Reunion

"It's Huiniang."

Chen Qing was somewhat surprised.

Madam Han hurriedly rose and pulled open the creaking cabin door.

Yang Huiniang stood outside, her little face red with cold, her faded gray old ruqun pressed tight against her body by the river wind.

"Huiniang!?"

Madam Han stepped aside in surprise. "Come in, quickly. It's cold outside."

Yang Huiniang's gaze swept quickly over the bowl of thin, watery paste on the table, and a flicker of heartache crossed her eyes.

She took a small cloth bundle from her bosom and carefully opened it. "These are Mixed Grain Beans I just made."

"How could we accept this?" Madam Han declined, though her eyes could not help drifting toward the beans.

"Auntie, don't stand on ceremony." Yang Huiniang pushed the bundle before Madam Han.

Chen Qing noticed the calluses on her fingers. Life at Eldest Aunt's home had been tight these past few years as well.

Madam Han bit her lip. "All right. I'll put these Mixed Grain Beans away first."

She clutched the cloth bundle tightly and turned to duck into the inner cabin.

Yang Huiniang looked at Chen Qing and asked, "A Qing, what are your plans from here on?"

Chen Qing replied, "I'll take it one step at a time."

Yang Huiniang fell silent for a moment, then suddenly took out a red pouch, washed so often it had faded white, and stuffed it into Chen Qing's hand.

"This is..."

Chen Qing asked in confusion.

"These are the Private Savings I've put away over two years. I originally meant to use them to prepare my dowry." Yang Huiniang's face reddened slightly.

Chen Qing paused, then said, "Cousin, how can I accept this? This is yours—"

"What? Afraid you won't succeed at Learning Martial Arts and won't be able to pay me back?"

Yang Huiniang blinked. "When the time comes, I'll be charging interest."

Feeling the lingering warmth on the pouch, Chen Qing said solemnly, "I'll definitely repay you, principal and interest together."

"I was joking."

Yang Huiniang laughed. "Pfft." Then she rose. "It'll be dark soon. I need to go back."

"I'll walk you."

Chen Qing followed her out of the Covered Boat.

The two walked along the River Bank as the bone-piercing river wind howled.

The setting sun branded Yazi Bay's silhouette onto the muddy ground, while broken pottery shards and fish scales fought for the last glimmers of light in the filthy ditch.

The Yang Family lived in Baihua Lane, an alley as narrow as a gaunt intestine, twisting and turning as it squeezed into the western corner of the Outer City.

The bluestone road had long since cracked, weeds pushing up through the gaps. The earthen walls on both sides of the alley were mottled and patchy, and some households had used broken roof tiles to patch holes in their walls where the wind leaked through.

Compared to the precarious swaying of the Lian Boat at Yazi Bay, the brick-and-tile houses here could at least keep out the wind and rain.

The two spoke of their childhood, and Yang Huiniang also told him some trifles from the Cloth Shop.

Yang Huiniang looked at Chen Qing. "Cousin, you seem to have changed."

Chen Qing gave a soft laugh. "Have I?"

"But it's a good change."

Yang Huiniang nodded. "You used to be a little dull."

She had always thought her cousin was somewhat wooden before, and that it would be hard for him to find a wife.

Before they knew it, they had reached the Yang Family's door.

Yang Huiniang said softly, "I'm going in. You should head back early too."

Chen Qing nodded. "All right."

Yang Huiniang turned and went home.

Chen Qing drew a deep breath and hurried toward Yazi Bay. With the sky already dark, there were very few pedestrians left on the road.

"Chase them! Don't let the Scum of the Five Poisons Gang get away!"

Suddenly, beastlike roars came from the distance.

Then, several dozen men wielding sharp blades and brimming with Baleful Intent came charging out from the alley ahead, hacking at one another.

Blade-light burst through the gloom with bone-chilling Cold Light.

Clatter! Bang!

The nearby residents instantly went pale, frantically slamming their doors and windows shut, terrified of being fish in troubled waters.

"Not good!"

Chen Qing's heart tightened. He immediately slipped into the shadow of the nearest corner and held his breath.

He had three great principles for conducting himself.

Don't stir up trouble, don't fear trouble, and when trouble comes, run.

Only after the shouts of killing and the clashes of weapons had completely vanished into the depths of the alley did he carefully poke his head out. Then he broke into a wild sprint toward the Lian Boat.

"Huff... huff..."

Charging into the cabin, Chen Qing braced his hands on his knees and gulped down air, his heart still pounding with lingering fear.

This world was far too chaotic.

Especially after dark—it was truly terrifying.

Chen Qing silently warned himself that he had to be cautious, cautious, and more cautious.

"What happened?"

Seeing him like this, Madam Han's face went white with fright. She rushed over and felt him all over. "Was it Highway Robbery or a Gang Fight? Are you hurt anywhere? Hurry, let Mother see!"

Chen Qing waved a hand, steadying his breath. "Mother, I'm fine. I just... walked a little too fast."

"That's good."

The weight in Madam Han's heart finally lifted, and she turned toward the inner cabin.

Halfway there, she suddenly stopped. With an unusually serious expression, she said, "A Qing, you're grown now. No matter what you want to do, Mother will support you."

She paused, a resilient strength in her voice. "Starting tomorrow, Mother will weave more nets. Somehow... there will be a way."

With that, she lowered her head and ducked into the inner cabin.

Warmth filled Chen Qing's heart. He stood silently where he was for a long time before slowly sitting down.

The night deepened. Outside, the frigid wind howled in gust after gust.

Cold moonlight slanted through the cracks in the boat planks and into the cabin.

Chen Qing took out the pouch Yang Huiniang had given him. Five taels of broken silver and several dozen copper coins rolled out.

To learn martial arts, aside from Family Inheritance, one could only take a master.

And taking a master naturally required an Apprenticeship Fee.

Chen Qing murmured, "With this money, I'll have a chance to learn martial arts."

Yang Huiniang had saved every bit of it through bitter hardship.

The broken silver in the pouch was brighter than any moonlight he had ever seen.

The next morning, frost lay thick and the wind was cold.

Chen Qing squatted by the stove, watching the Rice Bran paste bubble in the clay pot.

In the corner, Madam Han hunched her back, her withered fingers weaving through the fishing net.

"Mother, I'm heading out."

Chen Qing wolfed down the thin paste in his bowl and wrapped his patched-over-patched ragged coat tightly around himself.

Without raising her head, Madam Han said, "Come back early. I've saved some Mixed Grain Beans for you in the pot."

"Got it."

Chen Qing jumped down from his boat's plank, and the cold wind immediately poured into his collar like knives.

The stone road was uneven, covered in potholes of varying depths.

Garbage lay everywhere, heaps of waste giving off a nauseating stench.

Filthy water ran down the center of the street, forming little black streams that reeked sharply. Flies and mosquitoes buzzed wildly over the piles of trash.

People hurried past on the street. Some wore ragged clothes covered in patches, while others went barefoot, mud caked across the soles of their feet.

The poor living in the shacks along the shore also had to pay the "Eaves Water Tax." Their lives were no better than those of fishermen eking out a living on the water.

Chen Qing lowered his head and quickened his pace.

He had long since made thorough inquiries about Learning Martial Arts.

On Changping Street lived an Old Escort named Zhou Liang.

He had once traveled north and south with an escort agency. Later, as he grew older and old injuries piled up, he retired. Now, he took disciples and taught martial arts from home.

The Apprenticeship Fee he charged was only twenty percent of what martial arts schools demanded.

Many poor youths who wished to practice martial arts came to Martial Arts Academies like this to take a master.

Chen Qing quickly found the gate of the Zhou Family residence and stepped forward to knock the door knocker.

"Who is it?" A vigorous voice pierced through the door.

"My name is Chen Qing. I have come to take a master," Chen Qing said quietly.

The door creaked open a crack. A lean, iron-hard man poked his head out, looked Chen Qing up and down, then stepped aside. "Come in. Master's inside."