Weakness Meant Being at Others' Mercy!

Their thoughts churned.

In the end, Fang Ting spoke first.

"Learning martial arts..."

"In this world, nothing is easy. Take the laundry, for instance—there are quite a few women working there."

"A few days ago, a man called Zhao Si suddenly showed up. His mouth was full of filth, and he kept harassing the women at the laundry."

"He even said he wanted to pick one of us to marry..."

Fang Ting paused before continuing.

"If you go to the martial arts school, there will be plenty of rich young masters there. If you get bullied like I did, what will you do?"

"Besides, learning martial arts is much harder than doing laundry and manual labor. You are usually the laziest—can you really keep at it?"

Fang Ting studied Fang Chen.

In truth, she did not believe Fang Chen sincerely wanted to learn martial arts.

She knew her younger brother well. There was a good chance he was only saying this to swindle money for gambling.

Yet Fang Chen met her scrutinizing gaze directly and nodded firmly.

"Elder sister, I can do it!"

Fang Ting was just about to continue persuading him.

But then—

Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock!

A hurried knocking at the door abruptly shattered their thoughts.

"Is Miss Fang home? I have come to arrange a marriage—a truly excellent match!"

Fang Chen and Father Fang exchanged a glance, both somewhat puzzled.

But a flicker of fear and worry crossed Fang Ting's face.

A guess surfaced in her heart.

Could it be... No, absolutely not!

The person outside continued pounding on the door.

Fang Ting furrowed her brow and rose to open it.

A plump matchmaker, her face caked with powder and rouge, squeezed inside with an exaggerated smile piled across her face.

"Oh my! Old Brother Fang, Ting Yatou, great joy is at your door! Oh, Little Brother Fang is here too?"

She sat down without invitation, her gaze sweeping over the three of them.

"Hehe, Master Zhao Si of the Green Robe Gang in the south of the city asked me to play matchmaker! He has taken a liking to Ting Yatou!"

"You may not know this, but his own older brother, Master Zhao San, is a leader in the gang!"

"Though Master Zhao Si has not made much of himself yet, with his brother protecting him, wealth and fortune will surely be his someday!"

"As for the betrothal gifts, Master Zhao Si said they would absolutely..."

Elder sister Fang Ting's face had already gone deathly pale. She abruptly cut her off.

"I will not marry him! Zhao Si idles about all day, throwing his weight around on the strength of his brother's name. He most enjoys harassing women—he is no good!"

"When I saw him at the laundry a few days ago, I knew he was up to no good!"

The matchmaker's smile froze, then her face darkened.

"Ting Yatou, listen to yourself! Master Zhao Si is honoring you with this!"

"The Green Robe Gang is gaining momentum by the day. Who knows—perhaps this territory will no longer be under the Three Rivers Gang's control someday! Your Fang Family..."

Before she could finish, a cold voice suddenly rang out.

"Fat hag, no matter what happens in the future, this territory belongs to the Three Rivers Gang for now!"

"You spout such nonsense here—aren't you afraid the Three Rivers Gang will hear of it?"

Fang Chen's face darkened, his threat utterly undisguised.

"Believe it or not, I'll report every single word you just said without leaving out a syllable!"

The matchmaker broke out in a cold sweat at once, realizing she had misspoken.

She hurriedly slapped herself twice and forced a smile.

"Oh dear! Little Brother Fang, look at this rotten mouth of mine! What I just said was..."

"Get out!" Fang Chen roared.

The matchmaker shuddered. A flash of venom passed through her eyes, but she did not dare say more. She merely left behind one sentence.

"Fine, fine, I'll go, I'll go! But this marriage was Master Zhao Si's idea. I am only passing along the message... You... you had better think it through..."

Father Fang had already been trembling with rage. He grabbed the carrying pole from the corner and was about to smash it down on her!

With a shriek, the matchmaker scrambled and rolled out the door, nearly falling flat on her face.

Fang Chen slammed the battered wooden door shut, then turned back toward his father and elder sister.

"Alas!"

Father Fang let out a heavy sigh, his face filled with helplessness and powerlessness.

Elder sister Fang Ting's eyes reddened, tears welling within them.

She bit her lip hard, desperately holding them back.

Her looks could only be called pleasant enough, but she had a fine figure and a clear, bright voice.

Who would have thought that a rogue like Zhao Si would set his sights on her? It was truly a disaster falling from the sky.

Father Fang was, after all, the head of the household. He forcibly suppressed his emotions and suddenly looked at Fang Chen.

"A Chen! You said just now... that you wanted to learn martial arts?"

There was a hint of hope in his voice.

"This martial arts training... how much silver will it cost? How sure are you? If you can truly succeed... then your elder sister..."

Hearing this, Fang Ting also raised her head to look at her younger brother.

She had originally opposed it, believing that her younger brother's temperament had not changed and that he could not truly want to learn martial arts.

But what had just happened made her waver.

In the past, her younger brother would definitely have forced her to agree to this marriage!

Because he would have been desperate to curry favor with Master Zhao San and strut before his fair-weather friends!

He could even take a share of the betrothal gifts to enjoy himself at the Gambling House!

But just now, her younger brother had stood on her side without hesitation.

He had helped her drive away that disgusting matchmaker...

That protection warmed her heart.

Her younger brother... seemed to truly be different now!

Fang Chen met their gazes and nodded forcefully, his tone firm as nails.

"Dad, elder sister, I need four taels of silver! Do not worry! As long as you let me learn martial arts, before long, I will definitely change our family's circumstances!"

Fang Ting was still somewhat worried.

"But I heard the sisters at the laundry say that martial arts training values one's innate bones most... Younger brother, can this path truly work?"

Fang Chen showed a confident smile. "Do not worry. I am sure of it. Trust me!"

"Good! A Chen, Dad believes you!"

As though he had made up his mind, Father Fang turned and entered the inner room, bringing out a bundle.

He carefully counted out four taels of silver.

After a pause, he gritted his teeth and took out another five taels!

"A Chen, take it! I heard that martial arts training requires good food and drink, and medicinal herbs to nourish the body. Use this money first—do not skimp on whatever you need to buy!"

"If it is not enough... Dad will take on more work at the docks!"

Fang Chen was deeply moved as he accepted the silver.

His elder sister Fang Ting silently handed over a small purse as well.

She gently shook it. Inside were bits of silver and copper coins she had saved up.

"I... had meant to save this for my dowry someday. But now... you need it first."

Fang Ting's voice carried a faint choke.

"Elder sister, this money..." Fang Chen's heart tightened.

Fang Ting shook her head and interrupted him, her tone unusually resolute.

"Younger brother, you must make something of yourself! Otherwise... I..."

Fang Chen nodded heavily and comforted her.

"Elder sister! Our family has paid protection money, so in name, we are under the Three Rivers Gang's protection."

"The Three Rivers Gang and the Green Robe Gang are competing fiercely right now. Even a small matter could make the two sides come to blows."

"If the younger brother of a Green Robe Gang leader can casually come into this territory and bully us, that would be a slap in the Three Rivers Gang's face and weaken their momentum!"

"At least for this period, the Three Rivers Gang is keeping a close watch on Green Robe Gang members who cross the line. Zhao Si will not dare go too far."

Those words eased Fang Ting's taut nerves somewhat.

Late at night, when all was quiet,

Fang Chen lay in bed, his thirst for strength fiercer than ever before.

If he had strength,

Would the likes of Zhao San and Zhao Si dare come to his door and bully them?

Learn martial arts! He had to learn martial arts!