Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Chapter 343: Chapter 108: Zhao Canghe: Lord Jiang, Do You Want to Hold an Ancestral Rite?

Linhu Village!

Autumn is crisp and refreshing!

In the past, the children of the village would follow their elders to the lake for fishing and play in the water, creating a lively atmosphere.

On the open ground of Linhu Village, groups of young boys are now standing there practicing horse stance and post exercises.

”This won’t do; if you can’t endure this bit of hardship, how will you compete with others when you enter the Martial Arts Hall?”

Gu Fei walked past each of these young boys, correcting those with improper posture with a series of verbal admonitions, while two middle-aged men sat on chairs at the front.

These two men had walked out from Linhu Village as martial artists, though only in the Opening Acupoints Realm, yet teaching the youths of Linhu Village, providing basic martial path training before entering the Martial Arts Hall, was more than sufficient.

In the town, these two worked as guards at escort agencies, earning ten taels of silver annually, but when back in Linhu Village, the village only provided three taels of silver coins, yet they had no complaints.

Not only because of their affection for the village, but also because Linhu Village has changed significantly.

Linhu Village has now become the most vibrant place within ten miles, with countless matchmakers visiting daily, introducing young boys of Linhu Village to potential brides, many of whom come from well-off families.

Faced with this situation, the heads of households in Linhu Village find it hard not to be tempted, but Zhao Canghe has made it clear that children in Linhu Village cannot marry before the age of seventeen, not even to be engaged.

All children in the village who wish to practice martial arts can come to the ancestral hall, where meals are prepared daily by the village, with meat and rice in abundance.

Aside from martial arts practice, the children are required to allocate a two-hour session daily to read and practice writing.

This latter suggestion was proposed by Lin Chen.

Knowing that the village chief funded the initiative to prepare the village’s youths by honing their bodies early, Lin Chen offered this suggestion.

In Liang, there is no civil path examination, but reading can enlighten one’s mind and broaden one’s knowledge.

While the young ones were practicing martial arts, a carriage also entered the village and halted nearby.

Seeing a carriage entering the village, the boys were intrigued, secretly glancing over, as many distinguished guests had visited Linhu Village lately, but carriage visitors were rare.

Most Liang nobility are martial artists, typically riding horses, with carriages mainly used for transporting goods or for ladies and family members.

”Who is this, coming into the village with a carriage? Could they be here to see Lin Chen? I will try to persuade them to leave.”

Gu Fei noticed the carriage stop nearby, muttering to himself; the village chief had instructed yesterday that no outsiders were allowed in the village as Lin Chen was in seclusion for martial training and must not be disturbed.

”Don’t... don’t be rash!”

The two middle-aged men sitting in the chairs looked at the man guiding the carriage from a tall horse, rubbed their eyes in disbelief, and exchanged glances before suddenly standing up as if their seats were on fire.

”Lord Jiang... am I seeing this correctly?”

”No... it can’t be wrong, Lord Jiang’s appearance hasn’t changed.”

The two middle-aged men whispered to each other softly, assuring themselves they hadn’t mistaken the person, their expressions turned excited as they hurriedly ran over.

”Lord Jiang?”

Gu Fei mumbled in confusion, but then realized something, his eyes narrowing sharply before his eyes widened in disbelief; could it really be that Lord Jiang?

There are many with the surname Jiang, but the one related to Linhu Village is only one, a figure most revered and admired by the current youth generation of the village.

They grew up listening to the elders recount the deeds of this Lord Jiang.

”Lord Jiang?”

The two middle-aged men rushed to the front of the carriage, one opening with a greeting, though it carried a touch of uncertainty.

”Are you Zheng Xuan?”

”Does Lord Jiang still remember me?”

Zheng Xuan was overwhelmed with emotion, amazed that after so many years, Lord Jiang still remembered him.

Seeing Zheng Xuan’s excitement, Jiang Duanchao’s mouth twitched slightly; how could he not remember?

Back then, this fellow often bullied him in the village.

Upon seeing Zheng Xuan, Jiang Duanchao initially thought he might want to give him a blow, but he found himself no longer holding any resentment, only a slight awkwardness, while memories of his youthful days in Linhu Village flooded his mind.

”Lord Jiang, please wait a moment, I’ll go and inform the village chief immediately.”

Beside him, Teng Xing greeted briefly then hurriedly ran off; being four years older than Jiang, he hadn’t spent much time interacting with him in the village and wasn’t particularly familiar, believing it was more suitable for Zheng Xuan to accompany Lord Jiang while he informed the village chief and Lin Chen.

”Village chief, village chief...”

From afar, Teng Xing shouted loudly, and Zhao Canghe apologized to Jia Nanzhu and Liu Ru: ”My Lords, there might be something going on in the village, I need to handle it.”

”Teng Xing, what’s the matter?”

”Lord Jiang... Lord Jiang has returned to the village.”

”Lord Jiang?”

Zhao Canghe was stunned; Jiang Duanchao has returned to the village?

A few feet away, Jia Nanzhu and Liu Ru listened to Zhao Canghe and Teng Xing’s conversation crystal clear.

”Junior Brother Liu, is your Canglan Martial Arts Academy acting so fast?”

Jiang Duanchao is a martial artist from Jiangnan Dao and was quite outstanding during his time at the Martial Hall; he was already in the Military Affairs Hall back then, well acquainted with Jiang Duanchao’s circumstances, knowing he hailed from Canglan Martial Arts Academy.

At this point in time, Jiang Duanchao choosing to return to Linhu Village, it would be impossible not to have the influence of Canglan Martial Arts Academy behind it.