Afterward, under the expectant gazes of everyone, Zhang Xiaohua recounted how he had initially left the Lotus Escort Agency, followed Qiu Tong to Huanxi Villa, and gained the favor of the Villa Owner. Then, he shared bits and pieces of his life at the villa. When Zhang Xiaohu narrated earlier, he hadn’t mentioned Zhang Xiaohua’s injury and recovery at the escort agency, nor had Li Jinfeng brought it up when he spoke to them. Naturally, Zhang Xiaohua skipped over this part as well. However, he did share with great interest how Li Jinfeng had taught him to read and write.

Mr. Liu was quite surprised and couldn’t help but interject: “What? Xiaohua, you’re saying Young Master Li used [Explaining Simple and Compound Characters (Shuowen Jiezi)] to teach you literacy?”

“Yes!” Zhang Xiaohua replied earnestly. “Young Master Li said that in Pingyang City, the scions of noble families all begin their studies with that thick book. My mind isn’t very sharp, and I learned slowly. It took me a long time to grasp it.”

Hearing this, Mr. Liu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He took a sip of tea before explaining the fundamental purpose of literacy primers and the actual use of [Shuowen Jiezi]. He concluded with a smile: “Xiaohua, you really are a genius. To think you memorized a text meant for interpretation as if it were a primer.”

Only then did Zhang Xiaohua realize how absurd it was for Li Jinfeng to use such a book to teach him. It was truly unprecedented and probably would remain unparalleled. But on second thought, he couldn’t help feeling deeply grateful to Li Jinfeng. It was precisely this tailored teaching method that allowed him to quickly master reading and writing, enabling him to understand martial arts manuals. If he had been taught with simpler primers like the [Three Character Classic] or the [Thousand Character Text], he might still be unable to decipher martial arts manuals, let alone study those books on herbal texts.

Zhang Xiaohua then described how he began reading books after becoming literate, helping the villa solve problems related to herb cultivation and eventually embarked on a long journey. Naturally, the true purpose of this journey could not be disclosed to his family. Neither its reasons nor the dangers he encountered were things he could share—these secrets were buried in his heart. Even Zhang Xiaohu only had a vague understanding of it.

However, Zhang Xiaohu’s entry into the Piaomiao Sect was closely tied to Zhang Xiaohua’s journey, so he couldn’t avoid mentioning it. Zhang Xiaohua used a somewhat indirect narrative, glossing over many details. When he reached the part about killing the black-clad elder to save Ou Yan, he simply said he risked his life to shield Ou Yan but didn’t know the specifics because it was already midnight and he had fallen unconscious.

Everyone found this part both thrilling and perplexing. Their hearts had been in their throats, only to be left hanging by Zhang Xiaohua’s vague explanation. They couldn’t help but exchange bewildered glances. Guo Sufei, however, didn’t care about the details. She burst into tears, pulling Zhang Xiaohua into her arms again. “Xiaohua, how could you be so foolish? No matter how well the Villa Owner treated you, it wasn’t worth you risking your life for!”

Even though her son was now sitting safely before her, Guo Sufei’s heart was still pounding with fear.

Zhang Xiaohua smiled and said: “Mother, at the time, I thought of Villa Owner Ou and how kind she had been to me. She seemed like a Sister-in-law to me. If my actual sister-in-law were in such peril, how could I stand by and do nothing?”

Guo Sufei was at a loss for words and said: “Why is my child so honest and sincere?”

Liu Qian chimed in: “Mother, don’t blame him too much. If Xiaohua didn’t treat others this way, how could they possibly treat him so well in return?”

Guo Sufei couldn’t think that far; she simply held her son tightly, her heart aching for him.

Once her emotions had calmed somewhat, Zhang Xiaohua continued, recounting how he had met his second brother. However, he dared not mention the perilous drift down the river or the injuries he had nursed along the way, fearing it would cause his mother further distress.

As for meeting Zhang Xiaohu, they had already told that story, so there was no need to repeat it. From there, the rest was straightforward. Since Zhang Xiaohua had risked his life to save the biological sister of the Piaomiao Sect’s leader, it was only natural that Zhang Xiaohu was allowed to join the sect.

When it came to Zhang Xiaohua giving such a precious opportunity to his second brother, everyone felt a deep sense of comfort and admiration. Many who ventured out to make a living would abandon loyalty for personal gain, even neglecting familial ties. But Zhang Xiaohua’s treatment of his brother showed his pure and kind heart.

Zhang Xiaohua then shared some amusing anecdotes from Huanxi Villa. However, he didn’t utter another word about martial arts. Apart from Zhang Xiaohu, no one found this unusual; they merely assumed Zhang Xiaohua was still just a servant at the villa and hadn’t learned much martial arts. Guo Sufei, for her part, only gazed lovingly at her youngest son as he narrated his tales. She didn’t give much thought to his earlier display of astonishing Qinggong. Her thoughts drifted with her son’s words, traveling back to times long gone.

Zhang Xiaohua continued picking out interesting stories to tell, and before they knew it, the night had grown late. Hours had unknowingly passed, and everyone was still immersed in the experiences of the two brothers over the past few years. Though Zhang Xiaohua hadn’t explicitly mentioned his participation in the Martial Arts Competition, he shared some details and described the matches in vivid detail. After all, such an event was far beyond the reach of people like Zhang Cai and Guo Sufei, and even Mr. Liu had never encountered anything like it.

Zhang Xiaohua was thoroughly enjoying himself, sitting in his mother’s embrace and speaking animatedly. He had completely lost track of time. Midnight came, yet he continued talking without pause. Suddenly, in the midst of his excitement, Zhang Xiaohua abruptly stopped speaking. His body swayed and then collapsed into Guo Sufei’s arms.

Guo Sufei was alarmed and immediately called out to him in panic.

The others immediately stood up, but Zhang Xiaohu laughed and said: “Mr. Liu, Father, Mother, Eldest Brother, and Sister-in-law, don’t worry. This is just how he is. It’s probably already midnight. Didn’t Xiaohua just say that he always falls asleep by midnight? Didn’t he do the same when he saved the Villa Owner? And when we returned from the south, it was the same.”

Everyone was reassured. Guo Sufei leaned down to listen to Zhang Xiaohua’s snoring, and only then did she truly relax.

Zhang Xiaolong said: “Mother, let me carry Xiao Hua to the small room.”

Liu Qian quickly responded: “Xiaolong, wait a moment. I haven’t tidied up the room yet. Xiaohua and Xiaohu came back in a hurry, and I was busy cooking. I’ll go do it right now.”

She hurried out after saying that.

Zhang Xiaolong’s words immediately brought tears to Guo Sufei’s eyes.

She said: “No need, Xiaolong. You don’t know, Xiao Hua… he’s so light now. I… I can easily lift him.”

“Ah!!” Everyone was shocked. How could this be? Zhang Xiaohua was still a teenager, how could Guo Sufei possibly lift him, even if she was strong?

Guo Sufei assumed her youngest son had suffered and worked hard outside, leading to his severe weight loss. However, Zhang Xiaohu knew his younger brother always had a hearty appetite. Moreover, Huanxi Villa wouldn’t mistreat its workers. How could his younger brother become so thin? But when his mother mentioned that Zhang Xiaohua’s body was so light it seemed unnatural, he immediately thought of the scene from the martial arts competition when the Team Leader had effortlessly tossed Zhang Xiaohua over his head.

Thinking of Zhang Xiaohua’s Big Dipper Divine Fist, Zhang Xiaohu grew thoughtful. He quickly explained to Guo Sufei: “Mother, even though Xiaohua doesn’t live with me, he’s not that far away. I’ve seen the meals at their villa—they’re much better than what we usually eat, probably several times better. Also, Xiaohua only takes care of a few herbs, far fewer than the size of our farmland. It’s definitely not a case of overwork or hardship. His light body might have something to do with the martial arts he’s been practicing.”

“Martial arts practice?” The others were astonished. “Are you saying Xiaohua is also practicing martial arts? You were able to train because you joined a security escort agency and later entered the Piaomiao Sect. But Xiaohua hasn’t had a master. How could he practice martial arts?”

Zhang Xiaohu smiled bitterly, thinking to himself, He’s not just practicing martial arts—he’s probably better than I am.

Out loud, he said: “I’m not entirely sure either. We can ask him about it tomorrow.”

At that moment, Liu Qian returned and said the small room had been tidied up. Guo Sufei, holding her son, wanted to carry him over herself. But how could Zhang Xiaolong allow his mother to do so? Mr. Liu also chimed in: “It’s dark now; let the young ones handle this kind of work.”

Only then did Guo Sufei let go of Zhang Xiaohua. Zhang Xiaolong reached out to carry him and found, just as his mother had said, that Zhang Xiaohua’s body was indeed extremely light—just like when he was a child playing on his elder brother’s shoulders.

After settling Zhang Xiaohua into bed, everyone returned to the main hall. Zhang Xiaohu took out a bundle of scattered silver coins and a few small-denomination silver notes from his pocket and said: “Father, Mother, this is what we brothers have earned over the past two years in Pingyang City. Please keep it—it’s a token of our appreciation.”

Zhang Cai glanced at the money and said: “You should keep some for yourselves. When you’re away from home, you’ll inevitably need it. It’s not like the countryside, where you can be self-sufficient.”

Zhang Xiaohu smiled and said: “It’s fine, Father. In the Piaomiao Sect and at Huanxi Villa, there’s no need to use money. You don’t have to worry about us.”

Guo Sufei shook her head and said: “You should still keep some for yourselves. Buy some clothes to avoid being looked down upon by others.”

Zhang Xiaohu replied: “That’s unnecessary. The Piaomiao Sect provides uniforms, and so does Huanxi Villa. If we bought our own clothes, we’d look out of place. Even this outfit I’m wearing is from the escort agency. I didn’t wear the sect’s attire when I left. You should keep the silver—it’s not easy to earn money in the countryside.”

Hearing this, Zhang Cai finally nodded. Zhang Xiaolong gestured for Liu Qian to step forward and collect the money. After a brief count, Liu Qian couldn’t help but exclaim: “Oh my! There’s even a hundred-tael silver note here!”

Zhang Xiaohu explained: “That’s a token of appreciation from the Villa Owner of Huanxi Villa to Zhang Xiaohua.”

Everyone suddenly understood. For farming families, copper coins were what they usually dealt with, and even loose silver was a rarity. The largest denomination Zhang Cai had ever seen was a fifty-tael silver note, received as compensation long ago, and it was still tucked away at the very bottom of their cabinet. Naturally, Liu Qian was astonished to see such a large amount.

In reality, the hundred-plus taels of silver weren’t earned through Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua’s wages alone. Their combined wages only amounted to a few taels at most. The silver that Zhang Xiaohua had extorted from mountain bandits and local ruffians far exceeded their earnings many times over, not to mention the hundred-tael silver note.

But how could Zhang Xiaohu share such details with his family?

When you live by the blade, you eventually have to repay your debts. Does it matter to whom you repay them?

At this moment, Zhang Xiaohu wholeheartedly approved of his younger brother’s actions, with both hands and feet in agreement!