But how could martial arts training be so easy to master?

But how could martial arts be so easy to master? Zhao Courtyard.

Everyone had already chatted until there was no one they were unfamiliar with.

Under Lin Monkey's guidance, the topic kept shifting.

Everyone seemed to have returned once more to the carefree days of their childhood.

And at that moment, Lin Tian was naturally enjoying himself too.

Of course, he had also noticed everything strange about it.

That was Zhao Cui and Lin Ya.

The two of them were acting a little oddly.

From time to time, Zhao Cui would offer Lin Ya warmth and concern.

Lin Ya, of course, accepted it politely.

Only, why did she keep glancing toward him from time to time??

Of course, that was not the strangest part.

Everyone was chatting about amusing incidents from childhood.

It was one thing for Lin Ya not to join in; after all, she had moved away a few years apart from them.

But what was going on with Zhao Cui??

Even when everyone had just mentioned funny stories related to him, he had merely responded with an awkward laugh, brushing it off perfunctorily.

Of course, by this point, it was naturally not hard for Lin Tian to see it.

The doubts he had before coming to this gathering—

when Zhao Cui invited them all here, the drunkard's intent did not seem to lie in the wine, but in... Lin Ya?

Heh, so the other party had set up a gathering like this

just to pursue a girl?

But so be it.

After all, if not for him, they would not have had this chance to gather this time.

And at the side, Zhao Cui naturally noticed it at this moment as well.

Lin Ya's gaze kept moving back and forth over Lin Tian.

This was not what he wanted to see.

Yes, at this moment, Lin Tian's guess really was correct.

The gathering Zhao Cui had organized today was naturally all because of Lin Ya before him.

In the end, he hoped he could leave some slight good impression in Lin Ya's heart today, and even use this chance to bring the two of them closer.

After all, the beauty of Lin Ya before him was only one aspect.

The other aspect was the status and position represented by Lin Ya's background at this moment.

Because Zhao Cui's family had found connections for him, he had entered the government office to handle affairs.

Although he was merely a clerk responsible for processing documents in the city, not even counted as an official, when he went out and said he worked in the yamen, who would not call him an official lord?

And once, while he was processing the city archives, he suddenly discovered a name familiar to him.

That was right—it was Lin Ya.

Moreover, he saw that Lin Ya's father was now a member of a great family in the Inner City, and even the kind who held a certain right to speak.

At once, Zhao Cui's thoughts began to stir.

After all, in Zhao Cui's eyes, was this not a ladder for him to climb upward?

As long as he could marry Lin Ya before him, then the father behind her would certainly be able to have him promoted within the yamen!

Afterward, just as he was thinking this, by chance, he actually ran into Lin Ya on the street!!

And when he boldly went up to invite her, the other party quickly agreed.

Zhao Cui only felt that he truly was someone whose luck had turned!

But looking at it now... why was this different from what he had imagined??

Why was the person Lin Ya was paying attention to now... Lin Tian??

Shouldn't the person she was paying attention to have been me??

Clearly, Zhao Cui knew at this moment that he could no longer sit and wait for death.

The next moment.

"Heh, sigh, in the blink of an eye, everyone has grown up and gone their separate ways. Back then, I was the first to leave Jinghe Bend and enter the Inner City. Even now, I still don't know where all of you have found good positions?"

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At that moment, when the people around him heard Zhao Cui's words, they were all taken aback.

But right after that, everyone also began talking about what they were doing now.

Wang Hu, relying on his build, was now carrying cargo for a landlord at the docks.

Because he was hardworking and willing to put in effort, he had also earned the regard of one landlord.

He had become a dedicated cargo carrier. The wages were not much.

But fortunately, the landlord's family was decent.

Lin Monkey was working as an attendant in an inn. With that mouth of his, he could be considered to be doing fairly well.

Lin Niu was now dyeing cloth at a fabric shop.

There was no need to say much about Wang Qi. It had been said before that he was learning carpentry.

After hearing these words.

Zhao Cui nodded, but there was smugness in his eyes again.

That was because he knew that if he told them he was working in the yamen, then he would definitely tower over everyone else by a head.

After all, being able to enter that government office naturally represented something extraordinary in everyone's eyes.

Of course, the reason he said all this now was naturally to spread his tail like a peacock, show himself off, and better highlight how outstanding he was.

However, he still held back one move.

He looked toward Lin Tian.

"Ah Tian, what about you? What are you doing?"

Hearing this, everyone also looked toward Lin Tian.

After all, at this moment, everyone had actually noticed the change in Lin Tian's complexion.

Even Lin Ya at the side cast him a curious look.

Lin Tian did not hide too much either, and immediately answered directly, "I went to practice martial arts."

"What?!"

The moment they heard Lin Tian's words, everyone was instantly shocked.

After all, that was practicing martial arts!

For impoverished people like them.

It was the only path that could truly change their fate and let them completely turn themselves over.

But right after that, everyone calmed down again.

That was because they understood that although practicing martial arts could change one's fate.

They were also very clear on how difficult it was.

It could be said to be almost completely impossible!

That was a road to turning oneself over, and likewise, it was a road to no return!

Especially Lin Ya among them.

Having entered the Inner City for many years, she reacted faster than anyone.

In fact, when she heard that Lin Tian was practicing martial arts, she did not feel surprised.

Instead, she felt worried.

After all, the silver spent on practicing martial arts was not something an impoverished family from Jinghe Bend could afford.

"Sigh, Little Tian, you're muddleheaded! That martial arts practice..."

At the side, Zhao Cui seized the opportunity at once in this moment and began putting himself on display.

"That martial arts practice is simply not something poor families like ours can afford. If you go practice, you'll only waste your family's money for nothing. You're really..."

At this moment, Zhao Cui looked entirely like an elder whose heart was broad with concern, while also offering advice to dissuade him.

Naturally, the people around them were the same.

Lin Tian listened and did not make a sound.

He merely listened like this.

Just then, Zhao Cui, off to the side, immediately stiffened his neck and said, "How about this, Xiao Tian? Come work with me. I'm working in the government office now. If you come work with me, at the very least, it'll be more practical than wasting silver on martial training."

Hearing his words, and looking at his somewhat nervous expression...

Lin Tian then waved a hand and refused. "No need. I've already gone to train in martial arts, so I'll keep training for now."

Off to the side, after seeing Lin Tian refuse, Zhao Cui immediately let out a breath of relief in his heart.

After all, he really had been afraid the other party would agree.

When Lin Niu, at the side, heard Lin Tian refuse, she immediately said with regret, "Ai, you're just too stubborn. Do you know what the final outcome is for poor folk like us who go train in martial arts?"

"I'm telling you, I've seen plenty of people like that in the Inner City, always thinking they can rely on martial training to rise above the crowd."

"But how could martial arts be so easy to master?"

"Those people with their heads in the clouds sit there and not only gain nothing, in the end they even drain their family's silver dry."

"Some even borrow black-market loans, and when they can't pay the money back in the end, their families are broken and their people dead."

"And even if their families aren't broken and their people dead, those who ruin their bodies while training can only go do that kind of illegal hard labor."

"Almost just for a mouthful of food, they'll do anything..."

As Lin Niu spoke, she seemed to realize she had said too much.

She immediately did not continue...