Family Cultivation : The Jiang Clan’s Immortality System

[XiaoBudian]

Nine Provinces Kingdom, Willow County, Golden Willow Village.

In August, the blazing sun hung high overhead, scorching the earth. On the small road at the village entrance, Jiang Huanyu, wearing a straw hat and a short hemp shirt, with his trouser legs rolled up, walked toward the grain-drying field under the fierce sun. Behind him followed two bare-bottomed children, one older and one younger.

"Father is lying. There isn't even a single cloud in the sky. How could it possibly rain?" The seven-or-eight-year-old Jiang Wenfeng carried a wooden box, shielding his forehead with his dirty little hand. He tilted his head, looked at the cloudless sky, and muttered.

Far behind them, the little fellow who was only three or four years old was currently holding his little water pipe, aiming at an ant nest and wantonly watering it. His giggling laughter drifted over. Jiang Huanyu stopped and looked at the mischievous little fellow with a helpless smile.

"Anu, stop making trouble!"
"Be careful when you sleep tonight. The ants might crawl into your quilt and bite your butt!"

The pouring stream of water suddenly stopped. The little fellow turned his head and glanced back. Somewhat afraid, he took two steps back, then turned and sprayed a circle around a nearby big tree. Only then did he shake his body in satisfaction and jog all the way over.

"Father, will it really rain today?"

Jiang Huanyu took off the straw hat on his head, placed it on the little fellow's head, and nodded. "It will. So we have to hurry and collect the grain. Otherwise, it'll be washed away by the heavy rain."

A breeze blew over. The straw hat was too big, so the little fellow hurriedly pressed it down with his hand. Then he excitedly looked at Jiang Wenfeng beside him and said, "Big brother, when the rain stops, take Anu to the pond to catch frogs!"

Jiang Wenfeng glanced at Jiang Huanyu evasively and quickly shook his head. "No. Mother doesn't let us play in the water. If she finds out, our butts will be beaten rotten!"

Anu pressed down the straw hat with one hand and pulled Jiang Wenfeng's hand with the other, whispering, "Then let's secretly go…"

As soon as his words fell, a slap landed on his little butt. "Stinky brat, do you think your father doesn't exist?" "Stop dawdling. Hurry up and collect the grain."

After receiving the slap, the little fellow did not cry. Bare-bottomed, he ran like a wisp of smoke toward the grain-drying field. Seeing this scene, Jiang Huanyu could not help but raise the corners of his mouth. His thoughts also became somewhat dazed. Sometimes, he felt as if he were dreaming. A very real and very long dream.

In his previous life, after graduating from university, he entered a big company. In order to take root in Hangzhou, he desperately worked overtime. At the age of thirty, with the help of his parents, he finally emptied his family's savings and paid the down payment. Sadly, before the pre-sale house was even delivered, he suddenly died from overwork and unexpectedly came here, becoming a commoner who was not exactly ordinary.

The reason he was said to be not ordinary was because, compared with the other commoners in the village, the Jiang family counted as a wealthy household. His great-grandfather had joined the army back then, cut off the heads of three barbarian warriors, and obtained a noble rank. The Great Yu Dynasty used a military merit nobility system similar to the Qin Dynasty in the history of his previous life. Kill three enemies on the battlefield, and one would be granted the rank of Steed, rewarded with two residences, about 13 hectares of fertile land, and about half a hectare of mountain land. Noble ranks were inherited, but lowered with each generation.

Now, by Jiang Huanyu's generation, the Jiang family's noble rank had already been reduced until nothing remained. Fortunately, about 4 hectares of fertile land and about 1 hectare of mountain land had still been left behind. About 100 kilometers west of Golden Willow Village was a huge mountain range stretching for 5,000 kilometers, named Hidden Dragon Mountain. Hidden Dragon Mountain was like a natural barrier, blocking the Western Wilderness barbarians outside. However, even with this natural danger blocking the way, there would still be some small groups of barbarians crossing Hidden Dragon Mountain and wandering into Great Yu territory to plunder and slaughter. Because of this, a few years ago, the Emperor of Yu issued an order to establish Mountain Patrol Commandant Camps along Hidden Dragon Mountain. Since then, barbarians had rarely harassed the surrounding villages and towns.

His wife, Hu Yufen, had originally been the young lady of a wealthy family. Eight years ago, because she encountered a barbarian disaster, she unexpectedly wandered to Golden Willow Village. After being rescued, the two developed feelings over time and became husband and wife. In the years after their marriage, Hu Yufen gave birth to two sons for him one after another. The eldest, Jiang Wenfeng, whose childhood name was Stone, was seven years old this year. The second, Jiang Wenyan, whose childhood name was Anu, would be four after the Year Sacrifice.

With a wife and sons, guarding about 4 hectares of fertile land and about 1 hectare of mountain forest, Jiang Huanyu felt that it would also be quite good if life continued plainly like this. However, half a month ago, when he went fishing in the great river with the villagers, he unexpectedly activated a Daily Divination System bound to his family for some inexplicable reason. Every day, just after midnight, the system would randomly refresh a new divination result.

Ding! [Today's Divination · Ordinary]: Rain at around 2:15 p.m. By around 4:00 p.m., the rainfall will be sufficient. Water level obtained: about 80 centimeters.

The divination result in his mind was displayed clearly. Sometimes Jiang Huanyu even thought that with this system's existence, he could completely play the role of a charlatan half-immortal. Just by moving his lips, he could obtain a large amount of money. But unfortunately, for the past half month, the divination results given by the Divination System had not shown the slightest pattern. And if he wanted to specifically deduce a certain matter, he needed to consume his lifespan. In his previous life, he exchanged his life for money and ended up losing both person and wealth. In this life, he was unwilling to do such a stupid thing again.

After experiencing the initial excitement, life continued to pass so plainly. For the past half month, the system had actually brought him quite a few small surprises. For example, a few days ago, the divination result showed that a nest of wild boars had appeared in his family's mountain forest. Jiang Huanyu immediately followed the prompt and laid traps in the forest. In one go, he caught seven little piglets and one adult male boar, which counted as making a small fortune.

And today, the sky was clear for thousands of kilometers. No matter who looked, no one could tell that there would be a heavy rain about four hours later. The vast grain-drying field was filled with his family's newly harvested grain. If they waited until the heavy rain fell before hurriedly coming to collect it, not only would the grain be washed away by the rainwater, but the grain soaked by rain would also grow mold and sprout. That would be no small loss.

"Master, the grain has just been turned over." An aged voice interrupted Jiang Huanyu's thoughts. A thin old man with a stooped figure and a bare upper body hurriedly came forward when he saw Jiang Huanyu and spoke. The old man was called Xi Fu. He was a short-term worker Jiang Huanyu had hired. Xi Fu was an ordinary commoner from the neighboring village. In his early years, his only son went up the mountain to hunt and accidentally fell. In order to gather money to treat his son's injuries, Xi Fu sold off all his family's farmland. Now, although his son's life had been saved, he had become disabled. Without farmland, Xi Fu could only rely on working as a short-term laborer for others to maintain a livelihood.

"Uncle Fu, bring everything over. Collect this grain as quickly as possible." Hearing this, Xi Fu looked at the sky somewhat astonished. "Master, the sun is still strong. This is exactly the best time to dry off the moisture. Collecting it now…"

Jiang Huanyu bent down, scooped up a handful of grain, and examined it in his palm. Then he smiled and said, "It's more or less enough. Hurry and collect it." Although Xi Fu was very puzzled, since the master had spoken, he did not dare delay. He immediately brought over tools such as winnowing baskets and brooms and began busily working.

The two little fellows beside them also each picked up a wooden pusher and helped push the grain little by little from the outside toward the center. Jiang Wenfeng was already seven years old. Although pushing it was somewhat strenuous, he still gritted his teeth and persisted. But Jiang Wenyan was not even four years old, so his strength was clearly much smaller.

The little fellow pushed two steps. After the grain piled up in front of the wooden pusher, he completely could not push it anymore. "Yi—ya—" "Aiyo—" His tender little hands held the wooden pusher, and his little feet kicked chaotically. In the end, because his center of gravity became unstable, the wooden pusher slipped away from the grain. The little fellow directly fell flat onto the ground.

"Young master, are you all right?" Seeing this, Xi Fu hurriedly ran over, wanting to help him up.

"Uncle Fu, don't mind him. This brat needs a few falls to become sturdy." Jiang Huanyu spoke. The tears swirling in the little fellow's eyes slowly withdrew again. He climbed up, patted off the grain and dust stuck to his body, then picked up the wooden pusher again to help.

After trying several times in a row and discovering that he could only push it two steps, the little fellow stood there in a daze and looked for a while. Suddenly, he smiled. He no longer insisted on pushing the grain to the center. Instead, each time he only pushed two steps before changing to another position. Seeing this, Jiang Huanyu smiled with relief. Xi Fu, who was at the side, also clicked his tongue in wonder when he saw it. "The young master is so clever. Master is truly blessed."

The four of them worked busily for more than an hour, and all the grain in the grain-drying field was piled up in the center. At this time, the sky was already no longer as clear as before. Gusts of strong wind had also begun blowing across the grain-drying field. Large patches of clouds quickly drifted over from the distance.

Jiang Huanyu and Xi Fu hurriedly carried over a large amount of rain grass and rice straw from the side, covered the grain pile, then used mud to build a ridge around the middle of the grain pile to prevent rainwater from seeping into the grain pile from below. Before they had even finished, the sky had already turned terrifyingly gloomy. After several muffled thunderclaps, bean-sized raindrops fell with loud pattering sounds!

The two of them braved the raindrops and carefully checked everything. Only after making sure there would be no water seepage did they hurriedly hide inside the cool shed beside the grain-drying field. Xi Fu wiped the rainwater from his face and looked at Jiang Huanyu in surprise.

"This is truly divine. Master, how did you know there would be rain today?"

Jiang Huanyu smiled without speaking. In his heart, however, he was calculating that once this rain stopped, he could hire a few more short-term workers to carry out summer plowing and sowing.

The heavy rain poured down. Jiang Huanyu glanced at the wooden box beside him and said, "Stone, take out the flatbread your mother baked for Grandpa Fu." Jiang Wenfeng hurriedly ran over, opened the wooden box, and took out two flatbreads, a small dish of side vegetables, and a bowl of thin porridge, handing them to Xi Fu. "Grandpa Fu, hurry and eat."

Seeing this, Xi Fu's eyes grew a little moist. Ever since his farmland had been sold, he had always worked as a short-term laborer for others. The masters he had worked for in the past basically did not treat people like him as human, let alone provide meals.

"Many thanks, Master." Xi Fu bowed, carefully took the food, and began eating. Jiang Huanyu looked at him and shook his head slightly. This old man was also a pitiful person. His wife was kind-hearted. After learning that Xi Fu only ate one meal at home in the morning and relied entirely on cold water to get through noon, she would bake two extra flatbreads every time and have Jiang Huanyu bring them over. Jiang Huanyu had originally wanted to advise against it, but thinking that Xi Fu worked very seriously and responsibly, never slacking off, he did not say much.

After eating and drinking his fill, Xi Fu carefully put away the bowl and dishes and placed them into the wooden box. The two chatted idly, one sentence here and one sentence there. At the beginning of the evening hour, the rain gradually stopped, and the dark clouds in the sky also slowly drifted away.

"Summer rain comes quickly and leaves quickly too." Looking at the sun emerging from the clouds, Xi Fu went barefoot and hurriedly came to the grain-drying field to check. "Master, no water seeped in!" "Once this place dries a little, it can be pulled back home and stored."

Jiang Huanyu nodded. This year was a good harvest year. After paying the taxes, quite a lot of this grain should still remain. At that time, selling some and storing some would make life much easier again.

"Stone, go back home and have your mother bring the ox cart over." "Okay!" Jiang Wenfeng answered and ran toward the village.

Not long after, an old ox slowly pulled a flatbed cart over from the village. Sitting on the cart was a woman wearing a long floral cloth dress, her hair coiled into a bun. Although she had given birth to two children, Hu Yufen's figure had not gone out of shape at all, and her appearance was still very delicate and pleasing to the eye.

When the ox cart came near, Hu Yufen got down from the flatbed cart and looked at Jiang Huanyu with a smiling expression. "Husband, when did you learn the ability to observe heavenly signs?" Jiang Huanyu raised his chin proudly and said, "Your man has many abilities."

"Smooth talker…" Hu Yufen rolled her eyes at him, then turned to Xi Fu and said, "Uncle Fu, thank you for today."

"Madam, what are you saying?" Xi Fu hurriedly cupped his hands. "It is all this old man's duty." "This old man should also thank Madam for thinking of me every day and having Master bring food over."

After exchanging some polite words, his tone changed and he said, "Master and Madam, please rest first. This old man will load the grain onto the cart now."

"I'll help you," Jiang Huanyu said. The two carefully lifted the rain grass and rice straw from the grain pile. Looking at the dry grain inside, they used winnowing baskets to carry it little by little onto the flatbed cart. Hu Yufen also did not go rest. Carrying a bamboo basket, she stood to the side and picked out all the grains that had been stained by rainwater.

The group remained busy until nightfall, around 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., before they finally transported all the grain back home. After drawing some well water and simply washing their bodies, Jiang Huanyu looked at his wife. "Yufen, it's the end of the month. Go get some money and settle Uncle Fu's wages."

Hu Yufen answered and walked toward the house. "Madam, please wait." Seeing this, Xi Fu hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "Master, Madam, this old man has an unreasonable request." "I would like to use these wages to buy Master's grain. What do you think…"

Buy grain?

"Master's grain has full kernels. It is superior grain. This old man…" Xi Fu was somewhat embarrassed and also somewhat guilty. With his eye, he could tell that the rice hulled from the Jiang family's grain would be comparable to polished rice. Rice porridge cooked from polished rice was much more nourishing than those inferior grains.

"That's fine. Calculate it according to the market price." Jiang Huanyu saw through his little thoughts, but did not feel anything was wrong with it. The reason his family's grain had superior quality was entirely because enough fertility had been supplied. And these fertilizers were all fermented using the composting method from the memories of his previous life, made from withered grass, tree leaves, river mud, and human and livestock manure. This old man worked honestly and had good judgment. He was a decent person. Letting him take a small advantage was no problem.

"Many thanks, Master!" "Many thanks, Master!" After hearing this, Xi Fu cupped his hands again and again. He had actually planned to buy it at a price ten percent higher than the market price. But estimating that the Jiang family's grain, if sold to the grain shop in town, would be at least thirty percent higher than the market price, he had been somewhat conflicted and embarrassed to speak. He had not expected Jiang Huanyu to be so generous, willing to calculate it for him at the market price.

After some calculation, Jiang Huanyu had Hu Yufen find a cloth bag and fill it with grain for him. "Uncle Fu, there is no need to come over these next few days. Come help with plowing and sowing after a few days. The wages will remain the same." Xi Fu, carrying the grain on his back, was slightly stunned. He had thought that his attempt to take a small advantage would make Jiang Huanyu dissatisfied, and that Jiang Huanyu would no longer use him in the future.

"Good! Good, good!" "When it is time to plow, this old man will come over immediately!" "Master, this old man will go back first."

After seeing Xi Fu off, Hu Yufen went to the kitchen house and busied herself preparing dinner, while the eldest, Jiang Wenfeng, helped tend the stove fire. The family simply finished dinner. After washing up, they lay down on the bed. In this era, there was no television and no phone. Eating one's fill and then sleeping had already become the norm.

Late at night, when all was quiet, the two little fellows had been busy all afternoon and had fallen asleep early. The husband and wife lay on the bed, leaning against each other.

"Stone is seven this year. Husband, do you have any plans?" Hu Yufen moved slightly and rested her head on Jiang Huanyu's shoulder. "During the day, I ran into Sister-in-law from the rear courtyard preparing the entrance tuition. She said that when autumn begins, she will send her family's Daniu to the teacher in town for basic education." "When you go to town to sell grain later, do you want to ask about it?"

Jiang Huanyu gave a soft hum. At seven years old, in his previous life, it would already be time to go to primary school. These years, the husband and wife had relied on hard work and had saved some money. Their days could be considered passable. It was indeed time to plan some future path for the children. They could not let them be farmers for their entire lives too. Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants. The Great Yu Dynasty also had social classes. Only, within the scholar class, there was also a parallel "martial" class. Great Yu revered martial strength. After laying a foundation in childhood, one could join the army in the future, kill enemies on the battlefield, and also be enfeoffed as a marquis or appointed as a general.

He understood his own children. Compared with the second child, Jiang Wenyan, the eldest, Jiang Wenfeng, had more than enough endurance but insufficient cleverness. Such a person was more suitable for the martial path. If he followed the literary path and luckily entered officialdom in the future, it might not necessarily be a good thing.

"How much silver does the family have?" The literary path was poor, while the martial path was rich. Practicing martial arts was something that burned money. He had to calculate carefully.

"One hundred and sixty taels." "This season's grain can still sell for quite a bit." Hu Yufen managed the household, and she handled these matters in a very orderly manner.

Hearing this, Jiang Huanyu frowned slightly. One hundred and sixty taels was probably somewhat insufficient. He had privately asked around before. In the martial arts school in town, just the initiation gift for accepting disciples cost twenty taels. Three medicinal meals each month for conditioning would also cost ten taels of silver. Although the money for medicinal meals was not mandatory, Jiang Huanyu felt that since he had chosen this path for him, he definitely had to give him the greatest support. If he only trained half-heartedly, then it would be better not to train at all.

"Let me think about this matter. It's late. Sleep."

He turned over, and his large hand became dishonest as it wandered over Hu Yufen's body. When their passion grew intense, Hu Yufen suddenly turned over on top of him, her voice charming as she said, "Husband worked hard during the day. Let me."

After the clouds and rain ended, Hu Yufen fell into a deep sleep. Jiang Huanyu looked at the system panel in his sea of consciousness and fell into deep thought. The Divination System was bound to the entire family. At present, the Jiang family's direct bloodline only consisted of the three of them, father and sons. On the system, it was displayed as [Beginner Family]. He also did not know whether the system would undergo any changes if the Jiang family's bloodline increased in number.

Listening to the summer insects chirping, holding his soft and warm wife, and thinking about future matters, time soon arrived at midnight.

Ding! [System Notification: Divination has refreshed.] [Today's Divination · Auspicious]: When you pass by Blackwater Pond, you will unexpectedly discover a hundred-year-old Blood Toad shedding its skin. The shed skin of a hundred-year-old Blood Toad has extremely high medicinal value. Selling it can earn two hundred taels of silver.

 

[XiaoBudian]

Chapter 2 : A Treasure by Blackwater Pond

Blackwater Pond? Looking at the divination flashing in his sea of consciousness, Jiang Huanyu felt somewhat excited inside. This Blackwater Pond was also known as Black Dragon Pond. It was located about 10 kilometers outside Golden Willow Village and covered several dozen hectares. One had to pass by it when traveling from Golden Willow Village to Cloudwater Town.

Rumor had it that at the bottom of Blackwater Pond, there were spring openings connected to the mountain springs within Hidden Dragon Mountain. The pond had many hidden currents and whirlpools. Alligator-dragons and giant pythons appeared there, and there was even a terrifying black dragon lying dormant within. In the early years, when Willow County suffered a great drought, even the Lai River that ran through the entire county had dried up, yet Blackwater Pond's water level showed no sign of dropping at all. At that time, villagers from the surrounding villages and towns all went to Blackwater Pond to draw water, and quite a few people were swallowed by the alligator-dragons and giant pythons in the pond.

Jiang Huanyu did not know what a hundred-year-old Blood Toad was, but the skin this thing shed could actually be sold for two hundred taels of silver. That truly exceeded his expectations somewhat. Two hundred taels of silver was equal to more than ten years of his family's income. It seemed that tomorrow, he had to go to Blackwater Pond and take a look. Carrying this excited feeling, he sank into deep sleep.

Early the next morning, just as the sky had brightened, when Jiang Huanyu woke up, Hu Yufen beside him had already gotten out of bed. Through the window, he could see cooking smoke rising from the chimney of the kitchen house. Jiang Huanyu put on his clothes, came to the courtyard, drew a basin of well water, brushed his teeth with a willow branch, and went to the kitchen house.

Hu Yufen took out the reheated flatbread and eggs from the stove and brought them before him, asking, "Not sleeping a little longer?"

"I have to go out for a while later." Taking the flatbread and eggs, Jiang Huanyu sat down before the table and began eating.

Hu Yufen ladled two bowls of porridge, carried them over, sat beside him, and asked, "Are you going to town?"

Jiang Huanyu placed the peeled egg into Hu Yufen's bowl, then picked up another one and peeled it. "It rained heavily yesterday. I'll go to the riverbank and see if I can catch some fish to nourish Stone and the other one."

In these years, for ordinary commoners, being able to eat three meals a day and fill their stomachs was already an extravagant hope. Eating meat was even something they did not dare think about. It was only because Golden Willow Village was next to the Lai River that, in summer, they could go into the river and catch some fish and shrimp to satisfy their cravings and get a taste of meat.

Hu Yufen nodded slightly and did not speak. The two silently finished breakfast.

"When Stone and his brother get up, have them cut some grass to feed the pigs. Later, teach him some characters. He can't run around blindly every day." Jiang Huanyu spoke while sorting out the fishing net in the courtyard.

Children from farming families did not have that much of a childhood. At seven or eight years old, cutting grass, gathering firewood, and such things all had to be helped with at home. Before Hu Yufen fled to Golden Willow Village, she could also be considered a young lady from a wealthy family. She was educated and reasonable, so teaching the two brothers to recognize characters was no problem.

"All right. Then be careful." Watching him leave the house, Hu Yufen then busied herself going to wake the two little fellows up to eat.

The Lai River was south of Golden Willow Village. After Jiang Huanyu left Golden Willow Village, he walked west the whole way. That was the direction of Blackwater Pond. The reason he had not told Hu Yufen that he was going to Blackwater Pond was also because he feared she would worry.

"Brother Huanyu!" "Brother Huanyu!" Walking along the small path between the fields, Jiang Huanyu heard someone shouting from behind, so he stopped.

A rather thin young man jogged over to him. Seeing the fishing net on Jiang Huanyu's shoulder, he asked curiously, "Brother Huanyu, are you going fishing?"

Jiang Huanyu grinned and said, "Stone has been craving food these past two days, making a fuss about wanting to eat meat."

The young man looked at the direction and asked suspiciously, "Brother Huanyu, are you planning to go to Blackwater Pond?"

Jiang Huanyu nodded. "It just rained heavily. The current of the Lai River is too fast. If I fail to catch fish and the net gets washed away, that wouldn't be worth it." "I'll go try my luck at Blackwater Pond."

Hearing this, the young man's face showed a trace of disappointment. "I thought you were going to the Lai River. I was thinking of following you and helping out, then getting one or two fish later to satisfy my craving." "I'm not going to Blackwater Pond. I heard the alligator-dragons there have been very fierce recently. In just a dozen days, three people from neighboring Blackstone Village have already lost their lives at Blackwater Pond." "You must be careful. Don't go deep in."

Jiang Huanyu smiled slightly. "I'll just try my luck around the outer edge. If I can't catch anything, I can buy two fish in town later."

After parting from the young man, Jiang Huanyu continued on his way. About an hour later, he arrived at the location of Blackwater Pond. Although Golden Willow Village was about 100 kilometers away from Hidden Dragon Mountain, it was located on one of the branch ranges extending out from Hidden Dragon Mountain. Blackwater Pond was situated between two branch ranges of Hidden Dragon Mountain. The trees were unusually lush. In the scorching summer, once one stepped here, one could clearly feel a sense of coolness. If not for threats such as alligator-dragons and giant pythons here, it would indeed be a good place to escape the heat and enjoy the cool air.

The Divination System panel had the approximate location of the hundred-year-old Blood Toad, but it was not very precise. Jiang Huanyu circled back and forth along the bank of Blackwater Pond a few times. He roughly confirmed that the hundred-year-old Blood Toad was somewhere near him. But the surrounding water grass was flourishing, and shrubs grew thickly along the bank. For the moment, he did not see any trace of the hundred-year-old Blood Toad.

After thinking for a moment, he took down the fishing net from his shoulder. Since he temporarily could not find the hundred-year-old Blood Toad's trace, he might as well cast the net first. Even if he did not find the hundred-year-old Blood Toad's shed skin later, being able to catch a few fish to take back would not count as a loss. After all, the fish of Blackwater Pond were famous for being plump, delicious, and fresh.

After arranging the fishing net in his hand, Jiang Huanyu gripped the net rope with his left hand. His right hand suddenly swung out, and the large casting net spread into a huge circle before falling into the water. The loud sound of the fishing net entering the water echoed through the mountain forest. Jiang Huanyu suddenly caught sight of a flash of red disappearing in the distant shrubs!

That was…

Staring at the shaking shrubs, Jiang Huanyu narrowed his eyes. Blood Toad, Blood Toad… it should be red, right? Thinking of this, he tied the net rope in his hand to a tree, carefully picked up a thick branch, and walked toward that shrub. Jiang Huanyu's footsteps were very light and very cautious. Many alligator-dragons and giant pythons lived in Blackwater Pond. If he encountered either one, he would have to leave his life here.

Holding his breath and gripping the wooden stick in his hand tightly, Jiang Huanyu soon arrived before the shrub. He carefully used the wooden stick to poke the outer branches of the shrub, his body ready to retreat at any moment.

Rustle!

The shrub branches were shaken, but there was no other movement inside. Seeing this, Jiang Huanyu became slightly bolder and struck a few more times with the wooden stick.

Whoosh—

There was no movement from the shrub before him, but several wild ducks hiding in the shrubs farther away were startled and fled in panic. Jiang Huanyu, who had been startled into a cold sweat, took a deep breath. After confirming that there was nothing unusual about the shrub before him, he finally moved another step closer and used the wooden stick in his hand to push the shrub aside.

A smear of bright red faintly appeared from within! He hurriedly used the wooden stick to lift away the shrubs blocking his view, and finally saw the full appearance of that thing. It was a piece of toad skin, the size of a palm, entirely bright red, and lifelike.

The Blood Toad's shed skin!

Staring at that thing, Jiang Huanyu could not help but breathe somewhat rapidly. He knew that this thing was most likely the hundred-year-old Blood Toad's shed skin mentioned by the system. A thing worth two hundred taels of silver was right before his eyes. Jiang Huanyu did not lose his head and immediately rush forward. Instead, he gently shifted his body and tried to lift that thing with the wooden stick in his hand.

Carefully avoiding the surrounding shrubs, he picked the Blood Toad's shed skin out from the shrub. Jiang Huanyu hurriedly pinched it in his hand. Its touch was moist, slippery, and soft. It did not have the fishy stench of an ordinary toad. Instead, it carried a faint fragrance. When sunlight shone on it, it was clear and translucent.

Good stuff!

Just this appearance alone was not simple. After repeatedly examining the Blood Toad's shed skin, Jiang Huanyu hurriedly took out a piece of cloth from his shoulder bag and carefully wrapped it up. The hundred-year-old Blood Toad's shed skin was in his hands. The purpose of this trip could be considered achieved.

After tucking the thing away, he returned to where he had cast the net, untied the net rope, and slowly pulled the fishing net out of the water.

Splash! Splash! Crash!

When the fishing net was about to be pulled out, several splashes rose from the water surface. Faintly, there were fish struggling. Seeing this, Jiang Huanyu's face revealed a smile.

"The movement isn't small. It's a big fellow." He hurriedly steadied his body and sped up, dragging the fishing net onto the shore.

At the bottom of the fishing net, three fish with bluish-gray backs and white bellies were unwilling to be caught. They were struggling desperately, making the weighted fishing net rattle noisily.

Jiang Huanyu lifted the fishing net and came to a place far from the shore. Looking at the three plump black carp, he slightly grinned.

These three black carp were each roughly two kilograms in weight. If bought with money, they would cost at least half a tael of silver.

But that would only be for ordinary black carp.

The fish of Blackwater Pond were worth more than that.

The elders in the village often said that the reason Hidden Dragon Mountain and Black Dragon Pond both carried the word "dragon" was because a divine dragon truly lay buried in the mountain.

 

[XiaoBudian]

Chapter 3: Entrance Tuition



The water of Black Dragon Pond came from Hidden Dragon Mountain, and all living creatures in the pond were touched by dragon energy.

Such folk rumors were mostly imagination, and Jiang Huanyu did not take them seriously.

Instead, he felt that the reason the fish of Blackwater Pond tasted so delicious was first because this pond water truly might be mountain spring water, rich in all kinds of minerals.

Also, the pond was deep and the water pressure was great. Fish that lived inside for a long time had meat that was firmer and more delicate.

Carefully taking the three black carp out of the net, Jiang Huanyu took out a hemp rope, skillfully passed it through their gills, tied them together, and hung them on a tree branch.

Next was tidying up the fishing net, preparing to take advantage of his good luck and cast a few more nets.

But today's good luck seemed to have been used up by the Blood Toad's shed skin. In the next few casts, he only caught a few palm-sized grass carp and had no big harvest.

Seeing that the sun was already hanging high overhead, Jiang Huanyu tidied up the fishing net and did not continue.

Carrying the fishing net on his shoulder and holding the fish he had caught this time, he walked toward home.

When he reached the village entrance, he saw from afar a gray-clothed old man leading a donkey toward him.

Sitting on the donkey's back was an old man dressed in a Confucian robe, with hair and beard both white.

The old man in Confucian robes was called Lu Zhiyuan. It was said that he had once been a great scholar at the Commandery Academy. Five years ago, he came to Golden Willow Village, bought a piece of land at the village entrance, built an elegant small courtyard, and settled there.

The gray-clothed old man was his servant, named Uncle Ya.

Scholars were aloof, and Lu Zhiyuan basically did not associate with the villagers.

When the villagers met him like this, they would respectfully call him "Teacher Lu," while he would merely nod slightly in return.

"Teacher Lu, Uncle Ya."

When the two sides met, Jiang Huanyu cupped his hands and greeted them.

On the donkey, Lu Zhiyuan nodded slightly, while Uncle Ya smiled politely.

Just as they were about to pass each other, Lu Zhiyuan noticed the few black carp in his hand and suddenly said, "Were those fish in your hand caught from Black Dragon Pond?"

Jiang Huanyu stopped, raised the fish in his hand, and nodded. "Teacher Lu could tell?"

Lu Zhiyuan turned over and got down from the donkey's back. He walked forward, bent down to look at them twice, then stroked the beard under his chin and said, "They all say the fish of Black Dragon Pond carry dragon energy."

"These few fish have had their gills pierced and been carried under the sun all the way by Little Brother Jiang, yet they still have such spirit and vitality. They are truly unusual."

"To be honest with Little Brother Jiang, this old man has always loved eating fish. I wonder whether Little Brother can part with them?"

"Can you sell these fish to this old man?"

He wanted to buy fish?

Jiang Huanyu looked at the few fish in his hand, then smiled and said, "It is not a matter of parting with anything. Since Teacher Lu likes eating fish, I will simply give you two."

As he spoke, he untied the rope, took down two larger black carp, and handed them over.

"These two are for Teacher. The remaining ones have to be taken back to make soup for my two stinky brats."

Lu Zhiyuan did not reach out to take them.

Uncle Ya at the side hurriedly came forward, pointed at the hemp rope in Jiang Huanyu's hand, then pointed at the two black carp, gesturing for a while.

Jiang Huanyu reacted and immediately tore the hemp rope apart, helping him string the two black carp together.

Uncle Ya grinned and took the fish.

"This old man did not bring silver with him. Later, I will have Uncle Ya send it to your residence," Lu Zhiyuan cupped his hands and said.

Clearly, he did not want to owe this favor.

Seeing this, Jiang Huanyu's heart moved slightly. He immediately cupped his hands and said, "Teacher Lu, I am being bold, but I would like to use these two fish to ask for an opportunity."

"Oh?" Lu Zhiyuan smiled slightly. "Little Brother Jiang, speak first."

Jiang Huanyu cupped his hands again. "I heard Teacher once held a post at the Commandery Academy and is a great scholar of the present age. I am being bold, but I want to ask for an opportunity for my son to become your student."

After saying this, Jiang Huanyu felt somewhat uneasy inside.

This Lu Zhiyuan was famous for being aloof. When he first settled in Golden Willow Village, many gentry and powerful families from Willow County had once carried heavy gifts as entrance tuition, wanting their family juniors to take him as teacher.

Even the Deputy County Magistrate of Willow County had personally visited him.

But without exception, they were all refused outside Lu Zhiyuan's door.

Jiang Huanyu opening his mouth now was only to try. In his heart, he did not hold much hope.

If this matter succeeded, then exchanging two fish for an opportunity to let his son become a student under a great scholar of the present age would be an enormous profit.

If it did not succeed, according to the old man's temper, he would not take advantage of him for two fish. Most likely, he would either return the fish to him or pay money to buy them.

They did not have much friendship to begin with. No matter what, he would not lose out.

Lu Zhiyuan did not speak, and the atmosphere became somewhat oppressive.

Uncle Ya held the fish and looked at his master's expression, already preparing to return the fish to Jiang Huanyu.

"This old man has always accepted students only by whether they are pleasing to my eyes. If Little Brother Jiang truly wants to try, then tomorrow at the end of the Rabbit hour, bring your son to my residence."

Hearing this, Jiang Huanyu's expression froze. Then he quickly cupped his hands.

"Many thanks, Teacher!"

"Whether this matter succeeds or not, these two fish are both gifted to Teacher."

After hearing this, Lu Zhiyuan smiled and waved his hand. "That is improper. These two fish shall be treated as your son's entrance tuition. If this old man does not accept him, then naturally I cannot take this entrance tuition."

"If there truly is no fate of teacher and student, then I shall buy them with silver."

Seeing his insistence, Jiang Huanyu did not say more. He immediately cupped his hands in salute and walked toward home.

After he had walked far away, Uncle Ya raised the fish in his hand and gestured for a while.

Lu Zhiyuan smiled faintly. "Money and wealth are merely external things. If there truly is a fish-dragon talent, then what does it matter if he comes from a poor family?"

"Uncle Ya, let us go back."

"If these fish die, they will no longer be fresh."

…

When Jiang Huanyu returned home, Hu Yufen had just finished making lunch.

"Father, you're back!?"

Seeing him walk through the courtyard gate, Jiang Wenfeng hurriedly ran over and took the fishing net from his shoulder.

The little fellow Jiang Wenyan also happily trotted over, wanting to take the fish from his hand.

Unexpectedly, the black carp that had been exposed to the sun for two or three hours still had extremely tenacious vitality. As soon as the little fellow approached, the black carp directly flicked its tail and struck his belly.

Slap!

"Aiyo!"

The little fellow was hit until he staggered and almost fell.

Seeing this from the side, Hu Yufen said with some surprise, "This fish is quite fierce?"

Jiang Huanyu smiled and rubbed Jiang Wenyan's head. "Fish from Blackwater Pond. It's normal for them to be a little fierce."

"You went to Blackwater Pond?" Hu Yufen asked somewhat worriedly.

Untying the hemp rope and throwing the fish into a wooden basin, Jiang Huanyu washed the filth from his body while saying, "If I hadn't gone to Blackwater Pond, I wouldn't have picked up a great bargain."

He told her about encountering Lu Zhiyuan on the road.

After Hu Yufen heard it, she was extremely surprised.

"In the past, the gentry and powerful families in the county pulled boxes and boxes of gold, silver, and treasures to Golden Willow Village. In the end, they could not even enter Teacher Lu's door."

"Husband truly used two black carp to obtain an opportunity for our child to become his student?"

Jiang Huanyu nodded. "After eating, go ask Sister-in-law Zhao to help and prepare a proper set of clothes for these two stinky brats."

"Tomorrow, we can't have them go become students with bare buttocks, can we?"

Hu Yufen quickly answered. She did not even care about eating and hurriedly returned to the room to look for suitable cloth.

That was a great scholar of the present age. For him to agree to give an opportunity was already something to thank the heavens for. Whether it succeeded or not, they could not lose courtesy.

While the father and two sons ate, Hu Yufen went into the house and rummaged through the cabinet, taking out several pieces of cloth she had bought in town before the New Year. These had originally been meant for making clothes for Jiang Huanyu, but since things were urgent now, she could only take them out first for the two children to use.

"Eat first. There's enough time." Seeing her busy calculating the cloth, Jiang Huanyu came over and spoke. Hu Yufen continued measuring the cloth on her own. "Teacher Lu is a great scholar. This opportunity wasn't easy to get. Even the small details have to be paid attention to."

 

[XiaoBudian]

Chapter 4: Under the Moon, Questions and Hopes



Seeing her nervous appearance, Jiang Huanyu could not help smiling and shaking his head. This scene was rather similar to when, in his previous life, he had luckily obtained an interview opportunity at a big company. In order to deal with that interview, he emptied his wallet and bought a suit and tie. In the end, on the day of the interview, those interviewers were all wearing casual clothes and sneakers. If Teacher Lu accepted students based on clothing, then this opportunity would never have fallen to his two sons.

"I'll go to the front courtyard and see if Sister-in-law Zhao is busy," Jiang Huanyu wiped his mouth and walked outside. When he was about to walk out of the courtyard gate, he glanced at the few palm-sized grass carp in the wooden basin. He casually took a hemp rope, strung them together, and carried them out.

The household living in the front courtyard had the surname Zhao. The man was two years older than Jiang Huanyu and was called Zhao Shuan. Zhao Shuan's wife's surname was Wang, and her name was Wang Ying. The couple had two sons and one daughter. They were all honest and proper people.

Jiang Huanyu carried the string of grass carp and knocked on the courtyard gate. A boy around the same age as Jiang Wenfeng, with a tiger-headed, tiger-brained appearance, opened the courtyard gate. "Uncle Huanyu?" Seeing Jiang Huanyu, the little boy called out, then hurriedly ran back into the courtyard. "Father, Uncle Huanyu is here."

Inside the courtyard, Zhao Shuan, bare-chested, came over carrying a rice bowl. "A-Huanyu, have you eaten?" "Your sister-in-law made millet meat porridge. Come have a bowl!" "His mother… serve A-Huanyu a bowl of millet meat porridge!"

Millet meat porridge was a kind of porridge made with millet and meat. Some time ago, Jiang Huanyu had laid traps in the mountain and caught one large wild boar and seven small wild boars. They had not been easy to transport down the mountain. After he asked Zhao Shuan and a few others to help carry them back from the mountain, the large wild boar was slaughtered on the spot. Some of the pork was sold to them at a low price, and the rest was all cured into salted meat by Hu Yufen.

"Brother Shuan, don't trouble yourself. I just ate." Jiang Huanyu waved his hand, raised the fish in his hand, and said, "I caught some fish this morning, so I'm sending you a few. Don't dislike them for being small."

Seeing this, Zhao Shuan hurriedly put down the bowl in his hand and examined the few grass carp. "Their luster is bright. A-Huanyu, these aren't fish from the Lai River, are they?"

"From Blackwater Pond."

Zhao Shuan was somewhat surprised. "You went to Blackwater Pond?" "I heard the alligator-dragons there have been very fierce recently. Don't take risks next time."

Jiang Huanyu nodded, then looked at Wang Ying beside him and said, "Sister-in-law, do you have time after eating?"

Wang Ying smiled and said, "The crops are almost done, and there's nothing much to be busy with. A-Huanyu, is something the matter?" The relationship between the two families was quite good. They often helped each other with small daily matters. On top of that, Jiang Huanyu had brought fish from Blackwater Pond this time, so Wang Ying was very polite.

"Yufen bought several pieces of cloth and wants to make Stone and the other one a proper set of clothes. Sister-in-law has clever hands. If you're not busy, please come over later and guide her a little."

The small compliment made Wang Ying very pleased, and she quickly smiled and said, "Not busy, not busy. Once Sister-in-law finishes tidying up, I'll come over."

Jiang Huanyu nodded and handed the fish to Zhao Shuan. "Brother Shuan, you eat first. I'll go back."

In the afternoon, Hu Yufen and Wang Ying were busy in the courtyard making clothes for the two little fellows, while Jiang Huanyu killed fish beside the well. At the same time, he picked out two fine pieces of wild boar meat, cut them into long strips, and wrapped them in red cloth. Although Lu Zhiyuan had said that the two black carp could be treated as the entrance tuition for becoming a student, it would not look good to go empty-handed tomorrow morning. This wild boar meat was purely wild, and its taste was very good. Bringing two strips over would look proper. Besides, with Lu Zhiyuan's personality, if he did not accept Stone and his brother, he would not accept the meat either. There would be no loss.

"Yufen, I remember this cloth was bought by you to make clothes for A-Huanyu, right?" On the bamboo mat, Wang Ying carefully sewed the cloth and casually asked. Hu Yufen smiled and nodded. "Stone and Anu are going to visit Teacher Lu tomorrow morning. Time is tight, and there's no time to go to town to buy new cloth, so I took this out first for an emergency."

Hearing this, Wang Ying's needle paused slightly, and she raised her head in surprise. "Visit… Teacher Lu?" "That old stubborn man in our village?"

Hu Yufen suddenly realized that she might have let something slip. This Teacher Lu had finally agreed with great difficulty to give her family's children an opportunity. If the villagers all found out later, there would inevitably be many people going to disturb him. The teacher liked peace and quiet. If he became angry later…

Seeing that she did not answer, Wang Ying grinned and continued sewing the clothes in her hands. "Yufen, don't you trust Sister-in-law?" "This matter entered my ears, and it will absolutely not spread out again. Don't worry."

Hu Yufen smiled awkwardly. "Thank you, Sister-in-law."

The two remained busy until evening before they finally rushed out the clothes for Jiang Wenfeng and Jiang Wenyan. The two little fellows used the hot water left warming in the courtyard to simply take a bath, then impatiently changed into their new clothes.

"They really fit." "Thanks to Sister-in-law telling me to tighten the shoulders and waist a little. Otherwise, they really wouldn't look good." A person relies on clothes, and a horse relies on its saddle. Ever since summer began, the two stinky brats had always gone around bare-bottomed. Even when they occasionally wore clothes, they only wore small shorts, smearing themselves all day like mud monkeys. After bathing and changing into new clothes, they looked much more comfortable.

"Sister-in-law, Stone's father killed the fish. I'll go stew them now. Later, call Brother Shuan and Dahu over to drink fish soup." The sky was already dark. Wang Ying had been busy at their house for the whole afternoon, so Hu Yufen quickly invited her.

"No need. At noon, A-Huanyu also sent a few fish to us. I'll just go back and stew them now. I'm leaving." Wang Ying walked out of the house with a cheerful smile.

At night, the family of four drank fish soup. After washing up, they sat in the courtyard to enjoy the cool air.

"Father, why is the moon sometimes round and sometimes a crescent?" Anu, who was lying beside Jiang Huanyu, looked at the moon overhead, which was like a jade plate, and asked curiously.

"That's because the Heavenly Dog eats it!" "Just like a flatbread with a big bite taken out of it!" Before Jiang Huanyu could speak, Jiang Wenfeng on the other side rushed to answer.

After hearing this, the little fellow climbed up with a roll and said, "Then why does the moon that was bitten become round again after some time?" Jiang Wenfeng was stunned by the question. He stammered and did not know how to answer.

"Mother, what do you say?" The little fellow looked at Hu Yufen beside him, who was holding a cattail fan. Hu Yufen was also stunned by the question and looked at her youngest son with some headache. Although this little fellow was only four years old, he was absolutely a "problem baby." Although Hu Yufen was not some talented woman, before her family suffered the barbarian disaster, she had read quite a few classics, histories, philosophical works, and literary collections. But many times, when facing Anu's questions, she often could not answer.

Seeing his wife suffer a setback, Jiang Huanyu smiled faintly. "Stone, go get two plates." Jiang Wenfeng was somewhat curious, but he still got up and went to the kitchen house to bring over two plates. Jiang Huanyu took the plates, held one in front and placed the other behind. By slowly moving them, he simulated the process of change from a full moon to a crescent moon.

"Do you understand?" The little fellow stared at the movements in his hands and did not speak. Jiang Huanyu also did not explain these things too much. He merely put down the plates, rubbed the little fellow's head, and said, "If you want to understand these things, you have to study properly. Once you have read many books and thought more, you will know all of this."

Jiang Wenyan nodded as if he understood but also did not. Then he asked again, "Then does the teacher know these things?"

Hu Yufen felt that her man was taking the chance to encourage study, so she immediately continued the topic. "Teacher Lu is a great scholar, one of the most learned people under heaven. Naturally, he understands." "Anu must perform well tomorrow and strive to make the teacher accept you as his student. Do you understand?"

Jiang Wenyan nodded.

Hu Yufen then looked at her eldest son, Jiang Wenfeng, and said, "Stone must also perform well. If both of you can become the teacher's students, your father and mother will be at ease." Jiang Wenfeng also nodded.

Just like this, the family of four sat on the bamboo mat, quietly looking at the full moon above their heads.


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[XiaoBudian]

Chapter 5: The Chosen Disciple

The morning sun had just risen, and the thin mist gradually dispersed.

At the beginning of the Rabbit hour, Jiang Huanyu got up and called both little fellows awake.

After they simply ate a little, Hu Yufen personally dressed the two little fellows and tidied everything up. Then she instructed them, "When you arrive at the teacher's house, don't be naughty. You both remember the etiquette Mother taught you, right?"

The two nodded. "Mother, don't worry. We both remember."

Jiang Huanyu, who was at the side, spoke at this moment. "All right, it's time to go."

The agreed time with Lu Zhiyuan was the end of the Rabbit hour. It was already almost time, so they should set off.

Carrying the salted meat prepared yesterday as entrance tuition, Jiang Huanyu took the two little fellows and went out.

Hu Yufen personally saw the father and sons out of the house, watching the figures of the three disappear into the alley.

Lu Zhiyuan liked quietness. His small courtyard was built outside Golden Willow Village, near a small stream.

Jiang Huanyu brought his two sons along the small path between the fields, and very soon they arrived before the small courtyard.

The path before the gate was paved with blue bricks, and at the entrance stood two peach trees laden with fruit.

When Jiang Huanyu arrived, Uncle Ya was holding a broom and sweeping the fallen leaves before the gate.

"Uncle Ya."

Jiang Huanyu cupped his hands and saluted. The two little fellows also imitated his appearance and slightly cupped their hands to Uncle Ya.

"Yi-ah…"

Uncle Ya smiled and cupped his hands, then hurriedly placed the broom to the side, straightened his clothes, and led the three into the courtyard.

Lu Zhiyuan had lived in Golden Willow Village for more than five years. Jiang Huanyu estimated that he was the first outsider to walk into this small courtyard.

This was a two-entry courtyard, with white walls and black tiles. Several ink-black bamboo plants were planted by the entrance screen, lush and flourishing.

A corner archway connected to the inner courtyard. After walking in, on both sides of the straight bluestone path, several orchid plants were planted on the left. The artificial rockery near the wall and the courtyard wall were covered with climbing vines.

An exquisite cool pavilion stood beside the artificial rockery, cleverly forming a sense of layers.

On the right were several well-tended vegetable plots.

"Uh~"

After leading Jiang Huanyu into the courtyard, Uncle Ya pointed at Lu Zhiyuan, who was holding a book scroll in the cool pavilion, signaling for them to go over themselves.

Jiang Huanyu cupped his hands, then led Stone and Anu toward the cool pavilion.

"Teacher."

When he arrived before the cool pavilion, he cupped his hands and saluted. The two little fellows were also somewhat restrained at this moment and respectfully cupped their hands.

Lu Zhiyuan put down the book scroll in his hand, stood up, and cupped his hands. Then he examined the two little fellows.

Jiang Huanyu did not speak from the side. He only quietly paid attention to the expression on Lu Zhiyuan's face.

"This old man would like to speak with these two children alone."

After examining them for a while, Lu Zhiyuan spoke with a smiling expression.

Jiang Huanyu was slightly stunned, then tactfully cupped his hands and left the cool pavilion.

Inside the pavilion, Lu Zhiyuan looked at the eldest, Jiang Wenfeng, and asked, "Why do you want to take this old man as your teacher?"

Jiang Wenfeng hesitated somewhat, then respectfully cupped his hands and said, "Mother said Teacher is a great scholar from the Imperial Academy…"

When his words reached this point, a trace of disappointment appeared on Lu Zhiyuan's face.

He then turned to Jiang Wenyan and said, "You tell me. Why do you want to take this old man as your teacher?"

The little fellow raised his head and replied, "Teacher is the most learned person under heaven. If I become Teacher's student and study properly, I can know many things."

After hearing this, Lu Zhiyuan asked with some surprise, "What do you want to know?"

Seeing this, the little fellow's eyes brightened. He was just about to speak, but then lowered his voice and said, "Mother said I must not lose courtesy before Teacher. I…"

Lu Zhiyuan smiled, stroked his beard, and said, "There is no harm in asking."

"Really?" The little fellow lifted his head excitedly.

Lu Zhiyuan smiled kindly. "Ask."

Seeing this, Jiang Wenyan immediately threw the etiquette his mother had instructed him on to the back of his mind. He leaned forward and said, "Teacher, are there rivers, marshes, lakes, and seas in the sky?"

Lu Zhiyuan was slightly stunned, then shook his head. "No."

"Then where does rain come from?"

Lu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "It comes from the clouds."

"Then where do clouds come from?"

This question actually stumped Lu Zhiyuan.

Jiang Wenfeng, who was at the side, saw that his younger brother's tricky and strange question had made the teacher freeze. He hurriedly cupped his hands. "Teacher, please forgive him. Anu, he…"

"No harm, no harm." Lu Zhiyuan chuckled. "Do you have any more questions?"

Jiang Wenyan tilted his head and said, "When rain falls, it becomes water. Why does water flow toward lower places?"

Lu Zhiyuan stroked his beard and said, "Water enters a hundred rivers, and a hundred rivers return to the sea, because the sea is at the lowest place."

Jiang Wenyan asked curiously, "What is the sea?"

Willow County was located in the western part of Great Yu. The largest river he had ever seen was the Lai River, and he had no idea what the sea was.

Lu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "The sea is the vastest water, boundless and endless."

Jiang Wenyan seemed to think about it, then nodded his little head and said, "Then the sea is the smartest water."

Lu Zhiyuan was puzzled. "Why?"

"Because the sea knows to stay at the lowest place, letting all water flow toward it, so it grows the largest!" Jiang Wenyan grinned and said.

Hearing this answer, a trace of surprise appeared on Lu Zhiyuan's face, and a ripple also rose in his heart.

"The sea accepts a hundred rivers; it is great because it has capacity." This was a principle he had spent more than half his life comprehending. He had not expected that today, a young child would actually speak astonishing words and express this principle with the simplest speech.

"Hahaha…"

Lu Zhiyuan laughed, and his laughter was very loud.

It caused Uncle Ya, who was tidying the vegetable plot not far away, and Jiang Huanyu to be unable to help turning their eyes over.

The two stood up and looked curiously at Lu Zhiyuan, who was laughing heartily in the cool pavilion.

"Go. Call your father over."

Lu Zhiyuan withdrew his smile and looked at Jiang Wenfeng beside him as he spoke.

Jiang Wenfeng cupped his hands and hurriedly came before Jiang Huanyu. "Father, Teacher asks you to go over."

Jiang Huanyu patted the dirt from his hands and hurriedly came before the cool pavilion.

"Little Brother Jiang, please accept this old man's bow."

Seeing Jiang Huanyu, Lu Zhiyuan straightened his sleeves, cupped his hands, and bowed.

This scene left Jiang Huanyu completely confused. He hurriedly dodged and returned the salute, saying, "Teacher, why are you doing this?"

Lu Zhiyuan straightened up and looked with relief at Jiang Wenyan beside him, sighing as he said, "This old man began basic education at three. At six, I had already read the classics, histories, philosophers, and collected works thoroughly. At twelve, I passed the imperial examination and became a presented scholar. At the age of twenty, I entered the Imperial Academy."

"After that, I traveled under heaven and visited famous masters and great scholars. By the age of forty, I already claimed to know all learning under heaven."

"I wasted twenty years at the Commandery Academy. Five years ago, I resigned from office and came here, wanting to comprehend a field of learning that surpassed the sages, yet I was never able to find the way."

"When one investigates the Dao, one learns the depth of the Dao. When one observes oneself, only then does one know one's own smallness."

"Alas! Life has an end, and it cannot be defied. The scholars under heaven are all mediocre talents. None could enter this old man's eyes."

Lu Zhiyuan stood proudly with his hands behind his back, his voice sonorous and powerful.

At this moment, the image of a scholar's proud bones was displayed to the fullest.

After this emotional speech, he withdrew his spirit and bearing. Then he reached out and rubbed Jiang Wenyan's head, saying with great fondness, "This child has come for the sake of seeking knowledge. His heart carries the desire to know. This old man likes him greatly."

"This old man bows to you because you have sent this old man a proud student."

After hearing this, Jiang Huanyu's expression was slightly stunned. Then he reacted and quickly looked at Jiang Wenyan, saying, "Anu, why haven't you quickly kowtowed and saluted?"

Jiang Wenyan belatedly realized what was happening. He hurriedly bowed his head, knelt on the ground, and performed a great salute.

"Student greets Teacher."

Lu Zhiyuan calmly accepted it, then chuckled and helped him up.

"Good, good, good…"

"From today onward, you are this old man's final student."

"All this old man has learned in his life will be taught to you. I hope you can surpass your teacher and reach a height this old man has never attained."

"Go back first. Tomorrow at the beginning of the Rabbit hour, just come straight over."

The father and sons cupped their hands and saluted. Then, personally seen off by Lu Zhiyuan, they left the small courtyard.

On the way home, Jiang Wenfeng's mood was somewhat low.

The teacher had only said to let his younger brother come over tomorrow and did not mention his name at all. Clearly, he had only agreed to accept his younger brother as a student and had not taken a liking to him.

Seeing this, Jiang Huanyu rubbed his head and said, "Everyone has a path suitable for themselves."

"If studying doesn't work, we can still learn martial arts. Father will go to town tomorrow and ask about it."

After hearing this, a smile appeared on Jiang Wenfeng's face.

In his heart, he actually did not like studying and learning very much either. Earlier, when Lu Zhiyuan had asked him, he had also not known how to answer.

When martial arts was mentioned, his heart instead felt somewhat excited.

"Father, I will definitely practice martial arts properly and join the army to become a great general in the future!" Jiang Wenfeng's young face was filled with seriousness.

Jiang Huanyu smiled and rubbed his head, but did not speak.

When the father and sons returned home, Hu Yufen was standing at the doorway, anxiously looking around.

"Mother!"

"Mother!"

When the two little fellows saw their mother, they hurriedly ran over.

Hu Yufen bent down and tidied their clothes, then raised her head to look at Jiang Huanyu, who was walking toward her.

"Husband, how was it?"

Jiang Huanyu smiled faintly. "The teacher accepted Anu."

Hearing this, a trace of joy appeared on Hu Yufen's face. Then, noticing the disappointment on her eldest son Jiang Wenfeng's face, she quickly squatted down, touched his little face, and said, "Stone, don't be discouraged either. Your father and mother will think of another way."

Jiang Wenfeng obediently nodded, and the family of four returned to the courtyard.

"Later, we'll divide this year's grain. Leave enough to pay taxes, store some, and pull the rest to town to sell."

Jiang Huanyu said in a deep voice.

"So urgent?" Hu Yufen was somewhat puzzled.

She had still wanted to wait for a while. Now that the new grain had just come down, the grain price would not be too high.

Jiang Huanyu glanced at Jiang Wenfeng, who was playing in the courtyard, and said in a low voice, "I want to send Stone to the martial arts school in town to learn martial arts."

"This child's mind is not on books."

Hu Yufen also knew that her man was right, but she was still somewhat worried.

"I heard that learning martial arts requires talent, and one must be able to endure hardship."

"More importantly, if you want to lay a good foundation, the money spent will not be a small amount. Our family… can afford it?"

There were also quite a few children from Golden Willow Village studying martial arts at the martial arts school in town.

The reason their families could afford it was because they had never thought of buying medicinal meals to condition their children's bodies.

They merely wanted the children to learn a few moves through martial arts, strengthen their bodies, and later, no one in the village would dare to bully them lightly.

After all, the reputation of having "learned martial arts" still had a certain deterrent effect.

Hu Yufen was educated and reasonable, so naturally she would not only have this sort of thought. Her plan was the same as Jiang Huanyu's. Since they were letting the child walk this path, they had to provide him with the best resources and do everything in their power to let him become talented.

"You don't need to worry about this matter. The family's savings should be able to support two years. I'll think of another way."

Jiang Huanyu sighed.

Sure enough, people's greatest troubles all came from desire.

If he did not want his two children to rise above others and achieve something, then relying on the family's current circumstances and living honestly, how could there be so many vexing matters?

The hundred-year-old Blood Toad's shed skin obtained from Blackwater Pond yesterday could still sell for two hundred taels of silver.

Adding the money they had saved over these years, then selling the grain, they should have nearly four hundred taels.

If nothing unexpected happened, supporting the eldest in practicing martial arts for a few years should not be a problem.

Time passed in a flash, and soon it was night.

After the family finished dinner, they all rested early.

Moonlight was like water, hanging in the center of the window lattice. Jiang Huanyu lay on the bed, wanting to turn over, only to discover that Hu Yufen's entire leg was pressing on his body.

Helpless, he did not dare move recklessly.

He quietly looked at the gauze canopy above his head, thinking about how to make some changes on the current foundation so this family could live a little wealthier.

Time passed bit by bit, and in the blink of an eye, it was midnight.

Ding!

[System Notification: Divination has refreshed.]

[Today's Divination · Great Misfortune]: You decide to sell the hundred-year-old Blood Toad's shed skin. As a result, it attracts the attention of someone with intentions. You are followed back home. You resist desperately, but the other party is a very powerful martial artist. In the end, you and your family are killed, and the family's property is looted clean.

Most of the time, the system's divinations were insignificant small matters, so Jiang Huanyu had not originally cared much.

He would only habitually glance at them after the divination refreshed.

But this time, when he saw those blood-red large characters, his heart suddenly trembled, and he sat up from the bed!

Great misfortune!

Because of a single hundred-year-old Blood Toad's shed skin, he would actually be followed home by a martial artist, ultimately causing his family to be destroyed and everyone to die!?

On a sweltering summer night, Jiang Huanyu was startled into a cold sweat by the words of the divination!

"Husband, did you have a nightmare?"

His movement also woke his wife, who had been sleeping soundly beside him.

Hu Yufen sat up. By the moonlight, she saw the sweat seeping from Jiang Huanyu's forehead and asked with concern.

Jiang Huanyu came back to his senses and turned to look at his wife.

The moonlight was gentle. Hu Yufen's hair was loose, giving her a strange, hazy beauty.

He gently held his wife in his arms, gradually using more strength.

Hu Yufen was completely confused by his inexplicable action. Although she felt somewhat unable to breathe, she did not struggle. She only quietly stroked Jiang Huanyu's back with her palm and comforted him.

"It's all right, it's all right…"

After his mood calmed, Jiang Huanyu released his arms, gently stroked his wife's cheek, lowered his head, and kissed her.

After the clouds and rain were overturned and a release followed, Hu Yufen fell into a deep sleep.

Jiang Huanyu once again glanced at the divination in his sea of consciousness, and a decision formed in his heart.

No matter what, this hundred-year-old Blood Toad's shed skin could not be sold!

Even apart from his wife, he would not let anyone know that he possessed the hundred-year-old Blood Toad's shed skin!

Early the next morning, Jiang Huanyu, who had risen early, simply ate a little and hurriedly left home.

When the sun had just risen, he arrived before a household at the eastern end of the village.

"Is Uncle Sun at home?"

Inside the small courtyard, an old woman and two gray-clothed servants were busily drying all kinds of medicinal herbs. Hearing the shout, the old woman turned around.

"A-Huanyu, your Uncle Sun is in the medicine hut. Go straight there."

Jiang Huanyu nodded and walked toward the house at the southwest corner of the courtyard.

When he reached the door, a faint medicinal fragrance rushed toward his face. Just taking one breath made one feel refreshed and clear-headed.

Jiang Huanyu knocked on the door. Only after hearing a "Come in" from inside did he push the door open and enter.

"Uncle Sun, I came to ask you for a prescription."

Along both sides of the medicine hut, medicine cabinets were arranged against the walls. In the middle were medicine grinders and all sorts of tools for decocting medicinal herbs.

Behind the central table, an old man with a stooped figure and grizzled hair and beard was holding an ancient bamboo slip and carefully studying it.

Hearing Jiang Huanyu speak, the old man raised his head and narrowed his eyes for a while.

"Jiang family boy?"

Jiang Huanyu nodded and cupped his hands. "Recently, the heat has been fierce. I always feel dizzy and nauseous, and I have no appetite. I must trouble Uncle Sun to take a look and prescribe some medicine."

The old man nodded slightly and said, "Sit. It is probably heatstroke."

Jiang Huanyu came forward and sat down, stretching out his wrist.

The old man placed his fingers on his pulse and felt it for a while, then said, "It is not very serious. This old man will prescribe you one set of medicine. Go home and boil it, then drink it like tea."

Jiang Huanyu cupped his hands in thanks, then asked again, "Uncle Sun, my boy is preparing to go to town to learn martial arts recently. I wanted to ask you for advice. Are there any things to pay attention to in his daily meals?"

While grabbing medicinal herbs, the old man said, "Although this old man does not understand the martial path, practicing martial arts is nothing more than needing a good body and abundant blood and vitality."

"If you want him to have some prospects, then the medicinal meals from the martial arts school naturally cannot be lacking. In daily food, it would be better to stew fine meat together with some ordinary medicinal herbs."

Jiang Huanyu secretly remembered these things. Then, after hesitating for a moment, he said, "The martial arts school's medicinal meals are quite expensive. Are they truly effective?"

After hearing this, the old man smiled.

"The medicinal meals of the martial arts school in town all use precious medicinal herbs. Just the ten-year Blood Toad's shed skin inside costs ten taels of silver for one piece."

"Blood Toad shed skin has the effect of strengthening the foundation, nourishing the origin, generating essence, and replenishing blood. Just a small piece can make a person lively and vigorous for an entire day. Paired with other medicinal herbs, the effect is even greater."

Placing the gathered medicinal herbs on kraft paper and wrapping them, the old man smiled and said, "It is only because our Willow County has Blood Toads. If it were another place, a single medicinal meal probably could not be bought without ten taels of silver."

Jiang Huanyu deliberately showed surprise after hearing this. "Learning martial arts really is a money-burning trade."

The old man chuckled. "Isn't that so? When this old man traveled through the commandery in his youth, I heard that those children of noble families used hundred-year-old Blood Toad shed skins to temper their bodies. Just the cost of medicinal meals alone was at least several hundred taels of silver every month."

"All right. After going back, decoct it over a gentle flame for half an hour. Add more water. Drink it for two days and you'll be fine."

Jiang Huanyu quickly cupped his hands. "Many thanks, Uncle Sun. How much?"

"Thirty copper coins."

Jiang Huanyu paid the money and carried the medicinal herbs out of the medicine hut.

 

[XiaoBudian]

Chapter 6: With Child

Sun Fuchun was the only physician in Golden Willow Village.

It was said that the ancestors of the Sun family had once been physicians in the Imperial Medical Court of the royal capital. But because of one mistake in the use of medicine, they had nearly caused the death of a noble heir, and the direct line was all exiled.

As for Sun Fuchun's branch, because it was a side branch, they had luckily escaped to Willow County.

In the early years, the Sun family had operated a medical clinic in Willow County. Later, they were targeted by the followers of that noble heir. Having no choice, they scattered all their family wealth and hid in Golden Willow Village.

The reason Jiang Huanyu came to find Sun Fuchun was also the result of thinking hard through the night.

He needed to figure out exactly what this hundred-year-old Blood Toad's shed skin was.

Why would selling the Blood Toad's shed skin cause him to be targeted by a martial artist?

Through this trip to Sun Fuchun, he finally understood the use of the hundred-year-old Blood Toad's shed skin.

Blood Toad shed skin was actually the main ingredient in the medicinal meals of martial arts schools. A hundred-year-grade one was even a rare item that only the children of great families could afford to use.

No wonder selling it would make him be watched by martial artists.

An ordinary man is innocent, but treasuring a jade ring becomes his crime.

It seemed that this hundred-year-old Blood Toad's shed skin probably could not be taken out and exchanged for money.

However, knowing that the hundred-year-old Blood Toad's shed skin could be used to condition the body of a martial artist, and that he also planned to let Stone practice martial arts, there was no need to rush to dispose of this thing.

Later, after Stone started practicing martial arts, he would let him eat this thing. That would also save the money needed to buy it.

When Jiang Huanyu returned home, Hu Yufen immediately came up to greet him.

Seeing the medicinal herbs in his hand, she asked somewhat suspiciously, "Husband, are you ill?"

After last night's clouds and rain, Jiang Huanyu had still been as fierce as always. He did not seem to have anything wrong with his body. Hu Yufen quickly reached out and touched his forehead.

"I'm fine. This is heat-relief tea prepared by Uncle Sun. We'll be plowing and sowing in two days, so I prepared some in advance."

Going to find Sun Fuchun was never for the sake of seeing a doctor.

But if he had specially gone over to ask about the Blood Toad's shed skin, it would inevitably make people suspicious.

Because of this, he had used heatstroke as an excuse and bought some heat-relief tea.

Hearing this, Hu Yufen slightly breathed a sigh of relief.

Jiang Huanyu was the pillar of this family, and the children were still young. If something happened to him, this family would be finished.

"Anu went to Teacher Lu's place?"

Not seeing his younger son, Jiang Huanyu asked.

"He went. I personally sent him over. Teacher said Anu would eat lunch there, so we don't need to worry."

"Husband, Teacher Lu seems to really like Anu."

Hearing this, Jiang Huanyu smiled. Then his tone changed and he said, "It is that stinky brat's good fortune that Teacher likes him."

"How about this? After noon, help me pack two bags of grain. I'll send them to Teacher as that boy's food ration."

"Teacher may not lack that one meal from him, but we cannot pretend not to know."

Hu Yufen smiled and nodded.

This was precisely the reason she had liked Jiang Huanyu back then.

Although he was a commoner from a poor and remote countryside, he had broad vision, understood etiquette, and knew worldly manners, making people feel very comfortable.

In the blink of an eye, several days passed.

Jiang Wenyan's studies at Lu Zhiyuan's place went very smoothly.

The villagers also gradually learned that the Jiang family's second son had been accepted as a student by Lu Zhiyuan, and every one of them was full of envy.

That day, the village headman struck the bronze chime.

Everyone knew that the time to pay taxes had arrived.

The Great Yu Dynasty was currently in its flourishing age. Apart from the barbarians of the Western Wilderness occasionally causing trouble, it could be considered a time of peace throughout the land.

Jiang Huanyu's family had about 4 hectares of fertile land and about 1 hectare of mountain forest. According to the rules, fertile land was taxed at five hundred copper coins per mu each year, and mountain forest at two hundred copper coins per mu each year.

Their family needed to pay a total of thirty-two taels of silver.

This was the converted tax value. Of course, they could also directly pay grain as tax.

However, Jiang Huanyu did not plan to use silver to pay the tax. Storing grain not only took up a lot of space, but it also required guarding against insects, rats, and moisture. It was very troublesome.

It was enough for the family to store one year's worth of food. After paying taxes, the extra would still have to be sold.

More importantly, in recent years, the government had also encouraged commoners to offset taxes with grain. Paying taxes with grain even came with a certain reduction.

After the husband and wife loaded the grain, they drove the ox cart toward the village square.

With two consecutive years of good harvests, the harvests of the villagers of Golden Willow Village were all decent. The tax-paying process was also very smooth. There were rarely scenes of people unable to pay taxes kneeling and begging, then being beaten by the tax-collecting officials until they cried for their fathers and mothers.

After the taxes were paid, next came the time for summer plowing.

Jiang Huanyu found several short-term workers, among them Xi Fu.

With the help of short-term workers, plus the family's old ox, the roughly 4 hectares of fertile land were all plowed and sown in a little over ten days.

Time arrived in mid-September. After the crops were planted in the fields, there were no major matters left for the year.

After finishing everything, Jiang Huanyu prepared to pull all the remaining grain at home to town and sell it.

That day, the husband and wife were preparing to move the packed grain onto the ox cart when Hu Yufen's expression changed slightly. Then she hurriedly covered her mouth and ran to the side to retch.

Jiang Wenfeng, who was waiting at the side to follow his father to town to play, saw this and hurriedly ran over.

"Mother, are you all right?"

Hu Yufen dry-heaved a few times, but did not vomit anything. Her face was somewhat pale as she shook her head.

Jiang Huanyu came forward, supported her, and said, "I'll take you to Uncle Sun to have a look."

After hearing this, Hu Yufen rolled her eyes at him. "You're already the father of two children, yet you still don't understand anything…"

Hm?

After she said this, Jiang Huanyu was also stunned.

Only after quite a while did he react. His face filled with pleasant surprise as he said, "Wife, this is… you're with child!?"

Hu Yufen nodded with a somewhat complicated expression.

Being pregnant again could be counted as a happy event.

But this also meant that before long, there would be another mouth to feed in the family.

The husband and wife had already decided to let Stone learn martial arts. In the future, most of the family's income would be spent on him.

If another mouth was added, life would become even tighter.

"Father, with child… what kind of illness is that?"

Jiang Wenfeng looked at his father and mother in confusion, somewhat unable to understand. Mother was clearly sick, so why was Father standing there grinning foolishly?

Jiang Huanyu touched his son's head and said with a chuckle, "Stinky brat, after some time, your mother is going to give birth to a younger brother or younger sister for you."

"Ah!?"

Hearing this, Jiang Wenfeng opened his mouth wide in astonishment.

"Stone, do you want a younger brother or a younger sister?"

Jiang Wenfeng tilted his head and thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "Either is fine!"

The husband and wife looked at each other and smiled.

After Hu Yufen recovered slightly, she came to the ox cart and wanted to continue helping carry the remaining grain onto the cart.

Jiang Huanyu quickly stopped her and had Stone bring over a stool.

"Don't disturb the pregnancy. Sit down. I'll do it myself."

Hu Yufen struggled a little. "I'm not that delicate. There's too much grain. If you move it all yourself, don't hurt your body."

At this time, Jiang Huanyu immediately brought out the manly dignity of the head of the household. He pressed her onto the stool and said with a stern face, "Listen to me. Sit there peacefully."

Hu Yufen could not overcome him and could only obediently sit to the side, watching her man carry bag after bag of grain onto the ox cart.

After all that busyness, it was already noon.

Hu Yufen picked up a cloth towel and somewhat heartachingly wiped the sweat from Jiang Huanyu's body.

"Husband, rest for a while. I'll go make some food."

Jiang Huanyu had originally wanted to rush to cook instead, but Hu Yufen pushed him out of the kitchen house using the excuse that "a gentleman stays far from the kitchen."

Left with nothing to do, Jiang Huanyu thought it over again and again, but finally decided to personally make a trip to the Sun family and invite the old man over to examine his wife.

First, it was to confirm this happy matter. Second, it was also to properly condition her body from the beginning.

Back when she gave birth to Anu, it had happened during floods. Because Hu Yufen had not properly completed her postpartum confinement, her body had clearly become much weaker than before.

By the time Hu Yufen finished making the meal, Jiang Huanyu and Sun Fuchun, who was carrying a medicine box on his back, also walked through the door.

"Uncle Sun."

 

[XiaoBudian]

Chapter 7: I Have an Idea

Hu Yufen, who had walked out from the kitchen house, quickly saluted. Then she looked at Jiang Huanyu reproachfully.

"There wasn't really anything wrong, yet you insisted on troubling Uncle Sun to make a trip."

Jiang Huanyu chuckled. "It's better to confirm it."

"Uncle Sun, please sit."

After inviting Sun Fuchun to sit down, he helped his wife sit opposite him.

After simply taking her pulse, a trace of a smile appeared on Sun Fuchun's face. Stroking his beard, he said, "It is indeed a pregnancy pulse. There is nothing else serious."

After receiving confirmation, Jiang Huanyu instantly felt much more at ease. Then he quickly asked, "Uncle Sun, when Yufen gave birth to Anu before, it happened to be during the floods, and her vitality was damaged. Do you think you should prescribe some medicine to regulate her body?"

In this era, giving birth was undoubtedly like taking a trip through the gates of hell for women. If there was even the slightest accident, it would be one corpse and two lives lost.

Over these years, quite a few women in the village had already died because of this. He did not want anything bad to happen to his own wife.

Sun Fuchun nodded. "She indeed needs to be properly regulated. This old man has some prescriptions here, only…"

"Yufen, you and Stone eat first. I'll chat with Uncle Sun outside."

Interrupting Sun Fuchun's words, Jiang Huanyu spoke.

Hu Yufen nodded slightly and watched the two leave the small courtyard.

Outside the courtyard, Jiang Huanyu quickly explained, "Uncle Sun, please forgive me. Yufen is frugal."

Sun Fuchun smiled and nodded. "This old man understands. This regulating prescription is indeed not cheap."

"For a woman giving birth, the greatest danger is nothing more than insufficient qi and blood, with a large amount of vital energy lost after childbirth, leading to bleeding and death."

"Strengthening the foundation, nourishing the origin, and replenishing qi and blood is the most critical."

Hearing these words, Jiang Huanyu was slightly stunned and said, "This boy remembers Uncle Sun once said that practicing martial arts also requires strengthening the foundation, nourishing the origin, and keeping qi and blood abundant. Could it be…"

Sun Fuchun smiled and nodded. "That is correct. The medicinal meals of the martial arts school in town are actually a decent regulating prescription."

"Only, those medicinal meals contain some herbs that pregnant women are forbidden from using, so they cannot be directly used."

"The prescription this old man gives is much gentler."

Jiang Huanyu did not hesitate at all and directly said, "Then I must trouble Uncle Sun."

Sun Fuchun waved his hand. "This old man will go back and prepare the medicine. When you have time, just come get it."

"This medicine has ten portions in total, one portion each month. The price of each portion is two taels of silver."

"This is a high-quality regulating medicinal meal. If you think it is expensive…"

"Not expensive, not expensive."

Jiang Huanyu cupped his hands and said, "I'll trouble Uncle Sun. This boy will go pick it up tonight."

This was life-preserving medicine. Forget twenty taels of silver—even if it were two hundred taels, he would still have to think of a way.

"Then that's settled. This old man will go back first," Sun Fuchun said.

"I'll see you off."

"No need. Go back and eat."

…

When Jiang Huanyu returned to the courtyard, Hu Yufen immediately came up and said, "There's nothing wrong with my body. You mustn't spend money recklessly!"

Jiang Huanyu gently took her hand and said seriously, "It's only some ordinary body-regulating medicine. It isn't worth much."

"Don't worry. Everything has me."

Hu Yufen's face reddened, and she did not speak.

She knew Jiang Huanyu cherished her, but every expense in the family was a burden, and these burdens would ultimately press down on her man.

"Eat."

Jiang Huanyu sat before the table and saw Jiang Wenfeng at the side shoveling white rice into his mouth in large mouthfuls. A trace of a smile appeared on his face.

After eating, he took Jiang Wenfeng with him, drove the ox cart, and went to town to sell grain.

As Xi Fu had expected, the Jiang family's grain had full kernels and belonged to the superior grade. Its price was thirty percent higher than ordinary grain.

The father and son each pulled a full cart of grain and sold it for thirty taels of silver in total.

"Father, I want to eat roasted chicken!"

After coming out of the grain shop, Jiang Wenfeng spoke with a face full of expectation.

This was the real purpose behind why he wanted to come to town.

Jiang Huanyu weighed the heavy silver in his hand and laughed while scolding, "Only your mouth is greedy!"

"Father…"

"Buy, buy, buy! But we have to buy some fruit for your mother first."

Hu Yufen had just become pregnant. She had morning sickness and vomiting, and with the weather being hot, she had to eat some light fruit to supplement her nutrition.

The father and son drove the ox cart to a fruit shop in town and casually picked some fruit.

In the end, when it was time to pay, he discovered that it actually cost nearly one tael of silver!

In these years, just being able to eat one's fill was already good. Fruit naturally counted as a luxury. He had guessed that it would be a little expensive, but he had not expected it to be this expensive!

If one tael of silver were used to buy grain, it could buy nearly two dan. This small amount of fruit was actually worth as much as more than a hundred kilograms of grain!?

Although Jiang Huanyu's heart ached, he still gritted his teeth and paid the money.

Near the end of the evening hour, Hu Yufen took Stone to Teacher Lu's house to pick up Anu, while Jiang Huanyu quietly brought money to Sun Fuchun's house and took the medicine back.

At night, after the family of four finished dinner, they coaxed the two brothers to sleep.

"How much did today's grain sell for?" Hu Yufen asked casually while arranging the bedding.

Jiang Huanyu scratched his head and stammered without speaking.

Hu Yufen knew the family's money very clearly. There was no way to hide the matter of spending money on medicinal meals from her.

Seeing that he did not answer, Hu Yufen immediately pulled a small wooden box out from under the bed.

After counting it, she discovered that there were only one hundred and sixty-eight taels of silver.

"This year's grain only sold for eight taels of silver!?"

She was not an ordinary woman who understood nothing. She still knew roughly how much the family's grain could sell for.

"Husband, how much silver did those medicines cost in total?"

Looking at her man's poor ability to lie, Hu Yufen felt somewhat complicated.

"T-twenty taels."

"Ten portions in total. Each portion only counts as two taels of silver!"

Jiang Huanyu hurriedly explained, wanting to weaken the idea that these twenty taels of silver were a "huge sum."

Hu Yufen pursed her lips, sighed slightly, quietly covered the wooden box, pushed it back under the bed, and then sat beside Jiang Huanyu.

Jiang Huanyu slowly reached out and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, comforting her.

"Money is a bastard. If it's gone, we'll earn it again."

"You and the children are the most important. The days ahead are still long. Everything will get better."

Hearing these words, Hu Yufen's nose turned sour, and she tilted her head to lean against his shoulder.

"I just don't want you to be so tired."

The husband and wife leaned against each other.

"Yufen, I have an idea."

After a long while, Jiang Huanyu suddenly said, "Today, when I bought fruit in town, those fruits cost one tael of silver."

"I want to wait until spring next year, clear out about half a hectare of our family's mountain forest, sell the timber, and plant fruit trees."

"This way, we should be able to increase quite a bit of income every year."

Mountain forest land was not suitable for growing crops. Their family's roughly one hectare of mountain forest was all planted with trees. Each year, part of the firewood produced was kept for their own use, and the extra was sold. The income obtained did not count as much.

If the trees were cut down and fruit trees were planted instead, the income should increase greatly.

"This…" After hearing this, Hu Yufen was somewhat hesitant.

"I heard that planting fruit trees is very troublesome. Husband has no experience. Wouldn't this move be too risky?"

Jiang Huanyu nodded, then smiled. "If it were before, perhaps it really would be troublesome. Now…"

He gently stroked Hu Yufen's black hair and said, "Did you notice the two peach trees at Teacher Lu's entrance?"

Hu Yufen was slightly stunned. She recalled that when she picked up and dropped off Anu, at the entrance of Lu Zhiyuan's small courtyard there were two peach trees laden with fruit. The peaches on them were large and red, even better than those sold in the town market.

"Husband couldn't be planning to set his sights on Teacher's two peach trees, right?"

Jiang Huanyu shook his head slightly. "Naturally not. But those peach trees were planted by Teacher Lu and Uncle Ya. The two of them must be skilled in this field. Tomorrow, I'll go ask the two of them for guidance."

"If they are willing to help, later I'll find people to sell part of the timber on the mountain."

After hearing this, Hu Yufen felt slightly more at ease.

Then she looked at her man reproachfully.

"Husband really doesn't let any opportunity pass."

Jiang Huanyu sighed slightly in his heart.

Wasn't this all forced by life?

Ding!

[System Notification: Divination has refreshed!]

[Today's Divination · Ordinary]: Rain at around 1 a.m. The rain will stop around 5 a.m. Rainfall obtained: about 30 centimeters.


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[XiaoBudian]

Chapter 08: Learning Martial Arts



Jiang Huanyu glanced at the divination. Seeing that there was nothing major, he fell into a deep sleep.

Early the next morning, after the rain, the sky cleared. The crops in the fields had just finished being sown, so this rain had come extremely timely.

In another two days, those crops would sprout. If nothing unexpected happened, next year would be another good harvest year.

After eating at the Rabbit hour, Jiang Huanyu personally sent Anu to Teacher Lu's house.

Thinking of what happened last night, he immediately cupped his hands and said, "Teacher, this boy has a question he would like to ask you for guidance on."

Lu Zhiyuan nodded slightly.

Jiang Huanyu continued, "My wife was confirmed to be with child a few days ago. This boy also plans to let Stone go to the martial arts school in town to learn martial arts. In the future, Anu will also need brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones."

"Thanks to the blessings left by my ancestors, my family does have some farmland, but the expenses are huge and the income cannot cover them. Therefore, I want to change the forest land on the mountain into fruit trees, but I suffer from not understanding this field…"

Lu Zhiyuan understood his meaning. Then he smiled, stroked his beard, and said, "Diligent without slacking, knowing to seek progress. If all commoners under heaven were like Little Brother Jiang, what worries would there be?"

"You may ask Uncle Ya for guidance on this matter."

Hearing this, Jiang Huanyu quickly cupped his hands and thanked him.

Lu Zhiyuan waved his hand, then looked at Jiang Wenyan beside him and said, "Let us begin class."

Jiang Wenyan obediently spread open the book and began reciting along with Lu Zhiyuan.

Jiang Huanyu tactfully left and found Uncle Ya, who was tending the vegetable plot in the courtyard. He told him his idea.

Uncle Ya hesitated slightly, turned his head to look at Lu Zhiyuan, who was teaching, then grinned and patted his chest.

His meaning was probably, "Leave it to me."

Jiang Huanyu also asked some questions about choosing saplings and planting.

Uncle Ya gestured for a while, but Jiang Huanyu did not understand. Just as he was troubled by their inability to communicate, Uncle Ya put down the hoe in his hand, went to a nearby room, and took out an ancient-looking book.

Jiang Huanyu received the book and saw four large characters written on it: Miscellaneous Agricultural Arts.

He roughly flipped through it and discovered that it recorded writings related to farming, planting, poultry raising, and other such matters.

Uncle Ya leaned forward and directly flipped the book to the middle section.

It was precisely the content related to fruit trees.

Jiang Huanyu felt as if he had obtained a treasure and quickly cupped his hands in thanks.

Uncle Ya smiled and waved his hand, then continued picking up the hoe to tend the vegetable plot beside him.

"Uncle Ya, I'll go back and copy out one copy, then send it back to you."

After cupping his hands and saying farewell, Jiang Huanyu took the book and returned home.

"Yufen, when you have time later, copy this book. I'll take Stone to town."

When he had gone to sell grain yesterday, he had already gone to the martial arts school in town to ask.

The martial arts school's master said that they could sign up at any time.

Now that there was nothing else at home, he planned to let the eldest go learn martial arts as early as possible.

"Stone, when you arrive at the martial arts school, be obedient. Study properly with the master."

Hu Yufen squatted down and helped her son tidy his clothes, her eyes full of concern.

There was some distance from Golden Willow Village to town. Once Jiang Wenfeng went this time, he could only return once every ten days.

Compared with her younger son Jiang Wenyan, who was still in the village, she was more worried that the eldest would suffer hardship at the martial arts school.

But young birds had to learn to fly by themselves eventually. She also understood that always shielding children beneath her wings would only harm them.

"Mother, don't worry. I will definitely study properly."

Compared to studying books, Jiang Wenfeng clearly liked learning martial arts more.

When a child travels far, the mother worries. Hu Yufen forcefully held back her tears, took out the prepared bundle, and handed it to Jiang Huanyu.

"Husband, when you arrive, you must settle Stone properly. Explain clearly to the teachers at the martial arts school and have them take more care of Stone."

Jiang Huanyu took the bundle and comforted her, "The town is not far from home. I'll also go see him when I have time. Wife, there is no need to worry too much."

After comforting his wife, he called Stone onto the ox cart. The father and son then left Golden Willow Village and rushed toward Cloudwater Town.

The martial arts school master of Cloudwater Town had the surname Huang and was called Huang Qingzhou.

The old master of the Huang family and Jiang Huanyu's great-grandfather had once been comrades-in-arms. In the early years, when Jiang Huanyu's grandfather was still alive, the two families still had contact.

Only, by Jiang Huanyu's father's generation, the Jiang family's noble rank had been reduced until nothing remained, while Huang Qingzhou's father, relying on his identity as a martial artist, repeatedly obtained military achievements in the army and was granted the rank of Unchanging Rank.

After his father died in battle, the noble rank was passed down to Huang Qingzhou's elder brother, Huang Yunxiao.

A few years ago, the Emperor of Yu ordered the establishment of Mountain Patrol Commandant Camps along Hidden Dragon Mountain. The Huang family spent some money to smooth things over, allowing Huang Yunxiao to withdraw from the border and become a Mountain Patrol Commandant.

The gap between the two families widened, and their relationship also faded. Basically, they had no contact anymore.

The ox cart slowly stopped at the entrance of the martial arts school, and the father and son got down from the cart.

"Excuse me, we are looking for Master Huang."

Jiang Huanyu cupped his hands toward a disciple at the entrance of the martial arts school.

That disciple glanced at the two of them and directly said, "The master is inside. Go in."

The father and son entered the martial arts school and saw that on the training ground in the front courtyard, several dozen children, ranging from a few years old to teenagers, were standing in postures.

And Huang Qingzhou, whom they were looking for, stood quietly in a shaded place, his gaze sweeping over this group of children.

Noticing Jiang Huanyu and his son arrive, Huang Qingzhou came forward and politely cupped his hands.

"Brother Jiang, you've come?"

Jiang Huanyu returned the salute. "Master Huang, I came today to register Stone."

As he spoke, he took the silver out from his robes.

"Thirty taels in total. Twenty taels as the initiation gift, and ten taels for the first month's medicinal meals. Master Huang, please count it."

Jiang Huanyu was very courteous.

Although the two families had some friendship before, they were no longer on the same level now, so he could not forcibly cling to the connection.

"Brother Jiang plans to give this child medicinal meals?" Huang Qingzhou received the silver, weighed it, and did not look closely.

"Brother, our two families are old family friends, so this foolish elder brother must remind you: once medicinal meals are used, they cannot be stopped lightly."

"If you cannot persist for three to five years, then the money spent before will have been thrown into water."

After hearing this, Jiang Huanyu smiled and said, "Many thanks for Brother Huang's reminder. This younger brother feels that since I am letting the child choose this path, I must give him the best resources. Otherwise, it would be better to let him honestly farm at home."

He had not originally wanted to claim friendship, but Huang Qingzhou mentioned that the two families were old family friends and even referred to himself as an elder brother, so Jiang Huanyu naturally changed his form of address.

Hearing this answer, Huang Qingzhou nodded in considerable agreement.

Though there were more than a hundred disciples in his martial arts school, those who truly wanted to become martial artists were only a little more than ten. The rest were merely here to learn a few moves and would not amount to much.

"Then good. This foolish elder brother will accept the money."

"Leave the child to me. You can rest assured."

Jiang Huanyu cupped his hands, then looked at his son beside him. "Stone, quickly greet your elder uncle."

Jiang Wenfeng quickly cupped his hands. "Greetings, Elder Uncle."

"Hehe… good." Huang Qingzhou smiled and pinched Stone's arm. "His foundation is not bad. After being conditioned by medicinal meals, perhaps he really has hope of becoming an Acquired Realm martial artist."

"Brother Jiang, you two go settle down first. Tomorrow, let Stone follow these disciples and stand in postures together."

Huang Qingzhou called over a disciple to bring the father and son to the disciples' residence.

Jiang Huanyu busied himself making the bed for him.

"Stone, from today onward, you must learn to be independent."

"Father will tell you a few things. Remember them clearly."

Jiang Wenfeng nodded seriously.

"First, when dealing with people and matters, be humble and low-key. Do not think of showing off."

"Second, guard against arrogance and impatience. When encountering matters, learn to think and learn to endure. Only by keeping your head calm at all times can you handle problems well."

"Third, do not cause trouble, but also do not fear trouble. You must have your own bottom line."

"Do you remember?"

Jiang Wenfeng thought for a while, then nodded heavily. "Father, don't worry. Stone remembers."

Jiang Huanyu nodded slightly.

The eldest had a steady personality. On this point, he was still relatively at ease.

"Let's go. Father will take you to eat something good. After that, I'll return to the village. I'll come pick you up in ten days."

The father and son put down the luggage, then walked toward a restaurant in town.

 

[XiaoBudian]

Chapter 09: Renting Land

At the Goat hour.

After the father and son had eaten and drunk their fill and come out of the restaurant, Jiang Huanyu hesitated again and again, but in the end, he still bought some fine tea leaves and fruit.

Returning to the martial arts school, he delivered the tea leaves and fruit to Huang Qingzhou.

Huang Qingzhou glanced at the gifts before him and spoke with a faint smile. "Brother Jiang, you are… too polite."

Jiang Huanyu smiled slightly. "Elder Brother, please do not refuse. In the future, Stone will still have to trouble you to look after him more."

"If this boy is mischievous and causes trouble here with Elder Brother, please discipline him as you see fit. This younger brother will absolutely not say anything more."

The two families had not interacted for many years, and he did not think that with some tea leaves and fruit, he could restore the relationship from back then.

This gift was only meant to make Huang Qingzhou put a little more care into his child.

Wasn't this how worldly relationships worked?

"Haha… easy to say, easy to say."

"My own nephew, this foolish elder brother will certainly treat him as my own."

Huang Qingzhou had originally still intended to refuse.

In his view, Jiang Huanyu coming to give gifts at this time more or less carried some intention of clinging to old ties.

With the Huang family's current circumstances, renewing this relationship would undoubtedly be like picking up a burden. If he accepted this gift, then in the future, if Jiang Huanyu opened his mouth to ask for something, it would be difficult to refuse.

But now, hearing that Jiang Huanyu only wanted him to look after the child more, the burden in his heart disappeared, and he accepted the gifts at ease.

"Brother Jiang, if there is nothing else, then this afternoon I'll let Stone follow everyone and stand in postures together."

"Do you father and son still want to say a few words?"

Hearing this, Jiang Huanyu looked at Jiang Wenfeng beside him, rubbed his head, and shook his head. "I've already said what needed to be said."

"Elder Brother, I leave the child to you. This younger brother will return now."

He cupped his hands, turned around, and walked toward the outside of the courtyard.

"Father!"

Jiang Wenfeng turned to look at his father's back and could not help calling out.

In the end, he was only a seven-year-old child. Leaving his parents for the first time, his heart was somewhat lost and somewhat frightened.

Jiang Huanyu's body stiffened, but he did not turn back. His steps grew even faster as he walked out of the martial arts school.

From behind came Stone's low sobbing voice.

"Stone, treat your elder uncle's place as your own home. Study martial arts properly. Do not disappoint your father's expectations…"

By the time Huang Qingzhou's comforting voice rang out, Jiang Huanyu had already gotten onto the ox cart and slowly left the martial arts school.

On the road, his eyes were somewhat red.

He turned his head and looked at the martial arts school, then gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

As parents, sometimes one truly had to harden one's heart.

If he had turned back just now, there would inevitably have been a round of crying and fussing over the parting.

When he returned from town, Hu Yufen was in the courtyard copying that book, Miscellaneous Agricultural Arts.

Jiang Huanyu untied the old ox from the cart, led it into the cowshed, and came over to her.

"You came back this early?" Hu Yufen asked somewhat surprised. "Did you settle Stone properly?"

Jiang Huanyu stood behind her and gently kneaded her shoulders. "Everything is settled. I bought some gifts for Master Huang, and he promised he would take good care of Stone."

After hearing this, the worry on Hu Yufen's face eased slightly. Then she glanced at the small courtyard and sighed.

"In the past, the two children would play and make trouble in the courtyard. Now that it has suddenly grown quiet, I'm really not used to it."

Jiang Huanyu did not speak. He only gently placed his hand on her shoulder, letting her head lean against his abdomen.

A moment later—

"If we want the children to have some prospects, we must eventually let them leave our protection."

"Besides, isn't Anu still here?"

Hearing this, Hu Yufen looked up at the time. "It's almost time to go pick up Anu."

Time passed in a flash. In the blink of an eye, more than a month went by.

The studies of the two brothers, Stone and Anu, both went very smoothly.

At noon that day, Jiang Huanyu returned from weeding in the fields. Hu Yufen brought over the food, and the husband and wife sat in the courtyard.

"Husband, have you heard? Erzhu was arrested by the authorities!"

Arrested by the authorities?

Jiang Huanyu held his rice bowl, his brows slightly furrowing. "Why?"

Hu Yufen shook her head. "I'm not clear. I heard it seems to be smuggling. In any case, it's very serious. He has already been taken to Willow County."

"According to Great Yu's laws, this time, even if he does not die, I'm afraid he will be exiled."

Jiang Huanyu understood.

"No wonder the weeds in Erzhu's family's fields are growing taller than the crops, yet neither he nor his wife has gone to weed them."

Niu Erzhu's fields were adjacent to their family's fields, about 1 hectare in total.

With about 1 hectare of fertile land, according to the harvests of these past two years, their days should have been passable.

But this Niu Erzhu did not engage in proper work. He liked gambling and drinking.

On ordinary days, the family's fields were all managed by his wife with the children.

Some days ago, when Jiang Huanyu went to Blackwater Pond, the rather thin young man he encountered on the field ridge had been Niu Erzhu.

Jiang Huanyu had also heard of smuggling before.

The Western Wilderness barbarians, separated from Great Yu by a mountain range, produced rare ores and all kinds of furs. Bringing these things into Great Yu territory would often multiply their price several times, or even more than ten times.

Such enormous profit naturally drew some people to take desperate risks.

They used grain to exchange for furs and ores from the barbarians, then sold these things. After moving them around like this, they could often earn until their bowls and basins were full.

These people were called "mountain smugglers."

In the early years, in the villages and towns along the mountains, one could often see mountain smugglers carrying huge bundles on their backs.

Later, the newly appointed Emperor of Yu established Mountain Patrol Commandant Camps along the mountains. On one hand, it was to patrol for barbarian warriors secretly crossing the border. On the other hand, it was also to crack down on these "mountain smugglers."

What Jiang Huanyu had not expected was that Niu Erzhu was actually this bold. Knowing clearly that Mountain Patrol Commandants existed, he still dared to do such business.

Great Yu's laws were extremely strict. For this kind of smuggling behavior, even if the amount was not large, the punishment was still extremely severe.

This time, Niu Erzhu's family property being confiscated and his whole family, old and young, being exiled was something he definitely could not escape. It was even possible he would lose his life because of it.

Thinking up to here, Jiang Huanyu's eyes suddenly brightened.

"Yufen, Erzhu's family's fields are adjacent to ours. I'm thinking, after the county's judgment comes down, should we buy his family's fields?"

Hearing him say this, Hu Yufen was also somewhat tempted.

The harvests these past two years were good, and the composting method Jiang Huanyu had been tinkering with could greatly increase soil fertility. If they could gain another 1 hectare of fertile land, it seemed quite good.

But Niu Erzhu's family's fields were definitely going to be confiscated. Buying land from the government was not the same price as buying land from ordinary commoners.

"The family now only has a little over one hundred and thirty taels of silver left. We still have to keep some for emergencies. I'm afraid we can't afford it."

Hu Yufen spoke regretfully.

Jiang Huanyu, however, did not think so. "If we can't afford it, we'll rent it first. The prefectural office definitely does not have the manpower to manage this little bit of land."

"Great Yu's laws have regulations. Tenants have the right of first purchase. After we rent it for two years and our hands become more comfortable, we can buy all this 1 hectare of land in one go."

Hu Yufen nodded. "Then after you eat, go ask the village headman about it?"

"Done!"

After eating, Jiang Huanyu hurried to the village headman's house.

Hu Yufen, meanwhile, busied herself preparing winter clothes for the few members of the family. The weather had already entered autumn, and the two children's winter clothes from last year were clearly much too small. They had to be sewn again.

In order to save money, she did not throw away those winter clothes. She planned to directly alter the original clothes and make do with wearing them first.

Jiang Huanyu also obtained definite news from the village headman.

The matter of Niu Erzhu's family had basically already been determined. Because of suspected smuggling, the male members of the family would be exiled to the Northern Sea, while the female dependents would all be demoted to penal laborers.

Penal labor was a kind of punishment Great Yu imposed on criminals. Male convicts were assigned to build city walls and do other filthy and tiring labor, while female convicts were assigned to pound rice for the government day and night. Together, they were called penal laborers.

As for the matter of renting the land, the village headman also agreed to ask about it for him later. If there were no problems, then in the spring of next year, the land could be rented to him.

 

[XiaoBudian]

Chapter 10: The Effect of the Blood Toad's Shed Skin

It was already late autumn, and the weather gradually grew colder.

This day, Jiang Huanyu drove the ox cart as usual to Cloudwater Town's martial arts school to pick up his eldest son and bring him home.

On the road, Jiang Wenfeng, whose body had clearly grown much sturdier, sat on the ox cart and said hesitantly, "Father, Elder Uncle said I need to add some extra food…"

The whip rope in Jiang Huanyu's hand stiffened slightly. He turned his head to look at him and said, "Have you not been eating enough recently?"

Huang Qingzhou's martial arts school provided free white rice every day, but if one wanted vegetables and meat, the disciples had to pay for it themselves.

Jiang Wenfeng's living expenses for ten days were five hundred copper coins. Calculated like this, he had fifty copper coins each day to eat side dishes.

Fifty copper coins could ensure that each meal had one meat dish and two vegetable dishes, but the portions would not be too large.

"Elder Uncle said that if I want to become an Acquired Realm martial artist, I need to supplement a large amount of qi and blood now and eat more meat."

There was a trace of guilt in his words.

The family's living conditions were decent, but in this era, eating meat was absolutely an extremely luxurious matter.

In ordinary times, the rice was produced from their own fields, and five hundred copper coins was almost the monthly expense of a family of four.

Now, he alone needed to spend five hundred copper coins in ten days. Not only that, every month there was also ten taels of silver for medicinal meals.

Although the little fellow was not old, he was very sensible. He knew this money had all been saved by his parents through hard work and was not easy to come by.

"Mm. After we go back, tell your mother. From now on, we'll give you one tael of silver every ten days."

Jiang Huanyu spoke in a deep voice, and the pressure in his heart somehow grew heavier again.

Three taels of silver a month for food expenses, ten taels of silver for medicinal meals.

Calculated like this, one year would cost more than one hundred and fifty taels of silver. Adding the twenty taels of initiation gift, Jiang Wenfeng's martial arts study for one year was one hundred and seventy taels of silver.

After calculating it carefully, he could not help giving a bitter smile.

The literary path was poor, while the martial path was rich. It was truly terrifying to this extent.

He had to think of a way as soon as possible. Otherwise, the family's small savings would not even last until next year.

Furthermore, according to the time, his wife should give birth in another eight months. At that time, when the third child was born, there would be another expense…

The ox cart slowly drove toward Golden Willow Village.

When the father and son returned home, Hu Yufen was busy chopping grain stalks.

The family's old ox and seven little piglets all had to be taken care of.

Seeing this, Jiang Wenfeng hurriedly jumped down from the ox cart.

"Mother, I'll do it!"

"You rest for a while."

The little fellow grabbed the chopping knife and busied himself chopping grass. Hu Yufen stood up and smiled with relief. "Be careful. Don't hurt your hand."

"Stone said he needs extra food. He has to eat more meat…"

Jiang Huanyu came before his wife and spoke softly.

"I'm preparing to give him one tael of silver every ten days so he can eat better."

"The weather is getting colder and colder. The price of firewood is about to rise too. Starting tomorrow, I'll enter the mountain to chop firewood."

Hearing this, Hu Yufen's expression changed slightly, and she looked at him with some heartache.

In the past few years, when the family did not have this much pressure, they would hire some short-term workers in winter to cut the firewood from their roughly 1 hectare of mountain forest all at once.

They would use some of the firewood to pay the short-term workers' wages, store some for themselves, and sell the rest.

Now, he did not plan to hire short-term workers anymore. He would go up the mountain himself to cut firewood. Although this would be more tiring, it could save quite a bit of money.

Hu Yufen knew she could not help much with these matters. After hesitating for a while, she said, "The day before yesterday, Sister-in-law Zhao came to visit and said she was helping a cloth workshop in town with embroidery work."

"One two-chi embroidered piece pays ten copper coins. After winter comes, there won't be much major work at home. How about I also take some to embroider?"

In her early years, she had been a young lady from a wealthy family and had some knowledge of women's work and embroidery. This time, she was thinking of relying on her skill to ease Jiang Huanyu's pressure a little.

Jiang Huanyu did not speak.

His wife was pregnant. Although he did not want her to work hard, having one more source of income for the family was ultimately good.

In the evening, after they brought Jiang Wenyan back from Lu Zhiyuan's house, the two brothers, who had not seen each other for ten days, were rarely close.

In the open space of the courtyard, the eldest, Jiang Wenfeng, showed his younger brother the stance training he had learned.

Anu tried to learn for a while, but after becoming covered in sweat from exhaustion, he gave up.

Instead, Jiang Huanyu watched from the side and found it very novel. He tried following his son and learning for a while.

"Father, Elder Uncle said stance training can strengthen the body. When you have nothing to do, you can practice it."

Jiang Huanyu, panting, ended the exercise and shook his head slightly. "Forget it for Father."

"This stance training was taught to you by the martial arts school's teachers. Without the permission of the teacher and your elder uncle, you must not display it in front of Father and your younger brother in the future."

In the novels and films of his previous life, sect cultivation methods all belonged to secrets. Spreading them privately would be punished.

Jiang Huanyu felt that he was already twenty-five or twenty-six now, long past the age for practicing martial arts.

For the rest of his life, working hard and raising his two children into talents would already be very good. He could not implicate him.

"It's fine. Elder Uncle said this stance training was originally a basic method practiced by soldiers in the army. Our family should also have had it in the early years, but it just wasn't passed down."

Hearing this, Jiang Huanyu frowned and recalled for a moment.

When he was a child, his grandfather had once said that his great-grandfather seemed to have passed down some army fighting techniques. But because he lost a leg when he retired from the army, he had no way to teach Jiang Huanyu's grandfather and father.

"Stone, come here."

Calling Jiang Wenfeng before him, Jiang Huanyu said, "Father will test you. After learning from Elder Uncle for more than a month, what is a martial artist?"

The little fellow did not hesitate at all and directly answered, "Elder Uncle said that the foundation of a martial artist is qi and blood. Only by successfully sensing one's own qi and blood and being able to use it simply can one be considered a true martial artist, also called an Acquired Realm martial artist."

"Powerful martial artists can carry a plowing ox with their strength and kill a person with one punch!"

Jiang Wenfeng raised his little fist, appearing somewhat excited.

At this moment, Hu Yufen came out of the kitchen house carrying a large bowl of stewed meat. Hearing his words, she immediately scolded, "Stone, your father and mother let you learn martial arts not so you can act fierce and fight others."

Jiang Huanyu also echoed from the side, "Your mother is right."

"In the future, even if you become a martial artist, you must not rely on your power to bully others. You must have a bottom line in your heart."

"You must understand that learning martial arts is for protecting your family, for earning noble rank and achievements, and for protecting home and country."

Jiang Wenfeng nodded seriously. "Father, Mother, don't worry."

Seeing that he had listened to her words, Hu Yufen smiled with relief. "Hurry and wash your hands. Let's eat."

It was rare for the family of four to gather together, and they happily ate dinner.

Night fell. Hu Yufen was busy in the kitchen house stewing medicinal meal for Jiang Wenfeng, while Jiang Huanyu came into the room and took out that hundred-year-old Blood Toad's shed skin from a wooden box.

Looking at the Blood Toad's shed skin, he hesitated for a moment. In the end, he still found a small knife and carefully cut off a piece the size of a thumb.

After putting away the remaining Blood Toad's shed skin, Jiang Huanyu went to the kitchen house, lifted the lid of the medicinal meal that was being stewed, and placed that piece of Blood Toad's shed skin inside.

The village physician, Sun Fuchun, had once said that Blood Toad shed skin had no side effects. Taking it directly would have the effect of strengthening the foundation and nourishing the origin.

Now, ordinary rice clearly could no longer satisfy Stone's needs for practicing martial arts, so he thought of adding this Blood Toad's shed skin into the medicinal meal.

If the effect was good, then in the future, this entire piece of Blood Toad's shed skin would slowly be eaten by him. That could be considered making the best use of it.

After the medicinal meal finished stewing, Jiang Wenfeng began eating it.

"Eh?"

"Mother, this medicinal meal seems a little wrong this time…"

After only eating the first mouthful, the little fellow sensed that something was wrong.

Hu Yufen did not pay it much mind either.

"It was stewed the same as usual. What is different?"

Jiang Wenfeng also could not say. He only wolfed down all the medicinal meal.

Before long, he sensed a wave of heat surging up within his body, as if he had endless strength. His little face flushed red as he ran into the courtyard and began standing in stances and practicing punches.

Inside the room, Hu Yufen heard the movement. After standing by the window and watching for a while, she said with relief,

"Our Stone has become much more sensible. Even this late at night, he is still practicing hard…"

Jiang Huanyu's expression was strange, and he did not reply.

In his heart, he secretly thought that he probably put too much Blood Toad shed skin in.

Next time, he would put less…

 

[XiaoBudian]

Chapter 11: Favor

Jiang Huanyu did not know until what time he practiced punches and stance training in the courtyard.

He only noticed that after the new divination refreshed, the little fellow's heavy breathing could still be heard from the courtyard.

Early the next morning, when he got up, he discovered that Jiang Wenfeng was already standing in a stance in the courtyard.

"You didn't sleep all night?"

Jiang Huanyu came before him, feeling somewhat guilty.

Although Sun Fuchun had said that Blood Toad shed skin had no side effects, everything had its limit. Excessive use of greatly nourishing things was itself a side effect.

"I slept for a while."

Jiang Wenfeng held both hands in position, his legs bent and squatting, standing in a horse stance.

"Father, the effect of this medicinal meal was surprisingly good. Your son does not want to waste it."

After saying this, he no longer paid attention to Jiang Huanyu. He slowly closed his eyes, feeling the power of the medicinal meal slowly flowing through his body.

Seeing this, Jiang Huanyu secretly thought in his heart.

How could it not be good?

That was a hundred-year-old Blood Toad's shed skin, a good thing that even the children of great families in the commandery would flock to.

Only, the next time he used it, he still had to use a little less.

He did not pay attention to the eldest. After simply eating a little, he sent Anu to Teacher Lu's house. Taking the chance, he also discussed the matter of selecting and raising saplings with Uncle Ya.

Although Uncle Ya could not speak, he could read and write. The two sat on the field ridge in the courtyard, using wood as a brush and communicating on the ground.

After a round of conversation, he discovered that Uncle Ya had an extremely deep understanding of agriculture!

Jiang Huanyu could not help bringing up some relatively advanced agricultural techniques from the memories of his previous life. Although Uncle Ya had never heard of them, he was still able to give timely guidance, combine them with the actual situation, and provide correction suggestions.

The two chatted like this until noon. Even when Lu Zhiyuan came over, they still had not finished.

[Mr. Jiang, let us stop here for today. This old servant should go make food for Teacher.]

Discovering that the morning lesson had already ended, Uncle Ya hurriedly wrote a line of words on the ground. Somewhat apologetically, he cupped his hands toward Lu Zhiyuan, then hurriedly ran to the kitchen house to prepare the meal.

Jiang Huanyu also stood up, preparing to take his leave.

"Little Brother Jiang understands agriculture?" Lu Zhiyuan asked curiously.

Jiang Huanyu smiled embarrassedly. "I would not dare say I understand it. It is all just some daily experience."

In his previous life, he had been born in the countryside. Although after growing up, he had not worked in an industry related to agriculture, as a child, he had been influenced by his elders and had also understood some farming techniques.

"Little Brother Jiang need not belittle yourself. Uncle Ya is a great agricultural master. If it were merely some daily experience, it would absolutely not make him forget to eat and sleep."

Uncle Ya was a great agricultural master?

After hearing this, Jiang Huanyu looked in surprise toward the busy figure inside the kitchen house.

He had originally thought that Uncle Ya was merely an ordinary servant who followed beside Lu Zhiyuan and, through his influence, learned some reading and writing ability.

Lu Zhiyuan seemed to see his thoughts and smiled faintly. "This old man and Uncle Ya are not truly in a master-servant relationship. We can be considered close friends."

"Little Brother Jiang, if you have questions related to agriculture in the future, you may come find Uncle Ya for guidance at any time."

Jiang Huanyu nodded slightly. In his heart, he roughly understood that Lu Zhiyuan wanted to find a kindred spirit for his close friend.

"Teacher, this boy will take his leave first."

After eating at noon, he still had to send the eldest, Jiang Wenfeng, to the martial arts school. He had originally only planned to come ask a few questions, but in the end, he had been delayed here for an entire morning.

When Jiang Huanyu returned home, he unexpectedly discovered that the village headman, Yang Changlin, had already been waiting at his home for a long time.

"Why were you gone for so long? Uncle Yang has been waiting for you for half an hour," Hu Yufen came up and reproached him.

"Hehe… no harm, no harm. In any case, this old man had nothing to do," Yang Changlin said with a smile.

Jiang Huanyu apologized and hurriedly came forward to sit down.

"A-Huanyu, this old man came here to talk to you about the matter of Niu Erzhu's family's fields."

Hearing this, Jiang Huanyu immediately said, "Is there news from the county?"

Yang Changlin shook his head slightly. "The county's judgment will probably have to wait until after the Year Sacrifice."

"Now there has been a change regarding the farmland. Scholar Li's family in the village has also taken a liking to Niu Erzhu's 1 hectare of land, and they plan to buy it directly."

"You should be clear that the lords in the county do not want trouble. If this farmland can be sold directly, they definitely will not want to rent it out."

Jiang Huanyu understood what he meant.

This Scholar Li was also a wealthy household in Golden Willow Village. The old man had passed the imperial examination in his early years and became a scholar, but now he was already over sixty and still had not managed to become a recommended man.

Before the Mountain Patrol Commandant Camps were established, his three sons had all been mountain smugglers, relying on smuggling to earn quite a lot of family property.

After the Mountain Patrol Commandant Camps were established, the Li family's three sons were also clever. They did not continue doing smuggling business. Instead, they guarded that family property and bought land on a large scale, becoming landlords.

Now that he had set his eyes on Niu Erzhu's family's fields, if it came to comparing family wealth, Jiang Huanyu definitely had no chance.

Jiang Huanyu smiled bitterly. "This boy knows himself. I am not as wealthy and imposing as Scholar Li's family."

"If he has taken a liking to it, then let him buy it."

For 1 hectare of farmland, if bought directly, the government would charge at least three hundred taels of silver. That was double the price of buying directly from ordinary commoners.

Now the family was too strained. He simply could not take out that money.

"This matter is not without room to turn around," Yang Changlin said in a deep voice. "This old man heard that your family's Anu has now become Teacher Lu's student."

"Teacher Lu has extremely high prestige throughout the entire Cloudcenter Commandery…"

"No, no."

Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Huanyu directly refused.

Anu had taken Lu Zhiyuan as his teacher, but they could not trouble him for everything.

Lu Zhiyuan had come to Golden Willow Village for peace and quiet. It would not be good to ask him for help with every trivial matter.

"Hehe… this old man was merely saying it casually. Since you do not wish to trouble him, then this matter can only be dropped."

"All right, that is the matter. This old man will return."

Inside the kitchen house, Hu Yufen came out and called, "Uncle Yang, the food will be ready soon. Stay and eat before leaving?"

Yang Changlin waved his hand and directly left the small courtyard.

Watching his back disappear, Hu Yufen hesitated again and again before coming forward.

"Uncle Yang's words are not wrong either. For Teacher Lu, this matter may only be a matter of saying a word. We…"

Jiang Huanyu shook his head slightly.

The matter of planting fruit trees already counted as troubling them. For the sake of buying land, if he went to ask for help again, the teacher-student relationship between Anu and Lu Zhiyuan would become less pure.

Seeing him refuse, Hu Yufen did not say more.

Although she had her own thoughts, she still listened to Jiang Huanyu on the major matters of the family.

"Stone, rest for a while. Get ready to wash your hands and eat."

Jiang Huanyu called out. Stone, who was practicing at the side, stopped with a strange expression and ran to wash his hands.

After the meal, Hu Yufen busied herself arranging his washed clothes.

"Father, I want to go say goodbye to my younger brother."

Jiang Wenfeng came before the cowshed and looked at Jiang Huanyu, who was feeding the ox.

Say goodbye?

Jiang Huanyu did not take it seriously and directly said, "Go. Go quickly and come back quickly. Don't delay the time to return to the martial arts school."

Jiang Wenfeng answered and ran out of the house.

At evening, when Jiang Huanyu returned from town and went to pick up Anu, Lu Zhiyuan stopped him.

"This old man has already written a letter to Deputy County Magistrate Su and bought the Niu family's farmland."

"After spring begins next year, those fields will be rented to you to farm. The rent will be one dan of polished rice per mu. Is that acceptable?"

Hearing this, Jiang Huanyu was slightly stunned. Then he immediately reacted. It must have been that stinky brat Stone who had run over at noon and told Lu Zhiyuan about this matter.

And Lu Zhiyuan also knew that Jiang Huanyu was unwilling to owe this favor, so he had thought of this method.

A yearly rent of one dan of polished rice per mu was considered very cheap.

"Many thanks, Teacher."

He did not want to owe this favor, but with this additional 1 hectare of fertile land, the pressure on his shoulders could indeed be relieved quite a bit.

As for the matter of the favor, he could only think of a way to repay it in the future.

 

[XiaoBudian]

Chapter 12: Barbarian Invasion

Time passed swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, it was almost the Year Sacrifice.

After a heavy snowfall, Jiang Huanyu traveled back and forth every day between the mountain forest and Golden Willow Village. Relying on hard work, he finally cleared all the trees from about half a hectare of his family's mountain forest.

He also spent a great deal of effort digging out, one by one, the tree stumps buried among the rocks, finally clearing out a piece of mountain land suitable for planting fruit trees.

He only needed to wait until spring began, then haul up the fermented manure fertilizer, and the fruit trees could be planted.

"After this heavy snow, the price of firewood will definitely rise again."

"Tomorrow, I have to go up the mountain again to chop some more and pull it to town to sell."

At night, the cold wind howled outside the house. Jiang Huanyu held Hu Yufen and stroked her slightly bulging lower abdomen as he spoke.

Hu Yufen worriedly held her husband's hand and said, "The snow has piled up, and the road is slippery. Going up the mountain is very dangerous. Why not wait a little longer?"

The heavy snow had fallen for two days, and the snow on the road was already very thick.

"Over this past month, our firewood has already sold for twenty taels of silver. It is enough for now."

After hearing this, Jiang Huanyu smiled bitterly.

Selling firewood for twenty taels of silver looked like a lot, but in truth, it was because they were draining the pond to catch the fish.

In the past, when cutting firewood, they only trimmed dead branches from the trees, along with some thorns and shrubs.

This time was different. He had cut down all the trees in that half hectare of mountain forest.

The firewood produced by the remaining half hectare of mountain forest was only enough to cover the family's daily cooking and heating.

After fruit trees were planted in spring, there would be no harvest in the first year.

He had to think of a way to get more money.

He did not continue discussing this matter. He tucked Hu Yufen's somewhat cold feet beneath his legs, gently kissed her cheek, and said, "Go to sleep."

Late at night, at midnight.

Jiang Huanyu, who woke up in a daze, habitually glanced at the divination in his sea of consciousness.

Ding!

[System Notification: Divination has refreshed!]

[Today's Divination · Great Misfortune]: It is the depths of winter, and the Western Wilderness barbarians are short of food. A hundred-man barbarian squad crosses Hidden Dragon Mountain and sneaks into Great Yu territory. You go up the mountain to chop firewood and unexpectedly encounter the barbarian squad. You discover that they plan to plunder Cloudwater Town. To prevent the news from leaking ahead of time, you are brutally killed!

The blood-red large characters flashed in his sea of consciousness, and Jiang Huanyu instantly lost all sleepiness.

The Western Wilderness barbarians had invaded!?

And they even planned to plunder Cloudwater Town!

Golden Willow Village was only about 10 kilometers away from Cloudwater Town. The barbarians were famous for being fierce and brutal.

Their target was Cloudwater Town, so Golden Willow Village had a very high chance of being affected.

As soon as he thought of the scene after those vicious barbarians charged into Golden Willow Village, Jiang Huanyu felt a chill run through him.

No!

This matter had to be reported to the Mountain Patrol Commandant Camp as quickly as possible!

If they waited until these barbarian warriors killed their way in before the Mountain Patrol Commandant Camp mobilized men to intercept and kill them, everything would probably already be too late!

Carrying an anxious mood, Jiang Huanyu finally endured until daybreak.

When Hu Yufen was preparing to get up and make breakfast, she discovered that he had already put on thick cotton clothes.

"Husband, you're up so early?"

Jiang Huanyu found an animal-skin felt hat and put it on his head. "I'm going to town. Don't wait for me to eat."

After saying this, he pulled open the door and walked out into the wind and snow.

At Cloudwater Town's martial arts school, when Jiang Huanyu arrived, it had just passed the Rabbit hour.

"Brother Jiang, Stone still has two days before his holiday. Why did you rush here so early in the morning?" Huang Qingzhou asked with some surprise.

Jiang Huanyu cupped his hands. "Elder Brother, this younger brother came because there is an important matter for which I need to find Big Brother Yunxiao."

Huang Qingzhou's elder brother, Huang Yunxiao, was currently one of the Mountain Patrol Commandants of the Mountain Patrol Commandant Camp. At the same time, he was also a martial artist at the peak of the Acquired Realm.

"Looking for Big Brother?" Huang Qingzhou's expression became somewhat solemn. "Did you discover those barbarian beasts in the mountains?"

Jiang Huanyu hesitated slightly, then nodded faintly.

He had not truly seen the barbarian squad, but since the divination showed that if he entered the mountain today to chop firewood, he would encounter the barbarian squad and be killed, it proved that this barbarian squad had already hidden near his family's mountain forest land.

The system definitely would not be wrong.

"Virtuous Brother, did you see how many people they had!?" Huang Qingzhou asked somewhat excitedly.

Jiang Huanyu glanced at the divination in his sea of consciousness. Noticing that the divination displayed "a hundred-man squad," he finally organized his thoughts and said, "Many. I'm afraid no fewer than a hundred people!"

"A hundred people!?" Hearing this, Huang Qingzhou shot to his feet and paced around the hall.

A moment later—

"Virtuous Brother, come with me!"

The two braved the wind and snow to arrive at the entrance of the martial arts school. They got onto a horse carriage and rushed toward the outside of town.

The Mountain Patrol Commandant Camp had an office about several kilometers outside Cloudwater Town. During ordinary rest periods, the soldiers in the camp lived in this office.

This office near Cloudwater Town had a total of two Mountain Patrol Commandants, including Huang Yunxiao, plus one hundred and fifty soldiers. They were responsible for patrols within about 100 kilometers around Cloudwater Town.

When the carriage arrived at the entrance of the office, two soldiers wearing armor and long blades at their waists were about to reach out and stop it. Suddenly, they saw that the person getting off the carriage was Huang Qingzhou, and they immediately smiled and cupped their hands.

"So it is Master Huang. Have you come to find the Commandant?"

Huang Qingzhou nodded. "Is my elder brother inside the office?"

The soldier cupped his hands. "The heavy snow has sealed the mountains, and there are no patrol missions. Both Commandants are here."

"Let's go in."

As Huang Qingzhou spoke, he brought Jiang Huanyu inside.

In the office barracks.

Huang Yunxiao, who was nearly fifty, wore a dark red casual robe with a black fox fur coat over it. His expression was solemn as he looked at Jiang Huanyu.

"Virtuous Brother saw it with your own eyes?"

Jiang Huanyu thought for a moment, then made up a reason. "I did not see it with my own eyes. It was just that when I entered the mountain to chop firewood, I discovered a large number of footprints. I judged it from the footprints."

Those who depended on the mountains ate from the mountains. Golden Willow Village was close to a branch range of Hidden Dragon Mountain, and the farmers in the village more or less had certain hunting skills.

Judging the number of people and beasts from footprints was a basic skill.

Although Huang Yunxiao had some doubts in his heart, he also knew that Jiang Huanyu would not joke about this kind of matter.

More importantly, the Mountain Patrol Commandant Camp did not arrange patrol missions when heavy snow sealed the mountains. For the barbarians, this was indeed an opportunity.

"Big Brother, the information A-Huanyu brought should not be wrong."

"A hundred-man barbarian squad is absolutely not an ordinary scout squad. I'm afraid they intend to attack Cloudwater Town and the surrounding villages."

Huang Yunxiao nodded slightly.

"You go back first. I will immediately invite Commandant Zhang to come discuss it."

"If there is need, bring the teachers from the martial arts school over to help."

Huang Qingzhou cupped his hands, then brought Jiang Huanyu away.

Not long after the two left, all the soldiers of the Mountain Patrol Commandant Camp gathered completely amid the sound of an urgent horn.

Two Commandants whose strength had reached the peak of the Acquired Realm, along with one hundred and fifty elite soldiers, braved the wind and snow and marched grandly toward the distant mountain range.

Jiang Huanyu followed Huang Qingzhou back to the martial arts school and did not hurry to leave.

By the Late Afternoon hour.

A soldier from the Mountain Patrol Commandant Camp, covered in blood, rode a warhorse to the martial arts school.

"Master Huang!"

"The Commandant asks you to bring the teachers from the martial arts school to help!"

Hearing this, Huang Qingzhou immediately shouted loudly, calling the more than ten martial arts instructors of the school to bring their weapons and follow that soldier into the distance.

Great Yu's laws had regulations: when civilian martial artists or ordinary commoners killed enemies, although they could not obtain military merit, one enemy head could be exchanged for fifty taels of silver.

Therefore, the martial arts school's teachers were still very willing to take action in this matter.

The Mountain Patrol Commandants had already encountered that barbarian squad, which was enough to prove that his information was not false. Jiang Huanyu also did not continue staying at the martial arts school. Taking advantage of the fact that the sky was still bright, he hurried back to Golden Willow Village.

 

[XiaoBudian]

Chapter 13: Unexpected Wealth

When Jiang Huanyu returned home, he discovered that his wife was anxiously pacing back and forth in the hall.

Hearing movement, Hu Yufen hurriedly walked out from inside the house. Stepping on the accumulated snow, she stumbled forward to greet him.

"Husband, what happened?"

In her impression, her man was someone with a steady personality. The way he had left in a hurry this morning made her realize that something major must have happened.

"It's nothing."

Jiang Huanyu quickly walked over and supported her. "It's cold outside. Go back inside first."

"Some days ago, I asked Master Huang for help and found a household in town that plants fruit trees. I ordered a batch of fruit saplings from them and agreed to go take a look today."

"I've been busy these days and actually forgot about it."

After randomly making up a reason to comfort his wife, Jiang Huanyu glanced at the accumulated snow in the courtyard and changed the topic.

"The snow has stopped. We need to quickly clear this snow away."

After saying that, he found an iron shovel and went into the courtyard, busily shoveling snow.

Hu Yufen sat in the hall, looking at his busy figure, her expression somewhat worried.

The two of them had supported each other for nearly ten years. She was very clear about what kind of personality Jiang Huanyu had.

What he had just said was merely to comfort her and keep her from worrying.

Time passed in a flash, and in the blink of an eye, it was time for the eldest, Jiang Wenfeng, to have his holiday.

That day, Jiang Huanyu tidied up the ox cart and prepared to go to town to bring his eldest son back.

When he arrived at Cloudwater Town's martial arts school, he unexpectedly discovered a tall military warhorse tied in the stable at the entrance of the school.

Jiang Huanyu walked into the martial arts school and happened to meet Huang Qingzhou, who was walking out.

"Calculating the time, Virtuous Brother should be arriving around now."

"Elder Brother…"

When Jiang Huanyu cupped his hands in greeting, Huang Qingzhou directly pulled him to a side room.

"Virtuous Brother, quickly come in…"

Following Huang Qingzhou into the room, a wave of warmth rushed toward him. Jiang Huanyu suddenly noticed that there was another figure sitting inside the side room, currently tasting tea.

"Big Brother Yunxiao?"

That person was precisely Huang Yunxiao.

At this moment, Huang Yunxiao had bandages wrapped around his shoulder, and there was also a scabbed scar on his face. Seeing Jiang Huanyu, he hurriedly stood up and greeted him with a smile.

"Virtuous Brother, quickly sit."

Jiang Huanyu sat on a nearby stool in surprise and said, "Big Brother Yunxiao, you were injured?"

Huang Yunxiao glanced at his left arm, smiled, and waved his hand. "A small injury. One of those damned barbarians fired a cold arrow from behind and shot through my shoulder."

"Virtuous Brother, this time, it was all thanks to you discovering the traces of those beasts in advance."

After Huang Qingzhou poured Jiang Huanyu a cup of tea, Huang Yunxiao continued, "To be honest, this time, we successfully intercepted and killed that barbarian squad. This foolish elder brother and Commandant Zhang can be considered to have made a great contribution."

"Qingzhou."

Hearing this, Huang Qingzhou at the side hurriedly brought over a tray covered with red silk and placed it before Jiang Huanyu.

"This is…"

Jiang Huanyu glanced at the tray, somewhat puzzled.

Huang Yunxiao smiled faintly. "Virtuous Brother, open it and take a look."

The red silk was lifted, and inside the tray were thirty bright silver ingots neatly arranged. Each ingot was stamped with the words "Officially Minted Ten Taels."

"What does Big Brother Yunxiao mean by this?" Jiang Huanyu looked at Huang Yunxiao in some surprise.

Although in his heart he guessed that these three hundred taels of silver were most likely meant to be given to him as thanks, he did not directly accept them.

"Great Yu's laws have a regulation: those who report enemy thieves shall be heavily rewarded."

"Virtuous Brother exposed the secret invasion of a hundred-man barbarian squad this time. It can be considered indirectly saving all the commoners of Cloudwater Town. According to the regulations, you should be rewarded with one hundred taels of silver."

"And because Virtuous Brother informed us in advance, Commandant Zhang and I were able to make a great contribution. With this merit, being promoted in office and granted a noble rank should not be difficult."

"The remaining two hundred taels were pooled together by the two of us, merely to express our gratitude."

"Just accept it."

Hearing this, Jiang Huanyu was somewhat surprised inside.

He truly had not known that reporting a barbarian invasion would have a reward. The reason he had hurried to tell Huang Yunxiao was only that he did not want Golden Willow Village to be affected after this barbarian squad invaded.

After all, everything he had was in Golden Willow Village. If anything happened, this life would be ruined.

The Mountain Patrol Commandant Camp had mobilized all its troops and had also invited the teachers of the martial arts school to help. From the look of it, they had swallowed that barbarian squad.

Without any large-scale war occurring, being able to kill a hundred enemies was indeed a great contribution for the Mountain Patrol Commandant Camp.

Jiang Huanyu glanced at those bright silver ingots, then turned and cupped his hands toward Huang Yunxiao.

"May I ask Big Brother Yunxiao, in this extermination of the barbarian invaders, were the casualties of the Mountain Patrol Commandant Camp severe?"

When this matter was mentioned, Huang Yunxiao's expression grew somewhat dim.

"The barbarians are fierce. They are naturally stronger than the soldiers of our Great Yu."

"Although the soldiers of the Mountain Patrol Commandant Camp are all elites, compared with those true barbarian battle soldiers, there is still some gap."

"In this operation, the commandant camp lost more than fifty brothers."

After hearing this, Jiang Huanyu sighed inwardly.

"To be honest, Big Brother Yunxiao, this younger brother's family is indeed strained right now, but this silver…"

"This younger brother only needs the one hundred taels rewarded by the government. As for the remaining two hundred taels, please take them back, Big Brother Yunxiao."

Huang Yunxiao quietly took a sip of tea, looked at him, and smiled faintly. "Hehe… Virtuous Brother thinks it is too little?"

Jiang Huanyu quickly cupped his hands. "Absolutely not. This younger brother only ran an errand. This merit was earned by Elder Brother and Commandant Zhang with your lives."

"The Mountain Patrol Commandant Camp protects us commoners, and for this, more than fifty soldiers were lost."

"If Elder Brother is unwilling to take it back, then please give these two hundred taels of silver to the families of the soldiers who died in battle."

Huang Yunxiao gently scraped the tea foam and suddenly smiled.

"Haha…"

"Virtuous Brother is indeed a person of true feeling."

"Since that is so, this foolish elder brother will inform the brothers of your goodwill…"

"Elder Brother, wait."

Jiang Huanyu hurriedly stopped him. "There should not be many people who know that this younger brother was the one who reported the barbarian squad, right?"

Huang Yunxiao nodded slightly.

Up to now, only the two brothers and he knew of this matter.

"Elder Brother, this younger brother has one request." Jiang Huanyu cupped his hands and said, "Please do not tell others that this younger brother was the one who reported the barbarian invasion."

The barbarian squad had been able to accurately know that the Mountain Patrol Commandant Camp did not arrange patrol missions when heavy snow sealed the mountains. This proved that they had informants inside Great Yu.

This time, they had been exposed by him and suffered heavy losses. If they developed a desire for revenge, the consequences would be unimaginable.

After hearing this, Huang Yunxiao pondered slightly and guessed his thoughts.

"Virtuous Brother, rest assured. Aside from the three of us, there will not be a fourth person who knows about this matter."

"Many thanks, Elder Brother."

Jiang Huanyu thanked him, then wanted to go pick up Jiang Wenfeng and return home.

"Virtuous Brother, wait."

Huang Yunxiao stood up and said, "You refuse to accept the money, but this foolish elder brother must repay this favor."

"I heard from Qingzhou that your worthy nephew is learning martial arts at the school. How about this."

"This foolish elder brother will make the decision. In these years that your worthy nephew studies martial arts at the school, his initiation gifts will be waived."

For Jiang Wenfeng to study martial arts, the yearly initiation gift was twenty taels of silver.

In the future, he would still have to stay at the martial arts school for at least several years. If the initiation gifts could be waived, it would also save a large sum of money.

Jiang Huanyu understood that Huang Yunxiao did not want to owe him this favor, so he did not act overly polite.

"In that case, many thanks, Big Brother Yunxiao."

After cupping his hands in thanks, he took one hundred taels of silver and followed a martial arts school disciple out.

After he left, Huang Yunxiao looked at his figure in the courtyard, a faint smile appearing on his face.

"Skilled in worldly dealings, neither servile nor arrogant before rank. He is quite an interesting person."

Hearing this, Huang Qingzhou said, "Big Brother, should we now renew the old friendship with the Jiang family? After all, our two families were once family friends."

Huang Yunxiao shook his head.

"Wait a little longer. Now we have already extended goodwill. If we want to renew the relationship, we can do so at any time."

"Crossing social classes is not so simple. If the Huang family wants to take another step forward now, what we need are friends of equal strength."

Just as he picked up the teacup before him, Huang Yunxiao suddenly asked a question.

"Right, how is Jiang Huanyu's son's talent in martial arts?"

 

[XiaoBudian]

Chapter 14: Teaching His Son

At the mention of Jiang Wenfeng, a trace of a smile appeared on Huang Qingzhou's face.

"That boy's talent is not bad. He has only followed along with stance training for two or three months, yet the qi and blood in his body have already strengthened quite a bit."

"I estimate that if he can persist, he should be able to break through to the Acquired Realm before he reaches adulthood."

As martial artists, they all knew that if someone who practiced martial arts could break through to the Acquired Realm by the age of twenty, then in the future, there would be hope of stepping into the Innate Realm.

And martial artists in the Innate Realm could generally obtain a decent position in the army.

Such a person was what would truly be useful to the Huang family.

"Mm. Then observe him more. As for the friendship with the Jiang family, you may judge it yourself."

"With the merit of killing enemies this time, it should be enough for my noble rank to rise another one or two levels. This is an opportunity. When the time comes, with some maneuvering, perhaps I can be transferred and promoted elsewhere."

…

On the streets of Cloudwater Town, Jiang Huanyu was bringing his son Jiang Wenfeng to buy some New Year goods.

Their days were somewhat tight now, but a year was still a year, and the things that needed to be prepared still had to be prepared.

"Yo! I was wondering who it was. Isn't this Junior Brother Stone?"

As the father and son were walking, a teasing voice suddenly came from behind.

Hearing this voice, Jiang Wenfeng's expression changed slightly. He hurriedly tugged at his father's sleeve, wanting to walk forward.

Jiang Huanyu turned back and saw a boy of about twelve or thirteen, dressed in a luxurious sable fur coat, with two gray-clothed servants following behind him.

"Stone, do you know each other?"

Jiang Wenfeng helplessly stopped and said with a hint of fear, "A senior brother from the martial arts school. His name is Su Chang. A very annoying fellow."

As they spoke, the young boy Su Chang had already arrived before the father and son.

Logically speaking, since the two were both disciples of the martial arts school, upon seeing his junior brother's father, he should at least offer a polite greeting.

But this Su Chang directly ignored Jiang Huanyu's existence. His face was full of ridicule as he looked at Jiang Wenfeng and said,

"What are you hiding for?"

"You see your senior brother and don't even know to come forward and salute?"

"As expected of a country bumpkin from the village."

Jiang Wenfeng's little face flushed red with anger, but he did not know how to refute him.

Jiang Huanyu, who was at the side, did not speak to help. He only quietly watched his son's performance.

"Junior Brother, a person must know his own place. In the future, stay farther away from Junior Sister Lingxiu. Otherwise, Senior Brother will have to properly teach you a lesson on behalf of the masters."

After saying this, he proudly led the two servants and walked into the distance.

Jiang Wenfeng looked at his back, his face full of indignation, and slowly clenched his fists.

Jiang Huanyu did not speak throughout the entire process.

His son had been bullied, and as a father, he should have stepped forward to help. But this Su Chang was only twelve or thirteen, still a child. As an adult, bullying the young with age would somewhat lower his own status.

More importantly, he wanted to cultivate Jiang Wenfeng's ability to handle matters independently.

Clearly, his son's current performance was somewhat disappointing.

His palm gently rested on Jiang Wenfeng's shoulder, and Jiang Huanyu asked in a deep voice, "Tell Father what happened."

Jiang Wenfeng lowered his head and stammered, "Senior Brother Su Chang's eldest uncle is the Deputy County Magistrate of Willow County. Senior Sister Lingxiu is Elder Uncle Huang's daughter."

"They had a verbal marriage agreement since childhood. They said they would consider the engagement after Senior Sister Lingxiu reaches adulthood."

"But Senior Sister Huang really dislikes him. In the martial arts school, she treats all the other senior and junior brothers well, but she alone never gives Senior Brother Su Chang a good expression."

"The other senior and junior brothers are all afraid of him and don't dare speak much with Senior Sister Huang…"

Hearing this, Jiang Huanyu could not help smiling and shaking his head. A group of little fellows whose hair had not even grown fully actually already knew how to fight over a girl?

And the person they were fighting over was even Huang Qingzhou's daughter.

According to what his son said, Su Chang's eldest uncle was the Deputy County Magistrate of Willow County. The Su family could be considered a prominent family in Willow County.

The two families forming a marriage alliance was a match of equal status.

"How old is Huang Lingxiu this year?"

"Ten… Senior Sister Huang's birthday is the same as mine, both in the first month. She will soon be eleven."

The little fellow answered at once.

Jiang Huanyu smiled again.

Stinky brat, you even remember her birthday so clearly. You've definitely been moved.

Eleven years old…

Now the Year Sacrifice was near. After the Year Sacrifice, his own son would be eight.

The wife being three years older was like holding a golden brick.

It seemed rather good.

"Stone, tell Father honestly. Do you like Lingxiu?"

This question immediately made Jiang Wenfeng's face turn bright red.

In this era, a girl could marry once she reached adulthood. There were even some families where a son would have a child bride from a young age, so children matured relatively early.

Jiang Wenfeng was at an ignorant age. Although he did not really understand the meaning of "like," the feelings in his heart were real.

"Speak boldly," Jiang Huanyu encouraged.

Jiang Wenfeng twisted shyly and stammered in a low voice, "It's just… I just like talking to Senior Sister Lingxiu. Her… her voice is very pleasant."

Jiang Huanyu nodded slightly. "Then does Lingxiu like you?"

This time, Jiang Wenfeng's face grew even redder, and his voice was as thin as a mosquito as he said, "I don't know. But every time stance training ends, Senior Sister… Senior Sister likes to sit next to me and talk with me."

He did not know whether this counted as liking.

"Stinky brat…" Jiang Huanyu smiled and rubbed his head. "Then what do you plan to do about today's matter?"

"Listen to that Su Chang and hide from your Senior Sister Lingxiu next year?"

Jiang Wenfeng quickly shook his head, but then his expression darkened. "Senior Brother Su Chang has stayed at the martial arts school for five years. He is very strong. I… I can't beat him."

"The masters also don't oppose sparring between senior and junior brothers. When the time comes…"

Seeing the fear that appeared on his face, Jiang Huanyu slowly squatted down and said seriously, "Stone, look at me."

Jiang Wenfeng raised his head slightly and looked into his eyes.

"Father will tell you two more things today. You must remember them."

"For things you like, you must work hard to fight for them. Only after you have worked hard yourself will you not regret it in the future."

"A real man can endure, and there is nothing wrong with endurance, but he must not lose his blood and courage. One whose heart holds thunder while his face remains like a calm lake can accomplish great things."

"Do not let fear enter your heart, and do not show anger on your face. If you cannot beat him, then work hard yourself. Do you understand?"

Staring at his father's serious appearance, Jiang Wenfeng secretly engraved every word in his heart.

After a long while, he suddenly muttered, "Father, that was three things…"

Jiang Huanyu was instantly angered into laughter and gave him a slap on the butt.

"All right, we have to hurry back. We still need to pick up your younger brother."

The father and son did not continue strolling around. They placed the things they had bought onto the ox cart and rushed toward Golden Willow Village.

After returning home, Jiang Wenfeng, as usual, rushed to take over the chores of chopping grass, feeding the pigs, and feeding the ox.

After Jiang Huanyu moved down all the things bought from the cart one by one, he carried the remaining silver into the house.

"Husband, this is…"

Looking at the heavy bundle, Hu Yufen was somewhat surprised.

Jiang Huanyu did not speak. He directly untied the bundle, revealing the white silver inside.

"This… Where did so much silver come from!?" Hu Yufen was very surprised.

"Some days ago, when I went into the mountain to chop firewood, I unexpectedly discovered some unfamiliar footprints. I suspected that barbarian scouts might have come over."

"I reported this matter to the Mountain Patrol Commandant Camp. They sent people to investigate, and in the end, they really caught several barbarian scouts."

"This money is the reward from the government."

Jiang Huanyu told the matter in as calm a tone as possible, not wanting Hu Yufen to think too much.

"So Husband went to town early that morning the other day to report this matter to the Mountain Patrol Commandant Camp?"

Jiang Huanyu nodded. "Wife, I lied to you because I did not want you to worry. It's fine now."

Hu Yufen glared at him and reproached, "I am not someone who does not understand reason. In the future, if there is anything, you must not hide it from me again!"

Jiang Huanyu smiled and replied, "Definitely, definitely."

"All right. Put this silver away. I'm going to pick up Anu."

As Jiang Huanyu spoke, he left the house and walked toward Lu Zhiyuan's small courtyard.

"Father, Teacher said that when spring begins next year, I can practice the sword."

As soon as Jiang Huanyu entered the courtyard gate, Jiang Wenyan excitedly ran over.

Practice the sword?

Jiang Huanyu pinched his cheek, then stood up and slightly cupped his hands toward Lu Zhiyuan, who had followed behind him.

After Lu Zhiyuan returned the salute, he said, "A gentleman should cultivate the Six Arts."

"These Six Arts are rites, music, archery, charioteering, writing, and mathematics."

"Besides these, the sword is the weapon of a gentleman, symbolizing uprightness, benevolence, righteousness, loyalty, and courage."

"Anu is this old man's student, so he should become a gentleman under heaven."

With just a few words, Lu Zhiyuan let Jiang Huanyu hear the high hopes he placed on his son. Jiang Huanyu immediately cupped his hands and said, "Everything will be decided by Teacher. Then later, I will go to town and buy him a sword."

A teacher having high requirements for his student was something worth rejoicing over.

With a great scholar like Lu Zhiyuan devoted to cultivating him, he believed Anu would surely become someone great in the future.

"There is no need for that."

"As for the sword, this old man will naturally resolve it."

Lu Zhiyuan waved his hand. Whether because he knew Jiang Huanyu's family was tight on money, or because of his care for this only student at his knees, he directly took over the matter of the sword.

Jiang Huanyu did not argue further.

He knew very clearly that the price of a sword would at least be several dozen taels of silver, and a good one was even something that had a price but no market.

"Many thanks, Teacher."

Lu Zhiyuan stepped forward and came before Jiang Wenyan. Lightly stroking his head, he said, "Starting today, this old man will also give you a few days of leave. Come again after the Year Sacrifice."

"But you must not slack off in your homework. After the Year Sacrifice, this old man will properly test you. If you cannot answer, you naturally know this old man's methods."

Hearing the word "methods," the little fellow's expression changed slightly in fright. He quickly cupped his hands.

"Teacher, rest assured. Anu absolutely will not slack off."

"Mm. Go back with your father."

The little fellow took a step back, stood straight, and respectfully performed a great salute toward him.

"Teacher, Anu is leaving."

…

People often said that after having children, the days would be chased along by the children, passing faster and faster.

In this life, ever since his children were born, Jiang Huanyu had truly and clearly felt it.

The busy and fulfilling life passed very quickly. In the blink of an eye, it was already autumn of the second year, and his wife was about to give birth.

During this half a year or so, with Uncle Ya's help, the half hectare of mountain forest had all been planted with fruit trees.

According to Uncle Ya's reminder, fruit trees needed careful care in the early stage. After thinking it over repeatedly, Jiang Huanyu finally found Xi Fu and made him his family's long-term worker. He built him a simple dwelling in the fruit grove on the mountain and had him take care of the half-hectare orchard.

On this day, it was once again the annual tax-paying day.

Niu Erzhu's 1 hectare of land was essentially purchased by Lu Zhiyuan, and Jiang Huanyu was the tenant, so the taxes should naturally be paid by Lu Zhiyuan.

However, Lu Zhiyuan actually only charged him one dan of polished rice per mu as rent, which was simply not enough to pay taxes.

Jiang Huanyu had originally wanted to discuss it with him, saying that he would pay half the taxes for this 1 hectare of land. But Lu Zhiyuan said he was a great scholar of the Imperial Academy and did not need to pay taxes, telling Jiang Huanyu not to worry about it.

At the entrance of the village headman Yang Changlin's house, Jiang Huanyu was currently lining up and waiting to pay taxes. Wang Ying, Zhao Shuan's wife from the front courtyard, ran over in a panic.

"A-Huanyu!"

"A-Huanyu!"

"Yufen is about to give birth! Hurry back!"

Hearing the shout, Jiang Huanyu hurriedly entrusted the matter of paying taxes to Zhao Shuan beside him. Amid the congratulations of his neighbors on the left and right, he quickly ran toward home.

"Sister-in-law, please trouble yourself to invite Aunt Sun!"

Jiang Huanyu turned back and shouted.

The wife of the village physician, Sun Fuchun, was the midwife responsible for delivering babies. Jiang Huanyu was anxious and could only ask Wang Ying to help invite the midwife over.

As soon as Jiang Huanyu entered the house, he heard Hu Yufen shouting in pain inside the room.

"Wife…"

He came before the bed. Looking at his wife, whose head was covered in sweat from pain, he tightly held her hand.

Hu Yufen barely squeezed out a trace of a smile. "Husband, I… I'm fine."

Jiang Huanyu wiped the sweat from her face with heartache and said softly, "Sister-in-law has already gone to invite the midwife. Wife, endure a little longer."

After a stretch of tormenting waiting, hurried footsteps sounded in the courtyard.

"Yufen, Yufen, Aunt Sun is here!"

Wang Ying, covered in sweat, supported an old woman as they walked in.

Jiang Huanyu hurriedly went up to greet them. "Aunt, please quickly take a look."

Madam Sun came forward, glanced once, and said, "She is indeed about to give birth."

"Don't just stand there. Quickly go boil some hot water!"

"Yingzi, come help."

After pushing Jiang Huanyu out, the two began busily working.

Jiang Huanyu came to the courtyard. Listening to his wife's heart-rending cries, his heart twisted with pain.

"Boil water… right!"

He hurriedly ran into the kitchen house, lit the firewood, and began boiling water.

A moment later, Wang Ying carried a wooden basin in, hurriedly scooped some hot water, and left with it.

Jiang Huanyu wanted to follow in and take a look, but he was blocked outside the door.

"Yufen, use some strength!"

"Yes, the head is out!"

"Quick, push harder!"

Hu Yufen's heart-rending cries mixed with Madam Sun's words came from inside the room. Jiang Huanyu listened until he was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, only able to pace outside the door.

Time passed bit by bit.

Zhao Shuan had already finished paying the taxes and drove the ox cart back.

"A-Huanyu, how is it?"

Coming into the courtyard, Zhao Shuan asked with concern.

"I don't know…"

Jiang Huanyu looked at the room door with a face full of worry.

"It's fine, it's fine…"

"Wah—"

Zhao Shuan was comforting him when suddenly, a loud infant's cry came from inside the room.

"She gave birth!"

"Judging by that voice, it must be a boy!"

Zhao Shuan smiled as he spoke.

At the same time, the room door also opened.

Wang Ying's hands were covered in blood, and she came before Jiang Huanyu somewhat exhausted.

"A-Huanyu, congratulations. Mother and daughter are both safe. It's a girl."

Hearing this, Jiang Huanyu's suspended heart instantly fell back into his stomach, and he grinned.

"Stop grinning foolishly. Go in and take a look."

Wang Ying spoke. Only then did Jiang Huanyu react, and he hurriedly ran into the room.

Zhao Shuan, who was at the side, also stretched his neck at this moment, wanting to look into the room.

"What are you doing?"

Wang Ying glared at him and said, "The older generation all says that aside from their own parents, whoever the child sees first as an outsider, they'll resemble that person when they grow up."

"Don't harm someone else's daughter."

Zhao Shuan chuckled and scratched his head.

"A-Huanyu has the same good fortune as me. Two boys, and now a girl. He has both sons and a daughter complete."

Jiang Huanyu came before the bed. Looking at his wife, who was nearly collapsed from exhaustion, he felt heartache and leaned closer to hold her hand.

"Wife…"

Hu Yufen turned her head and barely smiled. Suddenly, her face changed slightly, and pain appeared on her face.

"Wife, what's wrong!?"

Seeing this, Jiang Huanyu's heart instantly rose to his throat.

"Aunt, Yufen, she… what's wrong with her!?"

Hearing this, Madam Sun at the side hurriedly came forward to check.

After touching Hu Yufen's abdomen, her expression became somewhat strange.

"It seems there is still another one…"

"Quick, call Yingzi in!"

"You go out first!"

Hurriedly pushing Jiang Huanyu out, Madam Sun called out, "Yingzi, quickly come help!"

In the courtyard, when Wang Ying heard the call, she ignored her exhausted body and ran in again.

"Ah, Yufen is carrying twins!?"

Wang Ying's cry of surprise came from inside the room.

Jiang Huanyu, who was in the courtyard, became even more anxious now.

With the current medical conditions, giving birth to one child was already very dangerous. Giving birth to twins was simply something that could take a life.

Listening to Hu Yufen's already hoarse voice inside the room, the worry in his heart went without saying.

 

[XiaoBudian]

Chapter 15: Ninth Grade

Seeing this, Zhao Shuan also did not know how to comfort him.

He could only stand at the side, firmly wrap an arm around Jiang Huanyu's shoulders, and repeatedly say, "It will be fine," and "Don't worry."

"Yufen, push harder!"

"I can see the head!"

"Yufen!?"

"Yufen!"

The two men outside the room waited in torment. Wang Ying's cry of alarm from inside made Jiang Huanyu's heart nearly leap into his throat.

"Aunt, Yufen fainted!"

Hearing this, Jiang Huanyu could no longer care about anything else and immediately rushed into the room.

"Wife!"

"Wife!"

On the bed, Hu Yufen's eyes were tightly closed, her face pale, and her whole body was already soaked with sweat.

No matter how he called to her, there was no response.

"Yufen…"

Jiang Huanyu tightly held her hand, and tears could not help flowing from his eyes.

At the side, Madam Sun and Wang Ying also did not know what to do.

Hu Yufen had fallen into a coma, and the child still had not shown its head. They were also powerless.

Madam Sun's hands were covered in blood, and her voice choked as she said, "The baby is stuck. Before long, it will… it will suffocate…"

After Wang Ying heard this, her face instantly turned pale.

"Aunt, then what should we do now?"

Madam Sun also looked anxious, thinking of a way.

After Jiang Huanyu heard this, his heart twisted even more painfully. He had thought of many possibilities, but he had never imagined this result.

Judging from the current situation, the child would be lost, and his wife's life would most likely be difficult to preserve too.

"Yufen…"

"Wake up…"

He called out with a choked voice, but received no response.

"Yingzi, quickly have A-Shuan invite your Uncle Sun over."

"The situation is urgent right now. If we use some medicine to replenish qi and blood, we may at least be able to save one, whether adult or child."

Medicine to replenish qi and blood?

Madam Sun's words suddenly made Jiang Huanyu, who was trapped in grief, think of something.

He hurriedly released his wife's hand, went to the wooden cabinet at the side, took out a cloth handkerchief, and took out the last remaining bit of the hundred-year-old Blood Toad's shed skin.

"Aunt, this is Blood Toad shed skin. Can it save Yufen and the child?"

Madam Sun looked at the thumb-sized Blood Toad shed skin and frowned.

"The old man once said that Blood Toad shed skin strengthens the foundation, nourishes the origin, generates essence, and replenishes blood. Yufen is like this because she gave birth to two children in succession and exhausted all her strength."

"It can be tried."

As Sun Fuchun's wife, Madam Sun had been influenced by him and also understood many things about medicinal principles.

Hearing her say this, Jiang Huanyu hurriedly came forward, gently pried open Hu Yufen's mouth, and placed the remaining Blood Toad shed skin inside.

As the Blood Toad shed skin slowly melted, a trace of rosiness gradually appeared on Hu Yufen's face.

"It has an effect!"

"Aunt, it has an effect!"

Seeing this, Wang Ying could not help crying out in surprise.

Jiang Huanyu also hurriedly knelt beside the bed and tightly held Hu Yufen's hand.

"Wife?"

"Wake up."

Along with his calls, and the cries of the daughter who had just been born beside them, Hu Yufen's fingers suddenly trembled.

"Hus… husband."

"She's awake!"

"She's awake!"

Madam Sun and Wang Ying hurriedly came forward.

"Yufen, quick!"

"Use some strength, or the child will suffocate."

Hearing Madam Sun's words, Hu Yufen could no longer care about anything else. A strength born from maternal love made her squeeze out all the strength in her body!

"Ah—"

A hoarse roar sounded, and her hand also clutched Jiang Huanyu's arm tightly!

"It's out!"

"It's out!"

"Yingzi, help!"

With the help of Madam Sun and Wang Ying, the second child was finally pulled out!

The two hurriedly cleaned out the amniotic fluid from the child's mouth and nose. Then they lifted the child by the feet and slapped hard for a while.

After more than ten slaps, the child, who had not moved at all, finally let out a hoarse cry.

At this moment, the people in the room finally let out a great breath of relief.

After placing the child beside Hu Yufen, Madam Sun and Wang Ying both collapsed weakly to sit on the ground.

Jiang Huanyu looked with heartache at his wife, whose eyes were tightly closed. Discovering that her breathing was still steady, he did not have time to worry and busily helped Madam Sun and Wang Ying sit to the side.

Afterward, he brought hot water and helped wipe the bloodstains from Hu Yufen's body.

When things were mostly cleaned up, Zhao Shuan also arrived with Sun Fuchun.

"This old woman will step out for a moment."

Hearing the movement, Madam Sun shakily stood up and went outside.

Jiang Huanyu and Wang Ying also followed her out.

"How is it?"

Sun Fuchun asked with a solemn expression.

As a physician, he knew very well how dangerous giving birth to twins was.

Some families with the means would prepare blood ginseng and other great tonics nearby when childbirth was approaching, precisely because they feared that the woman giving birth would run out of strength and faint halfway through.

And that was only under the condition of giving birth to one child.

When he heard Zhao Shuan say Jiang Huanyu's wife was carrying twins, Sun Fuchun immediately brought over a section of blood ginseng he had treasured.

"Mother and children are safe. It was all thanks to A-Huanyu having a piece of Blood Toad shed skin," Madam Sun said with a smile.

As a midwife, she had delivered so many children and had also seen the tragic scene of both mother and child dying many times. This time, being able to successfully protect the mother and two children made her very relieved.

"Blood Toad shed skin?"

Sun Fuchun glanced at Jiang Huanyu.

With his understanding of medicinal principles, he instantly understood that Blood Toad shed skin capable of taking effect quickly had to be at least hundred-year grade.

For Jiang Huanyu to obtain a piece of hundred-year-old Blood Toad shed skin was truly good luck.

"As long as they are safe, that is good. Safe is good."

"A-Huanyu, congratulations."

After learning that both mother and children were safe, Zhao Shuan quickly cupped his hands.

Jiang Huanyu returned the salute, then turned and went into the room. He found a piece of red cloth and tore it into two pieces.

From the wooden box under the bed, he took out four taels of silver and wrapped them separately.

Coming into the courtyard, he handed the silver to Madam Sun and Wang Ying respectively.

"Today, it was all thanks to Aunt and Sister-in-law. This is celebration money."

Seeing this, Wang Ying originally wanted to refuse, but Madam Sun smiled and said, "This is celebration money. It must be accepted. It can bring good fortune."

Jiang Huanyu also echoed her and urged Wang Ying to accept it.

Only then did Wang Ying smile and accept the silver.

"Uncle Sun, do you think you should prescribe some medicine to replenish Yufen's vitality?"

After giving the celebration money, he was still rather worried about his wife's body.

Giving birth to one child would damage vitality. Giving birth to two at once would definitely greatly injure her vital energy.

Sun Fuchun nodded slightly. "After returning, this old man will prescribe some medicine. When you are no longer busy, come get it."

After the few chatted for a while, the Sun couple returned first.

Wang Ying washed the blood from her hands, told Zhao Shuan to return home first, and stayed behind to help look after Hu Yufen.

In the evening, Zhao Shuan helped bring Jiang Wenyan back from Lu Zhiyuan's house.

When the little fellow returned home and heard that his mother had given birth to a younger brother and younger sister for him, he was extremely happy.

On the bed, Hu Yufen had already awakened.

Seeing Jiang Wenyan lying at the side, carefully poking his younger brother's and younger sister's cheeks with his little hand, she could not help smiling.

"Anu, don't bother your younger brother and younger sister."

The little fellow stood up, turned his head to look at Jiang Huanyu, and said, "Father, do younger brother and younger sister have names?"

Jiang Huanyu's expression froze. Only then did he remember that he still had not named the two little fellows.

"Your mother was able to safely give birth to your younger brother and younger sister…"

"Your younger sister will be called Jiang Wenping from now on, and your younger brother will be called Jiang wenchen, taking the meaning of peace and safety."

"Wife, what do you think?"

On the bed, Hu Yufen smiled faintly. "I will listen to Husband."

After the names were decided, Jiang Huanyu was thinking about what good food he should make later to nourish his wife's body, but suddenly, a slight movement came from his sea of consciousness.

Ding!

[System Notification: Direct bloodline has increased to five people. The family has been promoted to a Ninth Grade Family.]

 

[XiaoBudian]

Chapter 16: The Power of Bloodline

The sudden prompt made Jiang Huanyu somewhat surprised.

His consciousness sank into his sea of consciousness. Only then did he notice that two lines of text had appeared on the system panel that had previously only displayed divinations.

Ding!

[System Notification: Ninth Grade Family]: Existing family members have a 10% chance of obtaining bloodline tempering, transforming their own bloodline into Ninth Grade. Newly born members have a 20% chance of directly obtaining a Ninth Grade Bloodline. As the family head, you may directly obtain a Ninth Grade Bloodline.

[Ninth Grade Bloodline]: Allows better affinity with the power of heaven and earth, increasing comprehension and physical strength.

Seeing this scene, the excitement in Jiang Huanyu's heart went without saying.

Before he could even calm his mood, a mysterious power overflowed from within his body and surged toward his limbs and bones.

This power was extremely gentle. As it circulated throughout his entire body, it was already slowly changing his body.

Jiang Huanyu closed his eyes, sensing his flesh and blood transforming bit by bit. At the same time, he could also vaguely sense a trace of energy drifting in the surrounding air, something he had never felt before.

"Father, what's wrong?"

A small hand tugged at his sleeve.

Jiang Huanyu came back to his senses. Suppressing the joy in his heart, he looked at Jiang Wenyan.

"Anu, do you feel any change in your body?"

The system displayed that existing family members had a 10% chance of undergoing a bloodline transformation.

Including himself, there were only five people in the family now. He could not wait to confirm whether his younger son's bloodline had changed or not.

Jiang Wenyan looked at him with a strange expression.

"Father, right now I only feel a little hungry…"

Hearing his answer, Jiang Huanyu felt somewhat disappointed.

Clearly, this 10% good fortune had not descended upon Anu.

"Husband, are you ill?"

Seeing her man saying strange things, Hu Yufen asked with concern.

She knew that after experiencing today's danger, Jiang Huanyu's emotions must have gone up and down greatly. Such intense emotional fluctuation could easily make a person fall ill.

Jiang Huanyu smiled and shook his head.

Right now, he felt very good.

"I'll go to Brother Shuan's house and borrow an old hen. I'll stew some chicken soup to nourish your body."

"Father, I want to eat chicken soup noodles!" When the little fellow heard there would be chicken tonight, he quickly spoke excitedly.

"All right, then we'll eat chicken soup noodles!"

Jiang Huanyu rubbed his head and said, "Take care of your mother."

…

At the same time, in Cloudwater Town's martial arts school, the day's training had already ended. The other disciples of the martial arts school had gone home or gone to rest, but on the training ground in the courtyard, one figure was still persisting.

This person was precisely Jiang Wenfeng.

By now, Jiang Wenfeng had entered the martial arts school to learn martial arts for almost a year.

Over this year, his body had clearly grown quite a bit taller and much sturdier.

After seeing Su Chang in town last time and being warned by him, Jiang Wenfeng listened to his father's words and did not deliberately distance himself from Huang Lingxiu.

The result of doing this was naturally that Su Chang targeted him.

Every time the senior and junior brothers fed each other moves and sparred, Su Chang, as a senior brother, would always choose Jiang Wenfeng as his opponent.

Su Chang's family background was prominent, and he had plenty of money. Through his eldest uncle's connections, he could often obtain hundred-year-old Blood Toad shed skin and some precious medicinal herbs to temper his body.

Therefore, even though he was usually frivolous and careless, under the piling up of many precious medicinal herbs, after so many years, he had already reached the level of a high-grade martial apprentice and was about to break through to the Acquired Realm martial artist stage.

Fighting against him, Jiang Wenfeng would be beaten black and blue every single time.

Although Su Chang was young, he was extremely vicious.

His attacks were very measured. Every time, he only caused Jiang Wenfeng some superficial injuries and would not injure his tendons or bones.

This way, even the teachers of the martial arts school could not really say anything.

It could be said that during this half year, Jiang Wenfeng's days had not been easy.

But he firmly remembered his father's words and had always been secretly working hard.

Inside the training ground, Jiang Wenfeng, who had finished stance training, began practicing fist techniques against the wooden dummy.

Starting posture, punch, turn the arm and swing the fist, raise the leg to block, right hook followed by a left straight punch…

At such a young age, he had already made a set of Mountain-Shaking Fist look fierce and powerful, striking the wooden dummy with thudding sounds.

In a distant side room, Huang Qingzhou stood before the window and quietly watched, a trace of satisfaction appearing on his face.

"Father, you have to control that fellow Su Chang. He bullies Junior Brother Stone every day."

A young girl wearing a goose-yellow vest over pale pink training clothes, with a pretty face, spoke.

"After all, there is a verbal marriage agreement. Perhaps once you come of age, you will have to marry into the Su family."

Huang Qingzhou turned his eyes slightly and said in a deep voice, "Your eldest uncle is about to be transferred to the position of County Military Commandant of Willow County. At that time, we will inevitably have to interact with the Su family."

The Deputy County Magistrate handled government affairs, while the County Military Commandant commanded troops.

Although the two were nominally of equal rank, the Deputy County Magistrate had greater say.

If all external factors were put aside, between Jiang Wenfeng and Su Chang, Huang Qingzhou would also not choose Su Chang.

But the truth was that Su Chang had a good family background, which was of great use to the Huang family.

"Whoever wants to marry him can marry him. In any case, I won't!"

Hearing her father's words, Huang Lingxiu instantly became displeased.

With Su Chang's family background, he could have found a better martial arts school in Willow County to study martial arts. The reason he had run to their family's martial arts school was because he wanted to get closer to Huang Lingxiu.

But she truly hated spoiled young masters like Su Chang and looked down on him from the bottom of her heart.

Among the more than one hundred senior and junior brothers in the martial arts school, the one she disliked most was Su Chang.

"You must not be willful!"

Huang Qingzhou scolded her. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly noticed that something was wrong with Jiang Wenfeng on the training ground.

At this moment, Jiang Wenfeng was practicing punches when he suddenly felt a mysterious power inexplicably surge out within his body.

After this power appeared, it quickly surged toward his limbs and bones.

He could clearly feel that his strength had increased quite a bit. At the same time, the fatigue brought by stance training and fist practice instantly disappeared.

An unprecedented feeling of exhilaration surged over him, instantly giving Jiang Wenfeng an impulse to vent it!

His figure flashed, dodging the rotating wooden dummy. His right hand gathered force, and a straight punch suddenly smashed into the wooden dummy's head!

Crack!

A crisp breaking sound came. The wooden dummy in front of him clearly tilted quite a bit.

Seeing the cracked base of the wooden dummy, Jiang Wenfeng looked at his own fist in astonishment, somewhat unable to believe that this punch of his actually had such great power.

One had to know that these wooden dummies were all made from extremely hard oleaster wood, with hemp rope wrapped around them. During normal training, none of the many senior and junior brothers could damage them.

Could it be that this wooden dummy had been used for too long, and the bottom had rotted?

Jiang Wenfeng crouched down somewhat suspiciously, wanting to check it, when he suddenly sensed someone approaching.

He quickly stood up and saw that the people coming were Huang Qingzhou and Huang Lingxiu.

"Elder Uncle, Senior Sister."

Huang Qingzhou nodded slightly, his gaze looking toward that wooden dummy.

Jiang Wenfeng scratched his head somewhat awkwardly. "Elder Uncle, I… I didn't mean to."

Although he still could not determine whether it was because the wood had rotted, the wooden dummy had indeed been broken by him, and he did not intend to quibble.

"No harm."

Huang Qingzhou smiled faintly, then also bent down and looked at the bottom of the wooden dummy.

A fresh crack had appeared in the thick wood. Although the wood surface around it was somewhat rotten, the inside was still intact. He could not help being a little surprised.

For such thick oleaster wood, even a martial artist who had just entered the Acquired Realm would probably find it difficult to break it with one punch.

Although Jiang Wenfeng's punch had not completely broken the wooden dummy, it was already very terrifying.

"Stone, have you sensed the power of qi and blood?" Huang Qingzhou asked.

Jiang Wenfeng hesitated for a moment, then shook his head slightly.

He had indeed felt a mysterious force surge within his body just now, but he knew that it was not the power of qi and blood.

Seeing this, Huang Qingzhou immediately became somewhat suspicious.

He had thought that Jiang Wenfeng had broken through to the Acquired Realm martial artist stage on the spot, which was why he had erupted with terrifying strength.

"Come. Attack with all your strength. Let Elder Uncle see your limit."

Huang Qingzhou retreated two steps and took a stance.

He wanted to see just what Jiang Wenfeng's current strength was.

 

[XiaoBudian]

Chapter 17: Fighting Su Chang

"Elder Uncle…"

Jiang Wenfeng hesitated somewhat and did not immediately make a move.

"What?"

"Are you afraid of injuring your elder uncle?"

Huang Qingzhou smiled confidently and said, "Stop wasting words. Attack."

He had seen the strange strength Jiang Wenfeng had erupted with, but as a peak Acquired Realm martial artist, he did not care at all.

Seeing that he had taken his stance, Jiang Wenfeng no longer said anything more. He immediately assumed his starting posture, pushed off with his foot, and rushed forward like a swift cheetah.

"His explosive force is good."

Seeing this, Huang Qingzhou sighed inwardly.

He had already thought very highly of Jiang Wenfeng and knew this boy was a good seedling for martial arts.

But over this past year, the surprises Jiang Wenfeng had brought him were far more than this. Huang Qingzhou even suspected that this boy might not need to wait until reaching adulthood before breaking through to become an Acquired Realm martial artist.

Such a strange talent was not often seen in this remote little town.

The fist, carrying a fist wind, whistled as it smashed over. Huang Qingzhou did not dodge.

He wanted to test Jiang Wenfeng's strength, so naturally, he had to receive it head-on to know.

His palm reached out and directly grabbed toward the incoming fist.

Bang!

A muffled sound came. Huang Qingzhou frowned slightly. While receiving the following moves head-on, he laughed and scolded, "Stinky brat, don't hold back. Attack with all your strength!"

After receiving one of his punches, Huang Qingzhou could clearly feel that this boy had actually still kept back a few portions of strength.

Hearing this, Jiang Wenfeng knew he probably could not injure the other party. He immediately stopped holding back and launched a full-force offensive.

Mountain-Shaking Fist emphasized explosive force, borrowing the momentum of the whole body, growing braver the more one fought!

Jiang Wenfeng's offensive was very fast.

Over the past year, he had put in twice as much effort as the other senior and junior brothers, and the effects were also obvious.

His Mountain-Shaking Fist was more practiced than the other senior and junior brothers. His moves connected very smoothly, and he had even already touched upon a little technique of borrowing the body's momentum to increase fist power.

Now, with an experienced peak Acquired Realm martial artist like Huang Qingzhou feeding him moves, Jiang Wenfeng became more and more unrestrained as he fought, gradually gaining a new trace of understanding toward Mountain-Shaking Fist.

Bang!

His body half-turned, borrowing momentum to smash out a punch. After forcing Huang Qingzhou slightly back, he actually borrowed the momentum and turned again, smashing down with his left fist!

Rotation, right fist, rotation, left fist…

Using his legs as the axis and relying on the rotation of his body, he poured the strength of his entire body into the swinging fists. Each strike was heavier than the last!

While Huang Qingzhou blocked, the smile on his face grew thicker and thicker.

Boom!

After using the power of qi and blood to force Jiang Wenfeng back, he finally said, "All right."

Hearing this, Jiang Wenfeng withdrew his fist stance, a trace of excitement flashing in his eyes.

The exchange just now had let him experience an unprecedented feeling of complete satisfaction.

Huang Qingzhou also did not hold back his praise. "Stinky brat, you really surprised your elder uncle."

"If I didn't know your family background, this martial uncle would think you had secretly eaten quite a few good things."

After exchanging blows, he could already judge that the current Jiang Wenfeng had indeed not broken through to the Acquired Realm, but he could absolutely be considered a high-grade martial apprentice.

Adding his understanding of Mountain-Shaking Fist, there were probably not many disciples in the entire martial arts school who were his match.

Looking at the young boy before him, Huang Qingzhou's expression became somewhat complicated.

The current Emperor of Yu revered martial strength. With Jiang Wenfeng's talent, in the future, it was very likely that he would become an Innate Realm martial artist.

And the value of an Innate Realm martial artist was far greater than that of a mere Deputy County Magistrate of Willow County.

"Lingxiu, when you have nothing to do, learn properly from your junior brother. Don't spend all day only knowing how to play."

After thinking for a moment, Huang Qingzhou glanced at his daughter beside him, whose face was full of worship.

Huang Lingxiu's eyes curved into crescent moons, and she quickly nodded.

"All right, rest early."

"On the path of cultivation, there must be both tension and relaxation. You must pay attention to balancing work and rest."

…

Other than Huang Lingxiu, no one else witnessed the exchange between the two.

The days continued as usual.

This day, the sun slanted west. On the training ground, just as more than ten martial arts school disciples had finished stance training, the martial arts teacher standing in front, Liao Yunfeng, dressed in a short coarse-cloth shirt and with a burly figure, spoke.

"It has been some time since I checked your cultivation."

"Since there is still a little time, pair up and feed each other moves. Let this old man see your strength."

These dozen or so disciples were all those who had continuously taken medicinal meals.

In the eyes of Liao Yunfeng and the others, these were the true disciples. As for those who did not plan to use medicine to temper their bodies, they had no value in being cultivated.

Hearing that they were going to pair up and feed each other moves again, Su Chang at the side immediately revealed a smile.

He instantly stood up and said, "Junior Brother Jiang, let Senior Brother see whether your cultivation has improved recently."

Seeing this, Liao Yunfeng frowned slightly.

He knew the two of them did not get along, and he had also heard that every time they sparred, Su Chang would take the chance to seek out Jiang Wenfeng and beat him up.

"Su Chang, you are an old disciple of six years. Do not always bully your junior brother."

Knowing Su Chang's background, although Liao Yunfeng disliked it, he could not say anything too harsh.

Compared with Su Chang, he preferred the hardworking Jiang Wenfeng.

Although the little fellow had only studied martial arts for one year, both his talent and the degree of his hard work far exceeded others.

Such a person's future achievements would not be too low.

"Teacher Liao, this disciple is not bullying him."

"You and the other teachers often say that only by exchanging moves with experts can one grow faster. This disciple is only trying to help Junior Brother Jiang."

After hearing this, a trace of anger flashed across Liao Yunfeng's face.

The principle was indeed this principle, but every time, Su Chang relied on his strength to torment Jiang Wenfeng almost like humiliation. This was no longer feeding moves.

He was truly afraid that a good seedling would lose confidence like this and be ruined.

"Jiang Wenfeng, do you want to spar with Su Chang?"

Liao Yunfeng's gaze looked over.

He had already made up his mind. If Jiang Wenfeng refused, he could justifiably stop it.

Jiang Wenfeng, who was sitting cross-legged, glanced at Su Chang, feeling somewhat hesitant inside.

After exchanging blows with Huang Qingzhou, he could feel that the current him should not be weaker than Su Chang.

But Jiang Huanyu had once taught him that when dealing with people and matters, one should be humble and low-key.

He was hesitating over whether he should make a move.

"Stone, don't be afraid. Beat him up!"

Beside him, Huang Lingxiu knew his strength. She leaned close to his ear and encouraged him in a low voice, wanting Jiang Wenfeng to beat Su Chang soundly and vent his anger properly.

Such an intimate action between the two, in Su Chang's eyes, made his anger even harder to conceal.

Before Jiang Wenfeng could stand, Su Chang directly strode over!

Forced into the situation, Jiang Wenfeng could only rise and face the fight.

Su Chang opened his stance, the corner of his eye twitching slightly.

A thought had already formed in his heart. This time, no matter what, he had to give this boy a painful lesson!

The two did not face off for long and instantly tangled together.

Although Su Chang was a spoiled young master, his body had long been nourished by medicinal meals and all kinds of precious medicinal herbs, giving him a solid foundation.

Although his moves were full of flaws, great strength could create miracles.

The reason Jiang Wenfeng usually lost to him was because his foundation was insufficient. Often, after blocking a few moves, his elbows would be beaten numb by the other side, allowing his defense to be broken through and himself to be violently beaten.

But now that his bloodline had been tempered and his body had been transformed by the Ninth Grade Bloodline, he had already become much stronger.

With his weakness made up for, Su Chang's previous method of relying on brute force to break through his defense could no longer work.

The two instantly exchanged more than ten moves. In the past, by this time, Jiang Wenfeng would already have been unable to hold on.

But this time, there was no sign of him falling into disadvantage at all.

Seeing this, Su Chang gradually became somewhat anxious.

But the more anxious he became, the more openings appeared between his moves.

Even by the end, Jiang Wenfeng only needed to rely on a sidestep or a single-handed deflection to easily dissolve his offensive.

This scene made Liao Yunfeng extremely surprised.

Finally, when Su Chang was so tired that he was panting, Jiang Wenfeng only then stepped back two steps and opened the distance.

From beginning to end, he had countless chances to strike and teach the other party a harsh lesson, but he endured them all.

"Senior Brother Su, thank you for yielding."

Jiang Wenfeng slightly cupped his hands, then returned to his place and sat down.

Huang Lingxiu said somewhat unhappily, "Why did you go easy on him?"

"Think about how he targeted you before. You should have knocked him down with one punch and beaten him into a pig's head!"

Jiang Wenfeng smiled bitterly and shook his head.

How could he not want to?

It was just that he could not.

 

[XiaoBudian]

Chapter 18: Human Nature

His tolerance did not make Su Chang feel grateful. Instead, Su Chang felt that Jiang Wenfeng was playing with him and humiliating him.

While Su Chang was inwardly furious, he was also secretly somewhat shocked.

Last time… during the sparring session just over ten days ago, he had just beaten Jiang Wenfeng up badly.

Now only around ten days had passed. How had this boy suddenly become so much stronger?

With doubt in his heart, Su Chang returned to his seat.

In this exchange, on the surface, it seemed the two were evenly matched, but anyone with sharp eyes knew that Jiang Wenfeng's strength had already surpassed his.

If the two were similar in age and family background, it would not be that strange.

The key was that he was older than Jiang Wenfeng, and his family background was better too. More importantly, he had been toyed with in front of his future wife, making Su Chang feel he had lost a great deal of face.

With a bright pearl before them, the following paired sparring became somewhat dull and tasteless.

After the day's cultivation ended, the many disciples all left the training ground.

Only Jiang Wenfeng remained. He wanted to continue cultivating.

A steady personality was his strong point. The power that had suddenly surged within his body a few days ago had made his strength rise sharply. If it were another child of the same age, they might already have become smug.

Jiang Wenfeng did not.

He had always felt that the sudden power in his body had been obtained through putting in more hardship than ordinary people, so he worked even harder than before.

In the rear courtyard of the martial arts school, after cultivation ended, Huang Lingxiu impatiently ran back to the rear courtyard and told Huang Qingzhou about today's comparison.

"Father, Junior Brother Stone is just a fool. He clearly could have knocked Su Chang down and properly taken revenge for being bullied before, yet he chose to tolerate it."

"If it were me, I would definitely beat him until even his parents couldn't recognize him!"

Huang Lingxiu said angrily.

She truly could not understand why Jiang Wenfeng clearly had a chance for revenge but did not seize it.

Looking at his daughter's puffed-up appearance, Huang Qingzhou shook his head slightly.

"Come. Let's go look at that boy."

The father and daughter came to the training ground in the front courtyard. Seeing that Jiang Wenfeng was indeed still cultivating, Huang Qingzhou said in a low voice, "Do you see? Stone is clearly already very strong now, yet he is still working hard."

"In terms of talent, you are not worse than Stone. In terms of resources, you are even far above him."

"If you could work hard like him, there would even be hope for you to break through to the Acquired Realm by the time you come of age."

Hearing this, Huang Lingxiu slightly curled her lips.

She also knew that hard work would certainly bring gains, but as soon as she thought of the boredom and pain of cultivation, she instantly lost energy.

"Father, let's go over."

Not wanting to discuss this topic with her father, Huang Lingxiu quickly pulled him to the training ground.

Jiang Wenfeng saw the two arrive. He slowly withdrew from his stance training and came forward, cupping his hands.

"Elder Uncle, Senior Sister."

Huang Qingzhou nodded slightly and said, "Lingxiu said you fought with Su Chang today?"

Jiang Wenfeng nodded.

"You clearly had a chance to defeat him. Why did you tolerate him again and again?"

"In a martial artist's duel, what matters is defeating the enemy in one move. Being soft-hearted will only put you in danger."

Jiang Wenfeng was slightly stunned. Seeing that there was no blame on Huang Qingzhou's face, he immediately cupped his hands and said, "Elder Uncle, this nephew could indeed easily defeat Senior Brother Su Chang, but I cannot do that."

"Why?" Huang Lingxiu asked in confusion.

Jiang Wenfeng smiled bitterly. "Senior Sister should know that my family is only an ordinary farming household in Golden Willow Village, while Su Chang's eldest uncle is the Deputy County Magistrate of our Willow County."

"That is the heaven of Willow County. If I defeated him in public to vent my anger and damaged his face, it would inevitably cause his resentment."

"If he wanted to take revenge on me, that would not matter much. But if it implicated my family…"

"Counting the time, Mother should be about to give birth. Father supports a large family by himself, and it is not easy. I cannot add more trouble for them."

Hearing these words, Huang Lingxiu fell silent.

In truth, she was three years older than Jiang Wenfeng, but she had never considered so much.

In her eyes, if she caused trouble, her father would stand behind her. If that still did not work, then there was also her eldest uncle in the army.

Within the small territory of Willow County, as long as it was not something that seriously violated Great Yu's laws, it was not a major matter.

She had never thought that there were so many hidden dangers.

Huang Qingzhou's eyes were full of praise.

In his heart, he faintly began to envy Jiang Huanyu.

At such a young age, this child had a steady personality, handled matters smoothly, and thought things through carefully. In the future, he would surely achieve something extraordinary.

With a son like this, how could a family not prosper?

Unfortunately, he only had two daughters. His eldest daughter had left her hometown after breaking through to the Acquired Realm in her early years. These years, she only occasionally sent a letter back to report that she was safe, and he did not know exactly where she had gone.

"Your concerns are not wrong, but there is one point you overlooked."

Huang Qingzhou's expression suddenly became serious.

Jiang Wenfeng did not understand and quickly cupped his hands. "Please teach me, Elder Uncle."

"You overlooked human nature," Huang Qingzhou said with his hands behind his back and a sigh. "Human nature is the most complicated thing."

"You think that by not defeating Su Chang in public, you left him some face."

"But Su Chang may not think that way. With his personality, he will only feel that you were toying with him and humiliating him."

"That is far harder to accept than being defeated by you."

"This is how people interact. If you are only a little stronger than him, he will envy you and scheme against you in every possible way."

"But if you are much stronger than him, so strong that he cannot hope to reach you, then he will only admire you and fear you."

"Hiding your edge is good, but hiding your edge too much will only make others think your sword is not sharp and cannot kill."

"The degree between the two is something only you yourself can consider and control."

Huang Qingzhou's teaching clearly conflicted somewhat with his father Jiang Huanyu's words, and Jiang Wenfeng felt a little confused for a time.

His father told him to be humble and low-key, while Huang Qingzhou told him to reveal his sword at the right time.

"All right. Do not disturb Stone's cultivation. Let's go."

After Huang Qingzhou said this, he took his daughter and left.

Jiang Wenfeng stood alone on the training ground and thought for a long time. Suddenly, he smiled.

Whether it was hiding his edge and staying low-key, or revealing his sword at the right time, didn't he still have to control it himself?

And what ultimately decided all of this was still his own strength.

Strength was his greatest confidence. With strength, he could choose as he pleased. Without strength, he had no right to choose.

After understanding this, he began to continue cultivating.

The next day, it was time to return home again.

Early in the morning, Jiang Huanyu drove the ox cart to the entrance of the martial arts school.

Jiang Wenfeng bid farewell to the teachers of the martial arts school, stepped onto the ox cart, and followed Jiang Huanyu toward Golden Willow Village.

"Father, has Mother given birth?"

At the mention of this matter, Jiang Huanyu, who was driving the cart in front, turned back and could not help smiling. "Guess whether it is a younger brother or a younger sister."

Jiang Wenfeng tilted his head and thought for a while. "If it is a younger brother, I can teach him martial arts in the future. If it is a younger sister, she will definitely be as beautiful as Mother."

"Heh!"

Jiang Huanyu directly turned around and laughed while scolding, "Stinky brat, who did you learn that from? You've become quite good at speaking."

Jiang Wenfeng smiled and scratched his head. "Senior Sister Lingxiu said that martial artists are not brutes. They cannot be illiterate and refuse to read. During this year at the martial arts school, whenever I had free time, I would ask Senior Sister Lingxiu for guidance and borrowed some books from Elder Uncle to read."

Hearing this, Jiang Huanyu rubbed his head with relief.

At this moment, he suddenly felt that this son had grown up quite a lot.

"Your mother gave birth to a younger brother and a younger sister for you."

"Ah!?"

Jiang Wenfeng opened his mouth wide in shock.

Clearly, with his understanding, he still did not quite understand how a person could give birth to two children at once.

"Your younger sister is called Jiang Wenping, and your younger brother is called Jiang wenchen."

After receiving confirmation again, Jiang Wenfeng became extremely excited.

At this moment, his heart had already flown back to Golden Willow Village, impatient to see his younger brother and younger sister.