Chapter 5: Small Dragon Elephant Skill
"Er Gou, are you home?"
Xu Chuan stepped into Er Gou's courtyard.
With the busy farming season over, Er Gou was leisurely lying on a recliner under the eaves.
Seeing Xu Chuan, he sprang up, surprised, and said, "Chuan Ge, why are you here? Aren't you at home with your sister-in-law?"
"I gave her the Qi and Blood Pills you brought, and she's almost recovered after a few days."
"So that's it."
"Da Niu, Fangfang, your Uncle Xu is here, come out quickly."
Two children of similar age walked out and called out clearly to Xu Chuan, "Uncle Xu."
"So well-behaved." Xu Chuan smiled slightly.
"Go inside and play."
Hearing Er Gou's words, the two children immediately ran inside joyfully.
Xu Chuan silently took out a hundred-tael silver note and handed it over.
"Chuan Ge, this is for."
"The money for the Qi and Blood Pills. I know Qi and Blood Pills are expensive, and without connections to a Martial Arts School, you can't buy them even with money. You must accept this money, otherwise, don't call me Chuan Ge in the future."
One sentence blocked everything Er Gou was about to say.
"Then I'll accept it."
Seeing Er Gou put it away, Xu Chuan asked, "Last time you said you needed my help with something. Tell me about it?"
"My elder brother wants to exchange an Inner Strength Manual for the cultivation method of the qingyu pear. Do you think that's acceptable?"
Er Gou hesitated for a long time before speaking.
Years ago, when Xu Chuan wanted to plant qingyu pears, no one was optimistic.
But last year, they heard that Xu Chuan sold many qingyu pears to the Xu family, and only then did they realize he had succeeded in planting them.
Many commoners in Dongxi Village were very envious.
"Chen Bo's intention?"
"No, no, no."
Er Gou quickly waved his hand, "My father doesn't agree; it's my elder brother's idea."
"He probably heard that you planted ten acres of qingyu pears and earn a lot of silver every year, so..."
His voice grew softer and softer, and in the end, he didn't dare to look into Xu Chuan's eyes.
Er Gou also felt helpless.
But he had been afraid of his elder brother since he was a child, and now that he had become a Martial Artist, he was even more afraid.
He could only come as a mediator.
However, he also understood that, first of all, it was uncertain if Xu Chuan even had this secret recipe, and even if he did, it was a golden goose that laid eggs. How could it be comparable to just an Inner Strength Manual?
"Chuan Ge, please don't be angry. I was just mentioning it."
"Actually, I even regret speaking on behalf of my brother. After all, this is your unique skill, the foundation of your livelihood. Exchanging it for just one Secret Manual would be too great a loss."
Xu Chuan thought of Xu Yan.
Er Gou was honest, but Xu Yan was very shrewd.
She was the type who wouldn't even chat with you much unless there was a benefit.
Xu Chuan was indeed her cousin, but the two families had been out of touch for a long time, not interacting much since his grandfather's generation.
Her Family had prospered and moved to Qingjiang County, operating one or two shops in the city.
For several years after Xu Yan married Er Gou, she didn't interact much with the Xu Family.
They would just nod and greet each other, chatting briefly.
Xu Chuan didn't even know she was his relative.
It wasn't until last year that things started to liven up.
She would visit from time to time.
Then, they acknowledged their kinship.
"Considering your and Chen Bo's Face, it's not impossible to make a trade."
"Chuan Ge, are you serious?" Er Gou was overjoyed.
"Er Gou, listen to me first. I have conditions."
"Chuan Ge, tell me."
"First, this matter needs Chen Bo as a witness, a fair trade, with both parties willing."
"Second, just like with practicing Inner Strength Manuals, five or six out of ten might not succeed, so the qingyu pear cultivation method I provide cannot guarantee success. If it doesn't work out afterward, you must not cause trouble for my Family."
"Third, the Inner Strength Manual must be a high-grade Martial Art, plus ten Qi and Blood Pills."
"I understand." Er Gou nodded, "Chuan Ge, I'll go to the county town to find my elder brother tomorrow—no, today."
After Xu Chuan left.
Er Gou went to his father's house, asked Xu Yan to come back and look after the children, and then set off for the county town.
— — — — — — — —
Black Tiger Martial Arts School.
"Senior Brother Da Ming, someone is looking for you outside the Martial Arts School. He says he's your younger brother."
"My younger brother?"
Chen Da Ming went outside the Martial Arts School and, seeing Er Gou, asked in surprise, "Why are you here?"
Chen Da Ming secretly looked down on his mediocre younger brother.
"The matter you asked me to inquire about last time, Chuan Ge agreed, but he has three conditions."
"Oh, what did Xu Chuan say?"
Er Gou honestly repeated Xu Chuan's words.
Chen Da Ming pondered for a moment.
"This Xu Chuan is indeed as father said, someone who isn't willing to suffer losses."
Asking father to be a witness—does he think my Family will cause him trouble if we can't grow them?
Chen Da Ming had also inquired about qingyu pears and knew that planting them was indeed very difficult, but if successful, it could become the foundation of the Family for generations.
The Inner Strength Manual was the same.
He also wants a high-grade Inner Strength Manual?
He's truly an ignorant farmer!
The higher the grade of the Inner Strength Manual, the higher the Aptitude required.
"No problem. I just happened to obtain a high-grade Inner Strength Manual recently, which I can trade with him. As for the Qi and Blood Pills..."
"Er Gou, go back and tell Xu Chuan that in seven days, I will take leave and return home to trade with him."
"Understood, Senior Brother."
— — — — — — — — — —
Seven days later.
At Chen Bo's house.
Xu Chuan held the notes on qingyu pear cultivation that he had copied from memory and traded with Chen Da Ming.
"Have both of you thought this through?"
Xu Chuan looked at Chen Bo and smiled slightly, "Chen Bo, I want the Inner Strength Manual, and Brother Da Ming wants the cultivation method. Both parties will benefit."
"Father, stop nagging. Your son has already started his own Family and has his own judgment."
Chen Bo pouted, "Then let's begin. Both of you confirm that these are the items you want. Once there are no issues, sign and put your handprints."
The two exchanged items.
Xu Chuan first opened the porcelain bottle and sniffed, then poured out all the Qi and Blood Pills to examine them, and immediately put them back.
Next, he looked at the Inner Strength Manual, seeing the words "Small Dragon Elephant Skill" written on the cover.
"A remarkable name."
Xu Chuan opened it and began to read with great interest.
At this moment, Chen Da Ming looked up, finding it amusing.
"A farmer, who has never practiced Martial Arts and has no Martial Artist to teach him, wants to learn on his own?"
"Xu Chuan, let me tell you, this Inner Strength Manual comes from the Dragon Elephant Sect. They were annihilated several years ago, and the Secret Manual then circulated."
"Although it's just a handwritten copy, I can guarantee it's definitely a high-grade Secret Manual, and there's even a 'Congenital Dragon Elephant Art' that follows."
"However, you should be clear in your own mind that an Inner Strength Manual doesn't guarantee you'll become a Martial Artist just by learning it; it also depends on natural talent and resources."
"Thank you for the guidance, Brother Da Ming. I have no problems here." Xu Chuan said.
Chen Da Ming also roughly flipped through it. It was indeed written very detailed, including explanations on site selection, humidity, climate, fertilizer, and so on.
"I have no problems here either."
"Then let's sign and put our fingerprints."
Chen Bo held his pipe, took a puff, and exhaled a swirling cloud of smoke.
Both of them complied.
After Xu Chuan left, Chen Da Ming said, "Father, you should also copy a set. The Family also has mountain forests; we can give it a try."
"I don't need to; let Er Gou copy it."
"San Shu is so smart. He said the chances are not high, which means the success rate of planting is indeed very low. I don't have the energy to plant it."
"Father, are you overestimating him too much? There are many talented and extraordinary people in the world. With this cultivation experience, and finding a few experts skilled in fruit tree cultivation in Qingjiang County, I don't believe we can't grow them."
"As for him, wanting to learn Martial Arts, he overestimates himself too much."
"How could the Small Dragon Elephant Skill be so easy to practice?"
"Is the Inner Strength Manual fake?"
"Of course it's real. I spent a lot of silver on it."
Chen Bo felt a little relieved, with one hand behind his back and the other holding his pipe, preparing to go for a walk.
"I can see that both you and San Shu have your own little schemes, but Da Ming, in these past ten years, I've never seen San Shu suffer a loss."
Chen Da Ming was indifferent, muttering under his breath, "How many people have you seen, old man?"
"What kind of formidable person could come out of a small Dongxi Village?"
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