This Martial Saint is Too Cautious
Chapter 35 - 27: A Kept Man’s Bitter Meal

Chapter 35: Chapter 27: A Kept Man’s Bitter Meal

Zhou Mansion.

Once one of the great families of Guangping County, the Zhou Family’s glory had faded over several generations, but their foundations remained strong.

"Hall Master Yang sent someone to our door with a proposal. What are your thoughts?"

Zhou Cang took a sip of tea, his gaze sweeping over his two sons and two daughters.

"A nineteen-year-old Second-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist who has only been training in Martial Arts for a year. His potential is quite good. With enough silver coins to support his training, it’s possible for him to reach the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing within five years."

Zhou Cang’s eldest son, Zhou Xu, offered his analysis but didn’t state his own position.

"Father, I think this marriage is a good idea. Lin Yan’s parents are both deceased, leaving him with only an aunt and a younger male cousin. There’s no risk of him trying to seize the Zhou Family’s assets for the Lin Family. Even if he ultimately fails to reach the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing, he’ll still be a Second-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist."

His eldest daughter smiled faintly. "Father, what we think isn’t important. What matters is whether Little Sister is willing. Little Sister, what are your thoughts?"

"Your second sister is right. Little Sister, what do you think?"

With all eyes on her, Zhou Shu pressed her lips together. "Father, I don’t want to marry this man."

"Oh? Shu’er, tell me what you’re thinking." Zhou Cang doted on his youngest daughter, so upon hearing her words, he simply smiled and asked.

"This Lin Yan obviously comes from a family that can’t afford his future training expenses, which is why he’s seeking marriage. He wants to use his wife’s family’s wealth to cover his Martial Arts costs. If I agree, I’m afraid our family will have to pay for all of Lin Yan’s training. And just because he succeeded in the first two stages of Skin Smoothing doesn’t mean he’ll succeed in the third on his first try. I don’t want to see our family spend so much money cultivating an unknown possibility."

On the surface, Zhou Shu’s words seemed to be for the family’s benefit, but only she knew the real reason she looked down on Lin Yan was his background.

As a young lady of the Zhou Family, her friends were all daughters of prominent families. If her husband were some poor boy from a common background, wouldn’t she become a laughingstock among her circle of friends?

Zhou Cang fell into a long silence. He was well aware of his daughter’s petty concerns, but just as she feared being ridiculed, he harbored the same reservation.

The Zhou Family’s ancestors had, after all, been glorious. To take on a son-in-law from a poor background now would likely invite mockery.

"Since you’re unwilling, Shu’er, we’ll drop the matter."

...

Yang Family Martial Arts Hall.

Yang Qingfeng listened to the report from the person he had entrusted with the task, his brow furrowing slightly.

He had put considerable thought into finding a good marriage for Lin Yan, shortlisting a total of four families.

These four families were financially well-off, and none had an excessive number of heirs. Most importantly, all four had clean reputations, with no secret ties to any of the city’s gangs. This way, if Lin Yan became their son-in-law, he wouldn’t be exploited.

But he hadn’t expected the results to be so bleak.

One family had politely declined. The other two hadn’t refused, but they had a condition: Lin Yan would have to marry into their family.

Lin Yan’s parents were dead, and only two members of the Lin Family remained across three generations. His own branch consisted of him alone. Marrying into another family was absolutely out of the question.

There are three ways to be unfilial, and having no heir is the greatest.

In this era, marrying into another family was, in essence, the same as having no heir.

As for the last one, the Li Family, they neither refused nor mentioned him marrying in. They only suggested arranging a meeting for the two young people first.

...

Qingtian Town.

"Junior Brother Lin, let’s go. We can’t be late."

"Senior Brother Zhang, please wait a moment. Miss Xiu’er, could you please make a cup of tea for my senior brother?"

Lin Yan asked Ah Xiu to make tea for Senior Brother Zhang Liang while he went back to his room to change. He had originally planned to go into Great Mist Mountain today, but to his surprise, Senior Brother Zhang Liang had shown up in Qingtian Town first thing in the morning.

His master had arranged a meeting for him with the Li Family’s young lady for today, and Senior Brother Zhang had been sent to inform him.

"Take your time, Junior Brother."

Zhang Liang smiled as he watched Lin Yan enter the room. His gaze then shifted to Ah Xiu, who was preparing the tea. He said coolly, "My junior brother is already at the Second-Time of Skin Smoothing at such a young age and is highly regarded by our master. His future is limitless. The woman by his side will inevitably be the daughter of a powerful and noble family."

He said this because he was afraid the peasant girl before him might get improper ideas.

He didn’t know that Ah Xiu was only responsible for washing clothes, cooking, and cleaning the courtyard for Lin Yan. In his eyes, Junior Brother Lin must have already slept with this woman.

If Junior Brother Lin came from a prominent family, he wouldn’t need to say such things; his junior brother would already know what kind of woman was suitable to be a wife. But Junior Brother Lin came from a common background, and he was afraid the young, naive man wouldn’t understand these matters and might feel responsible enough to marry the girl.

"Rest assured, my lord... My relationship with Lord Lin is... proper."

Ah Xiu kept her head down, not daring to look at Zhang Liang, her cheeks flushed crimson. Her parents had tried several times to get her to climb into Lord Lin’s bed, but Lord Lin had no such intentions toward her. After a few attempts, she didn’t dare try any more tricks. Just being able to clean the courtyard for Lord Lin every day was enough to make her content.

...

Jinsheng Hall.

This was the largest theater in Guangping County. Only the wealthy and influential families of the city could afford to come here for entertainment.

Led by a theater clerk, Lin Yan entered a private booth. His master had reserved it for him in advance. The fee for the tea service in a single booth was three taels of silver.

Not long after the attendant brought in tea, melon seeds, and pastries, footsteps approached the door, and Miss Li of the Li Family walked in, followed by her maid.

Miss Li wore a long, cinched-waist dress that revealed her graceful figure. She took the initiative and spoke to Lin Yan, "Are you Brother Lin Yan, the Martial Arts Academy Disciple from the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall?"

"I am indeed Lin Yan. A pleasure to meet you, Miss Li."

"We are both Martial Artists, Brother Lin. There’s no need for such pleasantries. You can call me Li Yu directly."

Li Yu lacked the coyness and modesty of most women. She sized up Lin Yan openly and said, "Brother Lin, I’ll be blunt. You are not the husband I am looking for. The only reason I agreed to meet you this time is because Hall Master Yang once did my family a favor, and we couldn’t bring ourselves to refuse him outright."

After speaking, the maid behind Li Yu placed a silver pouch on the table.

"For taking up your time, Brother Lin. Here are twenty taels in silver banknotes as an apology."

Lin Yan’s eyes narrowed. He wasn’t surprised that this Miss Li didn’t find him suitable, but he hadn’t expected her to offer twenty taels of silver as an apology.

’Twenty taels of silver for half a day of my time traveling to and from the city. Honestly, that’s not a bad deal.’

If this matter only concerned him, he would have taken the twenty taels of free silver. But it also involved his master, so there was no way he could accept the money.

"I understand your meaning, Miss Li. I will explain to my master that we were not a match for each other. As for the silver, that won’t be necessary."

"Brother Lin, I mean nothing else by it. I am simply expressing my apology."

"There’s no need. If you have the time, Miss Li, you’re welcome to stay and enjoy the show."

His master had paid for the booth, so Lin Yan had no intention of leaving. Li Yu was taken aback for a moment by his words, then smiled. "I have some matters to attend to at home. In that case, I will take my leave."

Li Yu led her maid out of the booth. After they had gone downstairs, the maid behind her couldn’t help but say, "Miss, that Lin Yan has already reached the Second-Time of Skin Smoothing at such a young age. His future..."

"He has no future."

Li Yu cut her maid off. "For the Fourth-Time of Skin Smoothing, the expenses become increasingly greater the further one progresses. Hall Master Yang approached our Li Family because he knows that with Lin Yan’s family background, he could never gather the silver coins needed for the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing. He wants to use our family’s financial resources to help Lin Yan’s Cultivation."

"Instead of spending money on someone else, it’s better to spend it on me. After I reach the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing, I can find a husband who is, at the very least, at the same Realm as me."

"Besides... if Lin Yan had just accepted those twenty taels of silver, I would have thought more highly of him. It would have shown he knows when to bend and when to stand tall. But he refused. He probably felt that me giving him silver coins was an insult."

"A Martial Artist from a common background who is so sensitive and concerned with face will likely never accept charity from others. Just watch. Before long, Lin Yan’s Martial Arts Realm will stagnate due to a lack of silver coins."

Li Yu sighed softly. A Second-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist might be a big shot in the eyes of common people, but among the upper echelons of the county, only those at the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing had any real say.

This Lin Yan, with his common background, has probably become proud and arrogant after reaching the Second-Time of Skin Smoothing. The more he is like that, the less likely he is to reach the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing.

...

After Li Yu left, Lin Yan packed up the melon seeds and pastries from the private booth and also left the theater.

They were bought with three taels of silver; he’d take them home as a treat for his little brother.

After returning home, Lin Yan went to the Martial Arts Hall to see his master. He only said that he and Li Yu hadn’t taken a liking to each other.

Yang Qingfeng looked at his disciple’s calm expression, but he understood in his heart. As long as Li Yu wasn’t exceptionally ugly, Lin Yan would not have been the one to find her unsuitable.

The most important thing about marrying a daughter from a great family was the financial support from her family. His disciple was very clear on this point; looks were secondary.

The real reason was that Li Yu had not taken a liking to Lin Yan.

Lin Yan had said what he did not for his own pride, but more so that he, his master, wouldn’t hold a grudge against the Li Family, which could sour their relationship.

"Since you and the Li Family’s young lady are not fated to be, then let’s drop the matter. Don’t take it to heart. In the end, a Martial Artist’s strength is what truly matters."

"This disciple understands."