Chapter 7: Talent Empowerment
"Heaven and Earth, profound and yellow; the Universe, vast and boundless."
"The sun and moon wax and wane; the constellations are spread out."
"Winter comes and summer goes; autumn harvests and winter stores."
Early morning.
Xu Chuan taught the two little ones the Thousand Character Classic.
He wrote two copies, one for each of them.
He also personally crafted a set of tables and chairs suitable for their height, making it convenient for them to study.
He read one sentence, and the two of them, corresponding to the characters on the paper, followed along.
Crisp childish voices echoed throughout the small courtyard; roosters and hens emerged from their coops, strolling around the yard, pecking for food everywhere.
Above the kitchen, wisps of green smoke slowly ascended.
After breakfast.
Bai Jing held her youngest son, supervising Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingyuan as they copied characters.
Both wrote very seriously, stroke by stroke.
Xu Chuan, meanwhile, began the renovation of the house, designing, procuring Materials, and finding helpers, busy and content.
However, even so, he still made time every day to take a stroll around the fields and the forest.
He would check the situation, pull weeds, and so on.
Then he would also practice Small Dragon Elephant Skill for an hour.
Heavenly Dao rewards diligence; only through perseverance can one achieve results.
A month and a half passed in a flash.
The Xu Family’s house had undergone a significant transformation.
It became a residence with five main halls, a main hall, and a half-acre courtyard.
In the entire Dongxi Village, it could be considered upper-middle class.
When a new house is built, there is a custom of warming the house, which inevitably involves a banquet, and of course, receiving gifts.
— — — — — — — —
Time flew by in an instant.
In a blink of an eye, the annual Ancestral Sacrifice arrived.
Under Xu Chuan’s daily guidance and Bai Jing’s strict supervision, Xu Mingwei had recognized all the characters in the Thousand Character Classic, and could already write a good portion of them.
Xu Mingyuan, being younger, was still only in the stage of recognizing characters.
After the Ancestral Sacrifice.
Xu Chuan finally made the decision to empower Xu Mingwei with talent.
The Bloodline Family Genealogy had an additional page after the birth of the second generation descendants.
And five fate talents were born.
They were Heavenly Strength, Avoiding Harm for Profit, Way to Make Money, Eagle Eye, and Myriad Spirit Whisper.
These were all unowned talents that could be bestowed upon Xu Chuan himself.
But such a thought flashed through his mind and was gone.
Because, even if they were all added to him, as a Mortal, he would be too busy.
Just like now, even with three fate talents, Daily Divination is not very useful for him at the moment.
For a Family to grow strong, it naturally requires collective effort and unity; only then can it endure.
"Shitou, you are the eldest legitimate son; in the future, you will have to support the Xu Family. Father intends for you to walk the martial Dao. Do you have any objections?"
Xu Chuan’s usual gentleness was gone, his expression extremely solemn.
Xu Mingwei also felt the solemnity in the surrounding air, raised his small face, looked directly at Xu Chuan, and nodded, saying, "Father has taught us many principles these past few days, and Shitou understands."
"Everything will follow Father's instructions."
"Shitou will set a good example for his younger brothers!"
"I will not disgrace the Xu Family, and I will not shame Father!"
Xu Chuan nodded with satisfaction, and Xu Chuan took out the Family Genealogy.
"Drip a drop of blood on it."
In the main hall, only Xu Chuan and Xu Mingwei were present; everyone else was instructed not to enter.
Xu Mingwei had absolute trust in Xu Chuan and immediately complied.
As the blood was absorbed by the Family Genealogy, Xu Mingwei felt surprised but did not ask further questions.
"Now, kneel down, close your eyes, and repeat after me."
"In the year Yisi, we reverently offer sacrifices to the ancestral spirits. May virtue descend upon our descendants, and grace cover our household. Diligent through spring and autumn, our filial piety is sincere. May the spirits manifest, and bless our Family name, respectfully partaking of this offering."
"In the year Yisi, we reverently offer sacrifices to the ancestral spirits. May virtue descend upon our descendants, and grace cover our household, respectfully partaking of this offering."
As the Old Ancestor of the first generation and the actual controller of the Family Genealogy, Xu Chuan could directly bestow talents upon himself.
But others had to follow strict requirements.
If Xu Chuan presided, he could choose specific talents to bestow, but if not, the Family Genealogy would randomly grant a fate talent.
When Xu Mingwei finished reciting, Xu Chuan felt a translucent thread on him, connected to the Family Genealogy.
The Family Genealogy emitted a faint green light, about to randomly bestow a talent, but Xu Chuan stopped it.
He pointed his finger at Xu Mingwei's forehead and directly bestowed the two talents: Heavenly Strength and Eagle Eye.
Since he was to walk the martial Dao, it was natural to maximize the relevant talents.
Heavenly Strength would allow his strength to grow daily in the future, far exceeding ordinary people, and his bones and muscles would also gradually transform, making him suitable for the martial Dao.
Eagle Eye, as the name suggests, would make his eyes like an eagle's, sharp and profound, discerning all things.
With both bestowed, Xu Mingwei's most skilled weapon in the future was destined to be the bow and arrow.
"Alright, Shitou, open your eyes."
Xu Mingwei obediently opened his eyes but did not see the black book.
"How do you feel?"
"Just now my forehead felt cool, now it's gone, but, Father, what did that passage I just recited mean?"
"It is our Xu Family's prayer to sacrifice to our ancestors, begging the ancestors to protect us in peace and for our Luck to prosper. You must remember it in your heart and pass it down through generations."
"Understood, Father."
Xu Chuan smiled and rubbed Xu Mingwei's head, "Tomorrow, you must wake up early and practice martial arts and archery with me, then read and write with A Yuan, and then follow me to inspect the rice fields and the forest."
"I don't require you to be skilled in farming, but you must know some general things so that you can make decisions when things happen."
"The rest of the time, you will dedicate entirely to martial arts practice."
"Can you do it?"
"Father, Shitou can!"
Xu Mingwei's tender eyes showed determination.
With Xu Chuan's verbal instruction and personal example, Xu Mingwei also had a hardworking disposition.
Except for reading and writing with Xu Mingyuan every day, he spent most of his time with Xu Chuan, learning his knowledge and how to conduct himself.
Xu Mingyuan felt neglected and also insisted on joining his brother, but Xu Chuan did not agree and even reprimanded him strictly.
It was Xu Mingwei who comforted him, "Later, when big brother practices martial arts in the courtyard, you can join me."
"Yay!"
Xu Mingyuan immediately became happy again.
Every day, he looked forward to Xu Mingwei coming back to be with him.
Several nights later.
"Husband, Shitou is only six years old; aren't you being too strict with him?"
"These past few days, I've clearly seen the fatigue on his face, and my heart truly aches."
Xu Chuan chuckled, "My dear wife wants to be a kind mother, so I, your husband, can only be a strict Father. If both sides spoil them, what kind of people can we raise?"
"Perhaps husband is right, but I..."
"Enough." Xu Chuan raised his hand to stop her from continuing.
When it was time to be firm, he would naturally be firm.
Seeing the lingering worry in Bai Jing's eyes, Xu Chuan sighed, "Our Shitou is a persistent one, like me, able to endure hardship. After a period of time, he should be able to adapt."
After a few months, his talents would gradually become apparent.
"Currently, our Family is not short of silver, so there's no need to economize. Add some meat to the meals every day."
"Shitou's martial arts training also requires these."
"Your concubine understands."
"Then, my dear wife, shall we retire for the night?"
Xu Chuan's hands began to wander, but Bai Jing pushed them away.
Bai Jing turned over and lay down, saying indifferently, "Your concubine feels a bit unwell tonight, husband, you'll have to manage yourself."
"Uh—"
Xu Chuan's eyes widened.
This woman, she's rebelling!
He watched quietly for a while, then simply put out the lamp and went to sleep.
The next day.
The ink-like morning light had not yet faded, but the eastern sky was already turning a crab-shell green.
In the courtyard.
Xu Chuan's cotton shirt had dark sweat stains on the back, and when he exhaled, white mist condensed into fine arrows.
Young Xu Mingwei imitated his movements, his plump little arms like lotus roots, looking wobbly.
Xu Chuan occasionally stopped to correct his movements.
He would praise him when he did well and sternly reprimand him when he did not.
Xu Mingwei's eyes were full of tenacity; even if he felt wronged, he would only swallow it down, not showing a trace.
More than half an hour passed.
After a wash, it was time to read.
"Heaven and Earth, profound and yellow; the Universe, vast and boundless."
"The sun and moon wax and wane; the constellations are spread out."
Two childish voices crisply cut through the thin mist, startling the sparrows dozing under the eaves.
It was a brand new day again.