Rise from a Poor Family: My Martial Arts Counterattack

Chapter 22: A sharp sword is forged from grinding, so suffer as little as possible

Entered the city.

Lin Chen looked around curiously.

The three-meter-wide bluestone street is bustling with pedestrians.

There are shops lining both sides of the street with various signs. Some are hung with red silk and have gold characters, sparkling in the sun; others are simple wooden signs, indicating the heritage of the old shops.

Rich merchants in fancy clothes and vendors walking the streets hawking their wares.

The appearance of the entire county town is completely different from that of Kaohe Town. Here Lin Chen feels the prosperity and vitality.

This is a look that the townspeople do not have.

The people in the town work harder for three meals a day, while the people in the city, especially the rich and powerful, have long gotten rid of the problem of three meals a day, and their mental outlook is naturally very different.

Qingfeng Martial Arts School.

Yu Yongnian took Lin Chen directly into the martial arts hall and arrived at the reception hall, where the hall's servants served them fragrant tea.

"Junior Brother Yu is here!"

After a while, footsteps were heard from the side door behind the screen, and a man walked out.

"Senior Brother Zhao."

Yu Yongnian responded with a smile, pointing to Lin Chen standing aside: "This is the Lin Chen I mentioned the other day, the first person in Hewu Hall to cultivate his essence."

"Disciple Lin Chen greets Instructor Zhao." Lin Chen bowed quickly.

"Yeah, very good."

Zhao Ce glanced at Lin Chen and then withdrew his eyes, sitting down in the main seat: "Junior brother Yu, you have come from the town in a dusty manner, have some tea first."

The two drank tea and talked about the past for a while, and Lin Chen listened quietly beside them.

The more he listened, the more he felt something was wrong.

Instructor Zhao only reminisced about the past with Instructor Yu and did not mention anything about his joining the martial arts school.

Yu Yongnian also noticed something was wrong, put down his teacup, and asked, "Brother Zhao, have you completed the formalities at the martial arts hall?"

"Brother Yu, I'm afraid this matter is a bit difficult."

Zhao Ce suddenly sighed: "This year, the number of students who have cultivated their essence in the martial arts halls within a year is much higher than in previous years. To be honest, I have met seven students in the past two days. The quota for the martial arts halls is not enough."

"There are ten places, there can't be none left, and Lin Chen is the number one in the martial arts hall, so according to the rules he should have a place for the Enlightenment Pill."

Yu Yongnian looked a little unhappy. Each of the eight major martial arts halls would have ten quotas for disciples who could receive the Kaiqiao Dan. If the number of students who could cultivate the essence of Qi in a martial arts hall exceeded eighty within a year, there would indeed be students who would not be able to get a quota. But no matter how many people there were, the top-ranked student would definitely get a quota.

"Brother Yu, don't get excited. The martial arts school did have two spots left the day before yesterday, but the spots are not decided by you alone. The last two spots were given to two other students by the deputy head yesterday. I can't help you."

Zhao Ce sighed and looked at Lin Chen: "The quota of the martial arts hall is indeed full. If Lin Chen is willing to join the martial arts hall, for the sake of my junior brother, I can ask the owner of the hall to provide Lin Chen with ten taels of silver per year."

"no need."

Yu Yongnian directly refused. He brought Lin Chen to Qingfeng Martial Arts School because he was a graduate of the martial arts school. Because of the relationship between the two, he recommended Lin Chen to the martial arts school first.

Secondly, because of Lin Chen's situation, he is more suitable for the martial arts of Qingfeng Martial Arts School, but this does not mean that there is really no other choice.

"Since the martial arts school is full, I will not disturb you any more. I will take my leave now."

"Brother Yu, don't act on impulse, or you will delay Brother Lin."

"Don't worry, Senior Brother Zhao. Lin Chen, let's go."

Yu Yongnian left with a gloomy face, and Lin Chen naturally followed him. Having lived two lives, he still had some ability to read people's expressions, and this instructor Zhao simply looked down on him.

From the condescending expression on Instructor Zhao's face when he said he would give him ten taels of silver as a subsidy, Lin Chen knew in his heart that in the other's heart, his annual subsidy of ten taels of silver was not worth anything.

"Bah, a fisherman's son wants to get the awakening pill. Junior Brother Yu is really bold. He only spent less than twenty taels to cultivate the essence. Who are you trying to fool?"

Zhao Ce stood at the door of the hall, looked at Yu Yongnian and Lin Chen's leaving backs, and spat.

If he had not agreed the day before, I would not have given him even ten taels of silver as a subsidy.

He was already giving face to Yu Yongnian by providing him with ten taels of silver a year, but he didn't appreciate it. Then he could just expect to run into trouble in other martial arts schools.

"Go to the Mantis Martial Arts School."

After leaving the gate of Qingfeng Martial Arts School, Yu Yongnian looked at Lin Chen and said, "Don't be discouraged. The top student in each martial arts hall has always been able to get a quota for the Enlightenment Pill from the martial arts school. The quota for Qingfeng Martial Arts School is full, so Mantis Martial Arts School should have one."

"I am sorry for causing trouble to the teacher."

Lin Chen was truly grateful to his instructor. Ever since he entered the martial arts hall, the instructor had taken good care of him. Now, he even went to the martial arts hall in person to discuss his salary.

I'm afraid this is the treatment a direct disciple can get.

The two of them walked through most of the county and arrived at the Mantis Martial Arts School. After Yu Yongnian reported his identity and purpose, a servant of the martial arts school led the two of them into the reception room of the martial arts school to wait for a while. After a cup of tea, a young instructor came out to receive the two of them.

"I already know what Junior Brother Yu is here for. The quota for the Awakening Pill is gone, but our martial arts school can provide Lin Chen with 15 taels of silver per year."

Qian Yong spoke with a smile. The Wuzheng Office had sent over the information of all the students who had cultivated their vital energy in the county early this morning. He checked Lin Chen's information before deciding on a subsidy of fifteen taels.

"Brother Qian, Lin Chen spent less than twenty taels to cultivate his vital energy. This can be verified in the records of the martial arts hall. In terms of martial arts talent, Lin Chen is not inferior to those family disciples at all."

"If that's the case, why didn't Junior Brother Yu let Lin Chen join Qingfeng Martial Arts School?"

Faced with Qian Yong's question, Yu Yongnian remained silent. Could he say that Qingfeng Martial Arts School rejected Lin Chen?
"You can cultivate your energy with only twenty taels of silver. Junior Brother Yu is from Qingfeng Martial Arts School. Qingfeng Martial Arts School will not miss such a disciple."

Yu Yongnian remained silent. He could not say that the quota for Qingfeng Martial Arts School was full. Regardless of whether what Zhao Ce said was true or not, coming to Mantis Martial Arts School only after the quota for Qingfeng Martial Arts School was full meant that he was treating Mantis Martial Arts School as a backup. It would be embarrassing for both parties to say this.

He didn't believe that Qian Yong couldn't guess this, but he still kept asking. His intention was clear.

The attitude is also clear. Mantis Martial Arts School will no longer give Lin Chen the spot for the Enlightenment Pill.

"Sorry for bothering you."

Yu Yongnian clasped his fists and said goodbye again.

"I won't send you off, Junior Brother Yu."

After Yu Yongnian and Lin Chen left, Qian Yong snorted, "What a joke. Qingfeng Martial Arts School doesn't want it, but you want to take advantage of our Mantis Martial Arts School. What do you think of our Mantis Martial Arts School? Only a fool would believe that you can cultivate your essence with less than 20 taels."

At the entrance of Mantis Martial Arts School.

Yu Yongnian looked at Lin Chen and said, "Don't be discouraged. If Qingfeng Martial Arts School and Mantis Martial Arts School are unwilling to give you a place, there are other martial arts schools to choose from."

Lin Chen nodded, but a shadow was cast over his heart. Things were not that simple.

It is a fact that I have cultivated the essence and energy. As long as I can cultivate the essence and energy, the martial arts school will give me a place in the Kaiqiao Pill. Now these two martial arts schools will not give it to me. On the one hand, they don’t believe that I can cultivate the essence and energy with such little money, but the more important reason is because of my family background.

But it's not easy to say such things openly, so the excuse is that the quota is full.

Yunyin Martial Arts School, Kuangfeng Martial Arts School...

As Lin Chen expected, the next two martial arts schools were still rejected.

Walking out of the martial arts gym and looking at Instructor Yu, Lin Chen seemed to be hesitant to speak.

From an emotional point of view, he should persuade the instructor. Every time he is rejected by a martial arts school, it is also a kind of hurt to the instructor, which is equivalent to humiliating the other party.

But he really didn't want to give up the Enlightenment Pill. His family was indeed poor, so he had to seize this opportunity.

One step late, one step late.

Only by obtaining the Enlightenment Pill and gaining an advantage can one obtain more rewards in the monthly assessment of the martial arts school.

After visiting the four martial arts schools, it was almost noon.

"Let's fill our stomachs first. There's a restaurant in the city that has delicious food."

Yu Yongnian took Lin Chen to a restaurant not far from Qingfeng Martial Arts School, and a smile reappeared on his face: "When I was learning martial arts in the martial arts school, I often came to this restaurant with several fellow disciples from the martial arts school."

"Boss, bring us a plate of flying phoenix claws, and two more dishes."

The so-called flying dragon claw is actually a pheasant claw, which is a nicer name.

The dishes came, and Lin Chen ate silently. Yu Yongnian poured himself a glass of wine. Seeing that Lin Chen didn't say anything, he comforted him, "There are still four martial arts schools. Don't be discouraged. The road of martial arts is long and difficult. Don't be discouraged by these few setbacks. The setbacks you suffer today will be the driving force for your martial arts growth in the future."

"The fragrance of plum blossoms comes with the bitter cold, and the sharpness of a sword comes from the sharpening of a grindstone. Disciple understands this truth, and even if he cannot get a place in the Enlightenment Pill, he will not give up the path of martial arts."

Yu Yongnian was a little surprised: "I didn't expect you to come up with such a statement. A sharp sword is made by grinding. It is worth saying this. If you can't drink, then drink soup instead of wine and drink a cup with me."

After drinking a cup of soup, Lin Chen continued: "Master Yu, when I returned to the village this time, the village chief told me something. When Mr. Jiang left the village, he told the village chief that if the younger generation in the village achieved something in martial arts, they should let him know. Can I write a letter to Mr. Jiang about my current situation?"

Lin Chen looked up and spoke out the thoughts that came to his mind.

If the major martial arts schools were unwilling to give him this position, he could only write a letter to Mr. Jiang.

"If the teacher feels it is inappropriate, then the student will not write it."

After listening to this, Yu Yongnian slammed the table and said, "Write, why not write."

As if he felt that his attitude had changed too quickly, Yu Yongnian explained: "Although suffering can sharpen your mind, it is better to suffer less."

"I will follow your instructions. I will write a letter to Mr. Jiang when I get back."

"Don't rush, come with me to the Military Affairs Office first?"

Yu Yongnian waved his hand, and seeing Lin Chen's puzzled look, he said in a deep voice: "Go to the Wuzheng Office to file a complaint!"

(End of this chapter)