Chapter 12

The boys were all willing to learn martial arts, filled with fantasies before they started, but after enduring the hardships, not all of them could persist. Zhao Zhenxing asked this question as a test. If Zhao Jin had changed his mind at this point, Zhao Zhenxing would have lectured him to continue.

"I will persist in practicing!" Zhao Jin answered resolutely. Because his voice was a bit loud, he inhaled a cold breath, not knowing where it hurt.

Zhao Zhenxing was taken aback, the moral lessons he had prepared were stuck in his throat, and then he smiled.

With Xiao Lan's help, the food was quickly laid out on the table. A pot of mutton soup, a basket of baked pancakes, and a few pickled vegetables, the aroma was inviting, and it looked very abundant.

"There's no need to wait for your father, you can start eating." Seeing her son's exhausted and miserable appearance, He Cuihua said with concern.

Coincidentally, just as she said this, they heard the door outside, and Zhao Zhentang strode in. Seeing Zhao Jin sitting there with a pained expression, Zhao Zhentang couldn't help but shake his head and smile. But when he saw Mu Shulan, his expression turned cold. The little girl, however, was very polite and greeted him.

If it were a child, they wouldn't notice the subtle changes in the adults' emotions, but Zhao Jin was different. He paid attention to his surroundings at all times, observing the details.

Seeing this, Zhao Jin recalled past events, vaguely remembering that when Mu Shulan's family came here, He Cuihua had enthusiastically helped them find a place to live. He Cuihua also liked the little girl and often invited her over for meals. Mu Shulan's family was always busy and didn't have time to take care of her, so they entrusted her to the Zhao family, paying some silver or sending some specialties as a token of appreciation. Everyone benefited.

However, Zhao Zhentang seemed to have a grudge against Mu Shulan's family. He had even said to He Cuihua in private, which Zhao Jin overheard, "Why do you associate with them? Aren't you afraid of being implicated?" "What harm can a little girl do? Besides, so many people are involved, from top to bottom. Our small family won't be involved!"

At the time, Zhao Jin didn't understand this conversation, and he still couldn't figure it out now. But he knew there must be a reason, otherwise, his father wouldn't be so cautious.

Mu Shulan didn't notice Zhao Zhentang's cold expression. After Zhao Zhentang, Zhao Zhenxing, and He Cuihua sat down in order, she and Zhao Jin sat at the lower end of the table.

"Brother, Sister-in-law, Xiao Jin should really practice martial arts; he's a good seedling!" As soon as he sat down, Zhao Zhenxing praised him. Many of Zhao Jin's performances in the morning had surprised him, which was a pleasant surprise.

Zhao Zhentang tore a piece of baked pancake and said irritably, "Generation after generation practices, of course, he's a good seedling, but what's the use of practicing well? Eat, eat!"

Zhao Zhenxing smiled and didn't respond, but Zhao Jin understood something. From the way the knife cut the wooden post, he knew his father had a martial arts foundation, and his uncle even more so. In such a military household, with generations practicing martial arts, the inherited physical fitness was likely similar, and his chances of success were much greater than those of ordinary people. Choosing this path was indeed the right decision.

The little girl was already familiar with the Zhao family and wasn't afraid at all. She even took the initiative to serve Zhao Jin food and pancakes, which made Zhao Jin feel very uncomfortable, but this action made the adults in the Zhao family very happy, and even Zhao Zhentang's face showed a smile.

"Sister-in-law, Xiao Jin should practice martial arts. He can't skimp on food. You should often stew meat and make soup for him, otherwise, his body won't keep up." Zhao Zhenxing said solemnly.

He Cuihua watched Zhao Jin eating heartily and smiled, "This child usually eats little, but he eats well after practicing martial arts."

"If it weren't for my job, I would have been impoverished by this kid!" Zhao Zhentang always had nothing good to say about Zhao Jin practicing martial arts, but he didn't say much more.

After eating, the food made Zhao Jin drowsy, and with the fatigue from the morning, his eyelids started to droop. In the past, He Cuihua would have urged him to take a nap, but Uncle Zhao Zhenxing didn't agree, telling Zhao Jin to walk slowly on the street to aid digestion and not to sit down.

He Cuihua looked at Zhao Jin with concern, and even Zhao Zhentang stared at him. From his expression, if Zhao Jin complained, he would immediately stop him. However, Zhao Jin didn't object, finished the last sip of soup, and supported himself to leave the chair, going out with the little girl.

Since he was learning martial arts, he would persist. Zhao Jin was very clear about this. Walking to the courtyard, he could hear the discussion behind him, "This child is so young, do you really think she can be your daughter-in-law..." "It's better to have her here, her parents are always out, and such a good little girl is easily targeted by kidnappers..."

His parents were truly kind-hearted, Zhao Jin thought as he walked. Mu Shulan wasn't a beauty, not倾国倾城, but such a fair and delicate girl was rare. With no one at home to take care of her, those with ill intentions would definitely target her.

In the previous life, child trafficking had harmed countless families. In this era, where human traffickers were legal, the trafficking of children would be even more rampant.

The novelty of the morning was gone, and the afternoon training was even more arduous. The time for standing in a horse stance was shorter, but the time for lifting wooden boxes was longer. Zhao Jin was drenched in sweat.

This monotonous training, the little girl followed all the way, though she might not be really interested. In the afternoon, Mu Shulan yawned a few times and kept rubbing her eyes.

Although Zhao Zhenxing thought his nephew had good perseverance, having someone else around was always a distraction. He once said, "Xiao Lan, Xiao Jin still has a long time to practice. You should go back to sleep!"

The little girl shook her head vigorously and said hurriedly, "My father said I must follow Xiao Jin and not wander around alone."

Hearing this, everyone understood. It seemed that Mu Shulan's father was also afraid that she would be kidnapped or something if left alone, so he had her follow Zhao Jin. Since Zhao Jin was always at home and under adult supervision, it was as if Mu Shulan was also being supervised.

Since that was the case, Zhao Zhenxing didn't insist and let Mu Shulan go back to sleep.

After sleeping for more than half an hour, Mu Shulan came out of the room, looking much more energetic, and watched Zhao Jin practice with a smile.

At this moment, Zhao Jin could no longer pay attention to so much, only gritting his teeth to hold on, hoping to complete the day's training.

Determination and perseverance were enough, but physical strength was ultimately limited. When the sun set behind the city wall, Zhao Jin could no longer hold the horse stance and fell to the ground, startling Mu Shulan, who quickly went to help him up.

Seeing this, Zhao Zhenxing stood up, went back to the house, and brought out a gourd, handing it to Zhao Jin and saying, "Drink, take small sips, don't drink too quickly."

Zhao Jin pulled out the stopper from the gourd, took a small sip, and found it was salt water. He didn't expect that people practicing martial arts in this era knew to replenish salt.

"Today's practice ends here. Have your father loosen your muscles tonight, and come back at the same time tomorrow." Zhao Zhenxing gave a few instructions.

Today, Zhao Zhenxing had prepared many things to say. If his nephew was afraid of hardship, if he didn't want to persist, if he cried, Zhao Zhenxing had corresponding methods and moral lessons. But he didn't expect Zhao Jin to grit his teeth and persist, which left him feeling somewhat helpless.

Zhao Jin and Mu Shulan walked out of the gate, and Zhao Zhenxing tidied up the courtyard. Just as he was about to prepare dinner, he remembered Mu Shulan's words and followed the two children from a distance.

After a day of training, the body was not just sore but had no feeling at all. Zhao Jin felt his arms and legs were not his own, unable to control them, and his steps were unsteady. If it weren't for Mu Shulan's support, he would have fallen long ago. In this state, they didn't notice Zhao Zhenxing following them.

Walking out of the street, the pedestrians increased. Seeing Zhao Jin's state, people were a bit curious, but no one meddled. Instead, many people looked at the fair and beautiful Mu Shulan, and Zhao Jin even heard someone whisper, "Whose child is this, so fair and outstanding."

Just then, someone shouted from the other end of the street, "Zhao Jin," and the two children ran over, which turned out to be the brothers Chen Sheng and Chen Hong.