Chapter 63: Leaving Home

"I want to go too." A voice sounded from the corner.

Everyone was taken aback again.

Zhang Xiaohu turned around and saw that it was Zhang Xiaohua, who had been sitting in the corner.

Gu Sufei said angrily, "Xiaohua, what are you causing trouble for? Your second brother is going to find a wife. You're still young, why would you go to Pingyang City?"

Zhang Xiaohu was upset and said angrily, "Mother, I'm not just going to find a wife, as you say."

Gu Sufei smiled at Zhang Xiaohu, about to say something, but Zhang Xiaohua's response surprised everyone.

"I want to go to Pingyang City to learn martial arts!"

"Learn martial arts? Why?" Everyone was very curious.

At this moment, Zhang Xiaohua had already walked out from the corner, standing at the door, looking up at everyone and said, "Actually, ever since we met Dage in Luzhen, I've been thinking, why do we get bullied and can't fight back? It wasn't until this time when Dage was injured by the bandits that I found the answer. It's because we don't have martial arts skills, we don't have the strength to make others fear us. If I knew martial arts, those people wouldn't dare to attack us. Moreover, didn't Uncle just say that the bandits from Xicui Mountain might come to our door? Relying on others' protection is not reliable. Only by mastering it ourselves can we truly face the bandits."

After saying this, Zhang Xiaohua looked back at the yard, which was already dark, with the stars faintly visible in the sky. He continued, "Only by learning martial arts can I protect myself and everyone else."

Hearing Zhang Xiaohua's words, everyone had different reactions. Mr. Liu and Liu Kai looked at him in surprise. Last time, when Zhang Xiaohua wrote the wedding invitation, they were already amazed. Now, hearing his words, they couldn't help but reassess this thirteen-year-old boy.

Mr. Liu, with his mouth wide open, seemed to want to say something but couldn't.

Zhang Xiaolong looked ashamed, feeling a sense of pride for his younger brother whom he had raised since childhood.

Zhang Xiaohu looked pleased, as if he had been enlightened, finding a new direction. He looked happily at his younger brother, who was a head shorter than him.

Gu Sufei and Zhang Cai exchanged glances, their brows furrowed. They were not thinking about their own safety, but about their son's safety.

Only Liu Qian remained calm, as if she had expected Zhang Xiaohua's words.

Mr. Liu was the first to speak, "Xiaohua, I think your idea is right, but I haven't learned martial arts, so I can't give you any advice. I've heard that learning martial arts is very hard, not something you can learn in a day or two. Moreover, learning martial arts is very risky. A slight mistake could result in injury or even death. You should think about it carefully. Besides, you're a smart child. Why don't you follow me and study instead? You can take the imperial exams and bring glory to our family."

Liu Kai also advised, "As the saying goes, the poor study literature, the rich study martial arts. Learning martial arts is not something we poor people can do. Xiaohua, your calligraphy was so good last time. Why don't you follow my father and study literature? It's a safe and promising path."

Gu Sufei and Zhang Cai still didn't speak, just frowning.

Zhang Xiaohu said, "That's true, Xiaohua. Why don't you stay home and study literature? I'll go to Pingyang City to learn martial arts. I'm older now, and my parents can rest assured. How can you, a child, be left to go so far?"

Zhang Xiaohua looked at everyone and asked, "Can studying literature protect our family from bandits? Can it help us fight against evil and protect the good?"

Everyone was speechless.

Zhang Cai asked, "How will you learn martial arts in Pingyang City?"

Zhang Xiaohua said, "Didn't the hero Wen, who saved us in Luzhen, belong to the Piaomiao Sect in Pingyang City? I'll find him, and maybe I can learn martial arts from him."

Gu Sufei said, "Xiaohua, you're still young. Can't you wait until you're older?"

Zhang Xiaohua smiled at his mother and said, "Mother, having aspirations is not about age. Besides, I'm not that young anymore. I should also find my own path, like my second brother. Otherwise, I might not find a suitable wife either."

Zhang Xiaohua's words made Gu Sufei laugh, saying, "You're so young, and you're already thinking about a wife."

Zhang Cai thought for a moment and said, "Xiaolong, Qianqian, you take Xiaohu and Xiaohua back to sleep first. I'll discuss it with your mother."

Zhang Xiaolong got up, and Liu Qian took Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua back home.

In the hall, only the five adults remained.

Zhang Cai asked Mr. Liu, "What do you think about their plans?"

Mr. Liu smiled and said, "No matter what, I must congratulate you on having two promising children. At such a young age, they can worry about family matters, face challenges bravely, and come up with their own solutions. It's truly a blessing for you."

Zhang Cai was very happy but waved his hand, saying, "They're just children's wild ideas, don't take them seriously."

Mr. Liu then said seriously, "I'm not flattering you. How many children in the countryside have such insight and can speak so wisely? However, he is still young and doesn't know the dangers outside. Going out to experience the world is a good thing. Besides, there's Xiaohu with him, so you can rest assured. Once he understands the dangers outside, he will miss the warmth of home and come back on his own. Perhaps by then, Xiaohu will have found a suitable girl and they can return together."

Liu Kai interjected, "Uncle, I don't think it's a bad thing for Xiaohua to go out. I feel that Xiaohua is not an ordinary child. Staying in this small village might bury his potential. Going out might bring him opportunities to achieve great things."

Zhang Cai smiled bitterly and said, "What great things? We don't expect him to be very successful. As long as he gets married, has children, and lives a stable life, we'll be content. Great things are done by people in the town. We in the countryside just need to tend to our fields."

Gu Sufei was unhappy and said, "People say that even the lowliest can become great. I remember the flowers falling from the sky when Xiaohua was born. Maybe my son is destined for great things."

However, she then added, "But Pingyang City is too far. Why don't we let him learn martial arts in Luzhen? It's closer, and we can visit him easily. It's inconvenient to go so far."

Mr. Liu said, "That's true. Isn't there a Wuhu Gang in Luzhen? He can learn martial arts there."

Hearing "Wuhu Gang," Zhang Cai and Gu Sufei's hearts skipped a beat. Weren't the bodyguards of that bully from Wuhu Gang? They seemed to be helping the bully, so they weren't good people. Besides, they had so many mysterious silver tickets. How could they let Xiaohua go to Wuhu Gang?

Gu Sufei asked Mr. Liu, "So, you agree with them going?"

Mr. Liu nodded and said, "Yes, we have a saying in our studies: 'Read ten thousand books, travel ten thousand miles.' Only by going out and broadening your horizons can you truly learn from books. I believe the same applies to learning martial arts. Even the most talented person in this small village will have a narrow view. I agree with them going out."

Liu Kai also nodded with a smile, "I've been to Pingyang City. I can take them there, but that might not align with their original intentions. I'll explain the details to them. Xiaohu is old enough, so there shouldn't be any problems."

Mr. Liu said, "Why go? It's so peaceful at home. I don't agree."

Zhang Cai and Gu Sufei exchanged glances and said, "We'll think about it and find a proper solution."

After a brief chat, they saw that it was getting late and bid farewell to go home.

That night, Gu Sufei and Zhang Cai discussed the matter for a long time, only falling asleep when it was almost dawn.

Mr. Liu and Liu Kai couldn't stay in Gu Village for long. After breakfast, they hurriedly said goodbye. Before leaving, Liu Kai detailed the route to Pingyang City and the precautions to Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua. Both of them carefully remembered the information, and from Liu Kai's expression, they could tell that their parents had been convinced the night before. They couldn't help but smile.

After seeing off Mr. Liu and Liu Kai, Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua prepared to go to the fields. They then realized that if both of them left, what would happen to the family's fields?

Zhang Xiaolong and Liu Qian, who were walking together, seemed to understand their thoughts. Zhang Xiaolong said, "You two go ahead and see the world. The family's fields have already been discussed with Dage. The original field will be tended by Father, and the field by the river, along with the one on the hill that Xiaohua has, will be tended by me and Dage. With Mother, we four can manage these two and a half fields, can't we?"

Zhang Xiaohua and Zhang Xiaohu looked at their older brother and sister-in-law, feeling warm inside.

For the next few days, Zhang Cai and Gu Sufei didn't mention the matter. Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua became anxious, thinking that their parents might not agree, and the plan might fall through. They even considered running away on their own.

One evening after dinner, Zhang Cai called the two of them over. Their hearts raced, thinking it was time to reveal the decision. Indeed, Zhang Cai said, "We've discussed your plan to go to Pingyang City. We think it's best to follow your wishes. Your mother has already made some clothes for you. Take them with you."

Gu Sufei then brought out several new clothes from the inner room, which she had made in the past few days. Zhang Xiaohua felt a bit choked up. The elders had really thought of everything, and he had even considered that they might not let him go.

Seeing Liu Qian's smiling face, he knew that the clothes also had her hard work.

Zhang Xiaohua smiled at Liu Qian and said, "Dage, you knew that Father and Mother would let us go. Why didn't you tell us and make us worry?"

Liu Qian replied, "When you're out, you need to be resourceful. Whatever happens, you shouldn't panic. You need to face it calmly. This was also a test for you, wasn't it?"

---

The next few days, Zhang Cai and Gu Sufei didn't mention the matter again. Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua became anxious, thinking that their parents might not agree, and the plan might fall through. They even considered running away on their own.

One evening after dinner, Zhang Cai called the two of them over. Their hearts raced, thinking it was time to reveal the decision. Indeed, Zhang Cai said, "We've discussed your plan to go to Pingyang City. We think it's best to follow your wishes. Your mother has already made some clothes for you. Take them with you."

Gu Sufei then brought out several new clothes from the inner room, which she had made in the past few days. Zhang Xiaohua felt a bit choked up. The elders had really thought of everything, and he had even considered that they might not let him go.

Seeing Liu Qian's smiling face, he knew that the clothes also had her hard work.

Zhang Xiaohua smiled at Liu Qian and said, "Dage, you knew that Father and Mother would let us go. Why didn't you tell us and make us worry?"

Liu Qian replied, "When you're out, you need to be resourceful. Whatever happens, you shouldn't panic. You need to face it calmly. This was also a test for you, wasn't it?"