Chapter 64

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Chapter 64: Start of the Journey

     

Hearing Liu Qian’s words, Zhang Xiaohua fell silent. Yes, in the past, no matter what he did, he always had his family’s support. Now, he would be far from home and would need to rely on himself for everything. Even with his second brother by his side, he needed to be diligent in everything. His sister-in-law’s words indeed hit the mark.

     

Seeing the thoughtful expression on Zhang Xiaohua’s face, Liu Qian felt very gratified. She stepped forward, patted Xiaohua’s head, and said: “Take your time. I believe Xiaohua will adapt.”

     

Zhang Xiaohua looked up with a bright smile and said resolutely: “I will, sister-in-law. I definitely will.”

     

Zhang Xiaolong also approached, taking out two silver banknotes from his pocket and handing them to Zhang Xiaohu. He said: “Xiaohu, these are the silver banknotes we got last time in Lu Town. We haven’t used them. You take them. It’s been so long, and no one has come to claim them, so I guess they probably won’t.”

     

Zhang Xiaohu didn’t take them. He turned to Zhang Cai and Guo Sufei and said: “Father, Mother, we shouldn’t take these silver banknotes. They’re not ours. If someone comes to claim them, we wouldn’t have the money to return them, causing unnecessary trouble for our family.”

     

Guo Sufei sighed and took out a handkerchief from her pocket, opening it to reveal some scattered loose silver. She handed them to Zhang Xiaohu and said: “Xiaohu, this is our family’s savings. When you and Xiaohua go out, don’t be too frugal. Take care of your health above all else. We don’t need so much at home. You take it.”

     

Zhang Xiaohu took the handkerchief and tried to return a few to his mother, but Guo Sufei insisted he keep them all. He carefully wrapped the handkerchief and put it into his pocket.

     

Seeing that Zhang Xiaohu wouldn’t take the silver notes, Zhang Xiaolong then took out the token of the Piaomiao Sect from his pocket and said: “Xiaohu, forget about the silver banknotes, but at least take this token. Without it, the Piaomiao Sect won’t recognize you when you get there. With this token, you’ll have a better chance of meeting Heroine Xue.”

     

Zhang Xiaohu shook his head and said: “Brother, this token was given to us by Heroine Xue for self-defense, not for other purposes. Using her connections to get into the Piaomiao Sect isn’t relying on our own abilities. I think it’s better to rely on our own strength, otherwise Heroine Xue might misunderstand us, and that’s not good. Besides, if the bullies from Lu Town or the bandits from West Cui Mountain come looking for us, we might still need this token to get through difficult times. Xiaohua and I are going to Pingyang City to learn martial arts to protect our family. We can’t take away the family’s life-saving token.”

     

Before Zhang Xiaohu could finish speaking, a voice from outside praised: “Well said, great ambition. Xiaohu’s words are good. Everything should be earned by one’s own abilities. Relying on others is never truly reliable.”

     

Everyone turned around and saw that it was Mr. Liu, who had come to see Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua off.

     

Mr. Liu walked up to them, placing one hand on Zhang Xiaohua’s head and the other on Zhang Xiaohu’s shoulder, saying with satisfaction: “You are both good kids. Be careful in everything when you’re out there. Remember, the amount of sweat you put in equals the amount of reward you get. Don’t take shortcuts, and avoid life-threatening situations. Remember, you’re not alone in this world, your parents, brother, and sisters-in-law are watching over you and waiting for you. When something happens, always think it through first. Acting impulsively can be good, but it should always be within your capabilities.”

     

After speaking, he also took out a silver note from his pocket and handed it to Zhang Xiaohu. “This is a bit of my savings. I have nothing else to give you, so take this for any emergency.”

     

Zhang Xiaohu hesitated to accept it and looked towards Zhang Cai and Guo Sufei. Zhang Cai said: “Dear In-law that’s not necessary. We’ve already given Xiaohu some money, and it should be enough. We appreciate your kindness, but please keep the silver note.”

     

Mr. Liu chuckled: “In-laws, do you still see me as an outsider? I’ll be living with you from now on, so why draw a line between us? This silver note is of no use to me. It’s better to give it to Xiaohu. If they need it, they can use it. If not, they can return it when they come back.”

     

Liu Qian added: “Father is right, Xiaohu. Just take it, and you can return it later if you don’t use it.”

     

Zhang Cai said no more. Zhang Xiaohu thought it over and finally took the silver note, saying: “Thank you, Uncle.”

     

Mr. Liu smiled in satisfaction.

     

That night, everyone sat in the Zhang family’s main room, talking late into the night under the flickering oil lamp. Mr. Liu shared all the advice and precautions he knew about traveling, while Guo Sufei repeatedly reminded them about daily life matters, nagging Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua until their ears were sore. They talked until everyone was yawning before finally dispersing.

     

In the grandmother’s room, Zhang Xiaohua fell asleep slowly, murmuring about his grandmother.

     

Zhang Xiaohu, however, tossed and turned, unable to sleep. His initial plan to go to Pingyang City had no specific purpose, he just felt inadequate after the situation with Liu Yueyue and wanted to see the world and find his own path. But now, with Zhang Xiaohua’s intervention, he felt that learning martial arts could be a bright path. However, he had no clear plan on how to proceed. No one in the family had traveled far, so they had no advice. Mr. Liu and Liu Kai were scholars and had no useful insights on this matter. Besides the bandits of West Cui Mountain and the members of the Evil Tiger Gang, there was no one else to ask for advice in the surrounding area.

     

Zhang Xiaohua could sleep soundly, but Zhang Xiaohu needed to think things through carefully. Otherwise, if they went to Pingyang City and ran out of money, they would have to come back. Suddenly, a thought struck him, could it be that his parents had the same idea?

     

Guo Sufei woke up to find Zhang Xiaohua working, and her heart felt warm, but her eyes turned red. She was proud of her son growing up, but she was reluctant to let him go.

     

After breakfast, Zhang Cai took the family to pay their respects at the graves of the grandparents before returning to pack up the boys’ bags and prepare for their departure.

     

Although the bags were already packed, they checked them again. Everyone took the bags and headed out, with Mr. Liu accompanying them.

     

Most of the villagers were working in the fields, but occasionally they ran into a few who, seeing Zhang Xiaohu’s appearance, understood he was leaving and came over to say goodbye and offer advice.

     

In this way, they slowly reached the village entrance.

     

It was time to part. Zhang Xiaolong gave the slightly larger bundle to Zhang Xiaohu to carry and the smaller one to Liu Qian to hand to Zhang Xiaohua. Guo Sufei repeatedly adjusted their clothes, tears streaming down her face as she kept saying: “Be careful out there. If things get too hard, come back early.”

     

Zhang Cai didn’t say anything, just looking at them with loving, red-rimmed eyes.

     

Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua, feeling a bit impatient, said: “It’s no big deal, Mother. We’re just going out. Although we haven’t been to Pingyang City before, but we’re grown up now and should see the world. Don’t worry, we’ll take care of ourselves.”

     

Hearing this, Guo Sufei became even more worried: “Oh, my sons, don’t be too careless. Be careful in everything. Xiaohu, Xiaohua is still young, you must take good care of your younger brother, and don’t let anything happen to Xiaohua.”

     

Zhang Xiaohu repeatedly assured his mother that he would take good care of Zhang Xiaohua, and only then did Guo Sufei stop.

     

Zhang Cai, looking at the time, stepped forward and said: “Dear, don’t say any more. Let them go now, they still have to catch the carriage at Lu Town. Don’t delay the time.”

     

Guo Sufei thought for a moment and then let go. Zhang Xiaolong, Liu Qian, and Mr. Liu also stepped forward to give their final words of advice. Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua then shouldered their bundles and started walking. After several dozen steps, they turned back to see the mountain wind blowing through Guo Sufei’s white hair. Zhang Xiaohua’s previously calm heart was suddenly in turmoil. He always felt he was strong but he couldn’t help but cry, tears streaming down uncontrollably.

     

Zhang Xiaohua dropped his bundle and ran back, throwing himself into his mother’s arms, and holding her tightly.

     

Guo Sufei hugged her youngest son and cried as well. After a while, Zhang Xiaohua let go. Guo Sufei tentatively said: “Xiaohua, why don’t you stay? Stay home with your mother, okay?”

     

Zhang Xiaohua shook his head, wiped his tears, and said: “No, Mother, I must go. This will be the last time I cry. I don’t want to cry anymore and I don’t want to see anyone in our family cry again. Even if I have to bleed, I don’t want you to. Believe in me, Mother, I will make it. Just watch your son work hard.”

     

Guo Sufei wiped her tears and nodded, saying: “I believe in you, Xiaohua. You will do it. You won’t let us down.”

     

Tears silently fell from Zhang Cai’s eyes too, but he quickly wiped them away.

     

Zhang Xiaohua looked at his family again, wanting to remember them deeply in his heart. As he turned to leave, Zhang Cai called out: “Wait.”

     

Zhang Xiaohua stopped and looked curiously at his father.

     

Zhang Cai stepped forward and, looking at his son, opened his arms and hugged him tightly. Zhang Xiaohua, smelling his father’s familiar scent, felt extremely emotional. Since he became aware, his father had never hugged him or shown much affection. He once thought his father didn’t like him, but now he realized his father’s love was no less than his mother’s, just expressed differently.

     

After a while, Zhang Cai released him and said: “Go now, my child. Your mother and I will be waiting for you at home.”

     

Zhang Xiaohua nodded and said: “Father, you take care of yourself too.”

     

Then, he turned around, picked up his bundle, waved to everyone, and walked away with determination.

     

Even after Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua’s figures disappeared over the hill, Zhang Cai, Guo Sufei, and the others remained, reluctant to leave, still hoping to catch another glimpse of their sons.

     

But they were disappointed. The familiar figures did not reappear.

     

Guo Sufei asked Zhang Cai: “Do you think the children will suffer out there?”

     

Zhang Cai said: “Don’t worry. Once they experience the hardships, they’ll come back. Maybe it will be soon, just think of it as a little trip.”

     

Little did they know, this step Zhang Xiaohua took was not just leaving the village, it was a step that would impact the entire martial arts world.