Opportunity

"Brother, are you all right...?"

She pushed open the door and ran over, worry written all over her face. Xu Qing had clearly heard the commotion outside.

Xu Yang shook his head. "I'm fine. But from now on, try not to go out. If you really have to, make sure you cover your face."

At fourteen, she was growing more beautiful by the day, her bright eyes as clear as spring water.

Xu Qing nodded. "I'll be careful from now on. By the way, how much did you get paid this month?"

"Six hundred and twenty copper coins. Li Hu took twenty, so now we've only got six hundred..."

As Xu Yang spoke, he took out his money pouch and handed it to Xu Qing.

Cave-ins were common in the mine. Any day, he might be buried alive in there, so he always let Xu Qing keep his money for him.

Xu Qing took the pouch with delight. "Wow... another six hundred copper coins! You're amazing, Brother. With this, we've got two taels and five mace of silver. If we work hard for another year, we'll have enough for you to train at a martial arts school."

The fee for studying under a master at a martial arts school usually ranged from two to five taels of silver per month, depending on the school's strength.

Xu Yang's goal was the worst martial arts school he could find.

Even so, studying under a master required paying at least three months' fees upfront, which meant six taels.

And once he began training, he wouldn't be able to work at all. He'd also need to eat well—at the very least, meat with every meal. That meant setting aside another tael of silver a month for food. In other words, he needed at least nine taels of silver before he could start training.

"We can't wait another year. He Laosan told me today that if I'm over eighteen, the martial arts schools won't take me."

Xu Yang shook his head inwardly. He'd only learned about this today.

Xu Qing's face changed. "What are we going to do...? Is heaven really not going to leave us a way to live?"

Xu Yang had been getting better and better at earning money in the mine. Once he saved enough to train in martial arts, he could rise above their station. Who could have guessed that martial arts schools wouldn't take anyone over eighteen?

Suddenly, she took a deep breath, as if she'd made up her mind. Biting her lip, she said, "Brother, why don't you sell me? Then you'll have enough money to train. Once you become a martial artist, you can buy back my freedom."

"Never think that again. Even if I never train in martial arts in my whole life, I would never do that. If you dare sell yourself without my permission, I'll never forgive you."

Xu Yang hadn't expected her to come up with such an idea. He immediately warned her sternly.

He knew Xu Qing was bold. If he didn't make himself clear, the girl might sell herself behind his back.

Seeing how serious and stern Xu Yang looked, she immediately lowered her head, not daring to bring up selling herself again.

"By the way, Dad wants us to go over for dinner tonight."

As if she'd just remembered something, she suddenly spoke up.

"He invited us to dinner? The sun must be rising in the west."

Xu Yang's expression turned even colder at the mention of the man who was his father in name only.

About six years ago, their mother had died. Not long after, their father, Xu Laoer, had gotten involved with a widow in the neighborhood whose surname was Zhang. Back then, Xu Qing and Xu Yang were still young. Xu Laoer would still bring them food and come home from time to time.

But once Xu Yang turned fifteen and was able to earn a little money, Xu Laoer moved straight into the widow's home and stopped caring for the siblings.

Xu Yang had been only fifteen, forced to fend for himself and raise his younger sister in a world like this. The hardships he'd endured spoke for themselves.

"Today's Dad's birthday. When we get there, Brother, say a few nice things to him. Then I'll bring up how you don't have enough money to train. Dad should help out a little. After all, you're his own son."

Xu Qing smiled brightly, then added, "Even if he doesn't give us anything, we still get a free meal out of it. It's his birthday, so there'll at least be meat."

Xu Yang didn't answer. He was starting to be persuaded.

To save money for martial arts training, he hadn't eaten meat in months. There was no harm in getting a good meal for free.

He was Xu Laoer's own son, after all. Could the man really be so heartless that he wouldn't help his son's future?

After putting away the money, the two of them soon set off for the home of Zhang the Widow.

Zhang the Widow's full name was Zhang Cuiting, and she had quite a story behind her. Her late husband had been a martial artist, but somehow he'd died away from home, leaving Zhang a wealthy widow known far and wide. After Xu Laoer got involved with her, he'd abandoned his own children and gone to live with Zhang Cuiting.

The main reason, of course, was that Zhang Cuiting considered the siblings dead weight and wouldn't let Xu Laoer look after them.

Zhang Cuiting's home wasn't far from Xu Yang's, only about a ten-minute walk. Her courtyard was grand, far better than Xu Yang's stone house, with red brick walls and gray-tiled roofs.

Before the two of them had even stepped inside, they could smell the savory aroma of meat. Quite a few greedy children were loitering outside the courtyard, desperately sniffing at the air.

Inside the house, three people were seated. One was Xu Yang's father, Xu Laoer, whose fair skin and well-defined features made him quite handsome.

It was because of his looks that Zhang Cuiting had taken a liking to him in the first place. Sometimes, Xu Yang couldn't help admiring his father: although he lived off a woman, at least he hadn't turned into a deadbeat.

Zhang Cuiting had married a martial artist, so she was naturally pretty. And with the inheritance her late husband had left her, she didn't have to work. She looked to be only in her thirties, with a curvy, full figure.

The last person was a boy, Zhang Cuiting's son by her late martial artist husband. His name was Yang Jun. When he saw Xu Yang and Xu Qing, a trace of undisguised contempt flashed in his eyes, but he quickly hid it and even managed a smile.

Xu Yang noticed it all and wondered inwardly.

Yang Jun usually never bothered to hide his contempt. What had gotten into him today? He was even putting on a friendly act.

And Zhang Cuiting was acting differently from usual, too.

"Dad, Aunt Zhang!"

The siblings cupped their hands in greeting and looked at the three people seated around the table.

They'd been invited to dinner, but the meal had already started before they arrived.

"Ah Yang, Xiao Qing, you're here. I thought you weren't coming, so I didn't wait for you. Go ahead and get yourselves bowls of rice," Zhang Cuiting said as she stood up.

Her voice was warm, but the contempt she held deep inside was as strong as ever.

"Okay, Aunt Zhang!"

Xu Qing nodded obediently, then discreetly nudged Xu Yang. Without the slightest hesitation, she went to get bowls and served a heaping bowl of rice for herself and Xu Yang. Zhang Cuiting watched, her heart aching over the rice.

She tried several times to stop them, but remembering why she'd invited the siblings over, she forced herself to hold back.

"Sit down and eat," Xu Laoer said too, pulling over a long bench for them.

When the meal was over, Xu Qing helped Zhang Cuiting clear away the dishes. Xu Laoer "asked after" Xu Yang, then finally spoke up. "I asked you to come over today because there's something I need to discuss with you..."

He trailed off, seeming to find it difficult to say.

No matter how shameless or hard-hearted he was, the person sitting in front of him was still his own son.

But after hesitating for only a moment, he continued. "A-Jun has started training in martial arts. His master at the martial arts school says he has a good Bone Root and could become a martial artist one day, but he needs medicinal supplements.

"From now on, give half of what you earn at the mine to A-Jun for his training. When he becomes a martial artist, you, as his older brother, will benefit too."

Although Xu Yang had been prepared and knew there was more to this dinner than met the eye, he hadn't expected this.

"Dad, how can you say something like that? The little money Brother earns at the mine isn't even enough to support the two of us. If we give half of it to Yang Jun, are you trying to starve us to death?"

At the words, Xu Qing ran over with a shriek, her little face flushed with anger.

She'd thought her father had finally grown a conscience and invited them over for his birthday. She hadn't expected him to have his eyes on her brother's hard-earned money.

For a moment, even Xu Laoer felt ashamed, though he was shameless enough to have nothing to say in his defense.

"Xiao Qing, how can you talk to your father like that? Your brother A-Jun could become a martial artist. People would beg for the chance to curry favor with him. Asking you to contribute a little is for your own good. You'll benefit from it in the future.

"Don't think we don't know how much people earn at the mine. It's around four hundred copper coins. Two hundred a month is enough for you and Ah Yang to live on. You can earn a little extra by working for others, so giving half to your brother A-Jun shouldn't be a problem."

Zhang Cuiting hurried over too, acting as if she were giving them a great opportunity.

Yang Jun lifted his chin. "It's only two hundred copper coins. Once I become a martial artist and rebuild the connections my father left behind, a little drop from between my fingers will be enough to keep you two living comfortably for the rest of your lives."

Xu Laoer spoke earnestly. "That's right. If our family can produce a martial artist, everyone will benefit. How can he, as the older brother, not do his part?"

He'd felt ashamed at first, but the moment he thought about the benefits Yang Jun's becoming a martial artist would bring, that shame vanished without a trace.

Xu Yang looked over. His father's eyes brimmed with affection. He knew it wasn't meant for him or his sister, but for Yang Jun.