After receiving Yang Fatty's affirmative reply, Lou Yi didn't rush to Jia Family Manor.
He first returned to Daihe Village and talked about the matter with Cheng Sunshi, and despite her refusal, he insistently handed over five taels of silver.
"Uncle Lou, will you come back?" Dogwa's little face was dirty, looking pitifully at Lou Yi.
"Of course, Jia Family Manor isn't far from here." Lou Yi smiled, "You must behave at home and listen to your mother."
"Yes!" Dogwa nodded firmly.
The second ones he met with were Wu Biao and his group of ruffians.
"Big Brother is going to Jia Family Manor? If you become wealthy in the future, don't forget your little brothers." Wu Biao said enviously.
Yang Er, who stood by, also kept nodding.
Landlord Jia in Xinxiang is a top-notch figure, with many wanting to join his ranks but lacking the opportunity.
"How can there be wealth under someone else's roof?" Lou Yi shook his head and then handed Wu Biao a piece of broken silver, about five or six coins, continuing, "Just like before, if there is any news, remember to notify me at Jia Family Manor."
"No need to be so formal, Brother." Wu Biao said, but he still joyfully accepted the silver.
Back home, there wasn't much to pack.
Lou Yi took some vegetables and long-kept cooked food outside, locked the door with a copper lock, and left Erhe Village, beginning his life's first journey away from home.
Although Jia Family Manor is only six or seven miles from Erhe Village.
The main reason Lou Yi sought refuge at Jia Family Manor was to find protection.
Though he believed his actions were flawless.
Many times, however thorough, something would be overlooked.
If the authorities were to investigate, Jia Family Manor could serve as a suitable buffer zone.
Once the heat died down, the world is vast, where couldn't he go?
...
Jia Family, located beside the largest river in Xinxiang, the Red River.
The Red River derived its name due to the unique geology beneath it turning its waters red.
It is said to converge with the Canglong River that encircles Wangjiang County.
Generations of accumulation made Jia Mansion span tens of acres.
The residence is grand and majestic, with red walls and green tiles. Within the mansion, with carved railings and painted pillars, flying eaves and pavilions, rock gardens and ponds, and various green plants and flowers, all showcasing the grandeur of a powerful household.
For Lou Yi to come early in the morning seeking refuge, Landlord Jia was very pleased, immediately giving him a settling-in allowance of five taels of silver, not included in the monthly pay.
The dark-clothed steward, with a gloomy face, led Lou Yi to the backyard of Jia Family, where a thousand-fang large open area was interspersed with some tall trees.
As Lou Yi stepped into the courtyard, he saw two long rows of weapon racks holding long wooden sticks, with chipped paint here and there, and the stick heads worn smooth.
In the center stood dozens of wooden stake dummies, and bare-chested strong men were there grunting and punching, practicing on the stake dummies.
Nearby stood a few men in deep blue clothing, with black headscarves, chatting and laughing as they watched the training, clearly instructors.
The dark-clothed steward clapped his hands to draw everyone's attention: "Everyone come here, this is the new hero in Jia Family Manor named Lou Yi, who once single-handedly subdued a bull."
"The landlord specifically instructed, Lou Yi doesn't need to apprentice, he directly becomes an official guard of Jia Family Manor."
On the way here, the dark-clothed steward had explained many common sense things about the Jia Family and points of attention to Lou Yi.
Wherever there are people, there are classes, and the guards of Jia Family Manor are divided into several levels.
The newcomers are called apprentices and must learn Pile Skill and long-stick techniques from a master.
Those who have mastered the skills become official guards and can operate independently.
Above that are the masters, not older in age, but because of rich experience, can independently lead a team, equivalent to the level of a Guard Captain.
Lou Yi skipped the apprentice stage all at once, stirring quite the commotion among the crowd.
The dark-clothed steward remained expressionless, gave a few more instructions, and then turned away.
"Brother Lou, I've heard a lot about you, I am Wang En."
"I'm Cui Yuan."
The few men obviously at the master level came over to greet Lou Yi, and Lou Yi responded politely.
Meanwhile, the strong men practicing with stake dummies in the center of the field had indifferent expressions, clearly unimpressed by this newcomer, yet some looked at Lou Yi with surprise, like they'd seen him before.
"Brother Lou, have you practiced with stake dummies?" Wang En, a slim and tall middle-aged man with not very good skin full of pits and freckles, asked.
"No." Lou Yi answered truthfully.
"It's easy, I'll show you." Wang En spoke with extreme enthusiasm, making one forget his unsightly demeanor.
"First practice the horse stance, that's Static Pile. Once accomplished, practice Dynamic Pile." Wang En stood in a pile on the spot, saying, "Body still, feet apart, knees bent, hands clasped, chest in, back out..."
Before he finished speaking, he saw Lou Yi also stood in a pile on the spot, and murmured 'Oh'.
"Brother Lou, your static pile foundation is quite solid." Wang En praised.
"I often work in the fields." Lou Yi said.
Joking aside, he who achieved proficiency in Lou's Axe Skill couldn't possibly not know how to stand in a pile.
After all, standing in a pile is the starting point of all martial arts.
But to practice Dynamic Pile, one needs to learn if training fists.
Currently, Lou Yi excels only in weaponry, having minimal exposure in those vague memories.
Wang En carefully taught the key points of Dynamic Pile, such as standing posture, body exertion, movement rhythm, his enthusiasm made Lou Yi feel a bit embarrassed.
Lou Yi awkwardly hit the stake dummies a few times, immediately drawing some sneers from around.
He didn't mind, continued practicing, accumulating proficiency.
Nonetheless, the men around were full of hot-blooded vigor.
Before long, finally someone initiated a challenge mode.
"Lou Yi, right? I am not from Xinxiang, never heard of your bull-taming feat, nor do I think it's impressive."
"But I've been guarding the manor at night for a year, practiced Pile Skill for a year, spent another year learning spear techniques, only now I'm allowed to go out and perform tasks."
"You've barely arrived and outshined us, you ought to show your skills, shouldn't you?"
A man with a very robust physique swaggered forward.
He was over 1.8 meters tall like Lou Yi, his chest covered with tattoos, that of a lifelike tiger.
Muscles sturdy, gaze fierce, looking hard to mess with.
"What do you mean by skills?" Lou Yi asked.
"Alright, today I'll teach you a lesson."
Tiger-Striped Man spoke confidently, turned his head towards a pear tree seven or eight meters high, difficult for an average man to hug.
Then sped up running, charging towards the pear tree.
'Thud thud thud!'
His legs alternated, stride forceful, hitting the ground with a crisp sound, speed distinctly faster than common folk.
When four or five meters from the pear tree.
He suddenly stomped, body lifted, a sharp flying leg kicked out, abruptly hitting a pear on a branch three meters high.
The pear instantly broke free from the branch.
'Whoosh' it flew far off, even beyond the courtyard wall.
"Bravo!"
Many strong men cheered, then collectively looked at Lou Yi, eager to see how he would respond.
Lou Yi inwardly praised too, this man's strength was noteworthy, definitely considered outstanding in Xinxiang.
Unfortunately for him, he met Lou Yi.
Lou Yi sluggishly approached the same pear tree, making some show disdain, thinking he was playing tricks.
Arriving before the pear tree.
Looking at this tree ordinary men found hard to embrace.
Lou Yi took a deep breath, right hand forming a hooking fist posture, stepping, twisting waist, swinging hip, a punch ferociously hitting the trunk of the pear tree.
'Whoosh!'
The force was so great, a distinct sound of breaking through the air echoed around.
'Bam!'
A weighty sound akin to the evening drum rang in everyone's ears, causing chills down their spine.
The seven or eight-meter high pear tree seemingly shook several times in an instant.
Followed by all branches, leaves, and fruit on the tree, violently shaking like caught in a gale, emitting sharp 'rustle' sounds.
One by one pears and leaves fell like rain, in moments covering the ground in a layer.
Everyone was dumbfounded, speechless for a long time.
...