Chapter 10: Chapter 9: Moon Staff, Yearly Blade, Lifetime Spear Chapter 10: Chapter 9: Moon Staff, Yearly Blade, Lifetime Spear In the afternoon, Jiang He and Yang Yunxue went back with five kilograms of beef and some cotton fabric.
The next morning, Yang Zhenshan went to the county town alone.
Since the eldest and the second eldest needed the ox cart for hauling firewood, Yang Zhenshan could only walk to the county town.
There were only two medical halls in the county town, and Yang Zhenshan went to the better one. Likely due to the change of seasons, the medical hall was crowded with many people in long queues.
As Yang Zhenshan was not there for medical treatment, he naturally did not line up but went straight into the medical hall.
“What can I do for you, sir?”
A man in his thirties stood behind the counter and asked Yang Zhenshan.
Beside him, an elderly man was taking someone’s pulse.
Yang Zhenshan knew this elderly man.
Song Yuanbo, the best doctor in Anning County and the man in his thirties was his son, Song Ningfeng. There were also three apprentices in the medical hall, all grandchildren of Song Yuanbo.
The original person had once consulted Song Yuanbo for hidden injuries but due to the high cost, he did not receive treatment from Song Yuanbo.
This is not to say Song Yuanbo only cared about money, but the treatment for the hidden injuries required many precious herbs, and even kind-hearted Song Yuanbo could not afford to treat people at a loss.
“Doctor Song, I have an old mountain ginseng here!”
Saying this, Yang Zhenshan took out a wooden box and placed it on the counter.
Song Ningfeng opened the box, and his eyes brightened, “Is this a thirty-five-year-old mountain ginseng? Excellent, excellent, a good medicine indeed!”
“Do you intend to sell it?”
“Yes!” Yang Zhenshan nodded.
Song Ningfeng smiled, “Please wait a moment!”
Then, he showed the wooden box to Song Yuanbo.
Song Yuanbo looked up at Yang Zhenshan, his face showing a look of surprise.
“Are your injuries healed?”
Yang Zhenshan was also surprised; he didn’t expect Song Yuanbo to still remember him.
“Yes!”
“Come here, let me take your pulse!” Song Yuanbo gestured.
Without hesitation, Yang Zhenshan walked over, sat down, and extended his wrist.
Song Yuanbo stroked his beard while checking the pulse, occasionally looking at Yang Zhenshan with a surprised gaze.
“How did it heal?”
He had a deep impression of Yang Zhenshan; after all, there were not many martial artists in Anning County and Yang Zhenshan’s previous hidden injuries were quite special, making them hard to forget.
After seeing Yang Zhenshan before, he had regretted for a long time.
Seeing Yang Zhenshan again, even after several years had passed, the impression was still vivid.
“Cured by a wandering Taoist!” Yang Zhenshan casually fibbed.
Song Yuanbo did not ask further, only smiling, “Strong and steady pulse, your breath is calm and sustained, not only are your injuries healed, but your cultivation has also improved.”
At his old age, he had seen and heard many strange things.
Meeting a wandering Taoist who cured his hidden injuries sounded implausible, but it was not impossible.
Yang Zhenshan smiled; he had been in this world for nearly a month, using Spiritual Spring Water every day. Although the water could not directly enhance his martial arts cultivation, it gently nourished his body.
With his daily exercises, his cultivation was about to break through to an advanced level of the Body Refining Realm, already having surpassed his former self.
“Thank you for your concern!” Yang Zhenshan said.
Song Yuanbo waved his hand, took the wooden box containing the ginseng, and said, “This old mountain ginseng is good. I’ll offer 180 silver taels. Do you agree?”
“Of course!” Yang Zhenshan could hardly keep his smile hidden.
He thought that selling it for 120 to 130 taels would be good enough, but to get 180 was beyond his expectation.
Song Yuanbo nodded slightly, “I’m busy here, so won’t chat more.”
Yang Zhenshan thanked him and followed Song Ningfeng to get the money.
180 taels—Song Ningfeng gave him three silver notes of fifty taels each and three silver ingots of ten taels.
The silver notes were from Datong Bank; there was a Datong Bank in Anning County, and the silver could be exchanged at any time.
After getting the money, Yang Zhenshan left the medical hall, beaming with joy.
A saying goes: A horse doesn’t get fat without night grazing; a person isn’t wealthy without sudden windfall.
Today, he truly experienced the feeling of gaining sudden windfall.
Upon leaving the county town, Yang Zhenshan saw a notice at the city gate.
The notice addressed matters of banditry, accompanied by several wanted posters of bandit leaders.
Anning County was not tranquil at all, with many bandit dens within, especially around Changqing Mountain where many desperate villains proclaimed themselves kings.
However, Yang Family Village had never suffered from bandits; after all, the village had martial arts heritage and martial artists in residence. These bandits, always bullying the weak and fearing the strong, only ever targeted easy prey.
Yang Zhenshan glanced at the notice and left without much concern.
On the way home, Yang Zhenshan was planning for the future days of the Yang family.
Now he had over two hundred taels of silver in his hands, the problem of food and clothing for the family had been solved, but this still couldn’t satisfy the life he desired.
He had never thought about abandoning the Yang family to live in seclusion.
Humans are social animals; in a world without the internet, mobile phones, computers, or various forms of entertainment, Yang Zhenshan already felt extremely bored and dull. If he were to isolate himself from society and live hidden in the mountains, he felt he would go crazy.
Although he still felt somewhat uncomfortable with having a house full of children and grandchildren, he had already accepted everything about the Yang family.
He didn’t consider himself as a father or grandfather, but as a company boss.
The Yang family was his company, his sons and daughters-in-law were his employees. He wanted to lead this company to grow, to provide a better life for the employees within it, and turn them into more capable talents.
Thinking this way, Yang Zhenshan felt he bore a great responsibility.
So, next, he planned to secure properties for the ‘company’ to increase income and ensure the sustainable development of the ‘company’.
Having thought all the way, by the time Yang Zhenshan returned home, it was already noon, just as the eldest and the second sons were drawing a cart of firewood back home.
Seeing the pile of firewood as tall as a man in the courtyard, Yang Zhenshan nodded in satisfaction.
Yang Mingcheng and Yang Mingzhi were both down-to-earth and diligent. The brothers never slacked off in their work, which was also why Yang Zhenshan accepted them so quickly.
If these two brothers were cunning sorts, Yang Zhenshan would definitely consider abandoning this family.
“The firewood is almost enough; from tomorrow you should also pick up your martial arts again!” said Yang Zhenshan to the two unloading the cart.
“Dad, aren’t we driving the cart anymore?” Yang Mingcheng asked, somewhat puzzled.
Previously, during the slack farming season, he would drive the ox-cart back and forth between the Yang Family Village and the county seat, offering rides to people and earning a few dozen copper coins each day.
This was a significant income for the Yang family.
“Not anymore, in the future you will practice martial arts morning and evening without laziness!” Yang Zhenshan said in a definitive tone.
Now with over two hundred taels of silver, he naturally did not deem those dozen copper coins significant.
Instead of wasting time earning those copper coins, it would be better to have the brothers pick up martial arts and soon become martial artists.
Yang Mingcheng was only twenty years old now and Yang Mingzhi was even younger at seventeen; it wasn’t too late for them to start practicing martial arts now.
Moreover, Yang Zhenshan had Spiritual Spring Water, helping them become martial artists wasn’t difficult.
The greatest effect of the Spiritual Spring Water wasn’t to heal injuries, but to nourish the body and enhance its potential.
The effect wasn’t immediate but progressively improved over time.
Drinking a bowl of Spiritual Spring Water wouldn’t show much effect, but if drunk long-term, the effects of the Spiritual Spring Water could be magnified indefinitely.
Yang Zhenshan was willing to give Spiritual Spring Water to Yang Mingcheng and Yang Mingzhi to drink because he had noticed in this period that the spring’s output had increased.
At first, he didn’t notice, but two days ago he discovered that the daily output of the spring had surpassed a bowl, and the same bowl could no longer hold it all.
In the future, he would have more Spiritual Spring Water and distributing some to his children and grandchildren wouldn’t be a problem.
The next morning at dawn.
As the sky began to brighten, the Yang family courtyard echoed with the sound of swift whipping through the air.
Yang Mingcheng and Yang Mingzhi had also joined in the practice of spear technique.
Along with Yang Yunxue, the three of them practiced spear technique in unison in the courtyard, which looked quite impressive.
Yang Zhenshan walked out of the hall, glanced at them, didn’t step forward to disturb them, but carried a metal spear to the mountains behind.
Yang Mingcheng and the others needed to practice their spear technique, and Yang Zhenshan also needed to.
Practicing martial arts, if not advancing, then declining.
Studying martial arts, the demands of the spear required lifelong dedication.
Yang Zhenshan, if he wanted to become a stronger Martial Artist, had to continue his relentless training.
However, being a Martial Artist, when practicing the spear the destruction was somewhat great, which wasn’t suitable for training at home.
Moreover, he also needed to practice the throwing skills of the Short Spear, which required a more open area.
Thus, the mountains behind the Yang Family Village were his best training ground.
After practicing the spear technique for half an hour, and the Short Spear throwing for another half an hour, by the time Yang Zhenshan returned home, it was already broad daylight.
Many villagers went up the mountain to chop firewood or dig for wild vegetables, all warmly greeting Yang Zhenshan.
To other people’s greetings, Yang Zhenshan would kindly nod in acknowledgment.
During this time, he had always been modifying his personal image, changing from the previously deadpan face to a gentle elder.
The change was significant, but no one suspected he was a different person; everyone thought it was because his health had improved, leading to a change in his mindset.
Upon returning home, Ms. Wang and the Li family had already prepared the food.
Four dishes and one soup with white rice.
It included both meat and vegetarian dishes, dry and soup-based, along with pickled vegetables made by Ms. Wang.
Although Ms. Wang’s cooking skills were quite ordinary, Yang Zhenshan was still very satisfied with such a meal.
After breakfast, Yang Mingcheng and Yang Mingzhi busied themselves with repairing the house; the Yang family’s house was already more than a dozen years old. Although it was repaired every year, there were still many damaged places, especially the roof which needed the most reinforcement.
In the meantime, Ms. Wang and the Li family were looking after the children while also making cotton clothes, with even Yang Yunxue helping to make cotton clothes.
Suddenly, Yang Zhenshan realized that he himself was the most idle person in this family.