After bidding Zhao Datou farewell, Meng Yuan brought Tie Niu to the Royal Residence and submitted the letter of recommendation. An old man came out to receive them.
"Come with me." The old man led the way, muttering all the while about how hard it was to guide people around, how country boys knew no manners, and how they did not know to show him proper respect.
Meng Yuan pretended not to understand. Tie Niu truly did not understand.
They did not go deep into the Royal Residence. They merely circled around to its southern side, where they saw a long wall.
After knocking, the old man pushed open the door. Inside was a Training Field.
At its center lay a martial arts ground. On both sides stood archery targets and arrow butts, weapon racks, and all sorts of Stone Rollers and stone locks, along with wooden training dummies and Plum Blossom Stakes. There were no trees around it, only high walls.
More than twenty people were practicing horse stances and punches in the open space of the martial arts ground. There were boys and girls among them, all fifteen or sixteen years old, all dressed in identical tight-fitting short martial outfits.
A man in his forties paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, occasionally barking curses at them.
The old man led Meng Yuan and Tie Niu forward and said to the middle-aged man, "Teacher Nie, these are the new children."
"Why did they come so late? Look at this—these kids here have already had their second batch of children!" Teacher Nie exaggerated shamelessly.
"It couldn't be helped. Xun Mei gave the order," the old man said helplessly.
"Xun Mei's face must be honored. Training one is training; training ten is training. Besides, they're not eating my family's rice." Teacher Nie smiled.
After exchanging a few polite remarks, the old man ambled away.
Teacher Nie beckoned to the two of them, and Meng Yuan and Tie Niu hurried forward.
"You're such a handsome lad. Why not make your way in the gardens? Why learn martial arts?" Teacher Nie grabbed Meng Yuan's wrist, glanced at the calluses on his hand, then squeezed his shoulders and waist. "You do have the makings of a martial artist. If you'd trained from childhood, you might have some real skill by now."
After offering a brief appraisal, he asked, "Ever slept with a woman?"
"No," Meng Yuan replied.
"You can't do that now. Learn your skills properly. Once you've mastered them, I'll ask the Princess Consort to find you a pretty one!" Teacher Nie laughed heartily, then grabbed Tie Niu's wrist to inspect him.
"This boy is sturdy. He's got the makings too." Teacher Nie gave his assessment, then asked, "Ever slept with a woman?"
"Yes," Tie Niu answered.
"Well, well!" Teacher Nie laughed, looked Tie Niu over again, and asked, "How many?"
"Two," Tie Niu answered honestly.
The gathered youths all looked at Tie Niu in astonishment, some envious, some contemptuous.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Which gardens were they from?" Teacher Nie asked curiously.
Tie Niu looked surprised. "They're from my own family. My ma and my grandma."
"Good, good, good! What a clever child!" Teacher Nie could not help laughing. Seeing that Meng Yuan and Tie Niu were still carrying bundles, he called over a youth and instructed him, "Take these two to collect some clothes, then arrange a place for them to stay. Get them some water to wash up too. They reek like donkey dung."
The youth accepted the order and immediately led Meng Yuan and Tie Niu outside. As they walked, he whispered, "My name's Wu Changsheng. What are your names?"
Meng Yuan and Tie Niu gave their names.
As they chatted, the two received two sets of thin clothing for everyday practice. Wu Changsheng said that the Princess Consort had provided them, which showed how generous she was.
Their so-called quarters were also inside the Training Field: a row of gray-tiled single-story rooms against the wall.
When they reached the dormitory, they found a large communal sleeping platform, big enough for more than ten people to sleep side by side. There were no cabinets or anything of the sort for storing clothes. It was exceedingly bare.
They put down their bundles, fetched well water outside, and wiped themselves down directly in the room.
Wu Changsheng was exceedingly talkative. Meng Yuan did not even need to pry; he poured out everything he knew in one breath.
It turned out Teacher Nie's full name was Nie Yannian. He was an old retainer who had come with the Princess Consort when she married into the household. He had always been trusted by her and held no lowly position in the Royal Residence. The youths all called him Master Nie.
"How's the food here?" This was what Meng Yuan cared about most, since it concerned the growth of his essence fire.
As the old saying went, poor scholars, rich martial artists.
Another old saying went: the poor practice sabers, the rich practice swords, and those with no money go carry manure.
Martial arts were not something an ordinary family could afford. Never mind training grounds, connections, apprenticeships, and the like. Food alone was no small expense. These youths were at the age when they could eat like wolves, and without some family means, they truly could not be raised.
Meng Yuan feared someone might skim their food.
"Steamed buns every day until you're full, and there's meat too! The Princess Consort is the greatest good person under heaven. Would she let us go hungry?" Wu Changsheng had also come from among the refugees, and he sincerely loved and respected the Princess Consort.
Meng Yuan was much relieved.
After washing himself thoroughly, Meng Yuan sniffed hard at the web between his thumb and forefinger, but could not smell even a trace of rank stench.
I wonder whether Grandmother will still be able to find me when she wants to introduce me to business, Meng Yuan muttered inwardly.
After changing into clean, fitted short martial clothes, Wu Changsheng brought Meng Yuan and Tie Niu back to the Training Field.
Master Nie, Nie Yannian, did not waste words. He merely said, "There aren't many rules here. Just one: without my permission, you may not leave the Training Field. Wu Changsheng will lead you in whatever you practice each day."
Meng Yuan and Tie Niu agreed.
"Go on. Follow along and practice. Let me see how much endurance you have," Nie Yannian said.
Meng Yuan and Tie Niu hurried behind the others, found places to stand, copied their movements, lowered into horse stances, and began punching along with them.
"This is the Horse Stance Punch!" After watching for a while, Nie Yannian came over to instruct them. "Spread your feet a little wider than shoulder-width, bend your knees and sink down. Your thighs must be parallel to the ground, and your knees cannot pass your toes. That is the proper horse stance!"
Having taught the stance, Nie Yannian continued, "Clench both hands into fists, palms facing up, and hold them at either side of your waist. Drive your right fist forward. Your arm must straighten, and your palm must face down! Alternate your fists! Remember to twist your waist and send your shoulder through, or your power won't be fierce!"
After explaining simply, Nie Yannian demonstrated it himself. He casually told them to study hard, then strode out of the Training Field without caring whether Meng Yuan and Tie Niu had learned it.
It was clear that Master Nie did not teach this group of youths as disciples. He was plainly just muddling through his days.
Seeing that no one was watching them, the youths still did not dare stop. They continued the Horse Stance Punches while chatting away.
Some asked Meng Yuan's name, some talked about which family's flower cakes tasted best, and others shouted that they needed to piss.
Meng Yuan did not chat much with them. He only focused on learning.
The Horse Stance Punch was a simple method for training the lower body and practicing how to exert force. It was not difficult to learn, only tedious.
Moreover, it did not feel like much at first, but the longer one practiced, the more one's legs ached, arms swelled, and whole body grew heavy.
Meng Yuan carefully followed Wu Changsheng through several rounds and roughly grasped the knack.
After a quarter of an hour, Wu Changsheng told everyone to stop and rest.
After resting, they began practicing front kicks and side kicks, then lifted and threw stone locks to strengthen their arms.
As dusk fell, Wu Changsheng blew the dismissal call. The youths had long been ravenous and rushed toward the Training Field kitchen.
The meal was tofu stewed with cabbage and radish, with beads of oil floating on top.
After lining up, Meng Yuan filled a large bowl for Tie Niu, then another for himself. He grabbed several steamed buns, and the two sat side by side and wolfed down their food.
The food here was far better than at the ranch, especially with white steamed buns. They smelled countless times better than eggs, and Meng Yuan felt blissfully happy.
"Brother, there's meat!" Tie Niu was eating with gusto when he found a slice of meat in his bowl. He was so delighted that he forgot himself entirely.
Meng Yuan said nothing. He only kept eating in great mouthfuls, hope for the future rising within his heart.
Before you continue