Lin Xuan set down his bowl and chopsticks. Looking at his mother bustling about in the kitchen, he spoke softly.
"Mother, we have half a year's worth of grain stored up, and more than a dozen taels of silver. We have everything we need. You don't have to farm those few mu of land anymore."
Chen Fang paused, one hand still wiping the stove. She turned around, frowning. "Why would we stop farming good land just like that?"
"I'm not finished. I mean we can let other farmers tend it and just take a share of the harvest."
"Farming is hard work. We've had disasters every year for the past few years, and barely brought in any grain. It's been a waste of effort."
Lin Xuan spoke in a calm tone.
"Just rest at home. Pick some wild vegetables each day and help An manage our meals. You don't need to worry about anything else."
"Don't be ridiculous!" Chen Fang replied stubbornly. "The land is our roots. Abandoning it would be a sin! The grain is already growing into green shoots. How can we let someone else farm it now?"
Lin Xuan sighed helplessly. "Even if we grow crops, we might not bring much home. We aren't short of food, so there's no need for you to put yourself through this."
Chen Fang rubbed her right leg, which had long since stopped being swollen. Her tone softened, though she remained firm. "Mother's leg healed a while ago. It doesn't hurt or itch, and I can work.
"I've farmed for half my life. If I sit around, I feel uncomfortable all over. Seeing the fields lying fallow makes me uneasy."
Seeing how determined his mother was, Lin Xuan knew he wouldn't talk her out of it, so he didn't try to stop her again.
Fortunately, her leg injury had healed. Otherwise, no matter what she said, Lin Xuan wouldn't have let her tend the fields again.
"Fine, then. If you want to farm, go ahead.
"But don't overwork yourself. If there's heavy work, call An and me. You mustn't try to shoulder it alone, or you might fall like before and be unable to get out of bed for days."
Chen Fang's face showed a hint of relief. "I know. I won't overdo it. I'll handle the light work in the fields. When you're rested, you can help with the heavy work."
"An, we need to hurry. We're not doing anything else this month. We'll train hard and eat all this bear meat."
Lin An nodded.
A month later, Lin Xuan had finished the bear meat, drunk all the bear-bone soup, and eaten the bear's organs. He had used up every last bit of these resources and brought his hard training to an end.
Using the rice jar as a reference, he could now lift over four hundred jin. His strength had reached an astonishing level, setting him completely apart from ordinary people.
[Super Strength] had contributed immensely. It really did increase his strength by a percentage, rather than just boosting it once.
With the Black Bear Spirit's meat to nourish her and several days of hard training, Lin An had also made rapid progress. She could lift a hundred and twenty jin, already stronger than many able-bodied laborers. She could now protect herself, and if she practiced her martial skills some more, she would no longer be a weak woman anyone could butcher at will.
Chen Fang had eaten some bear meat too, but after a few bites, she refused to eat any more and left the meat for her two children.
The older woman had no interest in martial arts. Besides, she was already old, her vital energy and blood declining and her bones set. She wasn't going to make much progress through martial training. During this time, Lin Xuan had not only grown stronger but also taller.
A Great Jin chi was about thirty centimeters by the measurements of his previous life. He estimated that he was now around six chi tall, while Lin An had also grown to five chi and five cun.
The two of them were already taller than most men and women of this era.
Lin Xuan could now draw the Six-Force Bow to full draw fifty times in a row, by his estimate. But he didn't actually know how many times he could manage, since he didn't have enough arrows.
You couldn't shoot a bow without an arrow, either. Doing so would damage it, so there was no way to get an accurate estimate.
Lin An had started practicing archery too, but her aim was average, and she often missed the target. Still, she could draw the bow to full draw more than ten times.
Lin Xuan thought he should buy a stronger bow. The Six-Force Bow was like a little horse pulling a big cart for him.
It was also time to hunt more game to eat.
He stood up, took a small Sleeve Arrow from a box in his room, and strapped it to his arm.
Qin Sheng had arranged for two sets to be delivered long ago. Lin Xuan had opened them and taken a look during this time, then left them untouched. Since he was heading out now, it would be good to bring one for self-defense.
"An, Mother, I'm going to the Garrison." Lin Xuan took his short saber and bow and hung them from his waist before hurrying out.
As he walked, Lin Xuan paid attention to his surroundings, watching for anyone keeping an eye on him. With the boost from Sharp Eyes, his ability to detect surveillance was now on a whole different level.
Before long, he sensed that someone really did seem to be following him within a hundred paces.
He walked for a li, and the person behind him kept the same distance—not too close, not too far.
Lin Xuan frowned. He wasn't sure whether the person was tracking him or also heading to the military garrison, so he deliberately stopped by the roadside and pretended to sit down and rest, to see whether they would approach.
If they came over, that didn't necessarily mean they were tracking him. But if they stayed put, then his suspicions would be confirmed.
Sure enough, the other person didn't keep walking. Instead, they hid where they were, acting furtively.
Lin Xuan continued on. After about two li, he stopped again. The person still didn't come over, and Lin Xuan was certain: this person was following him.
He sneered. "You're like a ghost that won't leave me alone. Since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish."
He didn't choose to make his move just then. Instead, he planned to go to the Garrison first and buy a couple of weapons that suited him.
Soon, Lin Xuan reached the military garrison and went to the Qin Family's residence in the Thousand-Household Office.
"I'm Lin Xuan. I'd like to see Young Master Qin Sheng. Is he here today?" Lin Xuan asked one of the Qin Family's servants.
Lin Xuan had made a name for himself by establishing his authority on the Drill Ground and hunting a bear alongside Qin Sheng, so he was fairly well known by now. Naturally, the Qin Family's servant didn't dare neglect him.
"Young Master isn't here, but Master is. If you want to see him, I'll pass along the message."
"Good. Sorry for the trouble."
The servant hurried inside to deliver the message. A moment later, Qin Sheng's father, Qin Lie, came out to greet him personally.
Qin Lie wore a slightly worn military robe, a saber hanging from his waist. Before he had even left the courtyard, a hearty smile had spread across his face.
"So it's my nephew Lin Xuan. Come in, come in."
Qin Lie raised a hand, inviting Lin Xuan inside.
"Sheng left early this morning and didn't say where he was going. Whatever you need, just tell Uncle Qin."
Lin Xuan stepped forward and bowed solemnly to Qin Lie. "Uncle Qin, I've come today because I want to buy a heavy bow and a weapon that suits me. I just don't know where to find them in the garrison, so I came to ask your advice."
At that, Qin Lie laughed. "That's no trouble. The Garrison's Armory and the Military Craftsman Shop have all kinds of bows, arrows, and weapons. How strong are you now? Tell me, and I'll help you choose a bow that suits you."
Lin Xuan thought for a moment, then answered honestly. "I haven't measured it carefully. I only tried a simple test at home, and I think I can lift a grain jar weighing about four hundred jin."
At his words, the smile on Qin Lie's face suddenly froze. His eyes flew wide with shock.
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