Cousin

"Xiao Heng really had made something of himself."

Chen Jinhua's tone was complicated, envy tinged with bitterness.

What was there that they hadn't had time to tell us? They were clearly playing favorites.

How could Second Brother have the money to support Chen Heng's martial arts training? Hadn't Old Master Chen paid for it?

"If Heng'er can pass the Martial Scholar examination..." Old Master Chen's Adam's apple bobbed, his voice full of anticipation. "Our family's taxes can be reduced by sixty percent."

Chen Heng puffed out his chest and declared solemnly, "Grandpa, don't worry! I'll study hard. Not only will I reduce the family's taxes, but once I save enough silver, I'll bring you to the Inner City to enjoy your old age!"

He lifted his chin, a trace of smugness on his face.

He was a youth, after all. With a few accomplishments under his belt, how could he not be high-spirited?

"Good, good, good!"

Old Master Chen beamed so broadly he could barely close his mouth.

The Inner City was the place he had dreamed of all his life.

At that thought, Old Master Chen looked at Chen Heng with not only affection in his eyes, but an even heavier weight of expectation.

Madam Han gave a few distracted responses before finally returning to the main matter. "Father, about A Qing learning a trade..."

"Ah!"

Old Master Chen let out a long sigh, tapping his pipe against the edge of the table. "Xiao Heng's martial arts training concerns the rise and fall of our Old Chen Family. We need to set aside more money for it."

He had struggled through most of his life, battered bloody by this world, and he knew only too well that if a family wanted to make something of itself in such times, it needed a capable martial artist.

Chen Heng was the Chen Family's only hope.

As for Chen Qing learning a trade, he truly had the will but not the means.

"Elder Sister-in-law!"

Chen Wen said with the air of someone grieved beyond measure, "You need to look further ahead! If Xiao Heng passes the examination in the future, what sort of prospects will that bring? Would he forget you, his aunt by marriage? You need to set your sights farther!"

Madam Han was left speechless.

"Xiao Heng."

Chen Jinhua's mind began to turn, and she hurriedly said, "If you encounter any difficulties in learning martial arts later, just tell your Eldest Aunt! Your Eldest Aunt will definitely support you!"

She was thinking of warming herself by this blazing stove while it was still hot.

Chen Heng answered without the slightest courtesy, "Eldest Aunt, I don't have any difficulties right now. I just want to eat meat."

Gaolin County lay beside the river, and most of its people made their living by fishing. This made pork extremely expensive.

At the mention of "meat," even Chen Wen beside them could not help swallowing.

"You child, what nonsense are you talking?"

Second Aunt gave Chen Heng a pretend-angry pat, then turned to Chen Jinhua with a forced smile. "His Eldest Aunt, the child is just talking nonsense because he's greedy. Don't take it seriously."

Chen Jinhua's heart ached at the thought of spending money, but she forced a smile. "Isn't meat easy enough to come by? Come to your Eldest Aunt's house tomorrow, and I'll make sure you get your fill!"

"Thank you, Eldest Aunt." Chen Heng answered so quickly, as though afraid Chen Jinhua would regret it.

Madam Han looked toward Old Master Chen, holding onto her last hope. "Father..."

Old Master Chen took a deep draw from his pipe, exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, and made his decision. "As for A Qing learning a trade, we'll discuss it another day."

Madam Han wanted to speak but stopped herself in the end.

Thinking of the cold treatment she had endured these past years, she could not help feeling wronged.

Chen Qing secretly shook his head.

Old Master Chen had staked the entire family's fate on Chen Heng, hoping he would revive the family through martial arts.

Right now, trying to pry even half a copper coin from Old Master Chen was nothing but a fool's dream.

After a moment of silence, he raised his head. "Grandpa, I want to learn martial arts too."

The moment those words came out, the entire room fell silent.

Chen Wen froze at first, then scoffed. "A Qing, martial arts aren't something just anyone can learn."

Chen Jinhua drove the knife in without mercy as well. "Learning martial arts depends on one's physique and natural talent! With your build and your brain... it's not that your Eldest Aunt wants to criticize you, but learning would only waste money! You should find a proper livelihood and keep your feet on the ground."

She had already decided that this nephew of hers was dull and slow-witted, absolutely not martial arts material.

Chen Qing did not care about their blows. He asked, "Grandpa, can I learn alongside Xiao Heng?"

Madam Han's heart stirred, and she quickly nodded. "That's right. Let Xiao Heng teach A Qing a little."

If her son could learn martial arts by following Chen Heng, that would be a good thing too.

"How could that work?"

At this, Chen Heng shook his head like a rattle-drum. "The martial arts school has rules. Its techniques can't be passed on privately. Besides, I need to train hard every day to prepare for the Martial Arts Examination. How would I have spare time to teach someone?"

He was busy enough as it was. Where would he find time to introduce Chen Qing to martial arts?

Besides, his cousin was not cut out for it anyway. He would only waste Chen Heng's time for nothing.

Second Aunt frowned and chimed in, "Don't let him hold Xiao Heng back."

Old Master Chen's face darkened at once, and he barked, "A Qing, you're not suited for martial arts, so stop making trouble!"

Xiao Heng was now all his hope.

What if Chen Qing delayed him? What then?

"Father..."

Madam Han still wanted to say something.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Old Master Chen suddenly began coughing violently. Second Aunt patted his back, then sneered at Madam Han. "Elder Sister-in-law, have you forgotten? Father mustn't get angry."

Chen Jinhua also glared at Madam Han. "Old Eldest's wife, stop talking already."

Madam Han's face went deathly pale. Chen Qing pressed down on his mother's trembling hand.

He remembered that snowy night: Second Uncle had clung to their grandfather's leg, weeping and wailing, while his father silently shouldered his baggage.

The bones of canal laborers could build a second city wall.

"Being a fisherman on the river isn't bad either."

Old Master Chen finally waved his hand, pointing his pipe at the dust-covered oar piled in the corner. "Just like your father."

Madam Han was utterly disheartened by then.

Chen Qing lowered his head without speaking. He had not heard a word Old Master Chen said.

No matter what, he had to find an opportunity to learn martial arts.

That was the only way out.

Rippling light shimmered across the river's surface.

The Lian Boat swayed gently with the waves, creaking and groaning.

Chen Qing sat on the deck. On the battered wooden table before him sat a bowl of rice bran porridge, so thin it reflected a person's face, along with half a gray, dusty-looking Dregs Cake.

A Dregs Cake was made by scooping up the distillers' grains discarded by wine shops, mixing them with rice bran, and baking them.

Madam Han felt a trace of guilt. "Today... I added a little too much water. Tomorrow, Mother will buy more reed seeds to put in it."

"Thin is fine. It'll last longer that way."

Chen Qing took the bowl. Several chips had already been knocked out of the rough pottery rim.

Gurgle...

The more he chewed the rice bran, the drier it became, carrying the moldy smell of an old granary. The crumbs scraped across his throat, leaving it raw with pain.

He gulped down several mouthfuls of cold water before barely swallowing it. His stomach felt heavy, as though stuffed with a bundle of dry grass.

It did not taste good, but fortunately, he was used to it.

In these times, having something to eat was already good enough.

According to Uncle Gao, during famine years, some people outside the city even ate grass roots, tree roots, and Guanyin soil.

Guanyin soil choked worse than rice bran and made people thirstier. But once too much water was drunk, the Guanyin soil would swell, burst the stomach and intestines, and suffocate a person to death alive.

Chen Qing knew that in this world, poor people without enough experience of survival would die even more miserably.

Compared to Guanyin soil, rice bran mush was already a delicacy.

"...Learning a trade wouldn't be bad either." Madam Han said softly. "Not long ago, I went to Lushui Market and heard Carpenter Li wanted to take on an apprentice. I'll weave more nets during this time and see if I can save a few copper coins after food and drink."

Though learning a trade might mean working like an ox or horse for a lifetime, at least one could survive.

Most of the young people in Yazi Bay were like this nowadays.

"Mother, you don't need to work yourself so hard. I'll find a way."

Chen Qing answered aloud, but inwardly he had already begun to calculate.

In this world, fists were the root, and silver was the umbrella.

Even if he learned a trade, he would still be exploited.

These gangs knew precisely how hard to press: they would neither let you starve to death nor let you live well.

In truth, what troubled Chen Qing most was neither the Incense Money nor the size of the catch, but the River Bandits who had run rampant lately.

If he ran into them, he feared his little life would be forfeit.

He quietly made his plans. If all else failed, he would first rely on his net-weaving skills to secretly save some capital, then slowly seek a path into martial arts.

Only... who knew how long he would have to endure on that road?

Madam Han's lips trembled slightly, and ripples spread through the mush in her bowl.

She knew Chen Qing had plans of his own, but their family's circumstances were simply too difficult.

"Eldest Maternal Aunt, A Qing!"

Just then, a clear voice rang out beyond the cabin door.