This Martial Saint is Too Cautious
Chapter 27 - 21: True Understanding of Earth Veins

Chapter 27: Chapter 21: True Understanding of Earth Veins

If a gang wants to collect protection money, let them. The Lin Family doesn’t have to pay.

This was the rule in Guangping County Town: no gang was allowed to collect protection money from a Martial Artist’s family.

"This final stroke needs more force. Write it another hundred times."

Just as Lin Yan finished teaching his younger brother a page of calligraphy, his aunt returned.

"Mom, what took you so long today? Did you run into any trouble?"

When Lin Mo saw his mother return, his eyes darted. Feigning concern, he put down his calligraphy brush and started to run over.

"Keep writing. If you don’t finish today, you’re not eating."

SMACK!

Lin Yan knew exactly what the boy was up to. He brought the ruler down squarely on Lin Mo’s outstretched right leg.

"Mom!"

Lin Mo grimaced in pain and shot his mother a pitiful look, but she paid him no mind, simply setting down her basket. "I went to Mr. Sun’s home today," she said. "He’s not doing well these days, so I brought them some grain."

When he heard his aunt mention Mr. Sun, Lin Yan’s eyes narrowed. Mr. Sun was the teacher who had taught him calligraphy long ago.

"What’s wrong with Mr. Sun?"

"Mr. Sun’s daughter-in-law is pregnant, so the family needs a lot of money right now. On top of that, the Three Heroes Gang just raised the stall fees by another twenty percent. The Sun Family is really struggling."

Lin Yan fell silent.

Mr. Sun made a living from a stall on the street, writing letters, choosing names for children, and even doing a bit of geomancy. Though not wealthy, he had always managed to get by.

He had studied reading and writing under the man for two years, making them teacher and student in a very real sense.

"I’ll go visit him later this evening."

After dinner, Lin Yan left home with a gift box to pay his former teacher a visit.

As he neared the Sun Family’s courtyard wall, he heard a woman’s voice from inside. He listened for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly, then stepped forward to knock. "Is the master at home?" he called out.

The woman’s voice inside cut off abruptly. A few breaths later, a middle-aged man opened the door. He seemed somewhat surprised to see Lin Yan at the gate. "Lin Yan? Quick, come in. Your aunt was just telling me you’re studying at the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall. You’ve made something of yourself!"

Four years had passed since Lin Yan had studied under him, and Sun Huairan found it impossible to reconcile the tall young man before him with the memory of the scrawny boy he once was.

Once inside, Lin Yan also saw Lady Sun and greeted her.

"Lin Yan, come... have some tea."

"Master, please, just call me Xiaoyan."

Lin Yan accepted the tea. It was far inferior to what he was used to drinking in Qingtian Town, with a bitter aftertaste. But Lin Yan didn’t show the slightest disdain, draining the cup in large gulps.

A look of gratification appeared in Sun Huairan’s eyes. He began, "I heard from your aunt that you’re a Martial Artist now. I don’t understand the path of Martial Arts, but I know that practicing it is just like studying—it all comes down to diligence..."

Teachers do love to lecture.

Lin Yan listened quietly. Even though Mr. Sun didn’t understand the Martial Arts, many of his principles about life and conduct were universal.

After they had finished a pot of tea, Lin Yan stood up. "It’s getting late, so I won’t disturb your rest any longer, Master. Listening to your teachings today has been truly enlightening. I will be sure to take your advice to heart."

Sun Huairan walked Lin Yan to the gate, but Lin Yan smiled. "This is far enough, Master. Please, don’t trouble yourself."

Standing at the entrance to his house, Sun Huairan watched Lin Yan’s figure walk to the end of the alley. The moment he turned back, he was startled by his wife, who was standing right behind him.

"Old Sun, Lin Yan is a Martial Artist now, and you’re still feeding him all those useless, high-minded principles. Did you even care if he wanted to hear them?"

"What does a woman like you understand? I may not know anything about Martial Arts, but I’ve lived for over half my life. I know a thing or two about how the world works. Xiaoyan is young, and experience is what he lacks most."

"Oh, you’ve got all the answers. So many answers that our daughter-in-law is pregnant and we can’t even afford to buy a chicken for her to eat."

Lady Sun’s voice was loud, meant as much for her daughter-in-law’s ears as it was a complaint against her husband. She was afraid her daughter-in-law would grow resentful, so she, as the mother-in-law, was making a show of scolding him first.

"If you ask me, now that Lin Yan is a Martial Artist, and he went through the trouble of visiting when our family is struggling so much, you should have said something to Xiaoyan."

"Say what? You wanted me to ask Xiaoyan to lend us money?" Sun Huairan glared at his wife. "Have you forgotten his family’s situation? Xiaoyan’s martial arts training costs a fortune. He barely has enough for himself."

"If not to borrow money, you could have at least mentioned the protection money. See if there’s a way Xiaoyan could get our family exempted from it."

"Xiaoyan just started his training. Wouldn’t mentioning the protection money just cause trouble for him?"

"But Xiaoyan is the most promising of all the children you’ve ever taught! The way things are now, having to pay protection money every month... we can’t survive!"

Lady Sun’s face was etched with worry, but her hands didn’t stop moving as she opened the gift box from Lin Yan. When she saw what was inside, she went silent for a beat.

"Old Sun," she stammered, "there’s... there are two taels of silver in here."

Hearing this, Sun Huairan walked over and looked inside the gift box.

The top layer of the box contained some pastries, which his wife had already set aside. Underneath lay several pieces of broken silver, probably amounting to two taels.

"This child... he’s so thoughtful."

Sun Huairan let out a soft sigh. All he had done was teach Lin Yan to read and write; it was hardly anything special. Many children on the street learned from him back then, and besides, he had been paid by the Liu Family for his trouble.

It was a testament to their bond that Lin Yan had come to visit at all. It would have been perfectly normal for him not to, let alone to bring money.

"Yes, that Xiaoyan... he’s a good kid, full of integrity. If you ask me, you should just teach him your geomancy skills."