Gou Zai Xianwu Wenjing Search for Opportunities

"Sure! You don't need to go back to sleep tonight. My house has plenty of rooms, you can move in. We can practice martial arts together during the day and have long talks at night, wouldn't that be great!"

Hu Cai had been his elder brother's martial arts practice partner since childhood. Now that his elder brother had gone to work, he could no longer play with his fellow disciples in the martial arts hall, and now he was left without a companion.

He had defied his father for many years in order to gain the opportunity to enter the martial arts academy. This time, he made a vow in front of his father and elder brother that he would study martial arts diligently, stop indulging in debauchery, and cut off all contact with his former drinking buddies.

Hu Cai realized this was his last chance to prove himself to his elder brother and father, or he would have to give up his martial arts career.

"My medicine is still being brewed at the school. It's too much trouble to run back and forth." Lin Yuan didn't take his words seriously.

"What's the big deal about brewing medicine? Bring it here, and I'll have the cook brew it with my medicinal cuisine. It's just adding a stove, after all."

"This?" Lin Yuan hesitated when he saw that he was serious. He practiced martial arts at Manager Huang's house and had to report every time he used the kitchen, which made him feel a little uncomfortable. He was even more restricted at the school.

He doesn't yet have a martial arts partner to guide him. He asked Zhao Sheng to join him yesterday, but the kid didn't come today. He figured their progress in martial arts was different, and being together would only be a burden to each other, so he didn't want to trouble him again.

"Is the school's woodshed better than my house? What's there to worry about? I'll get a few helpers to move it all over with you." Hu Cai assumed he was still living in the school's woodshed.

Seeing how attentive he was, Lin Yuan immediately explained his plans to Hu Cai in detail.

Hu Cai smacked his lips and commented, "Master Xu is a good person in every way, except he's so stingy. If Granny Li puts an extra drop of oil in the dish, he'll feel bad for ages! I actually admire you for being able to eat at his house. Really!"

"My mentor is still quite good." Lin Yuan also felt that Master Xu was stingy, but after all, he was his mentor, so he had to protect his reputation and try to save face for him.

"That's because you're capable and can do things for him," Hu Cai continued. "I think you shouldn't let Granny Li cook anymore; you can eat at my house. Have your cousin bring the game you hunt here too. We're brothers, and I won't take advantage of you. Even close brothers keep clear accounts, what do you think?"

"Since we're brothers, we should keep clear accounts. I agree!" Lin Yuan found it quite amazing; the turn of events had taken a dramatic turn.

"It's good that you're not angry! I talked about this with other classmates before, and they were all unhappy." Hu Cai chuckled self-deprecatingly. As the son of a merchant, he had a different understanding of money.

"If we can lay the accounts out and make them clear, there will be less estrangement between brothers. However, we can only make up for the major expenses; we can't make up for the minor details."

"You know so much at such a young age? I learned all this from my grandfather. I used to think you were just a country bumpkin who only knew how to study hard..."

"My senior brother is a man of strong emotions!"

"Haha, you know how to talk, no wonder Xu the stingy man accepted you as his true disciple. Come on, I'll take you to see your father and mother first!" Hu Cai pulled him towards the back room.

"Why don't you go and let them know first?" Lin Yuan felt that it would be awkward to be rejected if he asked directly.

"It's alright. It might not work for someone else. But it's different with you; they'll definitely agree!"

Why?

"Because you're the 'perfect child' everyone's got! For the past six months, my ears have been practically worn out from all the nagging from my parents, older brother, and sister-in-law. They say that even though your family is poor, you're considerate of your parents, hardworking, so studious, and incredibly intelligent... and they even want me to learn from you! If they knew you were learning martial arts with me, would they object?"

"Huh? Is that so?" Lin Yuan exclaimed in surprise.

"What do you think? My sister-in-law and Xu the stingy daughter-in-law are relatives. Both families live in the city and visit each other often. Whenever the two families visit each other, they always give me a lecture when they return to town," Hu Cai said with a laugh.

No wonder Hu Cai offered to pay the five taels of silver for me last time; that's the crux of the matter.

Suddenly, Lin Yuan remembered that Hu Cai had often brought him food and invited him to listen to music in brothels for a period of time.

At the time, I thought he was just saying it casually and didn't take it seriously.

"No, were you trying to drag me down with you?" Lin Yuan suddenly asked.

"Hey, I wasn't angry until you brought it up. I paid to take you to a concert, and you wouldn't even accept. I just wanted to tell my sister-in-law and the others to stop putting so much strain on Mother! Do you know how I've been these past six months?"

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. But let's make a deal: I came here to learn martial arts, and if you do anything else, I'll move out immediately." Lin Yuan made it clear from the outset.

"Okay!" Hu Cai, being a young man with a strong temper, immediately agreed.

So the two of them immediately went to see Hu Cai's parents.

Just as Hu Cai had predicted, when Manager Hu heard that Lin Yuan had entered the Li family's martial arts academy through Li Tingzuo's recommendation, he immediately became more polite, not only agreeing to let him stay but also saying that he would waive his food expenses.

But he had only one request: to urge Hu Cai to practice martial arts and not let him waste his time.

Lin Yuan verbally agreed, knowing that it was just a polite remark from Manager Hu. He didn't take it seriously, nor did he intend to take advantage of the situation. He knew he ate a lot while practicing martial arts, so he should still give him what he was owed, but not too much.

So Manager Hu sent a few of his employees to follow the two men, who pushed two carts to move things from the side room in Hongliu Lane.

Upon seeing Red Willow Lane, Hu Cai immediately longed for the days of listening to music in brothels and couldn't help but say, "No, Junior Brother, you've kept this from me for so long! Why don't we stay here? I think the air here is fresh, a perfect place to practice martial arts!"

"You think I don't want to? It's inconvenient here. We can't use the kitchen, and we have to brew medicine in the open space in the yard." Lin Yuan extinguished his fantasy.

"Never mind then."

However, although Lin Yuan moved his things, he only told the gatekeeper that he was going out to stay temporarily.

If we don't get along with Hu Cai and the desired results aren't achieved, we can move back later.

Upon arriving at the school, Lin Yuan told Master Xu and Granny Li about the matter, and the two of them had no objections.

However, Master Xu suddenly reminded him, "Although Hu Cai is generous, he's used to eating, drinking, and having fun; he's a regular at brothels. He's not really suited for martial arts."

"Rest assured, Master, I understand. Senior Brother Hu has now sworn an oath to his family, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to martial arts. I will observe his words and actions; if they contradict each other, I will return to you!"

Upon hearing this, Master Xu stroked his beard and laughed heartily: "You lad, you're getting more and more shrewd! You've only just entered the martial arts hall, and you've already made a friend; that's good. Although Hu Cai is a bit unruly, Manager Hu is a shrewd businessman. He owns three shops in our Lin Yuan County. His eldest son works in the county government..."

"It's all thanks to my teacher's excellent teaching!" Lin Yuan understood that Master Xu was reminding him that he should befriend not Hu Cai, but the Hu family.

"Haha, you dare to talk nonsense about me? Go on your way!"

"Okay!"

……

As soon as Lin Yuan moved into the Hu family home, Hu Cai had the cook prepare medicine for both of them.

After taking the medicine, the two of them didn't need to be distracted by anything else; they could simply focus on practicing martial arts in the courtyard.

Having a companion makes practicing less boring; they often tease each other and compete with one another.

Compared to working alone in the yard, having someone to guide you can definitely save you from taking many detours.

As the two talked more, Lin Yuan told Lin Yuan about the day Wu Yong taught him martial arts.

"Hey, that's just how he is, looking down on people like us. Here's what we'll do, I'll teach you the stances for the next round in advance, so you won't get tricked by him when we go to the martial arts arena on the 15th," Hu Cai suddenly said.

"Thank you, senior brother!"

"No need to thank me. Once you've learned the boxing routines, you can be my sparring partner."

"So you were waiting for me here?"

"Don't worry, I'll hold back a bit. I was your sparring partner for a few years before, and I got by just fine. Let me tell you, only sparring can truly help you fight. Just practicing boxing routines can only temper your body, but it won't let you fight anyone."

"Alright, you'd better teach me stances and boxing routines quickly." Lin Yuan nodded.