Chapter 71

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Chapter 71: Solution

Zhang Xiaohu said, baffled: “Of course, I’ve never practiced before, this is my first time training.”

Sixth Master Li got a little excited and said: “Amazing, though I can’t say you’re a genius, it’s still rare. This Six Harmonies Fist is known for its complexity, yet you can remember sixty to seventy percent on your first try, which shows that you are talented.”

At this moment, the surrounding crowd also burst into applause.

This made Zhang Xiaohu blush. Zhang Xiaohua was also happy for his second brother, but he secretly worried that he hadn’t remembered as much. He wasn’t sure if he could pass the test later.

Sixth Master Li cheerfully said to Zhang Xiaohu: “Come here, let me check your bones and overall physique.”

Zhang Xiaohu obediently walked over. Sixth Master Li examined him, feeling and tapping here and there. Finally, he said with satisfaction: “Very good, this body is extremely suitable for martial arts. If it weren’t for your age, you’d probably be able to join the Piaomiao Sect.”

Zhang Xiaohu beamed and asked: “So I’ve passed the test and can become a porter now, right?”

Sixth Master Li smiled and said: “You’ve passed, of course you’ve passed. With a year or so of training, you can become a bodyguard.”

He then turned to Fourth Master Wen and said: “Fourth Master, you have a good eye for recruiting such a treasure for our escort agency.”

Fourth Master Wen modestly replied, “Just lucky, just lucky.”

Sixth Master Li said to Zhang Xiaohu: “Alright, come with me to register. From now on, you are a porter for the Lotus Escort Agency. Everyone else can disperse and continue their training.”

With that, he turned to leave, and the crowd began to disperse as well.

At this moment, a voice rang out: “What about me? Won’t you test me?”

Everyone stopped in their tracks. Sixth Master Li looked and saw it was Zhang Xiaohua. Zhang Xiaohu quickly added: “Yes, my younger brother hasn’t been tested yet. Doesn’t he need to be tested?”

Sixth Master Li looked Zhang Xiaohua up and down and asked: “How old are you?”

Zhang Xiaohua puzzledly replied: “Thirteen.”

Sixth Master Li laughed, and the people nearby also burst into laughter. Then Sixth Master Li asked: “Do you know that our escort agency has an age requirement for recruiting porters?”

Zhang Xiaohua shook his head.

Sixth Master Li smiled and said: “The escort agency is a business, so we only recruit adults. Our porters must be at least sixteen years old. Look around, do you see any children as young as you?”

Zhang Xiaohua looked around, and indeed, most of the people nearby were in their twenties. Zhang Xiaohu and Little Monkey were already among the youngest.

At this moment, Zhang Xiaohua felt as if the world had become so small. The Piaomiao Sect required disciples to be around five or six years old, making him too old. It was not easy to find the Lotus Escort Agency, but it required porters to be at least sixteen, making him too young. What, what should he do? Why was it so difficult to learn martial arts?

However, he still did not give up and loudly said: “I may be young, but I’m quite strong. Let me lift some stone locks and show you how much I can lift.”

Sixth Master Li shook his head again and said: “It’s not that I don’t want to recruit you, but you’re too young. You can’t even take care of yourself, so how can you contribute to the escort agency? These are the rules of the agency, and how could I make exceptions?”

After saying this, he turned to leave, but Zhang Xiaohu grabbed him and pleaded: “Sixth Master Li, please, just take a look. Xiaohua is really strong. Just take a look first.”

Zhang Xiaohua was so anxious he was about to cry. If it weren’t for the oath he made at his grandmother’s grave not to cry again, tears would have already fallen long ago.

Seeing his Second Brother hold onto Sixth Master Li, he quickly ran to the stone locks. He went to the two hundred jin stone lock that Zhang Xiaohu hadn’t managed to lift earlier and said: “Look, let me try this one.”

Then he grabbed the stone lock with one hand, and, with a burst of strength, lifted it above his head.

Sixth Master Li, who was being held by Zhang Xiaohu, was initially displeased and was about to pull away. But when he saw Zhang Xiaohua lift the two hundred jin stone lock, he was stunned. Zhang Xiaohua, thinking that Sixth Master Li was unimpressed with the weight, quickly dropped the two hundred jin stone lock and looked around. He picked up the largest stone lock on the ground, weighed it in his hand, took a deep breath, and with a shout of “Up!” he lifted the largest stone lock with one arm.[TL_Note:200 jin=100 kg]

Instantly, the martial arts training ground fell silent. Everyone was dumbfounded, their eyes wide open. Sixth Master Li’s eyes were open, and his mouth was opened so wide it looked like they could fit a large duck egg.

After a long pause, someone timidly asked: “That, isn’t that the five hundred jin stone lock?” [TL_Note: 500 jin = 250 kg]

At this moment, a stern voice rang out: “What are you all doing there? Instead of practicing martial arts properly, you’re just watching the excitement.”

Simultaneously, a woman’s voice exclaimed: “Hey, Zhang Xiaohua? What are you doing here?”

Everyone turned to look and saw an elderly man with gray hair walking out from the corridor in the backyard. The onlookers said: “Third Master Qu is here, let’s get out of here quickly.”

Thus, the crowd dispersed in a rush, leaving the small figure of Zhang Xiaohua holding the massive stone lock, his little face turning bright red from the effort.

Walking beside Third Master Qu was none other than Qiu Tong, whom Zhang Xiaohua had encountered in Pingyang City earlier that morning.

Third Master Qu walked over to Sixth Master Li, and both Sixth Master Li and Fourth Master Wen quickly bowed to him. Third Master Qu returned the salute and, seeing Zhang Xiaohua still holding the stone lock, frowned and said: “What are you doing? Why aren’t you putting that down?”

Zhang Xiaohua, not knowing who he was, didn’t dare put it down. He looked at Sixth Master Li, who also quickly said: “Put it down, quickly put it down.”

Only then did Zhang Xiaohua release the stone lock, which fell to the ground with a thud, raising a cloud of dust.

Third Master Qu turned to Qiu Tong and asked: “Do you know them?”

Qiu Tong smiled and said: “Yes, this is the little boy I mentioned earlier who helped me retrieve my money pouch this morning. His name is Zhang Xiaohua, and this is his brother Zhang Xiaohu.”

Third Master Qu nodded with a smile and said: “Good child.”

He then asked Sixth Master Li: “What’s going on here? Why are you having a child lift stone locks?”

Sixth Master Li quickly and respectfully explained the whole story, ending with: “Zhang Xiaohua’s strength is indeed extraordinary. There are not many people in our Lotus Escort Agency who can lift that stone lock. However, he is still a child and doesn’t meet our regulations. I leave it to you, Third Master, to make the decision.”

When Third Master Qu heard that Zhang Xiaohua had lifted a five hundred jin stone lock, he was moved and couldn’t help but look at the stone lock thrown aside and the short child standing next to it.

Qiu Tong also chimed in, saying: “Xiaohua is a good child. If it weren’t for him, my money pouch would have been stolen. Although Third Uncle said to always pay someone back, I still owe him a favor. Third Uncle, please make an exception.”

Third Master Qu smiled and said: “You silly girl, you know that our sect only recruits disciples who are around five or six years old, yet you brought them to the manor’s gate and left them there. Our escort agency recruits porters who are all adults sixteen years of age or older. Aren’t you putting me in a difficult position?”

Qiu Tong laughed and said; “They didn’t say in the morning that they were here to become disciples. I thought they had relatives in the sect and were visiting their kin. Besides, you are the one in charge of the Lotus Escort Agency. Your word is final, isn’t it?”

Third Master Qu said: “Yes, I am in charge now, but these rules were set by the Sect Master. How can I easily break them? Moreover, porters must go on escort missions, which can be dangerous. How can a child like him handle that? If something happened, wouldn’t it be my fault?”

Qiu Tong thought for a moment and had to agree, looking sympathetically at Zhang Xiaohua.

Third Master Qu continued: “However, I have a solution to have the best of both worlds. Would you like to hear it?”

Qiu Tong was surprised: “A solution that satisfies both sides?”

Third Master Qu said: “Didn’t you mention that the person in charge of the medicine fields at the manor recently lost a family member and there’s no one to weed and fertilize the fields? You asked me to find someone strong and capable of farming to help, right? Isn’t this child a perfect fit? He just wants to learn martial arts anyway, so can’t you have the manor’s martial artists teach him? If that doesn’t work, he can come to me for lessons in his spare time.”

Qiu Tong’s eyes lit up and said it was a great idea.

Then Qiu Tong called Zhang Xiaohua over and carefully explained the situation to him, asking if he knew how to farm. Zhang Xiaohua naturally nodded and said yes. Farming was his main occupation before, how could he not know? What choice did Zhang Xiaohua have now? The Piaomiao Sect wouldn’t accept him, and the Lotus Escort Agency didn’t want him either. At least at Huanxi Villa, he could still practice martial arts, even if he had to farm. There was nothing wrong with that.

Moreover, when Qiu Tong mentioned that Huanxi Villa paid five taels of silver a month, he was even more delighted. Zhang Xiaohu, as a porter, earned only six taels a month. He could earn almost as much just by farming, without risking his life. How could he not be happy with such a huge salary?

The only downside was that he would be at Huanxi Villa, while his second brother would be at the Lotus Escort Agency, meaning they couldn’t be together all the time, which was a bit worrisome.

Zhang Xiaohu, who was listening nearby, asked Qiu Tong: “Where is Huanxi Villa?”

Qiu Tong smiled and said: “It’s right next to Piaomiao Manor. That’s why I said it was on the way when I offered to take you there this morning.”

Zhang Xiaohu turned to Zhang Xiaohua and said: “Xiaohua, you see, the escort agency isn’t far from Huanxi Villa. I’ll come visit you whenever I can. Staying there won’t be dangerous, so our parents can rest easy. In a few years, when you’re older, you can come join me at the agency.”

Hearing his second brother’s reassurance, Zhang Xiaohua agreed. Qiu Tong was also pleased. She had taken a liking to Zhang Xiaohua that morning, feeling a bond as if he were her little brother. Helping him now also fulfilled her own task, which was truly a win-win situation.

So, Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua parted ways at the escort agency. Sixth Master Li took Zhang Xiaohu to complete the paperwork and arrange his accommodations. Third Master Qu, having heard about Zhang Xiaohu’s performance during the test, instructed Sixth Master Li to pay extra attention to Zhang Xiaohu, as he might become a key figure in the escort agency in the future. This was an opportunity to foster a good relationship.

Meanwhile, Zhang Xiaohua, with his small bundle, followed Qiu Tong onto a carriage, heading once again towards the eastern outskirts of the city.