Xiao Qiaoniang was busy from the moment she woke.
She placed great importance on their visit to the Chen Family. Like any woman, she wanted to look her best, and she rummaged through her wardrobe in search of a decent outfit.
Unfortunately, her clothes had been worn for countless years, patched and re-patched. They could hardly be called presentable.
Bai Yuan sat by the stone stove, his face flushed red in the firelight.
He took out the silk scroll inscribed with the Tiger Form and Crane Style from within his robes.
This item was far too valuable; he absolutely couldn't keep it.
He had long since memorized the entire Tiger Form and Crane Style Cultivation Technique, so it made no difference whether he had the silk scroll or not.
The silk scroll was quickly devoured by the flames, turning to ash.
"Brother-in-law, we should be going."
Xiao Qiaoniang called out softly.
Bai Yuan turned to look, and his eyes lit up.
Xiao Qiaoniang had changed into a relatively well-fitting linen crossover jacket. Thanks to their improved meals, his sister-in-law's figure had grown much fuller and her curves more pronounced. The simple garment could do little to hide her beautiful body.
"Sister-in-law, you are so beautiful."
"Brother-in-law, you have no shame."
Flustered by Bai Yuan's sudden compliment, Xiao Qiaoniang turned and hurried out of the small wooden cabin, her heart pounding.
Bai Yuan picked up the pheasant from the corner of the room and followed her out, acting as if nothing had happened.
...
The Chen Family lived on the east side of Baisha Town.
The town wasn't large, so after about a fifteen-minute walk, Bai Yuan and Xiao Qiaoniang arrived at the Chen residence.
The Chen Family was naturally much better off than the shabby Bai Family.
But this was all relative; they certainly couldn't compare to the great families in the city.
The two-courtyard residence, while not huge, was by no means small.
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK...
Bai Yuan knocked on the door.
A child of only five or six years old opened it.
Bai Yuan recognized the little boy; he was the second son of Mrs. Liu of the Chen Family. His name, he recalled, was Hu Zi.
Hu Zi tilted his little head up and asked in a childish voice, "Ah Yuan, what are you doing here?"
Hu Zi had barely finished speaking when a woman's scolding voice rang out, "Is Ah Yuan someone you should be addressing by name? Call him Uncle Yuan."
The voice of Mrs. Liu of the Chen Family arrived before she did.
Hu Zi seemed terrified of his mother and called out resentfully.
"Uncle Yuan."
His predecessor's reputation in Baisha Town was so terrible that even a six-year-old child looked down on him.
Just as Hu Zi finished speaking, Mrs. Liu of the Chen Family appeared at the door.
With her was her husband, Chen the Third.
Chen the Third looked much like any other man in Baisha Town. His features were regular, and the only difference was that he dressed a bit more nicely.
All of Baisha Town gossiped that Chen the Third was a henpecked husband; otherwise, he would never let Mrs. Liu of the Chen Family show her face in public.
In those days, it was a disgrace to the family for a married woman to be out conducting business all day.
So, even though the Chen Family was quite prosperous, not many people in Baisha Town held them in high regard.
When Chen the Third saw Bai Yuan and Xiao Qiaoniang, he laughed heartily. "Ah Yuan, you're here! Quick, come in."
Bai Yuan's brow twitched. 'This Chen the Third doesn't seem as... spineless as the rumors suggest.'
"Third Brother, this is a pheasant I hunted yesterday. I hope you won't mind the humble gift."
He handed the pheasant to Chen the Third.
"Ah Yuan, you've come all this way. You didn't have to bring a gift."
Smiling, Chen the Third took the pheasant from Bai Yuan.
After they entered the house, Chen the Third and Bai Yuan went to the main hall, while Xiao Qiaoniang was pulled away to a side room by Mrs. Liu of the Chen Family.
Even though Mrs. Liu of the Chen Family had invited the Bai Family, once they were at the Chen residence, Chen the Third had to be the Chief Steward.
Otherwise, Mrs. Liu of the Chen Family would be drowned by the gossip of the Baisha Town villagers.
A woman, after all, was still a woman.
"Ah Yuan, when did you learn how to hunt?"
Chen the Third asked curiously.
Bai Yuan chuckled. "Circumstances forced me to. I've been learning for a little over a month."
Chen the Third was inwardly startled.
There were many Hunters in Baisha Town, and he was familiar with a few. He knew that hunting was no easy task. For Bai Yuan to gain such skill in just one short month was truly remarkable.
Chen the Third began to think about befriending him.
Although Hunters spent their days fighting beasts in the mountains and lived a precarious existence, they also developed formidable skills.
None of them were to be trifled with, and befriending a skilled Hunter could only be beneficial.
With both men intent on building a closer relationship, their conversation naturally grew more animated.
Chen the Third immediately brought out some fine wine he had treasured for many years.
Bai Yuan had been fond of a drink in his previous life, so he naturally didn't refuse.
The alcohol in this era was mostly home-brewed yellow or rice wine, much milder than the high-proof spirits he was used to in his past life.
Having been tested by 53% ABV liquor, Bai Yuan was naturally unfazed.
After a few cups, they were soon calling each other brother.
Just as the two were enjoying their drinks, Mrs. Liu of the Chen Family walked into the main hall with Xiao Qiaoniang.
Mrs. Liu of the Chen Family shot her husband a displeased glare.
She wasn't angry that Chen the Third was drinking. She was annoyed that Bai Yuan was still sitting there perfectly fine, while her husband was already bleary-eyed and slurring his words.
"Please excuse the sight."
Mrs. Liu of the Chen Family called for Chen the Third's two older brothers, and with great effort, they managed to carry the drunken Chen the Third away.
After tidying up, Mrs. Liu of the Chen Family finally said apologetically to Bai Yuan:
"Ah Yuan, that good-for-nothing husband of mine has a terrible tolerance for alcohol. We've been poor hosts."
Bai Yuan smiled and waved his hand. "Is Third Brother alright?"
Mrs. Liu of the Chen Family couldn't help but glare again in the direction of Chen the Third's room. "He's fine. He'll be fine after he sleeps it off."
"In that case, we won't trouble you any further."
With Chen the Third gone, Bai Yuan had no intention of staying behind to be alone with Mrs. Liu; that would only give the town gossips an opportunity they'd seize upon.
Mrs. Liu of the Chen Family understood this as well, and so did not press him to stay.
Just as Bai Yuan was about to leave with Xiao Qiaoniang, Mrs. Liu of the Chen Family spoke up and stopped him.
"Ah Yuan, I hear you want to join a Martial Arts Hall, and you're short nine hundred copper coins?"
"If you don't mind, I have some spare money here. I can lend it to you for now, and you can pay me back slowly over time."
Mrs. Liu of the Chen Family took out a string of copper coins from her sleeve.
Bai Yuan knew. 'It had to be Xiao Qiaoniang who said something to Mrs. Liu.'
Although he could have scraped together the tuition for the Martial Arts Hall in a few more days, he had already incurred a debt of gratitude, so he accepted the offer without hesitation.
The concept of favors was simply a matter of give and take. You borrow money, and you pay it back. It could even strengthen the bond between their two families.
A pleased expression appeared on Mrs. Liu's face when she saw Bai Yuan accept the copper coins.
Ever since Bai Yuan had entered the house, she had been observing him secretly.
'She felt that Bai Yuan was a promising prospect, one worth investing in.'
If the young man before her could truly make a name for himself at the Martial Arts Hall, then her nine hundred copper coins would be a massive gain, even if he never paid her back.
Baisha Town hadn't produced a Martial Artist in many years.
Mrs. Liu of the Chen Family had much contact with the wives of the city's great families. She knew that the true power in this world was held in the hands of powerful Martial Artists.
Why were the three major powers of Qinghe County so brazen?
It was simply because they had enough powerful experts.
If she could obtain the protection of a Martial Artist, the Chen Family's business would surely become even more prosperous.
Mrs. Liu of the Chen Family found herself looking forward to the day Bai Yuan would become a Martial Artist.
Even if such a hope was incredibly slim...