Chapter 59

Looking at Zhao Jin's determined expression, Zhao Zhenxing was taken aback for a moment. His solemn expression softened, and he struggled to turn over and lie flat. At this point, it was already difficult for his body to do so. Zhao Jin quickly went to help him.

Lying flat on the kang, he took a few breaths, then asked, "Xiao Jin, when you suddenly wanted to learn martial arts five years ago, did you have any aspirations?"

"I... I want people in the future to know my name, to be remembered in history." If Wang Zhaojing hadn't mentioned this phrase, Zhao Jin might not have remembered it.

"Let people in the future know your name..." Zhao Zhenxing repeated softly, looking quietly at the ceiling. Zhao Jin thought his uncle was about to rest and was about to leave when he saw a strange smile on Zhao Zhenxing's face. In a hoarse voice, he said, "That courtyard will be yours in the future. Take good care of the things under the counter, and don't let others see and take them."

Zhao Jin subconsciously agreed, then his whole body trembled, and he looked at Zhao Zhenxing in disbelief. He thought he had hidden it well, but his uncle had known all along.

"You've been sneaking around all day, how could you hide anything..." Seeing Zhao Jin's expression, Zhao Zhenxing couldn't help but laugh, but after two laughs, he started coughing violently.

Zhao Jin didn't care about that, he helped him up and had him drink some water to suppress the cough. Panting, Zhao Zhenxing said, "How do you know about those strange things?"

This was a difficult question to answer, and Zhao Jin hesitated. Zhao Zhenxing didn't press further, just continued, "If you don't want to say, you don't have to. I don't want to pry. Many of your things I can't understand, some I can guess the meaning of, roughly what Qi Dashi mentioned in his military books. Unfortunately, your uncle has limited knowledge and can only teach you what he understands. In the future, you'll have to figure it out on your own."

Zhao Jin suddenly understood why his uncle had given so many examples from the battlefield. If these could be attributed to other reasons, then teaching the halberd technique must have been because he saw the records of the Swiss halberdiers' combat, which Zhao Jin had even sketched out in simple diagrams.

His uncle had kept his secret and passed on all his knowledge. This was family. Zhao Jin felt his heart wrench, and he couldn't control his tears.

"Why are you crying? I'll remind you again, I haven't told anyone about your strange things, and you shouldn't talk about them outside either. They are yours, do you understand?" Seeing Zhao Jin sobbing, Zhao Zhenxing's tone became stern.

Zhao Jin wiped his tears and nodded vigorously. He thought he had experienced so much that he wouldn't cry anymore, but now he couldn't stop the tears from flowing.

After that day, Zhao Zhenxing never mentioned those things again. He just urged Zhao Jin to practice martial arts daily and told stories from the past.

On his deathbed, Zhao Zhenxing could only utter a few indistinct syllables, holding onto his brother Zhao Zhentang's hand. His eyes gradually dimmed.

At the end of the funeral arrangements, the night before the burial, Zhao Zhentang finally couldn't hold back and cried loudly outside, saying his brother had suffered all his life. Zhao Jin, who had been numb at the altar, couldn't help but cry.

Zhao Zhenxing was buried in the family cemetery in Xuzhou Wei. Zhao Jin only remembered coming back when he was very young, with no clear memories. The hundred-household area where the Zhao family lived was no different from a dilapidated village.

Some of the military households in the hundred-household area came to help, while others watched indifferently. Zhao Jin could see that the relationships were not good. Zhao Zhenshan, a close cousin of Zhao Zhentang, now farmed the Zhao family's military land and collected grain for Zhao Zhentang in the hundred-household area, essentially working as a foreman for Zhao Zhentang and the commander.

Although the produce from the hundred-household area wouldn't fall into his hands, the family could keep at least 70% of the harvest from their own land, ensuring a comfortable life. Zhao Zhenshan, a common military household, was very happy with this arrangement, so he was particularly diligent this time.

To Zhao Jin's surprise, Zhao Zhentang and He Cuihua were very cold towards this "hometown," showing no nostalgia or fond memories, but rather a strong dislike.

The reason was soon revealed. At a meal at his uncle's house, Zhao Zhentang mentioned that the older generation had tried to help everyone, but the military households had been deceitful, causing the Zhao family's elders to suffer and even die from overwork. When the elders passed away, many in the hundred-household area didn't come to help but instead tried to take advantage of the situation.

This left Zhao Zhentang with a bad impression. His uncle's family had only gained the opportunity to manage the land because Zhao Zhentang became an executioner, and this management gave them the capital to start a family. His uncle's family had a son and a daughter, both younger than Zhao Jin. Compared to his uncle's simplicity, his seven-year-old son, Zhao Song, was lively and intelligent.

Perhaps because he was an executioner and had seen many deaths, Zhao Zhentang quickly recovered from his grief after Zhao Zhenxing's burial. Apart from a sullen face, he showed no other signs of distress.

After finishing the funeral arrangements and returning to the city, Zhao Jin didn't rush home but went directly to his second uncle's house. With Zhao Zhenxing's instructions, Zhao Zhentang and his family didn't sort through any of the belongings, waiting for Zhao Jin to do it.

Zhao Zhentang and his wife, after days of hard work, were very tired and needed to rest. As Zhao Jin was about to leave, Zhao Zhentang said, "Tomorrow I have to perform an execution, you come with me."

He Cuihua's eyes widened, but before she could speak, Zhao Jin replied decisively, "Okay!"

Zhao Zhentang and He Cuihua were taken aback. After Zhao Jin left, He Cuihua complained, "We only have this one child, are you really going to scare him to death?"

"If he's going to learn martial arts, he can't be afraid of blood and killing!" Zhao Zhentang replied. He Cuihua opened her mouth but said nothing.

Standing in front of his second uncle's house, the gate, which used to be always open, was now tightly closed. Zhao Jin stood there in silence for a moment before unlocking and opening the door.

Zhao Jin didn't go to the front shop but to his uncle Zhao Zhenxing's living quarters. Zhao Zhenxing seemed to have anticipated his illness, and the room was neatly arranged. The spear leaned against the wall, and the two knives were placed on the kang. That was all his second uncle had left.

Coming to the counter where the paper and pen records were kept, Zhao Jin looked around carefully. He realized that what he thought was hidden had not escaped the notice of a meticulous person, and it was fortunate that his uncle Zhao Zhenxing had seen these.

Picking up the notebook hidden in the counter, which had accumulated over several years, it had become a thick volume. Initially, it was mostly memories, but later, his insights and the stories Zhao Zhenxing told became more frequent.

Zhao Jin didn't just write them down and forget about them; he regularly reviewed them from beginning to end, making additions and deletions. The more he learned and experienced, the more his understanding deepened.

Page by page, the originally messy brush strokes and scribbled diagrams became more organized. Although he hadn't specifically practiced calligraphy, practice made perfect.

The inside of the counter, where no one would notice, was carved with patterns. Zhao Jin quietly flipped through the records, touching the patterns, and slowly felt he couldn't bear to look. He covered his eyes and looked up for a long time, unable to lower his head. These things brought him too many memories.

According to custom, after the burial, the mourning period was considered over, and regular guests could visit.

The next morning, after breakfast, the young men came. Chen Sheng, Wang Zhaojing, Sun Dalei, Shi Manqiang, Ji Xiang, Liu Yong, and Dong Bingfeng all came in a group. Now, Chen Hong spent more time at the charcoal factory and didn't often follow his brother.

Unlike before, they were all now fifteen or sixteen years old, and their behavior was no longer as casual. When they arrived at the Zhao family, they first greeted Zhao Zhentang and He Cuihua, then greeted Zhao Jin.

Seeing so many people come, Zhao Zhentang's sullen face showed a smile, and He Cuihua welcomed them warmly. It was good that their child had such a wide circle of friends, and the fact that they all looked up to Zhao Jin as a big brother made them even prouder.

Everyone knew the deep bond between Zhao Zhenxing and Zhao Jin, so they first offered condolences and then asked about the arrangements at the cargo yard.

"Today my father is taking me to watch an execution, I'll go there a bit later," Zhao Jin explained.

Hearing this, the young men were taken aback. Some showed signs of fear, while others were eager, but in the end, they agreed to meet Zhao Jin there at noon.