come to eat lunch every day sitting at the same table, of course their food was at a reduced price(Free). Different from everyone else.

Why you ask?

Protection money in a sense but more like the innkeeper did not want trouble from those officers. They can make running a business in a small town like this a torture.

Usually he need to bride them too but thanks to the connection of his friend who also work for the same group he didn’t need to give them “Gratitude money.”

He always found this kind of things unpleasant and the people that take advantage of their position loathsome.

When he was younger he did things different, he would never give into their kind. He would tell them go to hell and report them to their senior officer. Still that don’t always work so he then would report to regional Law Enforcer.

Of course doing so got him into a lot of trouble and the innkeeper that he work under always scolded him to just let it be. That this kind of things can’t be help.

“They are government officer, what they say mean more then what we commoners say.”

A lots times those officers didn’t leave things be, they fined the Inn or obstructed their business by causing trouble for the other guests.

Some Inn’s business got so bad, they were force to close down.

Be that as it may, that wasn’t the worst.

The worst was when they ambushed you for getting in their way. Two times he has been beaten black and blue.

One time they broke his right arm and another they almost kill him.

One of the attacks were in broad daylight, the other was at night.

He still remember it.

When he went out to buy some food for the innkeeper’s wife, those officers that he reported on walked behind him and lifted him up. They took turns punching him like a sandbag, all the people that was in the market square just stood there and watch this public beating.

“Let this be a lesson to all of you! This is what happens when you obstruct the working of the law!” The one that was lifting him up announced with a smile.

“Dam brat!” The one punching him grab his hair and violently yank it, pulling out a handful.

“Hahaha!!! Look at him black and blue! Maybe we should pull out all his hair and make him a monk while we are at it.” Suggest one of by the side with nothing to do.

He turn to look around the other people for help.

They just stare at him with annoyed gaze.

“Why did he anger those officers?”

“It’s his own fault.”

“It will be a good lesson for the kid.”

“Dam that kid going to cost me business.”

Those around him whispers.

Soon afterward the five officers got bored and drop him to the ground. His face swollen like a pigs, he couldn’t feel pain after a while. All he know was that he might die soon. He try to use his arm hand to support himself, but found that he couldn’t move it at all.

One of the officer notice him trying to get up and kicked him in the stomachs, causing him to cough up some vomit.

“Che! Shitty brat, when we beat you. You stay down.” He stared at him as if he was lowly bug and click his tongue in annoyance.

“Let’s go get some wine at the brothel.” Said the fat one.

“Ahhh!! Best idea yet. After this work out I could use some wine and woman. Hahaha!!”

They left happy to the red light district.

“Hey someone move the kid out of the way. He is going to get in the way of traffic.”

It was the last thing he remember.

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Having been beaten an inch from death, he stay in his room for few months recuperating. The innkeeper have to fire him, not wanting trouble with the officers and having gone for so long, he was shorthanded.

”What you dare to accused my officers of wrong doing?”

“They fucking beat the crap out of me.” He glare at the judge.

“What do you five have to say to the accuser?”

The officers just shrug their shoulder with a mocking smile.

“Didn’t he just fell down some stairs?” Laugh the one that lifted him up.

“Ya and then smash his face right into a rock. Hahaha!!”

The judge laugh along and point to him.

“I think he need to be hit a few times in the butt to get it.”

He sneer as he order him to be beaten 20 times then have him threw out onto street.

It was the worst time of his 15 year life then, he left that city right after and never to return again.

Sigh! How life changes. He pour the hot water into the teapot and walked over to the customer.

I can’t do those foolish things anymore, I got a family and an 8 year old kid.He put down the teapot and smile at the two richly dress man, till he saw the swords on the table.

They are martial artist, the so call passing storm of his business.

Trouble seem to follow this people, no not people more like beast wearing human skins.

They were on the level of naturel disaster, one can’t do anything but pray to god and Buddha that it will go by peacefully.

In the few inn that he worked in, there has been quite a few fights. Some drunken brawls with a few broken tables and chairs.

Not things too bad, and usually the government officers are call to stop the fight before it get too out of hands.

The two parties involved are punish with a beating or a fine.

Well most of the time.

Now if it is a fight between residents of Jianghu ….

Then most likely, lots of chairs and table will be smashed into pieces, a large amount of plates, jars, bottles and cups will be broken.

Sometimes, your roof will be damage as well.

Lots of cleaning afterward if they used weapons and of course every guests will be dispersed faster than when they are trap in a burning building.

The unlucky ones that couldn’t escape often end up getting hurt by stray attacks, broken off chairs, tables, shards of ceramic from bottles, cups and a few that get hit by weapons as well. All in all, when everything is done, the place will be a bitch for the person who has to clean up.

Of course even then most Innkeeper will still open their door for them.

Why you may ask?

It’s very simple, reimbursement for collateral damage.

For reason unknown to him, martial artist seem to carry around lots of money.

One time after a fight between wuxia, they give me a silver ingot for his trouble. It was more than needed but they refused to take it back. Saying that it was their way of apologizing for inconveniencing his business.

In case you do not know how much one silver ingot is worth then let me give you an example. A copper can buy you a piece of traveler’s bread and two coppers for rice wine (Normal one). Three copper can get you two course meal with some vegetables and pork with rice. Small Inns charge 5 copper for the night (Normal room), for fancier Inn 8 coppers (normal room).

A silver piece is worth 50 copper. With a silver piece a merchant can buy bulk of silk. Two silver pieces he can buy jewelry like pearls and jades. Five silver pieces he can buy a horse and a wagon. Twenty silver pieces equals one silver ingot. You are consider a full-fledged merchant when you make one ingot.

Still do not understand?

Very well then…..

You can hired someone to build you a small one story house with a yard and wall surrounding it and still have enough money left to get your family of ten have a full course feast in a well-known restaurant.

That being said, the most common usage of money is copper unless you are business owner or merchant. Silver is use mostly more by people of wealth. Gold is mostly use by nobility, officers of the courts, those that work in the palace of the emperor and maybe a few mulin sect.