Chapter 23

Chen Sheng had practiced sword techniques for several years, and his unarmed martial skills were also not bad. Despite his chubby appearance, he was quite strong. The problem was that at this age, his martial skills and strength might not match Shi Manqiang's instincts and strength.

Shi Manqiang had worked in the blacksmith's shop, which had built up his strength. Moreover, although the Shi family was much poorer than the Chen and Zhao families, they could still afford to feed their children three meals a day. This ensured that Shi Manqiang had good strength and reflexes, and he was also full of energy. He and Chen Sheng both entered the finals, and the process was simple: he withstood a few punches from Chen Sheng. When Chen Sheng tried to tackle him, Shi Manqiang lifted Chen Sheng up and threw him out.

Zhao Jin nodded in agreement, and even Zhao Zhentang and Zhao Zhenxing were captivated by the story. Zhao Zhenxing, who had watched the process, was also surprised by the outcome, his face showing astonishment.

The blacksmith, Shi, was speechless. Even without anyone saying anything, he could tell from everyone's expressions that his son had not lied.

"Uncle Shi, Shi Manqiang didn't lie. The prizes Chen Sheng and I offered were that the winner would get those snacks," Zhao Jin said finally.

Shi was taken aback and waved his hands, saying, "How can I accept that? Those snacks cost a lot of money."

Zhao Zhentang, however, was a bit impatient and said casually, "It's a small matter, not like they were stolen or anything."

Shi quickly nodded and bowed politely before leaving with Shi Manqiang. As Zhao Zhentang stepped over the threshold, he remembered something and called out, "Those snacks were won by the kids. Let them eat them directly. Don't hoard them; they'll go bad."

Hearing this, Zhao Jin almost laughed. His father truly understood the situation. If he hadn't said anything, those snacks might have been saved for "useful" times, and the kids wouldn't have gotten to eat them.

Shi's body stiffened, and he coughed, smiling awkwardly as he turned back and said, "I know, I know."

The three men of the Zhao family walked into the courtyard, still hearing the voices of the Shi father and son outside: "You little troublemaker, you were even thinking about your younger brother and sister."

Zhao Zhentang chuckled and teased, "Chen Wu was boasting to me this afternoon, saying his son would definitely win the competition. He said he wouldn't have to give up any snacks and would even bring some home. He also said he would beat little Jin and go to work tomorrow. I'll have a good laugh at him."

Zhao Zhenxing smiled and patted Zhao Jin's head, saying, "That Chen boy was overconfident. At their age, martial arts training isn't very useful in a fight."

The two brothers continued walking, and Zhao Zhentang became more interested, laughing and saying, "That's right. The key is to have the heart. We two brothers knocked down so many people back then, and some of them had been practicing martial arts since childhood."

Zhao Jin listened with great interest, amazed by his father and uncle's past exploits.

At the dinner table, He Cuihua muttered a few times about Zhao Jin wasting good things, but Zhao Zhentang glared at her, and Zhao Zhenxing smiled, saying it was good for little Jin to make more friends. The conversation didn't continue.

During dinner, not much was said about Zhao Jin's competition, as the adults saw it as just a children's game, regardless of the outcome.

Zhao Zhentang, as usual, warmed a small pot of wine and, after a few cups, started talking more.

"Things are much better in Pizhou now. The Jia River has opened, and people and goods traveling south and north all go that way. Our Xuzhou is getting worse every day, and the tribute money is decreasing. If it weren't for my job, life would be really hard. Not only do I work hard every day, but I also have a lot of trouble. Today, the clerk assigned me a task, saying a big official from the capital has retired and is coming back to live. He wants us to clear the area. I don't understand why he didn't stay in the capital or move to Jiangnan. Why come back to this broken place in Xuzhou, which is flooded by the Yellow River every few years..."

When he went to bed, Zhao Jin combined his memories with what he had seen and heard over the past few days, finally understanding the significance of the Jia River for Xuzhou.

In the past, the Grand Canal passed through Xuzhou, making it a hub connecting the Yellow River and the canal, a key point between the north and south. People and goods gathered here, making it very prosperous. However, due to the Yellow River's flooding, which affected the canal's navigation, a new river was built about a hundred miles from Xuzhou a few years ago, connecting the Jia River and the canal. After its completion, the canal was reopened, but it no longer passed through Xuzhou.

Without the travelers, merchants, and goods from the north and south, Xuzhou naturally declined. This was the common complaint: "The opening of the Jia River has ruined Xuzhou's market."

Moreover, the Yellow River, which bordered Xuzhou, was a major problem, almost unsolvable in this era. Every few years, there were breaches and floods, often inundating both inside and outside the city. In the past, after being flooded, Xuzhou quickly recovered because it was a prosperous hub. Now, it's uncertain...

Since he started recalling, Zhao Jin had been sleeping poorly every night. The memories caused him great pain, and his mind was filled with a jumble of thoughts. The worst part was that he could only keep them in his head, unable to write them down. Although Zhao Jin had attended a private school, and the Zhao family had the necessary writing materials, he didn't dare leave any written records at home for fear of causing trouble.

Over the past two days, Zhao Jin had finally come up with a plan. His uncle Zhao Zhenxing managed several shops, and a few rooms were always empty, filled with various items. These rooms could be used for storage.

The next morning, Zhao Jin still had bloodshot eyes. He Cuihua thought it was because he woke up too early and complained a bit but didn't say much more.

Before leaving, seeing the overcast sky, He Cuihua gave Zhao Jin an extra piece of clothing and found a blouse for Mu Shulan, telling her not to go out in the snow and to wait for the adults to come and get her.

Zhao Jin was a bit puzzled, thinking it was only early October, which would be late October or early November in the Gregorian calendar. Xuzhou usually didn't get snow this early, but the weather indeed felt like early winter in the north, very cold.

On the way, Mu Shulan was much more talkative than before, chattering away. The little girl watched Zhao Jin's expressions closely, and whenever her words made him smile, she would also be delighted.

Zhao Jin told her that Shi Manqiang had won first place yesterday, which surprised the little girl. Mu Shulan had also thought Chen Sheng would win.

Today's martial arts practice had a change. Before practicing the horse stance, Zhao Zhenxing called Zhao Jin over and had him punch him.

"You need to watch the opponent's shoulders; shoulder movement indicates hand movement. For the legs and feet, watch their waist. You also need to focus on their eyes to see what they plan to do next."

"Keep your fist flat, with the four fingers aligned, and don't let the thumb stick out. Aim for the chin, chest, and ribs."

As Zhao Zhenxing demonstrated and gave pointers, Zhao Jin practiced for about half an hour before being sent back to practice the horse stance.

This guidance was very beneficial to Zhao Jin. Zhao Zhenxing's advice was practical, based on real combat experience and insights. Some of the techniques Zhao Jin had been using instinctively, having accumulated a lot of experience from single and group fights. When these techniques were explained, they became clearer and more effective.

Zhao Jin understood that his uncle was teaching him practical fighting skills. He was happy because, after seeing the competition at the cargo yard, his uncle Zhao Zhenxing didn't think it was frivolous but saw it as beneficial for martial arts training.

Otherwise, with his uncle Zhao Zhenxing's character, he would have insisted that Zhao Jin focus on martial arts and not engage in such nonsense.

By lunchtime, the sky was less overcast, but the wind had picked up, and the weather was colder. Today, Zhao Zhenxing went back to eat with Zhao Jin and the others.

Zhao Jin ate quickly. Despite his mature mindset, he felt very excited about the competition at the cargo yard, a natural instinct for boys and even men to compete and determine their ranks.

Before they finished eating, Chen Sheng and his brother arrived, accompanied by the family servant who had brought the snacks yesterday, carrying a food box this time.

Seeing the servant, Zhao Zhentang and Zhao Zhenxing greeted him. The servant found a place to sit, close to the monkey's wooden frame. Zhao Jin thought the monkey would make noise or even attack, but it remained quiet.

"Chen Zhaocai could have found a job in the government if he wanted to, but he had been serving Chen Peng for a long time and didn't want to leave, so he became a steward," Zhao Zhentang said softly, explaining to He Cuihua.