A good teacher?

Jiang Ning was slightly stunned, instantly understanding what his eldest brother Jiang Li meant.

He was clearly planning to find someone else to teach him martial arts.

He also suddenly understood why Liu Wanwan had secretly stopped his brother just moments ago.

After all, as the saying goes, studying literature is for the poor, but practicing martial arts is for the rich.

Learning martial arts was incredibly expensive.

The tuition fee alone to apprentice under a master was a staggering amount, not to mention the countless resources required for medicinal herbs later on.

His brother’s household was already financially tight, and he himself was completely penniless.

If he practiced martial arts, wouldn’t he just be continuing to drain his brother and sister in law of their hard earned money?

It would be an even worse drain than before.

Realizing this, Jiang Ning quickly spoke up, “Brother, what I meant was that you could just teach me a couple of martial arts techniques yourself. I don’t want to apprentice under a master, and I don’t want to become an extra burden to you.”

“It seems you really have matured,” Jiang Li said, looking at Jiang Ning with a face full of gratification. He continued, “I know what you are worried about, but you don’t need to stress over the tuition fees. Your brother has excellent martial skills, and after working as a bailiff for all these years, I have saved up some money.”

As he said this, Jiang Ning noticed his brother wincing slightly, and he also caught his sister in law’s subtle, secret attempt to stop him.

“Brother, there is really no need to find a master!”

“What do you know?” Jiang Li glared at Jiang Ning, continuing, “With my mediocre, amateur skills, I haven’t even achieved a rank in martial arts. How could I teach you? I would only set you on the wrong path!”

“Haven’t you heard that a great teacher produces great students? If you want to learn martial arts, you must find a true master to guide you through the entrance. This affects your future achievements, so we absolutely cannot cut corners on this expense!”

“If you actually succeed in your martial training in the future, you can come to the county office. I can get you a job as a bailiff. That way, you will have a stable future and be in a position to marry and start a family.”

Hearing the words about marrying and starting a family gave Jiang Ning a slight headache. Just as he was about to speak again, he saw his sister in law, Liu Wanwan, pull his brother up and lead him toward the back room.

“Forget it,” Jiang Ning sighed inwardly at this sight. “I will find another opportunity to talk to him later.”

He quickly finished the food in front of him, stood up, and headed toward the inner room to see how his brother and sister in law were doing.

Jiang Ning felt a deep, genuine gratitude for his brother and sister in law in this life.

His past self had been a lazy idler, and yet the two of them had still done everything they possibly could for him.

Even his sister in law, despite having some quiet complaints about her lazy brother in law, had never publicly humiliated or embarrassed him.

When he first arrived in this world, he had been physically weak and severely injured, and it was his sister in law who had constantly cared for him, washing his clothes and cooking his meals.

Therefore, Jiang Ning had nothing but gratitude for them, holding not a single shred of resentment.

As he approached the back room, Jiang Ning heard the quiet, low voices of his brother and sister in law talking.

Driven by curiosity, Jiang Ning took a few more steps, and their voices became clearer.

“Jiang Li, have you really thought this through? Your brother Jiang Ning is eighteen now. Even if he is highly talented, he is almost past the prime age for learning martial arts. His future achievements will be limited!”

“Wanwan, I know! But he is my brother, my only blood brother, so how can I not help him? An eldest brother is like a father, and I only have this one brother!”

“What about Ming’er then?” Liu Wanwan’s voice was full of anger. “You know how expensive it is to study under a master! Ming’er is fourteen now, and his bones will finish developing soon. In another six months or a year, he will be at the golden age for learning martial arts!”

Hearing this, Jiang Li fell silent. After a brief pause, he said, “I can figure out the money situation. Ming’er’s future cannot be delayed, but my own brother’s future cannot be put off either! Since he wants to learn martial arts to find a way forward, I, as his eldest brother, must support him.”

“I think I want to go back and visit my family! I miss my parents and my brother!” Liu Wanwan suddenly blurted out.

Dead silence. Instantly, a heavy silence fell over the room.

“Brother!” Jiang Ning called out as he walked into the room, instantly breaking the heavy silence of the inner hall.

Suddenly, a voice shouted from outside. “Brother Li! Brother Li! Chief Feng is calling everyone together. We must gather at the government office before noon!”

The shouting came from outside, drawing closer by the second.

“Wanwan, I have put you through so much!” Jiang Li’s voice came from the inner room.

The next moment, the closed door in front of them burst open with a loud bang, and Jiang Li’s tall, burly figure instantly appeared before Jiang Ning.

“Brother!” Jiang Ning spoke up.

Jiang Li patted his shoulder, saying, “Don’t worry, I can handle all of this! Don’t be angry at your sister in law.”

Leaving those final words, Jiang Li took a swift stride forward, covering nearly three meters across the main room in a single bound.

He grabbed his official saber from the table with one hand and took another step, charging straight out of the main house.

“Let’s go!” Jiang Li barked to the messenger outside, his figure instantly vanishing from Jiang Ning’s sight.

“Sister in law,” Jiang Ning said softly as he watched Liu Wanwan walk out from the back room.

“I hope you will grow up a bit from now on and not let down your brother’s hard work yet again!” Liu Wanwan stared directly into Jiang Ning’s eyes, speaking with absolute sincerity before passing right by him.

Walking over to the dining table, she began to clear away the bowls and chopsticks.

The moon shone brightly, and the stars were sparse.

The cool, pale moonlight bathed Luoshui County, draping the night in a thin, shimmering veil.

Under such bright moonlight, Jiang Ning could easily read the characters on the pages of his book even while sitting out in the courtyard.

Woof, woof, woof!

Suddenly, the sound of several dogs barking echoed from outside the courtyard.

Soon after, a tall, burly man strode into view.

“Brother Li!” Standing at the courtyard gate, Liu Wanwan watched his figure approach, her eyes lighting up with joy.

“Brother Li, what is wrong with you?” Liu Wanwan’s expression instantly turned to sheer panic, her voice trembling violently.

Something went wrong!

The realization hit Jiang Ning instantly as he read under the moonlight.

He quickly shut his book, stood up, and hurried out of the courtyard.

The next moment.

Jiang Ning saw the tall, imposing Jiang Li walking through the moonlight. His steps were firm, carrying a commanding aura.

Then, his gaze was immediately drawn to Jiang Li’s right hand, which was heavily wrapped in white bandages.

Did something really happen?

Jiang Ning’s heart sank instantly.

By now, Jiang Li had strode right up to Liu Wanwan.

“Brother Li, what happened?” On the verge of tears, Liu Wanwan looked up at Jiang Li with a trembling voice.

Jiang Li grinned and said, “It is nothing. We raided the God Worshiping Cult this afternoon and ran into a bit of trouble. It is just a minor scratch!”

“Brother Li, you promised never to lie to me!” Liu Wanwan reached out as if to touch his right hand, but held back, terrified of causing him pain.

Hearing this, Jiang Li fell silent.

After a brief pause, he spoke softly, “The raid this afternoon was a bloodbath. I was lucky to escape with my life, but my right hand is ruined.”

“Ruined?” Liu Wanwan mumbled to herself, unable to believe her own ears.

The next instant, she looked up at Jiang Li with fierce determination in her eyes, “Can it be cured? No matter how much money it takes, I will pay it. If worse comes to worst, I will go beg my father and my brother!”

Jiang Li shook his head slightly, “The tendons are severed, and the bones are shattered. It is beyond saving.”

He then laughed heartily, “Do not worry, it is fine. Even though my right hand is ruined, I risked my life to hunt down those cultists on behalf of the county magistrate. Since I was injured on duty, the magistrate will certainly make sure I am taken care of. While we might not become fabulously wealthy, we will still be able to live a normal life. Besides, getting injured in the line of duty and transferring to a desk job comes with a solid compensation package. If the magistrate does not treat me fairly, who else would risk their lives to fight for him in the future?”

Hearing this, tears streamed down Liu Wanwan’s face as she nodded repeatedly.

Jiang Li smiled, drawing her into his arms with his left hand.

Watching this play out, Jiang Ning felt a bit awkward.

Under the circumstances, it felt inappropriate for him to intrude on his brother and sister in law’s intimate moment.

Just then.

Jiang Li gently patted her back, and she quietly pulled away from his embrace.

“Little brother, come with me,” Jiang Li said.

Jiang Ning nodded.