Studying

Once the steaming dishes were set on the table in the courtyard, father and son tacitly dropped the subject.

Zhao Feng took out a jar of fine yellow rice wine bought from a restaurant, broke the mud seal, and poured Zhao Youlin a cup.

Zhao Youlin cautiously took a sip. His cloudy eyes immediately lit up, and he praised the wine over and over.

His heart filled with contentment. Without his youngest son, he would never have tasted wine this good in his entire life.

Zhao Feng also brought out a fruit drink bought in the Inner City and poured everyone else a cup. "What's this?" After tasting it, his family all exclaimed how delicious it was. Bao'er and Zihuai, in particular, could not take their eyes off it.

After they had eaten with gusto for a while.

"Dad, Mom, Little Aunt, Sister-in-law. There's something I'd like to discuss with you," he said.

Everyone set down their chopsticks at once and looked at him.

"I'd like Qiao'er, Bao'er, and Zihuai to study and learn to read. I'll pay the tuition fees and buy the brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. Whether they learn martial arts or take some other path in the future, they'll need to be literate first." As soon as he finished speaking.

His family's breathing quickened. Qiao'er and the two little ones, especially, wore identical looks of anticipation.

"Yes! I want to learn martial arts, just like Second Uncle!" Zhao Bao'er and Zhao Zihuai said loudly.

"Can Qiao'er really go to school?" Zhao Youfang asked in a trembling voice.

"Of course. The Great Yan Dynasty doesn't forbid women from studying or practicing martial arts, so why couldn't she? Whether Qiao'er and Bao'er learn martial arts or take the examination to become female officials in the future, they'll need to study and learn to read. That goes all the more for Zihuai," Zhao Feng said.

"If that's possible, then that would be wonderful." Zhao Youfang could not help wiping away tears again.

"But your uncle..." She was a little worried. Her husband's family wanted her and her daughter to work at the Embroidery Workshop and bring more money home. If Qiao'er stopped working, they would bring home less. They probably would not agree.

"Don't worry. I'll speak to Uncle," Zhao Feng said calmly.

"Thank you, Cousin!" Qiao'er cheered and bounced with joy. At last, she could study, learn to read, and enjoy storybooks.

"Little Aunt, I think Qiao'er could stay here while she studies. I have spare rooms," Zhao Feng told Zhao Youfang.

His uncle Tao Qing had actually wanted to sell Qiao'er, and that kindled a nameless fire inside him. Besides, if his cousin stayed in that household, she would have so many chores to do that she would have no time to study.

"Feng'er, but the tuition fees..." Zhao Youlin asked.

"Dad, don't worry." Seeing how anxious his family looked, Zhao Feng could not help chuckling. As the saying went, the poor could study letters, but only the rich could practice martial arts. If they were merely learning to read, the brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, and even tuition would cost very little. Two taels of silver would be enough, nowhere near the tuition for martial training.

"The question now is this: I can arrange for Qiao'er to attend a private school in the county, but should Bao'er and Zihuai come here to study, or attend the private school in the village?" Zhao Feng asked his mother and sister-in-law for their opinions.

"The two children are still young and can't be away from their mothers. Let them study at the village school," Zhao Youlin said.

Yang Shi and his sister-in-law had no objections. Only the two little ones were unhappy; they thought the County Seat was lively.

"It's only temporary. Once we all move to the County Seat, you can study here." Zhao Feng pinched their little cheeks.

Zhao Youfang nodded, secretly wiping away tears. Half were from joy for her daughter, and half from sorrow over that household. Still, she had yet to resolve to divorce her husband.

Zhao Feng sighed inwardly. His little aunt had suffered too much, and he knew he needed to give her some time. In this era, a married woman was expected to follow her husband. His little aunt had to see the truth about her marriage and make her own decision; he only needed to stand behind her.

After the meal, Zhao Feng took his family around the County Seat to enjoy the market and temple fair. The next day, after buying plenty of rice, flour, and meat, he hired a carriage to take them back to the village. Still concerned for their safety, he escorted them himself.

Once they reached the village, Zhao Feng unloaded the rice, flour, meat, and other supplies, then left another seven or eight taels of silver.

"Dad, Mom, Sister-in-law. If anything happens, ask Old Uncle Ding to bring me a message at the martial arts school."

"Send Zihuai and Bao'er to the private school tomorrow."

He left them with those instructions.

Then, under his family's reluctant gazes, he boarded the carriage and returned to the County Seat.

After returning to the County Seat, Zhao Feng first went to see his little aunt's husband about Qiao'er's schooling. His conversation with Tao Qing met with no real obstacles. Although Tao Qing's parents muttered things like, "What does a girl need schooling for? Our eldest grandson hasn't even gone to school yet," Zhao Feng ignored them. He had come to inform them, not seek their approval. Tao Qing's family could only agree.

With the lingering threat left by the Black Tiger Gang and the schooling arrangements for his cousin, Bao'er, and Zihuai all settled, Zhao Feng devoted himself entirely to martial training and preparing for the Martial Examination.

As the Martial Examination approached, the atmosphere at the Huo Family Martial Arts School grew increasingly tense.

Not only were the core Hidden Force disciples training desperately for the examination, but quite a few Bright Strength disciples were also gathering their resolve and preparing to apply.

They knew their own limits. With their Bright Strength abilities, even those at bright strength peak could not make the rankings. But the Martial Examination was the best opportunity to make a name for themselves in public. As long as they gave an eye-catching performance, even if they lost, they might attract the attention of wealthy men or powerful clans and greatly improve their circumstances.

"Master!"

"Good morning, Master!"

Huo Shan came through the main gate and walked straight past the apprentices to the area where the Bright Strength disciples practiced their boxing.

"You're holding that stance too stiffly!"

"I told you, Cross Force guards your gates!"

"Raise your left fist two inches!"

He paused before several disciples at bright strength peak and spent a little time correcting and instructing them. Just as he was about to head straight into the rear courtyard, he turned and spotted Zhao Feng. Only then did he remember that Zhao Feng still preferred to practice in the front courtyard. He doubled back and stopped to watch for a while.

"You combined Sky-Piercing Cone and Tiger Pounce fairly well just now. But there's one more thing to watch: these are two layers of hidden force, so you need to start gathering force as you unleash Sky-Piercing Cone!"

Huo Shan demonstrated personally. He raised his arm with a snap! His elbow drove upward, immediately followed by a downward pounce at the lower body. The two moves flowed seamlessly together, setting off successive explosive cracks in the air.

"Did you see that clearly? Do it again for me."

He patiently guided Zhao Feng until he had more or less grasped it, then nodded in satisfaction.

"Prepare your medicinal bath according to this formula." He took out a sheet of paper.

"I worked this formula out last night based on your condition. It can raise your qi and blood and strengthen your muscles and bones a little more in a short time. Remember, take a medicinal bath once every two days. Don't get greedy, or you won't just be pulling up seedlings to make them grow-you'll damage your body too. If you don't have enough money, go to your master's wife."

"Thank you, Master." Warmth filled Zhao Feng's heart. Clearly, Huo Shan valued him much more than before.

Seeing Huo Shan patiently instructing Zhao Feng, the other disciples whispered among themselves.

"Senior Brother Zhao Feng is improving so quickly."

"He succeeded at his gate breakthrough on the first attempt too, just like Senior Brother Chu."

"And he was only two months behind Senior Brother Chu. Do you think he'll make the rankings in this Martial Examination?"

"I doubt it. Senior Brother Chu still has the best chance."

After finishing his instruction, Huo Shan went to the rear courtyard. Though he looked calm, he was anxious inside. This was his martial arts school's first time participating in the Martial Examination, and they had to make a splash. At least one disciple needed to make the rankings before they could truly count as having secured a foothold in Big Stone County. Thus, he paid great attention to the Hidden Force disciples and patiently instructed each of them.

For now, however, Chu Fan offered the greatest hope. Though he was rather impetuous, he had the best root bone and had already touched the threshold of the late hidden force stage. He had also earned merit with the Patrol Squad and enjoyed a good relationship with the county magistrate. His chances of making the rankings were therefore the highest.

That was why Huo Shan placed his greatest hopes in Chu Fan and gave him special private instruction.

As for Zhao Feng, although Huo Shan valued him much more than before, he only hoped that Zhao Feng would put in a good showing this year and strive to make the rankings next year. He expected no such result this year; Zhao Feng had only recently broken through to hidden force, after all.

"Everyone applying for the Martial Examination, come register with me," their master's wife said as she came out.

The Martial Examination's County Trial was drawing ever closer.