Lingnan Back Mountain

Qiu Xu is practicing newly learned moves under Li Zheng's tutelage.

The master and apprentice moved in close coordination, leaving no gaps in their attacks.

Li Zheng pressed forward relentlessly, while Qiu Xu retreated again and again...

Since the day he parted ways with He Lin, Li Zheng has never been back to Shangjin.

It would be a lie to say he wasn't worried about Gu Xiaoran.

It wasn't that he didn't try to find them, but rather that he simply couldn't.

Because He Lin hadn't sent him any messages, he knew that Xiao Ran hadn't gone to Shangjin.

He comforted himself, thinking that with Xuanming and Xuanying protecting her, Xiaoran would surely be safe.

He guessed that Xiao Ran was probably with Qiu Yan.

After all, the child was very attached to Qiu Yan and was always looking for her.

Glancing towards the direction of Northern Qi, he couldn't help but wonder how long the war would last.

"Ah Xu, your legs aren't strong enough!"

Li Zheng, holding a wooden stick, struck Qiu Xu's legs.

Qiu Xu couldn't dodge in time, and his whole body was aching terribly.

He was completely overwhelmed and unable to fight back.

"Master, please spare your disciple."

The fact that Qiu Xu was begging for mercy shows just how swift Li Zheng's actions were.

"Again!" Li Zheng continued to swing the wooden stick in his hand, flipping over and striking Qiu Xu in the lower back.

Qiu Xu did a somersault, but his waist was still injured.

He turned around and glanced into the distance at his friends playing football. He felt envious...

Indeed, in the distant woods, were his classmates, Zhou Zifang and Gao Chong, and his cousins, Zhao An and Zhao Yang.

There were also some young men in the village who were having a great time, while Qiu Xu was miserable.

Because Zhou Zifang and Gao Chong became frequent visitors to Lingnan Village, everyone in the village knew them, and they became very familiar with each other.

"Again!" His master's urging voice reached his ears again, making Qiu Xu want to cry.

"Again..." He was already panting heavily from practicing.

Then, he would be completely destroyed.

He turned around and saw his teacher's wife, and was overjoyed.

"Master's wife, Master is here!"

Sure enough, as soon as his wife approached, his master immediately stopped holding the wooden stick.

"Brother Li, hurry up and go to the ranch to slaughter a few old hens, Madam Dafu has given birth. Oh, and kill a pig too!"

"Master's wife, my second aunt has given birth?" Seeing his master's wife nod, Qiu Xu straightened up a bit.

"Master, I'm going to check on the child!"

He quickly bid farewell to his master and turned to flee towards his home.

Li Zheng nodded, watching the direction Qiu Xu ran in, and didn't forget to ask Ye Qiuyun.

Has Qiu Dafu returned?

He had been hoping that Qiu Dafu would come home.

He wanted to know how his eldest disciple was doing.

He also wanted to ask if Qiu Dafu knew Qiu Yan's whereabouts. If Qiu Yan came back, perhaps Xiao Ran would also come back.

Qiu family

After Jiang Liu gave birth, the midwife stayed for about 15 minutes before leaving.

Qiu Yumei is currently preparing dinner with Cao Shi and Cuizhu.

Everyone was full of energy because Jiang Liu gave birth and Qiu Dafu returned.

Qiu Dazhi was chopping firewood in his yard, planning to prepare enough firewood for the New Year as well.

However, he had the will but not the ability.

Because his elbows were weak, and because he had never chopped firewood before,

He chopped two branches, rested for a moment, and watched as Old Mu to the side shook his head.

Qiu Dazhi is only good at studying.

"Dazhi, you're doing it wrong. You should chop it like this."

As he spoke, Old Mu picked up an axe and demonstrated it to Qiu Dazhi.

"This student is dull-witted and has made a fool of himself in front of Mr. Mu." In Mr. Mu's presence, Qiu Dazhi was always the one being praised.

Now that he's being criticized, he silently accepts it.

Despite his advanced age, Mr. Mu is even more capable than I am when it comes to work.

He took the axe and began to do as instructed.

Sure enough, following the gentleman's method, he felt much more relaxed.