Chapter 16 : Rent
After the weeping lady's explanation, Wu Ming finally figured out the situation.
The cause of matter can be summed in three words - "Eat the household!"
Li Xiuyun's parents died, there were no male in the family, no son to inherit the family business. In the eyes of other villagers, the family is practically extinct and this piece of fat could be rightfully divided.
Not to mention, the Li family has a very thin asset, including the amount of money Wu Ming has thrown away before.
If Li Xiaonian went back like this, she wouldn't be able to keep the business and wouldn't know where it would be sold.
"Then you're fine here… Oh!"
Wu Ming patted his head and finally realized that he was part of the privileged class.
Before killing Lin Qi, there was no such big thing as human life. So many days has passed and nobody dared to come to the door to ask about the case. The arrogance and power of the Wu Family is evident.
And Li Xiaonang was sheltered under the Wu Family. It was rumored that she was Master Wu's uncle's servant. Even if it was half-true, it is not someone that the villagers dared to marry.
"Master Ming, please don't drive me away, this little girl has grassy ring in the afterlife and she must repay…"
After Li Xiuyun finished speaking, she weeped and made Wu Ming quite embarrassed.
"Forget it… Live as long as you like!"
Wu Ming waved his hand, thinking that the Wu Family had a great career and wouldn't mind an extra mouth to feed.
However this lady has long red lips and white teeth. and has a few charming looks between her eyebrows. Her figure is also not bad. That girl is quite eye-catchy.
Seemingly seeing Wu Ming's gaze, Li Xioanang's cheeks were red and swollen, all the way to the neck.
In truth, Wu Ming, the patriarch of this family, is both responsable and reasonable in whatever she did but Wu Ming walked slowly and did not say anything.
"But I can't just listen to this woman's side of the story and keeping it as a good deed. I have to send someone to look at this matter."
Li Xiaonang, who was facing Wu Ming, did not see it. And after Wu Ming turned around, there was a cold glimmer of light flashing in her eyes.
…
On the top of the martial art field, Feng Han was wearing a strong suit and looked cold :
"I've practiced Vajra Vigorous Eagle Claw Hand! This kind of martial art is widespread and has many factions. I am in the 'Skyhawk' lineage, practiced the secret inheritance for the 'Skyhawk Thirteen Combo' to great accomplishment such as The Eagle Hovers and Slams, it is very fierce!"
He said while stretching his hands : "Come and see my hand!"
Wu Ming stepped forward and saw Feng Han's hands and bones, knotted black and hard, slender and deformed like chicken feet and could not help but feel cold : "If I practice until the end, will my hands become like this?"
"Ha ha! Of course not! Master, you practicing this skill with a superior internal energy, it will be natural for you to take a lot less detours which requires soaking your hands in potions and beating them up!"
Feng Han was quite embarrassed. Ever since Wu Ming intentionally or unintentionally said that he teach him the 'Turtle Breathing Technique' and Spirit Turtle Qi Art, he no longer had any secrets to Wu Ming.
After all, although he had already established his own veins and it would be troublesome to change now, it would lead to a good life for his grandchildren so he did not dare to slack off.
"Vajra Vigorous Eagle Claw Hand's tricks has already been taught, it is now time to practice! Hard training! First, catch the yellow sand! Grab the stone! And finally, grab the iron sand! Trained to great accomplishment, your claws can be soft, unbreakable!"
"As you bid!"
Wu Ming was dressed in kung fu clothes and was full of heroic spirit. He began practicing with a plate of yellow sand in front of him.
"Flying Eagle Fighting Sheep!"
"Eagle hits the Sky!"
…
The sound of breath on the practice ground is faint, the claws still strong. Feng Han nods his head : "I thought he was spoiled but didn't expect such perseverance and foundation."
Feng Han knew very well that with Young Master Wu's starting point, as long as he had half the perseverance as himself, his future achievements would be limitless. This is the rule of this world, cruel! With every hour of effort of Aristocratic children, the poor must train ten, a hundred times more to catch up!
His face blanked, as if he had thought of something. He looked at the sun and couldn't help saying : "Enough! Master Ming, you are just beginning your training. If you don't stop, you will hurt your bones and be deformed in the future!"
"There's no need!"
Wu Ming was sweating : "I feel… I'm still far from my limit!"
Suddenly, in the middle of the yard, the claws moved like the wind, fierce and aggressive, grabbing the two sides of human-shaped wooden stakes; breathing for a long time, the nose began vibrating, the hands exerting force, creating a stir of wind : "Raptor Tears Sheep!"
Pa!
Along with two loud noises, the sawdust flew and the training dummy's two arms broke off under Wu Ming's pressure.
"This… this… Vajra Vigorous Eagle Claw Hand's Small Success! And this breath…"
When Fang Han went forward to look at Wu Ming's hand, it didn't look like an old man, it was like the hands of a rich young master, the kind who doesn't do any kind of manual work. He was shocked.
He couldn't understand how Wu Ming's hand maintain the high grade inner strength and were unscathed and restrained. This power is otherworldly!
This was the extremely high state that he pursued but it was easily reached by Wu Ming!
Such a sharp contrast made him a little disheartened and his self-esteem hurt.
"Turtle breathing meditation! The pulse is slow… Young Master, you've already trained Spirit Turtle Qi Cultivation Merit to Higher Level! It's incredible!"
Feng Han's eyes glittered : "The Qi is full of vitality, good to keep the practitioner healthy and is the perfect match for the Vajra Vigorous Eagle Claw Hand! It can warm and nourish the hand which leads to no risks of disability while practicing. Congratulations to Master Ming, you've reached the Innate level!"
In fact, after Wu Ming comprehended the Spirit Turtle Qi Cultivation Merit, he knew that he reached Innate level.
Martial Artist True Qi Realm is the manifestation True Qi, the Innate state is only the process of filling True Qi in the whole body, warming and nourishing it, returning to Innate.
At this point in time, Wu Ming can run True Qi to his hand and heal damaged muscles and bones. Obviously, he has already taken a very crucial step!
"After Innate, it is Outer Astral! At that stage, you can release True Qi three inches outside, it can wound people in the air and you can't break it! Outer Astral is followed by Inner Astral, the Astral Qi spreads all over the body, even internal organs and bones are included. The inside and outside condense as one, becoming hard like a steel plate. Such a martial artist, placed in the army, is worth a hundred men! The White body can established from the 9th Grade (Official) with a martial order in hand! Unfortunately…"
(Note: In China, there are nine grades in the imperial system, and officials of the court are placed in the rankings, with the 1st grade being the top, like Prime Minister or something, and the 9th grade at the lowest.)
Feng Han sighed
He, himself is of such realm, it is not difficult to become an official. However to be promoted to Eight and Seventh Grade is as difficult as scaling the heavens!
After all, in addition to family history, these generals have a very high requirement for military strategy. It was already a fluke for him, a son of a poor family, to be able to practice martial art. Where could he study military strategy? With no foundations, there's simply no ways to go.
Such people, without opportunities, can only become, at best, become a deputy or a hired thug for high-ranking officials or aristocrat families.
"If there's a chance for referral, Wu Ming will forget Master Feng!"
Wu Ming promised to look after Feng Han. And he stayed silent.
…
After summer came autumn, without realizing it, time passed quickly.
During this period, Wu Ming stayed in the fort with a peace of mind, did his daily practice without interruption and carefully extended his tentacles into the outside world to explore the land under the Heavens and the situation of the area.
In the past few months, his martial arts and knowledge have made great progress.
First of all, he could thoroughly sort and digest the memory left by his predecessor and was now confident that he wouldn't reveal a flaw that would expose his real identity.
Then, in terms of martial art, he has reached the peak of True Qi, saving his energy with meridians, acupoints and dantian. As long as the opportunity present itself, he would be able to breakthrough.
In addition, his effort made his skill Vajra Vigorous Eagle Claw Hand reach perfection, which made Feng Han sigh again and again that other than his experience which make his moves more organic, there was nothing else to teach.
Autumn Harvest and Winter Collection!
For any farmers, autumn is the most important season of the year and is even related to their livelihood.
The harvest of an ancient agricultural nation is even more important than national transportation.
In this season, as a member of the Wu Family, Wu Ming couldn't be idle. Everyday, he had to go to the countryside to inspect, at least to take a look.
After all, the fortress is surrounded by a few villages, all of which are surnamed Wu and most of the farmers are tenants of the Wu family.
Although there were people like Steward Wu and the likes, Wu Ming couldn't help but come out.
"Well, this year's harvest is good!"
Wu Ming held his hands and walked on the ridges of the fields. He saw the millet, wheat and other grains, and could not help but say.
According to his calculation, the harvest of this acre is only about one to two stones which was pathetic in the eyes of his previous life's standard, however in the eyes of the people, it was a good year.
"This is the blessing of the Toto Family!"
Besides Wu Ming, there was an old farmer leaning on his back, with a lean body and his cracked and rough hand, his eyes full of cunning, rubbed his hand and laughed.
"It's still your grandson who is doing well." Wu Ming smiled and looked at Old Sun's head : "What else, let's talk…"
"Owner… This year, although this year is good, in the last year's drought, the folks didn't have food in the winter. This year, an another cow died and it took a lot of people and effort to excavate the canals…"
The Old Sun said, almost tearful: "This year's rent?"
"Oh… nothing! Just as usual!"
Wu Ming stared at Old Sun for a long time and smiled without a word until the other party's forehead exuded a fine layer of cold sweat.
"Thank you! Thank you!"
Old Sun was so grateful that he began shedding tears. When he was relieved and looked at him, he almost knelt down to Wu Ming and squeezed a smile : "The Dong family have taken a break and prepared lunch. The old hen has been stewing last night and there's games from the mountains, stuffs from the country, fresh fruits…"
Wu Ming hummed one by one but was a little sad.
In the past, the practise was to take half the harvest, a 50% tax! It was equivalent to famers "losing" half a year of work.
But even so, as a tenant of Wu, the government apportions and taxes are waived but it still ridiculous! But they are still happy to exploited that way!
"And that is luck, otherwise it will be of the lowest level, that is without food and clothes! That's a chilling thought!"
Wu Ming burst into horror.