Chapter 44: The Lecher

After arriving at Cui’s Grain Shop,
Lu Chuan didn’t run into any trouble. Once the shopkeeper received the silver, he obediently handed over the aged grain that had been prepared in advance.

“Sun Mian,” Lu Chuan called.

“Master, what are your instructions?” Sun Laizi replied.

“If you want to train in martial arts, you must first train your body. Starting now, you’ll carry this load on your shoulders. No matter where we go today, you’re to keep it on your back.”

“You can only set it down once we return home.”

“Understood?”

Lu Chuan’s tone was cold and stern.

Sun Laizi’s legs trembled slightly.

He glanced at the heavy load and showed a worried expression. “Uh… Master, this… this thing isn’t light!”

“Don’t worry—
You can handle it,” Lu Chuan said casually as he tossed the burden onto Sun Laizi’s back.

What a joke.
If he hadn’t brought Sun Laizi along, he could’ve just thrown the load into his portable storage space when no one was watching.

But since he did bring him along, why not make use of the free labor?

“Master!”
Sun Laizi wailed, “I’m still an injured man! How could you treat me like this?”

Lu Chuan grinned, “That’s strange—
You carry loads on your shoulders, not with your hands. What’s a hand injury got to do with it?”

“If you’re not willing, then don’t bother calling me Master anymore.”

“I’m willing!”
Sun Laizi’s mouth twitched violently.

He glared bitterly at the full, heavy load, then nodded hard.
“Even if this thing weighs a thousand jin today, I’ll carry it right behind you, Master!”

After leaving Cui’s Grain Shop,
Lu Chuan made his way to the Textile Bureau of Hongtu County.

After explaining his purpose to the gate guards,
One of them waved dismissively with clear impatience.
“Are you kidding me? This is the Textile Bureau, not a carpenter’s workshop! If you want a loom, go find a carpenter. What are you asking us for?”

Lu Chuan’s eyes showed a trace of confusion.

That’s not right.

This wasn’t what he had heard—
Even if the bureau didn’t have looms, the guards should have reported the request up the chain before turning someone away.

But today, they were just outright dismissing him.

Even more suspicious, when Lu Chuan stood outside the gates earlier, he clearly saw several unused looms sitting in the courtyard of the bureau.

Still, although puzzled,
Lu Chuan didn’t press the issue.

These guards clearly wanted him gone.

“Pah!”
“Those higher-ups really are idiots. Trying to run a secret inspection using such a simple trick—do they really think we’re blind?”

One of the guards stabbed his staff into the ground and leaned lazily against the gate.

“That’s why you’re amazing, Brother Long,” another guard flattered with a grin. “None of us have your sharp eyes.”

“Of course!”
…

The two guards continued their idle chat.

Meanwhile, Lu Chuan left the scene with Sun Laizi.

He began considering whether he should just find a carpenter and have a loom custom-built.

“Sun Mian,”
“Are there any well-known carpenters nearby?”

“Carpenters?”
Sun Laizi thought for a moment. “There is one in Zhao Family Village. A lot of folks in our village go there to have furniture made. But he’s a stubborn guy—and expensive, too.”

“Skilled, no doubt. But he doesn’t get along with people from our village.”

“Zhao Family Village?”

Lu Chuan smiled helplessly and said, “Seems like fate has a funny way of bringing us together!”

However, he didn’t mind much.

The loom couldn’t be rushed; it wasn’t something that could be solved in an instant.

The two of them walked toward Shuangshui Village.

What surprised Lu Chuan was that, although Sun Laizi kept complaining, he never once put the load down. It was important to note that the load contained over two hundred jin of grain!

Even Lu Chuan, at his current strength, occasionally felt it was quite taxing!

When they returned home,
Sun Laizi put the load down on the ground, then immediately plopped down beside it.

“I’m exhausted!”
Sun Laizi moaned, his face full of misery. “Master, did I pass?”

“You passed!”
Lu Chuan responded.
“Now look at me!”
As he spoke, Lu Chuan kept massaging his own shoulders and the muscles in front of him.

“Once we go back, make sure to massage properly for at least half an hour!”
“That way, the pain tomorrow morning will be much less!”

“As I said before, when the rooster crows, come here!”

“Practice with me!”
“I won’t teach you directly; you’ll learn what you can by following me. If you can master the basics, I’ll teach you more advanced things later on!”

Lu Chuan gave his instructions.

“Got it, Master!”
Sun Laizi wobbled as he stood up, his eyes showing gratitude.

“Alright, go back!”
Lu Chuan waved his hand at Sun Laizi, who staggered away.

“He’s a raw talent!”
Lu Chuan smiled as he watched Sun Laizi leave, then picked up the grain and walked into the house.

“Master!”
“You’re back?”
Bai Siyu came forward, a bit confused. “Did you take on a disciple?”

“Yeah, he wanted to learn martial arts from me, so I decided to teach him a bit!”
Lu Chuan nodded casually.

“Anyway, it doesn’t require much effort!”
“Tomorrow, come up the mountain with me?”
Lu Chuan looked at Su Ruan and asked.

Su Ruan’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Really?”

“Sure!”
Su Ruan said, a serious expression taking over her face.

Then, she hesitated before saying, “But… I’m a bit worried about Xiao Bai and Die Yi being alone at home. What if someone from the village, or Zhao Family Village, comes by?”

“The people from the village aren’t a problem!”
Bai Siyu hurriedly reassured her.

At that moment, Chen Miaomiao spoke up.

“I know some martial arts. Dealing with a few people shouldn’t be a problem!”
Her voice was still cold.

Lu Chuan looked at Chen Miaomiao with some surprise.

“Of course, it would be better if I had a sword!”
Chen Miaomiao added.

“Are you joking?!”
Lu Chuan rolled his eyes. “Possessing weapons in private is a serious crime!”

“Hmph!”
Chen Miaomiao snorted coldly, not saying anything further. She turned her head away.

At that moment,
Su Ruan seemed to have made up her mind. She leaned in gently to Lu Chuan’s ear and whispered a few words.

“Really?”
A flash of surprise appeared in Lu Chuan’s eyes.

“You… you agreed?”
Lu Chuan asked excitedly, looking at Bai Siyu.

Chen Miaomiao turned her head away.

“Lecher!”