SNT Chapter 2: The Old House

Pushing open the creaking cabin door.

The cramped boat cabin was filled with the smell of damp wood, aged fish odors, and a faint scent of rice bran.

Chen's mother, Lady Han, hurried forward upon hearing the sound, "Ah Qing, today... how was it?"

Chen Qing shook his head, his voice low, "Those people at the fish market lowered prices again... Today's luck was poor too. One net cast brought up only small fish and shrimp, sold for just a few big coins in total."

Lady Han sighed, tears welling in her eyes, "Sigh... how will we... survive in the future?"

She looked at the nearly empty rice bag, "Now we can't even eat brown rice, can only chew this rice bran... I just hope the Dragon King will open his eyes and grant us mother and son a mouthful of life-sustaining food."

Food was categorized in order: white flour (fine grain), brown rice and sorghum flour (coarse grain), rice bran, and moldy rice.

Items like rice, steamed buns made from refined flour, and noodles were expensive in the market, only wealthy households could afford to eat them daily.

Common people and fishermen ate brown rice, rice bran mixed with snails and reed leaves, very few could regularly eat pure coarse grains.

The Chen family now found even coarse grains hard to come by, with rice bran becoming their staple food.

They rarely used oil in daily life, even salt was used sparingly, mostly relying on chili peppers, wild onions, and garlic to mask unpleasant tastes.

As for Lady Han's mention of the Dragon King's blessing, it was merely cold steamed buns sunk to the river bottom after sacrificial ceremonies, retrieved already swollen like rotten meat.

Lady Han sighed mournfully, "Your father went to dig canals for the clan and vanished without a trace, leaving us orphaned mother and son. We can't survive by fishing anymore..."

She looked at Chen Qing, biting her lip, "How can we manage in the future without a skill to rely on? I heard Uncle Dachun say Xiao Chun is going to Treasure Hall as an apprentice... Ah Qing, you should also find a way to learn a trade, shouldn't you?"

For the people of Mute Bay, being a fisherman ultimately offered no way out. Their only hope of escaping this quagmire was learning a skill that could take them ashore, even if it meant being the lowliest apprentice.

Chen Qing said quietly, "Learning a trade... would probably require considerable silver, wouldn't it?"

The Chen family was already poor, and what little savings they might have had were long since plundered by the Golden River Gang.

This was an era where ordinary people with money would be targeted.

That fiber-puller Old Zhang had a stroke of luck earning some copper coins. When he flaunted his wealth at the floating houses, he was robbed that very night and had a leg broken besides.

Floating houses were boat gambling dens and brothels.

There was also illiterate Old Qiu's family, who were tricked into signing a fish-scale contract and had their daughter-in-law sold directly into floating houses.

Such incidents were countless, too numerous to mention.

Lady Han was silent for a long while, then said with difficulty, "If there's really no other way, should we go to the old house and borrow some from your grandfather?"

The old house?

Chen Qing shook his head inwardly but said nothing.

After midday.

Mother and son got off the boat and walked through three long streets to reach Firewood Fish Market.

The fishy smell from fish vendors packing up had not yet dissipated, but compared to Mute Bay's lingering stench of decay, this place actually seemed somewhat lively.

The old Chen family house was located in this Firewood Fish Market, operating as a general goods store.

Behind the shop was a run-down small courtyard squeezed with four or five rooms.

Old Master Chen had lost his wife early and single-handedly ran the general store while raising two sons and one daughter: eldest daughter Chen Jinhua, eldest son Chen Wu (Chen Qing's father), and second son Chen Wen.

At this moment, Old Master Chen sat in the main room, puffing on his pipe, his brow showing a mixture of joy and worry.

Around him gathered Second Uncle Chen Wen's family.

Chen Wen was Old Master's most favored youngest son, whose appearance inherited the old man's youthful refinement and fair complexion. He had never suffered much hardship from childhood.

Old Master had always planned to have him take over the old house and shop, but Chen Wen had grown lazy from being spoiled. He would occasionally haul some goods when idle, then lie at home when tired, unable to endure hardship.

Old Master's heart ached for him, showing indulgence far more than reproach.

To Chen Wen's left sat Second Aunt, her hair neatly arranged in a bun with wooden hairpins, dressed considerably more elegantly than Lady Han.

To the right was Chen Qing's cousin Chen Heng, five months younger than Chen Qing but with a robust build and heroic bearing, looking much more spirited.

On the other side, eldest aunt Chen Jinhua and cousin Yang Huiniang were picking and washing vegetables.

Yang Huiniang was about fifteen or sixteen, her features not particularly delicate but very pleasing to look at. Her wheat-colored skin had a healthy glow, and her bright, sparkling eyes were strikingly luminous.

Chen Qing took all this in. Old Master Chen clearly favored Second Uncle's family greatly, denying himself food and clothing, saving and economizing, keeping all the good food and drink for his second uncle's household.

He was especially fond of the clever Chen Heng, showering him with extra affection.

Yet he, as the eldest grandson, received treatment vastly different from Chen Heng's.

"Father!"

"Grandfather!"

Mother and son entered the courtyard, with Chen Qing performing a deep bow to Old Master Chen.

Old Master Chen was the feudal patriarch, his status and position were different after all.

Second Aunt immediately approached, her tone rising with deliberate surprise and mockery, "Oh my, sister-in-law, what brings you here with free time today?"

Her words carried implicit meaning.

Lady Han pursed her lips, ignoring this sister-in-law.

Eldest aunt Chen Jinhua glanced up briefly, too lazy to bother with either of them, then silently lowered her head to continue picking vegetables.

Only Yang Huiniang's eyes brightened slightly upon seeing Chen Qing, calling out, "Ah Qing!"

Chen Qing smiled in response, "Cousin."

In his memory, eldest aunt was shrewd and calculating, but his cousin was gentle and kind.

He had always had an excellent relationship with his cousin since childhood.

Now his cousin was sixteen, having worked at a clothing shop for three years and could already independently sew and sell embroidered handkerchiefs.

"Eldest's family, please sit," Old Master Chen put down his pipe and greeted them.

After some small talk, Old Master Chen looked at Chen Qing and sighed, "Ah Qing, you must also strive to succeed."

He shook his head inwardly.

Chen Wu had been honest and simple since childhood, and Chen Qing also seemed dull and slow. In these difficult times, mere survival was not easy, let alone rising above one's station.

Although Chen Qing showed little promise, he was still his grandson after all.

"While you're young and strong, quickly find some livelihood," Second Uncle Chen Wen assumed an elder's posture, his tone carrying solemnity, "You can't let your mother worry about everything."

Chen Qing glanced at his second uncle, feeling somewhat speechless.

This man who lived off his parents at home had the face to lecture him?

"Father, Ah Qing is still young," Lady Han quickly interjected, getting to the point, "So I want him to learn a trade for making a living."

Hearing this, Old Master Chen nodded, "Learning a trade is a good thing. If he can master it, at least he can make a living in these times."

Seeing Old Master Chen's approval, Lady Han's eyes brightened as she quickly said, "Learning a trade requires an apprenticeship fee, and we mother and son really have no spare money..."

Though her words were unfinished, the meaning was clear.

Old Master Chen's eyelid twitched as he fell into silence.

When Chen Wu had divided the household, aside from basic daily necessities, he had taken essentially nothing with him.

Over these years, he had felt guilty about the eldest family.

Especially since the eldest had gone to dig canals in place of the second son, with no news since.

Second Aunt immediately became alert upon hearing this, "Father, Xiao Heng is learning martial arts at the martial hall, which is extremely expensive. This matter cannot be delayed..."

Chen Heng is learning martial arts at a martial hall!?

Hearing this, Chen Qing's heart stirred.

A martial hall was a place where one could learn martial arts, but the tuition was extremely expensive, with most disciples being wealthy families from the county seat.

Chen Jinhua couldn't sit still, "Father, when did Xiao Heng start learning martial arts? How did I not know?"

Eldest aunt's tone carried some dissatisfaction.

Old Master Chen tapped his pipe and said slowly, "I haven't had time to tell you all about this. Xiao Heng went to Guangchang Martial Hall to learn martial arts three months ago and has made considerable progress. If all goes well, he can participate in the military examinations next year."

By the end, Old Master Chen's eyes crinkled with smiles.

A martial scholar in the Yan Kingdom counted as having official rank, which could reduce family tax burdens, a significant expense.

If he could continue with examinations and pass the military provincial examination, that would be soaring to great heights, bringing glory to ancestors, for ordinary families, it would be like their ancestral graves emitting auspicious smoke.

Second Aunt was as proud as a rooster, saying smugly, "Xiao Heng was practicing boxing this morning when the martial hall instructor praised him as good material!"

She then pulled out a silk handkerchief, "Feel this silk, it was a gift from Master Liu's wife at the martial hall."

Chen Qing watched his grandfather's withered fingers stroking the silk surface, cloudy eyes brightening with light.

He knew this was material only available in the inner city.

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