Can't Wait Until Tomorrow

Xu Qing and his second uncle had just stepped through the courtyard gate when Second Aunt returned, leading Xiuer by the hand.

Second Aunt was a typical fisherman's wife. Years of toil had bent her back slightly. Her coarse clothes had been washed pale, patches layered atop patches.

Xiuer was only seven. The wind had reddened her little face, and her small hand clutched her mother's hem tightly.

Second Aunt's eyes were red and swollen. She had clearly been crying.

No need to ask. One look at her expression told them—she had not borrowed the money.

Her maiden family had probably not shown her a pleasant face either.

Xu Qing hurried forward and scooped Xiuer into his arms. Turning, he smiled at Second Aunt. "Auntie, it's all right. Second Uncle and I caught a treasure fish today and sold it for three taels of silver. If we borrow a little more from Little Aunt, there'll be enough for the apprenticeship fee."

Second Aunt's eyes suddenly lit up. She hastily looked at Xu Erniu, her voice trembling. "Is that true, Erniu?"

Xu Erniu nodded honestly. "Don't worry about the money. I won't eat lunch. Pack me two coarse rice cakes, and bring along the two biggest salted fish. I'm heading into the county town now."

"Second Uncle." Xu Qing set Xiuer down and said, "I'll go with you. I miss Little Aunt too."

At the mention of his little aunt, a gentle, smiling face surfaced in his mind. In his memories, Little Aunt Xu Yan had always doted on him.

"All right. You haven't seen her in a long while either."

Before long, uncle and nephew left the courtyard.

As they passed the tavern at the street corner, Black Fish Liu San and Manager Wang were leading several gang members in a finger-guessing drinking game. The fragrance of fish and meat drifted far and wide, rich and greasy enough to make stomachs growl.

Xu Qing lowered his head and looked at the two dry, hard salted fish in his hands, then raised his eyes toward the gleaming spread of food and drink on that table.

In his memories, he had never tasted such meat.

If he did not practice martial arts, he would never get more than a few tastes of it in his entire life. He would spend his whole life rolling in the mud, his whole life trampled beneath others' feet.

Blackwater Bay was more than twenty li from Qinghe County. Even at a brisk pace, the journey took over an hour.

It was past noon by the time uncle and nephew reached West Street and found the bun shop run by Little Aunt's family.

The storefront was not large, but it had been tidied neatly. Freshly steamed buns gave off enticing heat, mingling with the aromas of flour and meat as they burrowed straight into the nose.

"Little Aunt." Xu Qing walked closer and softly called to the gentle woman who was lowering her head as she wrapped buns.

Xu Yan looked up at his voice. She froze for a moment, then delight bloomed across her face. "Qing'er? Why are you here? You haven't eaten, have you? Quick, come inside!"

She dropped what she was doing and moved to pull Xu Qing over, only to spot Xu Erniu as she looked up. "Second Brother, you came too!"

"A-Cheng, come out! Second Brother and Qing'er are here!" Xu Yan called into the room.

Uncle-in-law Xu Cheng was an honest man who valued loyalty and affection. In particular, he felt deeply for the hardships faced by his wife's maiden family.

Hearing her, he hurried out, took the salted fish from Xu Qing's hands, and warmly said, "Second Brother, A-Qing, hurry inside and sit down. The buns just came out of the steamer—have a few while they're hot to fill your stomachs."

"A-Cheng, we won't eat the buns." Xu Erniu was somewhat embarrassed, his face reddening slightly. "We came today because there's something we want to discuss with you and Yan'er..."

"Whatever it is can wait until after you've eaten." Without giving them room to refuse, Xu Cheng pulled them both into the inner room.

Xu Erniu struggled a little and said red-faced, "A-Cheng, really, no need. We ate on the road..."

"What could you have eaten on the road? Dry cakes, that's all! A-Qing is still growing—he needs something hot." Xu Cheng pretended to be displeased and raised his voice. "Second Brother, it's not often that you and A-Qing come by. I may not be able to keep you overnight, but I can at least make sure you get your fill of buns."

"Thank you, Uncle-in-law." Xu Qing did not stand on ceremony. He grinned.

"Now that's more like it!" Xu Cheng patted Xu Qing on the shoulder and said with a smile, "A-Qing has really grown up. You're almost as tall as your uncle-in-law now. Wait here—I'll get some buns. The sauced meat buns you like."

Soon, Xu Cheng brought over two large plates of meat buns, while Xu Yan followed with two bowls of hot bean porridge.

After uncle and nephew had eaten and drunk their fill, Xu Cheng finally asked with a smile, "Second Brother, what is it that you wanted to discuss with Yan'er and me?"

Xu Erniu paused. He glanced at Xu Yan before turning to Xu Cheng and bringing up the matter of borrowing money. "A-Qing wants to practice martial arts. He's still a little short on the apprenticeship fee, so we wanted to borrow one tael of silver from you."

"A-Qing wants to practice martial arts too?" Xu Cheng was somewhat surprised.

Not long ago, his nephew Xu Qing had entered a martial hall.

When the family split up years ago, his eldest brother had received the family's ready-made clothing shop. But his eldest brother's family was lazy and fond of comfort, and the shop's business had declined badly. Half of Xu Qing's apprenticeship fee had been borrowed from him.

Over the past few months, his sister-in-law had already come to borrow silver from his family three times. The last time, she had even caused a scene, leaving behind plenty of unpleasantness.

It would have been fine if Xu Qing had spent that money and learned real skills. But instead, the silver had been like a stone tossed into the sea—not even a sound in return.

Now that he heard the words "practice martial arts" again, Xu Cheng could not help but feel a headache coming on. It was not that he begrudged Xu Erniu this one tael of silver. He simply knew how costly martial arts training was. Throwing in one tael would not even raise a splash.

Xu Cheng turned to Xu Qing and asked seriously, "A-Qing, do you truly want to practice martial arts?"

"Uncle-in-law, I want to practice martial arts. I want to take the martial examination." Xu Qing's gaze was firm, his answer without the slightest hesitation. "I don't want to catch fish in Blackwater Bay for the rest of my life."

Xu Cheng stared at him for a moment, then suddenly laughed and patted his shoulder. "Good! You've got ambition!"

From the moment Xu Erniu had opened his mouth to borrow money, he had already agreed in his heart. This was the first time Xu Erniu had ever asked him for anything. Not to mention one tael—even three or five taels would not have made him so much as furrow his brow.

"Which martial hall have you picked?" Xu Cheng asked again.

"Second Uncle said the Zhao Family Martial Hall. They provide food and lodging too."

"The Zhao Family Martial Hall?" Xu Cheng turned to Xu Erniu. "Second Brother, the Zhao Family Martial Hall on Fragrant Wood Street?"

Xu Erniu scratched his head and gave an honest smile. "That's the one."

"What a coincidence. A-Qing is studying martial arts at that very hall too." Xu Cheng smiled. "The Zhao Family Martial Hall isn't far from our shop—only three streets away. Tonight, I'll go tell Eldest Brother and have A-Qing look after A-Qing more at the martial hall from now on..."

As he spoke, Xu Yan suddenly cut in. "The Zhao Family Martial Hall's apprenticeship fee alone is ten taels. Second Brother, you're only borrowing one tael—how can that be enough?"

Xu Cheng followed up, "That's right, Second Brother. Is one tael enough?"

"It's enough, it's enough. One tael will do. There's still silver at home..." Xu Erniu hurriedly explained, laying bare their family's finances. He knew that in these times, no family found it easy to save money. Every coin had been accumulated by rising early and working late.

He was borrowing money only for an emergency and did not want to put his sister and brother-in-law in a difficult position.

"After the poll tax is paid and the apprenticeship fee handed over, you'll only have five mace of silver left. How can that do?" Xu Cheng shook his head. "A-Qing needs meat to replenish his blood and vitality while eating and drinking at the martial hall. Yan'er, go get three taels of silver for Second Brother."

Xu Erniu opened his mouth to refuse, but when he saw the sincerity on his brother-in-law's face and realized it was no empty courtesy, his lips moved, yet in the end, he said nothing.

Xu Cheng was right. He himself could suffer, but Xu Qing could not be made to suffer in his martial arts training.

He did not understand anything about replenishing blood and vitality, but he had heard Master Qian say that martial arts training required eating meat. He did not want Xu Qing to harm his body because he could not afford meat.

"Second Brother, A-Cheng is right. Martial arts training cannot do without meat. This money isn't for you—it's for Qing'er." As Xu Yan spoke, she turned toward Xu Qing, and her expression softened. "Qing'er, study hard. Once our Qing'er passes the martial licentiate examination, let's see who still dares come to the bun shop..."

"Cough... cough..." Xu Cheng's expression shifted slightly. He coughed dryly twice, cutting Xu Yan off. "Yan'er, go get the silver for Second Brother and A-Qing."

Xu Yan also felt that she had spoken too much. She quickly fell silent, gently stroked Xu Qing's head, and rose to head for the back room.

Xu Qing caught the oddness in his little aunt and uncle-in-law's words. Looking at Xu Cheng, he asked, "Uncle-in-law, what happened at the shop?"

"Nothing happened. A-Qing, don't overthink it." Xu Cheng stood up and patted his shoulder with a smile. "Wait here for Yan'er. I'll get a few more buns. Take them with you when you leave—Second Sister-in-law and Xiuer haven't had buns made by Yan'er and me in a long time either."

Before long, Xu Yan pressed a small cloth bag into Xu Erniu's hand, while Xu Cheng came in carrying buns wrapped in oiled paper.

After exchanging a few more words about home, Xu Erniu rose to take Xu Qing back to Blackwater Bay.

As they saw them out of the bun shop, Xu Yan reluctantly stroked Xu Qing's head once more. Her gaze fell upon his brows and eyes—those brows, those eyes, exactly like his father's.

Her eyes reddened, and she hurriedly turned her face away, afraid someone would see.

When Eldest Brother had still been alive, he had loved her most dearly. Now that he was gone, she gave every bit of that love, whole and unchanged, to Xu Qing. Blackwater Bay had previously been too far from the county town, and the bun shop could not be left unattended, so even when she wanted to visit her nephew, it had been difficult.

But now it was different. Xu Qing was entering the county town, and the martial hall was only three streets from the bun shop. Whenever she missed her nephew in the future, she could simply walk over and take a look.

"Qing'er, after you've become a disciple, remember to come to Little Aunt's place. Little Aunt will make you something delicious..."

Before she could finish, a sharp, frivolous voice abruptly cut in:

"Oh! Who's this pretty boy? He's quite handsome."

Xu Qing frowned.

The voice drawled lazily, like a snake flicking its tongue. "Yan'er, don't tell me this is your country sweetheart? I knew it—what vixen doesn't steal a taste?"

Xu Qing's brows drew tightly together, and a blaze of anger surged up inside him.

He followed the voice and saw a middle-aged man picking at his teeth as he swaggered toward the bun shop. The man had a pointed mouth and monkey cheeks, his face full of contempt, every inch of him radiating an obnoxious hooligan air.

Xu Cheng's expression changed, but he forcibly endured it. He hurried forward with an ingratiating smile. "Master Chen, you're joking. This is Yan'er's nephew from her maiden family. You haven't eaten yet, have you? How about some hot buns? Go inside first, and I'll bring them to you."

"Buns are good." Chen Jiang gave Xu Yan a lecherous glance, then grinned, exposing two rows of yellow teeth. "I love eating buns wrapped by Yan'er. One bite, and your whole mouth is swimming in oil. If I ever get to eat Yan'er's big white buns, that'd be the real thrill."

Chen Jiang spouted his filthy words and swaggered into the bun shop.

Xu Yan ignored him and merely instructed Xu Qing softly, "Qing'er, go slowly on the road."

"Little Aunt, who is that man?" Xu Qing kept his voice low.

"Qing'er, don't overthink it. Little Aunt is fine." Afraid Xu Qing would do something foolish, Xu Yan hurriedly held down his arm and whispered, "That brute Chen Jiang is from the Azure Flood Dragon Hall. Our shop pays silver to the Azure Flood Dragon Hall. He only talks nonsense—he wouldn't dare truly do anything."

Her words were meant to reassure him, but her eyes were evasive.

Xu Qing saw at once that things were nowhere near as simple as his little aunt claimed.

"Azure Flood Dragon Hall. Chen Jiang!" Xu Qing's expression did not change. He merely silently ground that name between his teeth and swallowed it down, mouthful by mouthful.

The weak were meat for the strong. Oppression was everywhere.

Qinghe County was nothing more than a larger Blackwater Bay.

He had to become stronger.

He could not wait until tomorrow.

Today, he would join a martial hall!