Chapter 45: Sparring

Although there were no large prey in the outer mountains, there was still some small game.

After not checking the traps for a few days, Pear Blossom found a rotting deer with its belly punctured at the bottom of the pit. However, there were also several trapped pheasants and a roe deer. Having been without food for days, the fat pheasants clucked hungrily.

With the system’s help, Pear Blossom managed to catch a few plump rabbits as well, making the harvest abundant this time.

She tied them up and hung them upside down on a makeshift yoke made from a small tree branch, wobbling her way to town with the load.

As soon as she entered the city gates, she noticed white papers posted everywhere, with a crowd gathered around reading aloud. Pear Blossom, unable to read, didn’t bother joining the crowd, assuming it was just a government notice or decree.

Passersby glanced at her impressive load of game, their eyes lighting up with envy at the sight of such fine goods. They were amazed that such a slender girl could carry such a heavy burden, finding it unbelievable.

Pear Blossom ignored their stares. Her legs were strong, and the weight of the load was well within her capacity. The only issue was that the makeshift yoke hadn’t been smoothed down, digging painfully into her shoulders. All she could think about was reaching her destination quickly.

Soon, she arrived at the back door of the Fulai Restaurant. Hao Ge’er, one of the kitchen helpers, saw her nearly-broken yoke and hurried over to help unload, chuckling as he said, “You’ve got quite the load here! I’m a grown man, and I wouldn’t be able to carry this far. You’re amazing.”

Pear Blossom wiped the sweat from her brow and replied, “It’s manageable. This roe deer isn’t too big; otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to handle it.” Head Chef Xu poked his head out from the kitchen. Seeing the load, including a rare roe deer, he broke into a wide grin. “You haven’t been here for a while, and I figured you were holding out for something big. Sure enough, you brought in the good stuff! Customers have been asking for this recently, but the other hunters haven’t been able to catch any, so I didn’t dare add it to the menu.”

Roe deer meat is tender and flavorful, known for its health benefits like strengthening the body, nourishing the lungs, and enhancing vitality. It’s highly sought after by the city’s wealthy families, making it fetch a good price.

Pear Blossom smiled and said, “Uncle Xu, this roe deer and the pheasants have been starved for days, so they’ve lost quite a bit of weight. You can’t calculate the price the same as before.”

Chef Xu reassured her with a grin. “Don’t worry, girl. I’m hoping you’ll bring more game in the future. How could I shortchange you on this?”

Watching Chef Xu direct Brother Hao to weigh the goods, Pear Blossom finally asked, “Uncle Xu, I saw a lot of big white posters at the city gate. Is there some new decree?”

“There is a decree, but it’s nothing good,” Chef Xu lowered his voice. “They’re saying taxes are going to be collected.”

Pear Blossom didn’t understand much about taxes, but she vaguely remembered that grain taxes had already been collected earlier in the year. Seeing another tax announcement now didn’t seem right. She shared her thoughts.

Chef Xu shook his head. “This tax isn’t for this year—it’s for next year.” Pear Blossom frowned. “The year’s not even over, and they’re already collecting next year’s taxes? That’s unreasonable. But since this year’s taxes have already been paid, does that mean there won’t be any taxes next year?”

“Wishful thinking. Next year, they’ll collect taxes for the year after. If they really push it, they could demand three or four rounds of grain in one year, pre-collecting taxes for the next ten years. Now that would be a nightmare.” Chef Xu’s face darkened at the memory of his childhood experiences.

If Pear Blossom still couldn’t understand, she’d have to be slow-witted. She was about to speak but was stopped by Chef Xu. “Best not to talk about this in public. There are patrols everywhere, and if they overhear you, you’ll be in trouble.” Pear Blossom fell silent.

By then, Brother Hao had finished weighing the goods and called out the total. Chef Xu calculated the amount and said, “One tael, two qian, and forty wen. Since you’ve gone a few days hungry, I’ll round it up to one tael and four qian. How about that?”

Pear Blossom, not great at arithmetic, had her system double-check the calculation and found no discrepancy. Once again, she silently lamented her lack of education.

After receiving the money and thanking him, Chef Xu hurried inside to process the goods. Brother Hao, taking a break, couldn’t resist chatting. “Pear Blossom, you mentioned those big white posters. One of them was actually a missing person notice.”

“A missing person notice? Who’s being searched for? Is it the government?” Pear Blossom asked, curious.

“You don’t know? Someone in town is desperately looking for a girl who sells eggs! Apparently, there was a huge misunderstanding a few days ago. They took her eggs by mistake and now want to apologize but can’t find her. There’s even a big reward for anyone who provides a lead!”

Pear Blossom froze, recalling the time she was overpowered by a girl named Murong Jin at the marketplace.

“What does the girl look like? What’s her name?” she asked.”She’s often dressed in red and is the eldest daughter of Longwei Dart Bureau. I think her name is… Murong Jin,” Brother Hao replied.

That’s the girl she had argued with in the market! She’s looking for her? Pear Blossom felt a whirlwind of emotions as she clutched her earnings. She’d held a grudge against that girl for so long, even wishing ill upon her in secret. Yet now, the girl was making such an effort to make amends. Was her hatred for nothing?

Still, the memory of being beaten, humiliated in public, and ridiculed by onlookers made Pear Blossom feel justified. Letting the grudge go just like that didn’t sit well with her.

With a huff, her mood lifted. If Murong Jin had gone to such lengths to find her, she might as well see her, reclaim the money for those thirty eggs, and call it even. She turned to Brother Hao. “Do you want to earn the reward for providing a lead?”

Brother Hao’s eyes widened. “No way! You’re the egg seller?” Pear Blossom grinned mischievously.

After Brother Hao gleefully left with the reward, Pear Blossom turned to the girl in red standing before her. “You were looking for me, so I came. Give me the money for the eggs, and I’ll go home. I won’t hold it against you.”

Murong Jin pursed her lips as she stared at the straightforward girl. She seemed about the same age as her, maybe even younger, but her stubbornness was just like the day she fiercely protected her eggs.

How could she have ever mistaken her for a thief? There couldn’t possibly be such an upright and rigid thief in the world.Hearing her ask for payment, Murong Jin quickly pulled out her purse. “I mistook your basket that day and wronged you. I’ll repay you for the eggs and compensate you further. If you have any requests, just let me know, and I’ll do my best to fulfill them.”

She was in the wrong, so even if the girl made an unreasonable demand, the Dart Bureau could handle it.

To her surprise, the girl shook her head. “As long as you know you were wrong, I won’t take more than what you owe. And next time, don’t wrongly accuse good people. I’m thick-skinned, but if it had been another girl, being labeled a thief could have ruined her. She might’ve been so ashamed she’d throw herself into a well.”

Murong Jin hadn’t considered this before. Now, hearing Pear Blossom’s words, she realized how thoughtless her actions had been. She quickly replied, “It was reckless of me. I’m deeply sorry. I’ll be more careful in the future. May I ask your name?”

Pear Blossom frowned at being called “little sister.” They were about the same age, why was she being addressed like a younger sibling? But she couldn’t be bothered to argue. “My name’s Pear Blossom. Those thirty eggs were one wen each. Give me thirty wen, and I’ll be on my way.”

Murong Jin was momentarily stunned by her insistence on only being reimbursed for the eggs. Still, she had prepared for this. She pulled out a silver note worth a hundred taels. “Pear Blossom, this is a hundred taels. It’s compensation for my mistake. Please accept it.”

This was the second time Pear Blossom had seen a hundred-tael silver note. She recalled the times when even a single wen was hard to come by, like when her mother fell ill, and they couldn’t scrape together five wen for medicine. But here were people casually offering her such wealth.

If she hadn’t seen Murong Jin give Brother Hao ten taels earlier, she would’ve thought this girl was simply reckless with money.

Murong Jin noticed that she hadn’t moved and thought she might find the amount too little. She reached into her pocket and pulled out another fifty, handing it to her and saying, “This is all I have. I hope you won’t mind.”

Pear Blossom finally came back to her senses, but she immediately pushed Murong Jin’s hand away and said, “I don’t want your silver note. I only want the money for my eggs.”

Murong Jin was truly taken aback. This person wasn’t pretending. What kind of girl was this? Last time she was dressed in tatters, and now she was a bit more presentable, but still in rough homespun clothes, clearly not from a wealthy family. Given her poverty, how could she refuse silver? Who in their right mind doesn’t love money?

This was one hundred taels of silver, a sum that would last a whole rural family a lifetime.” What are you looking at?” Pear Blossom frowned, displeased. “Since you’ve already admitted your mistake, just give me the money for the eggs. Are you saying it’s reasonable for me to extort money from you just because my family is poor?”

Murong Jin awkwardly chuckled and hurriedly clarified, “It’s not that. I just feel bad for wronging you, and I think I should make some compensation.”

Pear Blossom snorted. “I don’t need your compensation. Just be more careful next time and don’t wrong anyone. Now give me the egg money; I need to get home.”

Though Murong Jin wasn’t the type to throw money around, she didn’t usually carry coins either. Moreover, she had beaten someone badly that day, which led to the person being labeled a thief, so she felt that some form of compensation was necessary. The money was out now, and she couldn’t take it back. This also didn’t align with her usual heroic style.

Without thinking further, she forcefully pushed the silver note into Pear Blossom’s hands.But Pear Blossom took a few steps back and said, “What are you doing? You can’t stand not giving me the silver, right? Well, I’m like this: I’ll take what’s mine, but I won’t take what isn’t.”

There’s no free lunch in the world. The last time she had been tricked into selling eggs by an old woman with a piece of candy, that experience had left an indelible mark on her. Not every little cheap trick was worth taking, and not all money was hers to claim—otherwise, there would be huge consequences.

The one hundred taels last time, she had earned through hard work, spent wisely, and even built a house. That felt good. The one tael and four coins she had from hunting were also earned through her own efforts, and she felt secure with them. But this one hundred taels in front of her, even if she took it, wouldn’t feel right.

Murong Jin, seeing her stubbornness, was at a loss. She hadn’t expected to be in a position where she couldn’t give out silver, but seeing Pear Blossom refuse it, she felt uneasy. Yet, seeing her resolute attitude, she decided to compromise, “I don’t have any small change on me, but you can come home with me, and I’ll give you thirty coins.” Pear Blossom was speechless. “I’ll wait here; you go and get it.” Murong Jin said, “Come with me, this silver is from my mother. She asked me to find you and give it to you.

If you don’t take it, I won’t be able to explain it to her. You’ll have to come back with me and explain, or she’ll think I bullied you again.”

Seeing Pear Blossom hesitate, she quickly added, “Also, my mother really loves the eggs from your family. She sends me to find you every day. If you have any, I’ll buy them all from you, however many you have.”

Pear Blossom hesitated upon hearing this. Her mother really did eat their eggs, and eggs from old hens were much better than others. Her mother knew how to appreciate good food.

In the end, she agreed to go back with her.The security bureau wasn’t far, and the two of them reached it after a while.

When Mrs. Jiang heard that her daughter had brought the girl who had been wronged, she hurried out to meet them. From a distance, she called to Pear Blossom, “Ah, we’ve finally found you! That day, Jin’er was reckless and wronged you, even took your eggs. I’m so sorry. She and her father have already scolded her harshly. She’s been waiting by the market every day, and her younger brothers have been sent out to look for you. We’ve finally found you.”

Mrs. Jiang appeared kind-hearted, wearing satin clothes that made her look like a rich lady. Pear Blossom had never been treated like this by a wealthy lady before. Seeing her approach and take her hand, Pear Blossom’s guard immediately lowered, and her hostility toward Murong Jin also lessened when she saw her mother.

As they were talking, footsteps were heard at the door. Three boys, about ten years old, ran in one after another, calling out, “Big sister!”

Upon seeing Pear Blossom standing next to Murong Jin, the boys all broke into happy smiles.

The eldest, Murong Xiu, stepped forward and said, “You’re the one my big sister was looking for, the one selling eggs? We’ve searched everywhere for you!”

The second, Murong Jiang, continued, “I haven’t gone to school for several days. I’ve been helping my sister look for you! “The youngest, Murong Shan, said, “Big sister knows she was wrong. Please don’t be mad at her.”

Pear Blossom, hearing these boys, who were about the same size as Erniu and Xinghua, pleading for their big sister, felt her anger dissipate. She said, “I don’t blame her. It’s my skill that wasn’t enough. If I had beaten her that day, she wouldn’t have taken the eggs, and she wouldn’t have had to apologize everywhere.”Just then, a loud laugh came from behind.

Pear Blossom turned to see a one-eyed, bearded man walking toward them. Murong Jin and her three younger brothers eagerly called out “Father!” and Pear Blossom realized this must be the head of the security bureau.

Murong Jiutian approached, looked at Pear Blossom, and turned to his daughter, asking, “Is this the girl you told me about? The one you knocked down seven times, but she kept getting up?”

Murong Jin nodded. That day, Pear Blossom had been relentlessly beaten by her but never once gave up. She had been knocked down, but each time she got back up. Murong Jin realized then that she had wronged the wrong person.

“Not many people in Jinyang County can be knocked down seven times and still get back up,” Murong Jiutian said with interest, then turned to look at Pear Blossom from head to toe.

“Your body is thin but upright, your legs are straight and strong, with solid support, your fingers are long and your palms are large, and your gaze is determined—well, you girl, have you practiced martial arts?”

Pear Blossom wasn’t bothered by his scrutiny; she could tell that Murong Jiutian was assessing her physique, likely related to martial arts. As expected, he immediately focused on that aspect.

She shook her head and said, “I haven’t practiced martial arts, but my father used to serve in the military. When he came back, he taught me how to stand in a horse stance and then taught me four different boxing techniques. I just practiced those four techniques.”

“Show me.”

Pear Blossom, upon hearing this, obediently stepped with her left leg to shoulder width and started to throw a left hook followed by a right hook.

Just then, Murong Jiutian suddenly pulled out a bamboo stick from the side and tapped it against her knee. Pear Blossom was caught off guard by the sudden strike. Her knee went numb, and her right leg wobbled.

Though her body tilted sideways, her right leg bent but didn’t fall. Instead, she pushed against the ground and stood up slowly without relying on her left leg, maintaining steady balance throughout.

Murong Jiutian’s face showed surprise, and he spun the bamboo stick in his hand, aiming for the point on her left leg. But she raised her left leg and blocked it. The bamboo stick missed and swept toward her right leg, but she quickly lowered her foot, stepping down with a loud crack as the stick split cleanly in two.

Mrs. Jiang scolded, “After inviting someone to your home, you start hitting their ankles with a bamboo stick? What do you think you’re doing!”

Meanwhile, the system in Pear Blossom’s mind exploded with advice: “This old man is a skilled martial artist. He’s testing you. If he teaches you martial arts, your physical attributes will definitely improve.”

Pear Blossom recalled what Zuo Qi had said a few days ago—that it would be great if she could have a martial arts master to guide her. Encouraged by the system’s urging, she felt tempted.

She also realized that Sister Dong was not as simple as she seemed. She could use a token to control Zuo Qi and had forced Mrs. Zeng away with just a look. She was no ordinary person.

But Pear Blossom felt weak and wondered how she could protect her sister if she couldn’t fulfill Zuo Qi’s promise.

Seeing Pear Blossom’s eyes shift uneasily, Mrs. Jiang thought she was scared and glared at her husband. “How could you do that to such a sincere girl? Don’t mind him, let’s go sit in the room.”

Pear Blossom, lost in thoughts about how to get closer to Murong Jiutian, was pulled by Mrs. Jiang to the hall. Murong Jin and three young boys followed closely behind. She had to push her thoughts aside and replied, “Mrs. Jiang, my name is Pear Blossom. The general was just testing my martial arts.”

“No need to call me ‘Mrs. Jiang,’ just call me Aunt Jiang. This old man is always playing with his spear and shouting about fighting. Let’s ignore him. What would you like to eat? I’ll make it for you.”

Mrs. Jiang could tell from Pear Blossom’s clothing and rough hands that her family must not be well-off. Her daughter had mentioned that Pear Blossom didn’t want any compensation, and she increasingly felt that this girl was different, growing fonder of her.

Pear Blossom, feeling a bit embarrassed, didn’t want to admit she had come to collect the thirty coins and shyly refused, “I’m not hungry, Mrs. Jiang, don’t trouble yourself. I should head back now.”

Mrs. Jiang stopped her, saying, “No, you can’t leave. Jin’er misunderstood, and your father gave you two strikes. How can I let you go like this?” Pear Blossom couldn’t refuse, and her desire to learn Murong Jiutian’s martial arts kept her there.

Murong Jiutian, having been in the military and part of the Jianghu, was not strict about formalities. The family ate together casually, with both men and women sitting at the same table. The brothers were good with words, and the conversation was lively. Pear Blossom, not shy, ate comfortably in the midst of it all.

Halfway through the meal, Murong Jiutian asked, “Girl, how old are you this year?” Mrs. Jiang, hearing this, immediately understood her husband’s intentions. He must be thinking of training Pear Blossom because of her sturdy build. But since she was already this tall, it seemed she must be getting older. Girls matured faster than boys, and as they got older, it was harder to learn martial arts. Moreover, at fifteen, a girl was expected to marry and have children, leaving no time for martial arts practice.

When Pear Blossom answered, “Sixteen,” Murong Jiutian’s expression darkened.

Murong Jin, seeing his father’s reaction, thought for a moment and said, “Father, I need someone to practice martial arts with. If Pear Blossom is willing, she can be my sparring partner. What do you think?”

Murong Jiutian’s eyes brightened, thinking it was a good idea. That way, he could still keep an eye on her. He could teach her a few moves, and if she was willing to learn, it would be her gain. Even if she didn’t want to, he wouldn’t mind. Everyone turned their gaze to Pear Blossom.

Seeing her confused expression, Mrs. Jiang smiled and said, “Pear Blossom, Jin’er is growing up, and it’s not appropriate to find a boy to practice with. You were able to get up after being knocked down so hard by her. We can’t find another girl like you in Jinyang. If you’re willing, come practice with her. But sparring isn’t easy. We’ll pay you two taels of silver a month. What do you think?”

In the past, Murong Jin had a sparring partner, but they were only paid a few coins. Since Pear Blossom didn’t want the one hundred taels of compensation from Murong Jin, Mrs. Jiang included this money in the offer. If Pear Blossom could handle it, the payment would be well deserved.

“No matter how unwilling Pear Blossom was, she put down her chopsticks, sat up straight, and said, ‘I’m willing, but my home is a bit far from here, and I can only come for half a day every day—’Murong Jin quickly took over the conversation, saying, ‘Half a day is enough. I have things to do in the afternoon, so I can’t be training all day. Where do you live? Is it far away? Otherwise, you can stay at the escort agency.

‘Pear Blossom shook her head. If she stayed at the escort agency, what would happen if something happened with Sister Dong? She had promised Master Zuo Qi to protect her well. Besides, she was still thinking about her parents and younger siblings. She missed them dearly every day she wasn’t with them.’

My family lives in Daliushu Village, Dongping, but I walk quickly, and it takes me about an hour to get to the city.’ Murong Jiutian, upon hearing this, was shocked. ‘Daliushu Village is dozens of miles from Jinyang City. You can get there in an hour?

‘Pear Blossom nodded, her expression calm. ‘ There are wolves on the mountain in our village. I can outrun them. ‘The Murong family found this hard to believe, but the child didn’t seem to be lying. Even if she were, this was something easily proven wrong. A simple test would expose it.

Murong Jiutian instantly felt like he had found a treasure. He waved his hand grandly. ‘All right, it’s settled then. From now on, you’ll come to be Jin’er’s sparring partner. Just arrive at the escort agency at 3 o’clock every day, practice for half a day, and then you can go home.’

Upon hearing him, Pear Blossom quickly stood up, bowed to him, and said, ‘Thank you, Escort Chief, for giving Pear Blossom a meal.’

Murong Jiutian laughed heartily. ‘What are you thanking me for? You’re earning your own food with your own skills. No need to thank me. Come, sit down, and eat.’ Pear Blossom, following his words, returned to her seat and said to Mrs. Jiang, ‘I’ll only come for half a day, and one or two taels a month will be enough.’

Mrs. Jiang looked at her serious manner and couldn’t help but smile. ‘If you say two taels, it’s two taels. You’ll be working hard coming back and forth. Also, I’ve been meaning to ask you to bring me some eggs. I’ve been thinking about your family’s eggs for a long time. Now, no matter who I buy from, none of them taste as good as the ones Jin’er used to get from you. If you can bring me an egg every day, I’ll be satisfied.’Pear Blossom smiled upon hearing this. That’s easy enough. An egg doesn’t cost much.

Mrs. Jiang then asked, ‘Do you need to discuss the sparring partner job with your parents?’ Pear Blossom shook her head. ‘I can decide on this myself. I’ll just tell my parents when I get home.’Their family only had eight acres of land, and the yield wasn’t high. With six mouths to feed and taxes to pay, and now they even had to pay taxes for the next year in advance.

Their money had already been spent on building the house. After the rice harvest, her father would definitely have to go out and find work to earn money. As the eldest daughter in the family, she naturally had to share the burden. The escort agency job could pay two taels a month, which would be twenty-four taels a year. Where else could she find such a good job?’

But this month is the autumn harvest season, so I need to help at home with the rice harvest. I’ll only be able to come after the busy farming season.’Murong Jiutian had no objections.

Mrs. Jiang saw that she had such a good opportunity but wasn’t rushing to start right away, instead worrying about her family’s farm work. This made her feel even more fond of the girl, thinking that she was sincere and humble. ‘It’s fine, focus on your family’s work first. When you have time, come over.’