SNT Chapter 6: Trouble

Chen Qing dragged his weary body back to Mute Bay.

Chen Qing pushed open the creaking cabin door to find Lady Han mending fishing nets.

Hearing the movement, she immediately looked up, "Ah Qing, you're back? How did today... go?"

Chen Qing smiled, "Mother, it worked out."

"Really!?"

Lady Han felt a surge of joy, then immediately worried, "Then... then the apprenticeship fee... was it expensive? Is the master a good person?"

"The master is very strict, but follows proper rules."

Chen Qing walked into the cabin and picked up a water ladle to drink several gulps, "The tuition fee... I used the silver coins that cousin Yang Huiniang gave me, it's enough for now."

Lady Han breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good then."

She brought out warmed mixed grain beans, "Eat quickly."

Chen Qing set down his bowl and chopsticks, saying, "Mother, tomorrow evening I'll come back to help you weave fishing nets together. We can't neglect the family's livelihood, after all, practicing martial arts also requires food, doesn't it?"

"Mm."

Lady Han responded with a sound, the dim yellow lamplight flickering on her face.

She seemed to suddenly remember something important and looked up at Chen Qing, "I heard there's a new Tiger Gang that just arrived, and they're fighting fiercely with the Golden River Gang. You must be careful in your daily activities."

Chen Qing's brow furrowed tightly as he nodded silently, "I understand."

What a world this is!

The mother and son said nothing more, only silently eating the warm mixed grain beans from their bowls.

...

The next day.

Chen Qing arrived at Zhou's courtyard before dawn.

He once again stepped onto the wooden stakes, assuming that twisted yet powerful through-arm stance work posture.

Soreness, numbness, swelling, pain... the familiar torment instantly swept through his entire body.

Chen Qing gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, sweat quickly soaking through his thin clothes and rising as faint white mist.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence, Success Guaranteed]

[Through-arm Stance Work: Beginner (6/500)]

The disciples arrived one after another, all somewhat surprised to see Chen Qing.

"That kid comes really early."

"Yesterday I saw him grinding away there, wonder how long he can last," someone whispered.

Chen Qing buried himself in hard practice, drawing many gazes.

Some paid no attention, some sneered with disdain, while others thought he was just trying to show off in front of the master.

Before anyone realized it, a month had passed, and the murmuring gradually diminished.

The disciples in the courtyard had grown accustomed to this silent and diligent figure, Chen Qing had become "that new student who can particularly endure hardship."

The paulownia leaves on the training platform had grown several degrees wider.

Chen Qing stepped onto the three-inch high wooden stakes, his waist and back straight as a spear shaft. Beneath his shirt hem, newly formed muscle lines could be faintly seen, and compared to when he first entered Zhou's courtyard, his shoulders had broadened by more than half an inch.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence, Success Guaranteed]

[Through-arm Stance Work: Beginner (211/500)]

On this day, Zhou Liang paced over and asked, "How long have you been in the courtyard?"

Chen Qing respectfully replied, "Master, it's been one month."

Not long ago, Zhou Liang had tested Chen Qing's bone structure.

The final result was below average bone structure.

Zhou Liang's expression showed no change, he only gave him a few routine words of encouragement.

Clearly, he hadn't held much hope to begin with.

Zhou Liang said in a deep voice, "Stance work is the foundation for tempering qi, blood, tendons and bones, all paving the way for boxing techniques. Now that your foundation is stable, starting tomorrow you can join the morning lessons and formally practice fighting techniques."

"If there's anything you don't understand, just ask."

After initial instruction, Zhou Liang naturally wouldn't personally teach all disciples.

Only those with exceptional bone structure who showed promise of inheriting his legacy would receive his careful guidance.

This introductory stance work also served as a test for all disciples.

Clearly, in his eyes, Chen Qing was not uncut jade, but merely dust sifted through a sieve.

The senior disciples were all shrewd, knowing that taking this poor junior brother under their wing offered no benefits to gain, and he was unlikely to amount to much in the future, so most couldn't be bothered with him.

Only Third Senior Brother Sun Shun, being honest in nature, would occasionally give new disciples some guidance.

Chen Qing cupped his fists in response, "Yes, this disciple will remember the master's teachings."

Zhou Liang nodded slightly, "Mm, continue practicing."

After speaking, he returned to the grand chair under the tree, his gaze occasionally sweeping over the disciples in the courtyard, showing deep thought, no one knew what he was thinking about.

Chen Qing wiped the sweat from his forehead and concentrated on practicing again.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence, Success Guaranteed]

[Through-arm Stance Work: Beginner (214/500)]

As the sun's shadow slanted west, Chen Qing had practiced the through-arm stance work three more times.

"You few should get to work."

At this moment, a rough voice shouted across the courtyard.

The apprentices in the courtyard, besides practicing martial arts, also served as Zhou Liang's manual laborers, washing clothes and cooking, carrying water and chopping firewood, cleaning the courtyard, clearing the latrines, feeding horses and cutting grass, they had to do all sorts of menial tasks.

Chen Qing then followed several senior and junior brothers to begin cleaning the courtyard.

Cleaning the courtyard and feeding horses weren't the most difficult tasks, the hardest was cleaning the latrines.

First they had to use long-handled wooden ladles to scoop clean water to flush the waste pits, and after flushing they had to sprinkle a layer of plant ash, it was dirty, exhausting and troublesome.

"Chen Qing, Qin Lie, you two clean the latrines today."

The senior brother in charge of assignments dropped these words and turned to leave.

Today Chen Qing was partnered with another disciple of similarly poor background, dark and thin, named Qin Lie.

He had entered Zhou's courtyard around the same time as Chen Qing, his parents were both dead, and he only had an older sister at home.

The difference was that Zhou Liang seemed to value him highly, often giving him personal guidance and even providing him special meals.

Qin Lie smiled somewhat embarrassedly, "Senior Brother Chen, how about... I can handle it myself, I can manage."

"It's fine, two people work faster."

Chen Qing waved his hand and directly began working.

The two men buried themselves in work amid the foul odor.

Other disciples in the courtyard chatted while working, some complaining that practicing martial arts was too hard, others dreaming of passing the military examinations and rising above their station.

Qin Lie scooped water to flush the pits while asking in a low voice, "Senior Brother Chen, did you... also come to study martial arts to take the military examinations?"

"To be able to make a living," Chen Qing answered very honestly.

Qin Lie was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then clenched his fists, his eyes showing determination, "I want to pass the military imperial examinations! So my older sister... can live a good life and not have to suffer so much anymore."

Chen Qing looked up and carefully observed this dark and thin young man.

The menial work continued until the sky gradually darkened.

As dusk fell, the senior brother who assigned tasks hurried back, directly shouting at Qin Lie, "Junior Brother Qin, quickly come with me! From now on, you don't need to do these menial tasks!"

Qin Lie was delighted upon hearing this and quickly said, "Yes, Senior Brother."

Watching Qin Lie's figure disappear behind the corridor, several nearby disciples couldn't help but whisper among themselves, their tones sour:

"How long has Qin Lie been here? Why doesn't he have to do this work anymore?"

"Tch, can you compare with him? In less than a month he's already touched the threshold of obvious strength! The master's precious treasure!"

"I heard the master not only waived his tuition but gives him special meals every day!"

"..."

Qin Lie's figure being hurriedly called away was like a thorn, making the present disciples feel more clearly their position in this courtyard, they were ultimately different from those key disciples being cultivated in the front courtyard.

Chen Qing also felt some melancholy in his heart.

After all, many people had fantasized about being uncut jade, stumbling forward through hardships, only to open their palms years later and discover they were merely pebbles.

After another moment, until all the work was finished, everyone finally dispersed.

On the street, pedestrians were sparse.

From time to time gang members would dart out, which undoubtedly added several degrees of danger.

Chen Qing quickened his pace and detoured around them.

Before long, he arrived home.

The dim oil lamp flickered on the table, casting light on Lady Han's hunched figure.

Her rough fingers moved back and forth through the fishing net, without looking up she asked, "Ah Qing, you're back, were you tired today?"

Chen Qing took off his practice cloth shoes, "Mother, it was okay, have you eaten?"

"Just had some porridge."

Lady Han's hands didn't stop moving, the thread dancing between her fingers, "Today I sold two fishing nets, that person didn't bargain much, let me gather a bit more and see if I can squeeze out the tuition for two months from now."

She bit through the thread and gently shook out the mended clothes.

These days Lady Han had been weaving nets from dawn to dusk, nearly ruining her eyes.

Fortunately, Chen Qing's net-weaving skills were becoming increasingly proficient, his speed getting faster and faster.

With these fishing nets, the mother and son could get by without problem, but to gather that tuition fee was still like trying to stop a cart with a cup of water.

"Mother, there are still two months left, don't worry about the tuition fee."

Chen Qing crouched down to help organize the fine threads scattered on the ground.

"Tomorrow morning mother will get up early and try her luck at Dawn Market again..." The oil lamp licked up the last drop of oil, the flame gradually weakening.

Lady Han moved to the doorway, borrowing the cold and clear moonlight, her needle and thread began shuttling through the cloth again.

"Bang—!"

Just then, the cabin door was kicked open with one foot.

Lady Han's needlework trembled, nearly pricking her finger.

Chen Qing quickly looked toward the sound.

He saw Qian Biao swaggering in with two burly henchmen. A short knife hung at his waist, and the flesh on his face quivered with each step.

"Oh, still doing embroidery so late? Aren't you afraid of going blind?"

Qian Biao spoke in a mocking tone, but his eyes stared directly at the embroidered handkerchief nearly completed in Lady Han's hands.

Chen Qing stepped forward, instinctively shielding Lady Han behind him, saying, "Master Qian, is there something you need?"

"Don't be nervous, Ah Qing." Qian Biao grinned, revealing several black and yellow teeth, "This time I've come to bring you good fortune."

Good fortune!?

Chen Qing sneered inwardly, but showed confusion on his face, "I wonder what Master Qian is referring to..."

"The Dragon King shows mercy and bestows meat!"

Qian Biao suddenly clapped his hands, and the two henchmen behind him immediately carried a side of rotten meat and heavily slammed it onto the boat deck.

Immediately, a nauseating stench spread, it was dead pork that had been soaking for many days, the surface already showing an eerie blue-gray color, and maggots could faintly be seen writhing in the putrid flesh.

The so-called 'meat bestowed by the Dragon King' was actually the Golden River Gang's racket of force-selling diseased and rotten pigs to fishermen.

Chen Qing's throat moved as he forced down his nausea, saying, "Master Qian, you also know our family just paid the incense money..."

"What, not even giving the Dragon King face?"

Qian Biao's palm was thick and powerful as he heavily patted Chen Qing's shoulder, "Ah Qing, you're a smart person, don't make foolish mistakes."

Chen Qing took a deep breath, saying, "Master Qian, give me some time."

Upon hearing this, Qian Biao unexpectedly didn't get angry, but instead stood up and patted Chen Qing's shoulder, "Fine, I'll give you three days to gather the money."

Qian Biao got up and strode away with his two henchmen.

After the three men's footsteps completely disappeared, Lady Han's lips trembled, "Ah Qing, what should we do?"

The family had very little money left, barely enough to buy rice bran. If they didn't buy this rotten meat, with Qian Biao's vicious methods... Lady Han didn't dare think further.

"Don't worry."

Chen Qing narrowed his eyes. This Qian Biao had threatened him to borrow at high interest rates last time without success, now he wanted to use force.

He was so eager to sell this rotten meat... and he didn't come during the day but at night, could he be afraid of something?

Very likely the Golden River Gang was at a disadvantage in the territorial dispute with the Tiger Gang, and Qian Biao wanted to make one more profit before fleeing.

Thinking it through carefully, Chen Qing seemed to understand something and said in a low voice, "Mother, leave this matter to me."

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