"I'm back."

At dusk, Jiang Ping opened the door with a candied hawthorn in hand.

His face was weary, and sweat dripped from his strong, tanned arms.

Clink, clink.

But the jingling of coins in his pocket gave him a sense of reassurance.

"If I hold on a bit longer, I should be able to save enough for the martial hall's tuition," Jiang Ping muttered to himself, touching his pocket.

The tuition for the martial halls in Yangcheng City was twelve taels of silver a year. After working for six years, he had saved over eight taels.

He was still short, but his work was improving, and he was at his peak, earning over ten wen a day. In about a year, he could start learning martial arts.

Thinking of this, Jiang Ping was filled with anticipation.

But today, the house was unusually quiet.

Usually, upon hearing the door open, his six-year-old sister would come bouncing out to greet him.

At this time, his father should be chopping wood in the yard, and smoke should be rising from the kitchen where his mother was cooking.

"Is no one home?"

Jiang Ping murmured softly, stepping over the threshold into the inner courtyard.

He found his family sitting neatly at the dining table in the main hall across the yard, even his often-absent good-for-nothing brother was back.

No wonder his sister didn't come out to greet him; she was busy gnawing on a big chicken leg, her mouth greasy, uninterested in the candied hawthorn in his hand.

He saw the table laden with a sumptuous meal, with several meat dishes.

Jiang Ping found it strange.

The Jiang Family had once been prosperous, leaving behind this large courtyard, but the wealth had long been squandered by his grandfather's generation.

Otherwise, why would he have started doing hard labor at sixteen to save for martial hall tuition, working for six years?

The Jiang Family usually lived frugally, having meat once every seven or eight days, but today's meal was overly lavish.

"Could it be they've hired a matchmaker to arrange a marriage for me?"

Jiang Ping wondered. As the eldest son, at twenty-two, by the traditions of this world, he should have been married by now.

But he had been delaying for the sake of learning martial arts, though his parents were anxious, hinting several times recently about hiring a matchmaker for him.

"Big brother!"

His sister, who was devouring a chicken leg, finally noticed Jiang Ping outside and called out happily.

He thought his sister would be delighted to see the candied hawthorn, but she just glanced at it before burying her face back into the meat.

The eldest brother felt 'heartbroken'; he had specially spent money on that big string of candied hawthorn, and it seemed not even worth a running hug.

Jiang Ping walked into the hall, about to ask his parents, who hadn't touched their chopsticks, when his father, Jiang Fu, spoke first:

"Go, wash up and change before coming to eat. We have something to discuss with you."

"Big brother, it's great news."

At this moment, his lazy, good-for-nothing brother Jiang An started moving his chopsticks and smiled.

"What good news?"

Jiang Ping was curious. Could it really be about arranging a marriage?

Pondering, he sat at the table and picked up a piece of meat to eat.

Joking aside, with a table full of meat dishes, why wash up first? Eat now.

"Big brother, you know Chen Weimin, right?"

Jiang Ping glanced at his brother, feeling a bit puzzled, and then nodded slightly.

Chen Weimin, the Martial Instructor at Yangcheng Jidao Martial Arts School, an 8th-Rank Martial Artist.

Having crossed over, his greatest wish was to learn martial arts, so he had detailed knowledge of the martial teachers and instructors at Yangcheng's martial halls, knowing them like the back of his hand, even their preferences for visiting brothels.

So.

"What about him?" Jiang Ping asked.

Jiang An excitedly recounted.

It turned out that this morning, his brother coincidentally had breakfast with the martial instructor at a bun shop. They chatted a bit, and then Chen Weimin glanced at Jiang An, touched his bones slightly, and declared that Jiang An could practice martial arts.

"You're not trying to scam money again, are you?"

Jiang Ping caught the implication in his brother's words: he wanted to practice martial arts.

But he was skeptical, given Jiang An's 'record' of scamming money from their parents for drinking and even stealing his silver.

Of course, Jiang An had been beaten for that.

Hearing this, Jiang An's face flushed, and he defended, "Big brother, this time it's true. The bun shop owner and several patrons can testify."

"You even found witnesses?" Jiang Ping raised an eyebrow.

"......" Jiang An, dissatisfied, retorted, "If you don't believe me, you can ask Master Chen. Heaven and earth can bear witness; this time, I truly plan to practice martial arts, become a martial artist, and restore the Jiang Family's glory."

"Don't forget to tell our ancestors at the family shrine."

"......" Jiang An was speechless, then chuckled softly, "Once I train at Jidao Martial Hall for a while, it will naturally become clear."

"Hmm?" Jiang Ping was stunned.

He sensed something was off and asked directly, "You haven't already enrolled, have you?"

Jiang An looked smug and nodded, "Didn't expect it, did you? I started martial arts before you, big brother."

Jiang Ping's expression froze.

Enrolling meant what? It meant Jiang An had already paid the tuition and officially became an apprentice at Jidao Martial Hall.

"Where did you get the silver?" Jiang Ping blurted out, seeing his brother instinctively glance at their parents, and he immediately understood.

He finally realized why there was such a lavish meal today; it was to celebrate his brother's enrollment in the martial hall.

This was the great news Jiang An was talking about.

"Father, did you really believe Jiang An's nonsense and spend so much silver to send him to the martial hall?"

Jiang Ping couldn't help but question.

"I confirmed with Master Chen; An'er isn't lying. If he truly succeeds, our lives might improve," Jiang Fu's words made Jiang Ping pause, and the food in his mouth lost its flavor.

To say he wasn't jealous would be a lie; this was something he had longed for.

But.

He took a deep breath and asked his final doubt, "Where did you get so much silver?"

He knew the family's situation.

The Jiang Family had a large courtyard but nothing of value. His parents ran small businesses to raise their three children, and with Jiang An's mischief, repeatedly scamming his parents for money, the family was already broke.

Wait!

Jiang Ping's expression changed. He immediately left the hall and went to his room.

Moments later, he returned to the hall, eyes red, holding an empty cloth bag.

Inside, there should have been the silver he had saved for six years.

"Did you use my money to pay Jiang An's tuition?" Jiang Ping's voice trembled.

"We were short, so we had to use yours as an advance. Once An'er succeeds..." His mother Zhang Yun's words were cut off:

"That was my money!"

Jiang Ping couldn't help but shout in anger.

The money he had painstakingly saved from six years of hard work had become someone else's dowry in a day.

It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from "pawread.com".

And it wasn't just about the silver; it was about time, about his future!

He had already learned that the golden age for martial arts training was before thirty. After thirty, the body's blood qi gradually declined, making martial arts training much less effective.

And he was already twenty-two; in a year, he could have started martial arts with seven golden years left.

But now, years of effort were wasted. If he wanted to pursue martial arts again, the timing would be significantly delayed. How much optimal training time would he have left?

How could Jiang Ping not be furious?

The Dali Dynasty was founded on martial strength, with a strong martial culture. Practicing martial arts was the best way to change one's life.

But now, his closest kin had almost personally severed his future!

"It's just a few taels of silver. Do you have to be so stingy? Once I succeed in martial arts, I'll repay you double!"

Jiang An was displeased with his brother's attitude.

He had been declared by a martial teacher to have the potential for martial arts and was destined for success.

This should be joyous news for the whole family, so how could it turn into a confrontation?

Hearing this, Jiang Ping laughed in anger and coldly retorted:

"Whether you succeed or not has nothing to do with me. I want my money, my..."

"Enough!"

At this moment, Jiang Fu slammed the table and said sternly:

"What's wrong with your money? Can't it be used? You know the family's situation. Now that An'er has the potential for martial arts, as his elder brother, can't you support him a bit? Once he succeeds, he can naturally repay you."

"If Jiang An truly has potential, I wouldn't mind supporting him."

"But you used my money, the silver I saved through six years of hard work, without even discussing it with me." Jiang Ping laughed bitterly.

"Discuss what?" Jiang Fu scolded:

"I raised you, fed and clothed you well, and now I use some of your silver, and you have such a big opinion. You're just an ungrateful wolf."

"But you didn't ask for my consent when you gave birth to me."

"......" Jiang Fu.

"I've wanted to practice martial arts for six years, worked hard for six years. You've seen it, but never thought to support me with silver. Yet, at an outsider's word, you emptied the family savings."

"How is that the same?"

Jiang Fu retorted again, "Even if you practice martial arts, you might not succeed, wasting silver. An'er is different."

Jiang Ping's expression froze, his heart cold, looking at his always honest father as if seeing him for the first time.

He had no more words to say.

What else could he say? When they used his hard-earned money, they didn't consider his feelings, showed no guilt, and now even blamed him.

"Enough, stop arguing. Sit down and eat. Once An'er succeeds, he'll surely repay the silver. I promise you," Zhang Yun stood up, trying to guide her eldest son to his seat.

Jiang Ping looked at this elderly woman.

He suddenly remembered that whenever he had a significant expense outside, once his parents knew, he would endure days or even half a month of nagging and scolding, accused of wasting money.

But this pampered, useless brother's thefts and troubles were met with only mild rebukes, even if he never learned, they were willing to borrow money to settle his issues.

Indeed, this bowl of water had never been truly balanced.

Jiang Ping had previously focused on earning money, on practicing martial arts, ignoring these small matters. Now he saw it all clearly.

He mocked himself, then turned to leave, as if making a firm decision.

"Aren't you eating? You work so hard every day; not eating will harm your body," Zhang Yun said to his back, her eyes filled with some heartache.

Jiang Ping didn't respond. Jiang Fu snorted coldly, "Let him starve if he won't eat."

"I'll keep my word. Once I succeed in martial arts and earn big money, I'll repay you double or quadruple!" Jiang An shouted at his brother's back, his tone defiant.

After a while.

Jiang Ping returned to the hall, now carrying a bundle.

"What, are you planning to run away from home?" Jiang Fu sneered at the sight.

Jiang Ping didn't answer. He looked at the four eating at the table, took out a small knife, cut a lock of his long hair, and threw it to the ground, saying coldly:

"When I went out to earn money at sixteen, I often supplemented the household expenses. Adding those eight taels of silver, I've repaid the debt of birth and upbringing."

"From now on, you walk your path, I'll walk mine. We have nothing more to do with each other!"

The body and hair, received from one's parents, Jiang Ping cutting his hair to show his resolve, showed how disappointed he was inside.

With that, he turned again, but this time was stopped by small hands.

"Big brother, I don't want you to go!"

His sister Jiang Xiaoxi hugged Jiang Ping's leg, her eyes brimming with tears.

Though young, she understood her brother's words, and her heart was filled with reluctance.

Usually, it was her big brother who spoiled her the most.

But Jiang Ping was too angry to be stopped.

He gently moved his sister aside, gave his parents and useless brother one last look, and sneered:

"I've always yearned for the Martial Dao, and I know a lot about it. But I've never heard of martial artists judging someone's potential by bone reading, not even in Yangcheng."

"Well, I wish you success!"

With that, Jiang Ping walked towards the courtyard gate.

"Come back, son. I still have silver. I'll give it all to you, just don't leave," Zhang Yun called out, feeling some regret.

But Jiang Ping showed no reaction. Instead, Jiang An became anxious, whispering:

"Mother, that's for my marriage. Didn't we agree?"

"We've already arranged with the in-laws; that silver can't be touched."

Jiang Fu added, making Jiang An breathe a sigh of relief.

By this time, Jiang Ping had disappeared.

Zhang Yun paused, sighed, and sat back down, with only the sound of the little girl's growing sobs.