Grace of the Master Family

"So, we still have to drink the Meridian Nourishing Soup!"

Li Shan spoke with great gusto, utterly unaware that he had nearly become rations, rolled around twice in his brothers' mouths.

Xu Yuan frowned and looked toward where the martial instructors were eating.

Should he go pay for some meat?

Just as he was weighing it up, a burst of cheers suddenly rose from ahead.

"Wonderful! There's meat today!"

"And pork rib soup? It smells damn good!"

"Quick, quick, quick! Before all the meat gets ladled out!"

There was meat to eat?

Xu Yuan was equally delighted, staring eagerly ahead.

At that moment, Fatty Wang strode out, swept his tiny eyes over the crowd, and said in a shrill voice:

"The Master Family is benevolent and virtuous, like living bodhisattvas. Seeing that the laborers have been losing strength these past few days, they could not bear it. Thus, they have specially made provisions: during these two months of martial training, you will receive one meat meal every day."

"Thank you for the Master Family's grace!"

"The Master Family's kindness can never be repaid!!"

Upon hearing this, all the laborers wept with joy. Their voices shook the surrounding walls until they hummed.

Under normal circumstances, the usual thin soup and watery fare would have been tolerable.

But once martial training began, the physical strain was immense. Without meat, it was difficult to keep going.

Now that the Master Family had given them both a chance to practice martial arts and meat to eat, they were naturally moved to tears of gratitude, wishing they could repay the favor by carrying rings in their beaks.

Xu Yuan was grateful as well, though only afterward did he realize just how masterful the Shangyang Family's methods were.

First, they offered the opportunity to practice martial arts, openly stating that they would select those with talent and strong foundations.

Then they left them hanging for several days. Once the laborers were hungry enough to bear it no longer, they released the meat meals, without making the timing seem too excessive.

A pull and a release, and they had naturally won over the laborers' goodwill.

Holding his bowl and chopsticks, Xu Yuan walked closer and took a look.

Today's meal was stir-fried cucumber with meat, accompanied by clear soup boiled from bones. Though there was still not much meat to be seen, it was far better than before.

It was precisely enough to satisfy the laborers without raising costs by much.

"No wonder the Shangyang Family has only been in the prefectural city for a hundred years, yet has vaguely become the foremost great clan. They truly know how to pinch every coin."

After sighing a few times, Xu Yuan quickly filled his stomach, then went to the rear courtyard feeling solid and content, where he continued training.

The next day.

Xu Yuan was practicing the Fist Stance with the others when a servant boy suddenly ran over and said someone outside was looking for him.

"Looking for me?"

Xu Yuan was stunned for a moment, then realized that aside from his eldest brother, there was probably no one else.

When he reached the rear gate and looked, a man in worn padded cotton clothes stood there, moving somewhat stiffly. Who else could it be but Xu Zheng?

"Big Brother."

Xu Yuan hurried over and asked curiously, "Why did you come?"

Xu Zheng looked around, pulled him into a corner, then carefully took a cloth bundle from his robes and handed it to him.

The bundle had some weight to it. Xu Yuan opened it and saw a single Silver Ingot lying quietly inside. His heart tightened, and he quickly folded it shut.

"Big Brother, where did you get so much money?"

Rice prices fluctuated often these days. One dou of rice, twelve and a half jin, cost around eighty copper coins, while coarse salt was even more expensive, nearing three mace of silver per jin.

This one tael in his hand could feed an ordinary family of two for several months if they tightened their belts.

He knew that his eldest brother had found work with the Labor Gang through an acquaintance, but he only earned three mace of loose silver a month. It was impossible for him to have so much money.

"I took an advance from the master craftsman." Xu Zheng smiled.

Xu Yuan said nothing and simply handed the money back.

Xu Zheng frowned and said in a low voice, "Take it. I know people who practice martial arts need to eat more meat to have strength. This opportunity is rare—you must seize it properly!"

Seeing how resolute he was, Xu Yuan could only take the money back. But then he grabbed his hand. "Big Brother, tell me the truth. Did you borrow money from someone?"

"How did you..."

Xu Zheng's expression changed. He turned to glance around before helplessly lowering his voice.

"I borrowed some money from Li Daqiang on the front street. The monthly interest is two point seven fen, which is the usual rate. I'll pay it off within five months."

"Don't worry. I receive regular wages every month, and though our family has fallen on hard times, we still have some foundation left..."

Xu Yuan still wanted to ask more clearly, but the servant at the gate suddenly gave a heavy cough and looked their way.

"All right, go back and focus on martial training. Don't worry about things at home." Xu Zheng waved to him, then turned and left the alley.

Xu Yuan paced back through the gate, deep in thought.

"Li Daqiang from the front street? He seemed to belong to some small gang. A monthly interest rate of two point seven fen was considered fairly reasonable in my memories."

Thinking it over, he relaxed a little.

His eldest brother was honest and simple, yet steady and reliable. He had managed on his own to repay some of the debts their late father had left behind. He must have thought things through before acting.

But that said, what good people could moneylenders possibly be?

Thinking of those notorious debt-collection scenes from his previous life, Xu Yuan's heart sank, and a strong sense of urgency rose within him.

"Money! I still need money!"

With money, his elder brother and sister-in-law would not have to work so hard, and he himself would have ample resources for martial training.

"But before that, I have to train the Tai Chi Exercise to Major Accomplishment!"

And so, Xu Yuan's life remained a simple line between two points: martial training and work, neither neglected.

Though somewhat monotonous, it was incomparably fulfilling.

Soon, a month passed.

Without affecting his work the next day, Xu Yuan spent most of his time practicing the Tai Chi Exercise, while in the mornings he practiced stance work with the others.

Though Li Shan had said he would no longer instruct anyone, after his friends pleaded bitterly with him, he could never help softening his heart, spending quite a bit of time on it.

During that time, Chen Sanli came over again, saying that he wanted to practice stance work with them, only to be rejected by the group once more.

He did not get angry, however, and remained smiling. To build relationships, he took the initiative to share bits of gossip he had picked up.

Liu Hong, their dormmate, unfailingly asked every night how far everyone else had progressed, as though only then could he set his mind at ease.

Tian Yang, on the other hand, became even more uncontrollable after that. Whenever he got the chance, he flaunted his own progress, enjoying the praise and envy of his dormmates.

Xiao Sheng remained as usual, quiet and unassuming.

Ignored by everyone.

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