Ternell City is located in the southwestern region of the Empire. Compared to the prosperous scenery along the southeast coast, Ternell City appears less bustling. However, for those who live in Ternell City, it is a paradise compared to other rural areas filled with the smell of soil.
Curiosity filled Dulin's eyes as he looked at the busy streets. Although he had seen more advanced and prosperous cities in his dreams, this was now a reality. He adjusted his backpack with patches on his shoulders and excitedly looked around while also considering what he should do first.
Learning about culture was necessary since he didn't recognize any of the characters on signs throughout town which would limit his future development. Secondly, he needed to find a job that could support him in a short amount of time without requiring high pay or new water; just enough for basic shelter and two meals per day.
Walking through these unfamiliar city streets brought some fear but mostly anticipation for what lay ahead. The sky seemed bluer than back home and even the air felt refreshing.
"Hey...you there!"
Dulin turned towards where someone called out from beside an oddly comical yet undoubtedly brand-new car parked nearby - A man wearing a round top hat motioned him over with one finger.
"Yes sir? What can I help you with?" Dulin walked over immediately despite not knowing why this wealthy-looking gentleman wanted him specifically but being eager to try anything new.
The man sized up Dulin before tilting his head slightly towards several heavy boxes behind their vehicle saying "Help me move them up to room 411 on fourth floor."
Dulin hesitated briefly before smiling broadly then slinging off his backpack and lifting one box after another onto each shoulder using all his strength until they were all loaded up ready to go upstairs together. They were quite heavy boxes too; wooden frames reinforced by metal struts outside containing something liquid inside that sloshed around as he carried them. The man seemed surprised by Dulin's strength and pointed to a small five-story building nearby, urging him to hurry.
Dulin climbed the stairs with heavy boxes in tow, panting slightly but not struggling too much since he was already used to doing hard labor back home. He found room 411 using numbers learned from coins and knocked twice on the door with his foot. After a moment, someone opened it just enough for an ominous-looking person to peer out at him through the crack.
"The gentleman downstairs asked me to bring these boxes up," Dulin explained.
The door was slightly ajar, and the guy poked his head out to look around. The long corridor was quiet, with no sign of anyone. Only then did he open the door, and Dulin noticed a detail: as the guy opened the door, he put his right hand behind him and then pulled it back out.
He looked at the three boxes in Dulin's arms with some surprise on his face. "You're pretty strong!" He stepped aside to let Dulin in and said, "Just put them behind the door."
Following his instructions, after putting down the things, that guy pushed Dulin out of the room somewhat roughly before slamming shut the door with a bang.
Dulin stared at the closed wooden door for a moment before shrugging and heading downstairs.
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The gentleman downstairs hadn't left yet. After seeing Dulin, he didn't say anything but took out a one-yuan note from his pocket and stuffed it into Dulin's hand. Before Dulin could even thank him, that guy drove away.
Watching the car disappear down the street, Dulin whistled to himself. It seemed that making money in this city wasn't as difficult as he had imagined. Look - in just over an hour he had earned one yuan! That was equivalent to three days' income for an ordinary person!
People always feel proud of their first time doing something - even if it's something stupid like this. As he thought about earning his first dollar through hard work in life while looking for somewhere to live by roadside , what he really hoped for was finding a place where leather tools were made; being a leatherworker meant never going hungry - or so said an alcoholic who bought wolf skins in Clover Town.
A valuable wolf skin - Outside of Wild Clover Town, groups of three or four wild wolves would often appear. These wolves were mostly attracted by the livestock in the town and became one of the things that rural people hated most. The townspeople would use traps to kill these wolves, then strip off their skins intact and sell them to leather merchants who came once a month.
In the mouth of that leather merchant, these wolf skins could only be sold for ten coins each. After being carefully crafted by leatherworkers, they could be sold for dozens or even hundreds of coins!
So Du Lin thought that becoming an apprentice to a leatherworker was obviously the most direct and quickest way if he wanted to change his life level as soon as possible.
Actually, he didn't know that other industries were about the same if done well.
After wandering around in the city center for a while, he almost got dizzy from it all. He had never seen such a big city before with so many people, roads and houses.
Of course, there were also cars on the road.
He hadn't encountered any more good luck like before and couldn't find any leatherworkers either.
Eating hard whole wheat bread like stones with water pumped from a roadside pump, Du Lin completed his first step in life: spending a night in the city.
Similarly, he also felt something called loneliness for the first time. In an arch under a bridge, he curled up his body and gradually fell asleep amidst howling winds.
After touring through Teneil City for several days straightened out everything but found only three leather goods stores where owners had no plans to hire anyone else. Du Lin put his hopes on other jobs such as tailors or carpenters which looked decently paid too but unfortunately nobody was willing to take him on board either. This made him understand that there is always an unbridgeable gap between ideals and reality.
Two weeks later, he finally found a way to make money from countless failures - washing cars.
All that was needed was a bucket of water, cheap soap, dried and rotten gourd rinds with only fibers left and a towel. With these things costing no more than one coin altogether, cleaning one car could earn him at least five or ten coins. If he washed dozens of cars every day, wouldn't he become rich soon? According to some experiences in his dreams, this is the time to expand business operations by hiring people and creating his own brand effect...
It seemed very promising.
On the evening of the sixteenth day since arriving in Teneil City, Du Lin carried a bucket of water to the roadside. He had observed that across the street was Teneil Grand Theater where many wealthy people came here every day driving their cars to enjoy operas and some comedies which made it also the most profitable place.
After dark fell gradually on that day, Teneil City woke up from its slumber and came alive! This city was already enough for Du Lin to feel shocked; he couldn't imagine what "big cities" were like as described by others.
Beep beep! A new model Ogre car stopped not far away from him pulling him out of his reverie. A guy with stern face wearing windbreaker coat and top hat got off from it. He glanced at Du Lin then patted his car before taking out two five-cent coins from his pocket throwing them casually on the ground without looking back stepping onto Teneil Grand Theater's steps.
What an arrogant person!
Du Lin shook his head slightly carrying his water bucket walking over while thinking: if I become richer than him someday or have more dignity than him I can't be as arrogant as he is!
People should be equal!