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Regarding Zuo He’s intentions, Mingyuan couldn’t figure out everything, but he could guess some of it.
“Brother Zuo Hao, we are all newcomers to the capital. Although you have been here before, it’s been many years. Your childhood friends must have changed a lot. Yesterday when we saw the Bai brothers, despite their mischief, the three of us felt they were decent and worth getting to know. Also, with my younger uncle’s connections, it might be convenient for future endeavors.”
Mingyuan’s words brought a knowing smile to the four of them.
Zuo Hao put his arm around his younger brother, “I knew it. How could our He He drink like that? This little guy is getting craftier. It’s a shame your second brother isn’t here; if he were, we brothers could gather and fulfill our ambitions.”
Zuo He patted his older brother’s shoulder, feeling regretful that his second brother had applied to schools in the south. If they could all gather in the city, it would be wonderful.
“Bro, Second Brother has his plans. He wants to establish himself first so that we can stay here comfortably. Without money, even with our skills, life would be tough. Our allowance isn’t enough. Dad and Mom are similar to us. Let Second Brother pave the way, and we’ll assist. We are brothers born of the same parents, ready for battle side by side.”
At this, Zuo Hao thought of their father. He wondered if their father was on the front lines by now. If Grandpa hadn’t stopped them, he would have gone with him long ago.
When Zhang Lan finished cooking, Old Chen and the others joined. Today, Chen Xu and the rest were exceptionally happy. Zhang Weiguo’s matter was settled, their earnings were good these days, and everyone felt especially hungry during the meal.
“Uncle, Zhenhe and I have prepared everything needed for Weiguo’s wedding these past two days. The rest is in your and Aunt’s hands. We need to quickly head to the south to take care of matters there. Fruits are in season now, so we must depart soon. Please take good care of the kids at home. When we’re not around, feel free to come over and stay. Consider it a break. Also, please help inquire about the house Weiguo plans to buy.”
The elders nodded with smiles, “Niece, you and Zhenhe focus on earning money. The more you make, the more good food we can all enjoy. Don’t worry about things here; we can manage. Old Chen, feel free to come and stay. With Xuan’er and Qianqian helping with cooking, you’re lucky this time. Old Zuo, should we come over for meals too? Eating here feels brighter than at home. This yard is huge, much larger than ours.” Old Wu said
Wu Changyong truly hesitated to leave. Without comparison, he found his home quite comfortable. However, seeing the Wang family’s large mansion with just a few children residing there made him envious. He decided to bring his wife over to stay when they returned home, helping out with Weiguo’s wedding arrangements.
Zuo Zhanshan nodded with a smile, “Sounds good. I’ll have your Old Hao come over first. I’ll be busy on that end during the day and come back to train these kids at night. Can’t let them get rusty over time. Have your wife come over to assist Weiguo with the arrangements.”
At this moment, Old Chen spoke up, “Old Zuo, both you and Old Wu are busy. I’m on break with nothing much to do at home. I’ll keep busy with these kids. When you have time, come over. We need to help with Weiguo’s wedding. As an elder, we should contribute.”
After sorting out how to divide the tasks, Mingcheng and Mingyuan were taken back by Old Zuo to continue training that evening. Weiguo’s matters were settled, and it was time for the younger ones to take over.
The next day when Mingyuan woke up, he realized the extent to which they had been trained. The soldiers in the yard envied them now. After their drills, those soldiers had nothing much to do, but for them, Mingyuan could only describe their treatment as inhumane. Fortunately, he had a good foundation and managed to endure it. Looking at Zuo He and the others, who seemed more relaxed, he made a resolution to train with them properly in the future. Fighting against stronger soldiers daily would ensure they didn’t fall behind. Training with soldiers stronger than themselves every day would turn even a willow branch into a rose, albeit still thorny.
Seeing his brother enduring silently, Mingcheng felt a pang of heartache. It was his younger brother’s first experience with such training, and he probably couldn’t handle it well.
Zuo Zhanshan kept a close watch, ensuring no one slacked off or showed leniency during training. He shifted from his usual amiable demeanor to a serious expression, observing the field closely. However, upon seeing Mingyuan’s performance, he nodded in satisfaction. This child didn’t disappoint him. After a few words of advice to the others, he left.
With Old Zuo gone, Mingcheng quietly asked, “Brother, if you can’t handle it, just speak up. Don’t force yourself.”
Zuo He and the others gave him concerned looks. Mingyuan’s eyes were filled with determination. He was eager to outmatch his current opponents, despite the noticeable gap in strength. “Bro, I’m fine. Come on, hit me again…”
The soldier in charge of training them found it intriguing. This kid was quite resilient. “Kid, do you need a break?”
Mingyuan stubbornly shook his head and lunged towards his sparring partner, “Hehe, this kid’s got some spirit.”
Throughout the morning, Mingyuan was thrown down numerous times but managed to get back up each time. Even his sparring partner was starting to tire out. Throwing someone around required strength, and despite the young age of the participants, it seemed like they possessed endless energy. Little did they know, Wang Qian’s food was all from her space, even the fruit juice. Under her careful management, their bodies were robust from a young age. While they might not be exceptionally strong, their physical strength exceeded that of their peers by far.
Finally, in the last round, when his opponent was a bit fatigued, Mingyuan swiftly brought him down with a powerful leg sweep.
He wiped his sweat off for the first time, nodding at his opponent, “Well done, impressive.”
His remark amused everyone in the room. The strong man he had taken down got up, chuckled, and glanced at Mingyuan, “Kid, I should be saying that, not you. Why are you stealing my lines?” He nodded at Mingyuan’s physique, “Well done, you’ve got potential.”
After the training session, Mingyuan realized he had been sparring with the best fighter there. He slapped his forehead, “Bro, I keep getting thrown. I’m not usually this bad. No wonder…”
Zuo He put his arm around him, “Bro, now you know you’re not that bad, right? Think about how we started training since we were kids. Why would you let yourself be tossed around like this? We all went through this. You should have more confidence now. It’s not that we’re weak; it’s just that the opponents are too strong. Once you adapt, you’ll be fine. Let’s go wash up and see if Qianqian and the others need any help.”
Zuo Hao chuckled as he hugged his younger brother, “Zuo He, Qianqian is at home. You don’t need to be in such a rush. I wonder if you’d end up wandering around their school if Qianqian started attending.”
Faced with his older brother’s teasing, Zuo He awkwardly put his arm around Zuo Hao and said, “Bro, why do you say that? Don’t you miss Qianqian? It’s been a whole evening without seeing her. I wonder what she’s up to now…”
Seeing Zuo He’s reaction, Mingyuan smiled at Mingcheng. The two brothers exchanged a knowing look. They had already figured out Zuo He’s little crush, but they believed he was a good match for their sister, so they let things be. If it were someone else, they would have intervened long ago.
Mingcheng put his arm around Zuo He’s shoulder and said seriously, “Brother, we trust you, but Qianqian is still young. You mustn’t rush things. Everything requires patience. Don’t do anything inappropriate or hurt her feelings. If you do, Mingyuan and I won’t approve. Remember that, okay?”
This was the first time Mingcheng had openly spoken to Zuo He in this manner. They had limited interactions with Qianqian before she went to college, but now that they would have more opportunities to meet, Mingcheng wanted to ensure Zuo He didn’t cause any harm. With Zuo He’s charming looks, Mingcheng was concerned about his sister’s well-being and decided to caution him in advance.
In response to Mingcheng’s words, Zuo He uncommonly replied with seriousness, “Mingcheng, rest assured. No one is allowed to harm Qianqian, not even me. Anyone who harms her becomes my enemy. Let me tell you this: Qianqian is a treasure I will protect for a lifetime. From the moment we met, I knew she was someone I had to cherish. Though I was naive back then, I now understand what that means. I will love and cherish Qianqian for the rest of my life and never do anything to betray her.”
Zuo He’s words were a declaration of his lifelong commitment, making it clear to everyone where his heart belonged. Zuo Hao stepped in at the right moment to support his younger brother, “Mingcheng, you all know what kind of person Zuo He is. He rarely speaks, but on this matter, he is serious. He may not promise much, but whatever Zuo He commits to, he will fulfill. Rest assured, Qianqian is precious to all of us. We will do everything we can to protect her. If my brother ever wrongs her, not even I would let him go.”