Brocade Robes Reflect the Future

In the small courtyard of the An He Inn, a few late-blooming osmanthus trees still held a faint remnant of fragrance, drifting subtly through the crisp air.

Chen Yuan was helping his grandfather, Chen Tie Mao, carefully fold the coarse cotton shirts that had been sun-dried. The old man's movements were slow and meticulous, smoothing out every crease until it lay perfectly flat.

"Your master is a man of dignity, and the martial school is a place of great style. As his own people, we need to be neat and tidy in our dress, so we don't bring you shame," Chen Tie Mao said quietly, his gaze sweeping over the clothes hanging in the yard—worn but washed clean.

Chen Yuan felt a warmth in his heart and was about to reply when the crisp sound of hooves and the creak of reins came from outside the courtyard gate.

A young disciple in the black martial uniform of the Blackwater Martial Arts School dismounted nimbly, holding a plain cloth bundle in his hands. He walked steadily into the courtyard.

"Senior Disciple Brother Chen!" The disciple saw Chen Yuan and immediately clasped his fists in a respectful salute. "By Instructor Zhang's orders, I've come to inform you of the detailed procedures for tomorrow's apprenticeship ceremony." He presented the bundle with both hands. "This is the standard uniform prepared by the school for Personal Disciples. Please wear it tomorrow."

"There is also a sample Apprenticeship Post. Instructor Zhang instructs you to copy it by hand and then give it to me to take back to the school, where it will be placed on the Ancestor's Altar in the main hall for verification."

Chen Yuan accepted it solemnly. His fingertips touched the fabric of the uniform, feeling its extraordinary fineness and toughness—far beyond ordinary cotton or linen, as if woven with a blend of shark silk. It was breathable and durable, with a faint, barely perceptible ripple of energy. Clearly, it was costly. At the collar, the bold characters "Blackwater" were embroidered in dark silk thread.

"Thank you for making the trip, Junior Disciple. Please convey my thanks to Second Senior Disciple Brother," Chen Yuan said.

"You're too kind, Senior Disciple Brother. It's my duty. Once you've written the Apprenticeship Post, just call for me. I'll be waiting outside the gate." The disciple saluted again and withdrew to wait outside.

This scene left Chen Tie Mao, Lin Sanniang (who had come out from the house upon hearing the noise), and Xiao Li (clutching a box of candied fruit) all somewhat stunned.

The respectful attitude of the martial school disciple toward Chen Yuan, his repeated use of "Senior Disciple Brother Chen," and the obviously valuable uniform all made them truly feel that Chen Yuan's standing at the school was indeed different now.

Chen Yuan carried the clothes back to his room. Xiao Li immediately crowded in, curiously touching the smooth, cool fabric. "Brother, this outfit is so pretty!"

Lin Sanniang also stepped forward to feel it, her eyes filled with both joy and emotion. "This material... must have cost a lot, right? The school really treats you... really treats you well."

Chen Tie Mao followed them in and sat down at the table, a faint, barely noticeable tension and an indescribable relief on his face. "Yuan'er, the rules for tomorrow... have you got them all memorized?"

"I hear formal apprenticeship kowtows have a lot of rules—which foot to step with first, how many times to bow, where to put your hands. You can't get the steps wrong and let people laugh at our fishing family for not knowing etiquette." He looked at his grandson and added, "But judging by that disciple's attitude just now, you're really valued at the school."

Chen Yuan stopped writing, looked up, and gave his family a reassuring smile. "Grandfather, rest assured. Second Senior Disciple Brother has gone over the process with me in detail several times. It's just lighting incense, presenting the post, offering tea, and kowtowing. I've got the steps memorized. I won't make a mistake."

He paused, seeing his family's mix of anticipation and nervousness, and said while grinding ink, "Dad, Mom, Grandfather, Grandmother, don't be too tense either. The senior and junior disciples at the school are all very friendly. The master is dignified, but he treats his disciples with care."

"Just like this An He Inn—see, the environment is quiet, the owner is polite. The master and Second Senior Disciple Brother arranged all of this in advance."

He spread out the red paper, steadied his mind, and began to copy the sample stroke by stroke, character by character.

The brush and ink fell on the paper, the handwriting neat and steady, the strokes penetrating the paper. Though not the work of a master calligrapher, it had its own upright and resolute spirit—far better than the Spring Festival couplets he'd written at home last year.

Second Uncle Chen Dajiang leaned in, watching the neat characters flowing from Chen Yuan's brush, and couldn't help nodding in admiration. "Good handwriting. Since joining the school, you've not only trained in martial arts but your writing has improved a lot too."

Soon, the Apprenticeship Post was written, and the ink was blown dry.

Chen Yuan folded it carefully, walked out to the courtyard, and handed it to the waiting disciple.

The disciple took it with both hands, saluted respectfully again. "Senior Disciple Brother Chen, rest assured. The post will be properly placed on the Ancestor's Altar. Tomorrow morning, someone will come to guide you and your family to the school."

"Thank you for your trouble, Junior Disciple." Chen Yuan returned the salute.

Watching the disciple ride away, Chen Yuan went back into the yard and looked at the sky. It was still early. A thought struck him.

"Grandfather, Dad, Mom, Grandmother, Second Uncle, Second Aunt," Chen Yuan said with a smile to the whole family, "It's still a while before dinner. Since we've got nothing to do, how about I take you all for a stroll nearby? This county town isn't as bustling as the prefectural capital, but there are plenty of interesting things. Let's get familiar with the roads, so we won't be lost when we go to the school tomorrow."

Xiao Li was the first to jump up in response. "Yes, yes! Brother, I want to go! Are there any sugar-figure sellers?" Chen He didn't speak, but his eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Lin Sanniang hesitated. "Is this... appropriate? Won't it interfere with your business? And with all of us, strangers in a strange place..."

If you can't find the book by its title, try searching by the author's name—it might have just been renamed!

"It's fine, Mom," Chen Yuan reassured her. "We'll just walk nearby. It's not far, and I know this area pretty well. Besides, we're dressed plainly, just an ordinary family out for a stroll. It won't be a problem." He could see that his mother and grandmother were actually tempted but were afraid of causing him trouble.

Chen Tie Mao tapped out his pipe and stood up. "Yuan'er's right. A walk is good. Staying cooped up in the yard is stifling. Let's see what this county town is really like."

Second Uncle Chen Dajiang also laughed. "Yeah, big brother, sister-in-law. We're here for a rare visit. Let Yuan'er show us around."

With everyone chiming in, Lin Sanniang and Grandmother Zhang Shi smiled and nodded in agreement. Second Aunt carefully straightened Xiao Li and Chen He's collars.

The family locked the courtyard gate and filed out slowly along the bluestone-paved alley. Chen Yuan led the way, acting as a temporary guide.

"The An He Inn where we're staying is in the east of the city, not far from the school. Most of the people living around here are small merchants and scholars. It's fairly quiet."

Chen Yuan pointed as he spoke. "See that shop with the 'Tea' banner? That's an old teahouse. I hear the storyteller there is pretty good. Over there is a bookshop—sometimes you can find old boxing manuals..."

Emerging from the alley, they reached a slightly wider street. The afternoon sun was pleasant, and though there weren't too many people about, the shops lining both sides were bustling with the sounds of hawkers and haggling—a lively scene far different from the quiet of Iron Clothes Village.

Xiao Li's eyes couldn't keep up. She pointed at a stall selling colorful windmills, then was drawn by an old man blowing sugar figures, her little face flushed with excitement.

Chen He tried hard to act composed, but his gaze kept darting to stalls selling wooden swords, wooden knives, slingshots, and clay figurines, full of curiosity.

Chen Dahai and Lin Sanniang also looked curiously at the cloth shops and general stores, murmuring about prices. Second Uncle Chen Dajiang, being the accountant at the town's fish market, was more sensitive to the prices at the grain and oil shops, occasionally exchanging a few quiet words with Second Aunt.

Now and then, disciples in gray or black martial school uniforms passed by. When they saw Chen Yuan, they would slow down and politely greet him with a clasped fist, calling out "Senior Disciple Brother Chen."

Once, a disciple in black, who looked a few years older than Chen Yuan, approached. When he saw Chen Yuan, he not only stopped voluntarily but also smiled and made small talk. "Senior Disciple Brother Chen, taking your family out for a look around?"

"Yeah, Junior Disciple Li. My family just arrived in the county town, so I'm showing them around," Chen Yuan replied with a smile, his manner natural.

"Of course, of course. Need any recommendations? The 'Zhang's Pastries' at the street corner ahead is pretty good. The elderly and kids should like it."

"Thanks, Junior Disciple Li. I'll give it a try later."

After Junior Disciple Li had walked away, Second Aunt whispered in amazement, "Yuan'er, that one just now... was he also from the school? He looked older than you. Why did he call you 'Senior Disciple Brother'?" Lin Sanniang and Chen Dajiang also looked curious.

Chen Yuan explained, "Second Aunt, at the school, seniority isn't just about age. It's more about when you joined and your cultivation level. I've become the master's Personal Disciple, so my status is higher than most inner and outer court disciples. That's why they call me 'Senior Disciple Brother.'"

He saw the dawning understanding and even greater pride on his family's faces. Chen He, in particular, looked at his cousin with admiration.

He pointed again at a majestic complex in the distance, its entrance guarded by disciples. "Look over there—that walled compound with the high gates is our Blackwater Martial Arts School. Tomorrow, we'll enter through the main gate."

His family followed his finger, gazing at the imposing gatehouse and towering walls. Imagining themselves walking through there tomorrow for the grand ceremony, they all drew a deep breath, their eyes brimming with anticipation and awe.

True to his word, Chen Yuan took the family to "Zhang's Pastries" and bought each of them a soft, sweet osmanthus rice cake.

Xiao Li ate with sticky sweetness all over her mouth, Chen He cradled his cake carefully as he nibbled, and Grandmother Zhang Shi and Second Aunt both nodded in approval, saying it was delicious.

After strolling for about half an hour, with the sun dipping westward, Chen Yuan led the reluctant, still-wanting-more family back.

Passing a restaurant that looked decent, he made a mental note of its location, planning to bring the family there for a taste of county-town cuisine if the chance arose after tomorrow's ceremony.

By the time they returned to the An He Inn, dusk had quietly seeped into the eaves. The family wore relaxed smiles; the earlier walk had dispelled the strangeness of their arrival, and the martial arts disciples' respect for Chen Yuan had set their minds at ease.

Second Uncle Chen Dajiang watched his nephew's upright back and couldn't help sighing, "Yuan'er has turned out so well—the Chen Family must have accumulated virtue in past generations."

The courtyard gradually fell silent, and a crescent moon rose above the eaves.

Though no one spoke, a glimmer of anticipation danced in every eye.

Tomorrow's ceremony would be the starting point for the fisherman's son to officially step onto the martial path—and the turning point for this seaside family's fate.