Chapter 4: Incident

A good teacher?

Jiang Ning was slightly stunned, immediately understanding what his older brother, Jiang Li, meant.

He was clearly planning to have someone else teach him martial arts.

He also suddenly understood why Liu Wanwan had secretly tried to stop his brother, Jiang Li, just moments ago.

One must remember: literature is for the poor, but martial arts are for the rich.

Learning martial arts is an incredibly expensive endeavor.

The apprenticeship fee alone is an exorbitant sum, not to mention the countless expenses for medicinal herbs that follow.

Currently, his brother’s household was already struggling, and he himself was penniless.

If he were to learn martial arts, wouldn't that just be continuing to bleed his brother and sister-in-law dry?

And even worse than before!

Realizing this, Jiang Ning quickly spoke up: "Brother, what I meant was that I only need you to teach me a couple of martial arts moves. I don't want to seek out a master, and I don't want to add any more burden to you and sister-in-law!"

"It seems you really have become sensible!" Big brother Jiang Li looked at Jiang Ning with a face full of gratification, then continued: "I know what you are worried about. You don't need to fret over the apprenticeship fees. Your brother has extraordinary martial arts skills; having been a constable for so many years, I still have some savings."

As he said this, Jiang Ning saw his brother Jiang Li wince slightly, and also noticed his sister-in-law Liu Wanwan’s subtle attempt to stop him.

"Brother! There is really no need to seek out a master!"

"What do you know?" Jiang Li glared at Jiang Ning and continued: "With my mediocre skills, I haven't even reached the entry level of martial arts. How could I teach you? I’d only end up teaching you wrong!"

"Haven't you heard that a good teacher produces excellent students? If you want to learn martial arts, you must find a true master to guide you into the fold. This concerns your future achievements; this money must not be saved!"

"In the future, if you truly achieve success in martial arts, you can come to the county office, and I can get you a position as a constable. That way, you’ll have a future to look forward to and be qualified to marry and have children."

Hearing the words "marry and have children," Jiang Ning felt a headache coming on. He was about to speak again when he saw his sister-in-law, Liu Wanwan, pull his brother up and walk toward the back hall.

"Forget it!" Jiang Ning sighed inwardly at this sight. "I'll find an opportunity to talk to my brother later!"

He hastily shoveled down the food in front of him and stood up to head toward the inner hall, wanting to see how his brother and sister-in-law were doing.

For his brother and sister-in-law in this life, Jiang Ning felt gratitude from the bottom of his heart.

His predecessor had been a loafer, and for the two of them to have done this much, it could already be said they had fulfilled their duty to the utmost.

Even his sister-in-law, when faced with a shiftless brother-in-law, had only expressed slight complaints and had never embarrassed his predecessor to his face.

When he first arrived in this world, he was mentally exhausted and severely injured; it was his sister-in-law who had been taking care of him, washing his clothes and cooking for him.

Therefore, toward his brother and sister-in-law in this life, Jiang Ning felt only gratitude, without a shred of resentment.

Approaching the back hall, Jiang Ning heard the low, hushed conversation between his brother and sister-in-law.

Filled with curiosity, Jiang Ning took a few more steps, and their voices became clearer.

"Jiang Li, have you really thought this through? Your brother Jiang Ning is already eighteen. Even if his talent is high, he is about to miss the golden age for learning martial arts. His future achievements will be limited!"

"Wanwan, I know! But he is my brother, my only younger brother. How can I not help him? An elder brother is like a father, and I only have this one younger brother!!"

"And what about Ming'er?" Liu Wanwan's voice was filled with anger. "You know how expensive it is to apprentice for martial arts! Ming'er is fourteen now, his bone structure will soon be fully developed. In a year or so, it will be the golden age for him to learn martial arts!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Jiang Li fell silent. After a few moments of silence, he said: "I can solve the money issue. Ming'er's future cannot be delayed, but my own brother's future cannot be delayed either! Since he wants to learn martial arts to find a path for himself, I, as his big brother, must support him."

"I want to go back to my maiden home to visit! I miss my father, mother, and brother!" Liu Wanwan suddenly blurted out.

Dead silence. A sudden, deathly silence descended.

"Brother!" Jiang Ning called out, walking toward the hall, instantly breaking the silence.

Suddenly.

"Brother Li—"

"Brother Li—"

"Chief Feng has summoned us! We must gather at the yamen before the third quarter of noon!!"

The shouts came from outside, moving from far to near.

"Wanwan, I've wronged you!!" Jiang Li’s voice came from the inner hall.

The next moment.

Bang—

The closed door in front opened instantly, and Jiang Li’s tall, burly figure appeared before Jiang Ning.

"Brother!" Jiang Ning said.

Jiang Li patted his shoulder: "Don't worry, I can handle all of this!! Don't be angry with your sister-in-law!"

Leaving those final words, Jiang Li took a long stride, covering two or three meters across the hall.

He grabbed the standard long saber placed on the table with one hand, took another step, and rushed straight out of the main house.

"Let's go!!" Jiang Li shouted lightly, his figure disappearing from Jiang Ning's sight.

"Sister-in-law!" Jiang Ning said softly, looking at Liu Wanwan as she emerged from the back hall.

"I hope you can be more mature in the future and not let your brother's painstaking efforts go to waste again!" Liu Wanwan stared into Jiang Ning's eyes, leaving him with this very serious remark before brushing past him.

She went to the dining table and began to clear the bowls and chopsticks.

——

The moon was bright and the stars were sparse.

The cold moonlight shone down on Luoshui County, as if draping a thin veil over the night.

Under such bright moonlight, even sitting in the courtyard, Jiang Ning could clearly see the handwriting in the book in his hand.

Woof, woof, woof—

Suddenly, a few barks came from outside the courtyard.

Shortly after, a tall, burly man walked in with long strides.

"Brother Li!!!" Liu Wanwan, standing at the courtyard gate, saw the figure and joy appeared in her eyes.

"Brother Li, what happened to you!" Liu Wanwan’s expression instantly turned to panic, her voice trembling.

Something happened!!!

The thought flashed through the mind of Jiang Ning, who was reading under the moonlight.

He quickly closed his book and stood up to walk toward the courtyard gate.

The next moment.

Jiang Ning saw the tall, burly Jiang Li walking in through the moonlight, his steps steady and powerful.

Then, his gaze was drawn to Jiang Li’s right hand, which was wrapped in white bandages.

Something really did happen?

Jiang Ning’s heart sank.

At this moment, Jiang Li had also walked up to Liu Wanwan.

"Brother Li, what is this about??" Liu Wanwan looked at Jiang Li, on the verge of tears, her voice trembling.

Jiang Li grinned: "It's nothing. We raided the Worshiping God Sect this afternoon, and there was a small accident. Just a minor injury!"

"Brother Li, you said you wouldn't lie to me!!" Liu Wanwan looked as if she wanted to touch Jiang Li’s right hand but was afraid of hurting him.

Hearing this, Jiang Li fell silent.

After a few moments, he said slowly: "The raid this afternoon was brutal. I was lucky to save my life, but my right hand is ruined."

"Ruined?" Liu Wanwan muttered to herself, as if she couldn't believe her ears.

The next moment, she looked at Jiang Li with determination: "Can it be cured? No matter how much it costs, I will pay it. If it comes to it, I'll go beg my father and brother!!!"

Jiang Li shook his head slightly: "The tendons are severed and the bones are shattered; there is no saving it."

He then laughed heartily: "It's fine, don't worry. Although my right hand is ruined, I was out there risking my life to wipe out the Worshiping God Sect—that was for the County Magistrate! I was injured in the line of duty; the Magistrate will surely settle me properly! Although I won't be rich and powerful in the future, living a normal life won't be a problem. Besides, being injured in the line of duty and retiring to logistics means there will definitely be a pension. If the Magistrate doesn't treat me fairly, who would be willing to fight to the death for him in the future?"

Hearing this, Liu Wanwan’s eyes were filled with tears, and she nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, yes!!"

Jiang Li smiled and pulled her into his arms with his left hand.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning felt a bit awkward.

In this situation between his brother and sister-in-law, it wasn't appropriate for him to be there.

Just then.

Jiang Li patted Liu Wanwan’s back, and she gently pulled away from his embrace.

"Little brother, come with me!" Jiang Li said.

Jiang Ning nodded.

(End of chapter)