The thirtieth day of the twelfth month.
This was the first New Year Lin Yan had spent since transmigrating into this world.
"Yan'er, take your little brother to pay respects to the ancestors."
Aunt Liu had long since arranged the three sacrificial meats, fruits, and other offerings on the ancestral hall altar.
Lin Yan lit the incense and gave three sticks to his little brother. The two brothers respectfully paid homage to the Lin family ancestors, while Liu stood to one side with a gratified expression.
Every New Year, she would have the two brothers pay respects to their ancestors. In the past, however, she had only been able to prepare some simple offerings. This year, there were three sacrificial meats and an abundance of fruit. All these changes had been brought about by Yan'er.
"Big Brother, Sister-in-Law, Yan'er has grown up. He has taken on the responsibility of supporting the family. You can rest in peace beneath the Nine Springs now."
Liu murmured softly in her heart. Once the two brothers had finished bowing and inserting their incense, she stepped forward and straightened the incense burner, which Mo'er had knocked crooked while inserting his incense, before leaving the room.
"Auntie, I have some good news to tell you."
After leaving the ancestral hall, Lin Yan said with a smile, "I bought a residence in the eastern part of the city. Once the New Year is over, we can move there."
"You bought a residence in the eastern part of the city?"
Liu froze. Although she was a woman, she knew how expensive residences in the eastern district were. A single house there could be exchanged for an entire residence here.
"Yan'er, houses in the eastern district are so expensive. You should be spending your money on martial arts right now. Buying a single house is enough."
"It's fine, Auntie. I currently hold an appointment with the Tang Family, and my monthly allowance is quite high. Even after buying the residence, I still have plenty of money left—enough to cover my martial arts expenses."
Lin Yan explained, then added in a shameless tone, "Besides, I've already bought it. I can't return it now."
Act first and report later—that was the best approach when dealing with elders accustomed to frugality.
"You child..."
"Auntie, isn't the reason I practice martial arts so that our family can live better? Now that my martial arts have gotten me somewhere, if our family ends up living even more frugally, wouldn't all that training have been for nothing? Most importantly, this place has been getting more and more chaotic. With you and Little Brother living here while I stay in Qingtian Town, I won't feel at ease either. Master warned me before that the thing martial artists fear most is having an unsettled mind."
Lin Yan gave a sheepish chuckle. He believed that after giving these two reasons, Auntie would definitely stop refusing.
Just as Lin Yan had expected, Liu had still been somewhat hesitant at first, but by the end, that thread of hesitation had vanished.
In Liu's heart, there was only one thing more important than her nephew's martial arts training: his marriage.
"Big Brother, did you really buy a residence in the east of the city?"
The most excited person in the family was none other than Lin Mo. A child his age was at the stage where he ran about everywhere. Lin Mo and some playmates his age had often gone to the eastern district and seen its prosperity, but he also knew very well that the houses there were beyond what they could afford.
"I'm going to tell Er Gou and the others that we're moving to the east of the city."
Smack!
Lin Mo rubbed the back of his head and looked at his mother with a wronged expression.
"Don't go telling other people outside that your brother bought a house."
"Got it, Mom."
Lin Mo's face was full of grievance. He did not understand why his mother would not let him tell anyone, but Lin Yan understood the reason behind Auntie's actions.
Because he practiced martial arts, the gangs had waived his family's protection fees. Though the neighbors said nothing to their faces, they had certainly gossiped behind their backs. Auntie did not want the family to attract even more envy.
Although those neighbors were nothing in the face of his current strength, there was nothing wrong with Auntie being this cautious.
While Auntie was inside preparing New Year's Eve dinner, Lin Yan went out again and headed for the Xu Family.
There was not the slightest trace of New Year's cheer at the Xu Family today. The moment Lin Yan entered, he smelled the thick scent of traditional medicine.
"Lin Yan's here?"
Xu Dahai saw Lin Yan arrive and hurried over to greet him.
Over the past few months, Lin Yan had regularly asked Auntie to send some silver to the Xu Family.
"Uncle Xu, is Big Brother Xu Ping feeling any better?"
"He's better than before. He can get out of bed and walk around for a while each day."
Lin Yan asked a few questions about Xu Ping's condition, then left after putting down his gifts and a red envelope. He did not go inside to visit, afraid that it would cause Xu Ping's emotions to fluctuate too much.
That night.
The sound of firecrackers shook the heavens.
Even in a poor district like the northern part of the city, firecrackers sounded one after another without pause. The Xu Family had even set off a string at their doorway. Ten copper coins for a string, all for one simple wish: to drive away bad luck and let the family live a little better in the coming year.
On the first day of the first lunar month, Lin Yan finished breakfast, then carried the rice wine Auntie had brewed herself and some cured meat to the martial arts hall.
Before the New Year, Master had already instructed them not to give gifts. But he had meant expensive gifts. Two strips of cured meat and a jug of rice wine were nothing to a martial artist, much less to a martial artist of Master's status.
When Lin Yan arrived at the martial arts hall, he discovered that he was not the earliest. Quite a few people had already gathered in the front courtyard, exchanging festive greetings.
"Senior Brother Li."
Lin Yan also spotted Li An. Seeing him standing still, he took the initiative to go over and greet him.
"Junior Brother Lin, congratulations on successfully completing the second round of Skin Polishing."
When Lin Yan had walked over to greet him, Li An's emotions had been somewhat complicated. Back then, after failing to break through to the second round of Skin Polishing, he had chosen to leave the martial arts hall and take an outside appointment. He had not expected news to arrive soon afterward that Junior Brother Lin had succeeded in breaking through.
"I still have to thank Senior Brother Li for your guidance. It helped me avoid a few detours."
Hearing Lin Yan say this, Li An smiled. He knew Junior Brother Lin was being modest. His success had nothing to do with him.
He had failed himself, so what could he possibly guide Junior Brother Lin in? Guide him to fail?
Sensing that Junior Brother Lin had not distanced himself after successfully breaking through, Li An's heart stirred and a thought surfaced. He was just about to speak when all the disciples who had been chatting in the courtyard fell silent, their gazes turning toward the steps of the main hall.
Yang Qingfeng walked out of the main hall. Looking at the disciples in the courtyard, he smiled. "Why has everyone come so early today? I don't provide breakfast here."
"Master, that's bad news. I didn't eat breakfast this morning because I was planning to freeload a meal here. I didn't expect I'd end up going hungry."
One of the disciples joked. Yang Qingfeng pretended to be angry. "You're the one who talks too much. How could I let you go hungry? Come with me."
The kitchen had prepared breakfast long ago. Even Lin Chen, who had already eaten, had another bowl of noodles.
After paying their New Year respects, the disciples who had completed the first round of Skin Polishing left first, while Lin Yan and the other disciples who had completed the second round were kept behind.
"This year's Lantern Snatching Festival will be the same as in previous years. Each martial arts hall will send one disciple to participate. Do any of you have any thoughts?"
Yang Qingfeng asked with a smile. Yet the moment he spoke, everyone's eyes fell on Zhao Linyuan, including Lin Yan's.
In his original body's memories, he had even seen the martial artists' Lantern Snatching Festival program. It was a traditional event of Guangping County's Lantern Festival.
On the night of the Lantern Festival, colored lanterns would be hung before the City God Temple by the county government, and each martial arts hall would send disciples to snatch them. To the common people watching, it was simply a lively spectacle. To the martial arts halls, however, it was also an opportunity to establish their reputation.
Thus, every martial arts hall would arrange for a young disciple to appear. For a disciple of a martial arts hall, being chosen to represent the hall meant that he had earned his master's recognition and attention.
In the hearts of the disciples of the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall, the one who could represent the hall was naturally Junior Brother Zhao Linyuan.
Although Junior Brother Zhao was the last among those present to complete the second round of Skin Polishing, he had taken the shortest time from beginning his cultivation to entering the second round. His talent was astonishing.
"Master, I am willing to represent the martial arts hall in competing for the lanterns." Zhao Linyuan did not put on a false show of modesty. He stepped forward directly.
Yang Qingfeng smiled. Zhao Linyuan had been his choice as well.
"Does anyone else have an objection?"
"Master, Junior Brother Zhao is the most suitable person to represent our martial arts hall."
"Other than Junior Brother Zhao, none of us are suitable."
The other disciples who had completed the second round of Skin Polishing expressed their opinions one after another. Yang Qingfeng nodded. "Since that's the case, the Lantern Snatching Festival is entrusted to you, Linyuan."
"This disciple will give it his all and bring no shame to the martial arts hall."
Looking at Zhao Linyuan, the choice supported by everyone, Lin Yan felt no jealousy. He did not like this sort of chance to steal the limelight. Besides, he had to admit that, for now, Junior Brother Zhao was indeed superior to him.
The Martial Dao Tree was his greatest secret. No outsider knew that he would never fail when breaking through. By comparison, he was still some distance behind Junior Brother Zhao.
The next day.
Lin Yan carried a gift box and went with Auntie to the southern part of the city.
The Lin Family had no relatives nearby. This time, the two of them were going to the Cai Mansion to pay their New Year respects.
To avoid the possibility of being looked down upon, Lin Yan directly wore his martial arts hall disciple's uniform. The Cai Mansion was a wealthy household, and the gatekeeper should understand what his clothing represented.
In Lin Yan's heart, his grandaunt at the Cai Mansion had shown him great kindness. Without the cultivation method she had obtained for him, his path in martial arts would not have gone so smoothly. This favor was by no means light.
Now that it was the first month of the New Year, there were certainly many relatives visiting the Cai Mansion. If he acted as he usually did, the gatekeeper might treat him and Auntie as poor relatives and leave them out in the cold.
If they were neglected, or even mocked and ended up in a conflict—something that could have been completely avoided—simply because he had tried to play the fool while hiding his strength, that would not be low-key. It would be stupidity.
When they arrived at the Cai Mansion's entrance, things happened just as Lin Yan had expected. The gatekeeper saw the clothes he was wearing and hurried down the steps to greet him.
A martial artist who had completed the second round of Skin Polishing was a major figure even to the Cai Mansion.
"May I ask why this honored sir has come to the residence?"
"My aunt and I have come to pay New Year respects to my grandaunt."
Lin Yan explained their purpose. The gatekeeper hurriedly led the two of them inside, though he was inwardly puzzled. Fourth Mistress had a nephew who had completed the second round of Skin Polishing?
The gatekeeper had seen Lin Yan and Liu once before, but more than half a year had passed. Furthermore, after Lin Yan began practicing martial arts, his figure had grown considerably and he looked completely different. It was only natural that the gatekeeper could not remember him.
Liu looked at the path they were taking into the residence, a hint of confusion on her face. She had never taken this route when visiting the Cai Mansion in the past.
"Little Brother, where are we going?"
"With an honored sir and madam visiting, naturally we're going to the main hall."
The gatekeeper answered courteously. This was not his first time receiving the relatives of the various madams today. He had already welcomed several batches, but he had arranged for all those relatives to go to the courtyards where their respective madams lived.
According to the rules of previous years, the three madams each received their own relatives, while the master would find time to visit each of their courtyards and meet those relatives once, which counted as completing the formalities.
But a martial artist who had completed the second round of Skin Polishing was different. He absolutely could not be slighted.
The reason he had been able to work as a gatekeeper at the Cai Mansion for more than ten years was that he understood the master's way of treating guests.
PS: Fortunately, I have some chapters saved up. My son finished his first week three days ago, then ran a fever for three days straight. It really fulfilled the saying that a child will make trouble after completing his first week. These past few days, Nine Lamps uploaded the saved chapters and then went off to handle things, so I haven't had much time to read everyone's comments. Thank you for the monthly votes, and thank you to the twenty book friends who gave alliance-leader rewards, as well as the book friends who enjoy literary works, Time Thief, and everyone else for your rewards. Finally, let me ask once more for your continued reading. It really is very important.