"First Young Master truly treats us with benevolence!"
Carpenter Wang squatted by the wall of the Xu family's newly built school, knocking his tobacco pipe with a smile, "Establishing this elementary school, my boy Gou Sheng can learn to read and write in the future. Even if he can't become a scholar, being an accountant would be better than carving wood his whole life."
Water carrier Li San straightened his back upon hearing this, his shoulder pole making creaking sounds, "And that's not all! I heard that those with good aptitude can even learn carpentry, tailoring, or even enter the Xu family wine workshop to learn brewing. Which of these isn't a precious craft?"
He gazed at the wine flags floating from the distant wine workshop, his throat unconsciously rolling, "A few days ago, I saw the wine workshop manager taking on apprentices. That spectacle was even more grand than a wealthy household marrying off a daughter!"
The old bamboo craftsman stroked his beard and interjected, his bamboo knife making fine sounds as it cut across green bamboo strips, "This depends on who you learn the craft from."
"The Xu family's various crafts are all secret transmissions. Being able to learn one is enough to ensure stability and peace for several generations, so naturally everyone rushes toward it."
Just then, the young students from the Xu family school were dismissed. Children with twin-horn braids poured out through the courtyard gate carrying mulberry paper book bags, reciting verses of 'Guan guan cries the osprey.'
Carpenter Wang watched the children's backs, knocking his tobacco pipe against his shoe sole with loud thumps, "Once Gou Sheng can read, I'll definitely send him to be an apprentice at the Xu family's dyeing workshop. I heard that dyeing workshop uses sappanwood from the Western Regions. The silk they dye can sell for ten taels of silver per bolt!"
Since the Xu family announced policies benefiting servants and guards, from steward matrons down to water carriers and odd-job laborers, everyone wholeheartedly supported them.
Kitchen helper Aunt Zhang turned to look and said with a beaming smile, "Hehe, my Ada is as strong as an ox. Yesterday, I already asked the steward to register his name."
Old Lady Li, who was washing vegetables, also suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "Really?! My grandson Ah Shui is naturally intelligent with extremely high comprehension. He's definitely good material for practicing martial arts. I'll also go join the excitement in a bit."
"Why wait? I'll pick these for you. You hurry to the front courtyard to register. This is a major event that could change your grandson's destiny. How can you wait?!"
The liveliness aside, every servant, maid, and guard devoted themselves to their duties and didn't dare neglect their work at hand.
They were even more meticulous and hardworking than usual.
They didn't even feel tired, with smiles on their faces and longing and hope in their eyes.
…
In a flash, three months had passed.
Since the Dragon Elephant Sect's secret medicinal diets flowed into the Xu residence, the martial arts of the Xu brothers all greatly progressed.
Even though Xu Mingyuan and Xu Mingxuan didn't cultivate the "Lesser Dragon Elephant Technique," their progress in opening apertures was seventy to eighty percent faster than before.
All due to the efficacy of these medicinal diets.
True secret medicinal diets were never leaked by major martial halls and aristocratic families because this was their foundation.
What was given to martial hall disciples were all ordinary medicinal diets.
At the Dragon Elephant Sect's height, it had a grandmaster perfection martial arts peak expert presiding, an existence comparable to a fifth-rank aristocratic family. Even placed in the commandery city, it was a major power.
As for aristocratic families and sects of the upper three ranks, they could generally only be seen in the imperial capital.
"Elder brother, this Dragon Elephant Sect's medicinal diets are truly extraordinary."
Xu Mingxuan happily said to Xu Mingwei, "Even younger brother has a thirty to forty percent chance of reaching the peak Postnatal martial artist realm before turning twenty."
"Opening acupoints and apertures is certainly important, but martial techniques cannot be neglected either."
Xu Mingwei said, "Previously our family didn't collect many, so we didn't have many choices. Now with part of the Dragon Elephant Sect's martial foundation, we must make good use of it and fully leverage this advantage."
"Understood, elder brother."
After responding, Xu Mingxuan revealed a trace of longing in his expression, "I wonder what the Dragon Elephant Sect's foundation was like at its peak. I suppose what our Xu family has obtained now is less than one-fifth of it."
"Perhaps." Xu Mingwei smiled faintly.
Just then, Xu Mingyuan walked leisurely into the great hall from outside.
"Second brother, I haven't seen you for so long." Xu Mingxuan looked at him with a smile.
"How could I be as leisurely as you? I manage the family businesses, and recently I've barely had any time to cultivate martial arts."
"Hehe, well, I've made great progress."
Upon hearing this, Xu Mingwei thought of the "Innate Five Elements Creation Art."
Among their siblings, only the fifth, Yunnu, had immortal cultivation aptitude.
The Xu family had obtained the heaven-sent fortune of entering the Dao through martial arts. Everyone had the opportunity to cultivate immortality, and he also looked forward to Xu Mingyuan joining them.
Only Xu Chuan had instructed that they must reach the innate realm before revealing this.
He dared not disobey.
After pondering for a moment, Xu Mingwei looked up at Xu Mingyuan and said, "Ahyuan, the family business is certainly important, but your own martial Dao must never be set aside. Otherwise, Father will be angry. Every six months, the old man examines us."
"Let's wait a while. Once the new businesses are on track, I can free myself up."
"Mm." Xu Mingwei nodded.
"Actually, I find it very strange why Father insists on forcing us to walk the martial Dao. Even if we reach the innate realm, so what? We're still just dust after a hundred years." Xu Mingxuan said doubtfully.
"Father has Father's plans. If you don't listen and get punished later, don't blame me for not pleading with Father on your behalf."
"Elder brother, I was just joking!"
Xu Mingwei was the Xu family's future head and currently the strongest person. His words carried great weight among all the siblings.
"Find more time to practice martial arts. I heard that Xueji and Yunnu have made considerable progress in these three months. You two as elder brothers shouldn't be surpassed."
"It would be good to be surpassed. That shows our family has abundant talent!" Xu Mingyuan laughed heartily. "If we had two more martial arts geniuses like you, elder brother, our Xu family would truly be stable."
"Mm, did you hear some rumors?"
Xu Mingwei understood Xu Mingyuan and knew he wouldn't speak without reason. Xu Mingxuan also immediately put away his smile.
"Just some rumors."
"Magistrate Yang just left, and his tiger's authority still lingers. Our Xu family is also not weak now. I just think it would be best to have our own people in official circles. It would be great if one of us brothers could become a county magistrate, assistant magistrate, or county captain."
"This matter depends on opportunity. It's not something you can do just because you want to. Let's talk about it later."
As Xu Mingwei spoke, his pupils contracted slightly, a cold gleam sweeping across the depths of his eyes, "As for other families and aristocratic families, if they dare to intrude, our Xu family will absolutely not show mercy."
Hearing Xu Mingyuan's words, he felt he should also find an opportunity to display his martial prowess.
An aristocratic family with an innate martial artist had deterrent power that ordinary aristocratic families couldn't compare to.
From what he knew, in all of Qingjiang County, only five families had this foundation, namely the Wu, Fang, Wang, He, and Cao families.
The three major martial halls were backed by the Wu, Fang, and Wang families.
If not for Yang Zhao's previous appointment from above, the assistant magistrate position might have gone to an innate martial artist from the Wang, He, or Cao families.
Of course, to hold these important official positions, one generally had to enter the innate realm before fifty.
They couldn't possibly let you be selected if you were already in your sixties.
Those selected were mostly locals with reputation and strength, or they might be like Yang Zhao, parachuted in, gilding themselves, gaining some political achievements, then leaving.
"How are things with the martial hall?"
Xu Mingwei felt that the opening of the Dragon Elephant Martial Hall might be a good opportunity.
"It will be completed in another half month. We've also selected more than ten youngsters with decent bone structure from among our own servants, guards, maids, and their descendants as the first batch to cultivate."
"Besides that, we've also hired five first-rate martial artists as instructors."
"Only..."
Xu Mingyuan paused, and after hesitating for a while, continued, "Very few children and youths from wealthy families and aristocratic families have actually been attracted."
"This matter isn't urgent. You yourself always say 'good products don't worry about sales.' The martial hall's opening will surely be very lively. Afterward, there will always be people who come because of its reputation."
Xu Mingyuan seemed thoughtful, then lifted his eyes with a self-deprecating smile, "This reasoning is certainly true."