With the apprenticeship of Duan Chong, Cao Ren's martial arts journey was finally on the right track.

A year to sharpen the knife.

The sails are raised.

What achievements he can achieve in the future depends on Cao Ren himself.

After Cao Xin's 'Insight' was refreshed every day, he could finally be separated from the masters of the major martial arts halls. He no longer had to waste time on this aspect and could free up his hands to make the next plan.

…

North of Xijing City, Caishui River Wharf.

Caishui River is located in the north of Xijing City. Its river channel enters from the first 'Caishui West Water Gate' from the left of the north city wall, bypasses a 'ji' character in the north city, and then exits from the first 'Cai Shui East Water Gate' from the right of the north city wall.

In the city alone, there are four docks near the city.

The waterway is smooth.

Goods flow smoothly.

This has given rise to top and bustling markets such as the Ma Hang Market, as well as places where craftsmen and skilled workers such as the Big Goods Store and the Small Goods Store live. Moreover, it is accessible from the Small Goods Store.

Ji'er Lane brothel is connected to the famous Fan Tower from the Big Goods Store.

As the name suggests——

The former is a source of relief for boatmen and small merchants.

The latter is a gathering place for big businessmen, as well as the Tomb of Heroes and the Grotto of Gold Sales.

I understand everything.

At that time, people had poems——

Liang Yuan's singing and dancing are full of romance,

Good wine is like a knife that cuts away sorrow.

I remember how happy I was when I was young,

The lights go up to Fan Tower late at night.

Visible prosperity.

However, under the prosperity, there is also hardship.

…

Caishui West Pier.

The boats are like weaving, and the sky is noisy with heat.

Tens of thousands of people were surging, and the bare-chested, capable men were either walking as fast as flying or carrying heavy objects on their shoulders, all sweating like rain.

This is the scene at the pier.

Boats going back and forth.

Unloading coolies.

The sound of shouts, chants, and the shouts of vendors passing back and forth made the place even more noisy, making the July sky even hotter.

Lu Damiao is one of the unloading coolies.

He is now sixteen years old. He was born in a village outside Xijing. His family was well off in the past few years. However, due to his father's serious illness, he spent more than a year seeking medical treatment. Not only did he spend up his family's savings, he also sold several acres of land. Since then, his family's fortune has plummeted.

Father Lu was not rescued.

Lu Damiao, who was only fourteen years old at the time, came to the dock with the elders from the village to seek a living.

Two years have passed in a flash.

Lu Damiao had to support his mother at first, and support his younger brothers and younger sisters at the next. He just relied on his shoulders and hands to support the family.

There is no need to go into details about how difficult life is.

This day.

Lu Damiao finished unloading a boat and was sweating profusely. He was about to run back to the foreman to take the next order when suddenly two people appeared in front of him.

One big and one small.

The younger one is about ten years old and looks good.

The older one has a dark face, and is somewhat honest when he doesn't speak.

Lu Damiao didn't know the younger one, but he knew the older one. He hurriedly greeted: "Brother Cao!"

There is surprise on the face.

This 'Brother Cao' is from the Caishui Gang. It is said that he saved the life of a small leader of the Caishui Gang on the dock a year ago and was taken in as a confidant. Now he is also in charge of several foremen and a small piece of land on the dock.

For such an ordinary coolie, he is already an incredible big shot.

However, the two have a connection.

To be precise, 'Brother Cao' treated him kindly.

At the end of last year, a cold wave hit him and he almost fell ill, but he couldn't wait for the rice to be cooked at home, so he really didn't dare to delay, so he gritted his teeth and ran to work. In the end, he collapsed from exhaustion and was carried aside to rest by his fellow villagers.

Feel good.

Worried about my own cold.

Worrying about the food rations at home.

It's almost overwhelming.

At this time, 'Brother Cao' appeared and gave him fifty coins and seven or eight grain cakes, asking him to let the Lu family survive the disaster.

Lu Damiao was grateful.

But ‘Brother Cao’ never had contact with him again.

I only heard occasionally that 'Brother Cao' was a good man, and he was not the only one who saved his life in the past. He would also help many people on the pier who were really in need when they were desperate. But what will happen in the future?

No special care, no ordinary interactions.

Do good deeds without expecting anything in return.

Even if someone wanted to pay back the money later, this 'Brother Cao' would be happy to accept it, and he wouldn't refuse even a few more interest payments.

It can be seen that it is not a deliberate act of kindness to win over people's hearts.

To say something fashionable -

Brother Cao is very Buddhist.

For example, Lu Damiao.

It was the first time he contacted Brother Cao when he borrowed money to tide over the crisis, the second time he thanked him in person after his condition improved, and the third time he paid back the money later in the year.

There was no further contact after that.

Until today.

…

"Zou, Xie, Lu."

"Only these three?"

Cao Ren asked after leading Cao Xin away from Lu Damiao's house.

"Um."

"That's enough for now."

Cao Xin nodded.

Last September, when Cao Ren began to change martial arts schools frequently, Cao Xin suggested that his eldest brother look for loyal and reliable ones among the coolies on the dock and pay attention to them.

Subsequently, I learned more about the Dingkou of these people's homes and the reputation among the neighbors.

Many materials were recorded one by one by Cao Xin.

In the past year, there have been 67 reliable dock coolies like Lu Damiao, but among them, less than 20% have passed the family "political review", and only 12 households have passed it.

Most people's families are full of nonsense, but he himself is clean and honest, and his personality is honest and kind, but his family is one, and Cao Xin is unwilling to bet on these people.

For the remaining twelve households, I and my family members are all reliable.

Several days in a row.

Cao Xin followed his eldest brother and looked at each house secretly, and finally selected three.

Lu Damiao is one of them.

Although the family is not crowded——

There are only my mother, a nine-year-old brother, and a seven-year-old sister.

The younger brothers and sisters are too young to be useful.
To be continued...