"Not bad. They've done a pretty good job..."
Zhao Er stood outside his family's new house, looking over the rough outline that had already taken shape. Overall, he was quite satisfied.
Naturally, the house was not finished yet, and the craftsmen his family had hired were there to work on it. Still, his family's living conditions had clearly improved, which made Zhao Er quite happy.
The expense certainly could not have been covered by thirty to fifty taels a month, but his eldest brother and sister-in-law had said nothing, so Zhao Er did not ask. Seeing the results for himself was enough.
By now, Zhao Er had tidied himself up a little. His hair no longer hung in a disheveled mess, and two gleaming iron halberds were tucked behind his waist.
At his feet lay the partially processed hide of the Rockhide Tiger. With its fur facing outward, even an ordinary person could tell it was no common pelt.
The village chief stood beside him, while most of the other villagers watched from a distance.
"Heh, your home is the envy of everyone in the village now. Living in this big courtyard must be comfortable. And now that you've made something of yourself, everyone in the village is proud of you."
The village chief stood before Zhao Er, his words brimming with envy.
Looking at Zhao Er and his family's new courtyard, he saw the life he had once yearned for. Unfortunately, his own son had failed to live up to his hopes. He had paid for the boy to learn martial arts, only to end up with nothing.
"My parents will still need everyone in the village to look after them. Give it a little time, and I'll see whether I can invite a martial artist here to teach