Chapter Twenty-Seven: Soft Rice Is Hard to Swallow

Zhou Mansion.

Once a prominent family in Guangping County, the Zhou family had gradually lost its former glory over the generations, though its foundation remained.

"What do you all think of the matter Master Yang sent someone to propose?"

Zhou Cang sipped his tea, looking at his two sons and two daughters.

"A nineteen-year-old martial artist who has completed the second skin-tempering stage after only one year of training—his potential is quite good. If there is enough silver to support him, it is possible for him to step into the third skin-tempering stage within five years."

Zhou Cang's eldest son, Zhou Xu, provided his analysis but did not commit to a stance.

"Father, I think this marriage is feasible. Lin Yan's parents are both deceased, leaving only an aunt and a cousin. There is no risk of him trying to seize our Zhou family property for the Lin family. Even if he fails to reach the third skin-tempering stage, he is still a second-stage martial artist."

The eldest daughter smiled slightly: "Father, what we think is not important; the main thing is whether Little Sister herself is willing. Little Sister, what are your thoughts?"

"Second Sister is right. Little Sister, what do you think?"

Under the gaze of her family, Zhou Shu pursed her lips: "Father, I do not wish to marry this man."

"Oh? Tell us your thoughts, Shu'er." Zhou Cang doted on his youngest daughter, so he merely asked with a smile upon hearing her response.

"It is obvious that Lin Yan's family background cannot sustain the subsequent expenses of martial arts training, which is why he is seeking this marriage—he wants to use our family's wealth to fund his path. If I were to agree, I fear all the costs for his training would fall on us. Furthermore, just because he succeeded in the first two stages does not mean he will succeed in the third on his first attempt. I do not wish to see our family spend so much money to nurture an uncertain possibility."

Every word Zhou Shu spoke sounded as if she were considering the family's interests, yet only she knew that the real reason she looked down on Lin Yan was his origins.

As a young lady of the Zhou family, her friends were all daughters of prestigious households. If her husband were a poor boy from an ordinary family, she would surely be mocked by the sisters in her social circle.

Zhou Cang pondered for a long while. He understood his daughter's petty concerns clearly, but just as she feared being mocked, he harbored the same reservations.

The Zhou family had once been glorious; to take on a son-in-law of humble origins now would surely invite ridicule.

"Since you are unwilling, Shu'er, then we shall drop the matter."

Yang Family Martial Arts Hall.

Yang Qingfeng's brow furrowed slightly as he listened to the report from the person he had entrusted with the task.

He had put quite a bit of effort into finding a good match for Lin Yan, selecting four families in total.

These four families possessed decent wealth, did not have an excessive number of heirs, and most importantly, were of clean reputation, having no secret ties to the gangs in the city. He wanted to ensure that if Lin Yan became their son-in-law, he would not be used as a pawn.

Yet, he had not expected the results to be so discouraging.

One family had politely declined, while the other two, though not refusing outright, had set the condition that Lin Yan must marry into their families as a live-in son-in-law.

Lin Yan's parents were dead, and of the three generations of the Lin family, only two remained. As the sole descendant of his own lineage, it was absolutely impossible for him to marry into another family.

Of the three unfilial acts, having no descendants is the greatest.

In this era, marrying into a wife's family was, in essence, having no descendants of one's own.

As for the last family, the Li family, they had neither refused nor demanded he marry in, only suggesting that they arrange for the two juniors to meet first.

Qingtian Town.

"Junior Brother Lin, let's go. We mustn't miss the time."

"Senior Brother Zhang, please wait a moment. Miss Axiu, please trouble yourself to pour a cup of tea for my senior brother."

Lin Yan asked Axiu to pour tea for Senior Brother Zhang Liang while he returned to his room to change. He had originally planned to head into the Great Fog Mountain today, but he hadn't expected Senior Brother Zhang Liang to arrive in Qingtian Town in person so early in the morning.

His master had helped arrange a meeting for him with the Li family's daughter today, and Senior Brother Zhang Liang had been ordered to notify him.

"Go ahead, Junior Brother."

Zhang Liang watched with a smile as Lin Yan entered the room, then turned his gaze toward Axiu, who was pouring the tea. He said indifferently: "My junior brother is already at the second skin-tempering stage at such a young age and is highly valued by our master. His future is limitless, and the woman who stands by his side in the future will surely be the daughter of a powerful and wealthy family."

He said this out of fear that this farm girl might have unrealistic aspirations.

He did not know that Axiu only handled the laundry, cooking, and cleaning of the courtyard for Lin Yan. In his eyes, his junior brother must have already been intimate with this woman.

If his junior brother came from a prominent family, he wouldn't need to give such a warning, as his junior brother would know what kind of woman was fit to be a wife. But since his junior brother came from an ordinary family, he feared he might be young, naive, and ignorant of these things, thinking he should take responsibility and marry her.

"Rest assured, sir, I... I have a clean relationship with Master Lin."

Axiu kept her head down, not daring to look at Zhang Liang, her face flushed red. Her parents had told her several times to climb into Master Lin's bed, but Master Lin had no such thoughts toward her at all. After a few attempts, she no longer dared to try anything, and she was already content just cleaning the courtyard for Master Lin every day.

Jinsheng Pavilion.

The largest theater in Guangping County, frequented only by the wealthy and powerful of the city.

Guided by a waiter, Lin Yan entered a private box. His master had reserved it for him in advance; the tea fee alone for one box was three taels.

Not long after the waiter brought the tea, fruits, and pastries, footsteps sounded at the door, and the young lady of the Li family walked in, followed by her maid.

The young lady was dressed in a waist-cinching long dress that revealed her graceful figure. She took the initiative to speak to Lin Yan: "Are you Lin Yan, the disciple of the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall?"

"I am indeed Lin Yan. Greetings, Miss Li."

"We are both martial artists, so there is no need for such formalities, Brother Lin. You may call me Li Yu directly."

Li Yu lacked the usual reserve and bashfulness of other young women, looking Lin Yan over with a frank gaze: "Brother Lin, I will be direct. You are not the husband I desire. The only reason I agreed to meet you this time is because Master Yang once did my family a favor, and it would have been difficult for us to refuse outright."

After speaking, the maid behind Li Yu took out a silver pouch and placed it on the table.

"I've taken up Brother Lin's time; there are twenty taels of silver notes in here as an apology."

Lin Yan narrowed his eyes. He wasn't surprised that this young lady of the Li Family hadn't taken a fancy to him, but he hadn't expected her to offer twenty taels as an apology.

Twenty taels of silver in exchange for half a day spent traveling to and from the city—honestly, he wasn't losing out.

If this matter concerned only him, he would have taken the twenty taels as a windfall, but since it involved his master, he could not accept the money.

"I understand your meaning, Miss Li. I will explain to my master that we did not see eye to eye, but as for this silver, it is unnecessary."

"Brother Lin, I mean no offense; I only wish to express my apologies."

"There is no need. If you have time to spare, Miss Li, you are welcome to stay and listen to the opera."

His master had paid for the private box, and Lin Yan had no intention of leaving. Li Yu was stunned for a moment by Lin Yan's words, then smiled, "I have matters to attend to at home, so I shall take my leave."

As Li Yu walked out of the box with her maid and descended the stairs, the maid couldn't help but say, "Miss, this Lin Yan has already reached the second stage of skin-toughening at such a young age. His future..."

"He has no future."

Li Yu cut the maid off directly. "The fourth stage of skin-toughening becomes increasingly expensive. Master Yang approached our Li Family because he knows that given Lin Yan's family background, he could never scrape together the silver needed for the third stage, and he hopes to use our family's wealth to support Lin Yan's cultivation."

"Rather than spending money on someone else, it is better to spend it on myself. Once I reach the third stage of skin-toughening, I can find a husband who is at least my equal in cultivation."

"Furthermore... if Lin Yan had accepted the twenty taels, I might have thought more highly of him, considering it a sign of flexibility. But he refused; he likely felt that my offering him money was an insult."

"A martial artist from an ordinary background who is so sensitive about his pride will likely not easily accept charity from others. Just watch, it won't be long before Lin Yan's martial path stagnates due to a lack of funds."

Li Yu sighed softly. To ordinary people, a martial artist at the second stage of skin-toughening was a big shot, but in the upper echelons of the county, only those at the third stage had any real say.

With Lin Yan's common origins, he was likely arrogant after reaching the second stage, and the more he was like that, the less likely he was to ever reach the third.

After Li Yu left, Lin Yan packed up the fruits and pastries from the box and departed the theater.

He had paid three taels for them, so he might as well take them home to satisfy his younger brother's cravings.

After returning home, Lin Yan went to the martial arts hall to see his master, merely stating that he and Li Yu had not hit it off.

Yang Qingfeng looked at his disciple's calm face, but in his heart, he understood: unless Li Yu was exceptionally ugly, Lin Yan would not have been the one to reject her.

Marrying a daughter from a prominent family was primarily about the financial support provided by her clan; his disciple understood this well, and her appearance was secondary.

The real reason was that Li Yu had not taken a fancy to Lin Yan.

Lin Yan said it this way not for the sake of his own pride, but rather to prevent his master from holding a grudge against the Li Family, which might sour their relationship.

"Since you and the young lady of the Li Family are not fated, let the matter rest. Do not take it to heart; in the end, a martial artist must rely on their own strength."

"This disciple understands."