The Zhang Family and Mooching Food and Drink

"But the first time you saw someone killed, it was enough to make you throw up. It was only natural to react like this the first time you encountered something like that."

Seeing Fang Yue's condition, how could Fang Hu not know that this was Fang Yue's first time seeing someone killed—and in such a gruesome scene, no less.

It had struck him hard.

This was perfectly normal. Most people reacted much the same way the first time they saw someone killed; some did even worse than Fang Yue.

"Uncle Fang Hu, why did those people kill others so casually?"

After quite a while, Fang Yue gradually recovered. Looking at the headless corpse not far away, he asked.

"They were the Imperial Army, and those people were bandits. The Imperial Army has always suppressed bandits like this." Fang Hu sighed softly.

Fang Yue's heart could not help but tremble at those words.

The experiences of the past few months, along with certain memories in his mind, all surged into his heart.

So this world was far from what he had seen and remembered. Danger and chaos were its true main melody.

Just like before—if not for Uncle Fang Hu's status as a martial artist, the goods on their cart would most likely have been impossible to keep.

That was why he had to learn martial arts even more.

Only then would he possess at least a little strength to protect himself when danger came.

At that thought, his gaze grew firm.

"Let's go. You only need to remember this: keep these people and these matters rotten in your belly. As long as they have nothing to do with us, that's enough."

Fang Hu did not answer Fang Yue's question. Instead, he led the two of them as they pulled the ox cart past the corpses and continued toward the County Town.

About another hour passed.

After lining up and paying the entry fee, Fang Yue and the others entered Xiahe County Town.

This was Fang Yue's first time coming to a county town in this world.

The County Town was more prosperous than he had imagined. There were no thatched huts or earthen walls here, only courtyards of blue bricks and gray tiles.

The roads were paved with large stone slabs, and vendors hawking their wares lined both sides of the streets.

Their goods came in every variety: candied hawthorns, dough figurines, sugar figurines, and more.

"Dad, I want candied hawthorns and a sugar figurine."

Fang Ergou pointed at the stalls selling candied hawthorns and sugar figurines, tugging on Fang Hu's sleeve as he spoke.

"You're already so old. What are you eating candied hawthorns and sugar figurines for?" Fang Hu snorted. Fang Ergou immediately wilted, hanging his head.

"Go buy some Sesame Cakes. Remember, get Zhou's Sesame Cakes. Of all the Sesame Cakes in Xiahe County Town, theirs are the flakiest, richest, and most fragrant."

Fang Hu took out ten copper coins and stuffed them into Fang Ergou's hand.

Grinning as he took the coins, Fang Ergou jogged over to a nearby shop. Before long, he came back carrying an oil-paper packet.

"Brother Zhi, have a taste." Fang Ergou took a still-steaming Sesame Cake from the oil-paper packet.

"Thanks."

Fang Yue accepted it and took a bite. It truly was flaky and fragrant, with a rich flavor. Not bad at all.

After selling the furs and Animal Bones from the donkey cart, then purchasing some necessary medicinal herbs, it was already afternoon.

Things had gone smoothly today, and they had finished their business before nightfall.

Fang Hu then brought Fang Ergou and Fang Yue to a residence in the western part of the County Town.

It was an old-looking courtyard. Its walls, nearly a zhang high, made it stand out sharply from the surrounding residences.

The moment they approached, Fang Yue heard bursts of shouting and cries coming faintly from within the courtyard.

Two stone tiger statues stood on either side of the black-lacquered gates. The one on the left looked like a Hungry Tiger Descending the Mountain, while the one on the right roared like a tiger shaking the mountains and rivers.

Two vigorous characters were written above the black gates. Fang Yue happened to recognize them: Zhang Residence.

"Er Gou, knock."

At Fang Hu's command—

Bang! Bang! Bang! A series of knocks rang out.

A moment later, the shouts from within the courtyard gradually faded, and the black-lacquered gates opened.

A brawny middle-aged man in fitted martial attire stepped out.

The instant he saw Fang Hu, he warmly came forward to greet him.

"Ha ha, I was wondering why magpies had been chirping beneath the eaves today. So it turns out Junior Brother Fang has arrived. Hurry, come in."

"Senior Brother Zhang, I'll have to trouble you again this time." Fang Hu said with a chuckle.

This middle-aged man was Fang Hu's senior brother, Zhang Baiyang. Back when they had studied White Tiger Fist, Fang Hu had been closest to him.

Unlike Fang Hu, however, the better-born Fang Hu and Zhang Baiyang, who came from an ordinary farming household, had entered White Tiger Fist one after the other.

Zhang Baiyang and Fang Hu had comparable talent, and their progress in martial arts had always been neck and neck, each chasing the other.

Later, the two had taken the Martial Examination together. Zhang Baiyang barely passed, gaining Official Status, and slowly established property in Xiahe County Town.

Fang Hu, however, had failed completely. He took the examination several more times afterward, each result worse than the last. His family fortune gradually dwindled away, until he could only move back to his hometown, Daliushu Village.

Yet although their statuses and positions had changed, the friendship between them had only deepened.

Over the years, they had remained in frequent contact.

"Junior Brother Fang, you came early this time. Is something the matter? If you need your senior brother's help, just say the word. Don't stand on ceremony." Zhang Baiyang laughed heartily.

Fang Hu replied, "Nothing much. I simply haven't seen Master in a long time, so I came especially to pay him a visit. And while I'm here, I thought I'd let Master see this disappointing disciple of mine."

He then introduced Fang Yue beside him to Zhang Baiyang.

"Fang Yue, why aren't you greeting him? This is your Uncle Zhang."

The reason Fang Hu did not have Fang Yue address Zhang Baiyang as Uncle-Master Zhang, as Er Gou did, was because Fang Yue had not yet truly been accepted as his disciple.

"Greetings, Uncle Zhang!" Fang Yue bowed to him as a junior greeting an elder.

"Ha ha, Junior Brother Fang is finally taking on a disciple. For someone to catch Junior Brother Fang's eye, he must surely be an outstanding young talent. Since it's your first visit, Uncle Zhang hasn't prepared anything. Take a few Silver Beans as a greeting gift."

Zhang Baiyang laughed as he grabbed a handful from his money pouch and held them out to Fang Yue.

Since it was Fang Yue's first visit, Zhang Baiyang was only treating him favorably out of consideration for Fang Hu.

Fang Yue therefore did not dare accept them and could only look toward Fang Hu.

"Ha ha, if Uncle Zhang is giving them to you, take them."

"Thank you, Uncle Zhang."

With Fang Hu's approval, Fang Yue accepted the Silver Beans and bowed to Zhang Baiyang again.

"Alright, Junior Brother Fang. Since you're here, there are some matters I want to discuss with you. Come, let's go to the inner hall."

"Don't worry. It isn't Er Gou's first time here. Let the young people play together."

As Zhang Baiyang spoke, he pulled Fang Hu through the main hall and into the inner hall.

After they left, the small side door leading to the rear courtyard opened.

A valiant-looking woman dressed in light blue fitted martial attire, her hair tied up and styled like a man's, walked in.

"Heh heh, I was wondering who it was. So it's you again, you defeated underling, coming to my house to mooch food and drink!"