Reaching Above One's Station

2024-07-31

Chapter 5: Reaching Above One's Station

"Without exception, the patrol guards at the Houli Street Patrol Guard Headquarters are all martial artists. If he wants to become a patrol guard, merely getting started with the Soul Severing Saber won't be enough. He still needs to keep improving."

Song Changming lightly brushed a finger over the blade, feeling its cold, keen edge. He knew full well that he had only just set foot on the martial path; he was still far from achieving anything substantial.

On the panel, the progress bar for the Soul Severing Saber's next stage had reached as high as five hundred, which also proved that its difficulty was nowhere near comparable to merely getting started.

As for the Great Strength Bull Demon Art copied onto the second sheet of parchment, Song Changming had also made time to practice it according to the instructions.

Yet he had basically gained nothing from it.

He lacked the various medicinal resources essential for strengthening the body and tempering the physique. Simply copying the movements in the diagrams would not produce any results at all; it might even drain his body dry and leave behind the hidden danger of overexertion.

Thus, after briefly trying out the Great Strength Bull Demon Art, Song Changming temporarily gave it up and focused instead on the Soul Severing Saber.

The days passed one by one.

Song Changming's daily life did not change much just because he had begun Practicing Martial Arts.

Nor did any unexpected trouble come knocking because of it. Everything remained as before.

A mere Torch-bearing Night Watchman was no different from an ordinary commoner in the vast Donglai Commandery City—like a grain of sand on the shore, inconspicuous to the extreme. No one would notice his existence.

Year's end was drawing near, and the weather turned ever colder.

Nearly every night, a layer of white frost formed atop the Prefecture City's towering walls. Beyond the city, there was no longer any trace of human warmth; all was a vast expanse of ice and snow.

"Changming, do you want a warming brazier?" Mother Song, her hair streaked with gray, emerged from the woodshed and looked at Song Changming, who was practicing his saber in the courtyard.

"No need, Mother. I'm not cold. Send them all to your rooms," Song Changming said as he sheathed his saber.

His clothes were not particularly thick, yet steam rose from his entire body.

Ever since he had begun diligently practicing the saber on a regular basis, his physique had grown stronger. His Qi and Blood were abundant, and he withstood the cold better than he had in previous years.

He truly did not feel very cold now.

As he spoke, he strode into the woodshed.

The so-called warming braziers in their home were really just the leftover embers from cooking, at most with a few thin pieces of firewood added.

As for charcoal, only families with a little money to spare could afford to burn it.

He gathered all the stove ash that still retained some warmth into a basin, covered it with a lid, and carried it into the inner room where Father Song was.

"Changming, year's end is approaching. I've prepared some cured meat, fine rice, and two jars of wine. Tomorrow, come with me to visit your third sister," Father Song suddenly said when he saw Song Changming enter.

"Visit Third Sister?" Song Changming paused. Looking at the rice, meat, and wine already placed beside the shoulder pole in the corner, he vaguely understood something.

Why would visiting one's own daughter require preparing so many things so carefully?

At year's end, prices throughout the city rose. Given their family's means, putting together such a gift for a visit was no easy matter.

"Visiting Yu'er is only one reason. More importantly, we need to thank Huaiming. After all, without him, you wouldn't have been able to get a position at the Patrol Guard Headquarters.

"Since Yu'er has already married him, you must firmly grasp and maintain this connection. Perhaps with the Zhao Family's help, you might even become a patrol guard in the future. When that day comes, you'll truly have risen above your hardships!"

Father Song revealed the main purpose of this visit.

Song Changming knew of the Zhao Huaiming Father Song had mentioned. He served as a patrol guard at the Houli Street Patrol Guard Headquarters.

His father, Zhao Dezhi—the Zhao Family Patriarch—was even a Patrol Captain at the Patrol Guard Headquarters, a prominent figure on Houli Street.

Back then, for the sake of this Night Watchman position, Father Song had taken Song Changming to the Zhao Family and humbled himself before them. Yet that Patriarch had rejected them outright, without leaving them even the slightest room.

In truth, Zhao Dezhi was dissatisfied with this marriage arrangement and had no desire to become in-laws with a destitute household like the Song Family. Yet his son had threatened to live or die over it, insisting on marrying Song Yu, so he had reluctantly agreed.

But although Song Yu was Zhao Huaiming's first wife, she was not his principal wife. She could only be considered a concubine.

Zhao Huaiming could not decide the position of principal wife himself, and Zhao Dezhi would never permit him to marry her in a proper ceremony.

Of course, Father Song was still quite satisfied that his third daughter, Song Yu, had married into the Zhao Family as Zhao Dezhi's son's concubine. To them, it was still a case of reaching above their station.

Song Changming had ultimately succeeded in becoming a Night Watchman at the Patrol Guard Headquarters because of the help of his third sister Song Yu and this brother-in-law.

Yet in Song Changming's view, Father Song's plan to draw close to the Zhao Family would most likely come to nothing.

His brother-in-law Zhao Huaiming was one thing, but the Zhao Family Patriarch's attitude was clear. He had no wish to associate with them at all. Even toward Song Yu, his third sister who had married into the family, the Patrol Captain spoke coldly and harshly. He had only yielded because he could not withstand his son's pleas.

In his eyes, being associated with the Song Family of Baiyi Street was a loss of face. Under normal circumstances, he was unwilling even to mention them to others.

"Father, I can find my own way regarding becoming a patrol guard. I can deliver these gifts myself, or ask Third Sister to pass them on to my brother-in-law. Why do you need to make the trip yourself?" Song Changming frowned.

"No. We are reaching above our station with the Zhao Family, so we must show enough sincerity. How can we be so casual about it?" Father Song waved a hand, his mind made up.

Song Changming sighed inwardly and said nothing more.

The next day, Father Song walked ahead while Song Changming carried the shoulder pole out the door. In previous years, this was usually the most suitable day for giving gifts.

Firecrackers were already being set off throughout the Prefecture City. Gongs and drums rang out as people welcomed the New Year in advance, and the streets were exceptionally lively.

The Zhao Family was located in a prime section of Houli Street. Their two-courtyard residence looked spacious and imposing.

The Zhao Manor was bustling with visitors today, with quite a few people coming to call.

Besides relatives and friends visiting the Zhao Family, many gang leaders and local merchants active on Houli Street had also sent people over as a matter of routine, bringing gifts to cultivate goodwill.

As soon as Father Song approached the Zhao Manor, a gate servant stopped him.

Father Song hurriedly stated his identity and purpose.

The servant looked Father Song up and down, glanced over his clothing, and shook his head. "The master has too many people to see today and has no time to spare. I'll deliver these gifts to the young master later. There's no need to meet anyone. Please return."

Father Song still wanted to say something, but the servant had already gone to attend to other visitors and paid them no further mind.

"Father, how about we have Third Sister take us inside?" Song Changming stepped forward and asked.

Before coming, he had expected that they would not be welcomed. That was why he had told Father Song not to come, lest he be met with cold faces and suffer humiliation for nothing.

"Forget it. Don't make things difficult for your third sister. Leave the gifts here, and we'll go back." Father Song hesitated for a moment before ultimately giving up on seeing his daughter.

The Zhao Family had never liked Song Yu marrying into their household. They had already made their daughter's position difficult by helping Song Changming enter the Patrol Guard Headquarters. If they would not see them today, then so be it.

Father Song hunched his back and turned to leave.

Song Changming shook his head, set down the gifts, glanced at the bustling Zhao Manor, and walked away.

When they returned, Mother Song saw how quickly they had come back and understood something. She did not ask further.

"Changming, there's still some wine in the woodshed. Let's finish it together," Father Song suddenly said.

It was clear that Father Song was in no particularly good mood after returning from this trip.

(End of Chapter)