"The eldest young master truly treats us well!"
Carpenter Wang squatted beside the wall of the Xu Household's newly built school, tapping his pipe bowl as he smiled. "Now that he's opened this Primary School, my Gousheng will learn to read and write. Even if he never becomes a scholar, working as a bookkeeper would beat shaving wood for the rest of his life."
Li San, the water carrier, straightened at his words, his shoulder pole creaking. "And that's not all! I hear the talented ones can learn carpentry, tailoring, even brewing at the Xu Household's Distillery. Which of those isn't a precious trade?"
He gazed at the wine banner fluttering in the distance and swallowed without realizing it. "I saw the distillery manager take on an apprentice a few days ago. What a spectacle! It was grander than a wealthy household marrying off a daughter!"
The old basket weaver stroked his beard and cut in, his bamboo knife whispering over a green strip. "That depends on whose trade you learn."
"The Xu Household keeps all its trades secret. Learn just one, and your family could live without worry for generations. No wonder everyone flocks to them."
Just then, the children at the Xu Household's school were let out. Little ones with horn-shaped braids poured through the courtyard gate, mulberry-paper bookbags on their backs, reciting, "Guan, guan, cry the ospreys..."
Carpenter Wang watched them go, knocking his pipe bowl against the sole of his shoe with a loud clack. "Once Gousheng can read, I'm sending him to the Xu Household's Dyehouse as an apprentice. I hear they use sappanwood from the Western Regions. The silk they dye sells for ten taels a bolt!"
Since the Xu Household had issued its policies benefiting servants and martial guards, everyone from senior stewards to water-carrying laborers had supported them wholeheartedly.
Two more days passed.
In the Xu Household's rear kitchen.
"I hear the eldest young master plans to pick sturdy boys from the various courtyards and send them to the Dragon Elephant Martial Hall to learn martial arts. Is that true?"
A porter brought it up suddenly after filling a vat with water and wiping away his sweat.
Sister-in-law Zhang, who helped in the kitchen, turned with a beaming smile. "Heh, my Ada's strong as an ox. I asked the steward to put his name down yesterday."
Granny Li, who was washing vegetables, looked up in surprise. "Really?! My grandson Ashui is bright and quick to learn. He'd be perfect for martial arts. I'll go put his name down in a bit."
"What are you waiting for? I'll finish those vegetables for you. Hurry to the front courtyard and sign him up! This could change your grandson's fate. How can it wait?!"
For all the excitement, every servant, maid, and guard remained diligent, not daring to neglect the work at hand.
They were even more careful and hardworking than usual.
None of them felt tired. Smiles lit their faces, and their eyes held longing and hope.
Three months passed in a blink.
Since the Dragon Elephant Sect's secret Medicinal Cuisine had entered the Xu residence, the Xu brothers had all made great strides in the Martial Way.
Though Xu Mingyuan and Xu Mingxuan did not practice the Little Dragon Elephant Art, they opened Apertures seventy to eighty percent faster than before.
It was all thanks to the Medicinal Cuisine.
The major Martial Arts Halls and Aristocratic Clans never divulged their true secret Medicinal Cuisine.
It was the foundation of their strength.
What they gave their disciples was ordinary Medicinal Cuisine.
At its height, the Dragon Elephant Sect had been led by a martial expert at the pinnacle of the Grandmaster realm. It had rivaled a fifth-rank Aristocratic Clan and counted as a major power even in the Commandery Seat.
Aristocratic Clans and sects of the top three ranks, meanwhile, were generally found only in the imperial capital.
"Big Brother, the Dragon Elephant Sect's Medicinal Cuisine really is extraordinary."
Xu Mingxuan grinned at Xu Mingwei. "Even I have a thirty to forty percent chance of reaching the Houtian Peak before I turn twenty."
"Opening Apertures is important, but you can't neglect martial techniques."
Xu Mingwei said, "Our family had collected few before, so we had little to choose from. Now that we have part of the Dragon Elephant Sect's martial inheritance, we must make good use of it."
"Got it, Big Brother."
After answering, Xu Mingxuan's face took on a wistful look. "I wonder how vast the Dragon Elephant Sect's inheritance was at its peak. What our household has gained can't be even a fifth of it."
"Perhaps." Xu Mingwei smiled faintly.
Just then, Xu Mingyuan walked in from outside the hall.
"Second Brother, I haven't seen you in ages." Xu Mingxuan smiled at him.
"I don't have your leisure. I manage the family businesses, and lately I've barely had time to practice the Martial Way."
"Heh, then I've made a great deal of progress."
At that, Xu Mingwei thought of the Xiantian Five Elements Creation Art.
Of the siblings, only their fifth sibling, Yunnu, had the aptitude for immortal cultivation.
The Xu Household had received the tremendous fortune of entering the Dao through martial arts. Everyone now had a chance to cultivate immortality, and he hoped Xu Mingyuan would join them.
But Xu Chuan had instructed him not to reveal it until they reached Xiantian.
He did not dare disobey.
After a moment's thought, Xu Mingwei looked up at Xu Mingyuan. "A Yuan, the family businesses matter, but you must never set aside your own martial training.
"Otherwise, Father will be angry. He tests us every six months, you know."
"Give me a little time. Once the new businesses are running smoothly, I'll be able to step away."
"Mm." Xu Mingwei nodded.
"Actually, I've always wondered why Father insists that we follow the Martial Way. Even if we reach Xiantian, what then? In a hundred years, we'll still be dust." Xu Mingxuan looked puzzled.
"Father has his reasons. If you refuse to listen and he punishes you, don't blame me for not pleading your case."
"Big Brother, I was joking!"
Xu Mingwei was the Xu Household's future head and its strongest member. His words carried enormous weight with his siblings.
"Make more time to practice. I hear Xueji and Yunnu have progressed quite a bit these past three months. You two are their elder brothers—don't let them overtake you."
"I'd be glad if they did. It would mean our household is brimming with talent!" Xu Mingyuan laughed. "If we had two more martial prodigies like you, Big Brother, the Xu Household would be secure."
"Hmm? Have you heard something?"
Xu Mingwei knew Xu Mingyuan would not raise the matter without reason. Xu Mingxuan's smile vanished too.
"Only rumors."
"County Magistrate's Deputy Yang has only just left, and his influence still lingers. Our Xu Household isn't weak now, either.
"I just think it would be best to have one of our own in the government. If one of us brothers could become county magistrate, county magistrate's deputy, or county commandant, that would be ideal."
"That depends on opportunity. You can't take such a post just because you want it. We'll discuss it another time."
As Xu Mingwei spoke, his pupils narrowed, and a cold glint flashed through his eyes. "As for the other households and Aristocratic Clans, if they dare threaten us, the Xu Household won't show mercy."
Xu Mingyuan's words made him think it was time to find an opportunity to display his strength.
An Aristocratic Clan with a Xiantian Martial Artist commanded far more respect than an ordinary one.
As far as he knew, only five households in all of Qingjiang County had such a foundation: Wu, Fang, Wang, He, and Cao.
The three major Martial Arts Halls were backed by the Wu, Fang, and Wang households.
If Yang Zhao had not been appointed from outside, the post of county magistrate's deputy might have gone to a Xiantian Martial Artist from the Wang, He, or Cao households.
Of course, those appointed to such important posts were generally martial artists who had reached Xiantian before fifty.
No one was likely to appoint a man already past sixty.
Most appointees were prominent, capable locals. Others, like Yang Zhao, arrived from elsewhere, burnished their credentials with a few achievements, then left.
"How is the Martial Arts Hall coming along?"
Xu Mingwei thought the opening of the Dragon Elephant Martial Hall might be a good opportunity.
"Construction will be finished in another half month. I've also selected a dozen or so children of our servants, guards, and maids with decent Root Bone for the first group of trainees."
"Besides that, I've hired five First-Class Martial Artists as instructors."
"It's just..."
Xu Mingyuan paused, then hesitated a while before continuing. "Very few children from wealthy families and Aristocratic Clans have shown any interest."
"There's no rush. You're always saying good goods never lack buyers. The opening will surely draw a crowd, and people will come once the Martial Arts Hall makes a name for itself."
Xu Mingyuan considered this, then looked up with a self-mocking smile. "True enough."