Chapter 16: Goodbye, Brother; The Day of the Assessment (Please continue reading)
Li Xian patted Li Xiaofan's shoulder, but even through the tattered hemp clothing, it still felt rough to the touch. Seeing her younger brother so thin and malnourished, she felt a pang of pity.
Li Xian asked, "I've been in the manor for almost a month, brother, have you eaten any meat?"
"Brother, I'm not stupid. I spend all my money on meat, except for buying books. I've already eaten a lot of fatty meat." Li Xiaofan smiled sheepishly.
"Really?" Li Xian raised an eyebrow. "Then how much is left?"
Li Xiaofan shrank back and said guiltily, "I've already used most of it."
Li Xian reached out and snatched the cloth bag containing money from Li Xiaofan's arms.
"elder brother…"
Before Li Xiaofan could react, the rope had already been untied, and there were still 380 coins left inside.
In the past month, only 120 coins were spent.
Li Xian considered and said:
"In the west of the city, pork jerky costs fifty coins per pound of pork. If you buy some offal, scraps, or other meats, thirty coins will suffice."
“If you eat meat every two or three days, it’s impossible to spend only 120 coins. Not to mention you also need to buy books. Brother, health is the foundation of everything. You must not neglect yourself when it comes to food.”
"Now that we have money, we should eat meat whenever we want. Why be frugal?"
Li Xiaofan lowered his head, offering no explanation. How could he possibly use the money his brother received for selling himself into servitude to eat meat?
How is this any different from the "Eat-Bro" guy?
Therefore, he ate wild vegetables he dug up in the suburbs every day, just enough to fill his stomach.
Every penny must be spent wisely; only in this way can we be worthy of our brother!
Looking at him, Li Xian sighed deeply, then smiled and said, "Hey, let me take you out for a meal and a change of clothes."
...
This half-day.
Li Xian accompanied Li Xiaofan and they ate a meal of fatty pork.
Considering that winter had arrived and there were no blankets or windproof clothing in the room, I bought another coat.
Life is hard.
Wearing new clothes will surely attract covetousness, so Li Xian told her younger brother to wear the new clothes inside and their father's hemp clothes on the outside.
Try to avoid going to unfamiliar places.
After doing all this, Li Xian also visited Aunt Liu next door. She gave Aunt Liu thirty coins and asked her to help take care of things for a while.
Aunt Liu was a kind person. After receiving the money, she readily agreed and praised Li Xian for being promising and a good older brother.
"Brother, are you leaving again?"
Li Xiaofan's eyes welled up with tears, knowing that the prince wouldn't stay long.
Li Xian gave all of this month's salary to Li Xiaofan and solemnly instructed him: "This is eighty coins. Remember to eat meat, eat meat, eat meat."
"I understand." Li Xiaofan clenched his fist tightly.
“I know you’re smart, but you can’t fool your brother,” Li Xian laughed. “Repeat it three times yourself.”
"I want to eat meat, eat meat, eat meat," Li Xiaofan said obediently. "Brother, I remember."
"Alright, it's getting late, you should head back now." Li Xian waved his hand, turned around, and quickly left.
The figure turned the corner and disappeared completely. Li Xiaofan took a few steps after him, but his gaze dimmed, and he returned to the small, dilapidated hut.
The house was bare, with only a rickety wooden bed. He lay on the bed, took out some crumpled books, and began to read intently.
Only through studying can one find a way out.
………
………
On a mountain path three to five miles away from Yihezhuang.
A cold wind blows, adding a touch of desolation.
Four people were walking together, and their conversation could be heard from time to time:
"Fourth brother, it's a pity you didn't come. You have no idea how hot the women there are."
"It's often said that brothels are dens of iniquity, and that's absolutely true."
"Yeah, when that woman blew on me, my whole body went limp."
"Sigh, looking back now, I really regret it. I couldn't control myself and spent almost half a month's worth of salary raising money."
On the way back, Zhao Han and the other two talked about the debauchery in brothels, the beautiful women in their arms, their breath sweet and fragrant, still savoring the experience.
Unfortunately, as a low-ranking servant, his position was too low and his rights were limited. Even if he asked for leave, he could not stay overnight outside the village.
As night fell, they returned to the village together.
"ah!"
"Commander Pang!"
As they approached the gate of the manor, Zhao Han, still slightly tipsy, caught sight of Pang Long. His drunkenness vanished, and he quickly went to greet him.
Pang Long glanced at the four men indifferently, "You took the money, asked for a day off, just to go to a brothel for entertainment?"
"Yes...yes." Zhao Han scratched his head.
"As long as you don't violate the rules of the manor, I have no right to interfere with where you go," Pang Long said calmly.
His gaze immediately fell on Li Xian. He frowned, sighed, and shook his head, revealing a look of disappointment. "Li Xian, you are still in the assessment period. They indulge in pleasure and debauchery because they have already established themselves."
"You've only just become a guard, and instead of making good use of your time to master the Four Directions Fist, you're wasting your health like this. I'm so disappointed in you."
"Commander Pang, you've misunderstood..." Li Xian smiled, about to explain.
"No need to say more, martial arts don't lie."
Pang Long waved his hand dismissively. "On the day of the assessment, I will be there in person. If you do not meet my standards and fail to master this martial art, you can return to your menial duties."
He turned and strode away.
Li Xian watched Pang Long's retreating figure and heard his disappointed tone, but felt very calm.
It's certainly best to be appreciated. But one must be strong oneself to succeed. Rather than racking your brains to win others' admiration, it's better to firmly walk your own path.
He knows what he wants and he knows what he is doing.
"Fourth brother... how about the three of us go and explain things to you?" Zhao Han said embarrassedly.
"No need, what's there to explain?" Li Xian shook his head and laughed. "Besides, what's wrong with a grown man visiting a brothel?"
Second brother Wang Chun's eyes widened. "You talk about visiting brothels so confidently. Fourth brother, I'm not as good as you."
...
Time flies, and the day of the assessment has arrived.
That morning, the guards were doing their usual morning training. Li Xian stood in a quiet corner, legs apart, and practiced his punches methodically.
[Four Directions Fist]
[Proficiency: 658/1000 Mastery]
Li Xian felt like he was getting into a better state of mind. When he threw a punch, he didn't need to recall the moves from the boxing manual. He only needed to think about it, and his fist would be delivered immediately.
The more I practice, the faster I get.
According to martial arts practitioners, this is the stage of "breaking free from the manual." That is, one has broken free from the boxing manual, begun to have one's own understanding, and developed one's own style in terms of boxing skills.
"This Four Directions Fist technique has been a great help to me."
"Although this boxing style is basic, it is a complete system. It teaches how to deal with an enemy and how to defend against an enemy."
Li Xian felt a warm current in her lower abdomen.
His internal energy had accumulated to the size of a fist. With a thought, he channeled this energy into his fist and threw a punch that could generate a gust of wind. A series of "crackling" sounds followed.
The brilliance of this boxing style lies in how to use an opponent's force against them and how to skillfully maneuver when attacked from both sides.
It's perfectly adequate for nursing staff.
[Skill: Running]
[Proficiency: 164/1500 Minor Mastery]
[Description: With swift and agile steps, and a flowing, unstoppable energy, you have grasped the secrets of running while climbing mountains and wading through rivers. Your blood and energy have slightly increased.]
"The morning run is almost effortless for me."
"But it's perfect for warming up."
Li Xian was basking in the fruits of his labor.
"Commander Pang has arrived!"
Suddenly, a sound came from the crowd. Turning around, they saw Pang Long striding into the courtyard.
Li Xian stopped his stance and walked towards Pang Long.
"Li Xian, today is your assessment day. I think I don't need to say anything more," Pang Long said, getting straight to the point.
The guards all came over and formed a large circle, surrounding Pang Long and Li Xian.
All guards must undergo a new recruit assessment. To put it bluntly, a guard's martial arts talent can be clearly discerned through this assessment.
However, people are different, their conditions are different, and naturally, the martial arts they learn are also different.
Some people have long legs, making them suitable for learning the Square Leg technique; others are short, so they learn the Earth-Splitting Technique. Some people have strong skulls, so they learn the Iron Head Technique.
“Commander Pang, I understand.” Li Xian nodded emphatically.
"Alas!" Luo Tongyun sighed at the opportune moment, revealing a look of regret.
“Luo Tongyun, Li Xian was taught by you, so naturally you should take the lead in this assessment.” Pang Long added calmly, “Do not show favoritism, or you will be punished as well. Do what is right.”
“Brother Li, you heard it too.” Luo Tongyun shrugged helplessly and stepped forward.
(End of this chapter)
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