The Warmth and Coldness of Human Relationships

The siblings snuffed out the candle, eased the door open, and headed west along an empty alley.

Before long, they came to an old courtyard enclosed by a low wall. Two lanterns swayed inside.

It was the old man's former home, where Chen Bao's family also lived.

It couldn't compare with the homes of those wealthy local gentry, but it was still far better than the tiny, ramshackle dwelling Chen Mo's family called home.

Chen Bao, a plump man, was in the courtyard. He spotted Chen Lan and her younger brother approaching from a distance.

The siblings called out to their second uncle.

But Chen Bao didn't respond right away. Instead, he lowered his head and imagined how they would ask him for money, and how he would turn them down.

He rehearsed his speech in his head.

Only when the siblings were almost in front of him did he raise his head, pretending he'd just noticed them, and deliberately raise his voice.

"Why, it's Lan and Mo!"

Someone inside heard the commotion. After a few rustles, a hunched old man emerged, leaning on a cane. He was Chen Mo's grandfather, whom Chen Mo had barely met.

The old man looked up and saw the siblings' thin hemp clothes fluttering in the cold wind. He seemed about to say something, but the words rose to his throat and then slipped back down.

Just then, a young man and woman came out of the house: Chen Mo's younger male cousin, Chen Hang, and his older female cousin, Chen Mei.

Chen Hang studied martial arts at a school, while Chen Mei had married a local man from a middling family.

At last, the old man asked in a low voice, "How have you two been lately?"

"We..." Chen Lan paused briefly. "We've been struggling a little with the monthly tribute grain, but we're doing our best."

Chen Bao, standing nearby, feared the old man might suddenly take pity on them. He hurried to speak first:

"If it weren't for the huge expenses of sending Hang to study martial arts, we'd certainly help you out. Sigh, you really have it hard."

Chen Hang immediately nodded. "That's right. The food supplements alone cost four or five times what they normally would. And that's not counting the medicinal supplements or the tuition."

As he spoke, he rolled up part of his outer sleeve and glanced at Chen Mo, revealing a silk martial arts uniform beneath and an arm that had grown considerably stronger.

Chen Mei piled on, "Lan, honestly, you're old enough to find a husband and get married. You're working yourself ragged every day and still have to look after Mo. Even if you can't find a good man, you could settle for someone decent. Look how easy I have it now. I have connections in the authorities, so I get half my tribute grain waived!"

The corners of her mouth curled higher than the steps she was standing on.

There was an unmistakable meaning behind her words.

Since childhood, she'd been compared to Chen Lan. The neighbors were always saying Chen Lan was prettier than she was, and she had quietly remembered every word.

How could Chen Lan fail to catch the meaning? But they had come today to borrow a martial arts manual for Chen Mo, so she couldn't afford to fall out with them.

Chen Mo noticed his sister's hands clenching at her sides.

He knew it was his turn to speak. "Hang, to be honest, I came today to ask if I could borrow a martial arts manual from you and practice."

At his words, all four of them looked at him in surprise.

Chen Bao smiled first, then waddled down the steps, patting Chen Mo on the shoulder.

"Chen Mo, don't take this the wrong way, but you're jealous of Hang learning martial arts, so now you want to learn too, right? With arms that skinny, you clearly aren't cut out for it. You'd be better off sticking to your work in the Iron Furnace Room."

Chen Mei covered her mouth and let out a snicker.

Chen Hang raised his chin. "Learning martial arts isn't easy. Out of several hundred people, only one manages to step onto the martial path. I'm just one step away. You have neither the right physique nor a renowned teacher to guide you. You'll never make it!"

Chen Mo listened to their mockery, but his expression didn't change.

"I know it's difficult. I just want to get stronger. That way, I'll have more strength for work."

Chen Hang rubbed his chin. "That won't do either. If they find out I've taught martial arts to someone else, the school will kick me out."

At the words "kick me out," both the old man and Chen Bao shuddered.

Chen Hang was the family's hope now. They couldn't let anything happen to him!

"What if it's only the most basic martial arts moves? Surely they wouldn't be so strict about that?" Chen Lan asked.

"Stop making trouble. You'll get Hang into trouble!" Chen Bao snapped, his patience gone and anger rising on his face.

"Enough, enough." The old man's wooden cane tapped the ground. "You two should go home."

Hearing this, Chen Mo didn't want to linger. He glanced at the four of them, took Chen Lan by the hand, and left the courtyard.

So this was the warmth and coldness of human relationships.

When the two returned home, they chewed on some hard steamed buns for dinner.

After the meal, Chen Mo tossed and turned in bed. He'd have to find another way to get a martial arts manual.

He suddenly remembered that Master Wu from the furnace room had once mentioned practicing a few martial arts moves, though he hadn't accomplished much in the end.

Master Wu wasn't like the other laborers. He was skilled in smelting and forging, and the Black Tiger Hall had hired him for silver. He wasn't beaten or cursed at, and he didn't have to pay tribute grain.

If only Master Wu had kept his old martial arts manual.

The next day, the cold wind still blew.

Chen Mo went to the furnace room early. The other laborers arrived one after another, along with two overseers from the Black Tiger Hall.

If anyone wondered how cruel the overseers were, they only had to look at the workers' bodies, crisscrossed with shocking whip marks, to get an idea.

Inside the furnace room, different people handled the fire, fanning the flames, hammering, quenching, shaping with tongs, and carrying materials.

Chen Mo was responsible for tending the fire. It was exhausting, but still better than hammering or hauling.

While the overseers were out drinking, Chen Mo quickly went over to Master Wu. "Uncle Wu, you once said you'd practiced some martial arts moves. Do you still have the manual?"

Master Wu looked up at Chen Mo. "What, you're interested too?"

Chen Mo nodded. "A little. If you still have the manual, could I borrow it to read? I can pay you."

Master Wu loved chatting about martial arts. Words like "jianghu" and "hero" often slipped into his conversations, and he was delighted whenever he found someone who shared his interests.

His eyes immediately lit up. "As a matter of fact, I have one with me. I'll get it for you."

Master Wu rummaged through a wooden box nearby, then finally brought out a book with a dark blue cover. The title, Fuhu Fist, was written on it.

"This is the one. It's a beginner-level martial art. I practiced it for a few years." Master Wu sighed wistfully as he recalled the past.

"But I barely got anywhere. I doubt I'll ever have a chance of entering the martial path in this lifetime."

Chen Mo took the book with both hands. "Thank you, Uncle Wu. I'll count it as a loan. How much should I pay you?"

"Forget it." Master Wu waved a hand. "I won't charge you. If you figure out anything useful, just tell me."

Chen Mo bowed and thanked him again.

The Fuhu Fist in his hands felt like a weighty hope.

He walked to a corner and opened the cover. The pages showed the movements and sequences of the fist technique, along with a few explanatory notes.

He turned the pages one by one.

He couldn't make heads or tails of any of it.

Even this most basic martial art was hard to understand.

When he reached the last page, brilliant golden words suddenly appeared in his mind:

[Thousand Hammer Refinement, Mountain and Water Cultivation]

[Successfully bound Fuhu Fist. Mountain Essence and Water Soul to be refined: Crude Iron]

[Refining this material can unleash its innate potential and improve your martial arts Comprehension]