Chapter 3: Cousin
“Chen Heng truly has a promising future.”
Chen Jinhua’s tone was complex, tinged with envy and bitterness.
What do you mean, there wasn’t time to tell us? It’s clearly favoritism.
How could Second Uncle afford to let Chen Heng learn martial arts? Wasn’t it Old Master Chen who paid for it?
“If Chen Heng can become a Wu Xiucai,” Old Master Chen’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his voice filled with anticipation, “our Family’s taxes could be reduced by sixty percent.”
Chen Heng puffed out his chest and declared confidently, “Grandpa, don’t worry! I will study hard. Not only will I reduce our Family’s taxes, but in the future, when I’ve saved up enough silver, I’ll move you into the Inner City to enjoy life!”
He lifted his head, a hint of pride in his expression.
After all, he was a young man; how could he not be spirited after achieving something?
“Good, good, good!”
Old Master Chen’s face was full of relief, his smile so wide it couldn’t close.
The Inner City was a place he had dreamed of his entire life.
Thinking of this, Old Master Chen’s gaze towards Chen Heng, besides affection, held a heavy layer of hope.
Han absentmindedly offered a few perfunctory words, but eventually returned to the main topic, “Father, what about A Qing learning a trade?”
“Sigh!”
Old Master Chen let out a long sigh, tapping his pipe against the edge of the table. He said, “Chen Heng’s martial arts training concerns the rise and fall of our Old Chen Family. We need to prepare more money for it.”
He had muddled through most of his life, getting battered and bruised in this world. He knew deeply that to make a name for oneself in this world, there had to be a martial arts practitioner in the Family.
Chen Heng was the Chen Family’s only hope.
Regarding Chen Qing learning a trade, he truly had the will but not the means.
“Sister-in-law!”
Chen Wen said with a pained expression, “You need to look at the long term! If Chen Heng succeeds in the future, what kind of situation will that be? Could he forget you, his aunt? You need to have foresight!”
Upon hearing this, Han was immediately speechless.
“Chen Heng.”
Chen Jinhua’s mind became active, and she quickly said, “If you encounter any difficulties in your martial arts training later, just tell your Big Aunt! Big Aunt will definitely support you!”
She was thinking of buttering him up in advance.
Chen Heng said unceremoniously, “Big Aunt, I don’t have any difficulties right now. I just want to eat meat.”
Gaolin County is located by the river, and most of its residents make a living by fishing, which makes pork very expensive.
When ‘meat’ was mentioned, even Chen Wen, who was nearby, couldn’t help but swallow.
“You child, what nonsense are you talking about?”
Second Aunt playfully patted Chen Heng, then turned to Chen Jinhua with a forced smile: “His aunt, the child is just being greedy and talking nonsense, don’t take him seriously.”
Chen Jinhua’s heart ached, but she forced a smile and said, “Is wanting to eat meat not simple? Come to Big Aunt’s house tomorrow, and Big Aunt will make sure you have enough!”
“Thank you, Big Aunt.” Chen Heng replied quickly, as if afraid Chen Jinhua would go back on her word.
Han looked at Old Master Chen, finally hoping, “Father—”
Old Master Chen took a deep drag from his pipe, exhaled a thick puff of smoke, and made his decision, “A Qing learning a trade will have to be discussed later.”
Han wanted to speak but hesitated, ultimately saying nothing.
Thinking of the neglect she had suffered over the years, she couldn’t help but feel a little wronged.
Chen Qing secretly shook his head.
Old Master Chen had placed all the Family’s chips on Chen Heng, hoping he would revitalize their prestige through martial arts.
Trying to get even half a copper coin from Old Master Chen now was a pipe dream.
He was silent for a moment, then looked up, “Grandpa, I also want to practice martial arts.”
As soon as these words were uttered, the entire room fell silent.
Chen Wen was first stunned, then sneered, “A Qing, martial arts isn’t something just anyone can practice.”
Chen Jinhua also mercilessly added, “Learning martial arts depends on one’s innate talent and bone structure! With your physique and brain… I’m not criticizing you, but learning would just be a waste of money! It’s better to find a steady livelihood.”
She was convinced that this nephew was dull and foolish, definitely not suitable for martial arts.
Chen Qing didn’t care about their discouragement and asked, “Grandpa, can I learn with Chen Heng?”
Han’s heart stirred, and she quickly nodded, “That’s right, just let Chen Heng teach A Qing a bit…”
If her son could learn martial arts by following Chen Heng, that would also be a good thing.
“How can that be?”
Hearing this, Chen Heng shook his head like a rattle drum, “The rules of the Martial Arts Hall state that martial arts cannot be privately taught to outsiders. Besides, I have to train hard every day to prepare for the Martial Examination; where would I find the free time to teach someone?”
He was very busy every day; where would he have time to give Chen Qing an introduction to martial arts?
Moreover, his cousin wasn’t cut out for it anyway; it would just be a waste of his own time.
Second Aunt frowned and chimed in, “Don’t delay Chen Heng at all.”
Old Master Chen’s face immediately darkened, and he reprimanded, “A Qing, you are not suited for martial arts, so stop being foolish!”
Now, Chen Heng was all his hope.
What if he was delayed by Chen Qing? What then?
“Father—”
Han still wanted to say something.
“Cough, cough, cough—!”
Old Master Chen suddenly coughed violently. Second Aunt patted his back, then sneered at Han: “Sister-in-law, have you forgotten? Father can’t get angry.”
Chen Jinhua also glared at Han and said, “Oldest sister-in-law, stop talking.”
Han’s face turned pale. Chen Qing pressed his mother’s trembling hand.
He remembered that snowy night, his Second Uncle crying and wailing, clutching his grandfather’s leg, and his father silently shouldering his travel bag.
The bones of the canal laborers could build a second city wall.
“Becoming a fisherman on the river isn’t bad either.”
Old Master Chen finally waved his hand, his pipe pointing to the dusty oar piled in the corner: “Just like your father…”
Han was now disheartened.
Chen Qing lowered his head and didn’t speak; he hadn’t heard what Old Master Chen said at all.
He had to find an opportunity to learn martial arts, no matter what.
This was the only way out.
Shimmering ripples appeared on the river surface.
The connected boats swayed gently with the water, making creaking sounds.
Chen Qing sat on the boat deck. On the worn wooden table was a bowl of rice bran porridge, so thin it reflected his face, and half a gray, dusty “wave dregs” cake.
The so-called wave dregs cake was made by scooping up the discarded distiller’s grains from wineries, mixing them with rice bran, and baking them.
Han felt a hint of guilt, “Today… I put a bit too much water. Tomorrow, Mother will buy and add more reed seeds.”
“Let it be thin; it can last longer.”
Chen Qing took the bowl; the edge of the rough clay bowl already had several chips.
Gulp, gulp!
The rice bran became drier the more he chewed it in his mouth, giving off the musty smell of an old granary. The crumbs scraped his throat, causing a sharp pain.
He gulped down several mouthfuls of cold water before he could barely swallow it, his stomach feeling heavy, as if stuffed with dry grass.
This kind of food wasn’t tasty, but fortunately, he was already used to it.
After all, in this world, having anything to eat was good enough.
According to Uncle Gao, some people outside the city even ate sod, tree roots, and even kaolin clay.
Kaolin clay was even more choking than rice bran, making people want to drink more water, but once too much water was drunk, the kaolin clay would expand, rupturing the intestines and stomach, suffocating them to death.
Chen Qing knew that in this world, if the poor didn’t have enough survival experience, they would die even more miserably.
Compared to kaolin clay, rice bran porridge was already considered a delicacy.
“…Learning a trade isn’t bad either.” Han whispered, “Not long ago, I went to Dew Market and heard that Carpenter Li wanted to take on an apprentice…”
Although learning a trade might mean working like an ox or a horse for a lifetime, at least one could survive.
Most young people in Dumb Bay nowadays were like this.
Chen Qing took a deep breath and slowly said, “Mother, I want to learn martial arts.”
In this world, fists are the roots, and money is the umbrella.
Even if he learned a trade, he would still be exploited.
The Gangs’ control was extremely vicious; they wouldn’t let you starve to death, but they wouldn’t let you live comfortably either.
Chen Qing considered that if all else failed, he would first fish and secretly save some capital, then plan his path to learning martial arts.
However, this would take even longer.
“Learn martial arts?”
Han’s lips trembled slightly, and the porridge in the bowl rippled.
She knew Chen Qing had his own ideas, but given their conditions, learning martial arts was simply too difficult.
“Aunt, A Qing!”
Just then, a clear voice sounded from outside the cabin door.