Chapter 221 Caught Peeking at a Storybook

"cousin."

He Xiao stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, showing respect, but his expression remained indifferent.

Cheng Wanwan placed the steamed buns on the table: "These are freshly steamed buns. Eat a few while they're hot. If you get hungry later, you can steam them in a pot."

She took a wooden box out of her sleeve and handed it over, saying, "This is some tea I bought in town. The kids at home don't like to drink tea, so you can take it and drink it."

He Xiao does need tea; it's a habit he's developed over twenty-six years, and he can't change it anytime soon.

He cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, cousin."

"Since you call me cousin, don't be so polite," Cheng Wanwan said with a smile. "Make yourself at home, just treat this place as your own."

She didn't linger; she handed over the items and left.

After she left, He Xiao got up, put the steamed buns into the pot in the kitchen, and then took the empty bowl to return it.

He limped along the main road of the village, leaning on a wooden cane. As soon as he appeared, many people greeted him.

"Xiao He, is your injury healed?"

"You still have some trouble walking, so you should lie down and rest to recover."

"I heard you know kung fu, is that true or not?"

He Xiao was really overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of the women in the village.

In the past, no one dared to question him in such a tone, let alone lay a hand on him...

He was stopped by the village head's wife, who asked, "You live alone in Dahe Village. Do you have a wife and children at home?"

He Xiao's expression dimmed for a moment, then he shook his head: "Not yet married."

"Oh, that's wonderful." The village head's wife pulled his hand tighter. "Judging from your appearance, you must be in your early twenties. I have a niece on my family's side who's twenty and still unmarried... well, not because no one wants her, but because her fiancé died unexpectedly, and she's been waiting ever since. Why don't you meet her..."

Before he could finish speaking, Aunt Wang stopped him and whispered, "Village head, this won't do. I heard that Xiao He works at the town's martial arts school. How can he marry a woman in her twenties? This won't do, it definitely won't do!"

The village head's wife glanced at He Xiao and said in an even lower voice, "He's already in his twenties and still hasn't married. There must be something wrong with his health. My niece is a bit older, but she's still a proper young woman. What's wrong with her being with him... But you mustn't say this in front of others, understand?"

He Xiao stumbled and almost fell to the ground.

He couldn't listen anymore, and, leaning on his cane, he fled.

He quickly walked to the entrance of Cheng Wanwan's courtyard and immediately saw several girls sitting in the courtyard embroidering.

Cao Yingying, Xia Hua, and Wang Damai were studying flower patterns together.

He Xiao glanced at it and was a little stunned. He seemed to see double-sided embroidery... This was an embroidery technique that only wealthy families would use. How could a little girl from a small village know how to do it?

It seems he underestimated this place.

"Master!"

Zhao Sidan ran over quickly and took the bowl from him.

He said respectfully, "From now on, Master, just give me your instructions and I'll do it. Master, please sit for a while, I'll go pour some tea."

Just then, Zhao Sanniu came out with a cup of tea and respectfully handed it to He Xiao.

He Xiao took a sip of tea and said, "Seven days from now, you will officially begin learning martial arts from me."

In another seven days, his injury will be almost completely healed.

He would repay the life-saving grace with his own life, and he would teach all his knowledge to his two disciples.

Zhao Sidan was overjoyed: "Yes, Master!"

Zhao Sanniu straightened up as well: "Master, what do we need to prepare for these seven days?"

He Xiao said calmly, "You will practice horse stance for one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon every day. I will come to check on you at any time."

Zhao Sidan blinked: "Then, do we need to prepare a sword?"

He had seen his master's sword before; its blade gleamed with cold light, its hilt was silver, and a piece of jade-colored emerald adorned the center, making it appear magnificent and noble, yet also exuding an innate killing intent.

He Xiao shook his head: "No need for now."

He has already prepared the two wooden swords, which he can formally present to his two disciples tomorrow.

This is just a temporary wooden sword; once he returns to the capital and the He family, he will formally complete the apprenticeship ceremony...

Thinking of this, He Xiao chuckled.

He only stayed here to repay a debt of gratitude. Today, a year from now, will be the day he leaves, and also the day their master-disciple bond ends.

Zhao Sanniu helped He Xiao back to the old house.

Zhao Sidan kept chattering in Cheng Wanwan's ear: "Master said that we will officially start learning martial arts in seven days. I wonder what Master will teach us. Master is carrying a sword, so he must be teaching us swordsmanship. Will I be able to become a swordsman like in the stories?"

Cheng Zhao's voice suddenly came: "Zhao Sidan, when have you ever read a storybook?"

Zhao Sidan shrank back, realizing he was doomed; he had let something slip.

Cheng Zhao said coldly, "Shen Zheng, come here!"

Shen Zheng wished he could pick up Zhao Sidan and throw him out. He lowered his head, walked to his room, took two books from the bookshelf, and threw them in front of Cheng Zhao: "They're all here, that's all."

Cheng Zhao got up and went into Shen Zheng's room. He took out three books from under the pillow, lifted the bed sheet, and found two more hidden in the straw. They were all martial arts novels.

He said coldly, "Brother Shen, I have been telling you to study hard day and night, but you hide in your room reading novels and even try to lead Si Dan astray. We might as well not be brothers anymore."

He threw the storybook on the table, turned around, and walked out.

Cheng Wanwan silently gave her nephew a thumbs up in her heart. If nagging every day didn't work, then she might as well just let it go. Maybe that would have a positive effect.

She flipped through the storybooks; they were all about fighting and killing in the martial arts world, and stories about cultivating immortality and becoming gods. It's fine to read these kinds of books occasionally, but Shen Zheng was clearly reading them in bed every day. He was overly addicted, which was like wasting his time on trivial things, and that was not a good sign.

She sighed and said, "Xiao Zheng, your father sent you to Dahe Village so that you could study hard with Zhao'er. It's not good for you to read novels all day long. If you don't pass the imperial examination next year, I won't be able to explain it to your father. I'll have Er Gou take you back tomorrow."

Shen Zheng cried out anxiously, "Auntie, I'm not leaving! I won't leave until my father comes to pick me up!"

He picked up the storybook from the table and threw it directly into the stove, whereupon a huge fire erupted.

Cheng Wanwan rescued the storybooks from the stove, tidied them up, and said gently, "It's fine to read these books in moderation, but Xiaozheng, you're about to take the academy exam, and time is precious, so it's best to wait until after the exam to read them. As for you, Sidan, you're still young, and your values ​​haven't been formed yet. Reading these martial arts novels will affect your view of normal things, so I will respect your decision to read them after you turn twelve."

Shen Zheng looked ashamed and said in a low voice, "I'll go apologize to Cheng Zhao."

Zhao Sidan lowered his head and said, "Mother, I was wrong. I will study hard."

Cheng Wanwan patted his head: "Study hard with Master Yu. He is a good teacher. Don't let Master Yu down."

Master Yu had told her that among the children of Dahe Village, Sidan and Tiezhu were the most talented in studying. Since they had talent, they should naturally continue to study.

She stopped thinking about it and went into the shop to search for a sword that would suit her.

Children who go to school will bring abacuses and sand tables, and children who learn martial arts will naturally need to prepare weapons.

Swords made with modern technology shouldn't be too bad, but she needs to find some deliberately aged old-fashioned swords so that no one will notice anything amiss.

In seven days, we'll give it to those two silly boys, San Niu and Si Dan, as a surprise.