Gou Zai Xianwu Wenjing Search for Opportunities

Doctor Meng was not only a doctor but also a martial arts master, highly accomplished in the integration of medicine and martial arts. He then repeated, "What is your family's financial situation like?"

"Although my family is poor, we can still afford to support me to focus on martial arts training for two years." Lin Yuan placed fifty taels of his extra money on his father's head.

"Okay, then I'll write a prescription. Go to the martial arts hall and get some medicine. One dose of medicine should be decocted twice, morning and evening, and the two decoctions should be combined into one bowl and drunk. Your diet also needs to be maintained, with staple foods and fresh vegetables as the main components, supplemented with meat, to help you replenish your qi and blood as soon as possible."

"Is this a body-tempering medicinal diet?" Lin Yuan asked.

"It's just a nourishing recipe, cheaper than medicinal cuisine, so it can save you some money at the beginning. If you want medicinal cuisine now, that's fine too."

Money doesn't come from thin air, so we should save where we can. Lin Yuan readily agreed, saying, "Thank you for your consideration, Doctor Meng."

"If you experience stomach discomfort or nosebleeds after taking the medicine... stop for a few days before resuming. Replenishing qi and blood cannot be rushed; you can't do it all at once." Doctor Meng explained meticulously, quickly writing down six tonics on a piece of paper and handing it to Lin Yuan.

"Remember, you must eat meat, but not more than staple foods and fresh vegetables, otherwise it will be difficult to digest. You are too thin now, and you are at the age where you are growing. Don't eat too much at the beginning, and gradually increase your food intake. If you suddenly gain weight, not only will your muscles and bones not be able to handle it, but your internal organs will also not be able to handle it, which will be detrimental to your martial arts practice."

"Thank you, Doctor Meng." Lin Yuan stood aside with the tonic prescription in hand. Hu Cai paid five taels of silver for him, and the apprentice next to him weighed the prescription and reported it to Doctor Meng.

The young apprentice beside Lin Yuan then instructed, "Come back next time for a body-tempering medicinal diet. If you come within a month, you don't need to pay again."

Thank you!

On the other side, Zhao Sheng sat down at Doctor Meng's desk.

After examining the patient through observation, listening, questioning, and palpation, Doctor Meng frowned and asked, "How old is he?"

"I'm fifteen. I used to practice martial arts at home..." Zhao Sheng said to himself.

Doctor Meng interrupted, "Are you married?"

"Married? No." Zhao Sheng was somewhat taken aback.

"Have you ever been with a woman?"

"Huh? I, well, um." Zhao Sheng stammered, then nodded at the end.

He learned this habit from Li Shi. Once, a merchant invited him to a banquet, and he accompanied his uncle. As a result, he was also arranged to have a girl with him. Ever since he tasted that pleasure, he couldn't forget it and from then on, he couldn't stop himself.

Whenever he had a little money, he would spend it on visiting brothels. Over time, he developed a relationship with a prostitute and became her annual client. He would go there for entertainment whenever he had free time, without any restraint.

"Young people should abstain from lust!"

Doctor Meng picked up the paperweight used to hold down the letter and lightly tapped his palm twice. "You're practically draining your body! If you don't quit, you'll definitely be depleted of your essence and blood, lacking energy, and restless in spirit. Even if you have martial arts talent, it'll all be for nothing; you're destined never to become a martial arts master!"

Zhao Sheng was filled with shame and kept nodding, his head lower and lower until it was under the table.

Lin Yuan, with his stronger composure, smiled silently, while Hu Cai couldn't help but burst out laughing, causing Zhao Sheng to lower his head even further.

Doctor Meng didn't make things difficult for him. He immediately prescribed a tonic and then advised him, "Martial artists have abundant qi and blood, so how can they completely abstain from women? But it must be done in moderation, not excessively. Take a break for now and rest. Once you've recovered, you can marry or take concubines without interfering with your martial arts practice."

Zhao Sheng took the prescription and paid the money.

The three left Doctor Meng's courtyard and went together to the medicinal food shop specially set up by the Martial Arts Hall, which was only open to martial arts masters and apprentices within the manor.

The shop was located inside the martial arts hall of the mansion. Lin Yuan and his companion handed over the prescription written by Doctor Meng, and the shop assistant immediately prepared the medicine for them.

It is said to contain six or seven ingredients, among which the main ingredient is a prepared medicine, also known as a traditional Chinese medicine, which is a pill or powder that has been prepared in advance. When taking the medicine, you only need to take it together with the prepared decoction.

The other raw herbs were added as supplementary medicines, which Doctor Meng prescribed separately based on Lin Yuan's physical condition.

The shopkeeper said, "One dose of medicine costs one and a half qian of silver. I can only give you ten doses at a time. If you give me too many, they will get damp. Once you finish these, you can come back with this prescription to get twenty more doses."

Lin Yuan nodded, too embarrassed to ask Hu Cai for more money, but Zhao Sheng offered to lend him one tael and five mace of silver for emergency use.

He also calculated that one set a day would amount to four and a half taels of silver a month.

In just half a day, not only did he get whipped, but he also spent nearly ten taels of silver!

Even if you only take tonics, it will cost fifty-four taels of silver a year, not including food, clothing, doctor Meng's consultations, and other hidden expenses.

How long can I last with my fifty taels?

Even six months would be a tough time.

It seems I should make an effort to visit Li Shi's place sometime, try to get involved in a few murders of wealthy people, and see if I can run into the ghost of a rich man.

"This is still considered good. If it were medicinal cuisine, it would be even more expensive. The higher the cultivation level, the more expensive the medicinal cuisine would be..." Hu Cai had been practicing martial arts at home with his elder brother since he was a child, so he knew a lot.

"No wonder scholars are poor while martial arts are rich; who can afford to train like this?" Lin Yuan couldn't help but click his tongue. Compared to going to school, which only cost five taels of silver a year and provided only sweet potato and salted fish rice, this was a much more affordable option.

"Let's practice first! If we can reach the late stage of Body Tempering, then we'll have succeeded in tempering our bodies. It'll be easier to find a way out then!" Hu Cai wasn't just saying this to Lin Yuan, but also to himself. He added at the end, "You can take each dose of this tonic for an extra day to save some money."

Lin Yuan nodded, then suddenly thought of another question: "If someone else takes this medicine, will it be effective?"

"They're all for replenishing qi and blood, so they definitely have medicinal effects, but they're not as effective as what you're taking. They're much weaker, so they're not worth the price. Besides, this main ingredient was made by the family's alchemist; you can't buy it outside." After saying this, Hu Cai whispered in my ear, "Without a prescription from the family's doctor, the Martial Hall Pharmacy won't give you the medicine!"

"Ah!" Lin Yuan finally understood; the crux of the problem lay here.

Hu Cai added, "There are other doctors in the manor, including those in the martial arts hall. If you are injured, you can seek treatment from them, but none of them are as good as Doctor Meng. The other doctors are much cheaper, but their reputations aren't great, so it's not worth saving that little bit of money."

"I see." Lin Yuan suddenly realized that getting a prestigious title at the outer martial arts academy was not something an ordinary family could afford; the hidden expenses were too high.

Is the threshold for becoming one of the Lee family really that high?

Is this what a powerful and wealthy family looks like?

People from the lower classes have tried their best to integrate, and this is only the beginning. After entering, they encounter powerful families like Wu Yong, who don't even bother to acknowledge them.

No wonder Guan Yu was so loyal to Liu Paopao. Even though Liu Paopao sold straw mats, his grandfather had been a county magistrate, making him a member of a powerful family. That's why a member of such a family would become sworn brothers with him.

Truly, a scholar will die for one who understands him!

……

There's no need to go to the martial arts field this afternoon.

Hu Cai took the two to a small, unassuming restaurant, ordered a few dishes, and they had a simple meal.

Lin Yuan was very uncomfortable during the meal. His buttocks would hurt whenever he sat down, so he had to squat to eat.

He maliciously suspected that Coach Hong was doing it on purpose, so that he couldn't sit down and could have extra training sessions!

Fortunately, Zhao Sheng was quite good; when he got home, he brought him a small porcelain bottle containing medicinal oil.

Perhaps feeling guilty for not telling Lin Yuan about the medicinal cuisine beforehand, Zhao Sheng personally applied the medicated oil for him when he noticed that Lin Yuan was having trouble applying it.

"Uncle, your butt is so white! Just like a mother's..." Zhao Sheng gestured to his own hand, which was clearly black and white, and couldn't help but express his feelings.

"Get out!" Lin Yuan hurriedly pulled up his pants and gave the order to leave.

Zhao Sheng chuckled and ran away.

After a while, he ran back: "Hey, we agreed to practice martial arts together this afternoon."

"Hurry up, start practicing now! Don't let me outdo you!" Lin Yuan said with renewed vigor.

"Tch, you've only just started learning, how could you possibly be better than me!" Zhao Sheng retorted.

The two chatted and laughed as they went to the open space in the front yard to practice their boxing.

The gatekeeper watched with great interest, and even started mimicking the gestures as he watched.