Work-Study Program

Early the next morning.

Dawn had barely broken, and Lakeside Village was still wrapped in silence when the rising and falling chorus of barking dogs shattered the quiet.

"That stupid dog from Old Wang's family—I ought to stew it one day."

Lin Chen had not waited long at the village entrance before Gu Fei emerged from the village, grumbling curses under his breath.

"Who told you to throw the bone that dog had hidden into the water back then? It was already merciful of it not to bite you."

Thinking of the mischief his former self and Gu Fei had caused in the village, Lin Chen was left rather speechless.

Whenever they had nothing to do, the two would scour the village grass for bones the local dogs had buried in the sand, then toss them into the stream right in front of the dogs.

"It's been more than half a year, and that stupid dog still holds a grudge."

Gu Fei curled his lip. Seeing no one else around, he lowered his voice and asked curiously, "I heard from my father that your family split up last night?"

Father Lin had gone to find the Village Chief the previous night. The Village Chief drafted the family-separation document, and several respected village elders were invited to witness it, lest there be any wrangling in the future.

The village was only so large; the news had spread everywhere overnight.

"There wasn't enough money for two grandsons to study martial arts, so we could only split up and earn our own livings."

Lin Chen spoke calmly, but Gu Fei exploded. "Your Grandfather is that biased? You're both his grandsons!"

"Perhaps, in his eyes, Lin Ming is the good grandson." Lin Chen murmured self-mockingly, then consoled Gu Fei instead. "This is fine too. Now that we've split up, each family can live its own life."

"No, we can't let your Uncle's family take advantage of you. All the money your family earned these past years was spent on Lin Ming."

Gu Fei shook his head. "Chenzi, wait here for me."

"What are you going to do?"

"I have to spread the word about your Grandfather's favoritism. I'll tell Aunt Li. Before the day is out, the whole village will know."

Hearing Gu Fei's words, Lin Chen's mouth twitched. Aunt Li was famous throughout the village for having a big mouth. Anything Aunt Li learned was tantamount to the whole village learning it.

After thinking it over, Lin Chen still did not stop him.

The family-separation document had already been written anyway. Letting Gu Fei help him vent some anger was not bad either.

Gu Fei ran back into the village and did not return until a quarter of an hour later. By then, the other two boys from the village who studied martial arts had also arrived. Seeing outsiders present, Gu Fei winked at Lin Chen and did not bring up the matter again.

The four moved quickly and reached the Martial Hall before daylight had fully broken.

Lin Chen and Gu Fei returned to their dormitory. After setting down their things, Gu Fei said to Lin Chen, "Chenzi, when I went home just now, I asked my father for some more money. If you don't have enough, come find me. I'll lend you some first."

"Alright. If I don't have enough money, I'll borrow from you."

Lin Chen was somewhat taken aback, but he soon answered calmly.

No wonder Gu Fei had taken more than a quarter of an hour. He had not only gone to find Aunt Li, but had also made a trip home.

"If you need anything, just tell me. We're brothers, so don't stand on ceremony."

After washing up in the dormitory, Lin Chen changed into the training uniform issued by the Martial Hall. After some thought, he said, "I'm going to find Instructor Yu."

"What are you looking for Instructor Yu for?"

"I'll see if I can ask for a Work-Study Program opportunity."

Lin Chen's answer only made Gu Fei more confused. What the hell was a Work-Study Program?

Seeing Lin Chen leave without explaining, Gu Fei quickly called after him, "I'll wait for you at the dining hall later. If you don't come, I'll bring two steamed buns to the Training Ground for you."

The rear courtyard.

Instructor Yu's residence.

Lin Chen drew a deep breath and knocked on the door ring.

"Instructor Yu, disciple Lin Chen requests an audience."

After a while, a response came from within. "Come in."

The door was ajar. Lin Chen pushed it open and stepped over the threshold, seeing Instructor Yu standing motionless in the courtyard, his eyes fixed on the sky. Lin Chen did not dare disturb him.

Several breaths later, Yu Yongnian finally turned and looked at Lin Chen. "What is it?"

"Instructor, this disciple respectfully asks you to give this disciple a chance to study martial arts."

Lin Chen bowed deeply and stated his purpose directly.

"This disciple had originally thought Grandfather would support this disciple's martial arts studies..."

Lin Chen briefly recounted how his Grandfather had refused to let him continue studying martial arts, leaving them with no choice but to split the family.

After hearing Lin Chen's account, Yu Yongnian's emotions did not fluctuate much. As he had said before, he had seen students at the Martial Hall who had it worse than Lin Chen.

Take Qiu Yuan, who had been eliminated not long ago. Was he not equally full of regrets?

"You want to borrow money from me?"

Yu Yongnian spoke. He would not lend money to students. Lin Chen was not the first to ask, nor would he be the last.

It was not that he was cold-hearted. If one could not even sustain the expense of studying martial arts at the Martial Hall, then one would not go far down the martial path. Better to cut off such hopes early, lest one become trapped in it and end up failing at martial arts while draining the family savings and drowning in debt.

"This disciple would not dare."

Lin Chen shook his head. He had considered borrowing money, but ultimately gave up on the idea.

He and Instructor Yu were neither kin nor friends. Why should the man lend him money?

Out of sympathy?

He simply lacked the money to study martial arts. He was not yet at the point of utter misery.

"This disciple sees that the dining hall is rather short-handed. This disciple is willing to help work there in exchange for meals. This disciple wishes to ask for a Work-Study Program opportunity."

Work-Study Program?

Yu Yongnian's pupils contracted slightly as he stared at Lin Chen. "Do you know what working in the dining hall entails?"

"This disciple understands."

"Do you truly understand?" Yu Yongnian asked in a deep voice. "When the time comes, the other students will dine in the hall, while you, also a student, will have to clear their bowls and chopsticks. You will have to endure their strange looks."

Lin Chen answered resolutely, "This disciple can endure it."

"Do not think it so simple. Once you are truly in that position, your dignity before others will be gone."

Yu Yongnian understood what Lin Chen meant by "Work-Study Program." Yet precisely because he understood, he felt Lin Chen would not be able to bear it.

"This disciple has already gone through such an experience these past few months." Lin Chen said somewhat embarrassedly, "Back then, in order to drink the dining hall's beef soup for free, this disciple would wait until all the Senior Brothers and Junior Brothers had bought their meat before going to eat... This disciple was mocked as well..."

"This disciple wavered before and thought of giving up. But whenever this disciple wavered, once I felt my strength growing, those taunts and strange looks no longer amounted to anything."

By the end, Yu Yongnian saw the satisfied smile on Lin Chen's face.

That smile moved him.

For the sake of studying martial arts, Lin Chen could endure the mockery of others and even find satisfaction in it. Such temperament was something even Yu Yongnian himself could not achieve, let alone a youth.

Since that was the case, he would lend him a hand.

"I will speak to the dining hall. You may work there in exchange for meals. If there is leftover beef in the dining hall, some may be saved for you as well."

"Thank you, Instructor Yu. This disciple is deeply grateful." Lin Chen said excitedly.

Lin Chen truly was excited. When he had come to seek Instructor Yu and ask for a Work-Study Program opportunity, he had not been certain he would succeed.

If Instructor Yu had refused, he would have found another way.

Having lived two lives, Lin Chen understood one principle.

When a person was poor, they had to exhaust every means to climb upward and seize every opportunity.

Face, dignity...

These were the two cheapest things for people at the bottom.

"The martial path is blocked and long. Without a steadfast martial heart, it is difficult to continue down it. Since you can endure the criticism of others, I, as your instructor, am willing to help you."

"This disciple will certainly train diligently and never disappoint Instructor's nurturing grace."

Yu Yongnian nodded slightly. "Go."

After Lin Chen departed, an elegant woman stepped out from the front hall of the courtyard.

"Does Junior Brother think that youth can cultivate Essence Energy within a year, which is why you helped him?"

"No."

Yu Yongnian shook his head and looked at the woman. "Senior Sister, you do not know the hardships of common life. For most students at the town's Martial Hall, their goal is to cultivate Essence Energy within two years. Few dare even imagine cultivating Essence Energy within one year."

Senior Sister Shu came from a great family. How could she understand that for Martial Hall students, cultivating Essence Energy within two years was already quite satisfying?

"To cultivate Essence Energy within two years would not lead to many accomplishments in martial arts either." Shu Suwan pondered.

"It is already enough."

Yu Yongnian smiled bitterly. Students from different family backgrounds pursued different goals.

To cultivate Essence Energy within two years, enter a martial academy and step into the Aperture Opening Realm, then have a chance to secure some minor post in the yamen in the future—that would count as Bringing Glory to the Family.

For ordinary people in villages and towns, even a single yamen runner from the government was already an important figure.

"Last year, I attended the wedding feast of a former student. The guests, relatives, and friends filled every seat, yet the most honored seat at the main table was empty. Even though the auspicious hour had passed, the host family still did not begin the banquet. Senior Sister, do you know why?"

"An honored guest had not arrived."

"Senior Sister, do you know who that honored guest was?"

"Who?"

"A yamen runner from the County Yamen Constabulary Office. Not the chief constable, not a constable captain, merely an ordinary yamen runner."

Shu Suwan sighed softly. "So Junior Brother serves as an instructor at the Martial Hall because you can sit in the chief seat at the main table when attending feasts in town?"

Yu Yongnian: ...

"It is more comfortable staying at the town's Martial Hall, with less intrigue and scheming. Senior Sister, as the newly appointed Martial Arts Bureau Inspector, are you going to use your power for personal gain and transfer me away?" Yu Yongnian asked half-jokingly.

"I would be willing to use my power for personal gain. Is Junior Brother willing to leave?"

Yu Yongnian fell silent. After a long while, he said, "I still prefer the atmosphere of the Martial Hall."

Shu Suwan's beautiful eyes fixed on Yu Yongnian. He became uncomfortable under her gaze and could not help shifting his eyes elsewhere.

Seeing the evasive look in her Junior Brother's eyes, a trace of resentment flickered in Shu Suwan's gaze, only to vanish in an instant. When she looked up again, she was smiling. "Your Senior Sister has just taken up the post of Martial Arts Bureau Inspector. I came this time to seek Junior Brother's advice. Do you have any suggestions concerning the Martial Hall?"

"Senior Sister, please wait a moment."

At the mention of suggestions, Yu Yongnian immediately grew serious. He turned and entered the inner room, returning shortly afterward with several sheets of paper in hand.

Shu Suwan took the papers and looked at the first page, reading aloud, "Studying martial arts is exceedingly costly. Students train bitterly for three years, often exhausting a family's savings of ten years, yet still achieve little. Martial arts are cruel; village folk turn pale at the mention of martial arts, and none dare speak of studying them. To revitalize the Martial Hall, tuition should be waived and meal subsidies provided..."

After reading it, Shu Suwan frowned slightly. "What you wrote is not right."

"What is wrong with it? Please instruct me, Senior Sister."

Yu Yongnian was somewhat unconvinced. He had served as an instructor at the Martial Hall for four years, and this was what he had summarized from the circumstances of its students.

Seeing her Junior Brother's unconvinced expression, Shu Suwan smiled. "The meaning is not wrong, but you cannot word it that way."

"Then how should it be worded?"

"The Grand Progenitor established the Martial Hall policy, bestowing blessings upon all under heaven. Yet at town Martial Halls, there are occasionally students of talent who cannot continue due to impoverished family circumstances. If they can be encouraged and provided with Silver Coins, then once they succeed in martial arts, it will have a heartening effect on their Lineage and on the villages and towns where they reside. Surely, the children of every village will all study martial arts and repay the court with service."

"Oh, and that 'Work-Study Program' your student mentioned is another possible approach."

After hearing this, Yu Yongnian's expression turned somewhat strange after a long while. "No wonder Senior Sister is the Martial Arts Bureau Inspector."

During the new-book period, one chapter is tentatively updated every morning at eight and another at four in the afternoon. Please keep following!