Chương 8: 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." Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. 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.