Chapter Thirty-Four: Learning Martial Arts

Bah, a toad lusting after a swan! Lin Shuimei cursed inwardly, but outwardly she feigned shy modesty. “I—I’ll certainly remember all your kindness, Brother Tianliu, and when the time comes, I’ll make sure to thank you properly.”

“Words aren’t enough. How about you let me kiss you first?” Tianliu spoke as he lunged forward. Lin Shuimei was startled and tried to dodge, but then she remembered how Tianliu could help her teach Lin Sangqian a lesson. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to endure it, letting Tianliu pull her into his arms, his greasy lips pressing against her cheek.

Lin Shuimei was utterly disgusted inside. Damn Lin Sangqian, damn Tianliu!

“Heh heh.” After kissing Lin Shuimei, Tianliu was in high spirits. He wiped his mouth and said, “Shuimei, don’t worry. I’ll make sure to give Lin Sangqian a good lesson and help you vent your anger!”

“Thank you, Brother Tianliu. Don’t forget your promise!” Afraid Tianliu might try to kiss her again, Lin Shuimei forced a smile and quickly found an excuse to slip away.

Tianliu watched her slender figure leave, greedily licking his lips as his mouth watered. Such a delicate little girl—what a wife she’d make! If she couldn’t be his wife, just one night together would be enough. Once he helped Lin Shuimei deal with Lin Sangqian, perhaps she’d be so pleased that she’d finally agree…

…

Lin Sangqian walked home with her brothers. On the way, Lin Beitao couldn’t help but ask, “Little sister, did you really say those things to Lin Shuimei?”

“I did.” Lin Sangqian admitted. “I only did it to keep Grandma from coming to our house and causing trouble. Otherwise, she’d believe we have good things and keep making a fuss.”

“Qianqian is clever,” Lin Wenyan praised, patting her head.

“Hmph, that’s how it should be! It’ll show the families of Uncle and Second Uncle that we’re not so easy to bully!” Lin Beitao said.

Lin Yanbei added, “But this isn’t a long-term solution. Our family’s getting better and better, and sooner or later Grandma will find out.”

“When that happens, it won’t matter anymore,” Lin Sangqian replied with a smile. “Because by then, our family might have already moved to the town.”

“What? Move to town?” Lin Wenyan was stunned. “How would we move to town?”

“Little sister, houses in town are expensive!” Lin Beitao said. “With all of us, we’d need a bigger courtyard. That would cost… so much money!”

He didn’t know the exact amount, but surely houses in town couldn’t be cheap.

“Don’t worry! I’ll earn lots of money soon,” Lin Sangqian said. “Not only will we move to town, but maybe we’ll end up in the city!”

The city?

The three brothers’ eyes showed longing at her words. None of them had ever been to the city, let alone imagined moving there. It was something they’d never dared to even dream of.

“Little sister is so capable,” Lin Wenyan said, feeling a twinge of defeat. “But as for us brothers…”

Thinking it over, it seemed none of them could really be of any help.

Lin Yanbei and Lin Beitao fell silent. Lin Sangqian sensed their mood and quickly said, “Brothers, Father and Mother said in a few days they’ll send you to school in town!”

“Really? We can go to school?” Lin Yanbei exclaimed in delight. “Go to the academy?”

“Yes!” Lin Sangqian nodded vigorously. “Then you’ll be able to learn to read and write, and even take the imperial exams. Once your names are on the honor roll, our family’s good days will truly begin!”

Lin Yanbei’s heart sparkled with anticipation. He’d always envied other children who could attend the academy, and had secretly asked literate villagers to teach him some characters. But so far, he only knew a dozen simple words.

How he longed to go to school! But with the family’s situation, barely enough food to eat, how could he ask? So he’d just followed his elder and younger brothers to work at the restaurant.

Now, could he finally go to school…

Lin Yanbei said solemnly, “Little sister, don’t worry. We’ll study hard, and make sure you and Father and Mother live well!”

“Mm!” Lin Sangqian smiled. “But don’t be too obsessed with success. Sending you to school is to cultivate your knowledge. As for the imperial exams, don’t force yourselves.”

If you become too fixated on fame and status, it might backfire.

Lin Wenyan patted Lin Sangqian’s head. “Little sister is all grown up, talking like a little adult now.”

“Heh heh, I learned it from the grown-ups.”

“Come on, let’s go home!”

Once home, Lin Sangqian slipped into the kitchen.

She opened her system space and exchanged for ten pounds of chicken feet.

She used up her remaining thirty points in one go, and seeing her balance at zero, Lin Sangqian felt a pang.

But it was worth it.

Fortunately, she still had plenty of pickled peppers and other spices from earlier, so she made ten pounds of pickled pepper chicken feet, sealing them in four jars.

In a couple of days, she’d deliver them to the Full Prosperity Restaurant.

But chicken feet alone weren’t enough. She’d promised Lu Chengren to provide some other delicacies as well.

Returning to her room to sleep, Lin Sangqian lay in bed thinking—what else could she make…

…

The next morning, Lin Sangqian vaguely heard noises in the courtyard.

It sounded like Lin Hongda was speaking.

“That’s not right! Watch me…”

“Keep your footing steady, don’t wobble.”

“No, start again!”

What were they doing so early?

Yawning, Lin Sangqian sat up in bed and stumbled sleepily into the courtyard. The sight before her made her eyes widen in astonishment.

Her three brothers were practicing horse stance in the courtyard, while Lin Hongda stood in front, earnestly instructing them.

“Mm! Eldest is doing it most correctly! You two, learn from your brother.”

“Fa…Father, what are you doing?” Lin Sangqian walked over and asked.

“Teaching your three brothers martial arts, of course!” Lin Hongda replied with a smile. “When all three learn, the four of us will protect you two girls together—how wonderful!”

He wasn’t only the national taekwondo champion, but also quite accomplished in martial arts.

Here, however, it was all simply called “kung fu.”

Lin Sangqian nodded. “Not bad.”

Since Lin Hongda couldn’t open a martial arts school right now, teaching her brothers was a good alternative.

But what surprised her was how serious the three brothers looked.

Lin Beitao, while holding the horse stance, said, “Little sister, don’t worry, I’ll learn well and protect you and Mother!”

Lin Sangqian felt moved, and almost wanted to laugh.

Though she was an outsider to martial arts, it was clear that of the three brothers, Lin Beitao probably had the least talent.

He couldn’t even hold the stance steady.

But that didn’t matter. Lin Sangqian thought Lin Beitao was the cleverest and liveliest of the three. Though his talent didn’t lie in kung fu, perhaps he’d shine elsewhere.

“You keep practicing. I’ll go make breakfast.”

“Don’t go, daughter—come join us!”