A Sudden Change

A good teacher?

Jiang Ning was slightly taken aback, then immediately understood what his Eldest Brother, Jiang Li, meant.

He clearly intended to have someone else teach him martial arts.

He also suddenly understood why Liu Wanwan had secretly stopped Jiang Li earlier.

After all, the poor studied literature, while the rich practiced martial arts.

Learning martial arts cost a great deal of silver.

The apprenticeship fee alone was already an astonishing sum, and the later expenditure on medicinal herbs was even more impossible to calculate.

Yet his Eldest Brother's household was already struggling, while he himself did not have a single coin to his name.

If he learned martial arts, would he not simply continue bleeding his Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law dry?

And even more severely than before!

Once he understood this, Jiang Ning hurriedly said, "Eldest Brother, I only meant that you could teach me two martial arts techniques. I don't want to seek out a master and learn martial arts. I don't want to add even more to your burden!"

"It seems you truly have become sensible!" Jiang Li looked at Jiang Ning with a face full of relief, then continued, "I know what you are worried about. You don't need to concern yourself with the cost of apprenticeship. Your Eldest Brother is quite skilled in martial arts, and after serving as a Constable for so many years, I have saved up at least a little."

As he said this, Jiang Ning saw Jiang Li bare his teeth slightly again, and also noticed Liu Wanwan's subtle gesture of stopping him.

"Eldest Brother! There really is no need for me to take a master!"

"What do you know?" Jiang Li glared at Jiang Ning and continued, "With my three-legged cat skills, I cannot even reach the Martial Dao Entry Rank. How could I teach you? Wouldn't I end up leading you astray!"

"Haven't you heard that a good teacher produces outstanding disciples? If you want to learn martial arts, you must find a true master to lead you through Initiation. This concerns your future achievements. This money absolutely cannot be saved!"

"If you truly achieve something on the Martial Path in the future, come to the County Office. I can get you a Constable's post as well. That way, you will have a future to rely on, and be qualified to marry a wife and have children."

Upon hearing the words marry a wife and have children, Jiang Ning immediately felt a headache coming on. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Liu Wanwan pull Jiang Li to his feet and head toward the Inner Hall.

"Forget it!" Seeing this, Jiang Ning sighed inwardly. I'll find another chance to speak with Eldest Brother later!

He hastily wolfed down the food before him, then rose and walked toward the Inner Hall, intending to see what was going on with his Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law.

Jiang Ning was deeply grateful to his Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law in this life.

His former self had idled about without doing any proper work. For the two of them to have done this much could already be called kindness to the utmost.

Even his Sister-in-law had merely voiced some complaints about her idle Little Uncle. She had never openly humiliated his former self.

When he had arrived in this world, he had been listless and badly injured. It had also been his Sister-in-law who had cared for him all along, washing his clothes and cooking his meals.

Therefore, toward his Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law in this life, Jiang Ning felt nothing but gratitude, without the slightest trace of resentment.

As he neared the Inner Hall, Jiang Ning heard the low voices of his Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law speaking.

Curiosity stirring in his heart, Jiang Ning took a few more steps, and their voices became much clearer.

"Jiang Li, have you really thought this through? Your younger brother Jiang Ning is already eighteen. Even if his talent is exceptional, he has nearly missed the best age for learning martial arts. His future achievements will be limited!"

"Wan Wan, I know! But he is my younger brother, my only blood brother. How could I refuse to help him? An elder brother is like a father, and I have only this one younger brother!!"

"What about Ming Er?" Liu Wanwan's voice was filled with anger. "You know how expensive it is to take a master and learn martial arts! Ming Er is fourteen now. His bones will soon finish developing, and in another year or so, he will reach the golden age for learning martial arts!"

As soon as those words were spoken, Jiang Li fell silent. After several breaths of silence, he said, "I can handle the money. Ming Er's future cannot be delayed, but neither can my own younger brother's future! Since he wants to learn martial arts and find a way out, then as his Eldest Brother, I must support him."

"I want to return to my parents' home! I miss my father, my mother, and my older brother!" Liu Wanwan suddenly blurted out.

Dead silence. A burst of utter dead silence descended at once.

"Eldest Brother!" Jiang Ning called out as he walked into the hall, instantly breaking the deathly silence in the Inner Hall.

Suddenly—

"Brother Li—"

"Brother Li—"

"Head Constable Feng has summoned us! We must gather at the Yamen before three quarters past Wu Time!!"

The cries came from outside, drawing nearer and nearer.

"Wan Wan, I've wronged you!!" Jiang Li's voice came from the Inner Hall.

The next moment—

Bang—

The closed door ahead flew open, and Jiang Li's tall, burly figure instantly appeared before Jiang Ning.

"Eldest Brother!" Jiang Ning said.

Jiang Li patted him on the shoulder. "Don't worry. I can handle all of this!! Don't hold it against your Sister-in-law!"

Leaving behind those final words, Jiang Li took a single stride and crossed two or three meters of the Main Hall.

With one hand, he grabbed the Standard Long Blade resting on the table. Then, with another step, he charged straight out of the main house.

"Let's go!!" Jiang Li barked, and his figure vanished from Jiang Ning's sight.

"Sister-in-law!" Jiang Ning said softly as he watched Liu Wanwan emerge from the Inner Hall.

"I hope you can be more mature in the future. Do not disappoint your Eldest Brother's painstaking efforts again!" Liu Wanwan stared into Jiang Ning's eyes, leaving behind those words with an exceedingly serious gaze before brushing past him.

Arriving beside the dining table, she began clearing away the bowls and chopsticks.

The bright moon shone amid sparse stars.

Cold moonlight poured over Luoshui County, as though draping the county at night in a veil of gauze.

Under such bright moonlight, even sitting in the Courtyard, Jiang Ning could clearly make out the words in the book in his hands.

Woof! Woof! Woof!

Suddenly, several barks sounded from outside the Courtyard.

Then, a tall, burly man strode over.

"Brother Li!!!" Liu Wanwan, standing at the Courtyard gate, revealed a look of joy upon seeing that figure.

"Brother Li, what happened to you?!" Liu Wanwan instantly turned frantic, her voice trembling.

Something happened!!!

Those three words instantly surfaced in Jiang Ning's mind as he read beneath the moonlight.

He hurriedly shut his book and rose, walking toward the outside of the Courtyard.

The next moment—

Jiang Ning saw the tall, burly Jiang Li approaching beneath the moonlight, his steps steady and vigorous as a tiger.

Then his gaze was drawn to Jiang Li's right hand, wrapped in white bandages.

Something really happened?

Jiang Ning's heart immediately sank.

At that moment, Jiang Li also strode up to Liu Wanwan.

"Brother Li, what happened??" Liu Wanwan looked at Jiang Li as though tears might spill at any moment, her voice trembling faintly.

Jiang Li bared his teeth in a smile. "It's nothing. We encircled and suppressed the God Worshipping Sect this afternoon. There was a slight accident. Just a minor injury!"

"Brother Li, you promised you would not lie to me!!" Liu Wanwan looked as though she wanted to touch Jiang Li's right hand, yet feared hurting him.

At those words, Jiang Li immediately fell silent.

After several breaths, he slowly said, "This afternoon's operation was brutal. I was fortunate enough to come back alive, but my right hand is crippled."

"Crippled?" Liu Wanwan murmured, seemingly unable to believe her own ears.

The next moment, she looked at Jiang Li with firm determination in her eyes. "Can it be treated? No matter how much it costs, I'll pay it. At worst, I'll beg my father and older brother!!!"

Jiang Li shook his head slightly. "The tendons are severed, the bones shattered. Even divine hands cannot turn the tide."

He then laughed heartily again. "It's fine, don't worry. Although my right hand is crippled, I risked life and limb to wipe out the God Worshipping Sect. I was working for the County Magistrate! I was injured in the line of duty. The County Magistrate will certainly see that I am properly settled! I may not become rich and noble in the future, but living an ordinary life will not be a problem. Besides, after being injured in the line of duty and transferred to logistics, there will certainly be compensation. If the County Magistrate handles this dishonorably, who would still fight and die for him, who would still risk their lives for him?"

Hearing this, Liu Wanwan's eyes filled with tears as she nodded again and again. "Mm, mm, mm!!"

Jiang Li smiled and pulled her into his embrace with his left hand.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning felt rather awkward.

At such a moment between his Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law, it was not appropriate for him to remain here.

Just then—

Jiang Li patted Liu Wanwan on the back, and she gently withdrew from his embrace.

"Little Brother, come with me!" Jiang Li said.

Jiang Ning nodded.