Next morning.
The sky was just beginning to lighten; Linhu Village was still immersed in silence, broken only by the intermittent barking of dogs.
"That stupid dog from Old Wang's family, I'll have to stew it one day."
Lin Chen didn't wait long at the village entrance before Gu Fei appeared from within, muttering curses.
"It's because you threw the bone it hid into the water; it's a wonder it didn't bite you."
Thinking about the trouble he and Gu Fei caused in the village, Lin Chen was left speechless.
The two of them used to roam around the fields and find the bones the village dogs buried under sandy soil, only to toss them into the creek in front of the dogs.
"It's been over half a year, and that stupid dog still holds a grudge."
Gu Fei pursed his lips, saw no one else was around, and lowered his voice to ask curiously, "I heard from my dad that your family separated last night?"
Father Lin sought out the village chief last night, who wrote the family separation document, and then had several respected elders witness it to avoid future disputes.
The village isn't that big, and news spread overnight.
"Not enough money for two grandsons to learn martial arts, had to separate the family and earn independently."
Lin Chen spoke casually, but Gu Fei was surprised: "Your grandfather is so biased? You're all his grandsons!"
"Maybe in his eyes, Lin Ming is the good grandson." With a self-deprecating whisper, Lin Chen turned to comfort Gu Fei: "This is actually good, each family living independently."
"No way, you can't let your uncle's family take advantage; all the money your family earned over the years was spent by Lin Ming."
Gu Fei shook his head: "Chen, wait here for me."
"What are you up to?"
"I have to spread the word about your grandfather's bias; I'll tell Aunt Li, and within a day the whole village will know."
Hearing Gu Fei's words, Lin Chen's mouth twitched slightly; Aunt Li was known for being a gossip, and once she knew something, the whole village would know.
After pondering, Lin Chen didn't stop him.
The family separation document was already written, and letting Gu Fei vent his anger for him felt quite good.
Gu Fei ran back to the village and returned after a quarter of an hour, at which point the other two martial arts students had arrived; seeing outsiders, Gu Fei winked at Lin Chen and stopped discussing the matter.
The four walked quickly, arriving at the Martial Hall before the sky was fully bright.
Lin Chen and Gu Fei returned to the dormitory, and after putting their things down, Gu Fei said to Lin Chen: "Chen, I went home and got some more money from my dad; if you're short on money, just borrow some from me."
"Alright, if I'm short on money I'll borrow it from you."
Lin Chen was a bit surprised but then accepted calmly.
No wonder Gu Fei took over a quarter of an hour, not just to see Aunt Li, but also dropping by home.
"Anytime you need, just ask; we're brothers, no need for formalities."
After washing up in the dormitory, Lin Chen changed into the practice clothes issued by the Martial Hall and said: "I'm going to find Instructor Yu."
"Why are you seeing Instructor Yu?"
"To see if I can request a work-study opportunity."
Lin Chen's response puzzled Gu Fei further; what was this work-study thing?
Seeing Lin Chen leave without explaining, Gu Fei hastily called out: "I'll wait for you at the dining hall; if you don't come, I'll bring two buns for you to the Martial Arts Arena."
Backyard.
Instructor Yu's residence.
Lin Chen took a deep breath and knocked on the door knocker.
"Instructor Yu, disciple Lin Chen requests an audience."
After a while, a response came from inside: "Come in."
The door was ajar; Lin Chen pushed it open, crossed the threshold, and saw Instructor Yu standing motionlessly in the courtyard, eyes gazing at the sky; he dared not disturb him.
After a few breaths, Yu Yongnian turned around and looked at Lin Chen, saying: "Do you have a request?"
"Instructor, I humbly request you to grant me a martial arts study opportunity."
Lin Chen bowed deeply, directly stating his intentions.
"I originally thought my grandfather would support my martial arts learning..."
Lin Chen briefly explained how his grandfather disagreed with him continuing martial arts, ultimately leading to the family separation.
After listening to Lin Chen's explanation, Yu Yongnian showed little emotional change, saying the same thing: in the school, he had seen students worse off than Lin Chen.
Like the recently eliminated Qiu Yuan, who was also regretful.
"You want to borrow money from me?"
Yu Yongnian spoke, knowing he wouldn't lend money to students; Lin Chen wasn't the first to ask, nor would he be the last.
It wasn't out of coldness; if even paying to study martial arts at the Martial Hall was difficult to sustain, the Martial Path was short-lived, best to end the thought outright, so they wouldn't fall into debt, failing at martial arts while draining family resources.
"I wouldn't dare."
Lin Chen shook his head; he had considered borrowing money but ultimately gave up.
He and Instructor Yu weren't related; why would he lend him money?
Out of sympathy?
He was only unable to afford martial arts lessons, far from being destitute.
"Instructor, I noticed the dining hall staff is insufficient; I'm willing to help there in exchange for meals. I'm hoping for a work-study opportunity."
Work-study?
Yu Yongnian's pupils contracted, eyes fixed on Lin Chen: "Do you know what working in the dining hall means?"
"Disciple understands."
"Do you truly understand?" Yu Yongnian said solemnly, "When the time comes, other students will be dining in the cafeteria, but you as a fellow student will have to clean up the dishes for them, enduring their strange looks."
Lin Chen replied emphatically, "Disciple can endure it."
"Don't think it's that simple; when truly in the situation, all your dignity in front of others might be lost."
Yu Yongnian understood Lin Chen's meaning of "working to support oneself," but precisely because he understood it, he felt Lin Chen might not be able to bear it.
"I have already experienced such situations in the past few months," Lin Chen said somewhat embarrassedly, "Back then, to drink the cafeteria's beef soup for free, I waited until other seniors bought their meat before dining... and was mocked."
"Disciple has also wavered, considered giving up, but whenever I wavered, feeling the growth of strength, those mockeries and strange looks seemed insignificant."
At the end, Yu Yongnian saw the satisfied smile on Lin Chen's face.
This smile moved him.
To endure others' mockery for martial arts, and even feel satisfaction, such temperament not to mention a youth, even he couldn't achieve.
Thus, he decided to lend a hand.
"I will speak with the cafeteria, you may help them with work to exchange for meals, and if there are leftover beef, they may leave some for you."
"Thank you, Instructor Yu, disciple is immensely grateful," Lin Chen said excitedly.
Lin Chen was indeed very excited; coming to seek Instructor Yu for a work-study opportunity, he wasn't confident it would succeed.
If Instructor Yu refused, he would find another way.
Living through two lives, Lin Chen understood one principle.
When poor, one should exhaust every effort to climb upward, seize every opportunity.
Face, dignity...
These are the two least valuable things for people at the bottom.
"The path of martial arts, the road is long and arduous; without a steadfast heart for the martial path, it's difficult to continue. Since you can endure others' comments, as an instructor I am willing to lend you a hand."
"Disciple shall diligently practice martial arts, not disappointing the coach's nurturing grace."
Yu Yongnian nodded slightly, "Go ahead."
After Lin Chen left, a graceful woman emerged from the front hall of the courtyard.
"Does Junior Brother think this young man can cultivate Essence Qi within a year, so you help him?"
"No."
Yu Yongnian shook his head, looking at the woman, "Senior Sister, you are unaware of the hardships of the world; most trainees at the town's Martial Hall aim to cultivate Essence Qi within two years. Few dare to think of achieving it within one year."
Senior Sister Shu, from a grand family, couldn't understand, for the trainees at the Martial Hall, achieving Essence Qi in two years is already quite satisfactory.
"Cultivating Essence Qi in two years won't yield much accomplishment in the martial path." Shu Suwan pondered.
"That's enough."
Yu Yongnian laughed wryly; trainees from different backgrounds have different pursuits.
To cultivate Essence Qi in two years, entering a martial hall in the Opening Acupoints Realm, would mean a chance for a minor position in the government office, which would be a source of pride for the family.
For village and town folk, a government official is already a big figure.
"Last year, I attended a former trainee's wedding banquet; guests filled the seats, but the most honorable place at the main table was empty, even after auspicious time had passed, the host hadn't begun the feast, do you know the reason, Senior Sister?"
"A distinguished guest hasn't arrived."
"Do you know who that distinguished guest was, Senior Sister?"
"Who?"
"A government official from the county office, neither the Chief of Patrol nor Chief Constable, just an ordinary official."
Shu Suwan said softly, "So Junior Brother serves as an instructor at the Martial Hall, because at town banquets, he can sit at the main table's main seat?"
Yu Yongnian: ...
"Staying at the town's Martial Hall is more comfortable, without so much scheming. Senior Sister, as the newly appointed Inspector at the Martial Arts Institute, are you planning to misuse power to reassign me?" Yu Yongnian joked halfway.
"I am willing to misuse power, are you willing to leave, Junior Brother?"
Yu Yongnian fell silent, only speaking after a while, "I prefer the ambiance of the Martial Hall."
Shu Suwan gazed at Yu Yongnian fixedly; feeling uncomfortable under her scrutiny, Yu Yongnian couldn't help but divert his gaze.
Seeing her Junior Brother's evasive eyes, there was a fleeting hint of resentment in Shu Suwan's eyes, but it disappeared in an instant, raising her eyes to a smiling expression: "I've come as the newly appointed Inspector at the Martial Arts Institute, to seek your advice regarding the Martial Hall, anything to suggest?"
"Wait a moment, Senior Sister."
Mentioning suggestions made Yu Yongnian serious, he turned and walked into the inner room, and soon returned holding a paper.
Shu Suwan took the paper, looked at the first page, and read, "Learning martial arts is extremely costly; trainees devote three years to study, often exhausting a decade's family savings, yet achieve little; the martial path is harsh, rural folk become fearful at the mention of martial arts, none dare speak of learning it; to revitalize the Martial Hall, we should waive tuition and subsidize meals..."
After reading, Shu Suwan slightly furrowed her brows, "What you wrote isn't right."
"Where is it wrong? Kindly advise, Senior Sister?"
Yu Yongnian was a bit unconvinced; he compiled this after four years as an instructor at the Martial Hall, based on trainees' situations.
Seeing her Junior Brother's unconvinced expression, Shu Suwan smiled, "The meaning is correct, but the wording should be different."
"How should the wording be?"
"The Grand Ancestor set the strategy for the Martial Hall, blessing the world. Yet in town, sometimes gifted trainees, due to poor family conditions, struggle to continue. If able to provide incentives and financial support, once they achieve in martial arts, it greatly motivates their family and village, surely leading village youth to practice martial arts and serve the Imperial Court."
"Oh, and that 'working to support oneself' you mentioned is also a feasible way."
Yu Yongnian, after listening, had a somewhat odd expression: "No wonder you are the Inspector, Senior Sister."
...
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