Chapter 29 of 100
Chapter 29
15 min read3,642 words
If a few days ago, Sun Dalei had done this, Zhao Jin would definitely have stopped him, but now it didn't matter. It was good to share the burden and make his purpose less obvious. Zhao Jin thought this to himself, smiled, greeted them, and turned to leave.
However, as he turned, he saw a man and a woman escorting Mu Shulan. Both were in their forties, wearing bulky cotton coats, and looked well-fed, like a family of moderate means in the city. But these two were probably not Mu Shulan's elders, as they were very respectful to the little girl, who, in turn, was quite domineering and not in a good mood.
In Zhao Jin's memory, Mu Shulan was a well-behaved and sensible girl. He was surprised to see her acting so imperiously. As he was lost in thought, Mu Shulan waved at the two people, who bowed and left with smiles. The little girl turned around, and as soon as she saw Zhao Jin, a sweet smile appeared on her face. She ran over and said, "Brother Xiaojin, learning these days is so boring. Watching the martial arts contests is much more fun."
She really had a child's heart. As Zhao Jin sighed, he suddenly realized something. The little girl was picked up and dropped off by her father every day. From their clothing and appearance, he had assumed they were a middle-class family. But from today's scene, it seemed more complicated. A family with servants couldn't be too bad. Thinking about his father and uncle's attitudes, the little girl's background was not simple.
Of course, Mu Shulan didn't know that Zhao Jin had so many thoughts in such a short time. She giggled and held Zhao Jin's hand, walking with him to the training ground. Zhao Jin gradually got used to this intimacy, while the little girl found it completely natural.
Men and women should not be too close, and there were strict rules about this. Although Zhao Jin and Mu Shulan were very young, their closeness was still quite noticeable. A new boy laughed and said, "Young couple, what a pretty little wife."
Before he could finish, the other boys' fierce glares silenced him. Zhao Jin had a high reputation among the boys, and everyone still remembered how Liu Yong had ended up with blood streaming from his nose and mouth after saying something similar.
Zhao Jin's health was poor in winter, so after lunch at the Zhao family, he usually rested in a side room. This gave him more time in the afternoon, so they didn't have to rush back.
The little girl chattered on about trivial matters, but what Zhao Jin found interesting was that Mu Shulan was very tight-lipped about what she had been learning. She only mentioned that she had cried and begged to reduce her lessons from a full day to half a day.
As they walked, they saw two middle-aged men in blue robes and caps accompanying a young boy coming towards them. The blue robes and caps indicated they were servants. These two servants were well-dressed in neat cotton coats and even wore leather boots, looking very tidy. The young boy caught Zhao Jin's attention even more. He wore a silver crown, and a dark blue robe with a front opening.
From his attire alone, it was clear that this young boy was from a distinguished family. Not to mention the grace and presence he exuded with every movement. Zhao Jin had never seen such a person in this life, only a few in his previous one.
The young boy was handsome, with a fair complexion, white teeth, and eyes like bright stars, truly resembling a character from a painting.
Jia Baoyu? For some reason, this name popped into Zhao Jin's mind. The young master's appearance was very similar to the depictions of Jia Baoyu in the TV adaptations and illustrations of "Dream of the Red Chamber."
What was even more remarkable was that despite his elegant appearance and handsome looks, the young boy had no trace of arrogance or effeminacy. Instead, he exuded a commanding presence, with extremely sharp eyes.
"Brother Xiaojin, he's really handsome," Mu Shulan whispered to Zhao Jin. As they passed each other, the young boy heard her and turned to glance at them. The little girl blushed and hid behind Zhao Jin, too shy to come out.
The young boy smiled and nodded, and Zhao Jin instinctively responded. It was rare for a boy of this age to be so composed and calm when dealing with strangers in this era.
"I didn't expect to find such a person in Xuzhou," Zhao Jin heard the young boy say to his servants. It took him a moment to realize he was talking about himself and Mu Shulan.
Compared to the unkempt and dirty boys, Zhao Jin was always neat and clean, and Mu Shulan was even more finely dressed. Unlike her peers, Zhao Jin had a sense of composure, while Mu Shulan was innocent and lively. These qualities were quite rare, so it wasn't surprising that the young boy commented on them.
This made Zhao Jin feel a bit more relaxed. The boy's attempt to sound grown-up indicated that he was still a child. No one felt at ease in the presence of someone too perfect.
"Master, the place is not far, we're almost there," the servant said as they walked away.
Zhao Jin and Mu Shulan kept looking back until the people were out of sight. The little girl then asked curiously, "Brother Xiaojin, who was that?"
"I don't know, he doesn't seem to be from Xuzhou," Zhao Jin replied. He suddenly remembered that the people had been speaking Mandarin, which he had never heard before. This gave him a rough idea of who they might be.
Two more days passed, and the number of guests at the Wang family's door did not decrease but increased. This was not surprising, as travel in this era took days, and people from surrounding counties were just starting to arrive.
Zhao Jin no longer jogged on the road in front of the Wang family's house. He got up and ran before dawn, but even at this early hour, there were people holding visiting cards waiting at the door. On the other hand, Zhao Jin had decided to increase his training. The distance he ran in the morning was now easy for him, and the body of a martial arts family was indeed strong. Although he had been weak before, with increased exercise and better nutrition, his health improved quickly.
This morning, Mu Shulan didn't come, probably because she was learning something at home. Zhao Xing came to pick up Zhao Jin and they went together. Learning martial arts was still tedious, and the new projects from the past few days had lost their novelty with repetition.
What surprised Zhao Jin was that his usually quiet uncle, Zhao Xing, suddenly became talkative. While Zhao Jin was training, Zhao Xing kept talking non-stop.
"Grandpa Yue said, a good soldier is one who can hold a spear on the battlefield and has saliva in his mouth. Qi Jiguang also said, no matter how good your martial arts are, they are useless in battle. You must stay in formation and maintain order to move forward and inflict damage. This is all true..."
"Really, in battle, you need to wear armor. Remember, even if you have to borrow money, buy a set of silk undergarments. With silk, if you are hit by an arrow, it will be easier to pull out. Silk is resilient, and if you're lucky, the arrow won't penetrate. Otherwise, you'll have to cut out a piece of flesh..."
Zhao Jin listened intently. His uncle was sharing real battle examples and practical knowledge, which aligned with the military knowledge he had learned from books and friends while in the hospital. Although he had a lot of knowledge, much of it was theoretical. Now, with his uncle's real-life examples, Zhao Jin began to understand.
Having someone explain battle examples and experiences during the tedious training made the process more interesting. Zhao Jin also found it fascinating that the Swiss and Spanish phalanxes, and the military ideas of Prince Maurice of the Netherlands, were very similar to Qi Jiguang's military strategies.
However, he couldn't let his mind wander while listening. A few times, he was so focused that his movements became distorted, and Uncle Zhao Xing's rattan stick came down without mercy. Because the stories were so captivating, Zhao Jin was hit several times. He felt a bit wronged, thinking that his uncle might be using this to test his attention.
In the middle of his storytelling, Zhao Xing coughed violently a few times. Zhao Jin clearly saw blood on his uncle's palm. He was very sick!
"Uncle, are you okay?" Zhao Jin, now fully integrated, considered his parents and uncle as his closest relatives.
"I'm fine. It's an old injury from the past. It gets like this when it's cold. Your movements are off again. Don't let your mind wander. In a real battle, you'll be in trouble!" Zhao Xing answered and then shouted.
This was what Zhao Jin found strange. His uncle had suddenly become strict.
But the morning's training was truly productive. Zhao Jin thought he should find time to go to the abandoned shop and record these useful things on the counter.
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---