Windfall (Please Keep Reading)

Chen's Rice Noodle Factory.

Li Xiuwen had long since disposed of the hemp clothes and changed into loose everyday wear before returning home as though nothing had happened.

Inside, Uncle and Aunt were still awake.

They knew Awen had gone to find Third Master. How could they not worry?

"I'm back," Li Xiuwen said softly as he closed the door.

Aunt looked out the window and asked quietly, "Third Master is dead?"

Li Xiuwen nodded.

Uncle stood there in a daze. After being oppressed for years, the tension in his heart had never eased.

Now that the three scourges were gone, it all felt like a dream. Nothing seemed real.

"Awen, you've really made something of yourself..." Aunt said. "Looks like you truly have hope for next year's Crossing River Association."

Before, she had thought Awen was merely talking big.

But now, when Awen said he wanted to become a second Mr. Wen, she believed him.

Li Xiuwen said seriously, "The two of you need to keep this buried in your hearts. No matter who asks, say you don't know anything.

"Third Master was part of the Children's Gang. Even if that gang is a disorganized mess, there may still be someone backing him."

Aunt and Uncle nodded like pecking chicks. "Don't worry. We've both nearly died before. We'll take this secret to our graves."

Li Xiuwen took out the cash he had gotten from Third Master and counted it in front of Aunt and Uncle. Altogether, it came to twenty-four thousand yuan.

For most people at the bottom of Fragrant Sea, that was a huge sum.

These days, honest work did not make money.

Seeing such a large amount of cash, Uncle and Aunt were shocked—and heartsick.

Longjin Road was small, and all the neighbors were poor.

At least several thousand yuan of this money had come from their family.

This time, it was being returned to its rightful owner.

Li Xiuwen counted out the bills and smiled. "Uncle, I'll repay you ten thousand first. I'll use the rest for cultivation. Once I make money, I'll pay you back another ten thousand."

"No need! We already said we're family. What's this about repaying?" Uncle shook his head and pushed the money away.

Aunt added, "Awen, you need to practice martial arts, and that costs a lot. You need this money more than we do. Keep it. Knowing you have this intention is enough for us."

Li Xiuwen's tone brooked no argument. "I've kept enough money for cultivation for a while. Take it. I know exactly what things are like at home!"

It was rare for Uncle and Aunt to see Awen pull a long face. They lowered their heads.

Li Xiuwen sighed. "I stopped being a child long ago. I know all of it...

"Three years ago, when I came to Shenghai, the little money you'd saved up went toward the ransom.

"For the past three years, the factory's profits have been squeezed dry layer by layer by the gangs and thugs, and payments for goods have been delayed.

"I've looked at the accounts. This year, our family only received one payment for goods, and then you used it to pay my apprenticeship fee.

"To keep the factory running, you even took on outside debts... I'm not wrong about any of this, am I?"

Uncle nodded, his face full of worry.

Aunt rubbed at her reddened eyes.

Li Xiuwen's voice softened as he sighed. "This ten thousand is enough to clear the debts and keep the factory afloat for now."

Uncle nodded. "All right. We'll listen to you. I'll take this money. Thanks."

After a pause, Li Xiuwen hesitated for a moment, then said gravely, "Oh, right, Uncle... That day, I saw the medical examination report from the big hospital outside the settlement."

Uncle's expression changed slightly. He turned to Aunt. "Didn't I tell you to put it away?"

Aunt began crying anxiously. "I... I did put it away!"

Li Xiuwen's eyes reddened. "It has nothing to do with Aunt. My hearing is good. I could hear you two talking, and I found it myself.

"Uncle, why did you hide something like this from me? Did you think that would let me keep training martial arts without adding to the burden?

"You're wrong. I don't have any other family in this world, Uncle. I only have the two of you! If you leave, I'll be heartbroken for the rest of my life!"

Uncle sighed. "It might be related to my working environment. It's nothing. I'll be fine after taking care of myself for a while. Doctors only know how to scare people so they'll spend money."

Li Xiuwen shook his head. "Uncle, I'm not stupid. This illness isn't something that can be cured just by resting and taking care of yourself. You need to get treatment at a big hospital as soon as possible.

"Use part of this ten thousand first. Find a good doctor, buy some medicine. If it isn't enough, come to me. I'll figure something out.

"Treat it seriously and get your body back in shape. Serious illnesses are all dragged out from minor illnesses that people refuse to see a doctor about.

"Also, you and Aunt have been together for so many years without having children. Is it because you haven't taken care of your health?

"I know Aunt has always wanted a child. She's even sewn several pairs of little tiger-head shoes.

"You aren't young anymore, and now that I've become capable, I can take care of myself.

"You need to think more about yourselves. Find a martial arts school that teaches health cultivation. You don't have to train to fight—just learn some health-preserving forms and strengthen your bodies.

"And usually, eat more nourishing food. Aunt is already thirty-five. If you keep delaying, it'll only become harder."

That day, Li Xiuwen said a great deal, nagging just as his parents had in his previous life.

There were many things he knew, but he had lacked the ability to do anything about them before. Speaking up would have been useless.

Now that he had some ability, he was the head of this household. They had to listen to him!

"All right, then I'll take it. Awen, if you ever need money, come ask me," Uncle said, rubbing his damp eyes with a smile.

Li Xiuwen smiled. "Third Master is dead. We can hold our heads high now. Life will get better."

Aunt could not hold it in any longer. She burst into tears.

This time, they were tears of gratitude, the release of years of grievance.

"Awen, thank you," Aunt said as she hugged him.

"Without you two, I'd have died in the snake pit long ago. Don't say things like that again."

"All right. But Awen, be more careful in the future. Don't provoke people you can't afford to offend. The most important thing is for our family to live safely, with full bellies and good food."

"I know... All right, go get some rest. I'm going to sleep too."

After comforting Aunt, Li Xiuwen returned to his own room.

He had been a little angry today because of Uncle's illness. Even with the medical technology from his previous life, it might not have been curable.

"...Sigh." He shook his head and temporarily pushed those thoughts aside.

Lying on his bed, he stared at the ceiling and planned how to spend the remaining fourteen thousand.

First, he needed to buy Fish Balls—at least one a week. Though they had medicinal toxicity, their effect on his stance training was undeniable.

The price would be paid in the future. But people in the settlement had no future. Li Xiuwen only wanted to live well in the present.

Second, he would raise his daily spending on hard qigong from twenty yuan to one hundred.

The Blood-Transforming Paste he currently used was the cheapest grade. It was useful, but it drained too much of his body's potential. Its medicinal strength was too weak, and the replenishment could not keep up.

Switching to better medicine would not only speed up his progress in hard qigong, but also make sustained cultivation easier and prevent lasting harm in the future.

A martial art of the Binding Armor Skill's level was a treasured secret art even within major gangs. It was one of his greatest trump cards, so he had to hurry and train it to Minor Mastery!

After doing a little math, Li Xiuwen felt despair rise in his heart.

This ten-odd thousand yuan would not last long. It was barely enough to keep him going until the second-floor tournament.

No wonder everyone said martial artists looked like they could make money, but in truth, none of them had much in their pockets. Every last one was broke.

There was no helping it. They had invested everything into strength, and the expenses came in endless varieties.

"This money can only deal with an emergency, not solve the root problem. Next month, when I join a martial arts school, I'll still need to work hard and stand out!"

"Once I learn movement techniques, my chances of getting into the second floor will rise. If I make it, I'll save a considerable amount on monthly fees every year."