Time passed quietly, and in the blink of an eye, it was the day of the second martial arts examination. On this day, the sun poured down on the martial arts examination hall, covering this place full of passion and challenges with a layer of golden glory.
Jiang Nianli arrived at the examination room early. The string of peppers around her waist had been replaced with an abacus pendant carefully prepared by Si Yan. The abacus pendant was small and exquisite, and the abacus beads sparkled with a warm luster under the sunlight. Si Yan stood beside Nianli, shaking his beloved abacus in his hand. The beads clattered as he plucked them, as if playing a unique pre-war melody. "Sister, if I miss again this time, I've calculated that the compensation for three targets is enough to buy ten kilograms of peppers." Si Yan said seriously, with a shrewd look in his eyes, as if he had already calculated all the gains and losses accurately in his mind.
Su Jinli stood by, carefully attaching armor to Nianli. Her movements were gentle and focused, her eyes filled with concern and instruction. "Remember, honey, aim before you shoot. Don't rush," Su Jinli whispered softly. Her voice was like a spring breeze, carrying a mother's tenderness and encouragement, as if she wanted to pass all her strength to her daughter.
As for Jiang Yan, he hid even further away this time, like a cautious bystander. He carried two ingots of silver in his arms, ready to use as an apology should his daughter get into trouble again. The examiner, upon catching sight of Nian Li, instinctively clutched his hat tightly to his face, a look of alarm and resignation in his eyes. He shouted, "If you shoot your hat off again, you'll be punished to sweep the training grounds for three months!" The voice echoed throughout the empty examination hall, carrying an undeniable authority.
Nian Li listened, humming softly before unleashing her arrow without hesitation. Her gaze instantly grew sharp and focused, fixed on the distant target, as if the world consisted solely of her and that one object. She pulled the bowstring into a full moon shape, releasing a crisp "bang" like a resounding war song. The arrow, with a sharp, piercing sound, flew away like a streak of black lightning.
"Snap!" The arrow was firmly stuck in the willow tree next to the bull's eye, just a few inches away.
"Just a little bit!" Su Jinli was the first to react, clapping excitedly, her eyes full of affirmation and encouragement for her daughter. Si Yan immediately started fiddling with the abacus again, muttering to himself, "Three inches off, it's considered a miss, pay the target five ounces..."
"Wait!" Nian Li's eyes suddenly lit up, and she pointed at the target and said loudly, "Isn't that a ring?"
Upon hearing this, everyone looked intently. They saw the arrow's tail grazing the edge of a ring perfectly, as if it were a subtle joke played by fate. The general narrowed his eyes slightly, scrutinizing it carefully. Finally, he stroked his beard helplessly and said, "You pass! Next round, horseback archery!"
Following the general's order, everyone moved to the archery field. On the archery field, the horses raised their heads and neighed, as if roaring at the upcoming challenge. Nian Li mounted a fierce horse without hesitation. The horse had a strong temperament and kept paddling its hooves, as if it was a little dissatisfied with the rider in front of it. The string of peppers around Nian Li's waist rustled in the wind, as if cheering her on. Jiang Yan looked at her back as she rode away, and a ripple appeared in his heart. His thoughts instantly drifted back to the time when he first met Su Jinli. At that time, she was also so heroic and valiant, leaving an indelible and beautiful figure in the long river of time.
"Husband, don't worry." Su Jinli seemed to have noticed Jiang Yan's thoughts. She gently handed over the hand warmer and said with a smile, "My daughter is with me. She will be able to do it." Her smile was like the warm spring sun, giving people endless warmth and peace of mind.
Si Yan, on the other hand, started calculating the odds of horse archery, muttering, "If the horse is startled, I'll pay twenty taels of silver to the horse; if I hit the target, the prize money will be doubled..." He looked so serious, as if this exam was just a carefully calculated transaction in his eyes.
At that moment, Nianli's horse suddenly reared up, rearing up with a high-pitched neigh. This sudden change of events caused everyone present to gasp. Yet, Nianli remained steady on her mount, her posture swift and unwavering, as if she had become one with the animal. She quickly drew her bow and arrow, her gaze firm and calm. The arrow seemed to come to life in her hand, soaring out with her conviction and strength. With a clang, it struck the distant gong.
"Great!" The whole audience erupted in thunderous cheers, the sound threatening to overturn the entire sky. The general couldn't help but stroke his beard, a flicker of admiration in his eyes as he muttered to himself, "Interesting."
Jiang Yan finally smiled with relief, and quietly slipped back the money he'd prepared for apology. Si Yan sighed and said with regret, "Alas, I didn't lose any money, but I missed out on the chance to earn interest."
After hearing this, Su Jinli couldn't help but patted his head with a smile, and scolded him: "You are such a little money-grubber."
The sun gradually set in the west, and the soft afterglow dyed the entire examination room orange-red. Nian Li rode over happily on a horse, holding a gong. Her face was filled with the joy of victory, and her smile was as bright as a blooming flower. There were still some grass debris on the string of peppers around her waist, but it did not affect her radiance at the moment. Jiang Yan looked at his daughter, and a different kind of emotion suddenly surged in his heart. He felt that with a son who was thrifty and a daughter who wanted to be a general, these days seemed to be injected with endless vitality and fun, even more lively than when he was the top scorer in high school. This kind of liveliness is the warmth of home, the interweaving of family affection, and the most precious gift that life has given him. In the afterglow of the sunset, the figures of their family were stretched out, like a warm and beautiful picture scroll, and their story will continue to be written in this atmosphere full of love and laughter, blooming with even more brilliant brilliance.
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