Legitimate and Illegitimate (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

On this day, Chen Jianghe stood beneath the old locust tree, having held the Three-Body Stance for nearly an hour. His qi and blood flowed slowly through his body with each breath, his muscles and bones stretched taut like a bowstring.

[Fate: Heaven Rewards Diligence, Success is Guaranteed]

[Current Skill: Three-Body Stance (Minor Accomplishment)]

[Progress: 30%]

[Current Skill: Five Elements Fist (Entry Level)]

[Progress: 85%]

[Utility: None]

At this rate, in another two months, the Five Elements Fist will reach Minor Accomplishment, Chen Jianghe calculated internally. Although it is a bit slow, I possess the "Heaven Rewards Diligence" fate; as long as I study and practice diligently, success is inevitable. Since that is the case, I should prioritize stability. Those risky, life-threatening endeavors should be avoided whenever possible.

When he first started, he had been forced to take desperate risks to successfully "exchange his strength." Now that he was on the right track, he should take it one step at a time, relying on the slow, grinding effort to make progress.

Just as he was thinking this, familiar footsteps sounded from the direction of the kitchen.

Lin approached carrying a rough ceramic bowl containing freshly boiled rice porridge, with a few vegetable leaves floating on top.

She handed the bowl to Chen Jianghe and stood to the side watching him eat, her lips moving as if she had something to say but hesitated.

"Mother, is something the matter?" Chen Jianghe set the bowl down.

Lin rubbed her hands together and whispered, "Jianghe, Mother was thinking that since you are now a formal disciple at the martial arts hall, you need resources for your training. Your father performed the corvée labor in place of your eldest uncle back then. The Chen family really ought to provide some help."

Chen Jianghe frowned slightly. "Mother, what is the point of going to the Chen family? If they truly cared about our bond, they would have looked after us years ago. In this world, status and lineage weigh heavier than life itself."

"I know," Lin said, her eyes reddening. "But your father's life... it shouldn't have been given in vain... Jianghe, just accompany me there once. Whether it succeeds or not, I will be able to let it go."

He knew that his mother's words were half-motivated by a desire for resources and half by a need for justice—her husband had died for another, yet his son couldn't even afford a full meal. This world was simply too unfair.

But when had this world ever been fair?

Chen Jianghe took a deep breath and took his mother's hand. "If you are determined to go, I will accompany you."

The Chen family ancestors had once performed meritorious military service and were granted a hundred acres of fertile land, allowing them to establish a residence in the western part of the outer city of Yilin County. While not exceptionally wealthy, they had managed to squeeze into the ranks of the "landed gentry."

When the government levied corvée labor to repair the canals, every household was required to provide one able-bodied man. The government had named Chen Yuanhe, the eldest legitimate son, to go.

However, Chen Jianghe's father, Chen Yuanshan, was merely a son of a concubine.

Grandfather Chen Qingyi could not bear to see his legitimate son suffer, so he used silver to bribe the officials and changed the name to Chen Yuanshan. The other legitimate son, Chen Yuanhu—the husband of Aunt Han—had passed away from illness years prior, leaving only his widowed wife to observe mourning in the Chen household.

Everyone in the Chen family knew this, yet no one dared to speak of it.

At the entrance of the Chen Residence, the two black-lacquered wooden doors were left slightly ajar. The plaque hanging above the lintel, inscribed with the characters "Chen Residence," had its gold paint mostly flaked away.

Lin took a deep breath and stepped forward to knock.

After a long while, the door opened a crack, and the head of a servant, roughly forty years of age, poked out.

"Who are you looking for?" The servant glanced at Lin's washed-out, coarse cloth clothes, his tone impatient.

Lin hurriedly said, "I am the family of Chen Yuanshan, and I wish to see the old master."

"Chen Yuanshan?" The servant frowned, thinking for a moment before realization dawned. "Oh, that concubine-born second master? Didn't he go off to serve the corvée labor and disappear without a trace?"

Lin's face turned pale.

Chen Jianghe stepped forward, shielding his mother. "Please announce us. Chen Jianghe, accompanied by my mother, Lin, requests an audience with my grandfather."

The servant finally noticed Chen Jianghe. Seeing him in his martial arts attire, with a sturdy build and a calm gaze, he didn't dare to be too dismissive, merely curling his lip. "Wait here."

He closed the door again.

Lin stood outside, her fingers tightly clutching the corner of her sleeve. Chen Jianghe took her hand and whispered, "Mother, don't be afraid."

About a quarter of an hour later, the door opened again.

The servant stepped aside, his tone still languid. "Come in. The old master is in the main hall."

The mother and son entered.

Passing the screen wall, they found a small courtyard paved with blue bricks, with a few clusters of half-withered bamboo in the corner. The door to the main hall was open, the light inside somewhat dim.

Lin's footsteps faltered, and Chen Jianghe gently pushed her back.

Walking into the main hall, Chen Jianghe's gaze swept over the people inside.

Sitting in the grand armchair at the head of the room was an elderly man with white hair and beard—his grandfather, Chen Qingyi. He wore a silk robe and held a teacup, his eyelids half-lowered, revealing no emotion.

Standing to the left was a middle-aged man who bore a five or six-part resemblance to Chen Qingyi, though his features held a more slick and worldly air; this was his eldest uncle, Chen Yuanhe.

Beside Chen Yuanhe was a plump woman wearing a dark purple jacket with floral patterns and a gilded bracelet on her wrist; this was his eldest aunt, Wang.

Sitting to the right was a younger woman, roughly in her early thirties, with a thin face, dressed in plain clothing with only a single silver hairpin in her hair; this was Han, the widow of his youngest uncle, Chen Yuanhu.

Lin pulled Chen Jianghe down to kneel. "Father, your daughter-in-law has brought Jianghe to pay our respects."

Chen Qingyi gave a grunt. "Rise. Speak your business."

Lin stood up, still keeping her head bowed, her voice tight. "Father, Jianghe is now studying at the Xingyi Martial Arts Hall and has become a formal disciple. However... martial arts training is costly; meat, supplements, everything requires money. Your daughter-in-law was thinking that since Yuanshan performed the corvée labor for Eldest Brother back then and never returned, and since Jianghe is also of the Chen bloodline, I beg you, Father... I beg you to look upon Yuanshan's sacrifice and help Jianghe."

As her words fell, the hall plunged into a deathly silence.

Chen Qingyi said nothing, merely watching in silence.

Han was the first to lose her patience. Flicking her handkerchief, she shrilled, "Oh, listen to you! What do you mean by 'substitute'? When the corvée labor was assigned, the quotas were set by the authorities—it was a matter of fate! How does it become our debt to you in your mouth?"

She stood up, walked over to Lin, and looked her up and down. "Besides, Yuanshan was born of a concubine; it was his duty to share the family's burdens. What, do you expect a reward for a concubine-born son doing what he's supposed to?"

Lin's face turned deathly pale, her lips trembling. "Sister-in-law, that is not what I meant..."

"Then what did you mean?" Han interrupted, her voice rising. "Yuanhu passed early, leaving me a widow to fend for myself. I didn't come crying poverty and begging for handouts like you! The Chen family's resources must be reserved for the legitimate heirs! Isn't that right, Sister-in-law?"

Wang set down her teacup and said slowly, "Sister Han is right. While the Chen family isn't exactly wealthy, we cannot abandon our rules. The distinction between legitimate and illegitimate is set by our ancestors."

She paused, looking at Chen Qingyi with a smile. "By the way, Father, there is good news I haven't had the chance to share yet. Wanglong sent a letter a few days ago."

Chen Qingyi finally looked up. "What about Wanglong?"

Chen Yuanhe quickly chimed in, speaking with pride, "Father, Wanglong has been training hard at the Zhenlei Martial Arts Hall for half a year, and he finally broke through to the Mingjin stage the day before yesterday!"

"Truly?" A sudden light ignited in Chen Qingyi's eyes.

"Absolutely!" Chen Yuanhe straightened his back. "The letter says the hall master praised him as a talent seen only once in a decade. Several families in the Inner City are already inquiring about him—the Zhao Family, the Qian Family, and even the Li Family have all hinted at wanting to recruit him."

Wang added, "Father, just think: if Wanglong passes the martial examination, our whole family will benefit. Once we move into the Inner City, that will be the true glory of our ancestors!"

The wrinkles on Chen Qingyi's face smoothed out as he repeated, "Good! Good! Wanglong has promise! This is the kind of fine son the Chen family needs!"

He looked at Chen Yuanhe. "Yuanhe, tell me whatever Wanglong needs! Even if the family has to sell everything we own, we must support him!"

Chen Yuanhe smiled. "Rest assured, Father. Wanglong mentioned in his letter that he currently needs rare medicinal herbs for body tempering. I have already entrusted someone to purchase them in the Inner City; it will not delay his cultivation."

The atmosphere in the hall grew lively. Han and Wang traded words, discussing Chen Wanglong's future as if they could already see the Chen family moved into the Inner City, living a life of luxury.

Lin stood there like an outsider.

Chen Jianghe had remained silent, but now he finally stepped forward, supporting his mother's trembling arm.

He stopped looking at the people in the hall and whispered to his mother, "Mother, let's go."

Lin looked up blankly, her eyes hollow.

Chen Jianghe supported her as they turned and walked toward the door.

"Stop." Chen Qingyi's voice suddenly came from behind them.

Chen Jianghe's footsteps faltered, but he did not turn around.

"Jianghe," Chen Qingyi's tone softened slightly. "Since you have entered a martial arts hall and become a formal disciple, you are on the right path. While the estate cannot provide you with resources, if you truly make a name for yourself, the Chen family will not disown you. Blood ties are, after all, impossible to sever."

Chen Jianghe turned around slowly.

He looked at the white-haired old man in the hall, and at those faces—some indifferent, some mocking, some hypocritical.

Then, he smiled.

"Old man," he said, his voice calm. "Since you draw such clear lines—that the illegitimate are illegitimate, the legitimate are legitimate, that blessings are blessings, and duties are duties."

He paused, enunciating every word. "Then from this day forward, my mother and I have no further connection to the Chen family. We will never step through this door again, and I ask that you never speak of blood ties to us again."

With that, he looked at no one, supported his mother, and turned to walk out of the main hall.

The sunlight streaming in from outside was somewhat blinding.

Lin leaned on her son's shoulder, her steps unsteady, but she did not look back.

Behind them, the hall fell silent for a moment.

Then came Wang's low, mocking whisper: "Ungrateful wretch..."