Encountering an Old Acquaintance Outside the City: Benevolent Joy Heavenly Mother Sect

"Sister-in-law Qi and Ning?"

Yang An asked in confusion.

"How did they help you again?

Ning was wholly devoted to martial arts now and no longer worked at the Porter Guild. How could he possibly help you?

And Sister-in-law Qi—you said that after her daughter's matchmaking meeting with Ning fell through last time, you rarely had any contact with her. What is this all about?"

Liu Ying was carefully tending to her husband's wounds.

"As for Sister-in-law Qi, it was only that things between her He Xiang and Ning did not work out. Sister-in-law Qi and I are still friends.

You know her family's circumstances. They attached themselves to a wealthy household on South First Street.

These past few days, I have found fewer and fewer jobs on East Third Street. There are many expenses at home, so for everyday purchases, I went outside the city to browse the Grass Market.

By chance, I ran into her there."

The "Grass Market" of Kuishan County generally referred to the periodic market that naturally formed along the roads beside the city walls.

The goods traded were mostly everyday agricultural produce and basic handicrafts. Since they came from rural villagers in the surrounding settlements outside the county seat, their prices were far lower than those of the markets within the city.

With prices in the city fluctuating wildly these days, the Grass Market had gradually become the main trading ground for farmers and lower-class townsfolk.

"You ran into her outside the city? Given her family's circumstances, does she still need to buy things at the Grass Market?"

Yang An could not help but be puzzled. The He Family, where Sister-in-law Qi belonged, had attached themselves to a noble household—why would they still go to the Grass Market to buy things?

"You're right. When I saw her at the Grass Market, I was shocked as well.

But she did not hide anything from me and explained why she had come to the market:

She was purchasing supplies for the Benevolent Joy Heavenly Mother Sect's masters, to provide relief for the sect's followers within the city."

"The Benevolent Joy Heavenly Mother Sect that shouts, 'Let people's hearts turn toward goodness and revere the Heavenly Mother; enter paradise after death, and let life endure forever,' through the poor districts in all four directions?"

"Exactly. Before the He couple struck it rich, their family's circumstances were even worse than ours.

Though things were vastly different now, they must have joined one of those sects long ago."

Yang An nodded slightly.

"That is not strange. That sect has a decent reputation. I have seen quite a few people join it."

"Yes. She said she had been poor and suffered hardship herself.

During her darkest days, it was the Benevolent Joy Heavenly Mother Sect that helped her. Now that she was doing better, she lent a hand whenever the sect had matters to handle.

Then she brought me to a shop at the Grass Market run by fellow followers of the Benevolent Joy Heavenly Mother Sect. Through Sister-in-law Qi's connections, I bought many good and inexpensive things.

And through her connections, there were fellow believers among the city guards too, so I did not even have to pay the fee to enter and leave the city. That saved us a great deal of silver."

Yang An stroked his chin thoughtfully, carefully digesting the news his wife had brought him.

"Sister-in-law Qi really did us a great favor. Did she not hint at all that you should join the Benevolent Joy Heavenly Mother Sect?"

"I'm not that foolish. I would not bow my head and worship them just because they gave me a few small favors.

You warned me before that every one of the factions and gangs within the city was far from simple.

Even if Sister-in-law Qi showed signs of inviting me, I just laughed it off and brushed it aside."

Yang An relaxed inwardly and pulled his wife, who had finished treating his wounds, into his arms.

"My Ying'er is wise and tender-hearted, skilled at managing the household. I underestimated you.

We may make use of the convenience offered by the Heavenly Mother Sect behind Sister-in-law Qi, but we must not entangle ourselves in karma with them. As the saying goes, there is no such thing as a free bargain under heaven. It is better to be cautious."

Liu Ying nestled against her husband's chest and nodded slowly.

"Let us set Sister-in-law Qi aside for now. How did Ning help you? In the days before I left, I saw him diligently cultivating every day."

"Hmph, do you still think your little brother is a child, unaware of the family's circumstances?

He saw through our situation long ago. He has not been burying his head in bitter training anymore.

These days, I have seen him moving about all over the city. I suppose he was looking for a place where he could help the family.

In the end, it seemed he found work as a helper at a pharmacy in our district. The pay was not much, but it was still some income, and he had been using it to subsidize the household."

"Oh? Ning actually found work at a pharmacy? Why did he not tell me beforehand?"

Yang An sounded as though he were reproaching his younger brother, but his face was already beaming with smiles.

He was clearly very pleased that although his younger brother was still practicing martial arts, he nevertheless kept the household's affairs in mind at all times.

"It is only a temporary job. Why make such a fuss to tell my elder brother about such a trivial matter?"

The moment he finished speaking, a sound came from outside the door. Yang Ning entered, pushing the door open with several small parcels in his hands.

He flashed a brilliant smile at his elder brother, who had spent half a month away gathering medicinal herbs. "It is only a temporary job. I merely helped Sister-in-law keep an eye on things at home."

Yang An rose with a smile as well and punched his younger brother lightly on the shoulder. "You're becoming more and more like a man who shoulders responsibility. Not bad."

Yang Ning chuckled and raised the oil-paper-wrapped, steaming hot cooked food in his hands.

"Brother has been running about outside and surely has not had much meat. Let's eat at once!

Xiao Hua, dinner's ready!"

After a long time, the Yang Family was once again gathered around the same dining table.

The family gathered together and the steaming dishes upon the table were unnoticed beauties hidden within everyday life.

Unfortunately, because of his wounds, there would be no wine today.

When Yang Ning saw his brother's injuries, he went into the house and brought out medicinal herbs from Uncle Song's shop to apply to them.

The instant Yang An felt an itch spreading across the wounds, he knew that what his younger brother had used was no simple thing.

"Ning, I heard from your sister-in-law that you seem to be helping out at a shop now. What is the situation with that pharmacy where you are staying? Is it long-term work?"

Yang Ning shook his head slightly. "An old man merely took me in temporarily. I still have to find my own way to make a living."

These days, while he searched everywhere for a place to go in the future, he had also swallowed his pride and gone to Uncle Song's shop, claiming that he was repaying the old man by "helping out a little."

But in truth, he had temporarily lost his means of livelihood and wanted somewhere to settle his feet.

Uncle Song said nothing and simply took in Yang Ning as a temporary worker.

However, he had also made it clear that he was only giving Yang Ning a period of transition. Even so, Yang Ning was already deeply grateful.

Seeing his younger brother put it that way, Yang An more or less understood his current situation.

"I heard from your sister-in-law that you have been going out often lately. Are you... are you preparing to find a place to work now?"

Yang Ning nodded slightly.

"Now that I practice martial arts, I naturally need to find work suited to a martial artist. That will also lessen the burden on the family."

His sister-in-law asked curiously,

"Ning, have you become some kind of official martial artist already?

I heard martial artists are divided into all sorts of ranks. What rank are you now...?"

"Yes, Sister-in-law. I have already become a martial artist, but I still have some way to go before becoming a powerful one. My current cultivation is not worth mentioning."

Even before his own family, Yang Ning did not reveal his progress. He still needed to become stronger.

Having received confirmation from his younger brother, Yang An exchanged a glance with his wife and could not help nodding.

"Looking at how full of vitality and blood Ning is, he is no different from the skilled martial artists back at the hall.

I knew that after cultivating so diligently these days, you had already passed several hurdles.

There was something I had never told you before. Now that I see your cultivation has borne fruit, your sister-in-law and I will not hide it from you any longer:

We plan to wait until we have a little more money on hand, then find someone with connections and bring you into the inner hall of Hundred Herb Hall to practice martial arts.

So that your perseverance and talent will not go to waste."